Andrews Rock Blog

My pal Ryan in Jack’s promo department had a chance to check out the Smashing Pumpkins a few weeks ago when they played a sold out two night stand at Massey Hall. He said the show was fantastic, 2 1/2 hours plus. But it sounds as though not everyone is enjoying what the Pumpkins are offering up on their current tour. The band has been greeted with lacklustre reviews at certain stops, along with booing crowds! The latest incident occurred at the band’s homecoming show in Chicago, where Billy Corgan went on a 9 minute rant at the end of the gig, declaring “we don’t know what you *&^$R^$ want from us!”. You can check it out for yourself below. And if saucy language offends you, don’t listen because there is a bit of cursing going on in the footage.

It seems to me Corgan is really trying to cement the legacy of the Smashing Pumpkins and is having a tough time doing it. What do you think? Lemme know and then use “PUMPKINS” as today’s bonus code.

I’m counting down the days until Sunday, when I can finally head over to a record store and purchase my long awaited copy of Guns N Roses “Chinese Democracy”. It doesn’t matter that I’ve heard many of the songs over the past few years, either in live versions or in the various demos that have leaked since the dawn of the 21st century. It’s all about the finished product and how Axl Rose intends for us to hear it. Of course, for a lot of people “Chinese Democracy” will be nothing but a disappointment. They won’t be satisfied, and they’ll wonder why Axl spent all those years on the material. People will expect the wheel to be redefined when really 13 years is simply how long its taken Axl to finish this piece. The guy views himself as an artist and music is his canvas. It may sound pretentious, but I tend to think it’s simply the truth.

I’ll have a review of the album in next week’s Jack Nation Magazine and under the Skip A Beat section of our website, but I can tell you right now I’m predisposed to liking “Chinese Democracy” based on what I’ve heard so far. Take a listen to the album’s first two singles, the title track and “Better” here, let me know your thoughts, and then use GUNNERS as today’s bonus code.

Tomorrow’s Jack Nation Magazine has my review of the brand new Genesis box set “1970-1975″, which collects the band’s 5 studio albums with Peter Gabriel. I’ll leave most of the talk for the review, which should convince you to pick up the set (it’s absolutely essential for fans new and old alike). In short, each album (Tresspass, Foxtrot, Nursery Cryme, Selling England By The Pound, and the Lamb Lies Down On Broadway) is remixed and remastered on cd and DVD. Each DVD features the albums in 5.1 Surround Sound, along with new interviews and rare live footage. All of them sound great, but extra care has been given to “The Lamb…”, which in it’s DVD format syncs up the original slideshow footage the band used when they performed the album in its entirety back in 1974/75, along with whatever brief live footage they had in the archives.

I was never a huge fan of the album, but I have a newfound appreciation for it in its surround sound format. Since Genesis never filmed a complete “Lamb” show back in the day, I imagine that the DVD is as close to seeing it performed by the band as we’re going to get until Peter Gabriel takes the stick out of his butt and agrees to tour with his former bandmates.

Check out some rare “Lamb” footage, let me know what you think of the band and the album, and then use LAMB as today’s bonus code.

Among the treats I picked up in Los Angeles at Amoeba Records is the latest release from a New York based band called Secret Machines, one of my favourite new bands of the past few years. Think John Bonham drums, post-Syd/pre-Dark Side Floyd jams, with hints of Bowie and U2, and you’ve got a fairly broad description of what the trio sound like. The band were signed to Reprise Records for their first two albums, but have since gone the indie route with their third studio recording. Of course, you know a band is having issues when one has no idea that they’ve released a new album.

I knew Secret Machines were working on something knew, but I was a bit surprised to see their latest staring me in the face when I was browsing the racks. No mentions of their new release at Rolling Stone or Billboard, and the band made their second Toronto appearance in 5 months not long ago with nary a peep about it. That being said, their new album is a great piece of work and well worth tracking down.

It’s a shame that Secret Machines aren’t better known (heck, they’ve been hailed by U2 and even backed up Bono in the Beatles flick “Across The Universe”), and I’m not sure they’ll be able to sustain a career for much longer with the lack of mainstream notice they receive. But take my word for it when I say that even with all the influences sited above, Secret Machines really don’t sound like anybody else. Their music is grandiose and epic, but also full of hooks and some very catchy tunes. Take a listen to the band from just a few days ago and let me know what you think of them, and then use MACHINES as today’s bonus code.

On our trip to Los Angeles I made sure to stop off at Amoeba Records, the greatest record store in the world. And boy, I wasn’t disappointed at all. I only had one real goal in mind when I got there, Graham Nash’s recently reissued debut solo album “Songs For Beginner’s”, which came in a CD/DVD package which found the album remixed in 5.1 surround sound. I found it as soon as I walked in at a super price. But that was just the beginning. For 2 hours I combed the stores racks, looking for anything and everything. I didn’t want to break the bank, mind you, and I didn’t want to purchase things that I may only spin once or twice.

Among the jewels I found was an album that I’d heard about on a record collectors posting board I frequent. The folks on there have been raving about Kansas and the 30th Anniversary reissue of their double live album “Two For The Show”. The new version features the complete original album along with a bonus disc of previously unreleased material. Now I have no problems admitting that the only Kansas tunes I’ve been familiar over the years are the obvious ones “Carry On Wayward Son” and “Dust In The Wind”. So I picked up “Two For The Show” on faith that my record collecting comrades know what they’re talking about. Upon finishing my first list to Disc 1 all I could think was:

Why didn’t anybody tell me about Kansas?

This stuff is amazing! I love prog rock and this is awesomely proggy, but accessible too! Great hooks, great vocals, and great playing! The violin is a big part of the sound of Kansas’ sound, but it really fits in with the rest of the music. The keyboards aren’t over the top like Keith Emerson always is; in fact, Kansas’ understated keyboards reminded me a lot of mid to late 70’s Genesis. This is great stuff!

Why didn’t anybody tell me about Kansas? Did you know? I can’t believe I’ve missed out on this stuff all these years!

Check out some live Kansas below, let me know what you think about the band, and then use their name as today’s bonus code.

Well we’re back in the saddle again. At least, we’re back in Toronto. Jeff is still in California until next week, Carly is doing the afternoon show, and I’m working behind the scenes here at Jack Nation Central. We had an amazing time in L.A. with our 80 listeners, partying, rocking, and generally just hanging out in the warm California sun. Thanks to all the guys who came with us. It’s awesome to meet people who listen to Jack, and who dig what we’re doing. Leaves us all with warm and fuzzy feelings.

As for the Who themselves, the band put on an amazing show. It was pretty close to the performance which I saw in Hamilton a few weeks ago, with the addition of “Relay”, which is a great live song and fits well into the set. Daltrey was having a few issues with his voice, but still sounded solid. In the meantime, Pete Townshend was on absolute fire throughout the entire evening. He was playing amazing guitar, and was very talkative, telling stories about the band throughout the evening. Pete often refers to this version of the Who as a covers or tribute band, but watching them onstage I think it’s pretty clear that this continues to be a legendary band with something to offer.

Check out some footage from the gig below and then use WIZARD for today’s bonus code. Once again, if you were there, thanks for being great, and if you weren’t, well, there’s always the next party plane destination

I think Jack Bruce is mixing his meds. This week he was attending an awards show in London where he was asked about Cream reuniting; here’s what he said and where he went with it (the swearing edits belong to me):

“Everybody talks about Led Zeppelin, and they played one f’ing gig — one f’ing lame gig — while Cream did weeks of gigs…F off, Zeppelin, you’re crap. You’ve always been crap and you’ll never be anything else. Cream is 10 times the band that Led Zeppelin is.”

Yikes! What brought this on? Apparently Bruce was ticked off that Led Zeppelin headlined the Ahmet Ertegun tribute show last year in London, a gig that Cream were planning on playing.

Bruce later told a radio station that he was just kidding around when he made those comments. Or was he? He then proceeded to say,

“The thing about Zeppelin is that obviously it’s a little bit of jealousy on my part — or more than a little bit — because the audience was created by Cream and Jimi Hendrix…this sort of very large audience…Then Zeppelin came along and had a very easy ride in that way. We were the pioneers and pioneers don’t always get the recognition they deserve, maybe.”

 He then continued to attack band members!

“Well, I always thought Robert Plant used the wrong kind of fertilizer, anyway, so I think he might be an improvement…I’m just joking… Let’s face it: Jimmy Page ain’t no Eric Clapton, no matter what anybody thinks.”

Let’s see - Jack Bruce doesn’t have a new album coming out. Cream isn’t reuniting anytime soon. So the only reason I can see him making these comments is that he’s suddenly become senile. Do we really need a battle of aging rock stars. Especially with one who really hasn’t done anything that’s resonated with an audience in over 40 years. I saw Cream in 2005 and it was an awesome gig; all three guys in the band (Bruce, Clapton, and Ginger Baker) played well and it was historic. But really - calling Led Zeppelin crap? Give me a break! Two different bands, two different sounds. Jealousy is an ugly thing.

Anyway, have your say. Cream or Zeppelin? Let me know and then use FEUD as your bonus code. On that note, I’m off to L.A. Have a great weekend!

I was in Hamilton last night to watch Yes kick off their “In The Present” tour with new keyboardist Oliver Wakeman and Benoit David, the vocalist who is standing in for Jon Anderson while the singer recovers from his various health issues. While of course I wish Jon all the best in his recovery, having watched this new line-up of Yes in action I would be lying if I thought the group needed him back. Last night’s show featuring Steve Howe, Chris Squire, and Alan White was one of the best Yesshows I’ve seen (number 11 over 14 years). The guys were reinvigorated with the new blood and pulled out a bunch of songs that hadn’t been in the set in 30 odd years, including “Tempus Fugit” and “Machine Messiah”. Benoit David did an admirable job of stepping into the big shoes of Anderson, and while he was a little cheeseball with some of his onstage mannerisms, those are minor criticisms. He definitely fit in with the other members, and his voice, while not exactly like Anderson’s, was certainly up to the task. There were some awesome moments when he was singing harmonies with Squire and Howe that left me smiling and wondering about the potential that this new line-up has.

Yes brings their ‘In The Present” tour to Massey Hall tonight. If you’re going down, keep your eyes open for me. Check out a clip of one of the songs they played last night and then use INTHEPRESENT as today’s bonus code. 

Tonight the Smashing Pumpkins take over Massey Hall for the first of two sold out shows om their 20th Anniversary Tour. The talk is that the band isn’t repeating songs when they’re doing multiple night stands, so that means you’re going to to get two radically different shows. I saw the band back 1998 at the same venue and it was stellar. If you’re going, have fun!

On a related note, last night I was playing Guitar Hero World Tour when all of a sudden the one and only Billy Corgan showed up to sing and play guitar on ”Today”. That’s one thing that the Guitar Hero games have that Rock Band is lacking; actual music personalities appearing. Heck, Aerosmith are characters in their own game, while I anticipate seeing Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk Wylde appear in World Tour as I progress in the game. By the way, I mentioned that the review for World Tour would be out in this week’s Jack Nation e-mag, but it’s actually next week’s issue. 

In the meantime, use CORGAN as today’s bonus code.  

The news came out yesterday that The Beatles would be the focus of a new video game next year from the makers of Rock Band. Contrary to initial expectations, the Fab Four’s foray into video games won’t be an add-on to that particular franchise, but something totally new, a journey through the entire history of the band, from their first album to their final days. Those are pretty much all the details that have been revealed, but the concept has got Beatles fans salivating as to what the game’s story will be. Personally, I’d love to see a Rock Band-esque career game where you can choose which member of the band you want to be, with John, Paul, George, and Ringo all having their own storylines to follow and exclusive songs to play. How about you - what sort of game do you think would do justice to the Beatles?

Let me know, and then use FABFOUR as your weekend bonus code. Oh, and be sure to check out the Jack Nation magazine Tuesday for my review of the new Guitar Hero: World Tour.