American Beer Drinking Club-Best Seats N the House

SHINEDOWN

THE SOUND OF MADNESS



Brent Smith - vocals

Barry Kerch - drums

Nick Perri - guitar

Zach Myers - guitar

Eric Bass - bass

So where should I begin....for me I was first introduced to Shinedown about 4 years ago when they played at a summer festival held in my hometown every year. The attraction was instant!It had been years since I had felt that kind of intense energy from a band. They drew the audience in...spun them around a few hundred times and with the grace of a seasoned band twenty years older they kicked their ass. They played again the following year and once again the band and Brent Smith blew the crowd away. With one command Brent Smith separated the crowd of 40,000 people right up the middle until a roadway was formed leading to the stage. Then he asked everyone to come together in the middle as one. I will never forget the feeling of standing on the side as the crowd became like the ocean and swept away leaving me standing alone amongst the trash and empty blankets. I remember thinking that they would follow him to hell and back if he was to ask....that is the power of Shinedown.
So being ever faithful I have waited for their follow up album and their return to my hometown. Well it took a while but finally after over a year my wish has come true this month. The new album The Sound of Madness came out the 25th of June and just a few weeks earlier I was privileged to see my band again at the same summer festival we hold every year. I am a very lucky girl! The album is by far better than anything out today and most definitely will make Shinedown part of a very exclusive group of artist....the best of the best! There is not one song of the 14 songs on my CD that is not capable of setting the charts on fire. The writing...the music....the story behind each song....well if your breathing and living a life...then you will get it! Every song will touch you because you've lived it. Shinedown had the ability to write about life,the life that we all live...the anger, misunderstandings, love, sorrow, blessings and regrets...the things we would have changed if we only knew at the time. Yes, I could go on and on and yes,you would be sick of me telling you how much I love this band. But its true and listen when I tell you that you have to buy this album. Take it home...put it in your stereo...put your headphones on or blast it through the speakers...read the words...listen to the music...hell ya its a good day in rock n roll.
I can't really give you a few tracks that are my favorites...they all are! You'll just have to buy the CD and figure out that part for yourself. The band is already touring and I'm sure they'll be on the road for a while so check their websites for the tour dates. Don't miss out on seeing them live...truly its an experience you'll never forget.
"C"

www.shinedown.com
www.shinedownnation.com
www.atlanticrecords.com

It's a brand new album for Motley Crue and a new hit single with "Saints of Los Angeles" They're also bringing to the table a new summer tour called "Crue Fest" which promises to be HUGH!!! Joining them on stage will be Buckcherry, Papa Rouch, Sixx:AM and Trapt. I can't wait! Tickets are on sale already and you can go through the Motley Crue website at http://www.motley.com/ and get them there...and of course check out all the new stuff going on with one of our favorite bands of all time. Don't forget you can also catch up with them at www.myspace.com/motleycrue. Go check them out...the boys are back and no one is happier than me.
"C"

July 1 - West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheater 3 - Tampa, FL - Ford Amphitheater 5 - Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater 6 - Virginia Beach, VA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater 8 - Wantagh, NY - Jones Beach Amphitheater 9 - Buffalo, NY -Darien Lake Amphitheater 10 - Sarnia, ON - Bayfest 12 - Philadelphia, PA - Susquehanna Bank Center 13 - Washington, DC - Nissan Pavilion 15 - Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Center 16 - Chicago, IL - FMB Pavilion 18 - Indianapolis, IN - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater 19 - Milwaukee, WI -Marcus Amphitheater 20 - St. Louis, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater 22 - Houston, TX - Woodlands/Toyota Ctr. 23 - San Antonio, TX - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater 24 - Dallas, TX - Superpages.com Amphitheater 26 - Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion 27 - Denver, CO - Fiddler's Green Amphitheater 29 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA 31 - Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion August 1 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay 2 - Los Angeles, CA - Glen Helen Pavilion 5 - Sacramento, CA - Sleep Train Amphitheater 6 - San Francisco, CA - Shoreline Amphitheater 8 - Seattle, WA - White River Amphitheater 9 - Portland, OR - Rose Garden 11 - Vancouver, BC - GM Place 13 - Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place 14 - Calgary, AB - Saddledome 15 - Saskatoon, SK - Credit Union Centre 17 - Winnipeg, MB -MTS Centre 19 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Amphitheater 20 - Cleveland, OH -Blossom Music Center 22 - Boston, MA - Tweeter Center 23 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center 24 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena 28 - Toronto, ON - Molson Amphitheater 29 - Albany, NY - SPAC 30 - Scranton, PA - Toyota Pavilion 31 - Pittsburgh, PA - Post Gazette Pavilion

Columbus Crew Stadium
Columbus, Ohio

May 17th and 18th,2008!




Line Up for May 17th:

Stone Temple Pilots
Disturbed
Stained
Killswitch Engage
Serj Tankian
Shinedown
Finger Eleven
Filter
10 Years
Red
Theory of a Deadman
Ashes Divide
Airbourne
and more....

Line up for May 18th:

3 Doors Down
Kid Rock
Seether
Papa Roach
Flyleaf
Alter Bridge
Sevendust
Default
Black Tide
Bobaflex
Drive A
Revelation Theory
and more

For ticket information just go to
www.rockontherange.com
or
www.myspace.com/rockontherange

2008 ROCKLAHOMA LINEUP ANNOUNCED


HOLLYWOOD, CA— The line up for 2008's Rocklahoma was announced by Catch the Fever Music Festivals at a press conference held at the historic Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood.

Hosted by nationally syndicated DJ and VJ Eddie Trunk, the press conference was attended by Bret Michaels, front man of Poison, all of Warrant featuring Jani Lane, along with members of Cinderella, LA Guns, Enuf Z Nuff, Beautiful Creatures, Night Ranger, XYZ, Pretty Boy Floyd, Vain, and Lynch Mob. Trunk, who is heard nationally and on XM Satellite Radio's channel 41 The Boneyard and is seen as the VH on VH-1 Classic, invited rock fans worldwide to attend Rocklahoma, June 10-13, 2008, at the Catch the Fever Festival grounds in Pryor Oklahoma. The press conference was broadcasted live on XM's Boneyard Channel 41, as well as streamed on Wyldside Radio.

Over 80 bands will be performing on three giant stages over July 10 through July 13th. As announced, Rocklahoma's initial lineup on the main stage is:

Thursday (Pre Party for those who have bought three day tickets) Bret Michaels, LA Guns featuring Tracii Guns, Enuf Z Nuff, Vain, House of Lords and Jet Boy.

Friday: XYZ, Armored Saint, Kingdom Come, Night Ranger, TBA, Triumph and TBA.

Saturday: Pretty Boy Floyd, Every Mother's Nightmare, Tora Tora, Black N Blue, Trixter, Kix, Warrant featuring Jani Lane and Cinderella

Sunday: Axe, Beautiful Creatures, Zebra, Lynch Mob, TBA, Tesla and TBA

Additional bands on the main stage will be added in the upcoming weeks. The initial lineup and bands are subject to change as bands are added and the exact schedule is arranged.

Two side stages adjacent to the main stage feature over twenty-eight regional artists on each stage.

The Retrospect Records stage includes the following bands: Jester, Sidekixx, Pair-A-Dice, Front Runner, Tommy Had a Vision, Valor, Gypsy Blue, Whitefoxx, Blue Tiger, Wild August, Messang, Paul Shortino, Mariah, Warryor, Bad Candy, Lorraine, Nasty Nasty, Real Steel, Cuttlass, Vyper, Mass, Bad Candy, Oney, Strikeforce, Herazz, Reckless, Heartless, Ron Keel, Warryor and Alibi.

On the Tri-Label Group stage has Texas Hippie Coalition, Karnevil featuring Dario Lorina, Dirty Penny, Crooked X, Gypsy Pistoleros, Sweet FA, Banshee, Gods of Kansas, Lipstick Magazine, Pownd, Shadowside, Mindflow, Warmachine, Asphalt Valentine, Krucible featuring Lance King.


Rocklahoma is the world's largest Rock Festival of its type featuring bands from the eighties. Attendance is expected from all fifty states, every Province in Canada and every country in Europe.

Located four miles north of Pryor, OK, off Highway 69, the Catch the Fever facilities include over 6,200 assigned and numbered seats, as well as general admission on the lawn for over 50,000 people. The grounds also feature over 4,000 campsites, on-site parking, bathroom facilities, a convenience store, and overnight security provided by Mayes County Sheriff's Department. Rocklahoma features a Picture Alley that allows anyone in attendance to approach the stage during any performance and take photographs of a favorite artist at close range.

General Admission Tickets and V.I.P. tickets to Rocklahoma are currently on sale and available by calling toll free 866-310-2288 or by going online at www.feverfest.com

If you guys need more info check out the official "Rocklahoma" my space at
www.myspace.com/rocklahoma.

They also have most of the band websites listed for you. That way you can spend your day listening to all the great music...and trying to figure out where you packed away all those great T-Shirts...but leave the spandex where it is...somethings are better left to the memory.
C

Rob Traynor-vocals/guitar
Johnny Fattoruso-guitar
Mike Meselsohn-drums
Oddie McLaughlin-bass

So this is what I can tell you... former Dust to Dust singer/songwriter Rob Traynor has put together an amazing group of musicians to form a band that I expect will make a hugh impack in music this year. They have their debut album due out early this year and their first single "Brother Go On" has just been added to the rotation at Sirius' Octane channel. Yes, life is looking good for boys from New York. Take a look for yourself!
www.myspace.com/blackwaterrising
or
http://www.blackwaterrising.net/
Click banner below to request BWR on Sirius OCTANE
Request Black Water Rising!


Whatever you do, go to one of their sites and check out their video "Brother Go On" directed by Noah Shulman.
Have a great week!
C

Another Animal released their debut CD appropriately called "Another Animal" on October 2, 2007. The band, made up of members of Godsmack, Ugly Kid Joe, and Dropbox found themselves with some extra material, an urge to do some recording and get back out on the road and tour. So that's what they did and the end result is one of my favorite albums of the year! The Cd is outstanding and its packed with the different influences that each of these talented musician has brought to this new collaboration. Yes, you can still feel the essence of Godsmack but it is soon forgotten with the vocal of Whitfield Crane who's voice is simply mesmerizing throughout . Whit had some help with Lee Richards and Shannon Larkin also laying down some vocal tracks. Robbie Merrill and Tony Rombola...they are just the best of the best at what they do, their talent is undaunted in the music industry today. Shannon Larkin's talent behind the drum kit can only be compared to that of Keith Moon and John Bonham...he is a perfect combination of both...he is in a class by himself! No doubt you have already heard " Broken Again" on the your local airwaves but you need to listen to "Distant Signs" and "Left Behind" and my favorite "Fade Away". Shannon does the vocals on "The Thin Line" which brings out some of the harder influences from his past. On the softer side is a little melody called "Interlude" a classic rock n roll beat with a little southern accent.

So the big day is fast approaching and there are still some of you who have not finished all that Christmas shopping...so I am here to help...or at least help you with that music lover on your list. I have just a few ideas in my mind hope you like what I've picked out!



#5. Sirius/XM Radio: A subscription radio service providing over a hundred stations of commercial free music, sports and talk entertainment. Both Sirius and XM have their own web sites for you to find more information or you can travel over to your closest electronics store (Best Buy) where they can help you out also. I have been a long time subscriber to Sirius. I am a "Buzzsaw" girl...for many reasons including the fact that I can't see the display without my glasses... and I can't drive with my glasses. What can I say...can't drive with the glasses...can't read without! So its just easier to leave on what I love and that would usually be "Buzzsaw". Seriously though satellite radio is a lot of fun in the car, at home or even on your computer. Check it out!

#4. Ipods and MP3 players: Again a great gift especially for the person who always on the run. There are too many different ones out there for me to even know where to begin. Check them out on line or at your nearest electronic store or phone store. Personally my phone holds all my music and I am loving it! If I could only figure out how not to erase all the names in my address book I would be a happy camper.

#3. Concert tickets: Who does not love being handed a couple tickets to a show they have been wanting to see! There are a ton of tours going on right up until the holidays and then starting back up after the new year. You should be able to access a list by looking up events for your city using your computer. You can also check out sites like Pollstar http://www.pollstar.com/ or http://www.buy-event-tickets.com/ where you can see the bands currently touring all over the world. Buy-Event-Tickets will also help you find tickets. For example...they have tickets available for Led Zeppelin in London on Dec. 10th...for a mere $11,440.00 you can purchase a seat for the show (air fare not included) of course general admission tickets are only going for $5,725.00. Oh yea....I'm right on top of that one! There will be no Led Zeppelin in my stocking for this year!

#2. DVDs, Books and Cd's: There is just a millions options out there for what ever kind of music you or your gift recipient enjoy! Pick a band or any musician and you should be able to find a DVD of a concert or a tour or a collection of music videos. Check out your video stores, electronic stores, web sites and sometimes even the bands web site. I am hoping to finally find "The Cult" DVD under the tree this year...I have been hinting for this one for 3 years now! Books...yes books! I am one of those crazy people who can read 2 or 3 books at a time...I love to read! I always have some kind of a musical biography open....right now it's "Off the Rails" by Rudy Sarzo...one of my favorite people in this world. Another good one is "The Path We Choose" by Sully Erna from Godsmack. Ronnie Wood and Eric Clapton both came out with autobiographies this year as did Pattie Boyd (Eric's ex) with "Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me". I might have to pick up that one before Christmas along with the "Slash" by Slash...they should make for some good holiday reading. Last, but not least Cd's! What a great year of music we have enjoyed. Most of the bands I have reviewed this year have music available on their websites so that should be a easy solutions for you. Still there is so much music out there that I didn't even get to write about yet! Rascal Flatts, Kidd Rock, Ozzy and Alter Bridge (who I will be seeing next week) all have great Cd's out. The Eagles and Led Zeppelin both have out new Cd's which are topping the charts and Nickelback and Daughtry still have Cd's out that have been on the chart for over a year now... how could you go wrong?

#1: "Heroin Diaries: A Year in the Life of a Shattered Rockstar" by Nikki Sixx and "Herion Diaries Soundtrack"by Sixx:AM. The book and the soundtrack were a special present I gave to myself earlier this year. The book made me laugh and cry and scared me to death! Nikki took a path many of us could very easily have taken back in those days and many will choose even now. I am amazed by what he's gone through and how he has changed the outcome of his life. The book is simply unforgettable and the soundtrack mirrors the book and then brings it all to life! "Heroin Diaries" by Sixx:AM is played in my house, my car or on my phone on a daily basis by myself or one of my sons. This is the perfect gift for the music enthusiast, those who loves to listen to music, those who love to read a heart pounding story and those who love a good ending or should I say a "unbelievably great new beginning!" What could be better than this? Well, On Dec. 7th, people living in Dallas and Dec. 9th, for those of you living in Houston stop what your doing and hurry down to Borders Books and Music! Nikki will be in town to do some book signings for those who make it out. I would call your local Borders for more information on times etc. See, you pick up the Cd, the book and have it signed by the artist all in one stop....the perfect gift!

I wish you all a wonderful holiday season...stay safe people! I have to run...got to check on flights to Dallas and Houston!!!!!!
C