Orianthi Proves She's More Than Just A Hot Chick With A Guitar

Orianthi is an amazing guitarist who has already played alongside some of the biggest names in music in her young career. I had the privilege to interview her recently for Rock Revolt Magazine:

http://www.rockrevoltmagazine.com/interview-orianthi/

Daughtry Rocks The Greensboro Coliseum

There’s nothing like coming home, whether it’s after a long day at work or after visiting the in-laws. It’s even that much more special when you are a rock star travelling by bus from city to city and forgetting what your own bed feels like. Former American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry brought his Break the Spell tour to the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC on April 7. Although Greensboro is not his hometown, it’s very close to the town of Roanoke Rapids, NC where he grew up.

Daughtry hasn’t been packing them in on this tour like he has done in the past. I’m not sure if it’s because of the economy or if it’s because his popularity is waning. The crowd of just over 5000 welcomed him with open arms and he was all business once he hit the stage. There coliseum did block off almost half of the coliseum with the stage being almost in the center of the floor to give the illusion of a bigger crowd than what was actually there.

The night’s set list focused heavily from his latest album Break the Spell as nine of the album’s twelve tracks were performed. It’s no secret that this newest album from Daughtry hasn’t sold as well as any of his previous releases. Was the set list a marketing ploy? Deliver the goods and hope that would encourage someone to buy the new album after the show? It was a bold move, especially considering that most bands only play a couple of song s from their new album that they are promoting.

The band opened with “Renegade”, not the classic Styx song, and “Break the Spell”, both from the new album. The crowd was really into the new stuff, but the night was early and they were all pumped up to see Chris and the boys. Next up was “Feels Like Tonight” and that really got the crowd fired up. They immediately went back to the new material with five songs in a row, including a very striking version of “Start of Something New”.

The next two performances were stripped down to just Chris at the end of the catwalk and an acoustic guitar. He poured his heart into very passionate and heartfelt performances of “What About Now” and “Home”.  The set ended with a rocking cover of Tom Petty’s “Running Down a Dream” followed by “September”. The encore consisted of a killer version of Billy Idol’s 80s classic “Rebel Yell” and Daughtry’s first single “It’s Not Over”.

Chris definitely puts his all into a show and he has a solid band to back him up. They sounded as good live if not better than the album. It’s a shame that more people didn’t turn out for this “homecoming” show. Maybe by ending the show with “It’s Not Over” was a message to everyone that even though record sales and ticket sales are down, Daughtry plan to be here for a very long time.

Veil Of Maya Shine On Eclipse

Veil of Maya have just unleashed an album that is sure to catch the attention of listeners and critics alike. Their new album entitled Eclipse surpasses the high expectations already placed on this young band. It’s the follow-up to 2010’s [id] which was a hailed by many as being close to perfection. So, how do you follow-up such a ground breaking release? It’s not always easy, but you dig deep into that create reserve that truly talented artists have and you raise the bar on yourself. That is exactly what Veil of Maya has done.

The album opens with the instrumental “20/200”. It’s barely over a minute in length, but it definitely wets your appetite and makes you anxious to hear what’s next. It leads us into “Divide Paths” which is brutality at its finest. The riffing of guitarist Marc Okubo combined with the drum attack of Sam Applebaum creates a sense of brutality at its finest. What a lethal combination these two guys are!

At times, Marc and Sam seem like two young kids competing for their parent’s attention. Maybe it’s a case of that that game “I can do anything you can do better”. “Winter is Coming Soon” is a prime example of that. The drums and guitars are insane on this track! It’s almost staggering to listen to them and not be in awe of their sheer power and intensity.

There is a lot of attention being given to the production quality of this album. Producer Misha Mansoor of Periphery listened to the vision that the band had and he delivered in a major way. The band wanted the production to be over the top, with a big, more detailed sound. I think all you have to do is listen to one song to be able to hear how substantial of a difference there is. The drums have definitely been brought more to the forefront and counter the barrage of riffing being done.



“The Glass Slide” is another standout track for many reasons. It packs all the intensity that you would expect as well as the intricate layers of guitar work. The vocals combine the lower end, growls with the higher end screams that work really well on this song. The song also has that big, orchestration sound near the middle that adds such depth to the song.

I have never been much of a fan of instrumentals from a metal band of any genre, but Veil of Maya may have swayed my opinion on this matter. “Eclipse” is such an amazing song that showcases a different side of the band that is rarely heard. This track isn’t necessarily a ballad, but its pace is somewhat slower than the brutal assault of most songs by the band. Marc and Sam are somewhat more somber on this track. The intensity from both is there, but it’s more melodic than on the other tracks. It’s a very cool composition from the band and showcases a side of them that should be tapped into even further.

The album is solid from beginning to end and all the guys have really stepped up their game. It’s still hard to believe that the album has ten tracks and clocks in at just 28 minutes. I can see how people can view this as the glass being half full or half empty. They could have put tracks in there to lengthen it out, but you don’t want to put filler in there just to adhere to what a normal album length is suppose to be. It’s 28 minutes of intensity and brutality and you get more in that 28 minutes than a lot of bands pack into an album twice its length.

Although short in length, this album packs quite a punch and is highly recommended. If you are into metal core or progressive metal or if you just like to crank it loud and headbang, then Eclipse by Veil of Maya is well worth the investment. This one deserves a second listen immediately following your first to truly appreciate the depth that this band has to offer.

Daughtry: If It Ain't Broke, Yada Yada Yada

America’s favorite poster child for not winning American Idol and still coming out ahead of the actual winner is back. Daughtry has just released a new album entitled Break the Spell and it follows the “if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it” formula fans expect from the band. That’s not necessarily a good thing or a bad thing.

Daughtry first burst onto the scene as a contestant on American Idol in 2006. He was one of, if not the, first contestant who had a true passion for rock. Many fans of the show remember his shocking elimination from the final four on the show. You have to YouTube the clip and just look at the expression on his face and eventual runner-up Katharine McPhee. Chris went on to almost make a joke out of the show by selling more than all of the contestants combined from that season. His debut album sold over four million copies and produced numerous hits and his follow-up Leave This Town was also a hit. He has proven that he is not a flavor of the week and that he is serious about his music career.

The band brought in Howard Benson again to produce for them. He has also produced Daughtry’s first two albums. A producer can bring a lot to the playing field for a band. A great producer will push a band and force them to think outside of the musical box. I have to admit than I am a fan of Daughtry and they have a formula that works for them. They do manage to break out of the “relationships on the brink of disaster” formula a few times on this album, but for the most part it’s sticking to that tried and true formula that sells millions for them. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Well, I guess it’s open for debate with both sides holding valid points, but time will truly tell.

“Renegade” kicks off the album with a big rock number. No, it’s not a cover of the Styx classic, but it definitely has an edge to it that they would be envious of. Next up is “Crawling Back to You”, which is the first video and single and textbook Daughtry. “Outta My Head” is another catchy, rocking number with a hint of Bon Jovi .
“Start of Something New” is a mid-tempo, acoustic flavored ballad that will most certainly draw comparisons to “Home”, but it’s still one of the strongest songs on the album. An artist always wants to connect with the listener and make them feel what they are singing. “Gone Too Soon” is an excellent example of one of those songs. A powerful and emotional song of a lost child and the grief the parents are going through as they think “what if”. This is one song that will definitely tug on the heart strings of the listener.

Chris dabbles a little bit in the field of falsetto on the song “Rescue Me” and pulls it off like a pro. What’s the lyrical content of this one? You guessed it, another wounded relationship song. “Spaceship” closes out the regular edition of the album; a standout track on the album about love and a romantic escape and proving that even adults who rock and roll for a living can still daydream.

I think Break the Spell is a really good album with a few standout tracks that show the band branching out. Is it a great album? Well, I am sure most diehard Daughtry fans will give a big “HELL YEAH” to that question. I just wish there was more growth or experimentation from the band, whether in lyrical content or musical direction. That is needed from any band to be able to make their career in the industry a marathon rather than a sprint.

Glamnation Tour Spices Up Roanoke, VA

Adam Lambert brought his Glamnation Tour to the Roanoke Special Events Center in Roanoke, Virginia on Thursday, August 26, 2010. The event was close to sold out and the crowd was very diverse and very enthusiastic. Fellow season eight American Idol contestant Allison Iraheta has been opening shows for Adam on his tour and she proved to be a worthy tour mate. The eighteen year old Iraheta has a voice on her that is seasoned way beyond her years. The spunky little red head reminded me a great deal of a young Pat Benatar with her voice and stage presence. Her set consisted of several tracks from her debut CD “Just Like You” including a chilling acoustic version of her single “Scars”. Fans were treated to a surprise rocking cover of, none other than, Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker”.

While waiting for Adam, the crowd got pumped up by a great selection of songs by the Black Eyed Peas, Journey and Michael Jackson. The houselights then went out and a prerecorded version of “For Your Entertainment”, the first single off of his CD of the same name. Then Adam emerged at the top of a flight of stairs onstage in a top hat and long coat to his song “Voodoo” and the crowd erupted.

Adam proceeded to run through song after song including his bizarre spin on Johnny Cash’s “Ring Of Fire” that he performed on American Idol. “Fever” proved to be another crowd favorite that night. He shared the stage with two male and two female backup dancers along with a very tight four piece band. Let’s not forget to mention the pipes that Adam has blessed with. For those who saw him perform on Idol and we in awe of his voice, let me tell you that it is just magnified a billion times live. He has got to have the most powerful, pure voice that I have ever heard live.

The show was very colorful with a great laser show that added to the almost techno/rave feel of some of the performances. One of the highlights of the show was an acoustic version of the song “Whataya Want From Me”. The show closed with Adam’s current single “If I Had You”, which is currently in the top ten on VH1’s countdown. A short, one song encore was next which saw him cover T-Rex’s song “20th Century Boy”.

The show itself was a lot of fun. It was very high energy, with lots of dancing and a few wardrobe changes. I was hoping for a longer encore in anticipation of hearing his cover of Gary Jules’ “Mad World”, which was originally done by Tears For Fears and performed by Adam on Idol. I was also surprised at how tame his show was. I had read some things online about his show, but that night in Roanoke was free of anything that could be interpreted as controversial.

Unlike other Idol contestants who tend to jump into the industry way above their heads after Idol, Adam seems to taking a smart approach and touring smaller theaters and halls instead of trying to take on large coliseums. He is selling out the majority of his shows and getting rave reviews. For those who thought it was more important to pay attention to this man’s sexual orientation, you missed an amazing show that evening. Hopefully, this gifted artist will continue his momentum and build on it. Adam is proving that sometimes losing on American Idol is a great deal more rewarding than winning.

Blake Lewis Marches To The Beatbox Of A Different Drummer

It's funny how millions dream of auditioning for American Idol. Season 6 runner up Blake Lewis wasn't even going to audition because he did not find the show very appealing. A friend suggested to him to audition and he did so with a beatbox version of Seal's "Crazy" and then did an offscreen version of Maroon 5 "Sunday Morning" and wowed the judges.

Blakes's originality and his beat box skills were a breath of fresh air to the shows rather formulated and calculated format.His version of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love A Bad Name" showcased his gift for taking an classic tune and reworking it into a new, revitalized version. Bon Jovi, who was their mentor the week he did the song, said that Blake was quote "rolling the dice" on his risky performance. It was a risk that payed off as he floored the judges and the viewing audience alike.

Blake was runner up that season to winner Jordan Sparks and he began to work on his debut Cd release. He already had many songs ready for the Cd even before the season had ended. He was signed to Arista and released his debut entitled "A.D.D. Audio Day Dream" in December 2007. The bad news was that he was dropped just 6 months later in June of 2008. I asked Blake about the reasons behind the split. "I think I got a bum rap. I didn't have as much creative control over the Cd as I had wished. I love to produce and I probably did 50% to 70% of my debut, but i think it was just the wrong label to sign with."

The Cd is a mix of Blake's diversity. It seems to have an 80s vibes to it, along with funk, techno and dance. The Cd begins with a track called "Silence is Golden" and concludes with another entitled "But I Choose Noise." The surprising part is that there is not alot of beat boxing on it, his signature style that got him noticed on Idol. One of the stand out tracks is called "Know My Name" which is about a crush of his on Natalie Portman.

I asked Blake how he felt about all of the changes in the music industry and if they were a part of the early release from his contract like alot of other Idol contestants. " I think that I-tunes has ruined the industry. Whoever came up with the concept of I-tunes obviously has never been a musician who had to promote their own shows and make their own fliers and stuff like that. The price point is too low on each song. The artist does not make alot off of each Cd that is sold. They should have set it a little higher. The whole downloading aspect has taken the human element out of it. The little indie stores are becoming a things of the past and I hate that. I miss going into record stores and looking through bins of music."

"I really love creating new music and pushing the envelope. On Idol, I was thankful to be able to experiment and show that to so many people at one time, but they were controlling. I wasn't allowed to do as much creative arranging as I would have liked to. I love being out on the road and touring. It is alot of hard work. I like to stay after the shows and see all of the fans that stick around. I usually get on my bus afterwards and work on my Facebook or MySpace pages. It takes a while for me to unwind and I usually watch one or two movies before I go to sleep. I'm a big movie buff," stated Blake.

Blake has been writing a ton of material and actually has enough for two otr three Cd's. He is shooting for a March or April of 2009 release for his next cd. he recently did a cover of A Flock Of Seagulls "I Ran" which raced up the I-tunes chart to number 4. Blake seems to harbor a little bit of resentment towards the industry. He is such a creative person with so much passion towards to creations, it is easy to see why he gets frustrated with the industry trying to control him. It's like an artist creating a picture on canvas and someone coming by and saying it needs more yellow or you have too much red. Music is art and Blake is a very talented and gifted artist. I hope the industry with all of its regulation does not snuff out his creative fire or discourage him.

Elliott Yamin wows the N-Club

American Idol has turned into a cultural phenomenon. Hundreds of thousands of people audition each year for a chance to win , but sometimes it pays to lose. Look at season five for a very good example. Chris Daughtry came in fourth that year and look at his career! Let's not forget the man who came in third that season, Richmond, Virginia's own, Elliott Yamin. he released his debut CD on March 20, 2007 and it debuted at number 3 on Billboard's charts and sold 96,000 in its first week of release. It set a record for the highest debut of an independent release and most copies sold.

Sales on his CD slowed down and it took an appearance on his old show Idol to ignite a flame that quickly grew. Elliott appeared on the top three results show on 05-16-07 and sang his first single "Wait For You" and the reaction was amazing. Within two hours of performing the song, the single shot up 60 spots on I-tunes and the next week, it rose from #80 to #31 on Billboard's singles chart and the CD jumped from #67 to #20. All from getting just a little bit of exposure on his old stomping grounds.

Elliott began touring like a madman in support of his CD. He made an appearance in Greensboro,NC at the N-Club on November 2 ,2007. He was scheduled to appear at WKZL 107.5FM to host their all request lunch show. Thanks to Jose Paza, I was able to secure an interview with Elliott there at the station. He was suppose to be there early that morning, but because his blood sugar was low, he was running behind schedule. I waited around the station for about 2 1/2 hours for him to arrive. He actually made it later that afternoon and stayed for a quick on air interview.

For those not in the know, Elliott suffers from Type 1 diabetes and wears an insulin pump because he hates needles.He told me of two programs that he is involved with concerning diabetes. One is Life For a Child which gets insulin to children in twelve underdeveloped nations. There are t-shirts and pins sold at the shows and 100% of the money goes to the program.The other is called Inspired by Diabetes. Anyone who has been moved by a story of anyone who suffers from diabetes can write into the website or his MySpace and send the story. winners are randomly chosen and prizes included free concert tickets and backstage passes.

I asked Elliott about any interesting road stories that he could share. "I was in Vancouver and I was feeling kinda down because my blood sugar was low. So, I drank a Pepsi right before I went out. It didn't pick me up, so I chugged another one down real quick. The good thing is it picked me up, but the bad thing is I burped during the first two songs! Oh yeah, at that same show, there was a drunk girl that got on stage during "Wait For You" and started dancing with me. It took a few minutes for everyone to figure out that she wasn't in the crew."

Luckily, neither of those instances were repeated in Greensboro that night. The show opened with an amazing set by Josh Hoge and the Last Goodnight performed a solid set and sounded very Maroon 5ish. Elliott came out to a roaring ovation from the crowd. He did covers of Dr. Hook's "Sharing The Night Together" and his idol Donny Hathaway's "little Ghetto Boy", which were both amazing. He played the majority of his CD and had the most incredible encore. Elliott and his keyboardist came out to do his encore which was another Donny Hathaway song "Song For You", which was his audition song on Idol. It gave me goosebumps!! He invited everyone to stay at the merchandise stand and that he would come out and meet with everyone shortly. There were probably about 100 people there and he talked to them and posed for pictures and signed autographs. He was very personable and actually listened intently to what you had to say.

I encourage everyone to try and catch Elliott live. His live shows bring so much raw emotion that is cleaned up in the production aspect of producing a CD. I want to thank Josie and everyone at WKZL for making me feel at home and welcomed as I waited for Elliott. Please go to his website of his MySpace page and help support his diabetes programs. I do wish Elliott the best in this very fickle music industry. He is a true talent and will be around for a long time.