Live at The Cambie - 3rd Weekend in a Row

Friday night I found myself back at the Cambie for the third weekend in a row.  I had to go to catch a couple of my favorite guys performing as Clear the Coast.  Also on the bill was Deluge, indie punk band from Calgary, Alberta; Sharks! On Fire, power pop punk band from Vancouver, playing their second last show EVER; and Nanaimo's favorite hardcore band Trace the Sky.

As I mentioned, the two young men that make up Clear the Coast are two of my favorite guys.  Blake Deal is the lead singer of metal rockers Carry the Storm and his brother Cody Johannessen is usually at my side rocking out with me at every Carry the Storm show I make it to.  I know both these young men personally and knowing the talent that each of them possess, I knew I was going to like their newly formed project.

What took me by surprise was how impressed I was by Clear the Coast.  This isn't your ordinary run of mill acoustic duo.  Both have hard rock/metal roots and somehow that comes through when they perform acoustically.  The only possible way I can think to describe it is to compare it to Nirvana unplugged.  Not that these guys have a sound like Nirvana but like Nirvana's unplugged album, even when they slow it down and unplug they still fucking rock...y'know?  Their collaboration in song writing is outstanding and prolific.  I hope they pursue this project further, get some touring under their belts and record their tunes because I truly believe they're going to appeal to a very wide audience.  When they do, I'll share and prove to you all just how unbiased my opinion of their talent is!

Next up was Deluge!  Traveling all the way from Calgary these boys were made to get the fucking party going!  Their energy and fun songs are what's needed to get any girl to shake their ass.  If bands like Jimmy Eat World, The Fray and Weezer are your thing, you'll get your rocks off to Deluge as well.   I was happy to donate to their A & W fund and pick up their EP The Quiet Things.  You can pick up yours at deluge.bandcamp.com.

With the crowd warmed up it was the perfect setting for Vancouver's Sharks! On Fire to take the stage and really get us jumping! Playing their second last show in Nanaimo, these guys were giving it all they had!  It's always bittersweet for me to discover another talented band only to find out they're fucking breaking up.  After being together for eight years (we won't discuss the drummer issue) AND obviously tight together AND obviously good friends, I couldn't understand why they were calling it quits.

I had my chance to ask Dan Hum, vocalist and guitarist for Sharks! On Fire after the show.  Apparently, it's all his fucking fault!  I'm just kidding....sorta.  Truth is, Dan has moved back to Kamloops from Vancouver.  He assured me that music is still in the future for all the band members, each are getting involved in new projects, including himself.  That being said, I'm looking forward to seeing how they evolve with their new bands.  In the meantime, let's not forget the awesomeness of Sharks! On Fire....

EVERYDAY, THE SAME DREAM

Wrapping up the night was Nanaimo's own Trace the Sky.  Now y'all know how much I fucking love these guys...I've written about them a couple of times in previous blogs.  Not only is their music incredible but they are just so much fun to watch.  Matt Harder is not only a wicked bass player and lead vocalist, he's fucking funny too!  Their music rocks hard and it's not unusual for a mosh pit to break out at any given time, yet at the same time they manage to pull off a heavy power punk sound. This creates a draw of metal, hard rock and punk fans.  It's the perfect blend and was the perfect end to another awesome night at the Cambie.  They ended the show with my personal Trace the Sky favorite Lessons Learned, but I've shared that one with you before.  This one is another favorite of mine and I know you're gonna love it too.  Here's In Time....

IN TIME

Now you would think three weekends in a row of great live music would be enough for any rocker, but no fucking way!  I'll be there again this coming Friday to catch Aviator Shades' return and get more merch!  Fuck I love rock n roll............ ; )

Y'all know how much I like to spread the love....here more links for you to check out....
Like on Facebook
Clear the Coast https://www.facebook.com/clearthecoast
Deluge https://www.facebook.com/Delugecalgary
Sharks! On Fire https://www.facebook.com/sharksonfire
Trace the Sky https://www.facebook.com/tracetheskymusic
Cat Hennebury  https://www.facebook.com/CatHennebury
Follow on Twitter
Sharks! On Fire https://twitter.com/SharksOnFire
Trace the Sky  https://twitter.com/tracetheskyband
Cat Hennebury https://twitter.com/CathyHennebury
Buy on Bandcamp
Deluge http://deluge.bandcamp.com/album/the-quiet-things
Sharks! On Fire http://sharksonfire.bandcamp.com/track/sharko-polo
Trace the Sky http://tracethesky.bandcamp.com/album/messages
Subscribe on YouTube
Deluge https://www.youtube.com/user/DelugeCalgary
Sharks! On Fire https://www.youtube.com/user/SharksOnFireOfficial
Trace the Sky https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6kSvX9pqyigBNskjRlS6YA

Trace the Sky

This weekend found me rocking at one of the coolest fucking little bars in Nanaimo, The Cambie!  I love this bar, notwithstanding the slightly shady area of town because they fucking support the local music scene.  I haven't been to this pub without being blown away by the local island talent and Saturday night was no fucking exception.  You see, Saturday night The Cambie hosted the Trace the Sky Messages EP release party.

The night kicked off with a fucking kick ass performance from Carry the Storm....island Metal at its best! At the end of the night I had a conversation with Blake Deal, front man for the band and was told they will be hosting their own EP release party soon, so you can be guaranteed that they will be front and center in the Litter Box very soon!

Next to hit the stage was the trio of Atlas Collapses.  It was the first time I'd heard this band but it definitely won't be the last.  A friend next to me put it best, so I'm gonna steal his description of their music...."they're like a jazzy Muse."  I will definitely be paying closer attention to Atlas Collapses!

The real treat of the night though was of course when Trace the Sky hit the stage and performed their EP live!  Matt Harder may be the bass player and front man for Trace the Sky, but all the members  including Liam Glaim - vocals and guitar, Matt Gladman - guitar and vocals, and Chris Anderson - drums and vocals....all have a dominate presence in Trace the Sky.

What each member brings to the band creates a mash of styles that include rock, metal and surfer punk....I fucking love it!  Fans can dance, jump, headbang and/or fucking mosh!  It's fucking incredible!  I picked up the EP and am fucking loving it!  In fact, I'm loving it so much I'm having trouble picking just one song to share with you!  Here goes....eenie, meenie, minie, moe.....Lessons Learned it is!

LESSONS LEARNED

Some of their songs are on youtube....subscribe to them at www.youtube.com/use/TraceTheSkyMusic and some of them are on bandcamp at tracethesky.bandcamp.com but I'm not seeing a place yet to pick up the EP....my suggestion....bug the shit out of them on facebook at www.facebook.com/tracetheskymusic and tell them to get it fucking posted!  I'll bug em too....after all, I'd fucking hate for y'all to miss out.......... ; )

RecapTheElapsed

Hey, I've always said I love lyrics and I heard a band this morning whose lyrics just reached out and touched my soul.  And isn't that what everyone looks for in the music they listen to?

I would have to describe RecapTheElapsed as a post-surfboard punk band with attitude with something to say about pop culture.  I have to fucking admit, I like the way they do it.  Are they ever gonna stand with the likes of U2 or Sir Paul McCartney ....not a fucking chance.  I'd put them more on a scale with Sum 41 and The Kottonmouth Kings (the Kings aren't punk, but they have that same tell it the way it fucking is attitude).

In any case, this song made me smile this morning....and I fucking love to smile, so I'm gonna share it with you.  Fuck it...it was Ode To Miley...Plus a Few Others!! that caught my attention but I'm gonna share their whole playlist.  Enjoy, and fucking smile, you're cuter when you smile..... ; )

RECAPTHEELAPSED

Learn how to get your music noticed at ReverbNation.com

KynchinLay

Okay boys and girls, hold on tight because we are taking another quick trip over the pond.  If you're a fan of the powerpop punk sounds that have been made popular over the decades by artists such as Bowie, The Kinks and yes even Pink Floyd, I think you are gonna love what the UK is pumping out today.

KynchinLay is a trio that's been together since 2010 and now in 2013 we're finally getting to hear some of their recorded singles....and I'm fucking likin' it!!  The sound, though not entirely new, is not a traditional rock sound either.  It's been revived over the years in the form of punk and goth and now, again, KynchinLay has brought it back from the ashes and recreated it in the form of industrial rock.

I don't normally share live videos because let's face it....the sound quality just isn't fucking there.  But in this case, this video was either recorded with great equipment or these guys are just that fucking good....lets go with "these guys are just that fucking good".  Here's one of three singles to appear on their debut EP, this is Public Execution......

PUBLIC EXECUTION

Now this is just their first single and only a taste of what these guys have to offer.  I highly suggest you visit their bandcamp page at kynchinlay.bandcamp.com. Take a listen to all three of their singles and discover how diverse this band really is!!  I think Dogfeathers might be my favourite....but then again, I'm a little fucking weird....... ; )

The Motorleague

I always get to hear great new tunes when I tune in to 106.9 The Wolf's Fresh Tracks with Mike Lang and this week was no exception.  One particular group that caught my attention are straight from Canada's east coast.

New Brunswick is a friendly and beautiful part of Canada (I know because I've had the chance to visit) and apparently it fucking rocks too.  The Motorleague are a hard rocking punk-influenced band whose high energy sound will have you jumping and headbanging all at the same time.  What I especially love about this band is that they are not your typical cookie cutter rock band.  You can definitely hear their east coast Celtic Folk culture in the undertones of their tunes.

Canada is a huge country ripe full of many cultures and styles.  Music is an expression of emotion of course, but to be real it also has to be an expression of the musicians' environment and The Motorleague are true to their art!  This song is a perfect example...

EVERY MAN NEEDS A CAPE BRETON

.....and perhaps every woman needs a Cape Breton man at some point in her life..... ; )

Check out more tunes and videos on their website at www.themotorleague.ca ....believe me, it only gets better and better!!

Friday Night at Logan's Pub

It's been a while since I fucking tore it up, so I guess I was due.  Friday night, my new friend James Buhs - kickass front man for heavy fucking metal rockers Fatal Instinct came over to the island to scope some venue sites to play, so of course, I offered my wheels and my hospitality to hop around Victoria.

I had mentioned Logan's Pub on Cook Street to him previously, knowing that Carry the Storm (another fucking kickass metal band) had played there and had a great time.  Turns out, on the ferry ride over, he ran into another band heading over to the island to play, guess where - Logan's Pub!  Those guys turned out to be Cocaine Moustache, Vancouver's hard hitting party band.

So, off to Logan's Pub we went.  The night started off with Crown and Coke (doubles) and Fatal Instinct playing on the pub's P.A. system....great fucking start.  When they turned off the P.A. the Gnar Gnars took to the stage.  This band is just fucking fun...I can't think of a better way to describe them.  Their lyrics backed by a punk vibe poke fun at today's pop culture and had me laughing out loud.  They're brand new to the scene, so unfortunately I can't share any of their music for you as it's not posted online yet.  Let's hope they post something soon.  In the meantime, head over to their facebook page at www.facebook.com/thegnargnars and check out their posts.  Like I said....a lot of fucking fun!

Next on stage came The Drunken Superheroes.  I wasn't totally surprised to see the lead singer of the Gnar Gnars get behind the drum kit and play for The Drunken Superheroes....sharing musicians happens a lot with local bands.  This band is more hardcore but still a helluva lot of fun featuring Captain Blackout on vocals and guitar, Liverboy on vocals and bass, Stuperman on vocals and drums and of course it never hurts an image to have a cute blonde (Blunderwoman) on vocals and jumping around on stage.  Again...we have a brand new band that hasn't posted their tunes online, so again, if you'd like to hear their tunes - unless you get to a show you're shit out of luck (for now anyway).  Their facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/The-Drunken-Superheroes.  They haven't posted a fuck of a lot yet, but perhaps we can inspire them with a few more likes

Headlining the night was of course Cocaine Moustache.  As soon as they started to play, it was apparent through their talent and timing that these guys have some great experience behind them.  Taking hard rock, blues, punk, funk and hell yes, bluegrass, they mash it all together to create a brand new genre of music, let's just call it Stache Rock for lack of a better term.  Though they have some very serious musical talent, these guys don't take themselves too seriously either.  Their lyrics, much like their lifestyle reflect that it's all about having a good time.  And believe me, with these guys, their good time is fucking contagious! As it turns out, these guys do have an album out!  On The Mirror is available for purchase at Reversed Records Store at www.reversedrecords.com/estore or on iTunes through the same website.  Hard copy or digital...the choice is yours!  You can also find Cocaine Moustache on facebook for more info and links at www.facebook.com/TheStacheBand.  And finally!  I can fucking share a tune with you!  Check out Cocaine Moustache.....

THE PLEDGE

I had a fucking blast!  I felt a little sorry for James though, who is very serious about his music.  Fatal Instinct is reflective of the life and friends James has known.  If there is a living hell on Earth, James has lived through it and survived to write and express his experiences through his music.  I'm wagering his comfort zone is in a much darker place.  He was a great sport though, showed me a great time and took care of my drunken ass.  So, as much as I raise my glass to the guys in the bands having a fucking great time, I raise my glass to James Buhs of Fatal Instinct.  Metal guys are the fucking best.......... ; )

Turn to Page 9

I've said it before....Texas fucking rocks!  You all know I fell in love with hard Texan rockers such as Born & Raised and Awake in Theory and now on the lighter side I am lovin the punk pop sound coming out of Dallas.  If you like the stylings of Sum 41 or Blink 182 (like me) then I have a new number to introduce to you!

Page 9 is just another prime example of how diverse the Texas music scene is.  Based out of Dallas this band is made up of 4 self-described nerds - Josh, Linden, Kelsey and Nate.  You know what I like best about nerds?  They're smart.  For these four, making music is their business and their damn good at their business.  Their sound has a radio friendly quality that has the potential to be picked up by modern rock and rock radio stations on an international level.  When they hit the charts they won't be stopped!

Touring Texas, playing bars and music festivals is just a part of what they're busy doing to get there.  They are also currently in the process of releasing their new EP, The Serenity Chronicles.  Page 9 has grown as a band musically and personally during the making of this album - individually, they've gone through some tough shit - leading each of them to search for their own calm or "serenity".  They wanted to give fans - old and new - the opportunity to experience and grow with it as well, so they're releasing it in stages... or in "chronicles" so to speak, bonding the relationship they have with their fans that much more.  Like I said....smart.  Give them a listen...and when the time comes that they do hit the charts, remember I told you so...... ; )

To hear and learn more about Page 9 check out their site at http://page9.tumblr.com/TSC

The Pulse of Finger Eleven and Gob

Wow! I've been busy!  I've been to a number of really good shows lately....I took in Them Beatles ~ Beatlemania on Tour at the Yates in Lethbridge.  Lethbridge Seniors rocked the block and I of course was there to take in some great local talent...The Chevelles (not to confused with Chevelle); Rex (fuckin A! Can't wait for your album boys); Double Jack (Hot rockers! Congrat's boys on your successful application to open for CCR in July!); Texas Flood (Southern Rock and good ol' boys - one of my favorite combinations) and Hippodrome (9 piece band complete with horns, a hell of a lot of soul and my good friend and one of my favorite men ~ Juran Greene)!  And I have to tell you all about these shows in much more detail but I need to start with the most recent show I took in....Finger Eleven and Gob at Pulse Nightclub and Pub on June 28th!

Nine years ago, I took my twins to their first concert ever. The Roadhouse Bar and Grill turned it's beer taps off so Gob could perform an all ages show.  My boys were nine years old at the time so not only was it their first concert but their first time in the bar!  We were right up front and the guys were great to them!  I remember Theo Goutzinakis being particularly cool, posing for pics and giving the boys guitar picks and stickers.  The Roadhouse Bar and Grill closed and was replaced by Pulse Nightclub and Pub, so when they announced Gob would be playing I had to be there!  Finding out that Finger Eleven would be joining them was like... well it was like winning a TV then finding out it's a 52" plasma with home entertainment center complete with surround sound!  Fucking awesome!

One of the twins, Marco was working late on this night but the other, Moe, joined me for the show.  This show was not an all ages show and beer taps were flowing steadily.  Another amazing coincidence, that Gob would come back to the same venue the year the boys turned 18 and could legally attend the show in the bar!  Gob consists of Tom Thacker (you may know Tom from a little band called Sum 41) Theo Goutzinakis, Gabe Mantle and Steve Fairweather.  They started the show to a packed house and had the joint jumping from their first song to the last!  You may remember this Gob song from the American Wedding soundtrack.....

After a brief break to take down and set up again, Finger Eleven took the stage and I decided to get a closer look from sidestage.   Finger Eleven have released 6 albums and are a very popular rock band in Canada as well as seeing success in the US, placing twice on the US Hot 100 music charts.  They are made up of Scott Anderson, James Black, Rick Jackett, Sean Anderson and Rich Beddoe.  The energy level that was already high from the awesome show that Gob put on jumped up a level as Finger Eleven took to the stage.  They didn't disappoint the audience, playing all their hits Livin in a Dream, Whatever doesn't Kill Me, Paralyzer, One Thing and another one of my favorites Falling On....

It was a great show all around!  I did get a chance to chat with James Black and Sean Anderson of Finger Eleven after the show.  They are currently working on new songs... I have it on good authority that they have about 4 laid down already...and continuing to tour here and there.  If  they happen to come to your town and you get a chance to take in one of their shows...FUCK, GO!!!  You won't be disappointed!

I'd also like to give a big fucking shout out to Pulse Nightclub and Pub for bringing such an awesome show to our backwater town.  Your staff are unbelievably nice and professional.  And also to Rock 106 and Wing King for helping to sponsor said awesome show!! Rock on!  By the way, Moe has told me he will not be accompanying me to any more shows...apparently too many hot chicks were asking him if I was his date, hahahahahaha............ ; )

The Gift I Want Most

The hardest blogs for me to write are the ones about the people I love the most.  No words seem sufficient enough to describe their awesomeness.  This is the second blog I've agonized over for a group of guys that I absolutely love!  Beside the fact that I have a huge crush on every fucking member of the band....I can't get enough of their music either.  The band is Gift of Destiny and the music is Metal, Punk, Hard Rock and now Funk....hell yeah, that's right baby, Gift of Destiny got da Funk!! 
I first heard of Gift of Destiny late last summer....I was creeping their website, and discovered a free download of Raise Some Hell - a single off their first album Throttle...hey wait....I wrote all this before...if you don't know Gift of Destiny or how much I fucking loved their first album please refer to my earlier blog  Oh My G.O.D. 
Gift of Destiny consists of Los - Vocals, Mikey - Guitars, Keyboards and Backing Vocals, B-Low - Bass and Jake - Drums and Backing Vocals.  I have nothing but the utmost admiration and respect for these guys musically!  They fucking rocked my world with their first album and now hmmm mmmm, they have released the Wednesday Sessions, 3 new songs that turn me on just as much!
Gift of Destiny is the kind of band that can appeal to almost everybody.  As mentioned above, they blend a number of different styles into a sound that is uniquely their own.  They are always going to be surrounded by women.  From my own point of view, they have an exciting sound that touches the most primal senses in me.  And I don't mean that tweenie "I wish he would kiss me" kinda feeling....seriously, every time I listen to them, I want to fuck someone.   I'm not talkin "Oooo baby, make love to me" either...I mean "Fuck baby, strip me down, pin me against the wall and take me!"
The hard driving rock of CIA is a perfect example of that....those beats, Jake...damn darlin, such energy! and in perfect rhythm!  Makes me wonder if that talent extends into other uh, more interactive activities!  Sing to me, Carlos, hmm mmm, I love the way your voice feels as it moves over me!  Very hot baby!  Oh, and then there's the guitar....oh my G.O.D!  Mikey, please baby...for just one night I want you to pretend I'm your guitar....ahem.....okay, maybe I shouldn't be listening as I write.  I don't know what it is about politically charged songs that turn me on so much....
Their sound will also appeal to young men.  Carlos has possession of rough heavy growling vocals that are  right in line with today's heavy metal style.  The Punk/Metal of This Is The Time is perfect for the mosh pit!  And the lyrics are just the right combination of angry and depressing to be appreciated by young males aged 15 - 30.  Having sons with whom this style of music does appeal to, I've developed an appreciation for it myself.  Good job, Gift of Destiny!
Well, I said they appeal to all kinds of rock and metal fans, so let's not leave out those who prefer the classics.  And yeah, I fall into that group as well.  I can't tell you how fucking excited I get when I hear these guys put their spin on Play that Funky Music.  Staying true to the original sound and rhythm....yeah, they kept the funk!!.....yet putting that metal Gift of Destiny stamp on it that makes it their song.  I seriously can't listen to this song and write at the same time.  When I hear it, I have to get up and dance...or boogie.....either way, I gotta move!
The boys are releasing these small sets of songs as they go...another one of the difficulties of being a small independent artist...recording time costs money.  So help them make more music by purchasing the music they have out there.  I urge you to buy Throttle and these 3 Wednesday Sessions songs they have just released.  Metal chicks...they'll fucking turn you on, I swear!  Metal guys...you'll love the fucking energy and vocals, really!  Rock fans...driving beats and fucking killer riffs...need I say more?  And for those to whom it doesn't appeal to at all...if you and I are on a date and you put on some Gift of Destiny, chances just increased ten fold that you are getting laid! 
Music and musicians do turn me on.  Gift of Destiny, the music and the men, do more than that for me.  They take me there...again...and again.........; )

Here's their links:
Gift of Destiny official website
Gift of Destiny on myspace
Gift of Destiny on reverbnation
Buy Throttle on cd baby
Buy Throttle and Wednesday Sessions on iTunes
Gift of Destiny on twitter
Gift of Destiny on facebook

Metal Works!

Okay Metal-heads, this post is for you!  I've mentioned before that I get off on all kinds of fucking music...rock, blues, rap, alternative, and of course metal.   And one of the things I can say about metal musicians is they are the nicest fucking people in the world.  I wonder if it's because all their aggression is outsourced through their music.

Metal is hard hitting, aggressive in your face music and I love it.  When I am down or angry, nothing picks me up like metal music.  You have probably heard of some of my favorite metal artists including Metallica, Hell Yeah, Mudvayne, Slip Knot and if you've been paying any attention at all, you also know about Gift of Destiny!

Now I would like to take the opportunity to introduce you to a new favorite.

Killed the Fixtion is a metal band from New Jersey and these guys know how to fucking RAWK!  I fucking love them!  The band consists of  Nelson Ceron, front man with kickass vocals, Kevin Izquierdo, who kills it on guitar, Robert Asencio on bass - I fucking want to see you play man, fuck! And I'll tell you what - Abbad Ibn Townsend's drums know who's fucking boss!

I can't be still when I listen to their music. Their song Pulse is an energetic mix of heavy metal and hard rock.  Nelson's vocals are fucking incredible! I don't know whether to fucking headbang or jump. So I do both!   Seems a shame my chiropractor is making all the money though.... KTF - investment option?  
Crank takes you straight into their punk influences and showcases Kevin's and Abbad's musical talent on guitar and drums.  Yeah, I'm fucking jumping again! My chiropractor - "cha ching!"
Shades of Limit and we are back into old school metal...that's right, I hear those Metallica and Black Sabbath influences! Headbanging! My chiropractor - "going to Hawaii!!"

I think it's awesome that these guys know older music...much of which is older than them, I'm sure...hell they know Barry White!  And Barry White is fucking sexy man! And now that we are on the subject of sexy....nice segue, don't you think?...these boys are hot! Ah, I know what you're thinking....what a perv, right?  Hey...just because I'm a few years older doesn't mean I can't enjoy the scenery too...so fuck off.

As with any band I get excited about, I wanted to learn more about Killed the Fixtion.  I read some of their history...how music served as the very outlet of aggression that I spoke of earlier.  That by focusing on their music it led them away from the street gangs and the trouble that would have followed.  They chose positive over negative, creativity over destruction.  I admire that.  Too many young people today are thinking it's cool to be gangsta, and that saddens me....yeah, that's right, I said gangsta, get over it.

I am so fucking impressed when bands find the right brothers work with and Killed the Fixtion is definitely one of those bands.  Drawing from a number of styles and influences they have a cohesive relationship that allows them to bring it all together and cook up something fucking incredible.  Metal Punk Rock Stew...fuck yeah! I'll have another bowl of that!.........; )

Don't take my word for it...check 'em out yourself:
Killed the Fixtion on facebook 
Killed the Fixtion on myspace 
@KTFNJ on twitter 

Oh My G.O.D.

When I was a kid, you had one genre of music that you liked and you stuck with it.  In my case it was rock music.  Back in those days if you dared listen to anything else...such as country, or (gasp) disco, your friends would turn their backs on you, you would be stripped of your coolness credibility and publicly shunned.  So you can imagine what a hypocrite I was when at the age of 15, I got pissed off at my mother (who was a country/western fan) because she wouldn't even give the music I listened to a chance.  How dare she judge and call great fucking music (The Rolling Stones, ACDC, April Wine, BTO, Pink Floyd and oh so many more) noise without the benefit of sitting down and actually listening to it!

Hypocrite or not, I was pissed off enough that I swore that when I had kids, I would not judge the music they listened to.  At the very least I would sit down and listen to it with an open mind.  It must have stuck with me, because as my four boys grew (they range in age now from 18 to 26) I most definitely gave the music they liked a listen.  As they were drawn to different kinds of music they shared their interests with me, opening my world to hip hop, rap, punk, metal, and yes even death metal!   I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed an awful lot it.  I gave my sons exposure to greats like Queen, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendricks, Janis Joplin, Beatles, Led Zepplin, Aerosmith (and oh so many more) and in return they introduced me to The Game, Kid Rock (his early stuff) -fuck, I still "wanna be a cowboy, baaaby", Eminem, Kottonmouth Kings, ICP, Mudvayne, Hell Yeah, Korn, Disturbed, Slipknot (and oh so many more).  In fact the curiosity of my kids actually exposed me to older music as well.  Namely the punk that I had overlooked in my youth because I was too engrossed in my hard rock music to listen to anything else.  Artists such as The Ramones and The Misfits.

Now I'm not putting down any kind of music but I am thankful for one thing...though I probably would have given Britney Spears, Hillary Duff, Mylie Syrus, the Jonas Brothers and Justin Bieber a chance had one of my kids been into this kind of pop music, I'm a little fucking happy I didn't have to!

Because I've been able to keep an open mind, I have not yet fallen into the time trap that many of my friends have.  I still seek out new artists to listen to.  Social media sites such as Facebook,  twitter, ReverbNation, myspace etc are great places to find new music.  In fact it was through my twitter account that I first heard about and took a listen to Arizona Punk/Metal band, Gift of Destiny.

I need to apologize in advance...when I get excited I say fuck a lot! Hmmmm.  Excited.  Fuck.  I can't imagine why I would link the two......

Oh My fucking G.O.D....this band is fucking amazing.  I took advantage of their free download "Raise Some Hell" on their website http://www.giftofdestiny.com/ and within the first 10 seconds of listening I was fucking hooked!  I listened to the song a second time and then returned to their webpage to buy the album.  No Fuck.  These guys definitely have a tight sound...and I'm going to assume from the fact that they recorded their debut CD, Throttle, in just 5 days and came out with such a fucking amazing product that the personal chemistry of the band is spot on as well.  

Fuck, I have to tell you about Throttle!  From one song to the next, I was fucking blown away.  In fact, I think I may now be one of Gift of Destiny's biggest fans!   I've only been a fan of Metal for about 4 or 5 years but I've been listening to great music long enough to know fucking talent when I hear it.  Gift of Destiny reeks of musical talent.  I don't know what these boys were doing before they were Gift of Destiny but I'm pretty sure it fucking rocked - because not only do these guys reek of talent, they also reek of experience.

As I listened and fell more in love with these guys by the minute, I was reminded of some of my other favorite artists.  Mudvayne, Hell Yeah, Korn and yes, The Ramones as well.  That being said...Gift of Destiny has a sound and style that belongs to them and to them alone.

Not only are they fucking musically sound, they are fucking lyrically sound as well.  I'm going through some personal shit (probably why I've been drawn to Metal music lately), and I could very much relate to songs such as "The Reason", "Far Away", "You Don't Know Me" and "Waiting".  Want to know what kind of fucking shit I'm going through?...buy the album and listen to the songs...I'll bet you"ll fucking guess!

Regardless of my own pain and anger, listening to Gift of Destiny makes me feel better...happy even.  It's no wonder, boys, that women call your name in their most pleasurable intimate moments....ah, ahh, ahhhh, YES, OH G.O.D., YES!!!!    Los, Mikey, B-Low and Jake...thank you for the music!  I look forward to one day seeing you live...oh, and just to give you fair warning, hehe....I already have the bottle of tequila.....; )

Check out Gift of Destiny at any of the following links
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/giftofdestiny
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/throttle/id427404755
http://www.amazon.com/Throttle-Explicit/dp/B004T6COL4/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300770853&sr=301-1
http://music.napster.com/artist.htm?id=13596792
http://www.giftofdestiny.com/
http://www.myspace.com/giftofdestiny
http://www.facebook.com/Giftofdestiny?v=wall