Grammys Slash Categories, Rock and Metal Get Screwed

Officials behind the Grammy awards are cutting more than 30 award categories. This means there will now be 78 little gold statues awarded to musicians instead of 109.

I must either be 1) really jaded or 2) really smart because I knew as soon as I started reading about the Grammy cuts, I knew rock, metal and hard rock was screwed. I was right.

From MTV:

"In the rock field, the Best Rock Instrumental Performance and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals will go away, while the Best Hard Rock and Best Metal Performance awards will be consolidated into one trophy."

So, shock of shocks, right?

So now, everyone from Incubus and Aerosmith to Green Day and Exhorder will be head to head. Same situation with Sting against someone like...I dunno... Nickelback or Mayhem. Yeah, that makes sense. Might as well shove death metal up against more mainstream rock acts. Or legacy acts. That seems fair. 

I can't disagree that there were way too many Grammy categories. I think the idea to streamline the pop categories as gender neutral (no separate award for male/female) is good. I don't think it's great to just start smashing a bunch of stuff together that deserves awards. I feel like rock is important enough to deserve a stand alone Grammy. Same for metal. I don't like gospel music but I think that genre is important enough to deserve its own award too...and this new slice n' dice plan changes that genre as well.

Back to MTV:

"Similar changes were made in the country, jazz, gospel, Latin, American roots, world and classical genres, while Best Native American, Zydeco or Cajun and Hawaiian will compete in a larger field under Best Regional Roots Music Album."

These changes will go into effect during next year's Grammy awards telecast.

So, what do you think of these changes? Do you agree with me that rock and metal are getting the shaft?

'INXS: Mystify' - DVD Review

INXS released concert DVD Mystify in November. The DVD is of the band's performance at the Loreley Festival in 1997 and it was taped for the German show Rockpalast.

The tracks:

1) Elegantly Wasted
2) New Sensation
3) Taste It
4) Just A Man
5) Heaven Sent
6) Searching
7) Disappear
8) Never Tear Us Apart
9) Everything
10) Need You Tonight
11) Bitter Tears
12) Girl On Fire
13) Kick
14) Devil Inside
15) What You Need
16) Don t Lose Your Head
17) Mystify
18) Suicide Blonde

Bonus Tracks:

Six tracks from the first INXS performance on Rockpalast
at the Markethalle, Hamburg on May 8th 1984:
1) Just Keep Walking
2) The One Thing
3) I Send A Message
4) Original Sin
5) Don t Change
6) Stay Young

So, is this DVD worth your hard-earned cash? Yes! The concert is fun, fun, fun and it sent me right back to high school. Remember, dear kids, I graduated high school in 1998 - so INXS was definitely on my radar. Mystify features the band with singer Michael Hutchence in all their glory. The fact that Hutchence died just a few months later makes this concert even more special. The great production is a major plus.

So what is my favorite part of the DVD? Well, "Devil Inside." I love that song and I like the performance treatment. The thing to remember here is that INXS just had some really amazing songs - and the band didn't need giant pyro pots, naked women or huge video screens to put on a fun show. It's just the band - awesome musicians - and some lights. Hutchence's voice just fills the entire open air venue - not an easy feat. Plus, he smiles at the camera a lot and the entire performance is just very natural.

What about the bonus clips? Well, those are a hoot and a half. They are from 1984...and they look like it for sure! The band isn't necessarily tight...certainly not nearly as commercial or polished and the crowd is hilarious. These clips are also from the Rockpalast vaults. Definitely a treat to see. If you are a fan, you'll love going back in time. If you're not a fan, well, you'll still love seeing Michael Hutchence jump around on stage during "Stay Young."

The Tyler/Underwood ACM Awards Duet Was Awesome

I am not really a fun of country music so I didn't watch the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards on Sunday night. Then I got to work yesterday and nearly all my coworkers flipped on me, asking "How could I miss the awesome duet with Carrie Underwood and Steven Tyler?!" And then our friend Kari emailed me about it a few times. And then I got some text messages...so when I finally had time, I looked up the performance on YouTube. It rocks! I'm sad I missed it live. I am a Carrie Underwood fan, all the way back to the American Idol days. I mean, I voted for Carrie every week when she was on Idol and it is not surprising to me that she is the most successful Idol alum by far. Plus, the girl loves her 80s Glam - and a duet with Steven Tyler was probably really special for her.

Check it out: "Undo It/Walk This Way"

Modern Superstar to Play M3, Rocklahoma

It's Monday and we should start the week with new music. Modern Superstar will release their debut album Under My Skin next month. The first single from that album is "Devil's Playground."

If you're going to M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, Maryland next month - take notice because Modern Superstar was just added to the bill. The band features former members of Britny Fox (singer Jamie Fletcher) and the Bulletboys (drummer Ryche Green). Other band members are Jordan Dirty, Danny Watts and Bill Carpenter.

In addition to M3, Modern Superstar will also play Rocklahoma.

Here's the full tour schedule:

Thu Apr 7 – Simons After Dark, Allen Park, MI
Fri Apr 8 – Planet Live, Battle Creek, MI
Sat Apr 9 – Baltimore Tattoo Convention, Baltimore, MD
Wed Apr 13 – Scooters Bar New, Castle, IN
Thu Apr 14 -The Berlin Music Pub, Fort Wayne, IN
Fri Apr 15 – The Carriage House, Louisville, OH
Sat Apr 16 – The Fishbone #1, Vienna, WV
Wed Apr 20 – Olde Towne Tavern, Frederick, MD
Thur Apr 21 – FM Bistro, Beaver Falls, PA (Early Show 8:00pm)
Thur Apr 21 – Bella Luna, Monroeville, PA (Late Show 11:00pm) w/ Tattoo Tony
Fri Apr 22 – JAXX, Springfield, VA w/ Tattoo Tony
Sat Apr 23 – 36th Street Lounge, Wyoming, MI
Wed Apr 27 Smokin’ Joes, Milwaukee, WI
Thu Apr 28 – Gentleman Jacks Little Chute, WI
Fri Apr 29 – Silver Dollar Saloon Elizabeth, MN
Sat Apr 30 – Route 15 Greenville, WI
Fri May 13 – M3 Festival Columbia, MD w/ Tattoo Tony
Sat May 14 – M3 Festival, Columbia, MD w/ Tattoo Tony (Main Stage)
Fri May 27 – Rocklahoma, Pryor, OK w/ Gypsy Pistoleros and Tattoo Tony
Sat May 28 – Rocklahoma, Pryor, OK w/ Gypsy Pistoleros and Tattoo Tony Sun
May 29 – Rocklahoma, Pryor, OK w/ Gypsy Pistoleros and Tattoo Tony

Don't know Modern Superstar? Check out some clips:

Living Colour and Glam

Was Living Colour ever considered Glam?

The band formed in 1984 and are certainly funk but they also have a definite metal side. I would think that being in the hard rock/metal genre during the 80s would mean that Glam rubbed off on them at least a little. The band also played with Guns n' Roses (among others)...and if you'll recall, even did Rocklahoma a couple years ago. So, did Living Colour ever get lumped in with the Glam scene? I'm looking for people older than me to answer this one. All I remember was the video for “Cult of Personality” played constantly right alongside all our other faves. Something to consider this early Spring Sunday.

Cool Video: David Gilmour and David Bowie Do 'Comfortably Numb'

We never talk about Pink Floyd around here. They are certainly not Glam, but they are a fantastic band - there's just no disputing that fact. Not so long ago, David Gilmour did a series of concerts of London's Royal Albert Hall. A DVD was released of those concerts called Remember That Night - Live at the Royal Albert Hall. Here's "Comfortably Numb." Trust me: watch the whole clip:

Friday Fun: Shuffle It Up

Ok, it is finally Friday. This week has been a long one and our friend Kari suggested today's topic: shuffle songs. So, everyone get our your MP3 players and hit "shuffle." List the first ten songs that come up in your play list. The more diverse, the better!

Here's my ten shuffle songs:

Sugar, We're Going Down - Fall Out Boy
Any Way You Want It – Journey
Headstrong – Trapt
The World Is Filled - The Notorious B.I.G.
Lay It Down – RATT
Nighttrain - Guns n' Roses
Stagefright - Def Leppard
I Wanna Rock - Twisted Sister
Nice on Ice – Kix
Let My Love Open The Door - Pete Townshend

I can't wait to see your lists - I love it when the shuffle brings out really crazy mixes or songs you haven't heard in ages. Go on, get crackin'!