BOOK REVIEW: Dr. Larry Ollison "Finding Hope When Things Look Hopeless"

BOOK REVIEW

Finding Hope When

Things Look Hopeless

- Dr. Larry Ollison -

(Harrison House Publishers)

__________

Although I never have

spoken to or even met

the man, Larry Ollison

has impacted my life

more profoundly than

David Lee Roth. And

in my world, that's a

pretty hefty statement.

__________

It's kind of a wacky story, really. At the time, I'd devoured every title from author and pastor, Larry Ollison. Yet, shortly after getting my hands on a copy of his then-latest book, Finding Hope When Things Look Hopeless, in 2017, it somehow "fell through the cracks" — likely a result of being distracted by moving from my former residence to a new one. And I soon forgot all about Larry's book. Hang on — that's not the wacky part.

Fast forward THREE years — November 2020. I was digging through a crate containing some of my old rock and roll memorabilia that oddly had wound up at my GF's house. And there it was — buried under folders filled with '80s era magazine clippings of Lita Ford and Joan Jett, I found my long-lost copy of Larry's book — at the exact time I needed to rediscover it.

The cool thing about Larry is that he's a "straight-up dude" — young enough to have experienced Hendrix and raced Chevy's back in the day, but old enough to possess immeasurable faith-based wisdom as the founder of Walk on the Water Ministries. For his legions of followers, Larry combines his "Everyman" perspectives from the past with his current spot-on spiritual insights — resulting in a slew of compelling "life guides."

Us church folk are quite familiar with the term, "iron sharpens iron" (Proverbs 27:17 / NLT). We also recognize that a great way for Christian friends to "sharpen" each other is through "small group" experiences. And that concept allows Larry to be most effective. Through his personable, conversational style, he creates an intimate super-small group vibe, as he shares powerful biblical messages with readers one-on-one. And it's that unique ability that makes Finding Hope so impactful.

In today's troubled times, it's tough to find hope, and easy to lose hope. However, Larry shows that there IS hope for believers, based on our faith in Christ and the promises found in the Word of God. He reveals further how the words we receive can produce victory, while the words we speak can bring defeat. Pursuing our dreams and dealing with broken heartedness also are two of Larry's primary bullet points.

The book of Proverbs speaks specifically of the importance in surrounding ourselves with "qualified" advisers. And Larry devotes an entire chapter to seeking and securing healthy personal relationships — cornerstone content, to be sure.

Another cool thing about Larry is that he isn't some slick, toothy "Brylcreem Prophet." He's a laser-focused pastor and teacher — an acknowledged, trustworthy authority on the Word of God. Although Finding Hope does offer readers wise words of tremendous encouragement, it ain't a "Twinkie" — it's a "T-Bone." And for those who either are "famished" or merely seeking "refreshment," Finding Hope is both nutritious and delicious.

-Christopher Long

(December 2020)

__________

- GARAGE SALE VINYL -

(2024)

Amazon

Barnes & Nobles

Books-A-Million

__________

- A SHOT OF POISON -

"10th Anniversary Edition"

(2020)

Amazon

CGPublishing.com

__________

- SUPERSTAR -

(2019)

Amazon

__________

- SHOUT IT OUT LOUD -

(2014)

Amazon

__________

- C'MON! -

(2012)

Amazon

BOOK REVIEW FLASHBACK: Bobby Rock - "The Boy is Gonna Rock"

BOOK REVIEW

FLASHBACK

The Boy is

Gonna Rock

- Bobby Rock -

(Zen Man Publishing)

__________

A popular entertainment news

site I wrote for extensively over

the last couple of years ceased

operations recently. As a result,

I'm currently re-posting some of

the best bits I contributed to the

magazine. Here's another one

— from back in June 2018.

__________

Today's book market is inundated with a near-endless slew of rock star autobiographies. While some are compelling page-turners, others can fall flat. But what separates the "wheat" from the "chaff" with these tell-all memoirs is the author's credibility and knack for storytelling. In the case of Bobby Rock, the world-renowned musician, teacher and fitness guru possesses both attributes, plain and simple. And with his latest book, The Boy is Gonna Rock, the one-time Vinnie Vincent Invasion drummer serves up a serious slum dunk.

For true blue arena rock aficionados, The Boy is Gonna Rock delivers payoff from Page One with a heartfelt foreword from iconic guitar queen, Lita Ford. From there — hang on, it's a wild ride. Bobby writes with certain even-handed transparency — revealing many intimate details of his personal life, while also exposing the Invasion's "functionally / dysfunctional" world.

For those who crave authentic insider dish from the glorious Aqua Net era, this one truly is a must-read. But even those lacking a penchant for the Invasion's particular brand of glam-style metal will reap enormous dividends, as Bobby also shares a smorgasbord of behind-the-scenes stories of recording and touring with an array of rock legends, including Alice Cooper, Iron Maiden, W.A.S.P. and many others.

In sum, Bobby Rock gets it ALL right with The Boy is Gonna Rock, as it is easily one of the most engaging rock star memoirs I've read to date. And I've read a boatload of 'em. The personalized note that Bobby sent to me along with the book read simply, "Christopher — Enjoy the ride!" I did, indeed. BRAVO!

-Christopher Long

(June 2018)

__________

- GARAGE SALE VINYL -

(2024)

Amazon

Barnes & Nobles

Books-A-Million

__________

- A SHOT OF POISON -

"10th Anniversary Edition"

(2020)

Amazon

CGPublishing.com

__________

- SUPERSTAR -

(2019)

Amazon

__________

- SHOUT IT OUT LOUD -

(2014)

Amazon

__________

- C'MON! -

(2012)

Amazon

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)

Amazon

Barnes & Nobles

Books-A-Million

__________

- A SHOT OF POISON -

"10th Anniversary Edition"

(2020)

Amazon

CGPublishing.com

__________

- SUPERSTAR -

(2019)

Amazon

__________

- SHOUT IT OUT LOUD -

(2014)

Amazon

__________

- C'MON! -

(2012)

Amazon

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)

Amazon

Barnes & Nobles

Books-A-Million

__________

- A SHOT OF POISON -

"10th Anniversary Edition"

(2020)

Amazon

CGPublishing.com

__________

- SUPERSTAR -

(2019)

Amazon

__________

- SHOUT IT OUT LOUD -

(2014)

Amazon

__________

- C'MON! -

(2012)

Amazon