RATT - A Three Part Series of Sorts

Growing up in the '80's had a profound effect on my little slice of heaven.  Without crawling back down Memory Lane (no seriously I did that once) or "memory lane" the time I could spend talking about sports, politics, world events, hopes, dreams, crushes and school will be reserved to the annals pf the thing I remember the most: Music.  When I was a "wee lad" we didn't have MTV (no I'm not breaking into a "When I was a kid" moment) because the cable company didn't provide it to.  When we would work our way to the town many of my cousins lived I was able to watch it despite the fact that the town in which they lived was smaller.  That was actually very important to me, why you ask?  Well...

Styx - i-wireless Center

I've always been intrigued by bands that have some sort of "catch phrase" inevitably it becomes their identity.  Despite the best efforts of many of these bands to avoid those songs in which the catch phrase exists, often times said songs become nothing short of a sore point with them.  Its sad really because for many of these bands that little phrase can keep your career flowing regardless of sales and it can increase their fan base too.  The '80's were teeming with bands that are instantly recognizable and often the title of the song is replaced with that single catch phrase.  Why is that important?  Well...

REO Speedwagon - i wireless Center

Growing up in a "trucking" family I was always aware of different types of trucks (semi and pickup too for that matter) thus there has always been a certain amount in learning about their history.  My Grandfather (Lyle White), two uncles (David and Dale) and my Dad (Jim) have been members of the trucking fraternity so I would be remiss if I didn't assume that this is where my interest lies.  Trucks have always been of interest and the honestly run through the gamete happiness and sorrow.  Why do I mention that? Well...

Ted Nugent - i wireless Center

Politics make strange bedfellows, at least that is what we are told by...  Who knows really but one thing is for sure some of those people "in the know" can be just a bit freaky.  Yes we all are guaranteed by the First Amendment freedom of speech therefore we enjoy the ability to voice our opinions.  The problem isn't with their exercising their rights its often what they say that is confused and just plain uninformed.  While what is called the "left" has the point - counterpoint part of their beliefs on a level track its not always on the mark.  What does that have to do with a music blog, well....

i wireless Center - Motley Crue

It was a very interesting time the '80's wasn't it?  Bands came and went, there were so many flashes in the pan it was hard to tell if it was a quick dying of their fan base, or someone put a flame to all of the Aqua-Net they were wearing.  A few bands survived, and a few thrived but a few brought monstrous success and that brings to mind Motley Crue.  Motley Crue has the distinction of having been all three, but what about today?

i wireless Center - Poison

Poison has come quite away from their first album cover where, as a friend of mine once said, there were four "hot chicks" on the cover.  For the past 25 years Poison has played together, faced hardships, nearly died and been a part of several reality television shows and yet they seem to be able to push everything behind them.  But can they still perform and be relevant?  That's the $64,000 dollar question now isn't it.

i wireless Center - New York Dolls

Its fascinating to think about all the bands from the '80's being reborn and their fan base beginning to explode with that rebirth.  While this phenomena appears not to be slowing down, other bands, from other eras are creeping in and appear to be trying to catch a little bit of what the '80's bands are experiencing.  The band "New York Dolls" is doing just that.

The i wireless Center

Being from Illinois (keep your snickers to yourself) and less than 100 miles from Moline, IL, it seems that I should be very familiar with the city  Unfortunately I really am not that familiar with it, except my Uncle David lived there and John Deere is there but that's really about it.  Moline sits in a Bi-State area of Illinois and Iowa and is part of the Quad Cities and although I have attended many concerts on the Iowa side, Moline has never been a destination for me, until now.