Lacuna Coil Launches Attack On US

Italian alternative/metal rockers Lacuna Coil have been busy the last few months. We have seen them burning up the road as part of the Music As A Weapon tour with Disturbed, Killswitch Engage and Chimara. We also saw the release of their newest CD "Shallow Life". I got to talk to Andrea "Andy" Ferro, co-lead vocalist of the band, backstage before their show in Charlotte,NC on April 13.

JP- "Well, let me first thank you for taking the time to talk to me Andy. I'm a big fan of the band and it means alot. My first question is dealing with your trademark of having duel lead vocalists with Cristina and yourself. How did that come about?"

Andy- "In the beginning, I was playing bass and singing, we were mostly deathmetal and hardcore with some melodies, but mostly heavy music. Then in the early nineties, we started listening to goth metal and alot of European bands and we loved their style. So, we started playing slower and slowing down our melodies. We decided to add an extra vocalist in the practice room. We found Cristina working in a store and she wasn't singing professionally, she was only singing karaoke and asked her to sing some background vocals. We knew she could sing and when we heard her sing with us it sounded awesome. We knew it was making a difference. We were not sounding like any other band with the addition of a second vocalist. So, we added her as a second lead vocalist, I mean it was a shame to use her for only background stuff. That's how we started because it sounded different from everything that was out there. It gave us more space and added to the atmosphere. Some people do that with keyboards, we thought with vocals it would be more original."

JP- "On your new CD "Shallow Life", you chose to use producer Don Gilmore, who has worked with Good Charlotte, Linkin Park and Avril Lavigne to name a few. Did you guys choose him or did he come to you. How did all that work out?

Andy- "Our management approached many different producers. We had worked with the same producer from our first album through our fourth. We thought that we had done enough with him. I mean, it's not a marriage, we need to refresh ourselves and work with someone else. Plus, the way that our songwriting was going with more rock sounding songs and more in a rock vein, our last producer had not worked with rock bands, just mostly metal bands. Out of all the names we considered, Don was the one who really wanted to do it. He really liked the demo that we gave him of the songs. He wanted to work with the band and he was available at the right time. We decided to go for it and we met him and wanted to see he was as a person. He came down to Milan for a couple of days and we went out to dinner to get to know him and it was immediately a good relationship. He was a simple guy to talk to even though he had sold millions of records with Linkin Park. He was very down to earth and easy going. The next day, we took him to the rehearsal room to listen to other demos and he loved them and offered some opinions of the music. We then kept in touch by email and his ideas worked very well.

JP- " I listened to the CD that you streamed early on your MySpace page. I really loved the different sound on some of the songs like "I Like It", did Don bring that out in you guys?

Andy- "The songwriting and main structure of the rough version was done by us, Don contributed on arrangements and he cut parts that were too long or he simplified parts. He didn't change or write anything musically. The song is exactly how we wrote it. We've been very open musically to do what we want. If we want to do a ballad, then we do a ballad. We didn't care about the cliche of the band. We wanted to refresh our sound and the only way we could would be to go anyway possible and see what fits and what's out of the picture. We ended up with 20-25 songs, alot were too extreme or too much out of the picture of where we were going. Some songs we didn't change that much but so we really went out of our way to be not so ordinary. We wanted to find a new, fresher sound and still make it interesting. Many bands just repeat themselves and sometimes that's good. For AC-DC, it's good for them to repeat themselves if that's what you do but for us, we try to change a little bit with each album. We're not the kind of people who want to make exactly the same record but at the same time, we're not going to do a techno or rap album either. That would be too much out of our way. We do want to experiment as much as possible within the spectrum of rock and metal."

JP- "I like to ask a few personal questions that are more for your hardcore fans. Do you and the band have any guilty pleasures that might surprise your fans? Is it something that we can print?"

Andy- "Ha ha! I think most people think we just listen to metal but sometimes when we are on the road, we have a dance part and listen to ABBA or the Bee Gees or crazy seventies music. I mainly listen to rock but it's good not to limit yourself."

JP- "One last question for you. If you were trapped on a desert island and could only have one CD, it has to be a store bought CD, what would you want to have with you?"

Andy- "Wow, one CD is very limiting. I guess maybe a sampler of metal with Alice In Chains and Metallica and other rock/metal acts. Maybe Bob Marley would fit the atmosphere of being on an island better. You know, drinking and being on a beach."

Our interview was then over and ventured back outside. Lacuna's set was first on the bill that night in Charlotte. They came out to a great response from the crowd and opened with "To The Edge" and the crowd, although small, was really into the band. They followed it up with "Fragments Of Faith" and "Spellbound", which got a great pop from the crowd. An incredible version of "Swamped" as next followed by "Not Enough" and the band closed with "Our Truth". Their set was limited to thirty minutes but it was a tight set and it was surprising how into the band the crowd was considering they were there mainly to see Disturbed and Killswitch.

It seems that I will get my wish to see a longer set as the band has just announced headlining dates here in the US. That was the only problem with a thirty minute set, there was so much more that I was dying to hear. My only other complaint was not getting to meet Cristina as she arrived at the venue late. Oh well, maybe on one of their headlining dates. My thanks to George at Century Media for the tix and photo pit pass and to their tour manager Gus. Everyone, especially Andy, was a class act.

Move Over Strawberry Shortcake, Here Comes Sammy Allen

When I was three years old, all I wanted to do was play, eat dirt and try to constantly get into the kitchen cabinets. I guess you could say that I was a typical toddler. Sammy Allen, now she was a bit different. You see, at the tender age of three, she was putting on full stage productions of herself starring in the Strawberry Shortcake Story. She would sing her heart out! The seed was planted back then that grew into a promising singing career.

"My mom and my grandfather were both singers. My mom, Lorraine Allen, has got to have the best tone in the world. I simply adore her voice. I just knew that was what I wanted to do, sing. When I was eleven, my goal was to be in Les Miserables on Broadway. I moved from Virginia to New York on my quest for stardom. I had one small problem, I couldn't act or dance, but I could sing. So, I worked at karaoke bars and I was also a singing bartender. I made lots on contacts on those two jobs and actually met my manager there too," said Sammy during a recent interview that I had with her.

Sammy ventured to Los Angeles where she got a break when a couple of musicians who were looking for a vocalist to front their band. Sammy became that vocalist of the rock band was Seven Stitches. She continued singing for them for about three years before deciding to venture out on a solo career.

She recorded her first solo song entitled "Torn" and ended up getting a big break from a connection with her former band. "Jim Schramm, a distributor for the movie 'Vice', got in touch with me. He wanted to use one of Seven Stitches' songs in the movie. Well, I told him that I wasn't in the band anymore but I had just recorded my first solo song. I told him that he could use on of Seven Stitches songs or mine, it was up to him. Long story short, he chose my song and even got Michael Madsen, who starred in the movie, to act in the music video with me," Sammy said.

Sammy's newest single "I Can See Into Forever", which is a duet that features Hypnogaja, also has a tale within a tale associated with it. "My manager, Amanda Cee, was working with Hypnogaja. I recorded 'Torn' with Jeeve who is in Hypnogaja. Mark, also from Hypnogaja, and Jeeve took me under their wing and are producing my EP for me. It's not as confusing as it sounds."

Sammy has recording sessions booked throughout April and hopes to have everything done in early May or June. "I am dying to get out on the road and perform. I did lots of shows in LA when I was with Seven Stitches, but we never did a full tour. I really wanna get out and play for people. Hopefully, with the help of my manager Amanda, it will happen. I have been in L.A. for four and a half years now and I am very lucky to have her as a manager and a business partner."

The music industry has gone through some changes since Sammy started to focus on her singing career but one thing that has stayed the same is the double standard for women. "Oh yeah, there certainly is. I have encountered that anytime in front of the label. They ask me how old I am and if you are over 22 they would rather throw you to the garbage like you are useless. They tend to be very superficial. I have learned that when I go to meet with producers to take a guy with me. The producer says he wants to talk and then I go into their office and they start putting the moves on me. Yeah, the industry is definitely changing buy the minute. The labels seem to be hanging on by a thread. They need to give the music back to the artist and let them have more control."

Well, there is one thing about Sammy that she does not lack and that is personality. Her fun and sassy attitude came across in volumes during our talk. It seems that Sammy has a guilty pleasure that involves reality television. "It's true, I love just vegging out and watching people that I don't even know, even though I know all of their first names, get totally trashed and hurt themselves. I do have to balance it out and watch a few hours of the Science Channel so that I don't totally rot my brain out!"

I asked Sammy what CD she would want to have if stranded on a desert island by herself? "I would have to say Sarah McLachlan's 'Fumbling Towards Ecstasy'. I really love her sound. Her music just speaks to me."

My talk with Sammy was very entertaining and within minutes, you could tell that this young lady is like a can of Red Bull: full of energy, but way more sexier. She has a powerhouse vocal styling that has been compared to Ann Wilson of Heart, which is one of Sammy's influences. She's also been compared to Pat Benatar, which was one of my first comparisons that I also made being a longtime Benatar fan myself.

You can check out Sammy's music on www.myspace.com/sammyallenmusic. Her single "I Can See Into Forever " is available on i-Tunes. This dynamic young lady with two first names is someone to keep your eye on. She has got mad vocal skills and the drive and originality to stand out in overcrowded music scene.

Out Of The Void With Wendy Moore

Wendy Moore has been grinding away at her music career for over ten years. She gained alot of notoriety in the music world for writing her book "Into The Void ...With Ace Frehley", which chronicled her exploits with former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley. Wendy became Ace's personal assistant after a chance meeting at the Cathouse in 2008. Her book details a great number of crazy stories about Ace along with his abuse of drugs and alcohol.

I spoke with Wendy recently to get caught up to speed with what's going on in her career. "Well, my second book, 'Out Of The Void', is about to come out this summer. It's a followup to 'Into The Void'. I had so many fans asking me questions after they read the first book so I decided to answer them in the new book," said Wendy.

How did the first book come about? "I was in a bookstore reading 'KISS and Sell' and there was a contact number in the back and I got in touch with them. I thought to myself,heck I can do that. I wrote the book in three months and after it was published I hit the KISS Conventions to promote it. The new book took a little longer. That took me over a year to write."

Her band Venus Envy has a 5 song demo that is available at www.myspace.com/venuswendy or www.myspace.com/girafeass. Wendy has a very unique vocal styling. It is a little reminiscent of one of her main influences Stevie Nicks. It is very raspy at times yet still delivers a great amount of emotion in its delivery. "Strangegirl" sounds like it could have been an outtake from Fleetwood Mac's legendary 'Rumors' release. Another personal favorite of mine is "Vibrate Me" on which Wendy's vocals shine. "We recently had Bill Aucoin (KISS original manager back in the seventies) send out a guy to LA to see us perform. He really liked the CD and we hope that he will manage us. He does want us to re-record our demo and bring out the vocals a little better so that you can understand them easier. I think that we will wait to be signed and then record it professionally," said Wendy.

Wendy's influences can be heard throughout her bands demo CD. "I love Neil Young. His melodies are incredible. I also love Joni Mitchell for her lyrical content. She can cram so many words into one sentence. Janis Joplin for her raw emotion and Fleetwood Mac for the entire package deal," said Wendy. She is also a part of an internet radio show every Wednesday night at 7:00 PM PST with Greenman at www.glxe.com. She discusses her book, her music and just about anything else that comes up. Fans are encouraged to send in questions and request songs too.

Wendy is also busy finishing up her first screenplay. "It's called 'Timeless' and it is about something that has never been written about so far.I am really excited about it. I can't say too much about it right now other than I am shopping it to Rob Reiner," Wendy said.

Wendy seems to be all over the radar these days. She was also on a recent segment on the E! networks True Hollywood Stories: Rock Wives where she told about being Ace's personal assistant and about overcoming her heroin addiction. There is a very emotional part of the scene where Wendy breaks down about her addiction.

Our talk concluded with my trapped on a desert island with only one CD what would it be question? "Most definitely Stevie Nicks 'Belladonna'. It's my favorite album and my favorite song. I also have two Stevie tattoos."

Wendy is such an amazing person. She has been through her fair share of hardships along the way, but she just pulls herself up by her bra straps and marches on. We had a great talk that night about everything from some of her favorite movies, 'Foxes', 'Little Darling' and 'Valleygirl' to 'We Are The World' being her first single ever purchased to Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' being her first album ever purchased. I wish Wendy all the best in her numerous endeavors and I hope that she finds her "Randy".

Crazy About Christen Sawyer

Christen Sawyer is not your typical college student. Well, when you look at her, she may blend in with the average college classroom. Blond, very attractive with an innocent smile, but she leads a double life. No, she's not a secret agent and even if she was, I couldn't tell you that. She is a very talented country singer/songwriter from Sugarland, Texas.

Christen attends Texas A&M where she is double majoring with her major in Economics and her minor in Business Administration. If that wasn't impressive enough, her single "Crazy" is currently in the Top 20 on the Texas Music Charts. Oh yeah, she's also a self-professed dork. More about that later!

I spoke with Christen recently about her budding career. "So far, it's been amazing. I actually may take a semester off from school because of how 'Crazy' has taken off at country radio, plus my classes are getting harder too. I feel really lucky for the response to the single, even though I was really embarrassed the first time I heard myself on the radio. I just couldn't believe it, I'm such a dork," said Christen.

I asked if she ever considered trying out for American Idol because she really seems to fit the format of what they are looking for. "I have had so many people tell me on my YouTube account that I need to audition for Idol and that I would be great on there. Actually, I thought about it but I was in school every time the auditions were near here. I believe that everything happens for a reason. Oh, I'm also terrified of Simon!"

Christen has a 3 song demo out that really showcases this young woman's vocals and songwriting talents. One listen to "Crazy" and you can imagine Sara Evans doing her own version of this great song. "Better Off Broken" sounds like something right up Martina McBride's alley. "I'm Already Gone" is also a great example of her storytelling ability. Her vocals have alot of emotion behind them and she knows how to convey an image to the listener of what she is saying.

"I have been singing forever. When I was little, I did ballet and gymnastics and it lasted about a month. Then, I started singing and it stuck. It just didn't feel like work to me. The more I sang, the more I began to believe in myself and now, here I am. I have met so many great artists along this journey. I went to a music seminar and met Jack Ingram, which was amazing," said Christen.

Our talk concluded with asking her what cd she would want to be trapped on a desert island with? "Wow! That's a really tough question. I have never been asked that one before. I guess I would have to say my Benji Davis Project CD. They have so many different styles on it and I don't think I would grow bored of it."

Christen is writing material for her full length CD which she hopes to have out by the end of the year. She is busy traveling all over Texas doing radio shows and performing acoustically on the air live. Fans of Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood should check her out at www.myspace.com/christensawyer or at www.christensawyer.com. This young lady has her plate full with all of her endeavors, but I don't see her that plate becoming too clean anytime soon.

Atomic Blonde Show The Bigboys How To Rock

The metal scene seemed to take American by storm back in the late eighties. It has mostly been a testosterone driven style of music that women have a hard time being taken seriously in. Whether it's metal or hard rock in general, women have had a negative stereotype brought against them when it comes to playing in this male dominated field.

Through the years, many female rock/metal bands have come and gone. Remember Vixen? The Donnas are still around. Lita Ford pops up from time to time as well as the never aging Joan Jett. There's a new force to be reckoned with on the scene. They are Nashville, Tennessee's own Atomic Blonde. They are a mix of pop, metal, punk, sexiness and attitude. The ladies brought their style of playing to the people in 2004. The band consists of Dacia on guitar and vocals, Kendra on drums, Fran on guitar and Danielle on bass. I spoke with Dacia recently about the band and what's going on in their career.

Being an all female rock/metal band, do you find that there is a double standard for women in this industry? "Yes, it is difficult at times, especially in rock music. You are constantly being told by the labels that there are no all girl bands doing this. You have to keep your focus and believe in yourselves. We don't want to be pop, so we are not going to change for anyone. Alot of legendary groups have similar stories. You stick to your guns and wait for that right person who believes in your vision with you," said Dacia.

The band has different influences and it can be heard in their sound. "We listen to alot of stuff. I'm influenced by everyone from Gwen Stefani to Sheryl Crowe to Nirvana and to Chris Cornell. Kendra loves Primus and Nickelback and Linkin Park. Fran tends to be into bluesy stuff like Hendrix."

The band has a six song self titled CD that is available on Amazon.com , CD Baby and i-Tunes. It can also be purchased at their official website www.atomicblonde.net. It is a great showcase for how talented these women are. there are too many stereotypes in this world, whether it's in music or not. These women give the men a run for their money. The rhythm section of Danielle's pulsating bass and Kendra bashing the drums gives them a tight sound that is way beyond their actual years of playing together. Fran is a beast on guitar and Dacia......it's hard not to be taken away by her beauty, but this woman brings it to the table each and every time she gets behind the microphone. This woman can sing and she demands your attention.

Can we expect to see these ladies burning up the road anytime soon? "I think we will more extensively in the fall. We want to play more shows so that we can win over our audiences. We have to do everything ourselves so maybe we can get them to help us carry our equipment?"

Speaking of playing live, I asked Dacia if she had any interesting road stories to share with us? "One of the worst stories would be at this venue that we played that was not set up for live music. Two songs into our set, we blew the breaker. We had no electricity. One of the better memories was when we played at a film festival and it was really late. There was a guy in the crowd moshing and he actually ran into our bassist Danielle and knocked her into our drum kit. The next thing we knew, she had taken off into the crowd and was ready to kick this guys ass!"

So, how has the band coped with this double standard that we spoke on earlier? "It seems like the whole entertainment industry, not just music, is so much about image. First impressions can be lasting ones. We always hear people scream out, 'Girl bands suck!' Then at the end of the night, they come up to us and tell us how good we were and that they didn't really expect us to play as well as we did."

With the music industry in such a transitional stage, I was curious as to what Dacia's thoughts were? "The industry has had a hard time keeping up with technology. Radio is absolutely dead! Labels seem to be unwilling to look at new things. In the eighties, labels would take a band and put money into them and develop them. That's not happening anymore. Most bands have to do all of that themselves. As an artist, doing both the management role and the creative role is very hard. This past year I have suffered from writer's block because of it."

My last question for Dacia was my stuck on a desert island with only one CD what would it be question. "Wow, that's a good question. I have to pick two if I can. One would be Linkin Park's 'Hybrid Theory' plus Justin Timberlake's 'FutureSex/Loveounds'.

Do you want a dose of sexy rock and roll with a punk edge plus catchy hooks? I dare you to check these young ladies out. Don't think about the fact that they are an all female band and the fact that all four look like models. What if you were blind and put on their CD? Forget the image aspect and just listen to them for their musicianship and amazing songwriting abilities. You will find yourself rocking out with them in no time.

Jennifer Benson: Rocking God's Message

Every now and then you hear a singer whose voice stops you in your tracks. I was searching through some bands and singers not too long ago on MySpace when I heard a female singer with an amazing voice. I did a little research and found out the singer's name was Jennifer Benson and this lady can really rock. I actually got to talk to Jennifer about her venture into music.

"I guess I was 15 when I turned to Christ and made my decision to follow him. I knew that I wanted to be a Christian artist but I had a few obstacles to overcome. I got married and then divorced, I made alot of wrong decisions. I had no support with my career. I had a baby and remarried and he's very supportive of my career. I feel like I am on the right track again," said Jennifer.

Jennifer's music draws upon her close relationship with God. Now, I know that some people may have a preconceived notion about contemporary christian music. I wish that people could just appreciate music for what it is: artistic expression. Jennifer's music is very positive and encouraging and I think that most people would be amazed at her style. You can definitely hear her influences on these songs. " My influences do vary from Pat Benatar to Superchick, the Barlow Girls and Pink and Avril Lavigne. My band Pierced and I have been together for about a year now. I have had trouble finding musicians that will stay committed, but God's calling for me to do this. I am focusing on my writing and moving on."

Jennifer seems to be focusing on delivering God's message through her music and she is determined to get this music train back on the right track. "I am focusing on getting ten good songs ready and putting out a full CD. I toured some last summer but the band fell apart and I want to make sure I have the right people on board. I will be auditioning for an A&R rep in May as a solo artist. I hope to get a record deal out of that and then start touring nationally. I want to share God's love through my music."

My interview concluded with my what CD would you like to have with you if you were stranded on a desert island? " Wow, that is a tough one. It seems like every period of my life is different. Right now I would have to go with Krystal Meyers CD "Make Some Noise", it's a great CD."

My talk with Jennifer really did make me think twice about how alot of people think contemporary christian music is not for them. I think too many people who are stuck in that mindset are really missing out on some talented artists like Jennifer. She has an amazing voice that is full of raw power and emotion. Her music is a great mixture of rock and pop and it definitely has God's message in it. Just listen to songs like "Oxygen" and "Run To Me" and you can tell that her music has a rock/alternative edge that sounds right at home with most Top 40 formats. It's very positive and encouraging and we all need a message like that in these times that we are going through right now. Jennifer is a very talented artist who deserves to be heard in this industry of manufactured stars.

If you are looking for some great music with a positive message, go check out Jennifer at www.myspace.com/jenniferbenson4u. You can also visit her official website at www.jenniferbenson.net. Her CD can be purchased at CD Baby and on i-Tunes. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the end results.

Melissa Bel - Canada's Newest Export

Most six year old girls are playing with Barbie dolls or watching cartoons and thinking how icky boys are. Melissa Bel was not your typical six year old girl. Now, outside of the boys being icky part, Melissa had big plans laid out. "I just remember looking into my mirror and telling myself that I was going to be a singer. I knew that was what I wanted to be. Of course, I did the normal standing in front of the mirror singing along to a song routine. I started playing the guitar when I was fourteen and I started writing my own songs then also," said Melissa.

Now, I know most of you may be thinking that kids always say things like that when they are little. Well, not only did Melissa say it, she also acted upon it. Through hard work and perseverance, she was signed to a distribution deal at the age of 19. "I was very torn at graduation about what to do. Should I pursue singing or go to school. My singing teacher got me to choose and I chose to pursue my music career. This is my second full year off from school," said Melissa.

Her EP was recently released and let me tell you, this young lady has an immense arsenal of talent that she brings to the table. Her songs range from heart felt ballads to bluesy numbers. "I write from personal experiences and my own crazy, emotional turmoil. When I was sixteen, I wore my heart on my sleeves. It's kinda funny, I seemed to have alot more of material to write about back then too." Melissa also covers a song called "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" that was written by Smokey Robinson. She shows that she also has a very sexy side on the delivery of this song. The emotion and power of her vocals on this song are amazing. "Distance" is another personal favorite of mine that really brings out a more bluesy side of her.

She draws her influences from a very wide and diverse group. "First and foremost, I would have to say that the Beatles are my main influence, without a doubt. I also love Alannis Morrisette and Jason Myraz. Oh, I really love blues and early Motown. There's also a Canadian blues artist by the name of Colin James who is amazing. John Mayer, he's someone that I would love to work with. I keep telling myself that if I say it enough times, it will eventually come true."

Melissa's hard work is starting to pay off in many ways. In 2008 at the Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards, she won Best Pop Album and also the Artist of the Year. Not too shabby for such a young artist on the rise.

I finished my interview with asking her my "trapped on a desert island with only one store bought CD what would it be" question and she did not disappoint. "Oh, without a doubt it would be the Beatles 'White Album'. That is such an amazing CD and there are so many songs on it that it would be hard to grow tired of it."

I encourage fans to go to www.myspace.com/melissabelmusic to check out her music. Her self titled EP can be purchased at her shows and she is currently in talks with i-Tunes to make it available there also. Give this young lady a listen. She has a ton of passion and conviction behind her voice and lyrics. I dare you to listen to her CD one time and not be hooked on this young artist. I double dog dare you.