I Remember You (Insert Sob Here)

Here is a great confession for you: every time I hear Skid Row's "I Remember You" I want to bawl.

Like a baby.

From the guitar solo beginning, to Sebastian Bach's high notes... the song makes me an emotional disaster.

I was feeling particularly sad and lonely last night - so what do I do? I put on "I Remember You" and torture myself.

"Remember yesterday/walking hand in hand/love letters in the sand/I remember you."

These lyrics, people, are the stuff of real Glam.

It's also apparently the stuff that makes the Glam mistress sappy.

You must understand I'm a hardened bad ass. Nothing phases me. I don't cry at movies. Or weddings. Or funerals. Heather moved halfway across the country last week. I didn't cry then either. Well, neither did she. At least she didn't around me. That's not how I roll.

Again, I'm a hardened bad ass.

Still, give me Sebastian Bach and a guitar solo I've heard more times than my own name and I'm reduced to blubber.

Maybe I'm emotionally unstable.

Ok, so I'm emotionally unstable.

"You're my darling/I love you."

Classic.

You see, I think my emotional attachment to this song has something to do with my past. I'm not exactly sure what happened in my past - but something has always triggered a "sadness switch" in my brain whenever I hear this song. Yes, it happens when I hear the song live, too.

The video for "I Remember You" isn't that spectacular from a concept point of view. Still, it gets the idea across - and, apparently - I got the idea big time when I was a kid. There are a few songs that trigger the "sadness switch" but none are quite as powerful as "I Remember You."

I think on some level, songs like "I Remember You" are what put the initial spark in my brain to write. Now, I've accomplished sad little as a writer, but I keep plugging along. I guess I feel like someday I might be able to move people with words on a page like Skid Row were able to move me - through music - so long ago.

It isn't very often that music and lyrics come together to create a perfect emotional storm. Sure, there are songs that make us happy. There are songs that make us violent. Then there are songs that make us feel.

Jetboy: Free Downloads!

If you're broke (like me) but want some free music (legally) - you're in luck! Jetboy are giving away free downloads of some of their best-known tracks.

Jetboy was formed in 1983...now, 25 years later, the band is back together, playing shows and writing music.

Apparently, Jetboy are embarking on a major tour in 2009. I can't help but wonder who else is on the bill...and how many festival stops the band will make. After all, Jetboy played Rocklahoma, Rock the Bayou and South Texas Rock Fest. I have to believe Jetboy will play at least one festival during the summer of 2009.

If you want some free tunes, just click here. I love free stuff!

Festival Season Isn't So Far Off...

Ok, so it's October. Still, festival season must not be too far off because tickets for Rock Gone Wild are already on sale...and general on sale for Rocklahoma is slated to begin today. Rock Gone Wild has already announced several bands, including Great White, Dangerous Toys, Helix and more. Rocklahoma hasn't announced any bands - but I expect one leak soon. I mean, something needs to fuel ticket sales at higher prices, right?

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited that Rocklahoma tickets are slated for sale today. I want to see the seating chart and assess how many people renewed. I did not renew my seat license - this year, I'm holding on to my thousand bucks until I can see a true return on my investment. No more interest free loans from the National Bank of the Glam Mistress.

Not Really Pair A Dice

All the "hype" surrounding Pair A Dice has me a little baffled. The band sends a lot of Myspace bulletins - and fans were constantly reposting them right before Rocklahoma. Pair A Dice are on the Retrospect Records label and the band did play the festival. Admittedly, I didn't watch their set - so I cannot comment on their live show.

Pair A Dice reissued their only recordings in a self-titled debut earlier this year. The album features only six tracks:

Stay the Night
Nasty Girls
Nowhere To Run
Where's Jenny
Midnight Train
I'll Be There For You

I do not know why I waited so long to give Pair A Dice a listen - but I did. Anyway, I had the band built up big in my head, so I was a little disappointed when I finally gave the self-titled disc a spin. Pair A Dice has basically horrible production - the songs don't sound remastered at all. My guess is that the songs were taken from a beaten up cassette (or worse) and patched together as best as possible. Problem is, the songs sound very thin. Maybe the band couldn't help this. I know there is only so much you can do to improve the past.

Now, things you can change: poor songwriting. Oh Glam goodness, Pair A Dice have bad songwriting. I mean, it's like every Glam cliché ...captured on tape, er...CD. Here's the thing: I think Pair A Dice have some potential as a band. I certainly believe the members have talent. Guitarist Dave Marshall even toured with Vince Neil during the Exposed era (he does not play on that album). Pair A Dice even looks Glam to this day. I think the band would be better served by circling back and recording all new tracks. The new technology means a better sound - and being older (hopefully) means better songwriting. 

The bottom line: I give Pair A Dice props for giving it a shot - but if I never hear the song "Where's Jenny" again...it will be too soon.

Here's "Nowhere to Run"

How Much Fame...Is Too Much?

Awhile back I read an article on Yahoo! News about Ringo Starr. The former Beatle is apparently sick and tired of...fan mail.

If you send an item for Starr to autograph, say a shirt or book or CD, it will be trashed. Starr says he is "too busy" and to not bother him.

This wouldn't be such a big deal except that Starr previously said he would personally read every piece of fan mail and always provide an autograph when asked. Now, I know a lot of you don't give a cup of Earl Grey tea about Ringo Starr - but that isn't the point. The point is this: at what point does an artist become so famous he can shrug off fans?

I know famous people are busy. I also know they don't have the same burdens as the rest of us. Someone like Ringo Starr, or Nikki Sixx, or Jon Bon Jovi...don't have to worry about keeping a job to pay the mortgage, to pay a student loan, to buy food. These famous musicians don't have to work (unless it is their decision) 12 hours a day to stay afloat.

The thing is, I honestly expect nothing...from anyone. That goes for my parents, my husband, my friends...and famous musicians. I believe you go your own way in life, do the best you can and just plug along. That said, if I'm standing backstage and some musician walks by that I want to speak with (and honestly, I don't seek many out) then I'll approach him or her. I rarely ask for autographs because I think they are worthless, but I do like photos. I add them to my Myspace page and it gives me a story for this website. Still, I never expect anything from a musician - but if I'm turned down rudely, it's on. Look, I think musicians (the famous ones of course) need to get back to basics and learn that if fans quit buying concert tickets and albums their careers are done. If not for fans, musicians are just a group of talented people...looking for temp work at the local staffing center.

What do you think about musicians that shrug off fans?

Photo credit: I didn't take the photo of Ringo above. It's from the George Harrison fan forum. I certainly hope the Beatles don't sue me as I don't have any money anyway. No copyright assumed.

We Don't Talk About Hardcore Superstar Enough Around Here...

Hardcore Superstar are one of my favorite Swedish bands. They've been around quite some time - since 1997 actually.

I graduated high school in 1998 - I can only imagine my life might have been a little different had I discovered Swedish Glam then...instead of years later. Hell, I hang my head in shame that I haven't been to Sweden yet. I imagine when I get there I'll hunt Hardcore Superstar (and the remaining members of Crashdiet) down and have a good old time. I'm serious, too. Seriously. I'll do it.

I've written about Hardcore Superstar in the past. I love the song "We Don't Celebrate Sundays" - but you already know all this. The song is featured on the band's self-titled album. Because Hardcore Superstar albums are sold as imports, they are mega expensive. As such, I don't have the 2007 release Dreamin' in a Casket. Of course, our friends around the world bring us music from this album thanks to the power of YouTube.

Maybe someday soon I'll get to see Hardcore Superstar....live and in color. For now, just watch some videos. I'm going to try and get over yet another migraine...and salvage my Saturday. Sigh.

"Dreamin' in a Casket"

>p>
"Still I'm Glad"

"Wild Boys"

I've Got So Much to Write...

The amount of stuff I need to write for this website is overwhelming. I have a bunch of CDs to review. I've listened to them... I've formed opinions...those opinions just need written.

In the coming days...expect a lot of varied content as I catch up on dynamic articles and album reviews. Two bands getting reviewed this week are Willie Basse and PairADice. Also look for a special feature on Tonight You Rock very soon.

I can't help but wonder if I'm the only person that feels like work is never-ending...and yet nothing gets done. I mean, good Glam, I spend 80% of my life with a computer attached to my body. Yet, the work never gets done.

Giant sigh.

At least it's the weekend. T.G.I.F.