CONCERT REVIEW: Apocalyptica – Lacuna Coil Live at The Majestic Theatre


Detroit’s Midtown is buzzing with culture and is home to some of the best music venues in the city. At the heart of this exciting district rests the prestigious Majestic Theatre. The building is over one hundred years old and carries a lot of music history in its walls. Last Thursday the venue’s marquee lit up with the name Apocalyptica. The Finnish act brought their Cell-0 Tour to Motor City, and they picked the perfect place to promote their latest record. Along with Italy’s Lacuna Coil, the night was set up for an enchanting experience filled with glamor, energy, and theatrics. The brisk April night started off with a queue of symphonic metal enthusiasts lining up around the building. Soon the large and ornate theatre room was filled with eager devotees ready for the music to begin.

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UPDATED: Supergroup Deadland Ritual Streams New Single and Video – “Broken and Bruised”


After making their US debut as a band this week at The Troubador in Hollywood, supergroup Deadland Ritual (Black Sabbath, Stevie Stevens, Guns N Roses, Apocalyptica members) have shared a new single. Jam out to ‘Broken and Bruised’ right now!Continue reading


Supergroup Deadland Ritual Books More Headline Shows


Rock Supergroup Deadland Ritual, which features bassist Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath), vocalist Franky Perez (Apocalyptica, Scars on Broadway), drummer Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) have added two additional UK dates to their European tour in June 2019. Deadland Ritual promises the live shows will be something special, mixing the original material with deeper cuts from their collective past. “Not the typical songs you would expect,” according to Matt Sorum. Continue reading


Supergroup Deadland Ritual Shares Video For “Down In Flames”


Deadland Ritual a new heavy rock supergroup featuring absolute legends like bassist Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath), vocalist Franky Perez (Apocalyptica, Scars on Broadway), drummer Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) has dropped a new video and single. The track ‘Down In Flames’ is out now via Sonik Riot Recordings / AWAL powered by Kobalt to buy and stream. Continue reading


Video: Slash And Duff Of Guns N Roses Reunite On Stage For Benefit


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Guns N’ Roses co-founders Slash and Duff McKagan reunited this past weekend on stage, performing at a benefit event for the Wonderland Avenue School in Los Angeles. They were joined on stage by their Velvet Revolver bandmate Dave Kushner, Apocalyptica singer Franky Perez and drummer Bill Burr for a cover of AC/DC’s ‘Highway To Hell’. You can see the fan filmed video at this link or below.

Founded in 1927, Wonderland is a public kindergarten through fifth grade campus nestled in the Hollywood Hills above Los Angeles.

 

Slash and Guns N Roses frontman William “Axl” Rose ended their nearly 20 year feud recently; with Slash remarking that while the two on good terms, it would take a lot for a full-fledged reunion of that band to ever happen.

 

Still, with the 30th anniversary of Appetite For Destruction (Geffen) looming in two years the internet is buzzing with speculation and rumor that the band will reunite.

As for Velvet Revolver members on stage, that band has been on hiatus as they continue to search for a new singer. The band has never fully broken up amidst the hope they will find a replacement for Scott Weiland.


Apocalyptica – Shadowmaker


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It is nearly two decades since Apocalyptica first muscled their way into our collective consciousness as “that band that plays Metallica songs on cellos”. What at first appeared merely a neat gimmick has seen them become a fully fledged, credible and long-term band – one who have proved that metal doesn’t need to be played on electric guitar, and a tale of two cities, with big vocal singles such as ‘I’m Not Jesus’ and ‘I Don’t Care’ sat alongside stimulating dark instrumentals. It is this successful formula they look to replicate on eighth album Shadowmaker (Eleven Seven).

Having previously relied on a (frankly impressive) guest list of vocals (including Corey Taylor, Cristina Scabbia, Max Cavalera and Till Lindemann amongst many others), this time around the Finnish cellists have enlisted Franky Perez (Scars on Broadway/Slash) on 7 of the 11 full tracks, the first time they have used the same vocalist across an album.

However, consistency is an issue in the vocal led tracks; first track proper ‘Cold Blood’ is confident, competent and possessing of a strong chorus, and ‘Hole In My Soul’, a simple balladic shuffle, tugs on the cello strings of the heart; not a million miles from the more lachrymose moments of HIM, but ‘Dead Man’s Eyes’ fucking drags on and on becoming a song that fails to evoke any emotion other than annoyance, ‘House of Chains’ could be a Shinedown outtake, and ‘Sea Song’ sees interest wade out amongst the waves.

Meanwhile, the title track gets stronger and more interesting for the lengthy mid-to-late instrumental section, ripping through a Kirk Hammett style lead that segues into a Mercyful Fate darkened ambiance; ‘Reign of Fear’ intrigues and ensnares with mournful cello leads dancing languidly over riffs of varying tempos; and the aural voyage of ‘Til Death Do Us Part’, with its lengthy emotive passages dovetailing with stabs and lurches, is the album highlight.

Ultimately, Shadowmaker shows that the true essence of Apocalyptica lies in the instrumental. Unfettered by the constraints and adamantine chains of a traditional rock song structure they are, as they always have been, at their best, most dynamic and most interesting. Flitting between that and standard rock fare leaves them with a patchwork quilt of an album – the stitching may be great, but the overall aesthetic is muddled.

6.0 /10

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STEVE TOVEY


Adopt The Arts Concert and Auction Raises $106,000 Funding School Music Programs


Duff McKagan, Billy Gibbons and Slash at ADOPT THE ARTS. Photos Credit: Tiffany Rose.

Duff McKagan, Billy Gibbons and Slash at ADOPT THE ARTS. Photos Credit: Tiffany Rose.

The Adopt The Arts event at The Roxy in West Hollywood, CA on January 12th raised over $106,000 in one night and funds music programs in LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District) elementary schools. They brought together various music industry friends for an epic night of music and a live auction.

ADOPT THE ARTS honorees Billy Gibbons and Butch Trucks with Co-Founder Matt Sorum. Photo credit: Charlie Steffens.

ADOPT THE ARTS honorees Billy Gibbons and Butch Trucks with Co-Founder Matt Sorum. Photo credit: Charlie Steffens.

Richie Sambora and Orianthi. Photo credit: Tiffany Rose.

Richie Sambora and Orianthi. Photo credit: Tiffany Rose.

The event honored Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top and Butch Trucks of Allman Brothers Band, and artists thrilled the crowd performing a rare set including hits from ZZ Top and the Allman Brothers. The sets included:

ZZ Top set:
1. “Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Damon Fox, Billy Duffy)
2. “Tush” (ZZ Top) (w/ Billy Gibbons, Steve Lukather, Jimmy Vivino, Edgar Winter on organ)
3. “Cheap Sunglasses” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Edgar Winter on sax/ lead vocals with Gibbons)
4. “Rough Boy” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Richie Sambora, Orianthi, Matt Sorum)
5. “Waitin’ For The Bus” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan)
5. “Jesus Just Left Chicago” (ZZ Top) (w/Matt Sorum, Slash, Duff McKagan, Billy Gibbons)
6. “La Grange” (ZZ Top) (w/Billy Gibbons, Matt Sorum, Slash, Duff McKagan, Steve Lukather, Richie Sambora, Edgar Winter on organ)

Edgar Winter. Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose.

Edgar Winter. Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose.

Allman Brothers Band set:
1. “Trouble No More” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Jimmy Vivino, Butch Trucks)
2. “Don’t Keep Me Wonderin’’ (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Franky Perez)
3. “Midnight Rider” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Richie Sambora, Orianthi)
4. “Stormy Monday” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Edgar Winter on vocals/sax, Jimmy Vivino, Slash)
5. “One Way Out” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Steve Lukather, Jimmy Vivino)
6. “Statesboro Blues” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Butch Trucks, Billy Gibbons, Richie Sambora, Matt Sorum)
7. “Whipping Post” (Allman Brothers Band) (w/Butch Trucks, Matt Sorum, Slash, Richie Sambora and Billy Gibbons)

Matt Sorum, Billy Gibbons and Richie Sambora. Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose.

Matt Sorum, Billy Gibbons and Richie Sambora. Photo Credit: Tiffany Rose.


Adopt The Arts Benefit Show Held January 12, 2015 At The Roxy In West Hollywood, CA


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Adopt The Arts will launch a live benefit concert and event for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) elementary schools on Monday, January 12, 2015 at The Roxy (9009 W. Sunset Blvd) in West Hollywood, CA (red carpet 6:00-7:00PM, show starts: 7:00PM). Music luminaries will gather to perform with and honor BILLY GIBBONS (ZZ Top) and BUTCH TRUCKS (Allman Brothers Band) for their contributions to American art and culture. Artists confirmed to perform so far include Billy Gibbons, Butch Trucks, Slash, Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver), Steve Lukather (Toto), Edgar Winter, Jimmy Vivino (Conan O’Brien) vocalist Franky Perez, ADOPT THE ARTS founder Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and many more special guests to be announced soon. The Disreputable Few, a group of surprise killer musicians, will serve as the backing band for the night. The proceeds will go to the ADOPT THE ARTS music programs in LAUSD elementary schools (see VIP ticket/donation below). Tickets are on-sale now at http://adoptthearts.org.

ADOPT THE ARTS–a Los Angeles-based charity co-founded by musician Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver) and activist Abby Berman–works to preserve arts programs in U.S. public schools. To raise awareness, ADOPT THE ARTS honors individuals who’ve had a long-lasting impact on music culture and who inspire young musicians to follow in their footsteps. Actress JANE LYNCH was the first celebrity to sign onto ADOPT THE ARTS and is on the Board of Directors; the advisory board also includes: SLASH, JOHN STAMOS, BILLY BOB THORTON, STEVE STEVENS, JULIETTE LEWIS, DANNY MASTERSON, SHEPARD FAIREY, ADRIAN YOUNG and GINA GERSHON.