Check Out the Band

Jul 14, 2012 1990s, 2010s, commentary, garage bands, hard rock, punk

As some of you may already know, I am a singer and lyricist for Laconic Yak. We were in limbo for a few months, but it looks like we are back on track.

I’m writing lyrics. We practiced with our new drummer. And…

We have a new page at ReverbNation. This is a cool website for discovering all kinds of music, so check it out.

You can visit Laconic Yak’s page at

http://www.reverbnation.com/laconicyak

Once you are there, be sure to become a fan and let us know what you think. You will be able to sample a few of our songs, read the lyrics, and get an idea of what being a rock band is all about.

After you’re done checking out Laconic Yak, you can browse ReverbNation for other bands. It’s a lot fun, and a great site for the music fan in all of us.

Tags: laconic yak, reverbnation

Guess The Connection #1

Feb 26, 2012 1980s, 2000s, hard rock, trivia

It’s funny how the mind works sometimes. You think of one thing, and that reminds you of something else, and then that something reminds you of something else.

Today we’ll do things a little differently, or oddly, depending on your point of view. I’ll show you two videos, and see if you can guess the connection.

(To be fair, I will put the answer at the end of the message, but do your best to not skip ahead.)

Ready?

The first video is for Aerosmith’s 2001 hit “Jaded”.

Next is “Elvira” by The Oak Ridge Boys (#5 US, 1981).

Here’s a little hint: You have to watch the Aerosmith video, but you only need to listen to The Oak Ridge Boys song.

Okay I will admit that that hint may be a bit confusing, but I need to put a little space between the videos and the answer.

Remember, no peaking at the answer until after you have watched both videos.

Did you guess the connection yet? If not, that’s okay.

The answer is below.

The connection is this: The Aerosmith video for “Jaded” stars Mila Kunis as the female lead, and her mother’s name is…Elvira. Like I said, it’s funny how the mind works sometimes.

Tags: aerosmith, music videos, oak ridge boys, rock and roll, trivia

A Quick Shot Of Rock And Roll

Mar 12, 2010 1970s, hard rock, punk

If you’ve never heard (or heard of) the Rubinoos. Then you, my rock and roll friend, are in for a treat that’s sure to pick you up.

The song “Rock And Roll Is Dead” is from their 1977 self-titled debut. But how in the world could anybody think that rock had passed away after hearing this?

Alice…Alice…Alice…

Mar 5, 2010 1960s, 1980s, Alice Cooper, hard rock, psychedelic, rock videos

Tim Burton’s version of Alice In Wonderland is opening in theaters nationwide today. So, with that in mind, here are two videos that fit that theme. One is a less obvious choice, the second is more closely related to the story.

First up we have Alice Cooper doing the theme song from another movie (Friday The 13th VI). Besides the same name, and that it was from a movie, it also contains the line “And he crawled out of his hole”, which also fits in well with the Wonderland theme.

Fans of classic rock would most likely think of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” as the most obvious choice. And I like to keep everybody happy here at Rock and Roll Decades, so here it is…

Greatest Rock And Roll Riffs – Part I

Feb 27, 2010 1960s, 1970s, Rolling Stones, hard rock, heavy metal

Rock and roll is quite often a riff-driven syle of music. We will look at some of the best rock riffs from time to time. As usual it will be done with the same “anything goes” attitude that we fans are so fond of.

The riffs are not presented in any particular order. But they’re all cool! Are you ready to rock?

I figured as this is a new feature, we might as well start it off with some of the better known riffs.

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How’s that for a start?

:)

Rock and Roll Remakes Wednesday #2

Feb 10, 2010 1980s, 1990s, cover songs, hard rock, heavy metal

It’s another Wednesday here at Rock and Roll Decades and that means you get to hear a cover version of a rock song. It may be odd, in a different genre, or very close to the original. The only rule is that they have to be remakes. So, open your ears and open your mind, you never know what you’ll discover here.

We got a nice slab of hard rock today, boys and girls! A remake of Chris Isaak’s haunting 1989 hit “Wicked Game”. It is done by the Finnish band HIM. This is their earlier version from 1998(?) and is a bit heavier than the US release.

For the sake of comparison, here is the original.

Who Was Jimi Hendrix’ Favorite Guitarist?

Feb 9, 2010 1960s, 2000s, cover songs, hard rock, rock and roll trivia, trivia

Though he left us almost 40 years ago, Jimi Hendrix is still regarded as one of the best guitarists of all time. His ability to get sounds out of the quintessential rock and roll instrument is legendary.

Yet, the question of who his favorite guitarist was is an interesting one. A few logical guesses would include B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, Bob Dylan, or maybe Eric Clapton; all great in their own right.

But it turns out that Jimi’s favorite guitarist was a member of The Moving Sidewalks. They opened for Hendrix during a leg of his 1968 tour. The musician in question became part of a rock trio that formed in 1969 and still plays with the same line-up today.

And that guitarist is none other than Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top!

Here they are covering the Hendrix classic rock and roll song, “Foxey Lady”.

My Dumbest Music Prediction, So Far

Feb 2, 2010 1980s, hair metal, hard rock, heavy metal, rock videos

In the summer of 1987 I was looking forward to becoming a first-time father. And even though my oldest is now a college sophomore, the following scene is still crystal clear in my mind.

At that time Saturday night meant one thing: Headbangers Ball on MTV. I was relaxing on the couch, getting ready for a brand new video by some band I had never heard of. After watching the video, and allowing for some time to mentally process what I just saw, I shared my prediction with everyone in the room.

“This band isn’t going anywhere”, I said deliberately.

Oh, by the way, the video was none other than “Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns N’ Roses; a song that has gone on to become a part of popular culture. Its parent album, Appetite For Destruction, went on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide and holds the record for fastest selling debut album in the history of rock and roll.

Almost 25 years have passed since that summer’s night, and I still haven’t made a prediction as dumb as that one.