Well the War On Music blog is laid to rest here today.
It was a failure on many levels, but I never gave up, although I was tardy on many occasions. I hop that i you are looking at this it gives you some good music ideas, and you should know that the used section at War On Music that I have pushed so much is no longer around, it was removed about two weeks ago. Sad.
Thanks for reading if you ever did.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Going Old School with the Farrell Bros.
The Farrell Bros. are my favourite act to ever come out of Selkirk, but the first album that I was exposed to was Dead End Boys. I had no idea about the Farrell Bros. early country twang style that you hear on the Ballad Of Jackpine Slash.
The first track on this 1998 release is Look Back Hard Darlin’, and let me tell you I was more than a little surprised at the twang factor, but even more worried that the little bit of edge the tune had might be enough to convince me to give other country-ish artists a second listen. Please people keep me from the dark side. I cannot listen to country - ever.
Don’t get me wrong this is a rockin’ album, it is just different then just about any other disc I own. There are tunes on this album that are similar to their later work. Tunes like Where Are You and, Turn It Around really keep the album jumping. This album would likely be best described as a throw-back to the classic rock-a-billy country era.
My recommendation is that if you are not heavily into the rock-a-billy scene then you might want to start of with on of the Farrell Bros. later albums such as Dead End Boys.
Here is a taste of both the newer and the older.
Newer
Older
The first track on this 1998 release is Look Back Hard Darlin’, and let me tell you I was more than a little surprised at the twang factor, but even more worried that the little bit of edge the tune had might be enough to convince me to give other country-ish artists a second listen. Please people keep me from the dark side. I cannot listen to country - ever.
Don’t get me wrong this is a rockin’ album, it is just different then just about any other disc I own. There are tunes on this album that are similar to their later work. Tunes like Where Are You and, Turn It Around really keep the album jumping. This album would likely be best described as a throw-back to the classic rock-a-billy country era.
My recommendation is that if you are not heavily into the rock-a-billy scene then you might want to start of with on of the Farrell Bros. later albums such as Dead End Boys.
Here is a taste of both the newer and the older.
Newer
Older
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Two Shows Down and One To Go
Friday was the Valentine’s Bop at the Cavern featuring Quagmire, the Afterlife, and the Xanad00ds, and it was another success for the War On Music punk series of concerts. The best part is this time I will not lose the footage I took.
The Xanad00ds were the first up, and although not a punk band, this band is filled with some of the most creative, and artistic musicians I know, so when lead vocalist James Hiebert told me the D00ds wanted to play a punk set I didn’t hesitate.
I will admit that I was a little worried about booking a band with so many keyboards to play a punk show, but I knew the boys could handle hecklers. There was only one, named Shawn, and I must say James was Johnny-on-the-spot with some witty retorts, and even got a couple good barbs in himself telling Shawn that the last tune was being shoved down his throat.
This wasn’t so old school hardcore show, so the Xanad00ds upbeat tunes, and great stage presence transferred well, and was a great lead into The Afterlife.
The Afterlife were a corner stone for my first show, and this time they were even better. The psychedelic, punk rock stylings were even more in tune, and Mark Yerex pounded out the vocals with authority, while John McGowan wailed on guitar for a satisfying 45 minute set.
What can you say about Quagmire. These guys for my buck are the best band in Winnipeg right now, it could be the Afterbeat, but what were they thinking getting rid of the horns on most tracks? Questionable.
Anyways, they played the classics Anola MB, State of the Quagmire Address, and tons of the new stuff that is even better live than on the album. I can’t wait till their next release, but until that happens I’ll just keep on putting on Quagmire shows.
If you have never seen Quagmire before do yourself a favour and check them out.
And on a side note, a big what the love to the drunken clown that ploughed into poor Brad on his way home from the show. I know it wasn’t his fault because the other person was going the wrong way over the Donald Street bridge. Duh.
The Xanad00ds were the first up, and although not a punk band, this band is filled with some of the most creative, and artistic musicians I know, so when lead vocalist James Hiebert told me the D00ds wanted to play a punk set I didn’t hesitate.
I will admit that I was a little worried about booking a band with so many keyboards to play a punk show, but I knew the boys could handle hecklers. There was only one, named Shawn, and I must say James was Johnny-on-the-spot with some witty retorts, and even got a couple good barbs in himself telling Shawn that the last tune was being shoved down his throat.
This wasn’t so old school hardcore show, so the Xanad00ds upbeat tunes, and great stage presence transferred well, and was a great lead into The Afterlife.
The Afterlife were a corner stone for my first show, and this time they were even better. The psychedelic, punk rock stylings were even more in tune, and Mark Yerex pounded out the vocals with authority, while John McGowan wailed on guitar for a satisfying 45 minute set.
What can you say about Quagmire. These guys for my buck are the best band in Winnipeg right now, it could be the Afterbeat, but what were they thinking getting rid of the horns on most tracks? Questionable.
Anyways, they played the classics Anola MB, State of the Quagmire Address, and tons of the new stuff that is even better live than on the album. I can’t wait till their next release, but until that happens I’ll just keep on putting on Quagmire shows.
If you have never seen Quagmire before do yourself a favour and check them out.
And on a side note, a big what the love to the drunken clown that ploughed into poor Brad on his way home from the show. I know it wasn’t his fault because the other person was going the wrong way over the Donald Street bridge. Duh.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Clash Comp. Critique
I picked up a used copy of the Clash tribute album London Burning, and although it is certainly not as good as the Black Flag Tribute Rise Above, but what is really? Oh yeah, that great Sublime Tribute Forever Free. But I'll get into that next blog.
There are a few hidden gems on this album, a few great choices for songs, and a few songs that would count as disappointments if I wasn't sure the track was going to suck when I saw the artist playing the music. Moby.
I shouldn't rag on Moby too much, but I will for a bit. First of all I don't know how much it ads to the tune to just get someone with an Irish accent. Why slow the song down that much, it totally loses the reggae bop that makes this song one of the better of an Clash era that I'm not much a fan of.
I do have to thank Moby because this is one of the songs that I thought even though it is of Combat Rock, it is a pretty great choice for a song.
The song that pisses me off, and I think sucks the most is the Ice Cube and Mack 10 song they rip off and wrote. Who the love goes on a tribute album, rips the beat and raps over it with some of the stupidest, least relevant to the song lyrics possibly ever? Ice Cube, but from the way he used to rap, and talk, and the way he acts now I don' think he ever got. oh yeah it's Should I Stay or Should I Go. I bet Ice Cob had no idea what the original is even about - whatta gup.
Enough of the negativity here are the great tunes. The first of which is the Mighty Mighty Bosstones cover of Rudy Can't fail. Great choice, and great version. True to the original with a Bosstones style skank added.
No Doubt who I think were pretty cool until they went insane do a great cover of Hateful, and the Urge come in with a wicked Radio Clash rendition.
Cracker's White Riot is kind of the way I have always heard that tune. They do such a great job of covering this tune. I gotta figure out what Cracker is all about. Is that Uncle Cracker? I hope not, but I'll deal with it if it is.
A lot of the other tunes are great, but some of the bands I'm not sure translate the feel of the Clash to the album. Silver Chair however does one heck of a job on London's Burning. I can't help but think if they had a couple more years to mature as artists they would have done something great.
I feel the same way about this album.
There are a few hidden gems on this album, a few great choices for songs, and a few songs that would count as disappointments if I wasn't sure the track was going to suck when I saw the artist playing the music. Moby.
I shouldn't rag on Moby too much, but I will for a bit. First of all I don't know how much it ads to the tune to just get someone with an Irish accent. Why slow the song down that much, it totally loses the reggae bop that makes this song one of the better of an Clash era that I'm not much a fan of.
I do have to thank Moby because this is one of the songs that I thought even though it is of Combat Rock, it is a pretty great choice for a song.
The song that pisses me off, and I think sucks the most is the Ice Cube and Mack 10 song they rip off and wrote. Who the love goes on a tribute album, rips the beat and raps over it with some of the stupidest, least relevant to the song lyrics possibly ever? Ice Cube, but from the way he used to rap, and talk, and the way he acts now I don' think he ever got. oh yeah it's Should I Stay or Should I Go. I bet Ice Cob had no idea what the original is even about - whatta gup.
Enough of the negativity here are the great tunes. The first of which is the Mighty Mighty Bosstones cover of Rudy Can't fail. Great choice, and great version. True to the original with a Bosstones style skank added.
No Doubt who I think were pretty cool until they went insane do a great cover of Hateful, and the Urge come in with a wicked Radio Clash rendition.
Cracker's White Riot is kind of the way I have always heard that tune. They do such a great job of covering this tune. I gotta figure out what Cracker is all about. Is that Uncle Cracker? I hope not, but I'll deal with it if it is.
A lot of the other tunes are great, but some of the bands I'm not sure translate the feel of the Clash to the album. Silver Chair however does one heck of a job on London's Burning. I can't help but think if they had a couple more years to mature as artists they would have done something great.
I feel the same way about this album.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Commercials Are Story Here
The first commercial I recorded is set in a war theme with a person urging people to get to War On Music to get the latest hard and fast tunes to fight the corporate rock machine. I still have to send it to Rick Baverstock for approval, but I think that it is a good read, good levels, and has a good amount of information, and only one call to action.
I have however been having more trouble making my print ads. I’m not sure if the posters I make for shows count, but I hope they do, because I’m not quite sure where to put print ads up. I would do it on those boards in the exchange, and other places, but I’m worried that A) it looks cheap B)takes up space that shows could be using, so I think I will just do the show posters, and add some War On Music promos on that. Plus I have got to start making the On-Slot better, so that War On Music looks better.
Listen to the On-Slot Wednesdays 6-7 PM on 92.9 KICK FM. Win stuff like tickets to see Quagmire on February 10.
.
Follow us on Twitter @waronmusic, the website www.waronmusic.com, or the Facebook page.
And listen to the On-Slot Wednesday night 6-7PM on 92.9 KICK-FM.
I have however been having more trouble making my print ads. I’m not sure if the posters I make for shows count, but I hope they do, because I’m not quite sure where to put print ads up. I would do it on those boards in the exchange, and other places, but I’m worried that A) it looks cheap B)takes up space that shows could be using, so I think I will just do the show posters, and add some War On Music promos on that. Plus I have got to start making the On-Slot better, so that War On Music looks better.
Listen to the On-Slot Wednesdays 6-7 PM on 92.9 KICK FM. Win stuff like tickets to see Quagmire on February 10.
.
Follow us on Twitter @waronmusic, the website www.waronmusic.com, or the Facebook page.
And listen to the On-Slot Wednesday night 6-7PM on 92.9 KICK-FM.
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