The Michael Olivieri Band Releases New Video and Single

The Michael Olivieri Band, also known as The M.O.B. have released their debut single entitled "Broken Glass" on iTunes as well as a video for the single. The video was directed by Karl Leslie Willis.


The Michael Olivieri Band will release their debut album "M.O.B." on December 21st via iTunes and pre-orders for their debut album will be taken in the coming days. The album was Produced by Michael Olivieri and Mixed by Kevin Beamish (produced acts such as Foreigner, Saxon, Keel, Leatherwolf, and the supergroup Contraband).


The Michael Olivieri Band is:
Michael Olivieri (Leatherwolf)
K.K. Martin (A La Carte, Shark Island)
Buzzy James (Laidlaw)
Tom Croucier (Vanilla Fudge & the brother of ex-Ratt bassist Juan Croucier)
Paul Wilson
Dan Lucett
Eric Von Herzen





iTunes Single available at:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/broken ... d483706873

Band website:
https://www.facebook.com/MichaelOlivieriBand

Interview with Eric Sardinas 08-19-2011

Here is the interview I conducted with Eric Sardinas on 08/19/2011 at Cartoon's Oyster Bar in Springfield, MO.



Check out the new album "Sticks & Stones" from Eric Sardinas & Big Motor due out September 13th on Mascot Label Group!!

Eric Sardinas & Big Motor's Website

Eric Sardinas' Mascot Label Group Page

R.I.P. Jani Lane 1964-2011

Tonight, I received word of the passing of former Warrant frontman Jani Lane!  I'm shocked and saddened beyond belief as Jani was one of the coolest people I'd ever met in this music business!  I wanted to pay tribute to him by sharing my memories of the 1st time I met him!  I'd recently been in contact w/ Jani about doing a new interview to focus on his upcoming solo release, his long overdue Jabberwocky project and how he had recently conquered his battle with addiction!  Sadly, I stare at the list of questions I had prepared for my fourth interview with Jani!!


I've been a fan of Jani since I discovered Warrant's music in 1988.  I had the pleasure of seeing him live many times over the years and finally got to meet him in 2007 when he performed a solo show in Wichita Kansas.  I was fortunate enough to land an interview with him before the show, what happened next I would have never dreamed of.......


Here is a recap of that night from my MySpace blog on July 16, 2007!!!  Also at the bottom of this blog are links to the three (3) interviews I did with Jani! 

Howdy Doody Folks!! I am writing to tell ya of one of the greatest experiences to ever happen in my 29 years on this big blue marble....it occurred yesterday, July 12th, 2007 in Wichita, Kansas & was courtesy of Jani Lane & The Formerly Of's.....For those who aren't aware of who Jani Lane is....Jani Lane WAS the lead singer and main songwriter for multi-platinum recording artists WARRANT and had such hits as "Heaven", "Cherry Pie", "I Saw Red", and my all-time favorite "Uncle Tom's Cabin"!!

He left WARRANT in 2004 to pursue a solo career, releasing his debut solo album "Back Down To One" the previous year!!


Anywho, Jani and his amazing band, "The Formerly Of's....hit Wichita with a fury!! His band consists of (left to right) bassist Chad MacDonald, Keyboardist Shawn Zavodney, Jani Lane, former Warrant drummer (2000-2003) Mike "The Sack" Fasano, and 17 year old guitar phenom Dario Lorina!!





Jani was kind enough to grant me a pre-show interview....anyways, not to get ahead of myself! So, I arrived at JC's House of Rock in Wichita @ 3:30pm per Jani's invitation to watch the band soundcheck!! The band went through WARRANT classics such as "32 Pennies", "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and "Heaven"!! After a few post-soundcheck adjustments to equipment, I joined Jani in the bar for our interview!! I was nervous as hell being it was my 1st "LIVE" interview and the fact that Jani's ALWAYS been a hero of mine since my sister and her ex-husband turned me onto them in 1989!! Thanx to my pal Josh for videotaping the interview!!


I'd never had the pleasure of meeting Jani and I'd seen WARRANT numerous times over the years.....I'd met most current and former members of the band but never the man responsibile for their success!! Jani was very honest, candid, humerous and all-to forthcoming during the interview!! I am in the process of transcribing it for public consumption, it should be available at www.sleazeroxx.com within the coming weeks!!


Post-interview we led Jani and band to Guitar Center per their request!! Josh and I left to grab a bite to eat, than headed back to the venue. While waiting at the venue we had the pleasure of watching the Navy Blue Angels practicing for this weekend air show in Wichita, since McConnell AFB is just south of the club! Approx 30 minutes later Jani and band assistant Bob C. arrived, we made our way back into the club where at Jani's request I set up the merchandise booth where I was to sell the bands wears before, during and after the show!!


Local band TAINTED www.myspace.com/taintedks opened the show with a variety of cover tunes (Poison, Dokken, Stone Temple Pilots,and Alice In Chains to name a few) and original tunes, my favorite being "Love & Crazy". After their set, I helped Bob C. prepare for the impending ass-kicking known as Jani Lane & The Formerly Of's LIVE!


The band is amazingly tight, Jani is on top of his vocal and frontman game like I had never seen before, and his guitarist, 17 year old guitar phenom, Dario Lorina, is every bit (...and than some!!) the guitar stud that Richie Kotzen, Jason Becker, Zakk Wylde, and George Lynch were proclaimed to be at that age......He will be a force to reckon with in the coming years, MARK MY WORDS! 


Below is the set list:
01. Train Train (Blackfoot Cover)
02. Down Boys
03. D.R.F.S.R.
04. Machine Gun
05. 32 Pennies
06. Heaven
07. I Saw Red
08. Hole In My Wall
09. So Damn Pretty (Should Be Against The Law)
10. Dario's Solo
11. Mr. Rainmaker
12. Uncle Tom's Cabin (complete with the only 'Spinal Tap' moment of the evening when jani busted a string during the intro, only to borrow Dario's axe than pass it back when the tune kicked into overdrive!!)
13. Cherry Pie
14. Big Talk


The band took a short break, returning to take pics with the fans and sign autographs at the merch table!! Thanks to Bob, Jani and the band for truely making me feel like one of the "Down Boys" that entire evening!! See ya down the road.................


The band tearin' it up LIVE!!





Me and the band minus Chad who disappeared while waiting for Mike, go figure!



Chad, me and my homie Bob C. (Bob is da man, glad I could assist ya last nite, see ya soon bro!



Some SWAG courtesy of Jani Lane & The Formerly Of's!!!!!





Here are the links to our three interviews...........


http://www.sleazeroxx.com/inte​rviews/lane.shtml


http://www.sleazeroxx.com/inte​rviews/lane2.shtml


http://www.sleazeroxx.com/inte​rviews/lane3.shtml


Cheers~
Crash


R.I.P. JANI........THANKS FOR THE GREAT MEMORIES & THE MUSIC!!  REST IN PEACE SONG & DANCE MAN!

Eric Sardinas to release new album on September 13th!!!

THE RELEASE DATE HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK TILL SEPTEMBER 13TH!!!





I am looking forward to reviewing this as I've been an avid fan of Eric for 10+ years!! I will be attending two shows of Eric's in August and am working on lining up an interview with him!!

TRACKLISTING/INFO
1. Cherry Wine
2. Road To Ruin
3. Full Tilt Mama
4. County Line
5. Through The Thorns
6. Burnin’ Sugar
7. Ratchet Blues
8. Behind The 8
9. Goodness
10. Make It Shine
11. Too Many Ghosts




Slide guitarist and singer-songwriter Eric Sardinas has a reputation for packing intensity into his live performances. Since the late-90s’ Sardinas has taken the stage thousands of times across the globe, with audiences growing exponentially each passing year. His six albums have displayed a distinct style that musically pushes the boundaries of rock and blues, and the world has taken notice.

Now Sardinas has put his onstage lighting in a bottle for the new album Sticks & Stones, an 11-song powerhouse of his trademark slide guitar that is a vehicle to drive his inspiration from the roadhouse in to mainstream music. Sardinas’ unique mixture weaves his heavy blues and rock threads in to a flamethrower to the listener and takes them on a ride encompassing the past, present and future of what music is meant to be.

“Playing with intensity all over the world non-stop and loving every minute of it has been my inspiration,” Sardinas explains. “That’s why I get up in the morning and what I live for. Making music keeps me in the moment, allowing my heart to speak to people.”
More fans have heard that voice with each tour Sardinas and his band Big Motor have made, and with each of the previous six albums he’s recorded. Those discs include 2003’s live-in-the-studio Black Pearls, which was produced by Jimi Hendrix’s engineer Eddie Kramer, and 2009’s Eric Sardinas and Big Motor, helmed by Matt Gruber.

Gruber, whose credits range from Ricky Martin and Carrie Underwood to the Scorpions and Lit, returns for Sticks & Stones — an album that Sardinas says captures the full range of his playing and the energy and excitement of the trio’s ‘Big Motor’ sound. “It’s really about pushing myself,” Sardinas continues. “My goal is to keep growing every time I play, which is why there is so much musical freedom in improvisation when Big Motor performs live.”

For Sticks & Stones, the trio approached the studio with a no holds barred approach. Whether acoustic and electric, they stayed true to their live sound, recording with no rules. Levell Price (bass) and Chris Frazier (drums), join Sardinas in delivering a kaleidoscope that melds all the shades and hues of the band’s intensity. “As always, every note is meaningful and has something to say from each player,” says Sardinas.

His instrument of choice is his signature electrified resonator guitar. Sardinas modernized an instrument made famous by traditional Blues artists in electrifying the instrument, and expanding the usual spectrum of what these guitars historically deliver musically. It is Eric’s connection and homage to his roots, an in finding his own voice, comes the electrified resonator. His trademark expression and words to live by are “Respect Tradition,” and the resonator is a deep part of this.

By deftly controlling his guitar’s volume Sardinas can make the resonator emote the mood he’s feeling with its acoustic energy or electrified growl, as it does during the breakdown on Sticks & Stones’ pure spirited country blues “County Line,” or roar like a lion on the hard-driving “Full Tilt Mama” and “Road To Ruin.” The latter features one of Sardinas’ highest flying slide solos: a sexy, sizzling break that’s a perfect fusion of gutty energy and piquant melody — two qualities Sardinas displays in spades.

The chugging instrumental “Behind the Eight” puts his slide to the fore. One reason for his always-recognizable sound is his signature slide. The Dunlop company has begun reproducing a replica of the brass pipe that travelled a million miles with Sardinas. The calibration, weight, and wear of the infamous ‘preaching pipe’ has become accessible to players worldwide. Sardinas shares, “the original pipe has so much mojo on it from over a decade of worldwide travel, and being by my side through every beer soaked bar and venue the road has to offer, the original is now only used for studio. To Sardinas, it is irreplaceable. He offers, “If Dunlop offered me a million bucks for it, I’d have to turn it down.”

The common thread in all the tunes on Sticks & Stones is the essence of affairs of the heart – passions, hopes and dreams are all inspirational in a positive and negative way to Sardinas. He shares, “I like writing about universal themes. The trick is to find my own unique way of expressing myself within those themes. Every breathing moment if you walk with yours eyes open, there is song there.”

A Florida-born Sardinas picked up a guitar at age six. He was inspired by the energy of roots music from his mom’s soul, Motown, gospel, and early rock n’ roll collection. From his elder brother, classic rock was always being played. Sardinas reflects, ”Music was always heard in the house. I woke up to, and fell asleep to it. Still do”. In his teens, he submersed himself in the Blues. “That was it for me,” he says. “In blending my influences, I found my own sound. I feel very fulfilled being able to make this music my life for more than 20 years now. And my goal is to keep growing and improving, and to respect this music and stick by it the way its has supported and inspired me.”


Eric Sardinas has put his onstage lighting in a bottle for the new album Sticks And Stones, an 11-song odyssey that ricochets from die-hard country blues to stone boogie to romantic pop to flame-thrower rock ‘n’ roll. “Playing with intensity all over the world non-stop and loving every minute of it has been my inspiration,” Sardinas explains. “That’s why I get up in the morning and what I live for: making music that keeps me in the moment and has an original voice that speaks to people.” The common thread in all the tunes on Sticks And Stones is love, whether it’s between a man and a woman or simply the zest for life captured in numbers like the opener “Cherry Wine.” “I like writing about universal themes,” says Sardinas. “That’s another thing I have in common with the classic blues and soul artists. The trick is to find my own unique way of expressing myself within those themes.” (courtesy of Mascot Records)


PRE-ORDER "STICKS & STONES" ON CD OR VINYL.....


http://mascotlabelgroup.com/mlg/releases/sticks-and-stones/

Introducing Buzzy James

Check out Buzzy James by going to

http://www.facebook.com/BuzzyJamesMusic

John Corabi Live July 22nd

John Corabi Live July 22nd at America's Pub in Wichita, KS.

John Corabi recently hit the road on his first ever solo tour as part of the 'Triple Threat' tour featuring The REAL L.A. Guns (my opinion, my website, if you don't like it, complain to Phil Lewis or Steve Riley) and Faster Pussycat. Most dates feature all three bands others just two. On July 22nd I had the pleasure of catching John Corabi on the fifth stop of the tour in Wichita Kansas at America's Pub. John's band features Topher Nolen on bass, Troy Patrick Farrell on drums, and Kevin Hunter on lead guitar.

I was scheduled to interview John at the venue but by mutual agreement we postponed the interview. It will however take place after the tour finishes up the second week of August. John's set is a virtual "Greatest Hits" set from his days in The Scream, Motley Crue and Union. Being that he is the opening act on the bill, which is, in my opinion, is a crime (more on that later), he only plays 45 minutes to an hour but he makes the best of every second. Stay tuned for that but in the meantime here is my review of the show.
After a pre-show meet and greet, John Corabi & Co. took the stage and never let up on the sonic assault. The band kicked off their ten song set with "Do Your Own Thing" and instantly had the crowd hooked. I've seen or heard countless bootlegs from his days with The Scream & Motley Crue, and witnessed Union live in person at least ten times but have never seen or heard any of those bands that John was with play with the fire that this band has. They are out to prove something! The rhythm section of Topher Nolen and Troy Patrick Farrell really lock into a tight groove that allows for John and Kevin to add embellishments to their parts and solos. Of all the bass players that John has played with, I feel that Topher is hands down, THE BEST OF THEM ALL!

"Everything's Alright" took the crowd on a little trip through Strawberry Fields while the Walrus was singing to fools on the hill. If ya don't catch that, they are lyrics to the song which serves as a tribute to The Beatles. The crowd really seemed to get into "Love (I Don't Need It Anymore)". Must be the infectious wah-wah riff!! Up next was a double shot from John's Crue days (or was it daze, sorry John, couldn't resist!), starting with a wickedly intense version of "Uncle Jack" and concluding with an equally intense version of "Power To The Music".

The crowd was just as into the band as the band was playing the material. John has always been an excellent frontman, interacting with the audience and providing laughs between songs with some of the things he says. At one point between songs a lady in the front row was trying to get John to face her so she could snap a good picture of him, he agreed but only if she captured his good side and promptly turned around backwards and bent over with his ass facing her. The crowd busted out laughing. Always the sweetheart for the ladies, John invited her up onstage to take a picture with him. I was front row the entire set jamming out with my bud Travis from Point Blank Tattoo. Both Travis and I are HUGE John Corabi fans so there was no way we were missing this night. Horns Up T-Rav.
Six songs into the set, John slowed it down just a bit with a classic from his The Scream days, "Father Mother Son". This song is an emotionally driven and heartfelt number and for those who paid attention to the lyrics, they were speechless. One lady commented to me that she about cried at the end when she realized what the lyrical twist was. The fact he played it was well worth the price of admission for me as it has always been a favorite of mine. From there the band gave the crowd a double shot of Union with the inclusion of "Dead" and "Who Do You Think You Are" (affectionately otherwise known as "Motherfucker" to those who know the song, see YouTube clip to understand why) into the set. The band really fattened up the song, slowly down the tempo of it just slightly with Topher and Troy Patrick thickening up the bottem end. It really took a heavy song and made it HEAVY!! Well done lads!



***This was filmed in 12/2009, only John & Topher remain from this line-up, the version on this clip isn't as 'mean' as what they played in Wichita!!!***



The biggest responces of the night came during the final two numbers. "Man In The Moon" from The Scream days really showcased the band in full on jam mode while "Hooligan's Holiday" whipped the crowd into a fevered frenzy.
Kevin Hunter had big shoes to fill as he is in the position once occupied by Bruce Bouillet, Mick Mars, and Bruce Kulick. I was thoroughly impressed with how well he played Mick Mars' leads, he stayed true to the original while adding his own flare to them.

John and the band made the material they played that much better. The riffs were heavier, the groove was locked in super tight and the harmonies were choice!! I really hope this is a permanent lineup for John and that he records an album with them. No offense to any of John's past projects but if these guys can handle the old material as amazingly as they did than there is no telling what they can do as a band writing and recording new material!!

SET LIST--IN ORDER:

1. Do Your Own Thing
2. Everything's Alright
3. Love (I Don't Need It Anymore)
4. Uncle Jack
5. Power To The Music
6. Father Mother Son
7. Dead
8. Who Do You Think You Are
9. Man In The Moon
10. Hooligan's Holiday
    

Here is the rest of John Corabi's tour dates!

Appearing with L.A. Guns Only
Sun 07/25/10 Merriam, KS Aftershock
Appearing with Faster Pussycat/LA GUNS (TRIPLE THREAT)

Wed 07/28/10 Bay City, MI The Vault
Thu 07/29/10 Green Bay, WI The Club at Tom, Dick and Harry's
Fri 07/30/10 Detroit, MI Harpo's Concert Theatre
Sat 07/31/10 Glendale Heights, IL Shark City
Sun 08/01/10 Pittsburgh, PA The Altar Bar
Tue 08/03/10 Montreal, QC Cafe Campus
Wed 08/04/10 Toronto, ON The Rockpile
Thu 08/05/10 Foxboro, MA Showcase Live
Fri 08/06/10 West Springfield, VA Jaxx
Sat 08/07/10 Farmingdale, NY The Crazy Donkey
Sun 08/08/10 Philadelphia, PA Whiskey Tango
Mon 08/09/10 Myrtle Beach, SC Planet Hollywood
Tue 08/10/10 Johnson City, TN Scully's
Wed 08/11/10 Buford, GA 37 Main



*****Excuse Me While I Jump Up On My Soapbox*****


I DO NOT understand why John Corabi is the opening act on this tour! Not to slag on the other bands but I feel it is bullshit!!! I will admit I'm a fan of L.A. Guns (the REAL version of the band which happens to be the version you will see on this tour) and not-so-much a fan of Faster Pussycat. I will admit that I was somewhat impressed with what I heard of FP's set (too busy chatting w/ Crabby in the upstairs lounge to pay much attention) but I never really got into them. I feel that John Corabi's catalog of music and even mainstream success is bigger and stronger than that of L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat. Hell, he fronted The Scream, Motley Crue, and Union. He has written and recorded with some of the best. I probably wouldn't be so pissed that he was the opener if all three bands played for the same amount of time but I doubt that is the case!! This is just my two cents, John Corabi SHOULD NOT be the opening act for either one of these two bands, let alone both....EVER!!!!!

Texas Hippie Coalition "Rollin" Album Review

BAND:

Big Dad Ritch:Vocals

Randy Cooper:Lead Guitarist

Crawfish:Rhythm Guitarist

John Exall:Bassist

Ryan 'The Kid' Bennett:Drums

TRACK LISTING:

01. Intervention

02. Flawed

03. Rollin'

04. Jesus Freak

05. Pissed Off And Mad About It

06. Groupie Girl

07. Saddle Sore

08. Cocked & Loaded

09. Back From Hell

10. Beg

PRODUCED BY:

David Prater

THE UNDISPUTED KINGS OF RED DIRT METAL ARE BACK!! Texas Hippie Coalition returns with their second album entitled "Rollin" on July 6th via Carved Records. THC 's newest slab of whiskey fueled aggression picks up right where "Pride Of Texas" left off. Having spent the past couple of years traveling all over the world and playing to rabid crowds hasn't caused this 'Band Of Outlaws' to go soft in any way. Quite the contrary in fact, this album shows growth not only within its lyrical and musical content but the addition of Crawfish on Guitars and Ryan Bennett has made THC tighter musical entity all-the-while maintaining and expanding upon their brutal foundation of head splittin' riffs and that undeniable Texas power groove.

The album kicks into overdrive from the first seconds of John Exall's bass intro on 'Intervention'. One thing I've always dug about Big Dad Ritch's vocals is his ability to go from a bottom-of-the-pit growl to classic metal vocals all within one song. He does that here while Randy Cooper rips an Dimebag-inspired fret burning solo that leads into a monstrous double kick drum exhibition from 'The Kid' before Big Dad Ritch reaches into the bowels of vocal hell to end the cut. 'Flawed' is anything but flawed with a sickening groove that is right in the pocket throughout. The title track is up next and after living with the album over the past few days, it is my favorite track on this album at this point. It has that unmistakable Texas power groove complimented with anthemic and autobiographical lyrics about the band.

'Jesus Freak' is one of the more interesting tracks on the album. I especially dig the breakdown section after the first chorus, it really takes the tune in a different direction before slowing down than heading back into the main riff. Longtime THC fans will rejoice with the re-working of their best known track 'Pissed Off And Mad About It'. It is just a tad more brutal than before without losing the magick of the original. The riff is like a turbo-charged Sherman tank barreling down on your ass. Crawfish and Ryan really breathed new life into it.
HOLY SHIT......This band of outlaws have written this generations own "Dream On" or "Sweet Child O' Mine" with the inclusion of 'Groupie Girl'. Big Dad Ritch really shines vocally on this track, reaching into his arsenal and going places he hadn't gone to before vocally. Well done!! Not a band to go too soft for too damn long, THC fires the brutality back up with 'Saddle Sore'. Big Dad Ritch really lays on the badass swagger vocally, kind of takes me back to hearing "Clenched Fist" off the first album. 'Cocked & Loaded' takes you through several moods musically while doing Sabbath proud.
Ryan Bennett sets the tone for 'Back From Hell' with his work behind the kit. I can't help but think of Shannon Larkin or Joey Jordison when I hear footwork and chops like that. We are talkin' take your head clean off with machine gun precision here. Can't wait to see them live with 'The Kid'!! The final track, 'Beg' will leave you begging for more. In conclusion, the album is how an album should be, all killer, no filler. Having been through several lineups over the years, I really feel that THC has found their definitive lineup and it is all-too-evident with "Rollin"!! If you like Pantera or Black Label Society with a healthy dose of Southern Piss n' Vinegar than Texas Hippie Coalition is right up your alley.

I've had the pleasure of seeing the band live on several occasions and they have yet to disappoint. In this day and age, most bands may deliver the goods on record but suck live, THC is the exact opposite, they deliver both on record and even more so live.