Here Comes Basherpalooza...

Music festivals have been a mainstay of summer in Europe for years and now the U.S. is finally starting to catch on to the idea. Rocklahoma, South Texas Rockfest, Dakota Rock Fest, and of course the biggest flop of the year Rock Gone Wild and I'm sure there were countless others I'm missing. But if you could start your own festival who would you have in the lineup? Now instead of a four day festival let's stick with one day so you have about 16 hours for the bands to play. The line-up has to be bands that are actually together and touring so no raising Bon, Jimi, or Janice from the dead and I am pretty sure your little festival is not not going to have enough startup cash to reunite Led Zeppelin so they are out the window. It doesn't matter what genres you use because it's your festival you can pick almost any act you want so if you want George Strait following GWAR it's ok with me. So let me see who you got....

Without a doubt Basherpalooza would be the biggest event to ever hit Amarillo, TX, other than a natural disaster that is.

Opening everything up for me would be Cockpit these 4 ladies from Hollywood are guaranteed to get everyone in a kick ass rock 'n roll mood. Badmouth would be next and the first of six Scandinavian bands in my line-up, cause anyone who knows me I am all about the Scandinavian bands. Heaven's Basement would be 3rd on my bill, but I would hope they would play at least 3 Roadstar songs which probably wouldn't happen, but they would still tear the house down anyways. Baltimore's Charm City Devils would follow, I would definitely ty to give them a little more time onstage then they are getting on Cruefest 2 so they could throw in some Child's Play songs into the set too, maybe John could get Mitch Allan to stop by and they could throw in a couple of SR-71 songs too. Along with CCD, the Last Vegas are one of the best new bands to come along in a while, I am pretty sure complete mayhem would ensue when these Chicago boys hit the stage. Hopefully Gemini Five would have a complete line-up so they could make the show, but these guys would definitely put on a hell of a show getting everyone ready for the big guns to hit the stage. Just in case CCD didn't give everyone a big enough fix of AC/DC inspired rock then I am pretty damn sure Rhino Bucket could finish the job, especially with the tracks off their new album "the Hardest Town".

Well we would have to have an intermission before the next band took the stage to set up the stripper poles and get all the Scottsdale girls ready for "the Hardest Band In The Land" Big Cock to blow everyone away (no pun intended) with some Bump 'n Grind, Get A Load of Me, & Bad Motherfucker. Hopefully they would be hard at work on their new album share would some new songs too. Hardcore Superstar would have their hands full trying to follow Big Cock but I'm pretty sure these Swedes are up to the task especially with the songs from "Beg For It". The Poodles would definitely be a change of pace especially after Big Cock and HCS but no doubt they would kick ass nonetheless and finally fans in the states would get to see one of the best bands around today. I've probably seen Cinderella more than any other band around but no matter if it is in a stadium or a club they have never disappointed me, always put on a kick ass show and I'm sure Basherpalooza would be no different. Much like the Poodles, Gotthard may not be a big name band in the U.S. but they are huge in Europe and if "Made In Switzerland" is any indication they would have the crowd eating out of their hands in a matter of minutes.

Basherpalooza would definitely have to save the best for last with co-headliners. Even if I was selfish it would still take a flip of the coin to see which headliner would close the show because these last 2 bands are among my all-time favorites, but if I went by popularity in the U.S. then D.A.D. would have to take the stage first, it is a shame these Danish ass kickers are not bigger in the states 13 albums or so and they have NEVER disappointed me absolutely one of the best bands in the world hands down.

Finally hitting the stage to wrap up a front to back kick ass day would be the Cult, they were my very first concert back in the day at UNO Lake Front Arena with Guns 'N Roses as the opening act and though I have seen them a couple of times since I will never forget the first time and how awesome they were live.

There you have Basherpalooza from beginning to end. Let me know what you think of my line-up and let me know what your's would be.

'Til next time catch you on the Flip Side

Addicting...

My name is Brian and I am a Twitterholic...actually fiending junkie may be a better description. I can't believe I am saying this but it is true. In fact, my addiction is so bad I think I actually have withdrawals!! My mornings used to start out with the usual wake up, hit the bathroom, then a cup of coffee or six (after washing my hands, of course), check my email and hardrockhideout.com and then go on about my day. NOOOOO not anymore!!! Now it is more like wake up, RUN to my computer and see what I missed on Twitter from the night before, post my plans for the day, my playlists, tease a certain other blogger, which by the way can read here Hell On High Heels, then I go on about my day but not without updating everyone throughout the day. Last week I got online and Twitter was down and I was absolutely lost, I had no idea what to do. An unnamed friend who I talk to on a constant basis was online and the first thing we said to each other....Good Morning (No)....Hey What's Up? (No)...the very first thing we said is Can You Get On Twitter?

Of all things on the internet Twitter may be the best invention yet (Can we really call it an invention?) I can follow my favorite well known and not so well known celebrities of all types (though I have yet to find Lucy Liu on Twitter), they can follow me if they chose (which blows my mind that famous and semi-famous people actually give a damn about what I have to say), I can leave messages for friends without having to type out a whole email, and post links to my reviews and interviews.

Of course with all that is good about Twitter there has to be some bad too, like the fact that I don't speak or type in the language of txt, and I have Twitter Pornbots and other scammers and spammers trying to follow me but those problems are easy enough to live with.

Who do I have to thank for my Twitter Addiction?? Ashton Kutchner of all people before his little contest with CNN I didn't have a clue what Twitter even was. So would I be better off without Twitter? Probably Would I be having as much fun without it? That's debatable but the bottom line is TWITTER IS AWESOME!!! I'm a proud Twitter junkie as my unnamed friend said "I would rather be addicted to something like music or Twitter than to something that is going to kill me."

Oh by the way, you can follow me if you so desire @brianbasher Tweet you later Tweeples

New Beginnings Again

Yes it's been a while since I posted anything and even longer since it was something interesting. But I finally got the hell out of Alaska and back down to the lower 48. Don't get me wrong Alaska was cool (no pun intended) but living on an island with 35 miles of paved road, a McDonald's, 2 Subways, and a Wal-Mart gets old after a little while and 6 years is definitely too long.

So I am ready to start again, in more ways than one, but as far as Wasted Rock Ranger is concerned you will definitely start seeing more posts than before. I'm finding I have even more that I want to talk about. Hope everyone hangs around for the trip.

Apologies

I just wanted to take a few minutes to whoever may read this to apologize for not posting anything new in the last few months. If I could sit here and rant and share my sarcasm about the so-called music industry everyday there is nothing I would love more, but unfortunately because life gets in the way more times than not. I'm not talking about life in general but the b.s. that life gives us and over the past year I have had more than my fair share of b.s.

But fortunately things are starting to look up, I am finally getting ready to move back down to the lower 48 and the real world. Even though I am leaving my family behind for 2 months and I am scared shitless about finding a new house, a job and starting school, I know it is the right thing to do. There is absolutely no way I can do the things I want to do with the rest of my life by staying here in Ketchikan, AK. So West Texas A&M and Amarillo here I come hope you're ready for me.

Once I'm there, if things go according to plan HRH may finally get our own radio show, bringing even more people to the best hard rock website on the internet. If and when it happens I will let you know the time, date, and link so you can have a listen and let me know what you think.

On a musical note, if you looking for a new band to check out you have to give Swedish rockers the Poodles "Clash of the Elements" a shot, this album is absolutely amazing!! Barring any unforescene miracles this will be my album of the year when 2009 is said and done. Any fans of Queen, Scorpions, and Gotthard MUST HAVE this album.

Wish me luck and I will catch you on the flipside.

the Sad State of Music Today

Maybe it's because I am old (38 is ancient just ask my son he will tell you) and my memory is starting to fail or rock stars just aren't as memorable as they used to be. Back in the day I could tell you the lineup and what instruments people played for just about any hard rock band out at the time whether it was superstar bands like Motley Crue, Ratt, Poison etc etc or lesser known bands like Asphalt Ballet, Shotgun Messiah, Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies, Babylon A.D. and so on and so forth. I could pretty much give you the band's entire bio back then.

If you asked me to name the members of the big bands today I wouldn't have the foggiest idea. I could tell you one person's name from Nickelback, Chad Kroeger that's it. I can name two members of Hinder, Cody Hanson, that is because I interviewed him for hardrockhideout.com and Austin Winkler simply because I've always wondered if he is related to the Fonz in someway. I can name two people from Buckcherry, Josh Todd and Keith Nelson and that is it, and my band knowledge is pretty much zilch. I could probably tell you some basic shit but not the little nuggets of information like I could in the past. The sad thing is I consider myself a fan of these bands more so towards Hinder and Buckcherry.

Two bands I could name the members of right now are Badmouth and Heaven's Basement because IMO these are the two most kick ass bands out right now. Other than that if my life depended on me naming the members of a popular band today....you might as well just shoot me and get it over with.

I know I may be beating a dead dog here but not only are the bands today not memorable but the music isn't either. I already admitted I listen to it but I am finding that I am spending less and less money on new North American bands and more money on European bands, especially Swedish, and bands from the past that I may have overlooked the first time or didn't actually like then but love now. Maybe I'm crazy but I would rather spend $25.00 or more on a 20 yr old used cut out c.d. than spend $15.00 on a new c.d.

It really explains the sad state of music today when Johnny Crash's "Neighbourhood Threat" sounds better today than 90% of the albums record companies are releasing now or when Gypsy Rose's "Poisoned By Love" means more to me than just about any song that has been released in the last 10 years.

15 albums that changed my life

My fellow blogger and Hard Rock Hideout contributor Christine Sixx recently listed her 15 life changing albums at www.hardrockhideout.com even though I listed my albums it wouldn't let me post the reasons why so I decided to post them here, I think it actually ended up being 18. I would also like to thank Christine for posting her blog because as I was thinking about the albums for this list it brought back a lot of memories and a few laughs. So for better or for worse here they are...

1.       Rhinestone Cowboy – Glen Campbell, Photographs & Memories - Jim Croce, Sugar Sugar: Greatest Hits – the Archies. These 3 albums were my first memories of hearing music and my introduction to music.

2.       Destroyer – Kiss; There is, was, and never will be a greater way to be introduced to hard rock than to hear the opening lines of “Detroit Rock City” and go all the way to the end with “Do You Love Me” as I am hanging out with my older cousin and his friends at my first real party. I was like 8 or 9 at the time. Man what a great babysitter Danny was!!

3.       Double Fantasy – John Lennon;  Not counting the songs sung by Yoko Ono this album is one of the very few I would call perfection. The songs Lennon sung were/are absolutely incredible. It lead me to discover the Beatles this album changed my life in more ways than one and still inspires me every time I hear it.

4.       In Through The Out Door – Led Zeppelin; O.K. I may have been somewhat of a late bloomer as far as music is concerned but when you grow up in rural Arkansas and only have one rock station that you can pick up on only the most perfect conditions doesn’t really help a lot so you make with what you have. The first time I heard this album at my friend’s house I was absolutely floored.

5.       Back In Black – AC/DC; Much like Kiss and Led Zeppelin at the time I had never heard anything like this before, it just floored me the first time I heard it playing.

6.       Beauty & the Beat – the Go-Go’s; One reason and one reason only I was 11 yrs old and I thought Jane Wieldin was the sexiest woman alive.

7.       No Protection – Starship; As sad as it may seem I actually have a good reason for this one being on my list. My girlfriend at the time loved the song “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” and I ended up losing my virginity to the album and that song. Awww memories

8.       Look What The Cat Dragged In – Poison;  Walked into a Camelot Record store heard this playing asked them who it was and bought it right on the spot. I had never seen anything like the band before in my life I didn’t have a clue if they were girls or guys or what but loved the music I heard. My introduction to glam and the Sunset Strip music scene.

9.       Sonic Temple – the Cult; Another example of album perfection everything about this album kicks ass and just oozes coolness

10.   Somewhere Between Heaven & Hell – Social Distortion; As hard rock was getting pushed out the door in the early 90’s Social D was one of the first bands I found that wasn’t from Seattle or wearing flannel that still played balls out rock n’ roll.

11.   Operation Mindcrime – Queensryche; I was already a Queensryche fan when this was released but I had never heard a concept album as great as this one. I still hope someone will come along with the balls to make this into a movie it could be absolutely awesome.

12.   Appetite for Destruction – Guns N’ Roses; I do not have enough fingers or toes to count the ways this album changed not only hard rock but music as a whole. Sex, Drugs, Rock N’ Roll, and Rebellion all tied up into one of the greatest albums ever.

13.   A Bit of What You Fancy – the Quireboys – This album made me go back and rediscover the Rolling Stones, the Faces, & old Rod Stewart and actually listen to what they had to say and finally appreciate their music the way it deserves to be appreciated.

14.   No Fuel Left For The Pilgrims – D.A.D.; To this day one of my favorite bands and one of the most underappreciated bands of all time.

15.   Three Dollar Bill Ya’ll – Limp Bizkit; This album and band made me give up MTV forever and because everyone was calling this crap metal it made me ashamed to be a metal head. Because of this album I hated almost any band that was called “Rap Metal” or “Nu Metal”. On the other hand it made me go out and look for new hard rock and metal bands instead of depending on the chain stores to get my music.

Intermission

Yes I know it has been a while since I posted something new. But believe me I am nowhere near finished with my rantings and ravings about music and life in general so stay tuned I will have something up soon I promise. Until then please visit my fellow ranter Christine Sixx at http://hellonhighheels.blogspot.com/ when she wrote her newest blog it absolutely hit the nail on the head about the music scene today.

But if reading is not your forte I have posted the Youtube link for the first official video from one of my favorite new bands known as Badmouth. I have talked to bassist Chris LeMon on several occasions and the dude absolutely rocks, first class all the way and I am glad to call him a friend. Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSNrZcj0Zq4

Blame It On Danny

Luckily for me Alaska is a big state or else I would already have a lynch mob breaking down my doors for this post. Why do you ask? Well because today I am going to talk about possible reasons why I dislike Rush and Pink Floyd so much. 

There could be any number of reasons I dislike these particular two bands so much, maybe it was because I was bludgeoned to death by their music from the only rock station in my area, Magic 105, when I growing up. But this very same station also bludgeoned me with Led Zepplin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Kiss and I think these are 3 of the greatest bands ever so that theory is out the window. 

Could the blame be laid at the feet of my cousin, Danny, because he introduced me to Kiss instead of Floyd or Rush at an young and impressionable age? Now this theory has some possibilities because God knows once I was introduced to Kiss everything else went out the window. I lived, ate, breathed, slept Kiss from the first time I heard the opening lines of "Detroit Rock City" until their infamous unmasking on MTV. Yes, very possible we will leave this option open.

Maybe it is my own fault because I am a teen of the 80's who fully embraced the excess of the time and the sex, drugs, and rock n' roll lifestyle. Honestly can anyone tell me that songs like "Tom Sawyer" or "Learning To Fly" made you want to grab a six pack, crank the stereo up, and make out with a hot girl in the backseat? But on the other hand "Looks That Kill", "Girls Got Rhythm", & "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" made me want to do those things and more.

It could be that I am just to simple to understand the surreal lyrics and intricate music from these two bands. I admit that songs like "Shook Me All Night Long" and "She Wants Money" don't really require an English major to tell me what the songs were about. Whereas I have no freaking clue what Geddy Lee is singing about in "Distant Early Warning". But then again it has always been my understanding that rock n' roll was about having a good time, rebellion and escaping the trials and tribulations of life. If I wanted to think and ponder I probably would have paid more attention in school than I did instead of thinking about getting a six pack and the new cute freshman after school.

Maybe it could be something as simple as their music has never moved me in ways like Skynyrd, Kiss, Motley Crue, or any number of other bands have. Now don't get me wrong both bands are extremely accomplished musicians and I wish I had a quarter of their talent. If I did maybe I would be a well known musician today.

We may never know the exact reason why I do not like Rush or Pink Floyd, which is probably better for me because if a lynch mob does ever come for me I will have plenty of excuses to go through before they try to string me up and burn my house down.

Of course, we could just always blame Danny, he will never know anyways.

Warner Idiots

Universal Music is going to make tens if not hundreds of millions  of dollars from Youtube this year. So here is a question for you...how stupid can Warner Brothers really be? Because they can't come to an agreement with Youtube about royalities they force Youtube to remove all music and videos off the website of WB artists.  What they can't be happy with the millions they are already making off youtube? With all the music industry bitching and whining about how the business is going down the drain due to this and that you would think they would be happy with whatever money they could make. 

But no these greedy money hungry asses aren't. Youtube is probably the biggest promotion tool record companies have going for them these days. Not only for new acts but catalog acts as well, since MTV doesn't play actual videos anymore and VH1, MTV2 and Fuse are all following right behind them playing less and less videos. I remember back in the day when bands would spend thousands of dollars on videos and MTV wouldn't even play them and if they did the bands didn't make any money off videos getting played.

I really wish someone would slap all of record company presidents upside their fatheads until they could finally see the light because if anyone is pushing customers out the door and on to other ways of getting music it is the record companies themselves with their medival ways of doing business. Yes the internet is kicking their ass because they still haven't learned to embrace the internet for what it is and take advantage of it and it is going to keep doing the same thing until they get their collective heads out of their asses, stop bitching and whining and fix the problems they helped make with outrageous c.d. prices, shutting down internet radio stations, and everything else they have done. They bitch and moan and moan and bitch but they are the morons that keep shooting themselves in the ass, simply by not doing the right thing for their customers.

Unfortunately record companies have made a lot of money off me because no matter what I am going to support the bands that I like. But you can bet your ass that once bands figure out how to sell their music without the record companies being involved I am going to be the first in line. Because there is no business I want to see fail more than record companies, once they are out of the picture then real musicians will finally get the respect they deserve for the music they create instead of the crap we are force fed from people who wouldn't know a real musician if they walked up and kicked them in the balls.

First Post

Ok here I go...my first post and to be honest I have no idea what this blog is going to be about. At first I thought it would be about strictly music and how the music industry sucks and it still might be. But despite what my lovely wife may think there is more to my life than music so from time to time I may spead my wings to bitch about other things going on in the world. I think everyone can agree that there is plenty in the world to bitch about. 

So I guess I should explain the rules here first and foremost whether you agree or disagree with me please feel free to leave a comment. I'm a big guy I can handle everyone's opinions I will either agree with your point of view or tell you to go screw yourself that simple. Secondly I am writing my opinion so very rarely will I use facts, statistics, he said/she said, this and that or whatever. Just to let whoever may read this know I am a retired sailor and I cuss A LOT even when typing so if that bothers you this may not be the blog for you, other than that Have fun.