Band Reviews

Why I Love Serj Tankian

7/10/2015

From the Bottom of my Playlist to the Top; Thank You Serj!

Okay, maybe saying I love Serj Tankian is a bit of an overstatement. But the truth is that Serj has perhaps had the greatest effect on my musical world than anyone else, and since music makes me happy, it is you, Mr. Tankian that I must thank. From the bottom of my playlist, I appreciate all you have done for me.

The creator of my iPod playlist, Serj Tankian

It all started like many of us metal fans, hearing those words, “Grab a brush and put on a little makeup.” Yes, Chop Suey by System of a Down was my first introduction to Serj Tankian’s amazingly powerful and unique voice and lyrics. While much music can sound the same, System of a Down broke new ground and re-inspired my love of metal.

System of a Down was my entry back to metal after many years away

Years later, when Zoe was first being introduced, involved and addicted to the world of heavy metal, I had her sit and listen to some of Serj Tankian’s solo work. Now I love SOAD completely and unquestionably. However there is something about Tankian’s solo work that is other worldly. It is just that much more outside of the box. The lyrics are so deep, so meaningful and so incredibly powerful. It is music one can actually use to teach history. This is a man who can weave brilliant ideas together with outstanding and unique musical sounds. It was time to see Serj live. And Club Nokia was the place. Little did I know that the musical journey had just begun.

Opening for Serj that night was a band I had never heard of, a Los Angeles based band called VIZA. We got there in time to see them as I had looked up the video “Trans Siberian Standoff” and it was awesome. They put on a show that absolutely blew my mind. I danced, I moshed, I sang, I exhausted myself, all on the opening act. This was the first of perhaps a dozen VIZA shows, each and every one of them truly amazing. They are fronted by a dizzyingly talented guitarist, Orbel Babayan and a singer, K’noup Tomopolous, who was born to be on stage. They released a few more albums packed with amazing tunes, and their live shows introduced me to endless great music.

Gypsy metal band VI*ZA brings together so many sounds.

At one VIZA show the LA band Blackmore opened at the El Rey theater. I had seen a few bands earlier in the night that I was not impressed with but Blackmore had me addicted from the very first notes on the song Battlefield, hammered by bassist David Dadoyan and electrified by the talented guitar work of Jack Heldt and Shaunt Sulahian. There have been several personnel changes for Blackmore, but this is a band that has everything necessary to make it big. They are brilliant songwriters and fantastic technical musicians. They play heavy progressive metal that is some of the best out there in a crowded music scene.

A not-yet-up-to-date picture of the early Blackmore lineup

Blackmore then had the opportunity to open for a band I had just learned about, Nothing More. While Blackmore is probably a couple songs away from breaking out all over the country, Nothing More had just released one of the best albums ever written from a musical, lyrical and passionate perspective. Nothing More has been blasting my ears from the day I first saw them, and it was Serj, through VIZA, through Blackmore, that got me involved.

Nothing More's signature "team bass" playing.

A couple weeks after that I went to the Aftershock Festival with Zoe, and she interviewed VIZA. She asked Orbel and K’noup what bands they would recommend, and they came up with Israeli based Orphaned Land. It took a while before I looked them up, but when I did, again, IMPRESSIVE. I love meaningful music. There is no music more powerful than what is written by Orphaned Land. And the guitar work? Wow! Orphaned Land brings middle eastern traditional music and modern metal together in a way I am sure no one thought was possible. And Orphaned Land? They recommend Palestinian rockers Khalas, which I will get to soon.

Israeli based Orphaned Land creates music unlike anyone else. The video above shows off Orphaned Land's fantastic use of Middle Eastern music mixed with heavy metal

Meanwhile, Blackmore’s Sulahian and I have become good Facebook friends over the years and he texted me one day saying I had to hear this band called Crobot. Luckily they were playing the Viper Room soon, so I looked up their music, bought some tickets and then went to one of the most intense, incredible, entertaining shows I had ever seen. This band is awesome. Psychedelic rock with a splash of Motown and a seasoning of cannabis, mixed together in just the right amounts.

Pennsylvania natives Crobot are from, believe it or not, Pottsville.

A few weeks later, while waiting for Crobot to play at Rocklahoma, I got another introduction to a band that is really going to be big, Sons of Texas. Coming from the Rio Grande Valley, Sons of Texas is a heavy metal band that blends some ZZ Top flair into the hard metal of Pantera. Opening up the Hard Rock Stage at Rocklahoma just before Crobot played in a driving rainstorm, Sons of Texas became another great band that I listen to often.

Serj, you gave us System of a Down. You cut some of the greatest albums of modern rock; Elect the Dead and Imperfect Harmonies. You introduced me to VIZA, who introduced me to Blackmore, who introduced me to Nothing More. Sulahian got me started on Crobot, which led me to see Sons of Texas. VIZA’s K’noup got me to Orphaned Land who introduced me to Khalas. And local Blackmore shows in LA have led me to Mother Falcon and the Unending Thread, which I will write about in a future post.

Serj, you have taken over my iPod. Any attempt by me to choose where my musical experiences will take me is firmly out of my control. If I am ever interviewed by a journalist who asks me, ‘what's on your iPod”, I guess I can say with all honesty, “I am not sure what I am listening to next, but I am sure there is some connection to the master of metal, Serj Tankian.”

Dan Adler was raised in Southern California to a mom and dad, one of whom appreciated Creedence and left wing anti-war politics. By the teenage years, Dan became obsessed with Black Sabbath, listening to the same seven albums repeatedly for 5 years. During this time, his favorite concert experience was seeing Metallica open for a bunch of bands that no longer exist and winning the 1st ever Santa Cruz Air Guitar contest. After several years in Africa listening and dancing to Chimurenga music, Dan returned to have the two best children in the world, one of whom spends a lot of time at concerts with him. What a lucky dad!

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The Next Band to Sell Out Arenas - Dead Sara

7/7/2015

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Dead Sara - It May Never
"Snow in Los Angeles"
But It Certainly Does Rock

I learned about Dead Sara about a year ago when I was researching bands playing Aftershock 2014. Of all of the bands I had never heard before, one band stood out above the others, and that was Dead Sara. I bought their self-titled album immediately and started looking forward to the show with incredible anticipation.
Melting in the triple digit heat of Aftershock and their stage time squeezed by technical difficulties from the next stage, Dead Sara still completely blew me away. The vocals of Emily Armstrong and the tightness of the rest of the band was truly impressive. I was an instant fan and looked forward to getting to see them in a more humane environment.

Los Angeles based Dead Sara

Dead Sara's new release Pleasure to Meet You

That opportunity came at a sold out show at the Constellation Room in Santa Ana, and this was the true conversion. Rarely do I have that much fun at a show. Everything about it was incredible and the sneak previews of their upcoming CD got me excited and sent me to their webpage to get the download the day it was available.
Slowly, I have been converting my small metal world to Dead Sara. I cannot think of anyone I have taken to a Dead Sara show who was not instantaneously a fan. My friends, my wife, my brother…everyone, because simply put, this is one of the best new bands I have heard in a long time. This is a band that has that cross over potential. As my brother said after enjoying one of their recent Troubadour shows, “Glad I got to see that, since they are going to be an arena band someday.”

Their new CD is absolutely fantastic. “Mona Lisa” is a rockin’, rollin’ catchy tune that shows off Armstrong’s pipes. Another of the amazing songs on this CD is “Mr. Mr.” which is again an amazingly catchy tune with a final half that borders on powerful metalcore. I simply love the last minute of that song, which blends so perfectly into the next song on the album, “Greaser”, a song without genre. Just enjoy.

Dead Sara is not afraid to experiment in their live shows. I found it both brave and incredibly powerful when they recently started their show with the ballad “Sorry For It All” from their first album. Here is this talented musician, with this hauntingly stellar voice singing the most incredibly beautiful song. Someone with no Dead Sara experience probably was wondering why his or her metal head friend could possibly have invited him or her to this show. But then this band explodes in sounds of wild guitars, pounding bass, ferocious drums and a voice that ranges from the angriest of screams to the most heartfelt love you could hear from stage. All of this while four entertainers seem to be having the time of their lives. Dead Sara loves to play live music, and that is obvious from every second of one of their live shows.

At the Troubadour show they not only started with a ballad, they fit in some “Dazed and Confused” in the middle of one of their best songs, “Lemon Scent.” And speaking of “Lemon Scent,” this is probably one of the ten most entertaining videos ever made. Watch below; do you think they enjoyed pummeling each other as much as they enjoy playing music together? And that last shot? That is how I feel after a Dead Sara show; they give it all, and the passionate fans give it right back.

My only complaint with Dead Sara is that there are three songs I absolutely love that I have never heard them play in concert. The first, “Snow in Los Angeles” was made for a Christmas album. I understand it is not necessarily something off one of their own CD’s, but does Armstrong have any idea just how beautiful her voice is on this song?

The second, which is my favorite song off their first CD, Dead Sara, is “Timed Blues.” This is a fantastic blues-rock song that seems to play to the sweet spot of the entire band. They just sound so perfect together in this song that I hoped they would spend a bit more time on their second album in that sphere. Which leads me to my all-time favorite Dead Sara song, “Blue Was the Beautiful You” from Pleasure to Meet You. Wow, what can be said about that song? I just feel that it is one of the best songs I have ever heard. Catchy, bluesy, with the most raw emotion, sung by one of the best singers in rock today; Emily Armstrong, accompanied by the most creative guitar work by Siouxsie Medley.

Lead singer of Dead Sara Emily Armstrong

Dead Sara guitarist Siouxsie Medley

And this leads me to one of my other great loves of this band. With two attractive female musicians, Emily Armstrong and guitarist Siouxsie Medley, Dead Sara NEVER PLAYS THAT CARD. As a father of two teenage daughters who wants to teach my children that it is the quality of the character and not the lack of clothing that determines who you are, Emily and Siouxsie are role models everyone can appreciate. The success of Dead Sara clearly comes from hard work and a deep dedication to their profession. This is a band you do not want to miss. They are presently touring in support of their new, fantastic album, Pleasure to Meet You. Go buy it, go see them. It is a night you will thoroughly enjoy.

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Folk Metal at its Best: Eluveitie to Tour North America

7/3/2015

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"The Call of the Mountains"
by Swiss Folk Metal Band Eluveitie

Hailing from Switzerland, Eluveitie, is the gold standard of Folk Metal. With a half dozen full-length releases to their name, and a long history playing together and getting better every year, Eluveitie is something you do not want to miss. Their most recent video, “The Call of the Mountains” is just a small peak into the outstanding variety which Eluveitie offers the metal head. Enjoy:

Eluveitie definitely wins the award for the “Greatest Setting for Music Videos.” As a city dweller myself, the scenery is stunning and makes me want to get in a car and head to the mountains; or better yet, get into a plane and head to the Alps. The video brings to life the whole meaning of the term “The Call of the Mountains.”

Eluveitie makes fantastic use of a wide variety of instruments, including the Hurdy-Gurdy, tin flute, bagpipes, and eclectic mix of ancient instruments. Some of their songs are actually sung in an extinct language, Gaulish and even their name comes from ancient history, referring the Helvetians. Their music is about as varied as any band I have ever spent any real time listening to deeply.

Eluveitie has an amazing collection of videos available on YouTube. The music ranges from uplifting and beautiful as found in “Omnos” to the harsh and HEAVY metal of “King” to somewhere in the middle with “A Rose for Epona.” If you sit and watch these four videos you will immediately be a fan.

This band has such an amazing variety of sound you can be entertained in any mood. One of the problems I find when I start to listen to Eluveitie is that I end up not being able to get up and do anything else. This is especially true when on line watching videos. Whoever writes, films and edits their videos is amazingly talented and creative. This is more entertaining and addicting than most television shows.

Eluveitie will be touring the United States in late summer, early fall, and they are kind enough not to skip Los Angeles (Thank you, the drives to Vegas are monotonous). This may be the show I am most looking forward to for the rest of the year, and there are some real barnburners in my plans. They will be touring with the band Epica, from the Netherlands.

Swiss Folk Metal Band Eluveitie is coming back to North America this fall.

Their most recent album, Origins, released in 2014 on Nuclear Blast records is a fantastic collection of great songs that range the gamut of all this amazing band can do. I truly recommend checking out this CD and finding the closest live show and getting your hurdy-gurdy down there.
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Preview of Aranda at ROK15

5/17/2015

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ARANDA

Oklahoma does seem to have more than its fair share of fantastic bands. Perhaps the existence of Rocklahoma and the ability to have such a large stage so close has led to this success. For whatever reason, all of us out-of-towners get to benefit from the great number of these bands who will be welcoming us to their state.

One band that definitely has jumped out at me while perusing the ROK 15 lineup is Aranda. Wow, what a fantastic voice and such stellar writing. Aranda is soon to release their third album, Not The Same, and the first single released from the album, “Don’t Wake Me,” is getting airtime around the country, which that could lead to a breakthrough for this band as the song is truly fantastic. They are classified as post grunge, and yes, I would put them in the Seether/Breaking Benjamin/10 Years genre, but with a healthy dose of funk and groove.

The song “Undone” is my favorite at this point, but there is a lot of good stuff, and I can see that changing as I get to know more of the music. One thing that is true in all of the music is the truly outstanding vocals of Gabe Aranda. Gabe, together with his brother, Dameon Aranda, are the creators of this band, and they are joined on this album by Mike Walker. They are incredibly tight, and work together so well on their recordings. I truly look forward to seeing what they have to offer live.

Aranda is very comfortable with ballads, such as “Another Day” and “Hey Sally” from their first two albums, but at the same time they are avid rockers and are not afraid to really crank it up.

Aranda is going to be one of the best Oklahoma bands to play their home-state festival this year and they will definitely impress you if you can make time to check them out. They will be the first band to play at the main stage on Sunday, so make sure to wake up and see them play.

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Live from Helsinki, It's Heavy Metal Cello

5/11/2015

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Apocalyptica is one of the most unique heavy metal bands ever formed. There is so much to say about this band, but nothing says it better than this video. Don’t read another word, just take four minutes out of your life and bang your head in the most unique way imaginable.

Okay, now we have your attention, does that kick ass or what? Apocalyptica is going to give Pryor, Oklahoma, a show people will talk about for years. Take three cellos, a dynamic drummer, a talented singer, and combine it all to create one hammering heavy metal sound. Now you have Apocalyptica.

Originally formed over twenty years ago as a Metallica cover band, Apocalyptica has recently released their eighth studio album, Shadowmaker, which like their last five albums, is full of all original songs rather than the covers that started them down their unique metal path.

Apocalyptica's very first album in 1993; Plays Metallica by Four Cellos

Not a sight you see every day. Finland's Apocalyptica

Hailing from Finland, Apocalyptica released their first album 1993. The LP featured four classically trained cellists playing Metallica covers, and the album was called, Plays Metallica with Four Cellos. Featuring songs from a number of Metallica albums, these four professional, classically-trained musicians created something that truly was new in music, and they have built on it ever since. I just have a vision of their stoic music professors telling them, "What crazy idea do you have playing metal with cellos? That will never amount to anything!"

The new album features their first single, Cold Blood, and it is a wild ride of pure metal adrenaline. The only problem I have with their show is that I am a big air guitarist. What do I do in the pit? Can one possibly “Air Cello?” I am certainly going to give it a shot.

There is a lot of great music and fantastic bands to see at Rocklahoma, however there is none more unique, more trailblazing, nor one that will be more talked about than the Finnish Cellos of Apocalyptica. Come join me and let’s have an air cello contest.

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Los Angeles Invades Tulsa: LA Bands at Rocklahoma

5/7/2015

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Being from Los Angeles area definitely entails a great mix of joy, envy, angst, and history. While yes, we have the Sunset Strip and have been home to an uncountable number of famous musicians who have made it big, we are also pretty well known as the town bands skip on their national tour. I cannot believe how often I am faced with the question, “Do I really want to go to Vegas or Phoenix to see _________?”

One thing is definitely true about LA (other than the fact that if it does not rain we may have to stop showering): we are still home to an amazing amount of great music. On any given night, you can find something fantastic to party to regardless of what you want to hear. Of course it does mean you have to drive on a parking lot, I mean freeway, to get to Hollywood, but once there, it is going to be great. To get a taste of what we have to offer, check out the bands below.

Robert Jon and the Wreck

Robert Jon and the Wreck is one of those bands you want to work really hard to see while in Tulsa. They have an amazing funky sound that bridges blues and southern rock. They have been voted “Best Orange County Live Band” and “Best OC Blues Band.” I personally question the blues title, since they rock way too hard, but you can hear the roots there, and they are so good, whatever they win they deserve.

Having just returned from a European tour, RJTW, as they are known on their website, is headed out on a national tour and Pryor, Oklahoma, is lucky to feature them on Sunday. Go and start with “Breaker” which has some amazing guitar riffs. Then “Water,” a completely different sound that shows off the outstanding vocals. Lastly, listen to “Georgia Mud,” and if that does not have you convinced to get out of bed Sunday and start your day with some Robert Jon and the Wreck then nothing will. RJTW released their first full-length, Glory Days, this past February to some amazing reviews, and all of it is well deserved. Every song is simply amazing. The sound includes beautiful ballads such as the title track and “Mary Anne,” as well as the funky “Steppin.” This may be one of the best bands playing on Sunday.

Diamond Lane

Another really fun band from Los Angeles is Diamond Lane. Diamond Lane is right now on tour with Delta Rose, another incredibly talented LA band playing Rocklahoma this year. Delta Rose is reviewed here. Diamond Lane is a take-no-prisoners heavy metal outfit. Driving guitars, pounding drums and powerful lyrics, Diamond Lane is never messing around. Diamond Lane has three releases; a 2011 LP “World Without Heroes”, a 2013 EP, and a recent release, “Terrorizer,” which has a collection of fantastic metal. I especially like the song “Favorite Kind of Victim,” which has great guitar work and a pretty intriguing name. And, if you want to have a joke at LA’s expense, watch the video to “The Enemy” and realize that is a Southern California rainforest.

Mycah (formerly Siren)

Another band on its way up and out of LA is the band Mycah. Last year Mycah played at Rocklahoma as Siren. However, there were issues with the name, property rights and all that, and the band took on the name of the charismatic lead singer, Devon Mycah.

I can say with real authority that Mycah completely burned up the Retrospect Stage last year. Whoever may have owned the Siren name should have simply given it up right there, because there was no competing with this dynamic band. With all the members still in high school, it was kind of amazing to think they could be that talented. There was fantastic instrumental work, and Devon Mycah knew how to entertain well beyond her age. It might have been 2:20 in the morning, but the 200 or so people who started the show by milling about and drinking even more booze soon found themselves head banging and moshing as well as people who had been standing for 14 hours could possibly do.

The band has some great pedigree with connections to Poison, Avenged Sevenfold, and Omen, and is clearly influenced by serious metal, but adding their own young sound. This website covered their incredible show at Rocklahoma 2014 here.

They have some songs up on their Reverbnation page, and they are pretty darn good. The issue with this band is that their recordings just do not do justice to their live shows. Perhaps they will be another late night band this year, and if that is the case I guess I won’t be sleeping until later in the morning. Siren was a perfect example of why going to bed after the headliners at Rocklahoma is a bad idea; you miss too much good music.

The Winery Dogs

Lastly, and certainly not least, the band The Winery Dogs is a band not to be missed. This relatively new band is a “supergroup” comprised of three talented members with a great deal of rock and roll experience in their past. Bass guitarist Billy Sheehan has played with a virtual "who’s who" list of famous rockers, including Steve Vai and David Lee Roth. His bass playing is incredible. Drummer Mike Portnoy is a gifted and award-winning drummer most known for his work with Dream Theater. Guitarist and vocalist Richie Kotzen is a veteran of several well-known bands, the most famous of which is Poison. His guitar playing is simply amazing.

I am looking forward to hearing this band’s music, but I equally badly want to just witness these amazingly talented musicians create magic from their instruments. Watch the video for “Elevate” and you will understand what I mean. The individual musical talent of each of these musicians is not often matched. This is going to be one of those epic Rocklahoma moments.

There is nothing run-of-the-mill about this band. They are clean, polished, extremely talented musicians and outstanding songwriters. Not knowing the schedule for Rocklahoma, I wonder just where this ultratalented band is going to get to play.

A great taste of the incredible talent on display in this band is in the YouTube video for the song “Time Machine.” An amazing song that displays Kotzen's incredible talent is the song "Desire." Be forewarned: I started listening to this band late at night, with the plan to check them out and get some sleep. That didn't go well. The Winery Dogs are a top level band and are going to blow the roof off of Rocklahoma.

Linkin Park

Another small, unknown LA band playing Rocklahoma this year is Linkin Park. They have.....sold like millions of albums and are going to be the most amazing headliner ever.

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Tulsa Rocks! Thursday's Pre-Party Features Tulsa's Talent

4/26/2015

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The Greater Tulsa area is home to over a million people, two universities, and an astounding number of fantastic bands from a wide variety of genres. Much of that will be on display on Thursday at the Campground Pre-Party, ranging from the acoustic sounds of Skytown to the heavy grunge of Severmind. While the regular Rocklahoma pitch might be “three days of amazing bands," the truth is that Thursday, while lacking in headliner power, is another evening of fantastic local Tulsa, Oklahoma, music.

Skytown

An acoustic hard rock band that really gets you moving, Skytown is an exciting way to get the night started. Skytown is not a new genre, but they are talented, sound great, and write really fun songs, the best of which is “The Drinking Song.” Did I just give away too much about me? Anyway, Skytown is definitely worth getting to Pryor on Thursday and starting your week off right. And if you are someone who says “hell no, I don’t want any of that acoustic stuff,” get over yourself and come get wild at Skytown. The following video is fun, but the audio does not do justice to how good this band really is. Check out their Reverbnation or Facebook pages.

Dirty Crush

Following Skytown will be a completely different sound from alternative metal band Dirty Crush. Their offering on Reverbnation gives a great example of the wide variety of music they have to offer. With the songs “Lust,” “Pride,” “Wrath,” and “Envy,” this is a band that can entertain you no matter what you are in the mood for. "Lust" is an old style blues, soul song, while “Envy” kicks your ass. The first song, “Intro,” is a wonderful instrumental song, reminiscent of one of my favorite songs of the past few years, “Mescaline” by Mount Salem. Dirty Crush is a veteran to Rocklahoma and adds to the enjoyment of the pre-party party.

Fight The Fade

Dirty Crush gives way to heavy Fight The Fade, or FTF. Fight the Fade really rocks, with the benefit of a talented front person with a great voice. Probably my favorite song on their CD is "Rise," which is both powerful and inspirational. FTF is known for exciting live shows and positive, uplifting lyrics, which I can really appreciate. The songs I have listened to online are really enjoyable and I have enjoyed them all. They have an Adele cover, which is really good, but I have to admit my favorite Adele cover so far was at Warped Tour when Ice Nine Kills covered "Someone Like You." That was quite the event. FTF uses keyboards in an outstanding way, really complementing rather than taking over. Fight the Fade is an example of the amazing talent coming from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Check out their Reverbnation page.

Severmind

Now things get really heavy with the return of Rocklahoma veterans Severmind. This band has all that wonderful Black Sabbath-esque darkness that I absolutely love in metal music. If loud is your style, Severmind is your medicine. Severmind has played Rocklahoma for a few years and I can totally see why they are invited back. Bone crushing metal and ear-shattering rhythms are what these guys offer. “Tyrants Fall” is a great first taste.

The name Severmind refers to “intellect in the state of discord,” or when mind and body become separated. The hard-core groove metal of Severmind is the perfect live music for completely losing yourself in the moment. If you need to see some video, here is "Long Haul" live, but the audio just does not do them justice; go over to Reverbnation, or better yet, support the band and buy their newest release, Imminent Misfortune.

Dryvr

Dryvr is next up on the lineup. Dryvr is one hell of a heavy-hitter. But they don’t just make noise. They can do it all. Their new song "Pit" is fantastic. The song has a bit of everything: great guitar work, powerful vocals, and a driving rhythm. And it comes with an outstanding video that seems to only be available on their Facebook page.

Dryvr has a lot of great music on Reverbnation. I spent the afternoon listening and had no problem playing all the songs through again…..ok…..and again a third time.

"Pulse" is a power ballad and they pull it off as well as anyone. "Broken Glass" is a great song with a quality lyric video. Dryvr is in the running to play the Hard Rock Stage and they should definitely be given the chance. The guys from Tulsa know how to make music. I will definitely be there to enjoy it.

We The Ghost

We the Ghost is probably the most polished of the Tulsa bands playing on Thursday. I am incredibly impressed with this band and wrote them up earlier as a must-see band when I was first looking over the preliminary lineups. You can read about We the Ghost here.

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Three Must See Bands for Sunday at ROK 15

4/23/2015

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For Sunday, the less well-known bands will have to get their own write-up later, and I have some great ideas of what to watch on the Axis and Retrospect Stages. But Sunday has things I am really looking forward to, and these qualify for my must-see bands for day 4 of Rocklahoma (I will be around on Thursday for the campground party).

Breaking Benjamin

Wow, how long have we waited for this moment? This has been one of the best bands for a long time, and BB fans have had to endure a seemingly endless period of time between shows. But here we are, 2015 and the time has come.

The band has gone through a lot of changes, with Benjamin Burnley as the only original member. His new bandmates come with a lot of experience, like guitarist Kieth Wallen from Adelita’s Way and Jason Rauch from Red. BB’s old stuff is top quality, and incredibly popular, with two platinum albums under their belt and some amazing awards and accomplishments. How will things be with the new band? Are we going to have the old sound with new musicians or will their own sound be stamped onto BB’s traditions? With a new release, Dark Before Dawn, due out June 23rd, and a nationwide spring tour, Breaking Benjamin is back on the scene and I think just about every rock and roll fan is seriously looking forward to finding out what is in store. The recently released “Failure” has been on YouTube only a few weeks and has over 2 million views. This is going to be great.

Breaking Benjamin has reconstituted and is ready to make some noise at Rocklahoma 2015

Motionless in White

I think this is my most anticipated set of the weekend because I always have an amazing time in a MIW pit. I am a bit old for the pit, but MIW makes the bruises worth every minute. I have had some epic times in the melee of Motionless in White pits.

My favorite story of MIW is without-a-doubt Rocklahoma 2013, which I attended with my 14 year-old daughter. So there was this guy Matt who was flirting with her the whole weekend, and I finally just went up and introduced the two of them during The Sword. Cool dude, and we all talked and went our separate ways. (He was 15, nothing creepy here folks.) Anyway, I am thrashing in the pit to MIW several hours later while my daughter had pushed her way up front, when suddenly this teenage boy, thrown from several rows back, lands on my head. We hit the deck together and gather our senses. It’s Matt. Crazy dude, if you want to meet my daughter, just talk to her, you don’t have to land on her dad’s head to set up a date!

I have seen MIW a few times since and their pits are active, intense, and respectful of old farts like me. MIW music is perfect music for exercising the body and exorcising demons at the same time. I just love the energy, intensity, and accessibility of the music. The MIW genre has a lot of music I just cannot digest, but MIW themselves are awesome. Get in the pit and I will see you there!

Shaman's Harvest

My concert buddy and I, Hank Lujan, agree that one of the best bands we listen to, yet have never seen live is Shaman’s Harvest. I have yet to hear a song by Shaman’s Harvest that I have not really liked. They have a great sound, and singer Nathan Hunt has a fantastic voice that sounds as good screaming as balladizing.

Shaman’s Harvest from Jefferson City, Missouri, is heavily influenced by the country sound. Hunt could easily have been a country music star, but instead uses his incredible gift to front this fantastically talented band. SH has been together for many years, with its first release back in 1999. The amazing new CD, Smokin’ Hearts and Broken Guns is packed with dynamic sounds and intense lyrics. It was during the recording sessions for this CD that Hunt was diagnosed with throat cancer, and according to his bio, this redirected his focus to making the best album of his life. I believe that he has succeeded. The songs are incredibly well written, and the instrumentation is fantastic. However, what stands out is the multi-faceted vocals. One part Five Finger Death Punch, one part country, and one part everything else, Hunt makes the perfect lead. I am focused on not missing a second of this dynamic band.

“Dragonfly,” their most successful single AND “Dangerous,” from the new album

There you have it; three bands for each of three days. My next post will focus on Tulsa bands playing at Rocklahoma. It would be a shame to be in Pryor, Oklahoma, and not experience the amazing local rock scene. Thanks to the organizers of Rocklahoma; local talent has a chance to really shine for the out-of-town crowds. And let me tell you a secret: Tulsa’s music scene is awesome. Come back in soon and find out.

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Saturday's Hat Trick of Must-See Bands

4/16/2015

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Saturday is a bit unfair to someone choosing three must-see bands. What if I told you Linkin Park, Volbeat and Halestorm? But then again, I guess that would be like having an article that said, “Three must-do things today; Breathe, Eat and Drink!!” I really don’t think that advice is necessary, regardless if it is true or not. So to avoid sounding irrelevant, I think I will skip those bands and talk about them on another post. If you miss the three Saturday headliners, well, just don’t.

How about three bands you might not know that you must see? Three bands that will be playing early in the day outside, or in the middle of the night at the Retrospect Stage, or even in the wee hours of the morning at the Jagermeister stage?

LOVEBETTIE

THIS is a band that should be on your list right next to the top three on Saturday as
“a band to know.” Lovebettie, from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, is that eclectic mix of rock and roll, blues, and fun, that will have you dancing in the streets [look out for the golf cart (if you’ve been to Rocklahoma, you’ll know what I mean)], and happy as a clam. Nominated by Rolling Stone magazine as a “Band to Watch,” and given rave reviews for their EPs The Red Door and Rise, Lovebettie is the perfect band to get you in the mood to party in Pryor. Pioneers of what they call “Swagger Rock,” Lovebettie has catchy fun tunes and a dynamic, talented frontwoman: Alexandra Naples. Wait until you hear her sing. After you hear their set, I can guarantee you’ll be begging for more.

A live version of “Red Roses” can be seen here:

There are some great tunes on their website, such as “Not Quite Right,” along with a few new songs, including “Follow.”

I will be there wherever Lovebettie is playing because there is no way I am missing this show.

SONS OF TEXAS

Okay, I am not big on cussing on this website, but HOLY SHIT! This is a debut CD? This band from a small town in South Texas is going to be big and you are going to have a chance to see them up close and personal before they become incredibly well known. They are a mix of Pantera, Metallica, with a couple shots of ZZ-Top and a twist of Metalcore. What a great sound they have developed for themselves! Their debut CD, Baptized in the Rio Grande is 11 fantastic songs with enough energy to recharge your own batteries. It is becoming my afternoon reinvigoration medicine when coffee just won’t do it anymore.

Don’t miss the official video for the title track:

Sons of Texas from small town South Texas

Get a sense of their harsher side by listening to “Bury the Hatchet,” and you will see why I am convinced it will not be long before this band is on the main stage. Catch them this year. In a couple of years, as you can tell from the music, it is going to be awful rough in that pit to get near the stage.

CROBOT

I will get to see Crobot in LA next week; however, I am sure the Viper Room show will only further convince me that their Oklahoma show will be amazing. A definite not-to-be-missed Saturday experience, you can get a real taste for their mission by watching the video for “Legend of the Spaceborne Killer.” This is not my favorite Crobot song, but sit in a comfortable chair and watch the video. Ahhhh, you get it. I have not decided if “Mano de Lucifer” or “Nowhere to Hide” is my favorite song, but regardless this is going to be some serious fun.

Crobot is from Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and has a short EP, but recently released their first full-length CD, Something Supernatural, which has a fantastic collection of music. It is a sound which is as easily enjoyed in a moshpit as it is in a bean bag chair while half-conscious.
Below is an official video for "Nowhere to Hide" from the new CD. Next to that is, well, sit back, get comfortable, grab a beer, and enjoy.

In conclusion, Shaunt Sulahian was right; Crobot rocks! Be there.

I managed today to write about three great bands on Saturday without even touching the truly unbelievable headliner offering in Pryor that night. If Friday is a great way to start the weekend, Saturday is going to be epic. After seeing so many great bands all day, we get to see Halestorm, Papa Roach and ......Linkin Park? How does one get up on Sunday.....afternoon?

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A Hat Trick of Bands for Friday at Rocklahoma 2015

4/14/2015

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By Dan Adler

Now that the daily lineup has been put up, there are a whole bunch of bands that were not listed on the original lineup that I am completely stoked to see. Yes, Rocklahoma has an incredible lineup of big, popular bands, but it is the plethora of amazing talent off center stage that makes Rocklahoma an epic experience.

ViliFi

First and foremost there is ViliFi, whom I have seen at Rocklahoma the last two years, and thought I would not see again after a scheduling/lightning-induced mess-up that left Shain Honkonen and his band playing to a dozen people on the Axis Stage. The 50,000 people inside at the time truly missed out. ViliFi is a band composed of three of the most talented musicians you will ever find. Honkonen is one of the best guitar players I have seen in modern rock music, and his writing and heart-felt lyrics need to be experienced to be believed. This band is one that should be on the main stage and you are absolutely blowing it if you miss this act. Wherever they play, they should play to a packed audience. ViliFi’s first CD, Common Eyes, has been a highlight for me in the past few years. Honkonen and company have been working on their sophomore effort and the sneak peaks on Facebook have been incredibly promising.

For a taste of this amazing band, hit their YouTube channel and listen to “Travail,” “Anguish,” “Price I Have to Pay,” and “Better Days.” There is a story behind every song to go with the absolutely stellar guitar work.

Vilifi's Shain Honkonen, Jake Hogeland and Dylan Thomas from Merritt Island, Florida

KingShifter

Another band I have seen twice at Rocklahoma is KingShifter from Wichita, Kansas. They played on the Axis Stage at mid-day, but also at 0-dark-30 at the Jagermesiter Stage. Regardless of my exhaustion at 3 am, there was no dragging me away from this grungy, down-home growl. I bought their CD and played it incessantly for weeks when I got home. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to experience some more live KingShifter. Again, get your butts to their show. Awesome, amazing, fun, unique, full of deep grooving riffs that will make you dance at 3 am like it is 10 pm. They released a new CD, 26 Tons with the single “Peace of Mind.” Check out the video:

Wichita, Kansas-based KingShifter is coming back to Rocklahoma this year.

NICNOS

Oklahoma’s very own NICNOS is another top draw for me at this year’s event. Nicnos brings their own fantastic “fusion folk rock” band that blends so many different styles into an auditory joy. Of course they played LA recently, and I missed it. DAMN!! How does that happen? But they are back at Rocklahoma and this is one of those small bands I would be late to the main event to see. Fun and happy music, great beats, fantastic guitar work, invigorating violin accents and super spirit, NICNOS is simply awesome. Oklahoma is not just home to the biggest rock festival in America, but it is clearly a mecca of great music of its own. Can you say "Kicktree?"

Here is a live video shot at the Chevy Music Showcase in OKC.

There you have it. Three bands I am completely stoked to see on the first day. You know what is crazy about that? I am still on the bottom row of the lineup! I probably will not even have stepped into the main arena, and I am already flying high with fantastic music. Friday is going to be a hell of a way to get this festival rocking. Tune in tomorrow for my, "Three for Saturday" post.

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Dead Sara - It May Never "Snow in Los Angeles" But It Certainly Does Rock

"The Call of the Mountains"by Swiss Folk Metal Band Eluveitie

ARANDA

Robert Jon and the Wreck

Diamond Lane

Mycah (formerly Siren)

The Winery Dogs

Linkin Park

Skytown

Dirty Crush

Fight The Fade

Severmind

﻿Dryvr﻿

We The Ghost

Breaking Benjamin

Motionless in White

Shaman's Harvest

LOVEBETTIE

SONS OF TEXAS

CROBOT

ViliFi

KingShifter

NICNOS

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Dead Sara - It May Never
"Snow in Los Angeles"
But It Certainly Does Rock

"The Call of the Mountains"
by Swiss Folk Metal Band Eluveitie

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