Recently, singer and producer James Michael revealed SIXX: AM will record a new album. I didn't think much of this at the time. Sure, it's good news and I dismissed it as much. Over time, I've started to wonder: what will a new SIXX: AM disc sound like?
The reason SIXX: AM and the Heroin Diaries soundtrack took-off is because of the "special project" element. Just three musicians - one of them a superstar - coming together to tell the story of addiction through music.
Nikki Sixx had a reason to create SIXX: AM. He wanted to tell his story through words and music. Understanding that not everyone would read his book, he gave fans an alternative to written words - and created a great album in the process.
Now, SIXX: AM announce plans to make a new album and I don't know if it will work. As time goes on, I can't help but worry more albums would cheapen the original output. Of course, I could be wrong. DJ Ashba and James Michael are great collaborators. With Nikki, I believe they have another great album in them. I just don't know if it will be as poignant - or successful - as the Heroin Diaries soundtrack. Then there's the issue of Nikki getting bored with his side projects, but that's another article entirely.
Over the past week I've told you about some of my favorite Kix albums, videos and side projects. If you are new to to the band or only have money to purchase one Kix album - you must own Live.
Kix Live was was recorded at the University of Maryland and released in 1993. As you would expect, this live album features some of the band's best songs including "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah," "Hot Wire," "Rock n' Roll Overdose," "Sex" and "Same Jane." The major downfall to Live is the exception of "Cold Shower."
Despite the fact that I own quite a few live discs, I am not necessarily a fan. I think it's hard to capture the authenticity of a live show on a canned recording. Still, a few live releases succeed - and Kix Live is one of them. The excitement of the crowd seems pure and the album doesn't seem "doctored to death" after the fact in the studio.
Kids, I wanted to give you something for your Friday morning "stall-work-for-ten-minutes-by-reading-Bring-Back-Glam!-routine." To be honest, I'm tired. I'm in Washington, D.C. now...getting ready for the big Kix show in Baltimore on Saturday night.
Washington, D.C. is just about my favorite city. One of my best friends lives in the District - and I spent hours walking the streets with him. Now my feet hurt and I'm knackered. For now, I leave you with some live performances by Rhino Bucket. As you probably know, Brian Forsythe also plays guitar for this band, thus the Kix connection. After a good night's sleep in the giant bed in my historic hotel -- I hope to write a little more for your Friday.
Here's Rhino Bucket at Rocklahoma 2007. I didn't see this performance and I can't remember why, unless this was on the pre-party day. Whatever the case, it looks like I missed a rocking set!
Also from 2007 - Rhino Bucket in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Rhino Bucket do sound a lot like AC/DC - but I don't think they are a copy-cat band. I think RB just makes straight rock n' roll - not necessarily Glam, but definitely working class. Thoughts?
Talk about a powerful sentence. Those seven words pretty much sum up what Kix is all about - and for good reason. Blow My Fuse is Kix's most successful - and thus famous - album to date. The disc spawned several singles, including the album's title track, "Don't Close Your Eyes," "Get It While Its Hot" and "Cold Blood."
Quite frankly I don't even need to write much here. If you love Glam, you likely already know the joy that is Blow My Fuse.
1988 was a huge year in music. LA Guns released an album. David Lee Roth released an album. Lita Ford, Iron Maiden, the Scorpions, Queensryche, Poison, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Cinderella, Britny Fox, Winger, Metallica, Bon Jovi, Vixen, the Bulletboys, Quiet Riot, Dokken and Guns n' Roses all released albums. Some of the bands I just listed released their biggest albums in 1988. Poison released Open Up and Say...Ah!!! and Queensryche released Operation: Mindcrime. You know what? Blow My Fuse is just as strong - if not stronger - than those two releases.
I love the deeper cuts on Blow My Fuse. I really believe "No Ring Around Rosie" is one of the best songs Kix ever recorded. That song has it all: great bass line, chorus fade, powerful guitars and - as always - great vocals. Plus, the lyrics are a pun on a nursery rhyme. Everyone knows I love a good literature reference. I found that I listened to "No Ring Around Rosie" 12 times today. Listening to Kix while working makes me feel less violent. Maybe companies should just pipe Kix to employees to enhance productivity and keep the peace?
My husband's favorite Kix song is "Cold Blood." I have to admit I love it as well. The track is just a great hard rocker - the epitome of 1988 Glam. Ok, so the story isn't complicated: the girl is a tease. It's amazing how the simplest of stories can make for great songs. I guess that's been the case since the beginning of recorded music. The video for "Cold Blood" is quite good, too. It's a traditional "concert-party" clip and the heroine is very pretty. Kix always had pretty girls in their videos. Fun fact: I'm fairly certain the pictures guitarist Brian Forsythe has on his Myspace page are from the "Cold Blood" video. Go take a look and add him as a friend. Not that he asked me to drum-up membership or anything. We all just need more friends.
Another favorite? "Get It While It's Hot." I'm not sure what "It" is, but that is neither here nor there. Want to know the best part of this song? The big chorus of course. Well, that, the guitar solo and the fact that this song makes you want to move. Or hit something. Or someone. Maybe I just need anger management? When I'm angry this is a good song because it sort of calms me. When I'm calm and I listen to this song, I can feel my blood rise a few points. Maybe I'm crazy. Or maybe "Get It While It's Hot" is just that good.
I dare a modern Glam band to move me like Kix. Actually, I'll ramp back the challenge: record a song as good as "Get It While It's Hot" and we'll talk.
Please tell me you already own Blow My Fuse. If not, purchase it now.
Here is the video for "Get It While It's Hot:"
You already know I'm flying to Baltimore to see Kix Saturday night. Sunday morning, I fly home to Dayton for XFest 13. I bought tickets based on the fact that Buckcherry and Avenged Sevenfold were on the line-up. Illness has forced A7X off the bill...and now the promoters have replaced them with...Hinder.
Seriously.
This sends panic through my body. My husband says "Give them a chance." I have, of course, given them a chance. Anyone with access to commercial radio in the past two years has given Hinder a chance.
Maybe Eric and I can take separate cars and I can leave after Buckcherry and he can "give Hinder a chance."
I hope M. Shadows (the lead singer of Avenged Sevenfold) protects his voice. The band has canceled a lot of shows recently, so a break is probably best.
Our week of Kix and friends continues. So far we've looked at a couple of the band's best albums, I've showed you some of my favorite videos and we've talked about Funny Money. Today, a look at the Blues Vultures.
The main side project of Ronnie Younkins, the Blues Vultures also features guitarist Rich Moxley and alternating musicians in the bass and drum roles.
So far, the Blues Vultures have released one album called Cheap Guitars & Honky Tonk Bars. The album isn't Glam, but it is chocked full of great songs. Ronnie Younkins has a lot of talent - both as a guitarist and a singer. Plus, his hair fascinates me. Please believe Ronnie's hair has absolutely nothing to do with Cheap Guitars & Honky Tonk Bars, but I'll mention it anyway: I can't recall the last time I saw a person have that much hair. I mean, it's Rapunzel long! How does he wash it? More importantly, how does he play without his long locks getting tangled in his guitar strings? Sorry for the side step, but I had to get that out of my system.
Back to Cheap Guitars & Honky Tonk Bars. I haven't had this album very long, but I'm pleased to admit it is on iTunes for easy download so you should purchase it and give it a shot. The iTunes classification is "country" but that's not correct. The Blues Vultures are definitely a blues/Glam infusion - there are influences across many music genres here. Props to Ronnie to staying true to his love for the blues. You can hear a lot of blues riffs in Kix tunes. The Blues Vultures just expound on those riffs.
The best songs on Cheap Guitars & Honky Tonk Bars? The title track for sure and I also dig "I'm Goin' to Pieces." Both songs I just mentioned sound about as different as night and day. My favorite track period? That's easy: "My Baby Up and Left Me." A true blues throwback, the song sounds like something my guitar teacher would demand I learn for better fundamental understanding. Plus the song just plain rips. Like Kix, the Blues Vultures are able to easily transform their sound and lyrical quality in the same album. Truly the mark of good musicians.
I'll be honest: the chances of me discovering the Blues Vultures without the Kix connection would probably rank in the slim to none category. Since I like music of all genres - and you already know I enjoy Bluegrass - it's not a stretch that I quite enjoy the Blues Vultures as well. I suggest you give the Blues Vultures a shot. Go ahead, expand your musical horizons.
Jpot Entertainment Proudly Presents Rock Gone Wild 2009
ALGONA, IOWA (September 9, 2008) - Jpot Entertainment is proud to announce Rock Gone Wild music festival. The festival, sure to be Iowa's preeminent music destination of 2009, will feature more than 50 rock legends on two stages over four days. The festival is slated for August 20-23, 2009.
Already confirmed is a special reunion performance by Saigon Kick. This will be the band's only festival appearance in 2009. An entire festival lineup is coming in the months ahead.
Jpot Entertainment has recently teamed up with some of the biggest names in the music industry to present the largest music event in the Midwest.
Rock Gone Wild will take place at the Freedom Park festival grounds, located at 2507- 160th Avenue in Algona, Iowa. While Algona is a rural community, the area is close to many hotels and both the Des Moines and Minneapolis airports are easily accessible.
To obtain a special code and to purchase pre-sale tickets, please join www.fevertalk.net. This online community is home to hundreds of die hard music fans. Rock Gone Wild and www.fevertalk.net are not associated with Catch the Fever Music Festivals.
Rock Gone Wild features three ticket levels to fit every budget. Information on platinum, VIP and general admission seating is available at www.rockgonewild.com or www.tickets.rockgonewild.com .
Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 12:01AM 
Recently, singer and producer James Michael revealed SIXX: AM will record a new album. I didn't think much of this at the time. Sure, it's good news and I dismissed it as much. Over time, I've started to wonder: what will a new SIXX: AM disc sound like?
