Engelbert Humperdinck
Northern Quest Resort & Casino
Airway Heights, WA
April 29th, 2012

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Engelbert Humperdinck has been entertaining for 45 years and shows no signs of slowing down. While watching his perform, he just looks like he is having the time of his life during every song. He never stops strutting his stuff and dancing throughout the show. He also not only engages his fans with amazing stories in between but he even invites them up on the stage. For a man that is 75 years old, he acts half his age and puts to shame many of our current performers that have forgotten what is it like to perform live. Overall he just has this wonderful stage presence and it comes through with his fans and through this music.

I wasn’t able to personally attend this show but thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was able to be their watching it live from the comfort of my home. Thanks to Front and Center for setting up this fantastic streaming concert. The concert played perfectly without a hitch and did not encounter any streaming issues. It wasn’t just one boring camera angle either. There was numerous cameras constantly changing covering the whole stage. The sound quality was also very impressive, especially for streaming internet.

The concert ran from about 90 minutes and he really covered all of his classics. In this show he covers classics like “Quando, Quando, Quando”, “The Last Waltz” and “Release Me”. I also really enjoyed his new song for Eurovision 2012 and also currently #1 on the charts in the UK, “Love Will Set You Free”. Engelbert even covers classics like “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” and Bryan Adams’ “When You Love a Woman” along with his great guitarist Yohan Frank. What I like most about hearing him life is that he sounds exactly like he does on the album. Engelbert’s voice just sounds fantastic and he is not afraid to belt out some big notes.

Engelbert is one of the last great entertainers and he puts on what a great show. I also really enjoyed his video clips including a funny comedy act from Eddie Izzard and a rare performance with Engelbert and Dean Martin. I have never had the privilege of seeing Engelbert in person, which I hope will change very soon. You here that Engelbert…come to the Orlando FL area soon!!

Lucas Vidal is the composer for the new horror/thriller “The Raven”.  Later this Fall, he is also composing the new action film “The Cold Light of Day”.  Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Lucas about his new score and inspiration behind it.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us how you incorporated Edgar Allen Poe’s legacy into your score for “The Raven”?
Lucas Vidal: The first thing I did when I started was to do research into Allen Poe’s life and state of mind in the film.  The music that he was listening to at the time.  When I spoke to the director (James McTeigue), he wanted to make sure that the music was something contemporary, not a period sound. We ended up getting into a really cool stage of creativity.  In fact we ended up doing really cool sounds for Allen Poe’s main theme.  We used an distorted electric guitar, which then interacts with the orchestra.  It helps the rhythm of the film a lot.  Overall it was a combination of real orchestra and electronics, since they were looking for a modern score.

MG: Did you have a lot of creative freedom working with “The Raven”?
LV: Yes, I did.  I was very open for ideas and suggestions though.  (James) McTeigue he knows what he is talking about, I mean he did “V For Vendetta”.  I was lucky to be able to learn a lot from a guy like that.  I was very opened-minded and yes I definitely had a lot of freedom on this project.

MG: What was your most challenging aspect for this score?
LV: I think to find the sound. Since McTeigue wanted something different than I expected.  The specific themes in the music are a lot of different than the movie. Once we got that got that down, it was a lot easier to start working.

MG: You also worked on the score for “The Cold Light of Day”, which is coming out this Fall; how do you feel it compares?
LV: The genre falls more under action for this one. There were a lot of big hits and rhythm in the orchestra.  “The Raven” was much darker.  I had a lot of of fun with both films.  We recorded in London at Abbey Road and we used a huge orchestra for both.  I think the approach was different but similar in the sense that it helps whats happening on the screen.

MG: When composing a film, what genres do you enjoy working in most?
LV: Well, I have done a lot of horror, thriller and action.  I would love to do more dramas and animation.  I love animation and dramas, like a really good drama!  A lot of dramas are orchestra driven and that is what I enjoy the most.

MG: Tell us about what you have upcoming?
LV: I cannot tell you right now, but I have a really cool movie coming up.  We are signing in the next day or two.  It is going to be very very interesting.

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Taki Sassaris is the lead singer for the rock group Eve to Adam. The New York based group released the album “Banquet for a Starving Dog” in September of 2011. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Taki about the album and what it’s like playing in a band with a family member.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about the bands most recent album?
Taki Sassaris: This album I think is our most mature as a group. The songs were written about experiences we all have endured as a band. I think there is a lot of reflection in the songs that are put on display. This album is a testament to the fact that we are one of the very few bands that are making our way through the modern rock world that have been together over a decade. We are very proud of this album.

AL: What is the band’s writing process like?
 TS: The process it’s self varies. It often will depend on who brings in what idea and where everyone is at during that time. Some songs come from the jam process and are shaped over time by everyone in the group. Other times I will start a song on my own and then bring it to the group to finish. Every song has its own identity depending on how it came about. A lot of the harder more up tempo songs come out of the rehearsal situation. I personally find that setting to be the most fun to create in. I am really able to realize the song in the moment while trying to decode what the message and the emotional content is. As a writer I find this to be the most adventurous and exciting. I think a bands best worth is when they are working together as a band to come up with the best material possible.

AL: Were there any different approaches taken in the studio for this album?
TS: During the actual recording process we concentrated more on getting full live takes. We wanted the takes to have the band playing together for a majority of the album. There were a couple tracks on the album that were recorded in just one take. One thing that has evaded us in previous recording efforts was capturing that live feel from the shows. We consciously made an effort to capture a live flow with this album. I think we did that and it is a more accurate representation of the band.

AL: Does being in a band with your brother ever makes things difficult?
TS: It’s a complete blessing probably 97% of the time. The 3% percent where things go array get pretty hairy. He and I know how to push each other’s buttons very well. We are either one another’s protector or destroyer. When him and I argue or fight it can get ugly quick. We try to step away from that but you never know when you wake up if that’s going to be one of the things you are going to have to work through. We have a very strong working relationship and we balance each other. We don’t have too many black eyes or scars to show for it.

AL: What can you tell us about the bands current tour with Creed?
TS: We are both represented by the Agency group. We have been out supporting the new album since July with various groups. We had a really good run opening for Hinder that got us put up for the Creed tour. We were lucky enough to get it and it’s been an honor. This tour is the largest situation we have ever been involved in. The level of show production and crowd volume has been amazing. Creed is a band that defined our genre for more than a decade. It’s been a great challenge to us getting to warm that crowd up every night and showing people that Eve to Adam deserves to be in the conversation. The run is very intense but its fun.

AL: What is next for the band?
TS: We will be touring all through the summer and have been booked for quite a few festivals. Some things haven’t been announced yet as it is still a little too early. Our label and management have estimated to us that the band will finish 2012 out on the road. Hopefully after that we will get right back in the studio and make another album. We have a lot of ideas that we are dying to work on. We are very busy and very happy.

Over the years, film historian Bruce Crawford has provided the people of Omaha with presentations of classic films, making each showing more memorable by including special celebrity guests. For his 30th classic film event, Crawford will be screening the 1959 adaptation of Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” starring James Mason, Pat Boone and Arlene Dahl. Mr. Boone will be Crawford’s special guest at the screening.

The screening will be held on Saturday, May 19th, at the Joslyn Art Museum’s Witherspoon Hall Theatre, located at 2200 Dodge St, Omaha, NE. The film will start at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are $25.00 and are available at all Omaha area Hy Vee Food store customer service counters. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door the night of the performance. Proceeds benefit the Nebraska Kidney Association. For more information call 402-932-7200 or visit www.omahafilmevent.com

Sweet
“New York Connection”
Produced by: Andy Scott
11 tracks
Running Time: 40 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

From the moment this CD kicks off, it rocks mega hard and doesn’t let up until the CD ends. The Sweet are well known their Glam Rock during the 70-80’s and though still they sound just as good as they ever have. “New York Connection” is comprised 11 cover songs including the 2011 single “Join Together”. There is also a revamped original recording for their 1972 b-side “New York Connection”.

If you are a fan of 70-80’s rock, then you are going to love this album easily. The album kicks off with the great song “New York Groove” and just includes on great hit after another. Some of the other great cover tracks included are “You Spin Me Round”, “Because the Night” and “Blitzkrieg Bop”. All the covers sounds really kick-ass and get your toes tapping and head rocking.

Peter Lincoln takes lead on vocals on 8 out of the 11 tracks. Andy Scott takes lead vocal for “Sweet Jane” and is a great tribute to The Velvet Underground. Bruce Bisland belts out “Blitzkrieg Bop” and doesn’t let down the Ramones. Lastly Tony O’Hora puts a new spin on Patti Smith’s “Because the Night”. Overall, the guitars are well…sweet! The music is loud and sums up a great 40 minutes you will experience with this album.

Track listing:
1. New York Groove
2. Gold On The Ceiling
3. All Moving Faster
4. New York Connection
5. Shapes Of Things
6. You Spin Me Round
7. Because The Night
8. Sweet Jane
9. Blitzkrieg Bop
10. On Broadway
11. Join Together

Hung
“Hung”
The End Records/ReThink Records
Producer: Andy Abel/Ryan Kelly
Tracks: 10

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Hung” is the debut release from the New York based progressive metal band Hung. The band consists of Dmitry Kostitsyn- vocals, Lyris Hung- electric violin, Evil Jon- guitar, Sam Roon- bass and Kenny Grohowski- drums. Together the group blends a variety of musical styles ranging from classical to full on metal. The self titled album is being released via ReThink Records which is owned by Chris Adler of Lamb of God and features 10 original tracks that were produced by Andy Able and Ryan Kelly.

The debut offering from Hung features unique instrumentation and melodic vocal passages but, don’t let the word melodic throw you though as the band is full on metal! Vocalist Dmitry Kostitsyn is part Jekyll and part Hyde in his performances which are further enhanced by the technical playing of the band behind him. Each song on the album is crafted to appeal to a variety of listeners. Songs such as “Left for the New Life” and “Sediment of War” cover so much musical ground that it almost makes your head explode just trying to take it all in. Andy Abel and Ryan Kelly did an excellent job at the production controls as they seemed to really capture each member’s performance on all of the albums 10 tracks.

The bottom line is I don’t think I can say enough good things about this album or the band. With this being the Hung’s debut album I really can’t wait to hear what’s next. Every once in awhile something new and fresh comes along and Hung are it!

Track Listing:
1.)    Eos
2.)    Desert of Sad
3.)    Maria
4.)    Progeny
5.)    Evil Tsar
6.)    Left for the New Life
7.)    Inertia
8.)    Infernal Redeemer
9.)    Matter of the Blood
10.)  Sediment of War

Jeff Loomis
“Plains of Oblivion”
Century Media Records
Producer: Aaron Smith
Tracks: 10

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“Plains of Oblivion” is the second solo release from Nevermore guitarist Jeff Loomis. The album hosts a variety of musicians such as former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman. The album is being released via Century Media Records and features 10 original tracks that were produced by Aaron Smith.

The new album by Jeff Loomis is more than just another progressive metal album. “Plains of Oblivion” Is an album packed full of songs that will make your head spin and your ears bleed from the sheer sonic goodness. Each of the 10 songs on the album feature creative structures that even fair-weather fans of    progressive metal music will enjoy. Tracks such as “Escape Velocity” and “Requiem for the Living” were strong personal favorites as I really loved the thunderous background of each track. Couple that with Loomis’s over the top solos and you can’t go wrong. Fans of Jeff’s other work will surely want to check this album out as it really showcases his playing on a whole new level. Guest appearances by Chris Poland on the track “Continuum Drift” and Tony MacAlpine on “The Ultimatum” were also highlights of “Plains of Oblivion”.

Though the album took a few listens through before I could fully appreciate it I found it to be a pretty good album. I would have liked a couple of the songs to be trimmed down a bit more but lengthy songs come with the territory. If you are looking for an album with some really great playing then do yourself and pick up the latest album from Jeff Loomis.

Track Listing:
1.)    Mercurial
2.)    The Ultimatum
3.)    Escape Velocity
4.)    Tragedy and Harmony
5.)    Requiem for the Living
6.)    Continuum Drift
7.)    Surrender
8.)    Chosen Time
9.)    Rapture
10.)  Sibylline Origin

Neal Smith was inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame in 2011 for his role as drummer in the Alice Cooper Group. Besides working with Alice Cooper, Neal has also played with The Plasmatics and, Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult. Media Mikes had a chance to speak with Neal recently about his career in the music business and his new solo album titled “Kill$mith Two”

Adam Lawton: What initial sparked your interest in becoming a solo artist?
Neal Smith: The original Alice Cooper band broke up in the 70’s. After that I played in a few different bands as well as doing an album with The Plasmatics and Buck Dharma. When I was working with Buck I co-wrote the song “Born to Rock” which got play on MTV. Through the 80’s I got interested in real estate and ended up getting my real estate license in the state of Connecticut. I kept writing over this time and worked on a couple projects. One of the projects was to play some shows in Texas with Mike Bruce and Glen Buxton from the Alice Cooper band. We brought in Richie Scarlett to play as well. Sadly 6 days after the project wrapped up Glen passed away. It was around this time that I decided to finish up a lot of things I had sitting on the back burner. In 1999 I released my first solo album. The album was originally recorded in 1975 and titled “Platinum God”. I got a great response to that album and afterwards put together a group with some friends called “Cinematic”. We were doing shows in New York City and while there I saw bands like Kings X, Pigface and Tapping the Vein. These bands were playing this really hard edge industrial metal. I liked the power of the material and wanted to come up with something that had the early rebellious image of Alice Cooper along with the macabre side. In 2008 we released the first Kill$mith album titled “Sexual Savior”. I was really inspired by all these newer bands that were beyond grunge. We just released “Kill$mith Two” a couple months ago.

AL: What do you think was the hardest part of transitioning from drummer to solo artist?
NS: I have always written. Even before the Alice Cooper Group I was a stand up singer in a band. I have always sung a little bit. I have always been very comfortable in any position even though drums are my forte. It was more of a new challenge. I jumped in over my head and learned everything I could. I had some great teachers and inspiration. Things weren’t difficult but there were some challenges. I think the biggest challenge though for me is coming up with songs that I like. I am the type of writer that writes when I am inspired. I can go for months or even years without being inspired to write a song. However when I am inspired the ideas come like a tsunami. The new album features 12 really solid songs. I don’t think there is any filler on this album. Alice Cooper and producer Bob Ezrin heard the demo for a song on the new album titled “Evil Voodoo Moon” and re-wrote it for Alice’s album “Welcome to my Nightmare 2”. The song is actually the first single off that album titled “I’ll Bite Your Face Off”.

AL: How would you describe/classify the “Kill$mith Two” album?
NS: I would say it’s definitely in the super hard rock/metal category. This album has more melodic choruses than the previous album. The new album may not be for everybody but it gave me the chance to experiment with some writing on my own and create the “Kill$mith” character. I wanted both “Kill$mith” albums to have a much darker and more macabre edge which is something I feel I was very successful at.

AL: What can you tell us about the new video you just put out?
NS: I wanted to pick a song off the album that was a musician’s song. There are a lot of great players on the album and one of those was Pete Hickey. He did an amazing solo on “Squeeze like a Python” and I wanted to feature a song that was one of the better songs that I really liked. I like to play for musicians and I think this song does that. The video is very sexy and hot. There is a fantasy element that is woven in between the verses of the song. We sort of took a classic approach to making the video. I think everyone did a great job. After having the video up for close to a week now we have received 3,000 hits. I have been amazed by the response.

AL: Can you tell us what the touring plans will be for the group?
NS: We will definitely be doing more videos. That right now is really our thrust to get the word out about the band. There has been some interest in the band going to Europe to play however nothing has been confirmed. As soon as dates start to be set up they will be posted on my website www.nealsmithrocks.com

Brendon Small is the creator of the popular Adult Swim series “Metalocalypse”. Brendon is also the guitarist/vocalist for the live version of the band Dethklok. Media Mikes recently had the chance to talk with Brendon about his upcoming solo album titled “Galaktikon”.

Check out our interview with Brendon Small about Season Four of “Metalocalypse”

Adam Lawton: What can you tell us about your new album?
Brendon Small: To start with people who want to hear the album before its release can go to my website www.brendonsmall.com and sample the entire album. It’s different than I guess what I am known for at this point. I tried to coin a phrase for this album and that is “High stakes intergalactic extreme rock”. That is what this record sounds like to me. This album is a long concept album that I wanted to have different 70’s space elements. I wanted modern metal and rock sound in there also. The sounds really range from bands like Queen and ELO to Soundgarden and Smashing Pumpkins. This is something I am doing on my own time outside of Dethklok to be able to explore more melody. No influence was unwelcome during this process. Anything I felt like doing I just went and did it. I didn’t care because I wanted the album to sound like I thought it should.

AL: Can you tell us about the actual concept for “Galaktikon”?
BS: I had finished the guitars and bass for what would be the last song on the record. The track basically only had the rhythm guitars and a temporary bass track. I was improvising some vocals over the top of those and at the time still had no idea what the album was going to be about. While I was singing I thought that the song sounded like and energetic final battle chase sequence. I used some lines about a guy going to save a girl. What I was really doing was thinking about a superhero on his way to save the girl but complaining about it. The end result was what if Superman and Lois Lane had a big, messy public divorce. She left Superman but still ended up getting into trouble all the time resulting in Superman still needing to save her. Even worse than that is what if she started dating Lex Luthor? She is going to have to rebound somehow. It’s an intergalactic divorce story. Each song takes on a part of the story and it progresses throughout the album. The story is kind of obliquely written and I wanted these songs to function almost like pop songs in a way. The songs do have a meaning underneath all of this stuff.

AL: Was the initial writing process different for this album as compared to when you are writing Dethklok material?
BS: These songs are a little bit more odyssey based. The songs take a lot of twists and turns. The first song on the record titled “Trident” has somewhat of a bridge and then it takes all these left and right turns. It is all kind of melodic and makes sense on its own logic. I did however experiment with a couple odyssey composed songs on the second Dethklok album. Generally for the stuff I do with Dethklok I will go into the studio with some drum parts and work with Gene Hoagland. We sort of cut and paste his ideas and my ideas together and then I will lengthen or shorten the guitar parts in order to fit the song. Digital recording really gives you an open session where you can just mess around constantly. It is like a gigantic sketch book that you are always changing and moving things. That’s how I work. I don’t have anything fully formed when I start out. I just have energy or a tempo. When it comes to melody or vocals it’s just me experimenting on top of stuff till they start to sound right. That’s how I do guitar lines as well.

AL: From start to finish how long did this album take to complete?
BS: This was a pretty long process. I think it took about 2 years. I had the recording done around April of last year but I wanted to pick the right time to release it. I thought now would be a good time as season 4 of “Metalocalypse” is set to come out as well. I think I will get more bang for my buck releasing the show and the album at the same time. The drums were actually record back in 2009 prior to starting the second Dethklok album. The contracts weren’t finalized yet to start that record but I had everything booked already.  I would have felt like a jerk bringing all those guys in and not having any work for them. I gathering up a bunch of riffs that were written back in 2005 that I knew wouldn’t work for Dethklok and told the guys they were now working for me not the show. We did the drums and they sat on a hard drive while I went on tour and finished season 3 of the show. Once I was finished with all that stuff I realized I had spent all this money on drums and that I needed to do something with them.

AL: Is there one track that stands out above the rest for you personally?
BS: I have no objectivity with this album. I will listen to the songs and think that I would like to fix certain parts or that I like another part. I think throughout the record you can hear me starting to sing a little better. (Laughs) By the last song I think my vocals have gotten stronger. I don’t necessarily have a favorite. I do have moments that I enjoy. Really anything with a guitar moment excites me. There’s a part in the song “Dangertits” where I think I have a really great guitar tone.

AL: Any tour plans for this album?
BS: I don’t have any tour plans right now. I am going to see how the album does. This record is totally independent. I financed this thing all myself. I talked to some labels but I knew I would probably get a better deal if I did things on my own. I am pretty much going to be selling it through my website. It’s not going to be a sound scan thing so people won’t know how many copies have been sold. I will probably put it on iTunes the day of the release but all the pre-order stuff is going through my website. Whether the album succeeds or fails I have learned a lot about being an entrepreneur.

AL: Do you have any other upcoming plans?
BS: I have some projects that I am working on where I would just end up being a producer on. I can’t really talk about those unless they get picked up. There are some things that I am really excited for. There is some stuff out there that I would also love to do. First things first is I have to get this record out and season 4 of “Metalocalypse”. There is going to be a whole bunch of cool announcements coming out related to the show. That stuff will probably keep me busy for awhile. I am a very lucky guy in that I have gotten to do what I want with the people at Adult Swim. They are great people and give me a lot of creative freedom.

Tyrone Wells is a singer/songwriter who has had music featured on television shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy” and “One Tree Hill”. Tyrone recently released his 8^th studio album titled “Where We Meet”. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Tyrone about his new album.

Adam Lawton: Can you give us an overview of the new album?
Tyrone Wells: “Where We Meet” is my first full length release since being on Universal Records. This is an independent release which allowed for a lot of freedom. I wasn’t forced to write something that the label thought was suitable for their purposes. It was more about what I felt like releasing. The whole thing was very freeing. I took about 2 years to make the album as I wanted the songs to be something I could stand behind. I initially wrote about 80 songs over the last two years to be considered for the album. I actually recorded 23 or 24. The songs that weren’t used for the album will most likely be released on and EP sometime this year. I have loved being indie again. It’s like coming back home as it is similar to what I was doing prior to signing with Universal.

AL: How did you go about narrowing down the 12 songs that appear on the album from the initial 80 you had written?
TW: I work real closely with my manager. When I write a song I will often do a simple vocal/guitar demo. I will then send it to him and a few other people I trust to have them weigh the song. If I really feel like fighting for a song I just stick to my guns and record the song. I do like having ears to bounce ideas off of because I could think a song is really great while others may not think the same. It’s good for me to have the process that I do.

AL: How do the new songs compare to some of your previous works?
TW: You kind of never know. You have to release it and see just how it does. I am a good finisher in that if I start something I make sure it’s completed. It’s good to be disciplined like that. It makes it a lot easier to critique when you are hearing something in its finished state. As far as a difference from my previous work I am not sure as the new songs are basically acoustic guitar and vocals. If they were fully produced I am unsure what type of life the songs would take on.

AL: What can you tell us about your YouTube channel?
TW: I actually have been a little bit slow to use YouTube. When I started doing music it wasn’t even around yet. We are really starting to see how important it is. It’s fun to be able to throw some stuff up on there. I recorded 4 or 5 of the songs live on the album and we have video of that on the channel. I think it’s a good tool to get your music out there.

AL: Are you planning on touring off of the new album?
TW: We have a big tour planned. We start at the South by South West festival in March. From there we are doing a 2 week long west coast run. After a week or so break we will be heading back out to tour the rest of the country. I think we are playing somewhere around 42 dates. We should be visiting just about every major market.

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Sean Danielsen is the lead vocalist/guitarist for the band Smile Empty Soul. The band has recently signed with eOne Records to release a new studio album titled “3’s”. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Sean about the band and their new album.

Adam Lawton: What can we expect from the band’s new album?
Sean Danielsen: The album is called “3’s” and we are releasing it via eOne. The album will be available May 22^nd and it is definitely mine and the bands favorite record thus far. The album is more mature and a little more developed. The album is also a little heavier but still has a melody. It’s very musical and fun to play.

AL: Did the band take any different approaches to the writing/recording process?
SD: We pretty much took the same approach that we always do. The songs are different in a lot of ways as they are very guitar riff orientated and progressive. This wasn’t really on purpose or anything but it was more so about what was coming out right now. We recorded very similar to how we did our last album “Consciousness”. We worked with producer Eddie Wohl again as we feel he really gets the band and we have a great process with him.

AL: Will there be a video to go along with the albums single?
SD: We are gearing up to do a video for the first single possibly next month. The first single is called “Afterlife” and we have a really cool treatment that we want to get made. I think it’s going to be great if we can get it all done.

AL: How do you think the band has evolved since its start?
SD: We have all changed so much as both people and as a band. I would have to say that everything is different about us now. We are completely different from when we first started putting out albums back in 2003.

AL: What have you noticed as the biggest change in the industry since the band has been together?
SD: The industry has changed just as much as we have if not more. When we released our first record it was still the tail end of what I guess could be called the glory days. Napster had come out and killed some album sales but the economy was still ok and records were still selling at about half of what they had sold previously. Now everything has been turned completely on its head. It’s a lot more bare bones and low budget. There is a lot of do it yourself type things and social media going on. It’s a strange and always changing industry.

AL: What will be the tour plans for the album?
SD: We have a spring tour booked that stars in May and will go to about mid June. We have 38 dates booked into about 40 or so days. We will be doing a nationwide swoop basically. The Veer Union and a band called Iownya will be heading out with us. The tour is being presented by Jagermeister and it should be a lot of fun. There also have been talks of doing a late summer tour with Fuel. I think the summer is going to be really great.

Sully Erna is the lead singer for the band Godsmack. The band is currently touring as part of the Mass Chaos tour featuring Staind and Halestorm. Media Mikes had a chance to be a part of a teleconference with Sully to discuss the tour and the bands new live album.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about the current trend of multi-headlining band tour?
Sully Erna: Yeah. You know what? It’s really not that different than how it used to be back in the day. There was always at least two strong bands that went out and obviously a third or a fourth, even back in the ’80’s when it was Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe or whatever. I don’t think this is really that uncommon. I think that question is maybe more geared towards festivals where it takes seven, eight bands to fill up an amphitheater or whatever.

AL: What can fans expect from the live shows on this tour?
SE: Well, we’re not supporting, like, a new studio record, but we do have a live CD coming out. We are known to be a live band so it was nice to capture that finally and put together this CD. I think we just have the mentality of going out for something similar to a greatest hits tour. We’re just going to put together a really fun set. Obviously we’ll have the drum battle that Shannon and I do and we’re just going to try to put together the best and most energetic songs we can. This is actually kind of a vacation for us a in the sense there’s no real hard work behind prepping for a new record and all that stuff. This is kind of let loose and have fun with it tour.

AL: Is there a plan in regards to which band will be closing the show each night? And is there any possibility of onstage collaboration between any of the three bands?
SE: I feel like either band could close. All three bands are strong. The whole line-up is great. Any single one of these bands could go on first, second, or third; it wouldn’t matter. I mean, the whole package is really strong and I’m really excited about it. As far as collaborating, Mike and I  have spoken about it. We’re going to try to figure out a handful of songs that a bunch of us could jump up and just have some fun with a band of the night, which we’re all about. And so we don’t know what those are yet, but we’re definitely going to consider it and we’re going to try to put something together that just tops the night off and becomes fun for everybody.

AL: How do you prepare your voice prior to going on on tour?
SE: I do nothing. I swear to God. I’m not even saying that to be funny. I do nothing; I may sing along to the radio a little bit but then again I don’t really qualify myself as an amazing singer. I go up there and hack it up with everyone else. I do drink a lot of tequila before I go on stage, though. That’s not a lie. It bring out all the phlegm. The vocal warm-ups don’t work for me, so it’s either tequila or something and then it brings out all the crap that’s in the throat.

AL: I know you’re doing both solo shows and shows with Godsmack this spring. Has it been hard preparing stuff for both types of settings, because they are quite different from each other?
SE: It depends as I am doing three different things. The Avalon thing was a lot more complicated because it’s an eight-piece ensemble and I had musicians from all over the world. I have cello players from Bulgaria and one of my percussionists is from Ireland, and that’s a lot more complicated, a lot more work is involved, but I haven’t been doing that lately. If anything, I’m just doing some solo shows by myself, just to keep my voice warm and it’s one of those things that I enjoy doing as well. But there’s no competition with Godsmack or anything like that, and I enjoy doing both. So, it’s really not that complicated to just go out and play a few side shows here and there, just to stay in tune. I’m really preparing for this tour. I mean, I’m looking forward to getting together with the guys and just firing up this show, because we haven’t really done anything in a little bit.

AL: Could you tell us a little bit more about the new Godsmack live album?
SE: It’s a live record from Detroit, Rock City. We thought it was just kind of a very exceptional show for us. We had a really good show. We were recording a lot on that tour. We actually recorded the whole tour. We were going to do a compilation, like this song was from Vegas, a song from Chicago, some from Dallas, but I don’t know, the more we looked in this Detroit show and the more we figured out that it was a really good show for us. It’s a special kind of fan base that they have there. They live up to their reputation. They’re a great rock audience so that’s where the record was recorded from.

AL: Your lyrics span a broad spectrum from a very deep and thought-provoking to a more direct and in your face. What type of prep do you do to take yourself from one level to another?
SE: I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about that. I guess it depends if I’m going from Godsmack to the solo stuff and it’s a completely different world, but within Godsmack genre, it’s all kind of the same. The band’s fairly aggressive, loud and raw so it’s pretty easy to stay there. I need to kind of separate the two for sure, because one’s very different from the other, but I need balance to both. I need to be one in order to be the other so I think the stuff I do as Sully Erna is the more serene kind of humble stuff and then Godsmack is obviously for Godsmack. There’s really no set preparation I do. It is what it is. I just can’t blend the two together. I couldn’t do a bunch of Godsmack songs and then switch right into solo stuff; it wouldn’t work. But I don’t, like, sit Indian style and float in the air, if that’s what you mean

AL: Can you give me an idea of what it’s like working with Shannon Larkin and what he brings to the band?
SE: I am probably Shannon’s biggest cheerleader. I have known since 1986/87. We met when we were both drumming in different bands and we did a bunch of shows together and probably he was the first and only guy since that made my jaw hit the floor when I watched him play. If you’ve seen Shannon, you know what I mean. He’s the most animated – he’s just amazing. Like, to me, he’s probably the best showman drummer I’ve ever seen. He’s got a great energy about him. He’s a really super great guy. He’s got a great heart and he’s real considerate. On stage he’s a monster; he’s so not what he is offstage. He’s been one of my idols and I’m really proud and grateful to have him in this band. He was my first choice and he wasn’t available when I first reached out to him when I started the band. Years later when we decided to let go of our drummer, I reached out to him just one more time. He had just happened to leave his band and he was going to give it up. He was pretty much hanging it all up. Shannon’s a great guy, man. He’s a great drummer and, I don’t know, I can’t say enough about him.

AL: Are you working on any new Godsmack material?
SE: We’re hoping for 2013. We just started listening to some ideas. It’s still very, very, early in that stage, so we’re not sure yet, but we are going to shoot for 2013 sometime.

AL: You guys have toured with so many great bands in the past is there any musician’s that you have still yet to meet but haven’t had the chance?
SE: Yeah, the guys from AC/DC I haven’t met yet. I think they would be fun. I met most of the people that I’ve been inspired by over the years and we’ve toured with most of them as well, but AC/DC is one of the bands I haven’t met; Brian Johnson or Angus Young. I think that would be great to meet them. They are one of the last bands that I would want to actually tour with, but I’m afraid of them. They’re too bad. I hear the guitar tech gets a bigger applause when he bring Angus’ guitar out and puts it on the stand than the opening acts do. It’s true!

Brendon Small
“Galaktikon”
Producer: Ulrich Wild
Tracks: 9

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Galaktikon” is the first solo release from “Metalocalypse” master mind Brendon Small. Produced by Ulrich Wild “Galaktikon” is a concept album based around a superhero’s divorce and the subsequent kidnapping of his ex-wife. Each of the nine tracks are arranged so that the listener can follow along on this space themed musical adventure.

Being a fan of Brendon’s work in Dethklok I was very anxious to hear this album. Along with Small are Dethklok alums Gene Hoglan and Bryan Beller. Together the three provide some very in-depth and technical arrangements that are quite a bit different than the ear splitting, guttural tracks the group is primarily know for. Each of the album’s 9 tracks feature some really great melodic elements that I feel will help the album appeal to a broader audience. Tracks such as “Beastblade” feature heavy instrumentation with a unique blend of echo infused vocals. While the track “You Can’t Run Away” feels like a metal infused psychedelic odyssey cranked way beyond 11.

Brendon Small’s album “Galaktikon” will surely feel right at home next to your “Dethklok” and other metal albums. However you do not need to be a fan of Small’s previous work to appreciate this album. Personally I would have liked to have heard a duet with Small and his character Nathan Explosion as that I think would have put this album over the top. One can only hope that we will be privy to something of that magnitude in the near future. If you are looking for something heavy but without the cookie cutter layout of modern metal bands then do yourself a favor and pick up this album.

Track Listing:
1.) Triton
2.) Prophecy of the Lazer Witch
3.) Beastblade
4.) Deathwaltz
5.) Truth Orb and the Kill Pool
6.) You Can’t Run Away
7.) Arena War of the Immortal Masters
8.) Dangertits
9.) On My Way

The Cult
“Choice of Weapon”
Producer: Chris Gross/Bob Rock
Cooking Vinyl
Tracks: 14

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“Choice of Weapon” is the latest release from the British rock band The Cult. The album is the bands ninth studio album and is the follow up to the 2007 album “Born into This”. “Choice of Weapon” is being released via Cooking Vinyl and features 10 brand new tracks produced by Chris Gross and Bob Rock.

After being pushed from its originally scheduled 2011 release date The Cult’s “Choice of Weapon” is finally here! Each of the 14 songs on the album are perfectly crafted and feature lush musical arrangements making this album a really great listen. Singer Ian Astbury’s Jim Morrison esc vocals provide an eerie yet beautiful feel to the multi layered instrumentation. The albums opening track “Honey from a Knife” is a straight forward rocker that sets the stage beautifully for what is to come. Tracks such as “The Night in the City Forever” and “Wilderness Now” take you on a soothing sonic journey where you can almost envision what is being described in the lyrics.

This album was surely worth the wait. The band sounds phenomenal and producers Chris Gross and Bob Rock did a great job capturing the energy of the band and I think each of the 14 tracks really showcases everyone efforts. I did find that the album took a few listens through before it really grabbed hold but once it did it didn’t let go. I found myself putting the album on repeat as the tracks never seemed to get old or tiresome. Both diehard and casual Cult listeners will enjoy this album.

Track Listing:
1.) Honey from a Knife
2.) Elemental Light
3.) The Wolf
4.) Life>Death
5.) For the Animals
6.) Amnesia
7.) Wilderness Now
8.) Lucifer
9.) A Pale Horse
10.) The Night in the City Forever
11.) Every Man and Woman is a Star
12.) Embers
13.) Until the Light Takes us Away
14.) Siberia

To order your copy of “Choice of Weapon” head over to www.amazon.com or the Apples iTunes store.