October 25, 2019

CONCERT REVIEW: Skillet (Orlando, FL / 10.24.19)

CONCERT REVIEW
Skillet
Orlando, FL / 10.24.19
__________

It's been said wisely many
times before (by me), if
you're gonna get on stage,
you darn well better have
something to say. Skillet
do have something to say.
And they just might crack
a couple of your ribs while
they're saying it.
__________

Be sure, I've appreciated the music of Skillet and have admired their consistent, rock solid faith message throughout the last 20 years or so. However, in the spirit of full disclosure, I'll confess regrettably, that I only saw the band live for the first time, last night at Orlando's House of Blues. This past summer, I saw KISS in concert for about the 25th time. Truth be told, Skillet "out KISS'd" my life-long kabuki-faced heroes soundly — in terms of onstage charisma, song power, sonic energy, and production factor. Honestly, all they were missing was a pair of glittery space boots, a studded leather codpiece and an impostor wearing cat makeup. But I digress.

Packed with amps, ramps, risers, enormous LED displays, AND hydraulic lifts, the Skillet stage show was massive, to say the least. In fact, I was perplexed by how such an arena-caliber production could be crammed into the modest-sized, 2,000-person capacity venue.

THE OTHER "DYNAMIC DUO"
Guitarist / keyboardist Korey Cooper
and frontman / bassist John Cooper.
"How ya feelin', Florida?" Bursting with rock-ribbed energy, founding frontman / bassist, John Cooper greeted the band's faithful flock in short order — leading his five-piece crew through a triple threat opening, including a pair of classics, "Feel Invincible" (2016) and "Not Gonna Die" (2013),  as well as "You Ain't Ready," a standout track from the band's latest record, Victorious.

Anyone who, like myself, naively expected the petite Korey Cooper to simply be a "cute" side-chick would sadly have been mistaken. Amid clouds of smoke and walls of pyro, the purple-haired, tattoo-covered guitar ace hit the stage with all the intensity of two sacks of M-80s. Stomping about wildly and shaking her head uncontrollably, Korey commanded the stage like a deranged mental patient — a non-stop, turbo-charged performance that would have left Angus Young a bit breathless and completely envious. My primary personal concern as I shot the show from behind the security barricade was that if I allowed Korey to get too close, she might feel compelled to rip out my larynx. I'm thrilled to report, I left the photo pit with all of my aging organs intact.

Beating her shiny white Pearl kit like a freaking beast while simultaneously providing her signature-style back-up vocals, drummer, Jen Ledger's monstrous performance truly proved to be a tour de force. At one point, Ledger left her perch atop the lofty riser to actually jump into the crowd and pass a pair of drumsticks to a gal named Annette — an aspiring young drummer who was celebrating a birthday. Equally impressive were the heart-stopping performances from official perennial guitarist, Seth Morrison and longtime touring member, cellist, Tate Olsen.

Jen Ledger: Occupation - Badass!
Noticing an abundant crop of kids and families in attendance, the ever-engaging ringleader, John, commented that the teens and tweens "must have the coolest parents in the world." He suggested further how "the world would be a cooler place if all parents took their kids to Skillet shows."

The fairly even, career-spanning, 75-minute set featured a slew of staples, both old and new. But despite their chart-busting hits and retina-burning production, what makes Skillet important is their message. Leading into a recent favorite, "Victorious," John reminisced about listening to his Metallica cassettes back in the day, offering, "That's what music does  it makes you feel good." Reflecting further on the tragic suicide of Linkin Park frontman, Chester Bennington, he added, "For those who say, music is all I have, you are not alone. God loves you." Another powerful moment brought the articulate frontman to comment on a recent personal tragedy during the intro to "Hero," confessing how what gives him hope is his "hero," Jesus Christ.


Guitarist Seth Morrison and cellist Tate Olsen.
Another show highlight (aside from Korey and Tate both being hoisted into the air via twin hydraulic lifts), was when members of Orlando's WJRR radio staff came onstage to present Skillet with a huge plaque to commemorate sales of more than three million copies of the band's hit single. "Monster." 

A slice of personal philosophy — I believe Skillet's music succeeds famously when so much contemporary Christian music fails miserably because Skillet's music has the balls to be real, to be honest — sometimes to even be ugly. Simply put, Skillet's music has the balls to have balls.

In sum, I've not seen a live rock show this exciting in a VERY long time  high-energy, entertaining, and spectacular, from start to finish. And along with the 2,000 other Panheads, I left the venue feeling moist and satisfied.

SKILLET SET LIST (10.24.19)

01. Feel Invincible
02. Not Gonna Die
03. You Ain't Ready
04. Whispers in the Dark
05. Legendary
06. Awake and Alive
07. Back From the Dead
08. Save Me
09. Hero
10. Undefeated
11. Victorious
12. Comatose
13. Monster
14. The Resistance

-Christopher Long
(October 2019)
__________



- GARAGE SALE VINYL -
(2024)
__________

- A SHOT OF POISON -
"10th Anniversary Edition"
(2020)
__________

- SUPERSTAR -
(2019)
__________

- SHOUT IT OUT LOUD -
(2014)
__________

- C'MON! -
(2012)

October 21, 2019

MOVIE REVIEW "Beat Keepers: Women with Rhythm"

MOVIE REVIEW
Beat Keepers:
Women with Rhythm
2019 Documentary / 1 Hr 13 Min
__________

As a decades-long drummer
and die-hard enthusiast, this
film grabbed my attention
immediately. And thanks to
Amazon Prime I didn't have
to search very long or far
to experience it for myself.
__________

Filmmaker, Cindy Goldberg, has lived a life driven by music. From a young age she possessed a passion for singing and playing piano. During her teens, she took up the clarinet and began performing with symphonic ensembles. However, she remained feeling less than fulfilled musically.

In the introduction to her just-released documentary, BEAT KEEPERS: Women with Rhythm, Goldberg shares her personal story of discovering that drum kit in band class on her first day of high school. But, in those days, drums weren't considered "a girls' instrument." Years later, as a response to her husband's open skepticism regarding her ability, Goldberg finally was challenged to pursue drums formally. Her determined, "I'll show you" mindset motivated her to give it her all, and she soon traveled to seek out professional training. In short order, Goldberg formed her own band, Restless Soul, and she began gigging in and around her native Ottawa.


Filmmaker, Cindy Goldberg,
performing with Restless Soul.
Photo: Tom Linden
Courtesy of Cindy Goldberg
Experiencing a sense of strength and power as she mastered the instrument, Goldberg wondered if other women felt the same. She began pursuing female drummers, asking them what challenges they had faced — if any at all. She wanted to listen, learn and discover exactly what it is that unites what she refers to as the "sisterhood." Goldberg's research led her to produce a brief 2017 documentary featuring a few local drummers. That project soon inspired her to seek out other drummers  from Los Angeles to Chicago, from Texas to Kentucky to New Jersey and beyond. Her exhaustive efforts resulted in the making of BEAT KEEPERS.

Texas-based session drummer,
Payton Taylor, (L) attending the
Nashville premier of BEAT KEEPERS.
__________

"It was an honor to be
a part of a project that
sheds light on the female
drumming community.
I hope this film will
encourage more young
girls to start drumming!"
-Payton Taylor
__________

Despite the film's drum-dedicated, female-focused allure, BEAT KEEPERS offers a more universal message — one that speaks warmly to all professional and aspiring musicians — regardless of one's gender identity.

Featuring interviews with a seemingly endless arraying of up-and-coming female drummers, BEAT KEEPERS also boasts a bounty of compelling conversations with numerous noteworthy male and female pros — including Todd Sucherman (Styx), Dawn Richardson (4 Non Blondes), Walfredo Reyes Jr. (Chicago), Tosha Jones (Saliva), Carmine Appice (Rod Stewart) and many others.


Chicago drummer Walfredo Reyes Jr. offers
many engaging personal and professional
insights throughout the film, BEAT KEEPERS.
Marquee names aside, BEAT KEEPERS also shines brightly through the commentary provided by an impressive procession of up-and-coming female drummers who share their unique stories openly   players of all ages who started "keeping the beat" early in life, and those who began their journeys much later  both formally trained and self-taught — fascinating perspectives amplified further by personal live performance clips.

Shortly after discovering drummer
Melanie Krahmer in BEAT KEEPERS,
I got to see her perform live in Florida
with her combo, SIRSY.
Saliva drummer, Tosha Jones, is
one of the many stand-out drummers
featured in BEAT KEEPERS.
BEAT KEEPERS bursts with so much "banging" WOW-factor, it's tough to unpack it all in a concise overview. From internationally-known names to fascinating up-and-comers, from studio owners to instructors to Podcasters to college professors, the film's eclectic cast of compelling contributors offer powerful words of inspiration and encouragement for anyone pursuing creative passions — making for a film with a message more urgent and perhaps more relevant than even its intriguing title may suggest.

-Christopher Long
(October 2019)
__________



- GARAGE SALE VINYL -
(2024)
__________

- A SHOT OF POISON -
"10th Anniversary Edition"
(2020)
__________

- SUPERSTAR -
(2019)
__________

- SHOUT IT OUT LOUD -
(2014)
__________

- C'MON! -
(2012)

September 27, 2019

MOVIE REVIEW: Joan Jett - "Bad Reputation"

MOVIE REVIEW
Joan Jett
Bad Reputation
Documentary ‧ 1hr 33min
Release Date 9.28.18
(BMG / Blackheart Films)
__________

After 40+ years in the
music biz, Joan Jett has
become an iconic, all-
American brand. I
guess her reputation
ain't so bad after all.
__________

Details regarding this much-anticipated bio pic first were revealed onstage during Joan Jett's 2018 summer concert tour supporting classic rock stalwart, Styx. My interest was piqued immediately. However, despite my acknowledged obsessive passion for the iconic singer / songwriter / guitarist, the film somehow eluded me when it was released a year ago. In fact, I didn't finally discover it (on Amazon Prime) until last night. Was it worth the wait?

Directed by Kevin Kerslake, Bad Reputation is the compelling life story of rock trailblazer Joan Jett— from her earliest memories of receiving her first guitar as a little girl to her groundbreaking days as the co-founder of the Runaways in the '70s to her platinum-selling breakout success as a solo artist in the '80s to her 2015 Rock and Roll Hall Fame induction and beyond.

But offering more than heart-stopping recollections of rock and roll access and heart-breaking revelations of overcoming career obstacles, Bad Reputation is a heart-warming account of Jett's longtime relationship with creative and business partner, acclaimed songwriter, producer and manager, Kenny Laguna.

Jett's story is enhanced through the personal insights provided by those who know her best — past and present bandmates, including Cherie Currie, Gary Ryan and Thommy Price, rock legends, Pete Townshend, Iggy Pop, Debbie Harry and a host of others, as well as such current chart-busters as Billy Joe Armstrong and Miley Cyrus. Along the way, Hollywood stars Kristen Stewart and Michael J. Fox also reflect on their experiences of working with the rock superstar.

The Bad Reputation WOW factor amps-up further through often never-before-seen, high-energy live concert footage of Jett as a solo artist as well as with the Runaways.

All in all, Kerslake does an impressive job of recreating Jett's story. Although I'm not sure how I managed to miss the film for a year, I'm sure glad I finally experienced it. Well worth the wait, indeed!

-Christopher Long
(September 2019)
__________


- GARAGE SALE VINYL -
(2024)
__________

- A SHOT OF POISON -
"10th Anniversary Edition"
(2020)
__________

- SUPERSTAR -
(2019)
__________

- SHOUT IT OUT LOUD -
(2014)
__________

- C'MON! -
(2012)

July 29, 2019

MOVIE REVIEW: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

MOVIE REVIEW
Once Upon a
Time in Hollywood
2019 / 2hrs 41min
(Columbia Pictures)
__________

This is the film I have been
waiting months to see. And
while I realize that Tarantino
could probably have knocked
an hour or so off the running
time without compromising
any of the story's cred, I'm
certainly glad that he didn't.
__________

As a feeble little old man who grew up during the groovy, shag-carpeted era of the late 1960s and early '70s, I find myself now navigating desperately through a super-sophisticated iWorld. Hence, I was intrigued instantly by the premise and nostalgia-factor of director Quentin Tarantino’s latest big-screen epic. Sexy-looking, action-packed pre-release trailers promised a fast-paced film based on semi-factual accounts of shocking historical events of the time — pinned to a glitzy fictional backdrop — starring today's hottest and hunkiest A-list talent. Squeezing into my favorite faded bell bottoms and heading out to my local cineplex to see this one on opening weekend was a bona fide no-brainer. The only question was whether or not it would live up to the hype. One senior's matinee ticket to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, please!

The new Redford and Newman.
Hollywood — 1969. TV / movie star, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), and his longtime compadre / stunt double, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), are struggling to salvage their careers. The fictional Dalton character soon finds himself cast in the actual 1960s Western TV drama, Lancer. It's a bit of a stretch, but it works. At the same time, Dalton and Booth's fictional personal stories are woven into semi-factual real-life accounts of the notorious Manson Family and their 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate and several others. This too is a bit of a stretch. But doggonit, it works, really well.

The film's all-star cast is incredible. DiCaprio and Pitt both deliver in fashions reflective of their distinguished reputations — a modern-day Redford / Newman-caliber combo with legs. Margot Robbie becomes Sharon Tate. Although Robbie's talent demands co-pilot status, maintaining the authenticity of her character requires a seat in first-class. Emile Hirsch drops an impressive performance as Tate's ex-boyfriend, Jay Sebring, while Margaret Qualley is simply irresistible as spirited Manson Family member, Pussycat. Dakota Fanning is a legit Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme and ten-year-old Julia Butters is a scene-stealer as precocious child "actor," Trudi Fraser.

Margot Robbie is superb as Sharon Tate.
Although Tarantino’s choice of ending has been criticized, it's important to realize that despite leaning on certain historical events, this film is a "fantasy." Plus, it's a Tarantino "fantasy." So, to expect anything other than a disturbing, blood-spewing ending would be as ridiculous as the film's actual disturbing, blood-spewing ending.

In sum, believe the hype. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood delivers maximum bang for the movie buck — an absurd, yet thrilling tale — an authentic-looking period piece bursting with heart-stopping tension, excessive violence, offensive language and oodles of hard bodies and pretty faces.

-Christopher Long
(July 2019)

__________


- GARAGE SALE VINYL -
(2024)
__________

- A SHOT OF POISON -
"10th Anniversary Edition"
(2020)
__________

- SUPERSTAR -
(2019)
__________

- SHOUT IT OUT LOUD -
(2014)
__________

- C'MON! -
(2012)