Various Articles and Reviews from years past

Review: Shekel @ The Runway
6/24/2004 12:00:00 AM

If you havent seen these guys your definitly missing out.No matter the place or the time these guys are gaurenteed to give you more than your moneys worth.Next show is the 2nd of July at the Runway.If you want a damn metal show these guys serve it something.

Review: GLASS LILY @ The Barcar
6/23/2004 12:00:00 AM

These young ladies have got it going on.I dont care who you are you cant resist their awesome sound and radiant good looks. Two hundred thumbs up to the girl from the lily!!!!!!!!

Review: FULL FATHOM @ The Sutler Annual Battle Of The Bands 2004
5/26/2004 12:00:00 AM

Wow! I was at the Sutler's annual battle of the bands last night, and i have to say, that band full fathom sure did destroy their opponents!!!! Everyone at the sutler must have thought so too, as the band left with the FIRST PRIZE TROPHY! Some highlights of this rockin a$$ show included several songs from their new cd, like "Devil Crusher" and "Variations", as well as a bunch of brand new songs!!! as the winner af last night's show they are going on to play the Muse tonight!!

Review: Destroy By Design @ Runway 5/15/2004 12:00:00 AM This band totally kicked ass and I can't wait to see them again 5/29 at the Runway

Review: The Aaron Marshall Band @ The Old Time Pickin Parlor
11/20/2003 12:00:00 AM

The Aaron Marshall Band had their maiden voyage Thursday night Nov. 20th at Old Time Picking Parlor, a popular venue in Nashville that supports live independent artists. And for their first gig, they had one hell of a turnout! Members of hard rock band Soulus were in the front row cheering their friends on, as was country artist Clay Rigdon. A quiet hush fell over the crowd as the first chords of "Bring You Back" swelled into life, an introduction to a band you've only seen the first of. Aaron kept the banter playful and funny throughout the numerous guitar tunings necessary for their originals, showing glimpses of a witty performer who knows she is on stage to have a good time and give a good time to everyone around her. The musicians involved in this project are obviously seasoned pros, and they were amazingly tight for a band as new as they are. Brandon Leon smoked on bass, Nick Wheeler played some of the most outrageous leads heard downtown that night, and drummer James Nicholson played with precision and emotion reminiscent of the memorable greats. Not to be forgotten is Chelsea Adkins, a rock newcomer who brings her musical theater belting into a genre where it can be definitely appreciated. Aaron Marshall's songwriting is very apparently influenced by Heart and Zeppelin, as is her singing, which I can most accurately describe as the love child of Ann Wilson and Robert Plant (strangely, with a hint of Ms. Folk Rock herself, Joni Mitchell). A friend recommended this show to me, and I feel as if I now owe her something in return...maybe I will buy her a drink at the next Aaron Marshall Band show, because you can bet your ass I will be there with bells on. There's a new band in town, everyone...and I suggest you not let them pass you by.

Review: Disappointed by Candy @ Red Rose Coffee House 11/14/2003 12:00:00 AM Disappointed by Candy is a four piece act from Nashville. They make excellent rock music. Their grooves are solid, the lyrics are fantastic, and their guitarists know more than 3 chords. Their vocalist, Gabe Ruschival, sounds like a manlier version of Jeff Buckley. He has a strong sense of melody and his harmonies were always tasteful and well-done. Ruschival is also the group’s lead guitarist. He uses alternate tunings to create harmonic structures not usually heard on the guitar. It’s refreshing to find a player who is willing to go that extra step to express himself musically. Their music is similar to Dreamworks recording artist Ours but without their occasional harshness. Their music is mesmerizing and inspiring. Their album is also equally brilliant. Upcoming Shows: Dec. 5th @ Blue Sky Court 410 4th Ave. S 615-242-6033 Dec. 10th @ The End 2219 Elliston Pl. w/ Rich Creamy Paint (one of nashville’s better folk rock trios www.richcreamypaint.com )

Review: Thousandfold @ Old Time Picking Parlor 11/15/2003 12:00:00 AM I was able to observe Thousandfold for the second time at OTPP on sat nov 15th. This is one of the best Indipendent acts that I have ever seen. Their sound is a perfect mix beteween heavy and melody. Their stage presence is amazing. This is one Nashville band that you need to keep your eye on. They stand a big chance of being the next big thing. I cannot wait untill they have a full length album. But untill then you can check out their downloads at. www.thousandfold.net Mike K (from Sinister Drone)

Review: six ways till sunday (at rcktwn battle of the bands) @ rcktwn 10/25/2003 12:00:00 AM I wrote this review a while back in word but am just now getting around to submitting it. This is all about a new band called six ways till sunday. They weren't exactly everything the last review of them said they were. However they are a good band.The show opened with a surprise band I can't remember the name of, next was As cities burn, then red square(who won the battle of bands). They said this was thier first show, and for a first show it was very good. They didn't have a vocalist (someone there said there vocalist had a breakdown or something)so they did the whole thing instrumental. For a musical band they weren't that bad with some work they could be one of the top 5 bands in nashville, but they also need a good vocalist for that. Two guitarist delievering different messages to the audience but still both were showing great song structure. Not much movement, all of them need to loosen up a bit but that wouldn't take much work. The first song they played began grungy sounding alot like a nirvana song but by the end of it they were sounding like punk's version of the deftones. Then they played a song that did sound like it was meant to be an instumental, it was pretty simple it went from quiet to loud back to quiet again. The third song was really catchy and showed the guitars and bass matching very good, especially for a new band. The last few songs were a little messy, especially one that they said they were still working on (but the guitar and bass drums sounded awesome, especailly when the bass player managed to keep up) but the show atleast wasn't a complete disaster. Overall they have a good sound (sounds like an emo band, but I mean that in a good way) and within a few months I hope to see them play again. Also a quicknote on the bass player, I heard someone say he made his bass himself and it didn't have a brand name on it so I assume that he did and he did a great job from what I remember. Understandably this band did not win but they still played good. And that is the truth about six ways till sunday.

Review: After Eye Fall @ Cafe Express
10/18/2003 12:00:00 AM

I recently attended a show at Cafe Express in Mt. Juliet and watched a band named After Eye Fall. I was really impressed. I thought they were much better than most of the nashville rock bands which everyone thinks are so awesome. Even though these guys played at a small venue, they still rocked the place with their awesome drumming, vocals ,guitaring and bass playing. These guys are really talented. THey have like a 12 Stones sound or something its really hard to compare ,but much better than whats in Nashville now. I cant wait till these guys start playing bigger venues around Nashville. Keep Rocking Guys

Review: Totem Soul @ The Night Deposit
10/11/2003 12:00:00 AM

Totem Soul is a very strong band. They played a flawless set that slowly got heavier as it progressed. This band is definately tight. Totem Soul is definately on the move, I am sure that if they keep on pushing they will soon make it in this industry. I can't wait to see them live again.

You can check out their downloads and pick up there latest CD on www.totemsoul.com

Review: Sinister Drone @ The Night Deposit
10/11/2003 12:00:00 AM

The Listener's opinion of Sinister Drone is basically Good. Their overall show was great. I wish there could have been More People there of course because My band was playing to. I Liked "Torture Cell" alot. The limited amount of Lighting added a really Cool Vibe to that song. Their sound is a mix between Tool,Disturbed, and Danzig. "Zonzia" was a "bridge of silence". The Overall Vibe and atmosphere of the Club really made the Darkness of Sinister Drone really Shine. I would definately would see them again. Everyone should go see them play atleast once.

Review: six ways till sunday @ a friend's party
10/5/2003 12:00:00 AM

Six ways till sunday are a band that can't really be described musically. They have a sound that has the same vibe as deftones but people could say they sound like the used or saves the day. Thier not entirely different but they have what it takes to make jaws drop. The drawback, this band doesn't have that great of equipment, they use a PA thats from the 1940s (atleast it works). Grunge tones to chaotic riffage the two guitarists easily show off thier skills and playing while the rhythme section features catchy bass lines and radical beats. What this band lacks in equipment they make up for in their song strucutres and they show us that music is about haveing fun and enjoying yourself.

Review: The Elms, The Josh Jackson Band, Ten Mile Drive @ Exit In
9/25/2003 12:00:00 AM

I often have fans write reviews of shows for our web site. Thought I would pass this along. Thanks! Josh This was a great show, a benefit for Junior Diabetes Research. Starting the show off were country / bluegrass/ pop act, Ten Mile Drive. Odd combination as an opener for a rock show, but these guys killed! Think Nickel Creek meets BBMak. Great songs and very well executed. I was so suprised and impressed. Look for these guys in the big time SOON. Next up, The JJB. As a fan close to the band who has seen them a zillion times, I would say this was thier best performance ever! There was so much energy on the stage and the songs sounded great pumping through the huge sound system at Exit In. They made a lot of new fans at this one. The Elms closed this show out in grand fashion. Great energy, cool songs that fall somewhere between The Who, Beatles and Jeff Buckley. Lot of vibe in the room for these guys who have been honing thier chops on the road opening for Peter Frampton. After playing for crowds in the thousands every night it sure made these guys look awesome for the 250 hanging out at Exit In. Great show! A- Bill B.

Review: red square @ the muse
9/20/2003 12:00:00 AM

Red square which is spawned from the band woke up dead features one bass, two gutiars, and an amazing (BLIND) drummer. Playing with Key to the downfall, element 58, and chester boom, red square were the best band on the bill, which is exactly why it was them that finished the night. Playing hardcore to emo music. The problem, one guitarist just stands their with his big stack and expensive guitar thinking hes all that while the other is jumoping around haveing a great time makeing the crowd excited, he even broke his strap at one point and managed to keep playing. With thier unique sound and amazing shows this band will make it out of nashville to the bigtime. - spike

Review: Simpleside @ El Portal
9/20/2003 12:00:00 AM

Simpleside On Sat Sept 20th I had the pleasure of witnessing Simpleside. I was unsure what to expect. They are all clean cut, well dressed guy's so I was unsure what to expect. The show started with the bassist alone out front doing a Jason Newsted solo. As the solo progressed, each member walked onto the stage individually in professional rock band fashion. Still unsure at this point, the band kicked into the first song. I was immediately blown away by the musicianship. A solid drummer with a hint of styles reminding me of drummers from The used, Glassjaw, Finch, etc. The Guitarist was extremely good. Incorporating very good solo's in the songs and very melodic, catchy riffs. The bassist is top notch. All fingers and all over the neck. Very nice. And last but not least, the vocalist. I can't say enough about this kid. He didn't miss a note. All clean vocals and sung VERY well. They played a few ballads but mostly straight up rock. It was kind of refreshing to see this band. They are perfect for everyone, rather you like anything from Metal to Country, anyone can get into these guy's. Reminded me somewhat of Three Doors Down. (I dig those guy's so please take that as a compliment) I suggest coming to see these guy's if you want to let loose, maybe even take the wife/girlfriend out for a good evening of good music. Don't expect a mosh pit, just a good evening of high quality R & R. These guy's are radio ready and with a bit more experience, you may just hear them on your radio someday. --Gregg / www.deadlockband.com

Review: Deadlock @ El Portal 9/20/2003 12:00:00 AM I will be completely honest...I am not a huge metal fan. It comes and goes with different artists, but what I saw Saturday night was amazing. True it was metal, but it was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT METAL. The guys in Deadlock are a tight group of musicians who were on the same page with each other throughout the entire show. They kep the intensity high by throwing in amazingly smooth transitions and time signature changes. The drummer pounded away and kept the place bouncing. The dual guitars were in your face and were guided perfectly by the bass riffs. The vocalist had the metal attitude and showmanship nailed also. These guys dont just scream though. They have good melody, and in several songs pulled some nice backing vocal harmonies. Personal higlights were "Perseverance" "In Ashes" and "Eyes Sewn Shut." Whether you love metal or hate it, you have to respect the musicianship, and these guys have definitely got that one nailed down. Just give them a try, you might find yourself moshing for the entire set. Rock on guys!!

Review: 4Fourty @ The Outer Limit 8/15/2003 12:00:00 AM 4Fourty at the Outer Limits Club in Nashville Tennessee Written by Lady Southern What can you say about a great group of guys, who are not only talented, and have drive and ambition, but also one of the friendliest bunch of guys I have had the pleasure of meeting in the music industry. From the moment 4fourty took the stage, I have to say I was on my feet from the first note. They did a great stage set, consisting of a play list from their current CD I Am Human, as well as songs from past CD's and a couple of tracks from a CD that is still to come hopefully this fall. When 4fourty took the stage they opened with I Am Human, which is the title track from their current CD. The next song was Roses and Wine, which I have to say is one of my favorites, as well as I Don't Think So, Where Is The Love, 2 Months which is their current title track for their current music video. The next songs were Completely Helpless, Sucker Punch, and Lonely Nights which is in fact one of the titles from the new and upcoming CD, 4FourtyIII. 4fourty completed their stage set, and took the time to sit and talk with me as well as my friend Jenna Graves who attended the show with me. I have to say these guys really surprised me by presenting me with a band T-Shirt autographed by the band members, as well as their current CD also autographed by the guys, and a drumstick used during the show. I really enjoyed the show, and I would recommend anyone who is in the Nashville area to drop them an email and attend one of their shows. I can promise you will not be disappointed. I give these guys two thumbs up for not only a great show, but also for being some of the friendliest guys I have met in the music industry. I would encourage everyone to visit their website at http://www.4fourty.com and give their music a spin, I can promise you that you will enjoy it. These guys are one of the best new artists today, and I look forward to hearing the new CD as soon as it comes out. If you haven't seen one of their shows, be sure to check for show dates, and go out and support the band. I want to say thank you again to Steve Samson and all the guys of 4fourty for inviting me to the show, and I look forward to seeing you again soon. - Kay Bradley

Review: Josh Jackson Band @ Mojo's Spring Fling in Fairview, TN.
5/3/2002 12:00:00 AM

This was an intersting little festival. There were some crazy bluegrass and country bands, you know REALLY bad cover bands. Then there were some cool bands like Mix Master Mandy, a cool writer chick that rocked, Fleau, a trip hop/rock /pop band. I liked those guys alot. And then, my fave The Josh Jackson Band. These guys rocked as always, and the little PA didn't hurt them one bit. I think they made some country fans in the process of playing this gig as all the cowboy hats were bobbing up and down as the band got them into thier tunes. It was a beautiful afternoon and I guess that was what made me stick around to even hear some of the crappy acts later. The JJB rules!

Review: Fluid Tuesday, The Josh Jackson Band, JImmy B. & The Fortune 500 @ The End 4/19/2002 12:00:00 AM This was a great show out at THE End that NOBODY should have missed. JB&TF500 started things off. Thier tunes fall somewhere between Ben Folds and Crash Test Dummies with some serious electric guitar work in a couple of tunes. Very original. These guys are young Vandy students. Next up, The Josh Jackson Band. I was really suprised! These guys are great. They won over so many new fans at this one, including myself. I had never seen them, but I was really impressed. The singer has a great voice and stage prescence and the rest of the band rocks out as well. It's pop/rock stuff kind of like what you would hear on the BUZZ but with a splash of Lightning 100 roots. Great stuff. I can't wait to see them again. Then Fluid Tuesday hit the stage. These guys are one of my faves in Nashville. They rocked like there were 20,000 in the house. If you haven't seen them before get out and do so. They are similar in many ways to Pearl Jam, but just different enough to be rather original and fun. These guys love to party so come out and do it with them sometime! This was a great show!

Review: The JD Kane Band @ Mojo's in Gallatin
3/15/2002 12:00:00 AM

DAYUM, talk about a show. The JD Kane band kicked ass at MOJO's. It was my first time to see or hear the new Drummer Jason (endearingly referred to by me as puppy. Puppy he may be but he could hold his own on any porch with any of the BIG DOGS I have seen in the music scene over the last 20 years. The entire show was a blast. Jeffrey the ritalin revoking bassist was on the mark. Tapping that bass with all he had. JD was his usual talented self hitting the notes we all have come to expect and puttin a hurting on his guitar all for the sake of music. These boys even had fans come all the way from Arkansas to see em play talk about the power of advertising. These boys must have one hell of a publicist working for them. But I am sure with the talent that The JD Kane band has her/his job is an easy one. You cant find a better band in my book!

Review: Lojaque and the Falming Nahdbits and Face of 7 @ The Boro 10/25/2002 12:00:00 AM What can you say about a line up like this? There were two other bands but nobody noticed. Anytime you can see the Reverend LemonJello and Ashzilla on the same day it is a good day. These are my two favorite bands in Nashville and they did not disappoint. I pity the fools who didn't make the show!!!

Review: Face of 7, Electric Bullet, Chrome Attic and Big Ugly Production @ B3 Skate Park
1/25/2002 12:00:00 AM

My girlfriend, her sister, their friend Amy and my friend Trevor all made plans to go see Big Ugly Production at B3 on January 25, 2003. Amy and Trevor were both fans but th rest of us had never seen them. It was fucking COLD in there! You could see your breath when you spoke and everyone pretty much huddles around the heat blowers all night. There were some idiots out there in shorts skateboarding around though. We got there during the Electric bullet bands set. They are a very heavy metal threeman band. I met two of them after there show and learned they have shirts and will have a cd in the future. I can't wait to see these guys again. The bass player also plays with the Chrome Attic band who is also a threeman group. They said it was his first show with the band. This band was over all also good but not as heavy as Electric Bullet. The singer sounded like he had a cold or something but the music was pretty good. Next was THE band. Big Ugly Productuion was incredible. The songs and musicianship just pound you in the gut. My girlfriend thought a lot of the songs soundded exactly the same but that type of music is supposed to. Big ugly Production are a great band to see if you want to funk in a mosh. They sound exactly like some of thebands on the 1029 the buzz station and even girls were moshing. The big surprise was the band Face of 7. They came out wearing paint on their faces and used smoke and fire. I had seen them walking around while Big Ugly production were playing their show but I did not know they were the next band. They also had extra lights. My girlfriend and I didn't watch all of their show because of her damn curfew down here but they rocked pretty hard although not as heavy as Electric bullet. Trevor and Amy stayed for the show and said they had the best show of the night but a lot of kids left because of the late time. All of the bands were good but my favorite was Electric Bullet.

Review: Weedeater w/ SEVENTH VICTIM & CAB OVER PETE @ The End
3/17/2002 12:00:00 AM

First off, it was 2003, but anyways. I went to the show thinking that My Undying Love was playing, but when I got to the venue, I was pissed off. I had already paid to get in and then they decided to tell me that they were not playing. I figured since I had already paid, I might as well just stay and see who these bands were. The first band to play was CAB OVER PETE. I heard of them but never heard them before. DAMN! I was glad I saw them. Groove metal to the extreme. The singer could have varied up his vocal lines a little but, I guess that's just they're style. Then there was this band called SEVENTH VICTIM. In my opinion, they were the highlighting band of the night. I'm a personal fan of heavy-ass breakdowns and man did they bring it hard! From the moment they started playing to the end of their set, they just rocked out the whole time. They even took time to throw in an old-school trash-metal style song about Little Richard. I know one thing's for sure, I know I will be attending their future shows. Next up was WEEDEATER. easily one of slowest slow-beat bands I have seen. Just slow grooves all the time. They definately brought the grooves to the room. I hope they come around again soon because their bassist/singer has the sweetest stage presence. I mean, who else would chug Vicks Throat Spray and then chug a beer??? Now That's Metal! All In all...A Great Show...Check out these bands everyone, you won't be disappointed.

Review: The Josh Jackson Band @ The Coliseum 3/15/2002 12:00:00 AM I just got done running my first 1/2 marathon finishing on the 50 yard line of The Titans Coliseum and was heading up to the free lunch. There was supposed to be live music and when I got there I was suprised to find the live music was The Josh Jackson Band. I had only heard thier single, "Next Best Thing" on 102.9 The Buzz and had always wanted to go see them becaus I loved the single. Thier performance was great, really strong. The crowd of over 2,000, in spite of being worn out from running the race were REALLY enjoying the set. The tunes were well paced and very energetic. Anyway, it my first JJB experience and it won't be my last. Check 'em out if you get the chance. BB

Review: Melissa Mathes, Chakra Blue, The Josh Jackson Band @ The French Quarter
3/1/2002 12:00:00 AM

This was a great show at The French Quarter that was marred by TERRIBLE sound! This was my third time watching a show there and everytime the sound gets worse. Anyway, at least the performances came through. First up was Melissa Mathes. I have heard a ton of great stuff about her. Her band and herself have a good "LA type" look, the band seemed good and fairly tight, but there was no emotion from any of them. It was wierd. it was almost like they didn't want to be there, but I could see where a slickly produced Melissa Mathes album would do well with the Lightning 100 crowd. Up next were Chakra Blue. These guys are really tight. They might never make it huge due to the fact that they play in the "classic rock" vein, but they sound good and they have a lot of fun and it shows. The Josh Jackson Band closed this portion of the evening out. (I think there was another band, but I left) The JJB suffered the worst from the audio problems. The acoustic guitar came in and out and Josh's vocals were so very trebley. BUT these guys stuck it out and ended up with a great performance. The room was packed and people were really getting into the show. They even showcased a new song or two into the set which was a great addition! I saw The JJB last week at The Sutler and it was packed as well, so it was two weeks in a row for The JJB to headline a show with over 100 people in attendance. These guys are on the way up! Check 'em out if you get the chance.

Review: Luna Halo @ 12th and Porter
2/17/2002 12:00:00 AM

Every so often a band comes a long that is so talented, that you are actually taken back. I wasn't expecting much as I was forced by a friend to see a band I had never heard of called Luna Halo. From the moment they took the stage they captivated the 150 people that had poured in to see them. With vocals that mixed Ian Astbury and Jeff Buckley, a guitarist that performed like he was in the Vines...and a wall of sound that blew your head off...these guys personified rock -n- roll. I had to be convinced that they were from Nashville. The look, the songs, the stage show...it was like I was watching a band from London or New York. It is so encouraging to see that in Nashville. I also heard that there were label people there from N.Y. Really Cool! I don't know where these guys came from, but keep it up. You are a real Rock Band.

Review: Josh Jackson Band, Mostly John & Kylie Harris @ The Sutler
2/22/2002 12:00:00 AM

This was a great show out at The Sutler. The place was packed and the crowd was really into all three groups. Kylie Harris started things off with an acoustic set featuring her group "Madame Ovaries". All three girls could sing very well and they sang a few covers to get the night started off right. Mostly John then hit the stage and went into thier 45 minute set of folky rock songs. Two different sounds from this band as they have two lead singers. One sounds like Mellencamp etc. The other more smooth, like a John Mayer type. Pretty darn good stuff. Good songwriting and memorable hooks. Then The Josh Jackson Band took the stage. I have to say I am a huge fan of these guys and have seen them several times this past year. This was one of the better shows they have ever put on. The band was really tight and all thier trademark songs came off without a hitch. From the line at thier merch table after the show, They made a lot of new fans at this show as well. If you ahven't seen the JJB, you NEED to do so. These guys rock and in my opinion are one of the better pop rock acts in Nashville.

Review: Sadie Hawkins, Barely Breathing, No Attire Necessary @ Guido's pizzeria 2/16/2002 12:00:00 AM The show was last night at Guido's 2.16.03 the show started with Sadie Hawkins, a screamo band from Hendersonville........the guys kept the crowd entertained, with the emo based music. Next up was Barely Breathing, these guys probably have one of the most original sounds in Nashville, they have it all and combine it into one band with four guys....from their emo side to their alternative rock.....they incorporate math rock into their style....they have so much stuff going on musically that I haven't heard in a long while, it is obvious all four of these guys have studied music for years, and they show it in their songs. With their contagious grooves, and harmony filled music, they are a must see! The last act of the night was No Attire Necessary, a local punk band from hendersonville. These guys are bringing punk back from the "emo" disease that has infected all the new "punk" music......they have catchy music and lyrics to match. These three guys will give you a show that you will not leave dissappointed. There isn't a lot that you can say about them other than their So-Cal punk is the "feel good music" of Nashville.

Review: Lynette Vantreese, Chakra Blue, THE JOSH JACKSON BAND @ The French Quarter
1/18/2002 12:00:00 AM

Well, it was a snowy night in Nashville with ice all over the streets and that kept many people at home in thier warm, safe houses. BUT that didn't stop the FQ from being packed to the gills with about 125 poeple to check out The Josh Jackson Band and friends! If it would have been a decent evening there would have been a line of people all the way to Slow Bar trying to get in! First up was Lynette Vantreese and Band. Thier style is somewhere along the lines of Sheryl Crow with softer vocals and more guitar soloing. She is signed with ATC Records, the same label as Edwin McCain. It was a great effort by these guys as the openers. There weren't many people there to see them, but they wil be getting their props soon, mark my words. Up next was Chakra Blue. This band is very much a "classic" rock band. Thier music strikes the vein of Fleetwood Mac or Heart. All are talented musicians and they are very tight as a group. If you are a fan of 70's rock, check 'em out! Then the headliners, The Josh Jackson Band, took the stage. Thier energy got the now full room going right from the start. A poor mix in the house and a broken string or two didn't stop these guys from lighting the room up. By the end of the set,people were wanting more! The JJb has ben getting a lotof press lately and very deservedly. They are a fun band who obviously enjoy what they do. I am not sure when thier next show is but I will definatley be there! if you would like to know when they are playing, stop by thier website. WWW.THEJOSHJACKSONBAND.COM

Review: THE XMAS BASTAGES SHOW with Plater Frown, Subsonic and Lojaque and the Flaming Nahdbits! @ The Old Time Pickin' Parlor 12/21/2002 12:00:00 AM Alright, here's something funny... here we are in the midst of the time for giving and holiday cheer. Well, The Old Time Pickin' Parlor was the venue that hosted a night of some great music and err... theatrical events. Three bands got together to put on a show, and MAN, what a show it was. Plaster Frown, Subsonic and Lojaque and The Flaming Nahdbits! A night that was dubbed as The Xmas Bastages Show... ahem, well... you definitely had to be there to witness the mayhem that insued inspired on the false vibes of the commercially over-rated Christmas Season. All these bands were out poised to deliver intensity and charisma and give jolly ole Santa Claus a kick in the balls... and trust me, they did just that. Consequently the 'Host' of the show didn't show up, (he must have been screwing some chick in a reindeer suit)... damn bastage. Plaster Frown took the stage first and started out the night with a bang. My second time seeing these gentlemen and they are a great band with plenty of energy. They blew their crowd away with their music, most notably the ferocity of 'Train' (one of my favorites), and their cover of 'Sad But True'... the 'Tallica would be proud and Cliff Burton (RIP) would have no choice but to smile... those of you who were there know what I am talking about. Their closing song 'Plaster Frown' was also, to me, one of the highlights of the night that left the crowd 'plastered to the floors and walls'. Definitely a band to check out. You will not be disappointed. Next up... Subsonic. Yes indeed, 4 dudes who look like they don't have an ounce of attitude in them... surprised the crowd with their commercial style of balls-to-the-wall hard rock. The Subsonic guys played almost all the songs off their 'Beyond The Threshold' CD, and even invited me to join them onstage to sing 'Unbroken' with them. It was an honor. Of course we actually got to see Steve Smith with some life in him, as he is accustomed to be the laid back, mellow bassist that doesn't move. Well, not tonight... he actually showed us that there is life behind his four string as he be-bopped to the music! (for those of you who have witnessed Subsonic before... you all know what I am referring to, HA!) Kudos Steve. And of course, Matt with his amp and guitar lighted up with christmas lights was a sight to see. Last, but definitely not least... Lojaque and The Flaming Nahdbits! took the stage. These guys were out on a mission... to bring the true meaning of christmas to the attention of everyone at the Pickin Parlor, as they brought out a crucified santa. I guess these guys don't like all the hype and commercial overtones the holiday season has, do they? Well, the same goes for many of us who hate what Christmas has become (more on that later)... Once again, these guys put on a show of debauchery, sexual innuendos and enough offensive humor to make the guys in Jackass wish they had this kind of musical talent. The crowd was entertained as well as offended by this highly charismatic band fronted by Pope Lojaque, who donned a Furby Costume and introduced us to the true meaning of evil, heh heh, while enchanting the somewhat confused crowd with musical favorites like 'Goat's Blood', 'Sammich' and 'Going To Scandinavia'. Of course, Lojaque and his band had their trusty entourage to include Pimpy The Clown, The Viking God (I have no idea what his name is, HA!)and Mr. Chicken. This band is not for the faint of heart, or bible thumpers who see hard rock as devil music... nope, but if you like over-the-edge theatrics and a wild and crazy sense of stupid and ridiculious humor, this band is for you. And of course, they ended their set with a beautiful ballad, co-written with Michael Bolton and 'that guy from Creed'... entitled 'Monkey Semen'... lovely. Of course, there were many people at the show, to include members of Bushmeat, Dharmakaya, Eclectic Bullet and Disarray. A great night, to say the least...

Review: Griffin, Josh Jackson, Arils Albritton @ Mojo's
12/7/2002 12:00:00 AM

This was a writers in the round type deal, not a real rock show but a great night of music nonetheless. It impresses me when people can get up on a stage and rock, but even more so when they can stand alone on a stage, grab and acoustic guitar and STILL entertain the heck out of an audience. All three writers did a great job and the place was standing room only which has become a norm when Josh Jackson or his band has been playing lately. I came to this show only because I went to thier last show at Guido's and was so impressed I had to see more! If you get a chance, check out The Josh Jackson Band or Griffin's band, Mostly John. Both will be playing extensive dates in 2002. Check out thier web sites for more info. WWW.THEJOSHJACKSONBAND.COM and WWW.MOSTLYJOHN.COM

Review: JD Kane Band @ CG Froggies, Clarksville
11/16/2002 12:00:00 AM

Yet another fabulous show for JD Kane Band this past Saturday night! They played to a lively and enthusiastic crowd in Clarksville this past weekend. With a crowd that included more than one birthday girl who thought a JD Kane Band show was the perfect way to celebrate!!! I could not agree more their show was fantastic.. with a great addition of a wireless headset for the mad man bassist that allowed him the run around like a mad man and sing! JD was in rare form knockin the socks off the crowd and probably a few other articles of clothing LMAO! He belted out the tunes and had the place jumping. CJ was beating the hell out his drums all of them except the one ride cymbal that Jeffrey was so kind to dislodge from the set in the middle of a song with an attempt to be cute and KICK it! Here's a hint stick to the bass there curly! And now to Jeffrey well as I mentioned his energy level was boosted 10 fold with the addition of wireless mic I must say gettin him away from behind the mic and lettin him wander made his vocals even more sensational ( hard to believe but they were). They had the place wiggling in their seats and even managed to get my ass on the dance floor( skeery thought). I think the crowd was hyped from it all and I was ummm almost ritalin revokin myself! SHOCKING I KNOW since I am so subdued heh heh! Steve did a great job on sound and it was a definent top grade show from JD Kane as u would expect! Cannot wait to see whats next for these guys.. they definently know how to inject their attitude and love of the music into anyone who sees them! Well as usual u got to go see them .. next show is December 13th check out dates and info on www.jdkaneband.com and get off your ass and go watch them... u cant live vicariously through my reviews forever!

Review: The Sinners @ Tn Bike & Trike
9/14/2002 12:00:00 AM

I live in Cookeville and we don't get to many bands up this way from Nashville. When something in town is going on, you go see it. Tn Bike & Trike ussually has a big event twice a year with music, bbq, and a bike ride. I'm an old rock-n-roller, and I was surprised to hear this band doing Too Rolling Stoned, Fire And Water, and I'm a Man. I haven't heard anybody play that stuff in years. These guys are a definate must see. The lead singer really puts on a show, and really wants the crowd to have a good time. It was the most people I remember seeing stay after a 100 mile bike ride there, and it was the Sinners that kept them. During the last song I heard the bass cut out, and saw the bass player beating and kicking his amp trying toget it going again. He did have a great attitude about. I over heard him saying "Oh well, It can be fixed. I think it just got to hot." And yes the were cooking it the whole time. This band is a must see. They are the best blues rock band that I've seen up here period.

Review: FACE of 7, with Sixth Floor and Plaster Frown @ Moeka Cafe
11/15/2002 12:00:00 AM

Face of 7's FAREWELL to 2002 Show. Damn, what an awesome show! Three bands of distinct styles sharing the stage in what was to be a show that shouldn't of been missed. Sixth Floor out of KY took the stage first with their southern groove metal. The kind of groove and southern twang that would make Jerry Work proud. One of the things that I enjoyed about Sixth Floor was their scaled down approach to good hard rock. No frills and no BS behind this band, just good, solid tunes with a hint of southern flavor. This band is definitely a unit, with all members being laid back, letting their music do the talking if you know what I mean. This band would be a great pairing with Gear Driven for a night of full blown out drinking. That kind of a show, my friends, would be one to put on your best Harley Davidson apparrel, smoke Marlboro, drink choice beer and whiskey and drool over the gals that will be swaying to the seductive grooves. Next up was Face of 7... the complete opposite of what Sixth Floor was... literally. Not only did these guys have their signature make up on... but the pyro and fire was intense! Pity that the stage was so small because these guys need more room to give a full blown out effect, but needless to say, the show rocked hard and kicked ass. if these is one way to describe Face of 7 it would be...'out there', and I mean that in a good way, being one of the only bands in the local scene that have a 'nu-glam' shock rock gimmick goin on, and they sure as hell ain't afraid to do it either. A great pairing for Face of 7 would be a night of theatrical mayhem with Lojaque and The Flaming Nahdbits, and god what a show that would be. With the catchy songs, the pyro, the costumes and of course, the rolls of toilet paper being thrown around, it would be a night of debauchery, sexual innuendos and chaos. To my understanding, Face of 7 are looking to expanding the theatrical aspect of their shows and ad some more 'characters' to their stage show... and tonight we witnessed one of the new 'additions' to the show... the evil side of Santa Claus himself, a dark, Beechnut chewing, Super Soaker wielding, Rob Zombie looking goof by the name of Ebenezer 'Natas' Claws. I don't know if that character will be a permanent addition to their stage show, but he did his job, which was to soak people with water and look like a doofus, just standing there, bobbing his head and occasionally doing 'The Twist' for the duration of their show.... somebody should teach that guy how to dance. Last up was Plaster Frown, consequently half the room left when these guys took the stage, which was sad for the crowd because they missed one helluva band. How to describe their music? Well, loud, distorted guitars, a good, solid rhythm section and a commanding frontman/guitarist. One of the things that I enjoy most about Plaster Frown is that I have no idea who to compare them to, which is a good thing. Some people might call them hard rock, others might call 'em metal, but to me, they don'[t fit into any of those categories. All I know is that their music was hard, loud and full of energy and excitement. I wouldn't really say that Plaster Frown is a 'melodic' band'... but I would definitely say that they are a driving force with their music being as hard and intense as it was. A great pairing for them would be, in my opinion, either Lunge and/or Shadowburn. This kind of show would be good for a night of drunken headbanging and the occasional mosh pit, and besides that, young gals out there love long haired, flamboyant frontmen and these three bands have just that, a perfect combination for all tastes... hard rocking tunes for the guys to mosh to and long haired frontmen for the gals to swoon over. That's about it for the show... lots of people were there to witness the bands, most notably The JD Kane Band and Dave from The Groove Krickets, who was handing out Coalition CD's and memorabilia. We also had people from as far as Knoxville come over to be a part of the show, so everybody had fun, drank, took pictures and got their asses kicked by three solid bands. So, this is Winslow, signing off yet again... heh, I did all my drinking on the way home, which was about 2:00am, nearly ran over this homeless woman over in Madison who was flagging down cars and offering blowjobs for a ride to Paducah... um, no thank you. Winslow

Review: The Sinners @ Bourbon Street 11/10/2002 12:00:00 AM The Music City Blues Awards were held Nov. 10th at Bourbon St Blues & Boogie Bar. There were some really good bands playing for that evenings events. Miranda Louise, Delicious Blues Stew, and The Jefferson St. Blues Men were all bands to look forward to, and they sounded great. There was only one thing. They didn't put on a show like the Sinners. The Sinners started out with a grooving version of "Messin' With The Kid". I could hear people gasping in surprise to the energy that the Sinners portrayed, as the band grabbed the audiences attention, and continued to hold it with "Pretty Woman". The Sinners had that attention all the way through their set with all of Bourbon St. up and dancing. The Sinners ended with an awesome version of "Who Do You Love". No other band playing the blues awards delivered the message of the blues to the audience like the Sinners did that evening. Even though they didn't when any awards for their 6 nominations, they won something far better. The adulation and respect from the audience. The Sinners Rocked the house!!!!

Review: big ugly production,a day to bleed @ b3 skatepark
11/1/2002 12:00:00 AM

th the skatepark is was a masquerade @ the skate park in mcminnvile. those of you who havnt been there to check it out need to.big ugly production formally was all that.they have 2 singers and they sing some of the most incredible harmonies i heard in a very long time the band was very tight,pretty heavy kindve seven dustish kindve tooly...a day to bleed head lined the bill and was super heavy they anounced to the crowd that they were parting ways with long time guitar player bradford.so any of you guitar player looking for somthing like slayer/slipnot theres your sign.contact for those guys is adaytobleed @hotmail.com .thats all for now .ps check out the metal fest @ b3's on saterday december 14 all day event

Review: JD KANE BAND @ Mojo's
11/1/2002 12:00:00 AM

WOW WOW WOW, had the wonderful weekend of seeing JD KANE BAND play at Mojo's in Gallatin!!! The sounded so good (thanks steve) the entire band was on the mark! Talk about the show they even had fans jumpin on stage to sing with them! Those men know how to play a club! JD was in rare form singin both cover hits and originals that were definently a crowd pleaser! Even the quiet and subdued Jeffrey sang a couple of songs, which was fantastic and a double treat for us because it was his birthday! (Happy Birthday Old timer welcome to my world!) CJ, wow what words can describe his performance that nite! HE ROCKED!!! Of course he was the trooper and got the crowds all riled up with his stick spins and drum solos. Jeffrey actually managed to not break a table which I am sure was a happy moment for the club owner! I am tellin you these men are the bomb diggity of bands for a friday or saturday nite out with the gang! Check them out they play lots of area clubs. Their next gig is November 16th at CG Froggies in Clarkesville!! Watch out they are on the prowl! You can also find out all the scoop on the guys at www.jdkaneband.com So get off your asses jump in your cars and follow these men to southern rock heaven!!!!!

Review: my epiphany, silent friction, oliver's army @ the muse
10/13/2002 12:00:00 AM

i can't say how great this show was... don't miss the next one on halloween at the muse... this was the closing show of oliver's army's current tour of the east coast with my epiphany. matt from silent friction has been filling in on guitar for oliver's army, so needless to say he pulled a double at this show fronting his own silent friction and playing incredible guitar with o.a.... it was a very intense evening of music with three great nashville bands that are on the verge of taking the nashville scene to the next level... check out www.recorserecords.com for info on oliver's army and check out www.spatrecords.com for links to silent friction and my epiphany.

i can't say how great this show was... don't miss the next one on halloween at the muse... this was the closing show of oliver's army's current tour of the east coast with my epiphany. matt from silent friction has been filling in on guitar for oliver's army, so needless to say he pulled a double at this show fronting his own silent friction and playing incredible guitar with o.a.... it was a very intense evening of music with three great nashville bands that are on the verge of taking the nashville scene to the next level... check out www.recorserecords.com for info on oliver's army and check out www.spatrecords.com for links to silent friction and my epiphany.

Review: IMMORTAL SYMPHONY @ THE LEGION, JACKSON, TN
10/4/2002 12:00:00 AM

IMMORTAL SYPHONY PLAYED THE LEGION ON , I'M PRETTY SURE THE DATE WAS 10/4/02, I CAN BE CORRECTED IF I'M WRONG, WEEKENDS ARE ALWAYS HAZEY. ANYWAY, I'M NOT JUST A METAL HEAD, BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT IMMORTAL SYPHONY ROCKED OUT. EVEN WITH A CROWD THAT REFUSED TO PIT, THEY STILL GAVE IT THEIR ALL. THIS WAS THE LAST SHOW WITH ONE OF THEIR GUITAR PLAYERS AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT HE WENT OUT ON A GOOD NOTE. THE VOCALIST WAS GIVING 110%, AND WITH THE HELP OF A LITTLE WHISKEY PROVIDED BY THE BIG DICK MONSTERS AT THE FRONT OF THE CROWD, I HAVE TO SAY THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO GET OUT AND SEE THESE GUYS. AND TO THE BAND, BECAUSE ALOT OF PEOPLE JUS SIT THERE, DON'T WORRY. YOU MADE A GOOD IMPRESSION AND WE REALLY ENJOYED IT. IF YOU'VE HEARD THIER CD- THEN GO SEE THE SHOW, I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT IS EVEN MUCH BETTER LIVE. LOTS OF EMOTION IN THEIR MUSIC, YOU CAN TELL THESE GUYS LOVE WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

Review: Calous @ Old Time Pickin' Parlor
10/5/2002 12:00:00 AM

MAN!!! I tell you what.....If the rest of the scene in IOWA is this hard-core, then the rest of us in the genre are going to have to step up to the plate!! These guys rocked the place down at the Old Time Pickin' Parlor this past Saturday night, and I was honored to have shared the stage that evening with them.

Review: The Sad Sam Project @ The Muse
10/19/2002 12:00:00 AM

I went to see these guys play thursday sep.26 at the muse along with sadie hawkins and your love my executioner and I was fucking blown away. These mother fuckers are fucking awsome. If you get a chance to go see them at the Muse on the 19th do it. There was so much fucking energy in there music it's undeniable. there bass player is a fucking nut,there guitar player plays the most melodic and brutal guitar chords I have ever heard.there drummer is like a fucking wizard on the drums. And there singer's voice sounds like a fucking airplane doing a nosedive.This bands stage presence is so energetic and evasive . They never stopped moving,And there music is so unpredictable and insane it matches there movements. I really recommend you go see the sad sam project

Review: COALFEST @ The Muse
9/28/2002 12:00:00 AM

Oh my muther-fuckin' god man! What an awesome show!!!! If you didn't attend THIS show, it sure as hell sucks to be you! Starting at 3:00pm with Barely Breathing and ending at 1:30am or so with Lojaque and the Flaming Nahdbits... 20 bands that gave it their all for a great show!!!! So much can be said about this event... it kicked Buzzfest's ass when it comes to support for local bands!!!! Hey 102.9 The Buzz... get a hint and learn how to truely support local music. ANY of these bands would have commanded your main stage!!!!

Review: The Obscure/ The Carter Administration @ Springwater
8/17/2002 12:00:00 AM

The Carter Administration opened this evening performing songs off of their Two Man Advantage cassette; which is an appropriate title for these two guys are an incredible duo. With their smart-ass lyrics and swap up singing styles, these two put on one hell of an emo-rock show! They ended their set with a tribute to The Obscure by playing a piece of Paradox. The Obscure went out with a KA-BOOM! They performed their final farewell show with classic Obscure favorites, such as Paradox, Forget About Jane and Those Commie Basterds, as well as tracks from their most recent, and last, album Laugh Like a Whip, Look Like a Dagger, as Dearborn, Living in Sin and Surviving Marilyn, all of which were performed with classic Obscure fun loving rock and roll! These Detroit men played two amazing, loud and rocking sets, with a short intermission so that they could ensure their intoxication levels were high. Brian, Danny, Andy and Jason surprised Mike with a Gibson sg guitar on stage and one of their most loyal fans made him a stain glass resemblance art piece of The Obscure logo. This show was both rocking and touching in a bittersweet kind of way. Best of luck to all of the guys!

Review: Mary Star Church @ Bongo Java's
8/18/2002 12:00:00 AM

Mary Star Church performed a very intimate acoustic show on this lazy Sunday morning in the upstairs playroom at Bongo Java’s. June Kato sounded amazing on his stand up bass, Christopher Henry eloquently strung away on his guitar, Terry Thomas offered the perfect back beat rhythm on drums, and the enchanting Amanda Williams ferociously plucked her guitar, passionately sang her lyrics, and debuted “The Piano Song” (which is the hidden track on her Entropic Acoustic album) on the keys of her keyboard. She also performed King of My Dreams, her P.J. Harvey resembling track Low, Invisible, among other wonderfully written songs. Check out the Spat! Records site for her upcoming performances.

Review: The J.D. Kane Band @ Bikini Beach Bar
7/27/2002 12:00:00 AM

I saw the J.D Kane Band play at Bikini Beach Bar this weekend. They played on Friday night and had quite a kick ass show. It was awesome. There was this guy with long hair who ran across the tables and the drummer threw his stiks everywhere. The guitar player was pretty good too. He had a decent voice and his solo was kind of cool. They did some old songs that are like the ones played on the Rock here in Nashville. They were so good I went back to see them the next night. Saturday nigt was way different. The guy with the long hair and the drummer were dressed in black and wore sunglasses the whole night. The guitar player looked like he was afraid to come off the stage and his voice sucked. The guy who ran on the tables the night before stood still the whole night saturday. I won't be going to see them play anymore, especially after saturday night. My girl and I walked out of the club about an hour into the show. I wish they had played saturday the same way the played friday.

Review: Bitterbox & FATE @ The Outer Limits 7/26/2002 12:00:00 AM One of the most intense shows I have ever witnessed. When it comes to reliving that 80's-90's hair band era, these guys took me back to that time in my life when all I cared about was partying with my friends and getting drunk off of Jack Daniels. Both bands played their share of originals and covers, blending a mix of great musicmanship and fun as they tore up the stage with their sets. Bitterbox... first time seeing them and I am sure as hell gonna be at their next shows. Can't remember their names for the life of me, but that doesn't matter... I sure as hell remember how they rip shit up onstage. These four guys had me head banging during their whole set. Oh, and when it comes to 'head-banging', you guys have GOT to check out the energy these guys have onstage... I mean, I thought the bassists head was gonna fall off!! FATE... fellow Coalition band... also first time seeing them. I met Justin about 3 years ago when FATE was a three piece, I think. Now a five piece and I can honestly say that now I am a firm believer in FATE. 'I Won't Bleed For You' is now one of my favorite songs, and in my opinion, one of the best tracks I have ever heard to come out of the local scene. Mark Slaughter has met his match... mark my words. To both these bands, I tip my hat and raise my beer, great shows gentlemen... and to the bassists in both bands... damn you guys, I just barely learned how to use the 5th string on my bass and you guys make 6 String Bass playing look so goddamn natural... makes me wanna play ukelele from now on.

Review: Hopesfall, Code Seven, Little Plastic Ghost @ The Muse
7/9/2002 12:00:00 AM

The Muse has been having some kick ass shows lately, and this one was no exception. This was The cd release party for local band Little Plastic Ghost, who just released a self titled five song ep. LPG are a three piece industrial, hardcore outfit with a guitarist, bass player, and singer who plays drummer standing up while singing and following the backdrop of sequenced drums. Their sound is somewhere between Ministy, NIN, deftones and Refused. Cody is an energetic frontman who wears a headset mike and goes from melodic singing to screaming, his vocals drencehed in effects. He keeps the crowds attention during and between songs, the drowd was very receptive. They put on a good show, mark my words they are soon to be on the fore front of Nashvilles indusrial metal scene, which needs more acts! Code Seven from North Carolina was up next and boy was i surprised, even blown away. I would call them an altenative band cause i hear influences of Radiohead, Janes Addiction, Sonic Youth, etc, and was shocked to learn that these guys were once almost death metal. They had a very charismatic frontman with a great voice. the music was sometimes trippy to aggresive in a moments notice. The guitarist was using a slide an effects to make some interesting sounds. Very good band, look for their album in stores. The headlining band was another North Carolina band called Hopesfall, and this was who the crowd was there to see without a doubt. They kinda reminded me of Poison the Well, intense music with some singing and gut wrenching screaming, so i guess one could call these guys emo-core. whatever you call it these guys blew the roof off, the drowd was going nuts, the highly energetic singer was even crowd surfing while the rest off the band played tight as hell. Hopesfall have a record coming out this fall on Trustkill Records, pick it up, i guarantee you'll be hearing alot more about these guys judging from how packed the Muse was this night. Can you say nut to butt. This was a kick ass show that i by surpise wondered in to cause i had a java craving. Anyone who says that Nashville doesn't ever get any good tour bands coming through obviously aren't looking or taking chances. Sitting at home bitching about Nashville not having a rock scene is building one, thats for damn sure, so get up off your lazy asses and go see a show from a band you've never heard, it could suck, or like this show did to me totaly blow you away. It seems that North Carolina might have a kicking scene after seeing this show, i'll be keeping my eyes open.

Review: Olivers Army, Rifles at Recess, and Latterman @ The Muse
6/30/2002 12:00:00 AM

I guess i'm getting old , or the face of punk and hardcore has changed since i was a teenage punk. So, as part of my re education on new punk/hardcore i know i can always catch s glimpse of it at The Muse. I only caught half of Rifles At Recess, who to my knowledge is a fairly new local hardcore band.They have alot in common with todays hardcore, loud as hell fast music and lots of screaming. They were very tight and energetic as well from what i saw... Olivers Army were the next act. Even though they would call themselves melodic hardrock i'd say they have an emo core sorta sound. In layman terms more singing than screaming. Their music is at times math rock to a degree, to loud punk rock. They were very tight as well and seemed to be having a blast. good show, They have an album out now on Recourse Records (St Louis) thats a split cd with Love Is Red, look for a review soon...... The last act of the evening was a band that i hooked up from Long Island New York called Latterman. Super nice guys as well, and it portrays in their songs. The subject matter is about positve things like the value of friendships, even through the hard ships, anti sexism, positivity instead of the typical bitching and whinnig in punk rock. these guys have a classic punk feel and have fun when they play, even though the crowd started to dwindle these guys played like it was a packed arena. All the bands this night played on the floor in front of the stage, which is very common in todays hardcore, the idea is to not be ABOVE the crowd and be able to interact more with one another, good intentions, but i'm sure it's hard on the soundman. But it does make a more personable of an impression and people were getting into the music having fun as well instead of standing there with their arms crossed. DIY music will never die, even though these guys might never get past college radio, i'm sure they will continue to tour, make friends along the way, and make all the fun memories that life is made of, being in a traveling punk band of course, smelling feet and ass, but loving every minute of it cause their making records and doing what their dream is PLAY.

Review: julius seizure, cab over pete, subsonic @ guido's
7/12/2002 12:00:00 AM

another stellar performance put on by the coalition for the "coal days in hell mayhemporium". guido's is a nice intimate venue for a rock show, though a bit cramped due to the sell out (well it was a free show!) crowd in this new institution of a pizza joint. the revamped guido's has been a hot spot lately for local rock shows and last night proved that fact... only some minor sound problems, the p.a. isn't the best and it is set up kind of strange with the speakers on the back wall facing the band... it makes it hard to get a good vocal mix since feedback loops are quite easy to construct in this basement setting... "the leech" and others did their best to make the sound run smooth with minimal screeches to ease the impending tinitus developing in the communities eardrums... as a protective measure i do advocate the use of some ear plug scheme during shows at guido's as the sound can get extremely loud... julius seizure started off the night with a great punk rock set... this four piece outfit reminded somewhat of old school minor threat meets the descendents... these guys however have a modern take on punk and seem to have their fingers right on the pulse of what it means to be punk in this modern age... the songs are fast, furious and melodic with great hooks and very catchy lyrics... this is a very structured punk band that i think has a lot of potential... the crowd took to them immediately and i can't wait to see them again... cab over pete, with new guitarist tom, tore up the fuckin' joint with some of the tightest rock i've heard in a while... i learned that most of the songs performed are from their upcoming album that is going to be released on spat! records, as well as "pusherman" which will appear on the spat records release out of the garage vol. 2. the style is reminiscient of bands like helmet and soundgarden but c.o.p. has really defined a new sound in this whole metal core movement by constructing songs that are brutal and very syncopated, great guitar riffs and ferocious vocal and guitar talents from leader rob... keekle on drums, bill on bass and tom, the new guitar player (this was his initiation gig) are an amazing support network that roar through songs as a blazing unit... their music is really addictive and i suggest at least 2 servings of cab over pete a day... maybe more, you can take it... subsonic, another band active in the coalition closed out the show with a great rock set... this band took me from husker du to the crue (guys this is not an insult, there was one song that had a very crue key of a verse that reminded me of something from "too fast for love" which this reviewer regards as a good record among many others, but please don't be misled by my comments, subsonic is nothing like motley crue, thank god :) hints of modern alternative seep into the mix, but this is no band looking to be the next nickelback, incubus or anything like that... they are another solid four piece, steve the solid bassist, and also an excellent lead guitarist (i didn't catch his name) as well as a very disciplined drummer... subsonic comes off very professional and they are great songwriters... they even closed their show with a song i noticed on their setlist titled "peter" but was actually a punked up version of "in your eyes" by peter gabriel. the place went nuts... it was another great ending to a coalition event and another great evening of honest good entertainment... anyone reading these reviews who hasn't attended some of these shows really needs to consider going out to the end, guido's, the muse, old time picking parlor, etc... and start checking out some of these bands while you can still see them for free or next to nothing... because someone's gonna wind up a rock star sooner or later, then what will you do!!!

Review: less than perfect, the issues, dharmakaya, lunge @ club n.v.
7/10/2002 12:00:00 AM

what a great show from the organizers of the coalition mayhemporium festival... many different styles and sounds, but a solid night of rock and roll. less than perfect opened the show with a solid punk show reminicent of somewhere between the ramones and dinosaur jr... joe from death metal outfit impetuous doom has created this new band which is very college radio friendly and full of great riffs and energy and he is a bad ass guitar player... if you like old school somewhat tounge n cheek punk you'll love these guys, there's even a little of that chunka chunka metal riffery going on as well... next up the issues churn out fun spirited style rock somewhere between green day, the beatles and guns and roses... tight power pop with catchy hooks and lots of energy, the issues are destined to be a great party down band... spat records impresario stacy fleeman's band dharmakaya took the stage next with the addition of new guitar player a.jay roller who made his debut in the dimly lit club n.v., they rollicked through a number of dharmakaya favorites conjuring comparisons to sonic youth and nirvana with a little jane's addiction thrown in for good measure... i really like the song mary jane and the anti courtney love tirade "skarred (she sold her hole for rock n roll)" which i later learned that it is going to be released by spat records as a seven inch single split with east lansing michigan artist wally pleasant who is in the process of writing his anti courtney song... wally pleasant is fully endorsed by dharmakaya who encourage you to visit his website at www.wallypleasant.com, you won't be sorry you did... they finished their set with a blistering version of nirvana's "territorial pissings" (which was a request)and a scathing song called "synthetic lies" which stacy told me nick valentino, lead singer of fall with me, wrote the lyrics to... what a great song, and i wasn't expecting anything like this one to happen... i would highly recommend seeing dharmakaya as they are filled with great vibrations and positive energy, even if they would like courtney love's head on a silver platter, but hey, who wouldn't!! lunge closed out the evening with an old school metal set which brought to mind touches of iron maiden, judas priest and some guns and roses and metallica thrown in the mix, solid metal all about having a good time, these guys have fun when they play... the positive attitude and the support between all these bands really made it a special night and though the coalition is young, i think you're going to be hearing more and more... make sure to check out the rage for the "mayhemporium" concert listings...

Review: mary star church @ 12th and porter
7/11/2002 12:00:00 AM

very rarely does one get the opportunity to attend an intimate music performance at a nice spot with the perfect blend of talent to bring one to a higher transcendental plane. i witnessed the birth of mary star church, the new four piece, rock n folk n roll outfit led by the enchanting and immensely talented amanda williams. williams has honed her skills over the last few years as a songwriter and a performer and has come to a maturity not reached by many other male or female songwriters seeking fame and fortune in musick city usa... simply put, she makes a lot of people look inept and i'll bet she's made a few coffeehouse chicks put down their guitars who thought they were destined to be headliners on the next lilith fair... i feel sorry for anyone who knew about this show and didn't attend, you may have to pay top dollar next time and believe me right now, you will, and you'll want to buy all of her records because she's that good... along side her in this new band project is bass monster june kato of psomni whose ethereal style blends perfectly with her incredible vocal melodies and raw guitar playing... over the past couple years i have seen amanda several times just as a solo acoustic act and let me tell you, she can play a guitar, so i was naturally elated to see her come out on the stage with a red fender telecaster and proceed to tear it up... the show focused on her new material and new full versions of songs from her solo disc "entropy" like "king of my dreams" which will be included on the upcoming spat! records out of the garage vol. 2 cd as well as "low" which is somewhat reminiscient of soundgarden and nirvana. i also had heard a cd of hers that had a song on it called "invisible" which came off brilliantly... the show lasted about 40 minutes or so and i want to give credit to the rest of the band... i caught the guitarist's name as chris and i can't recall the drummer's name, but man this guy is first rate!!! there probably isn't a tighter rhythm section in town for your money's worth... do yourself a favor, keep an eye out in the rage and the nashville scene and probably soon, a lot of big magazines that lots of people read for these three words, "mary, star, church" say it again "mary, star, church", one more time "mary, star, church" there don't you feel better, i know i do...

Review: LEECHAPALOOZA @ LEECHAPALOOZA
7/5/2002 12:00:00 AM

All I can say is, what a great damn party!!! Barbecue!!!! Super Soakers!!!!! Booze!!!!!!! Music!!!!!!!! the absolute best underground bash out there!!!!

Review: Subsonic, Gear Driven, Dirty Girl and Lunge (ADD ON) @ The Old Time Pickin' Parlor
7/4/2002 12:00:00 AM

ADD ON to the previous review: Ok.... I thought I'd give reviewing a shot and review the 4th show as well, especially since it's hard for anyone to review their own band (Jerry with Gear Driven). What can I say? This was one hell of a July 4th Show! Anyone that was there got an awesome show, anyone that wasn't then I'm sorry you missed out. We (Subsonic) took the stage first.... but, I'm not going to talk about that. Then GEAR DRIVEN took the stage. I was very impressed by them. I was actually able to sit down and just listen and enjoy for once instead of getting prepared to go on next or jet out of the club to play another gig. They have a catchy melodic feel as well. Very modern slow grooved rock that grabs you by the balls and doesn't let go until the set is over. Similar to Alice In Chains in my opinion (which is a GOOD thing). Very commercial and very enjoyable. Awesome guitar work. Always a fan of bands that can pull off simply Bass and Guitar, for which they can... and can well. Overall very tight unit. Good vox, good leads, good low end and good bangin' with well written/structured songs. Worth checking out for sure, you won't be dissapointed! Then Dirty Girl came on next. I'm not going to write much for this one. I agree with Jerry, not DIRTY enough for me. Finally LUNGE, the closers..... the headliners..... the big dogs or however you'd like to call it. This is plain and simple one kickin' band. They get your head moving without stopping for the entire set. My neck is still hurting a little bit. Overall they write very singalongable songs with really heavy shit mixed on top of all the catchiness (I mean that in a good way people). Great grooves and what a range with the vox! Good lord.... I could only wish to have that kind of range, then again; there's alot of us singers that would like to have that as well. The rest of the review is simply agreeing with what Jerry said on Lunge. Check them out for sure, any chance you can. Overall...... Gear Driven and Lunge are great bands and a great bunch of guys (which counts even more in my book). So, give them a listen and look for any shows posted. K.... I said my peace (below is the original review) Lunge, Gear Driven, Dirty Girl, Subsonic Venue: Old Time Pickin' Parlor When: 7/4/2002 Review: This was the 4th of July rock blowout at the Old Time Picking Parlor. That place is really becoming a hotbed for the local rock scene. The lineup on this particular night was: Subsonic, Gear Driven, and Dirty Girl, with Lunge closing the show. Subsonic: if you like heavy modern rock (Nickelback, Creed, Godsmack, etc.), you have got to check this band out--heavy guitars; melodic vocals; very, very catchy hooks. Radio mega hit potential. This is a damn fine straight-up rock band and one that I cannot recommend enough. Gear Driven: that's my band. Awesome crowd. Great show. Dirty Girl: I have to admit, I was a little disappointed with Dirty Girl. She is very talented, and her band was extremely tight and professional. Her style is a little sugary sweet for my tastes, but I can't hold that against her. I guess my disappointment came from her show just not being as wild as I thought--I mean, this is Dirty Girl--there was no nudity or anything. Lunge: These guys play thick heavy rock that has an underlying swinging groove and vocals reminiscent of Bruce Dickinson. It's good shit. The music grooves, and the band is intense--jumping up and down in concert while they pound at massive slabs of metal. If you're into the old school stuff at all--Maiden, Ozzy, Priest--you're going to love Lunge. Reviewer: Jerry Work

Review: The Obscure @ 12th and Porter
6/21/2002 12:00:00 AM

The obscure always put on a high intensity show and makes any band that plays with them work for their money so to say, or look silly. this was no exception. They have good sloid songs, crazy stage antics, and pure charisma. This was a bittersweet show knowing that The Obscure shows will become local legends after August when the singer/guitarist Mike Gogola moves to Houston. They opened up with two new songs and then played songs from the new album Laugh Like A Whip, Look like A Dagger like thundercloud, living in sin, the stones-ish surviving marilyn, and give me some love sometime. They also played a beatles toon as well as Beck's Fucking with my head. These guys do one thing that alot of bands around town don't do, HAVE FUN ON STAGE! The Crowd wasn't used to singers who jump out into the crowd, dance on chairs, climb on the bar, flopped around on the stage and floor, atleast not this crowd which was packed out by the way mainly because of the two bands that had to follow the Obscure, On this night i'm glad it wasn't me, cause they have the ability to steal a show with incredible momentum.I renamed Mike, Iggy Jagger jokingly after the show because of his chair dancing hip shaking. I've known these guys for several years now and have watched them develop into a band as buzzworthy as The Strokes, white stripes, or the hives, maybe even make those acts have to step up if they followed them. It's really a loss to the Nashville Rock community that these guys are moving on with their lives, pretty much at the height of their buzz, they've existed for over a decade in some form or fashion from detroit to nashville. I know they have many shows booked from now to August so get up off your lazy asses and go see these guys live before it's too late or you'll be sorry. Make sure you buy both of their self released cds as well!

Review: Sandman and Camo and The Brian Kotzur Band @ Slow Bar
6/18/2002 12:00:00 AM

This show was apart of east nashvilles trendy Slow Bars New Faces Night. Each band gets 30 minutes to prove themselves, It's a how they determine if your cool enough to play there again. Please take into consideration that well established bands have to do ths to get a gig there....well on to the show I was excited to see Sandman And Camo perform considering Sandman lives in Olympia,Wa and Camo is the human beat box of local band Baby Stout. Sandman played guitar and half sang half rapped while Camo provided the back drop with his incredible human beat box delivery. After the guitar was put down they went straight into old school feeestyle rapping. You could call them folk rap. Very enjoyable but rare set by these guys, look for their song Persian den Of Sin on the upcoming Spat! Comp, which they did a great rendition of to end their set...on to THE BRIAN KOTZUR BAND, I knew this was gonna be quite a change of pace for this venue because i've seen some crazy BKB shows of past and they aren't the normal trendy slow bar band. Lately BKB have had Duane Dennison, former Jesus Lizard/Current Tomahawk memeber, who is a guitar virtuoso by all means and a treat to see play. They played a raw, dirty, loud set of punk rock. It's almost limiting to call them punk due to the fine musicianship,, but they are punk in spirit. Matt X the singer wondered around the crowd singing, screaming, and preaching the word of the BKB through songs like suicide,and surprise i'm fucking you among others. Matt kinda has an Iggy Pop/ Henry rollins type of style of working the crowd which of course the regulars weren't used too, at one point, perhaps the highlight Brian Kotzur addressed the crowd by saying "what the fuck is up with you people, is this a christian rock convention, is this a christian rock crowd among other obcenites", it was hilarious in my opinion. You never know what you might see at a BKB show, always unpredictable and entertaining. I was happy to be part of this freak scene because some venues need their "egos checked at the door", and this wasn't the norm for the frightned regulars which made for a laugh for all of us New faces who had seen the bKB before, I've heard that Duane will continue playing with them after Tomahawk come off the upcoming Tool tour.

Review: Dead Sun, Skard @ The Outer Limit
6/15/2002 12:00:00 AM

Most of the time when you read about a show, they say it was bad ass. This show really was. First off...Dead Sun....three words...OH MY LORD. This band is badass. Imagine The Deftones with a more hard edged sound and add a little melody and there you go. I stayed for the whole set and was blown away. I had heard the name, but not the sound and this is a band i definitely want to see more of. Then after them, came Skard. To say these guys put on a great show would be an understatement. This band just has 'it'. The lead singer has the charisma needed and led the crowd in several chants and had everyone going nuts. The lead singer has that vocal range that you don't hear much of........going from screaming, growling, and then singing just like the recently deceased Lane Staley of alice in chains. The lead guitarist can shred and hang with any of the great guitartists that i've seen. The bass player was holding the whole band together with his bass lines and even added in vocals over the top of the others........and the drummer, wow, he was pounding the drums so hard, you could feel it vibrating your body in front of the stage. The songs were intense and melodic all at the same time. it was an incredible show. The guys in Skard are great guys, friendly as they come and genuinely great guys. And the fact that Dead Sun stayed for the whole Skard set made them great guys as well...it was just a good night for metal. If you get a chance........you have to make it to one of their shows.

Review: Derailed and dharmakaya @ Faces
6/11/2002 12:00:00 AM

dharmakaya started this mad chaos off with their instrumental Stroll. Then they played their prolegalization song Mary Jane and the crowd started to cheer! Into the Pink was the perfect dose of loud noise to make me wet between the.... Becoming was a sweet, melodic number with positive additude, then closing was their noisy psychedelic jazz influenced number Synthetic Lies when Stacy Fleeman began running off the stage in circles and manicly screaming profanities! Following this excitement was the headliner Derailed who rocked the house down and almost destroyed the whole damn structure with their aggressivly loud and hard chaos of rock! When they played Black Sabbeth's Electric Funeral I almost sh-t on myself... I don't know if I have heard this song pulled of with such passion and intensity! The audience was jumping and moving and screaming! These guys played over an hour of destructive aggression and by the time their set was over they were called back on stage to play two more! This evening was a drunken dose of psychotic noise that left everyone wanting more. Well done, boys!

Review: Communist/ Good People @ THE END
5/18/2002 12:00:00 AM

My next step on the 18th was THE END. This was the first time that i had seen Communist, i was expecting some sorta punk- indie rock sounds coming from these guys, boy was i surprised. Maybe art-rock or alternative indie pychedelia is a bit more accurate for this six piece ensemble. They had smoke machines, samples inbetween songs, and a projection screen of cool visuals. Not your normal local band cause obviously alot of thought was put into this performance. It was like an acid trip without the acid. I strongly suggest checking these guys out. Next up was one of Nashvilles most intense live acts Good People. They play a mix of rock, rap, punk, funk, blues, hell they go all over the place. The vocalisr Zach Wilson gives his all every show i've seen of the G.P. This one was really unbelievable, not only was the band obviously having a blast they kept the crowd into it as well. The Good People pretty much blew the roof off The End with special guest Rebecca Stout joining in on the anthem "Big D" and Pete Cummings joining in on guitar doing some blazing solos with fellow GP guitarist Chet, and even singing a song that he and Zach wrote together. Bassist Brad Cummings and drummer Brian Kotzur keep the tight ass grooves in place. Then some of the guys from Communist got up and did a super-jam if you will with a killer fun vibe. 100% pure fun instead of egos. Pete Cummings once told me " on any given night, in a small bar in anytown usa you can see the greatest rock n roll bands ever", we'll Pete this was one of those nights that makes me proud to live in nashville. I'm sure there were ten more great shows going on this night, but i gotta say these guys pulled off something that anyone in the room won't soon forget. Good People are one of Nashvilles crown jewels. You'd better check these guys out while you got the chance. they do something for everyone and it's all about having a good time, this night with Good People and friends.

Review: The Reverbians/The Carter Administration @ Guidos NY Pizzeria
5/18/2002 12:00:00 AM

Guidos is where i started my rounds on May 18th and was a great choice. The Reverbians, a M,boro surf- punk influenced three piece kicked off the night by running in the door all wearing stippped matching suits as well as zorro masks. Then preceded to play a high energy set. They all sing and have two guitars, sometimes organ, and a powerhouse drummer who i'll compliment with a Dave grohl comparison. No bass player. I don't know what to think about the gimmick with the masks and all, but they seemed to have a blast doing what they do. Enjoyable. next up was the Carter Administration. C.A. are a two piece emo punk bands consisting of just guitar and drums. Both guys sing and their voices compliment each other very well. They mainly played songs off their newest cassette "Two Man Advantage." The Carters songs are so catchy and well written you don't even miss the bass. Honest quality rock. Check these guys out you won't be disapointed.

Review: Nova @ Indienet 5/17/2002 12:00:00 AM Nova are a three piece female fronted act with a sound reminicent of late 80's early 90's alternative rock. i hear some P.J. Harvey, Joy Division, and even some Stooges influences going on with Nova but they maintain a true spark of originality amongst the ever eclectic Nashville scene. Courtney Tidwell, the singer/ guitarist has a great voice, really strong, and the other two guys have a solid chemistry developing. Either time flew by fast or they played a short set to a sparse indienet crowd. I look forward to seeing Nova rock out again in the near future.

Review: The Ointments @ slowbar
5/15/2002 12:00:00 AM

i recieved the Ointments demo cd several months ago and was finally able to catch them at the slow bar on may 15th. The Ointments play indie rock with hooky pop sensibilities. Reagan Roeder, the singer and main sonwriter songs fall in a zone somewhere inbetween Pavement, the Cure, and Josh Rouse but manages to not sound straight up like anyone of the above mentioned influences. The Ointments are a new band but are very tight and have great stage prescence and good dynamics as a three piece.The set was evenly balanced with rockin songs to quieter subtle songs. I look forward to catching these guys again. very enjoyable.

Review: Fair Verona and Dirty Dixie @ The Muse
5/26/2002 12:00:00 AM

I made it out to the final farewell show of Fair Verona's. These three girls (& 1 guy) were rocking out with the true spirit of punk rock mixed with pure manic distortion. Shawna's bady language and flirtatious eye moves reminds me of the adorably seductive Susanna Hoffs. These girls played with such chaotic aggression they proved to have the biggest balls in the whole venue! Shawna, Leah, Beth and Brent, you will all be truely missed. Before Fair Verona took the stage a female fronted band from Knoxville, TN named Dixie Dirt were rocking the crowd with their psychedelic, hypnotic, noise, indie rock sound with obvious Sleater Kinney punk influence. This band is on Champ Records and I am certain we will be frequently seeing their name everywhere soon. Next time this act is in town I would strongly encourage all to see them and buy their cd. Their cd was equally as hypnotically noisy as their performance, but that is another review...

Review: Derailed, Eclectic Bullet @ The Pikn' Parlor
5/24/2002 12:00:00 AM

I wasn't there on time to see the first band so I cannot comment on them. Derailed and Eclectic Bullet kicked ass though. I love it when I get the chance to see them play together,not as much as I'd like though because I have to work nights Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Oh and by the way, Winslow you are my fucking gawd!!!!! Love always C.J.

Review: Mellow Down Easy, Eclectic Bullet, Tartar @ The Outer Limits 5/18/2002 12:00:00 AM This was one of the best shows I have ever had the opportunity to participate in. Truely a diverse line up sponsored by Middle Man Music last night with the bluesy and entertaining Mellow Down Easy opening the show, leading into the hard blistering sounds of the Eclectic Bullet gang and finishing up the night with the awesome musicians in the Phish cover band Tartar. This was a show with something for everyone. Mellow Down Easy and Tartar both have some of the best musicians I have ever heard, their grooves and melodies were definitely impressive. As for Eclectic Bullet, we did our thing and had one of our best shows last night. It was great to headline The Outer Limits once again after an 8 month hiatus from the venue. KUDOS to Mellow Down and Tartar... it was great to share the stage with you guys.

Review: SKARD,DERAILED,RIVENDOLL @ FACES
5/11/2002 12:00:00 AM

i GOT A CHANCE TO SEE SOME GOOD BANDS ON SATURDAY NIGHT. One band stole the show for me though, SKARD. The other bands were very good but having a thing for heavy pissed of music skard really crushed everyone. Great energy and some nice guys. They seem to have a knack for bringing the pain

Review: Eclectic Bullet, Subsonic, Gear Driven @ The Spot 5/8/2002 12:00:00 AM Yes, dudes and dudettes... this was an awesome show played at an awesome venue. Three bands, representing you know what... all performances were top notch. gear Driven was incredible at their Nashville 'debut'... melodic groove rock. I have no idea who to compare 'em with. Just know this... Jerry Work and Co. sounded phenomenal, hey! now that I realize it... they kinda 'look' like Disturbed! You know, Fuzz (Jerry) on bass, they got the same hair; all he (Jerry) needs are those wierd green highlights... the guitarist reminded me alot of Dan Donegan, the drummer, well... they both have the same haircut... so yeah... they 'look' like Disturbed. Next up Subsonic... Nashville's very own NickelSmack! or is it Godback? Somewhere in there lives the spirit of the next hard pop-melodic rock gods. These guys are always entertaining to watch... gotta check 'em out dudes and dudettes. Last up Eclectic Bullet... we came, we saw... we layed my bass amplifier to rest because it died; literally. We had a blast though. Kudos to Andy and everyone at The Spot... great venue, great people, great vibe... and evry1 went home early and still got up early enough to go to work. Kudos to Marcum of The 'Nicklesmackers'for hittin' me up with a double of Southern Comfort. I owe you one.

Review: Julius Seizure, Eclectic Bullet, Dose @ The End
5/1/2002 12:00:00 AM

Well first up was Julius Seizure (one of the more recent bands to join the Coalition). Their sound is definitely unique among punk bands. Energy is one word rings in my head when I mentally revisit their set. Definitely worth checking out. Unfortunately I arrived towards the end of their set, so I missed out on the full "Julius Seizure" experience. Next up was Eclectic Bullet. If I was forced to use a single word it would be ECLECTIC!!! These guys totally covered all of the bases. From the first notes of the intro, "And Then You Bleed" to the massive chanting of "Feast, Fight, F*CK" I was glued to the stage. These guys had me riveted from the first note. Dose was up next. These guys are totally a jam band ( i.e. Grateful Dead, Phish, Widespread Panic...hence the name). Groove after groove after groove after groove, and that was just the first song (which went on for about 20 minutes as I recall). Tight musicianship all around this evening. The highlight for me was definitely Eclectic Bullet (maybe I am biased). They are an amazing band to witness live. CHECK THEM OUT WHENEVER POSSIBLE!!!!

Review: Bent @ Bill's Place , Lyles,Tn
4/27/2002 12:00:00 AM

I went out to Bill's Place to see the mighty Bent. These guys are really tight and the musicianship is top notch. I really didnt know what to expect but from what i saw and heard these guys dont mess around. They played mostly newer covers and a couple of originals. They had a few sound problems but that didnt hinder the performance by any means. Vocalist Garrett definetly puts his all into the show while guitarist Scott, bassist Ryan , drummer Gregg locked in an unstoppable , tight rythym section unmatched by few bands. I strongly advise everyone to check these guys out. Cool guys,Killer musicians... HOOCH

Review: Middle Man Music Showcase @ Old Time Pickin' Parlor
4/20/2002 12:00:00 AM

It was a great day. I witness the whole thing. But I have to say that most of those bands sounded the same. But there were a few bands that stood out amongst them all, most notably Eklectic Bullet, Lunge and del giovanni clique. those bands impressed me most.

Review: JD KANE @ Crash Site
4/20/2002 12:00:00 AM

JD Kane is an amazing rock and roll band and a really great group of guys. They offer up covers of classic rock ranging from Skynard to Segar with touches of outlaw country, but they also showcase their own material. One ballad, "Gone" is a driving tune strong enough for the guys but still a heart toucher for the women. This is a group of extremely talented musicians. They are on a neck-breaking schedule booked every weekend for the next several months. Check your newspapers, and I found out they have a website, jdkaneband.com Check it out and check out JD Kane!

Review: JD Kane Band @ Tennessee Bike and Trike 4/13/2002 12:00:00 AM I went to see a local Nashville area band play at a bike run in Cookeville Tennessee. JD Kane was the band name. They were playing on a huge semi trailer that had apparently been set up for them to use. They filled it with their own lights equipment and even a fog machine. They were playing in the day time, so didn't get to use their lights or fog until the very end of the show. These guys powered through two songs like an arena band, rampaging on the trailer stage like they owned it. It was great. The power blew on them. I can't believe that they kept smiles on their faces while the few guys who were helping them set up ran around like a hive of bees. After several empty minutes, the band apologized for the problem and went right back to pummelling the crowd with their versions of a lot of great classic rock songs. They played an original song called "Gone" midway through their second set. It was a very powerful slow rock song. I was blown away. After every set the guys in the band were signing autographs for all of these poeple and some little kids that came to the show. They seemd to have all the time in the world for every person who came up to talk to them, and signed everything handed to them with nothing but smiles and conversation. The thing that impressed me most was that these three guys carried themselves like rock stars, but had nothing but time for the people around them, ending every conversation with a hearty handshake and a friendly thank you for coming. None of the other bands I have seen have been so nice. Most of them had rock star attitudes that turned me off. I have seen a lot of rock bands in my 42 years of concert going, and I am most impressed with these young men. If they dont hit the big time there is something wrong with the music scene. I have one of their schedules signed by all three band members. I was very pleased to say that as a normal old man, I was treated as if I were someone special by each and every one of these guys... You have got to see these boys play, they have one HELL of a show!

After the wedding I attended for the lead singer of our band, a couple of friends and I headed over to Faces to check out abraid. When we arrive, we catch the last few songs from fall.with.me. Now, yes I had heard of them, but no I had never heard them. With a full force hit in the face, we could tell from the few songs we did hear that this is a band with heart. And talent for that matter. I was lucky enough to talk with Beebs(guitar)afterwards for a few moments to help build up his ego a little by telling him how much I liked their music, and to throw our name his way and try to hook up a show with them. Next up was a band from Atlanta called Novocaine. No offense to the mentioned party, but I took their stage time to down a few beers so I really can't give a fair review. But I will say this, a friend of mine enjoyed them enough to trade numbers to swap out shows for a later date. Then, up walks abraid onto stage. Right away everyone stopped what they were doing, or at least it seemed, to run up front to be that much closer. Myself included. I had been waiting for this day for a while. I wanted to see if all the talk I had heard about them was fact or fiction. Well let me say this, I was sore still two days later. Song after song just smacked into me like a wall. Not to mention all the people around me. They know exactly what their fans want. And that is heavy, hard hitting, tight, in your face, metal.

Review: The JD Kane Band @ Rich n Amy's Roadhouse 2
3/24/2002 12:00:00 AM

I had a chance to see the The JD Kane Band at Rich n Amy's Roadhouse for the Bumpus Harley Davidson /106.7 Rooster Show on Sunday. The show was great, I was a bit suprised by the size of there sound for a three piece band. (they played alot of Southern and 70's/80's Rock). The best part was there original songs that they played. they seemed to have the attention of audience quickly when they played "GONE" one of there songs. It was like a cross between Creed n Live, If there is such a cross. The crowd was huge well over 500. Alot of of Fog and lights, Maybe a little to much at times, but there stage show was extremeley "ALIVE" they have that raw concert sound and show. Everybody really like them and they ended up playing for another hour and 1/2 after they were suppose to quit. This was the second time I saw them and they have seemed to have gotten Tighter and more selective with there material. I think they are out there again on the 5th and 6th of April. If anybody gets a chance to see them you really need to check them out, because I don't think they are going to be doing these types of smaller venues very much longer. they are one of the better local show's I have seen in a while.

Review: Medicine Man, Peal @ The Outer Limit
3/23/2002 12:00:00 AM

First and foremost, The Outer Limit sound was AMAZING AS ALWAYS. Medicine Man was tight as ever. Their stage presence is definitely undeniable. The music tends to be "undecided" as to which genre it subscribes, though. They jump all over the place from riffs that would be suitable in any of the Bon Jovi albums, to riffs that seem appropriate for metal rhythm. All in all a decent rock performance. One specific complaint I must register is that their set seemed a bit long to me. This suspicion was confirmed when a frustrated Peal came to the stage announcing that they had 20 minutes to play. Peal had a good clean sound. Many TOOLISH influences to be heard (which I have noticed is a rising trend in band direction lately, hmmm) I noticed a few good grooves here and there. I am sure their performance level was affected by there "inconsiderate" headliner. I will check Peal out at The Next Generation on April 20. Hopefully there won't be any "time-slot" issues for them.