LA Guns - Poopy's In Savanna, Illinois - July 8th, 2017

The late '80s - early '90s where a very strange time for music.  There was a massive conglomeration of bands and artists all trying to look and sound the same while acting as if they were the true originals.  While every band that came from the Sunset Strip had the hair, the attitude and the music down there were some bands that stood above them all.  What if there was one man, a "Pied Piper" if you will that not only started one iconic band back then but started TWO?  Two bands that traveled the same dingy streets of LA and became two of the greatest bands of that generation.  What if one of those bands "reloaded" themselves and came back to do it all over again but this time even better?

Loud-N-Lima - Day 2 July 22nd, 2017

The world is a giant music festival, or at least that is how it seems to be for me.  I have traveled far and wide to go to even the smallest of music festivals.  I have battled crowds so deep I think that people gave up trying to walk to the bathroom and just went where they stood.  I have been to a festival that literally had a promoter asking people to foot the bar tab so they could still sell beer at the festival.  I have been so sunburned that a year after the sunburn I still had a vicious tan line and I have seen things that cannot be unseen at music festivals that not even bleach and a great IT guy could wipe clean.  But is it possible that another festival could make the list of obscure references that beg you for more information?  Well...

WARRANT - Poopy's in Savanna, Illinois - July 29th, 2017

The history of rock music has enigmas woven inside its very fabric so tight that at times it becomes what is the enigma and what is reality.  Any fan of music from the late '80's - early '90's surely understands because that whole time frame is that hazy.  While the number of bands that entered into the foray of "hair metal" was seemingly in the tens of thousands few remained viable in any capacity after the popularity began to fade like many hairlines.  What if one of those that remained was still out there, as popular as before and what if they went from enigma to stalwart?

The Dead Daisies - BMO Harris Bank Center Rockford, IL - August 20th, 2016

With a few exceptions there are some times of the year that are really, really special, take Spring for example.  As the snow melts (for those of us that see snow), we get the first peek at the grass as it takes in the rays of the sun, popping between the other dormant blades of grass and the patches of snow.  Summer brings the heat, and the world is renewed but as Fall approaches the green of the grass, and the petals of the flowers begin to fade and fall.  The leaves begin to cover the ground and the flowers die but what it I told you I have seen some dead flowers that are full of life right smack in the middle of Summer?  Would you believe it?  Well?

Saints of Las Vegas - Hard Rock Cafe, May 27th, 2016

It goes without saying that I am a big music guy, I listen to literally everything, no really you should see my iPod its packed full of music of so many genres I pull ligaments and tendons in my hand as I peruse it.  I debate myself constantly about many of those genres and what qualifies inside of said genres and I think the hardest area to define is "metal," "hair metal," and "hard rock."  The problem is never if music is good (or bad) enough to qualify itself for those genres, its actually more complex than that.  Think about it like this for a moment, what if there was a band that had its roots in the L.A. music scene, the L.A. club scene and tours with bands like Alice Cooper, Motörhead, KISS and Mötley Crüe, was still alive and kicking today?  Would that be a pretty important band?  Well?

Firehouse - Mystique Casino April 16th, 2016

What defines us?  Are we defined by our personality?  By our choices?  Or are we defined by just random events and traits?  Those are fair questions but I would tend to think that for each of us we can't be defined the same way as any other person.  It's like the old adage "never judge a book by its cover" because until you open that book you can't make an accurate judgement and if you try to and you are wrong then you risk being judged yourself.  Right?

Hookers and Blow - Tailgaters - Bolingbrook, Illinois - February 12th, 2016

I am amazed by the bands I see every year, they are at times some incredibly well known, well established acts and other times they are little known bands.  In 2015 I saw 157 different acts perform, and much like a band on a massive tour it becomes cumbersome remembering where I was on a particular date.  Sure its possible to remember a music festival or one of the iconic acts but at times it is nothing more than a simple name that sticks out never to be forgotten.

Trixter - Rock 'N Skull - October 17th, 2015

October is a month where by ghosts, goblins, ghouls and the occasional Presidential candidate goes door-to-door begging for various things.  Yes most of those mentioned are looking for gifts of candy, or the occasional popcorn ball, there are somethings in October much, much scarier than a nine year old in a Bernie Sanders mask.  Yes it is true that each child, and the occasional Presidential candidate is trying to solicit a piece of candy or two but rarely does the the candy giver ever respond to the demand of the rapscallions and seven year old Trumps.  What am I babbling about?  Well...

Bulletboys - Rock 'N Skull October 18th, 2015

It goes without saying that at times we all have had that moment when we remember a moment in time when we are prompted by something.  I don't mean dejà vu either, I mean that moment where you hear the song you first held hands with your date, or hearing the bells on the ice cream truck reminding you of the time that fat kid hit you in the face with his bat that he carelessly threw when he ran to the ice cream truck.  That kind of moment, do you feel me?  So...

Steelheart - Rock 'N Skull October 16th, 2015

What if I told you there was a band from the late 80's - early '90's from the "era of hair" that was known for its ballads that is completely underrated for their "non-ballads?"  Much of that era was a giant misnomer to begin with because many of the bands were only known for "ballads" but they were so much more.  Can a band from that era, known for one heck of a "ballad" still be putting out music that will make grown men sing along hitting the highest freaking notes they can whilst harboring the incoming groin pull?  Can it?  Well...

Ace Frehley - Mississippi Moon Bar, September 11th, 2015

Where were you on Christmas 1977?  I was at home celebrating with my family and the one real thing I remember was that as a nine year old boy I got "KISS Alive II" as a Christmas gift.  That album started this thirty-eight year frenzy that has been my obsession with the band.  It was so much fun getting new KISS albums and listening to those old vinyl albums over and over again.  There are many confessions I can make about KISS and now is the time to start...

Free Fallin' - Taste of Minnesota

Tom Petty.  That singular name means so much in the annals of music history that his contemporaries and those that have come after him have made the man an icon.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and if anything Tom Petty is imitated all of the time.  At times with incredible success and at other times blatant failure but can a band that isn't named "Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers" do it justice?

OWL - Taste of Minnesota

If nothing I am a person that will travel for a good live music act without concern of distance or time frame.  When I started this blog in fact it began because of a live show that I attended only miles from my home and that show directly relates to the trip to the Taste of Minnesota.  Really you ask, how?  Well...

95 WILL ROCK FEST - 2015

With a plethora of festivals and acts to write about, it seems that the festival I JUST left (on August 22nd, 2015) deserves a little press.  While this article will be about the entire event, I may have a surprise or two inside of it so stay with me.  Music festivals and I seem to be on a first name basis and at times those first names are curse words but will this festival and I be on friendly terms?  Well...

Heart - US Cellular Center - March 21st, 2015

Take a look back the music of your youth for a moment.  Be honest with yourself and reflect back on the bands that have such power behind them that you can remember their songs and specific moments in your life.  Regardless of your age, regardless of your musical taste, regardless of the sweater you wore in that horrific school picture you wore in sixth grade, its possible.  Do you remember that song?

Riot Fest - Day One, September 12th, 2014

Chicago is a city that has had a history of riots.  While the riot that is most closely associated with the Chicago occurred during the Democratic National Convention in 1968 (August 26 - 29) other riots have made their ways into its very fabric. Although my birth wouldn't happen for another few weeks I look at that riot as part of my own personal history.  Sure it seems odd but there were other riots that have taken place in that city of note and I think that my personal history might fit within the history of Chicago riots.  Okay?

Rock USA - Day 4 July 19th, 2014

In the classic movie "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" the Dead Collector so eloquently states "Bring out yer dead," whilst gathering the bodies of the poor unfortunate souls.  That line really fits the final day of every multiple day music festival.  While "warm bodies" exist, much like the Dead Collector, those that have made it the entire festival begin to look a little ragged.

Rock USA - Day 3, July 18th, 2014

When the music festival that was Woodstock came wafting into the psyche of the drug-addled music culture of the late '60's, 1969 actually, it wasn't without its issues.  While the common perception was that all that happened in the field of Max Yasgur was music, peace, love and dope there were mishaps.  Without question anyone that was either sober at that time, or wasn't actively participating in the event or the events that were taking place during the event knew or could recollect that there were problems.  So?

Rock USA - Day 2, July 17th 2014

Sunny skies, warm temperatures and happy people are the things that great days are made of and when the three are are full of live music everything becomes that much better.  While music festivals and their attendees are hopeful of that combination at times it isn't the case.  Weather can wreak havoc on an outdoor festival making the entire experience miserable.  So?

George Thorogood and The Destroyers - Delaware County Fair - July 11th, 2014

The television show "Married With Children" was a microcosm of the ultimate white trash neighbors but despite that the show was known for much more than just "white trash."  While the show was called vulgar, asinine, rude and stupid I would wager more than a select few would know at least one character thus describing that character would be so well done it would look like it was written for character development.  Of the Bundy family few would garner more comments than good ol' Al but what does that have to do with George Thorogood?