On Tuesday I got a chance to speak with Frank Salvaggio about his band Anew Revolution. We spoke about the new record, the tour and being a musician in our tough economy. Check out the interview below and be sure and come out and see them as part of Cornstalk at Spicoli’s this weekend in Waterloo!
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This post was written by Gabe Wilkinson on May 28, 2010
Artist: Shiv-r
Album: Hold My Hand
Genre: Industrial
Vocal Style: Male, Clean, Yelled, Spoken
Label: Metropolis Records
Parental Advisory: No
Recommended if You Like: Nitzer Ebb, Skinny Puppy, Combichrist, Suicide Commando
Shiv-r are a new band on Metropolis Records, but their sound is something we’ve all heard before. It’s kind of a mix of Nitzer Ebb (I had to look at the iPod once when they were chanting Fire to make sure it wasn’t “Muscle and Hate”) with more contemporary stompers like Suicide Commando and Combichrist.
What I like about the release: I really really like the beats. They are giant sounding club beats that pound and pound with lots of great distortion on the kick drum. In my car it sounds HUGE and I really like that about this. Also I really like the synth sounds on this whole album. I like how they are what you could consider neo-classical. It’s an extremely interesting listen.
What I didn’t like about the release: For one thing and this is a general complaint about the genre as a whole that it starts to all run together after awhile. You can’t tell where one song ends and where another begins. I don’t blame Shiv-r for that, but the conventions of the genre to begin with. Also I would like to hear some different tones in there here and there. It just all starts to run together by the end of the album.
The bottom line: Shiv-r have released a solid album for fans of the genre. People who like this music will enjoy this album, there is enough on here to like and garner repeated listens. Unfortunately they won’t make any new fans with this album.
Shiv-r – Hold My Hand courtesy of Metropolis Records.
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This post was written by Gabe Wilkinson on May 26, 2010
Sevendust is a name that needs no introduction in the Cedar Valley. They easily could be residence here as many times as they’ve played here through the years. That isn’t a bad thing either. Sevendust have built a strong following by playing the same places over and over again and creating a giant family of listeners and fans. I count myself amongst the family, I still consider their first album easily one of the best and most dynamic albums of the 90′s. I got the chance to chat with Lajon Witherspoon yesterday on the phone about their new album, touring and being fathers and husbands while on the road. Here is that interview for you all too enjoy.
Sevendust will be here on May 28th to rock the house at the Ticketcrusher Ampitheatre…
For more information hit these links here:
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This post was written by Gabe Wilkinson on May 13, 2010
I just got an email from Mike at The Core and was saddened to see that fantasy artist Frank Frazettapassed away yesterday at the age of 82 from a stroke. You may not recognize his name right away but he is responsible for some pretty iconic characters through the years. Including Conan where he visually redefined the sword and sorcery genre. Instead of me babbling on and on about his art, I’ll just let some of it speak for itself.
Good bye Frank, may Crom smile on your journey to the other side!
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This post was written by Gabe Wilkinson on May 11, 2010
Well I’ll keep this brief, and I’ll try and keep it to the point. Tonight, my band Talbot’s Curse will be playing our first home town show at Spicoli’s on University Ave. in Waterloo with I’m Prettier Than You, MarlsinCharge and Austin Taft Soundtrack. Show starts at 9:00 PM and the cost is $5.00!
Come out and support local music, or throw marshmallows at me!
See ya tonight!
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This post was written by Gabe Wilkinson on May 8, 2010
You know, I’ve done some awful cool things in my life. I’ve met some really cool people and I have a lot of great opportunities, but it’s always a unique opportunity to interview someone who has an impact on your life and is an inspiration. Well Eric Powell of 16Volt fame is just one of those people. I can remember when Mike the Murder (a nickname we gave him at the record store I worked at cause he did time in prison) came into City Sound that one day when I was playing Nine Inch Nails and he said, “Hey if you like this you should check out 16Volt I heard them in Chicago and they are awesome!” So I bought Skin the very next day and I was hooked. From doing covers of Cypress Hill and AC/DC to getting their songs covered by Tommy Lee in his band Method’s of Mayhem on Ozzfest, 16Volt has been beneath the surface bubbling under and seeping through into the mainstream just long enough to get a taste of fame and then sliding back down to the seedy underbelly of music business. Eric Powell and company are back with a new tour The Midi Ghetto Tour and a new frame of mind. With two extremely well done new albums and a real hunger to be artists they are clawing their way back to the top of the heap. Here is the conversation that transpired between Eric and myself a couple of weeks ago! By the way, I’m seeing them live tomorrow night at The Warehouse in La Crosse WI, I’ve tried this one other time but they didn’t make it so keep your fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong this time!
For more information hit the links below!
The Warehouse - Tickets are still available for the show tomorrow night!
A bit thank you to Eric for taking the time to do this interview with me! Wax Trax! forever buddy!
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This post was written by Gabe Wilkinson on May 5, 2010
This morning at 6:30 AM I lost my Uncle Curt. While I try to not make this blog too personal I need to take a moment to pay tribute to one of the four major reasons for my love of music. You see my Uncle Curt was a musician and one of the four primary reasons I am a musician myself today. Which by default makes him one of the reasons I write this blog to share my passion of music with you all.
Curtis Harold Pitman Junior
So you may be asking yourself what are the four influences. First and foremost my mom. She played music everyday in our house growing up. From the Blues to the Beatles and every thing in between. Which brings me to my second influence. The Beatles. If it wasn’t for the White Album and “Revolution #9″ I probably wouldn’t have ever gotten into music at all. The next major influence is my Uncle Jerry Pitman. He plays the guitar and he would play it for us growing up. And finally my Uncle Curt. He may be last in this list, but he definitely wasn’t the least of the influences. My uncles played in a band called Aces & Eights when I was a little kid. Uncle Curt had his drums set up in his basement. I would come over to his house and sit down in that basement and just stare at the drums. One day Uncle Curt came down and put me on his lap and put the sticks in my hands and taught me a basic four/four beat on his kit. It was a basic rock beat. The hi hat on all four beats, the kick on all four beats and the snare on the 2 and 4, but it changed my life forever and I think that was the final spark that got me so obsessed with listening to music and playing music.
So today I pay tribute to my Uncle Curt and one of the major reasons I am the musician I am today, as well as the writer about all things entertainment. On May 8th, my band Talbot’s Curse is going to be playing our debut show in Waterloo at Spicoli’s and I am dedicating our show to my Uncle Curt and his memory.
I love you Uncle Curt, and thank you for taking the time to show a very inquisitive 8 year old how to play a beat. I hope you understand how much of an influence you had on my life.
I also hope you are riding the best bike you’ve ever seen on the other side right now.
In memory of Curtis Harold Pitman, May 1st, 2010.
Love,
Squirrel Bait.
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This post was written by Gabe Wilkinson on May 1, 2010
