I’ve Been Everywhere, NAMM
Okay. So if you’re keeping count, last week I wrote this column from a Starbucks in LA. This week I’m typing on a train somewhere on the way to Santa Barbara. It’s just stopped because they have to “clear up a car on the tracks,” which sounds pretty brutal. It’s a weird denouement from an incredibly intense and metal-filled week at the NAMM Show – the annual trade show where all the year’s new musical instruments are announced and where distributors from all over the world gather to place orders. It’s also a killer place to watch performances, get your photo taken with your heroes, and otherwise have a great time. My NAMM started with meeting Eddie Van Halen at the Fender VIP party, and during the next few days I had the chance to talk to Devin Townsend, Keith Merrow, Mick Thomson (Slipknot), George Lynch, Gary Hoey, Adrian Belew, Alex Skolnick, Feared/Six Feet Under’s Ola Englund, Misha Mansoor (Periphery), new Queensryche singer Todd La Torre, Orianthi, Fear Factory’s Dino Cazares, Def Leppard’s Vivian Campbell, Steve Lukather and many more. And I managed to luck into catching a gig by Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) who was joined by Bowie guitarist Earl Slick and Orianthi. And even if you don’t get to meet them, it’s great for starspotting: if you were there this year you could have seen such legends strolling around as Stevie Wonder, Dave Mustaine, Nikki Sixx, Michael Anthony, Zakk Wylde, Bumblefoot, Mark Kendall, Michael Sweet (Stryper), Gus G… hell, I even bumped into comedian Andy Dick at the Seymour Duncan booth where I was helping out. Seriously, dude, if you ever get the chance to come to Anaheim and attend a NAMM Show, TAKE IT! It’s such an amazing experience and you’ll make lifelong friends.
Cheers, ‘bok
Aussie thrash icons Frankenbok have released their new album, Cheers, Beers & Beards, and it’s a cracker. It features six new tracks and four live versions of some oldies, and the band is offering an album pack which includes the CD Digipack, a sticker and a t-shirt for only $25 (with free postage in Australia or only ten bucks outside).
Wednesday 13 Makes 2013 His Bitch
Wednesday 13 will release The Dixie Dead on February 22 on 3Wise Records. “The year 2013 is kinda close to my heart,” Wednesday 13 says. “That’s my year to shine. It seems like over the last couple of years, with True Blood and Twilight and Walking Dead and all these TV shows, entertainment is all about horror movies now, so it’s finally caught up with what I’ve been doing since I was 15-years-old! When someone thinks about horror punk I want them to always think about WEDNESDAY 13. I want to be that infamous household name! I want to keep putting out music and as long as I’m having fun, that’s it. I hope the fans keep enjoying it too!”
The Chariot Release One Wing Tour Edition
The Chariot will release an Australian Tour edition of their new album One Wing with two bonus tracks on February 22. They’ve been likened to At The Drive In, Refused, Nirvana and The Sex Pistols in spirit and vibe, blended with the Noisecore movement of the late ’90s and early ’00s. The tour edition of One Wing arrives just in time for the band’s Soundwave appearances, and you can catch them at The Hi-Fi with Bring Me The Horizon and Pierce The Veil in under-18 and over-18 shows on Tuesday February 28, as well as at Soundwave on Friday March 1.
Death Audio. They Bring The Audio, You Bring The Death.
Death Audio play at Ha’Penny Bridge, Frankston on Friday January 25, and they’re at Inferno Nightclub in Traralgon on Saturday February 9.
Four Bands, One Ass-Kicking
The Wonder Years, Such Gold, Living With Lions and Verses The World are teaming up for a huge intensity-fest at the Corner Hotel on Thursday February 28. Living With Lions are promoting their latest album, Holy Shit, which is on 3Wise Records, while Verses The World – featuring members of Lagwagon and The Ataris – are touring on the back of their second album Drink.Sing.Live.Love.
Sylosis/Six Feet Under Sidewave
Sylosis and Six Feet Under have announced Sidewaves in Sydney and Melbourne in Feburary. Here they’ll be at the Corner Hotel on Wednesday February 27. Featuring death metal vocal legend Chris Barnes, seven-string guitar demon Ola Englund and seven-string bass (yes, seven-string bass) virtuoso Jeff Hughell (someone else I got to catch up with at NAMM), Six Feet Under’s latest is Death Rituals. Sylosis are touring in support of last year’s Monolith.
