Category Archives: Music Video

Horrorpops – Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill – CD Review

Horrorpops
Horrorpops

One of the more unique acts out there in the music world, The Horrorpops, released their third studio album Kiss Kiss Kill Kill earlier this year.  The Danish act with original members (who are also married to one another) Patricia Day on stand up bass and Kim Nekroman on lead guitar have been rocking out since 1996, thanks to their unique mixture of rockabilly, surf, psychobilly, and punk rock music.  They were a huge success overseas but it was not until around 2003 that the band got their US break thanks to Tim Armstrong’s (Rancid) label Hellcat Records.

Recently finishing up their mini-set tour on the 2008 Van’s Warped Tour, the band just announced their headlining fall tour in support of Kiss Kiss Kill Kill.  With bombshell Patricia Day’s giant stand-up bass and smoky singing, layered with Kim Neckroman assaulting his guitar, and Niedermeier’s drumming, the band should have no problem entertaining the masses.

The CD seemed to have a rebel theme with the song titles and lyrics, with many in reference to many female films. The CD cover mimics a poster for a B-Movie.  The sound on their third release seems to keep the same as previous without going over any boundaries to make a significant change.

Opening track “Thelma & Louise” of course makes suggestion of driving just like Susan Sarandon and Gina Davis did in their girls gone wild of a film.  Patricia Day sings strongly in this track and the music backing her up is very catchy.   “Heading For The Disco?” already is played a lot over the airwaves, especially on Sirius Radio’s Faction.  The song is a bit poppy but still delivers the pop-rockabilly feel with bass plucking and drumming making you want to boogie down.

“Kiss Kiss Kill Kill” really sounded like the Cure at the beginning, that is until the harmonies began.  The song holds Patricia Day’s cries “Kiss kiss kiss me dantly, kill kill me quietly…” with a “whoa oh oh oh” in the wake.  The song is a little gloomy, but I really dig the guitar playing.  It is a simple riff but is the type that sticks out.

Starting with what sounded like a repeat of a bass line from another Horrorpops release was “Everything’s Everything”.  The track about not wanted to let go of a complicated relationship was a reminder that this band is not about sunshine and rainbows.  Nekroman strums away during “Private Hall Of Shame” with almost a southern rock feel to his playing.

By no means is this a traditional rockabilly/psychobilly band.  They stray away from the rest and incorporate their own style to make for a more unique feel.  On their third release, I say the Horrorpops still have it and I really enjoyed what I heard.  If you want real rockabilly this band may bestow you mixed feelings but if you are looking for something fun to listen to and have a good time, then this is the perfect release for you.

Ex-Korn Releases Solo CD

Brian "Head" Welch w/ daughter Jennea
Brian "Head" Welch w/ daughter Jennea (still sporting ADIDAS!)

Remember a few years back when the guitarist from Korn up and left the band due to his own personal beliefs?  Everyone thought either Head went crazy or was just pulling a huge publicity stunt.

I thought it was a big joke at first.  Slowly I forgot about it.

Today I found out he has released his solo CD three years after he departed from the nu-metal rock band Korn.  I honestly thought he just fell off the face of the earth.  Then again I really was not looking for updates on him.  I respected his decision at the time and left it at that.

There was a lot more to the story though.

Brian "Head" Welch looks a lot like someone I have seen before...
Brian"Head" Welch - Looks like someone I have seen before...

Truth be told; him leaving the band was not a stunt at all.  Brian “Head” Welch left the band to focus on more important things in life like being a father and following his belief as a born again Christian.  The guitarist fought a terrible battle with drugs throughout his rock star years and once he departed from the band he soon weened himself from his addiction.  After being baptized in front of the world, he began a new life.  He started traveling to other countries to help the poor and while doing so wrote material for himself.

Last year Brian “Head” Welch released a book titled Save Me From Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, And Lived To Tell My Story.  The memoir is all about the rock star’s lifestyle he had, didn’t want, and how he changed it.  I have not had the chance to check it out just yet, but from what I hear it is a good read.

His new solo album titled the same as his book, Save Me From Myself, dropped yesterday in many stores.  I have not had a chance yet to check it out but I did find this video he just released as well of the song “Flush”.

This video is proof he has not completely lost it…or has he?  You can be the judge.

FLUSH – BRIAN HEAD WELCH — THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

Note:  To each their own on beliefs upon religion.  I request that no one discuss religion on this site.  I respect your opinion and all, but there are plenty of other forums and blog-sites that cater to religion discussion.  This blog was about a musician and even if I did include his choice in religion, that is as far as I am taking it.  If you do, I’ll be sure to delete it.

Bjork Video Strange? Indeed.

Bjork released a video today for a remixed version of one of her songs before the actual single has been released.  The original version of “The Dull Flame of Desire” can be found on Bjork’s latest release Volta.  The song takes a huge twist in this version making for a very interesting listen.  Leave it up to one of the most unique artists to continue her originality.

The remixed version of the song “The Dull Flame of Desire” features Björk with dual vocals from Antony Hegarty from Antony & The Johnsons.  The song is full of lyrics that are actually translated lines taken from a poem written by Fyodor Tyutchev.

If you have a moment check out the video.

WARNING:  It is strange as hell and I kind of got freaked out towards the end….

So?  Did it scare you at all or make you wish you never experimented with LSD?

I’ll be honest.  The video sucked.  The song is amazing.  The concept of how the video was created though was interesting.  Bjork held a contest on her website for new directors giving them the chance to work with her.  Bjork chose 3 winners were chosen to collaborate together.  The result is one wierd a** video.

I could not help but think the middle part of that video looked familiar….where did I see that before???

Oh yeah:


Scream Video

haha…..  yeah.  I went there.

Alice In Chains To Record New Material

Alice In Chains (AIC) will be releasing new material for the first time in 13 years.  Can you say AWESOME?

For those of you who are scratching your heads right now wondering did I just say AIC is releasing new material, I need to let you know that the band never broke up.

Alice In Chains
Alice In Chains (w/ Layne Staley)

Formed in 1997 by Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell the band became quite popular with two albums becoming #1’s on Billboard 200.  The band was a great commerical success and even though started off more metal soon mellowed to a rock that everyone seemed to enjoy.  After 1995 the band stopped recording material.

The band never called it quits though, they just paused while lead singer Layne Staley fought the bad battle with his publicly known chemical addiction and dealt with heartbreak.

In 1996 Staley lost his fiancee from bacterial endocarditis and chose to stay alone and cope his loss with drugs.  In 1998 Staley recorded two songs with the rest of the band but really never did anything else onward.  His addiction took over his like and he even willingly admitted in in many interviews.

Months before his death, Staley admitted in an interview, “I know I’m near death, I did crack and heroin for years. I never wanted to end my life this way” In 2002 the worst, but expected, happened as Staley was found dead in his condominium from an apparent drug overdose.

With Layne Staley’s passing in 2002 I really never thought AIC would put out another release.    I figured the band would go their separate ways.  I was wrong…

After some time AIC chose to continue.

The remaining members Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez, and Sean Kinney played for a benefit concert in 2005 for the tsunami that hit Asia with Damageplan singer Pat Lachman.  One year later they appeared on VH1’s Decades Rock Live: Heart with another singer William DuVall, one time singer of Comes With The Fall. AIC hit the road soon after and toured select cities with positive reviews. They rolled through Cleveland and of course I missed it. I know someone who went and he said it was amazing.  Go on Matt, rub it in.

Seems like things went well as earlier this year AIC announced they would be recording new material.

I still have yet to see the new AIC live or even hear it for that matter.  I never even got to see the old AIC live and they were one of my favorite bands of the 90’s.  I am really curious to hear what they have to offer.  From what I have heard William DuVall seems to have picked up where Staley had let off.

With new material and the possibility of a tour (I sure hope so) it looks like AIC is making a comeback.

Straight from the band’s website, a band associate named Baldy said:

“October will arrive and Alice In Chains will reconvene to record the new album.  So, as 2008, winds down, band activity will be gearing up, and at some point in 2009 you’ll finally hear what I’ve been raving about for the last several months.”

I think Baldy knows something…and I am hoping he is right!

Some videos:

Bad Religion @ Cleveland Agora – 1996

Wow did I ever find a gem today on YouTube.

Bad Religion
Bad Religion

For almost 20 minutes this evening I flashed back to one of my favorite concerts ever 12 years ago.  I remember the line up vividly.  It was The Gray Race Tour featuring Bad Religion with special guests Unwritten Law and Dance Hall Crashers at the infamous Cleveland Agora.

I was fresh out of high school, reckless, and an avid punk rocker.  I went to the show with a big group of friends….we took our friend’s mom’s van that had the worst suspension ever.  In fact we had to turn around on route 422 and swap the van out with another friend’s mom’s van.

One thing I recall about that show was there there were cameras all over the place, professional cameras.  The cameras were on the balconies of the Agora as well as on the shoulders of cameramen.  My friends and I got excited because we were going to be filmed during the performance.  We hoped it would be released on VHS (that’s right kids, DVDs did not exist back then).

I owe that tour for introducing SoCal Surf/Skate punk rockers Unwritten Law to me.  I am still a fan of them today.  During their performance I noticed the cameras were not rolling so we all agreed that the camera were there only for Bad Religion.

When Bad Religion took stage we all went insane.  I remember moshing and dancing and just acting like a complete fool.  At times I was just falling on people and letting them push me around as I sang at the top of my lungs.  I was being a carefree 19 year old and was loving every moment of it.  For the record, I was sober too…I got carded when I tried to buy beers….haha.

As the years passed I slowly forgot about that show.  Since none of us could ever hunt down that footage of the show we all figured it was lost.  A few weeks ago one of my buddies who went to that show with me called me telling me he saw some footage of the show on YouTube.  I was in disbelief yet thrilled that it surfaced.  Well thanks to my busy like I completely forgot about that phone conversation until today when I logged onto YouTube and looked it up.

Sure enough, it’s Bad Religion at the Cleveland Agora 1996.  It was a sold out show.  My friends and I were front row slightly to the right of center stage.  I laughed when I saw the pit because I know I was a part of it.  I remember it so clearly and now you can see what I experienced…

Part I:

Part II:

Other footage: