Tennessee Three – at The Lemon Tree – Aberdeen, UK

The Tennessee Three was the backing band for renowned country music and rockabilly singer Johnny Cash, for over 40 years until Cash's semi-retirement in 1997. From his early stardom with Sun Records until his last years as a performer, Johnny Cash chose to work with only one band and depended upon it for the unique sound that would come to be recognized by millions of fans as "the Johnny Cash sound."

Luther Perkins died in a house fire in 1968. Authorities were uncertain whether it was suicide or foul play. Cash believed Perkins fell asleep with a lit cigarette.

Bob Wootton then joined as the group's guitarist, and continued Perkins' unique sound that had defined so many of Cash's records. Wootton had been a Cash fan for many years and already knew how to produce the proper Cash sound.

Devastated by Cash’s illness and death, Wootton did not perform for several years. Today, however, Wootton is again touring the world, playing Cash tunes and keeping the magical sound of the legendary Tennessee Two and Tennessee Three alive to appreciative crowds around the globe. Along with Vicky Wootton formerly of “The Carter Family” and Scarlet Wootton, Bob Wootton is keeping the tradition of the Cash - Carter Family alive. THE SOUND MUST GO ON!

From the days of early stardom until his last years as a performer, Johnny Cash chose only to work with one band and depended upon them to provide him with the unique sound that would come to be recognized by millions of fans over the world. Bob Wootton provided the unique "boom-chicka-boom" guitar that classifies most of Johnny's songs. The music of The Tennessee Three is as important to the sound and successes of Johnny Cash as his own voice. In 2006, an album titled "The Sound Must Go On" was released as an homage to the Cash legacy and Bob Wootton began touring the world once again with the music of The Tennessee Three.

So this was a night for Johnny Cash Fans old and new to hear the songs the way they supposed sound like, with many stories about the Man in black in between the songs. Walk the line” and “ring of fire” getting the biggest response of he evening.

After the show the whole band came out and posed for photos and sign autographs.
 

 

-Dod M.-
Big Wheel Overseas Correspondent

 

More photos of the event can be seen HERE

 
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Punk Rock Academy Fight Song – Ghouls Night Out

So it’s the last week of October and it’s been a month since last you heard from me. I’ve had a million different ideas banging around my head but I haven’t had the time or inclination to put them to paper or computer screen. Work and family have taken precedent over music and writing-such is the bitch of turning into a responsible adult. I love my family and I love my job but sometimes I feel like the gap between my rebellious youth and my adulthood just keeps widening. What to do then to narrow that gap? Easy, watch it’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and reflect in the beauty of one of the greatest holidays ever. That’s right kiddies I’m talking about Halloween.

I know I run the risk of becoming yet another unoriginal cliché -“Wow, a insert your sub group or genre that loves Halloween, how original” yawn. But lets face it must clichés are rooted in the truth and the fact of the matter is Halloween lets all the normal people feel like a punk for one day. And for those of us who have to play Clark Kent during our work day we get to become Super Man again. We spend the majority of our year subverting our true colors save for the odd Friday were we can wear a Ramones t-shirt to work the rest of the time throwing on our mainstream costumes to help pay the bills. Then comes that one magical day when everybody gets to be someone different and we can be ourselves. More importantly it’s the holiday that breaks all the rules. You get to dress up as devils demons and ghosts and then go out at night and ask strangers for candy with your parent’s permission. You can walk into the grocery store dressed as a vampire pirate or robot and no one will bat an eyelash. It’s like being a kid and your mom would let you dress yourself in whatever you felt like. As a child I hated horror movies but always loved Halloween cause I got to wear a cool or on several occasions not so cool costumes (thanks mom) and eat candy till my stomach hurt except for those times my dad said he had to check it and would eat all the good candy. But like a beach ball at a Dodger game some moron had to ruin all the fun. I’m sure we all remember the Halloween scares of the eighties-stories of people putting razors in candy, crazed satanic murderers, etc.-that gradually sucked the fun out of this great day.

This led to several years of trick or treating at our church-which seems like an oxymoron but wasn’t nearly as bad as it sounds. My parents didn’t think I was going to hell because I enjoyed All Hallows eve they just didn’t want some deviant slipping a killer kit kat into my tick or treat bag. Over time I started to lose interest in and thought I’d outgrown the fun part of Halloween and I focused more on the mischief-toilet papering peoples houses and throwing pumpkins in the street but I just wasn’t the same and truthfully I missed the fun part of it. I missed wearing costumes. And I discovered that most of the bands I liked looked like they loved Halloween so the progression was natural. I loved wearing shirts with skulls and dying my hair and listening to the Misfits-c’mon you had to see that one coming. I think I dressed up more for Halloween while in college and immediately after than when i was a kid because it seemed like an extension of who I really was. My favorite costume was my Matt Skiba Devil-suit and tie, mini devil lock and poorly applied eyeliner and if I could have shown up to work like that I would have and honestly I don’t think many people would have noticed the difference. Truth be told my wife tells me that when I’m not in my work clothes it looks like I’m wearing a costume and to me that’s a compliment. I don’t love Halloween because I’m dark, brooding and into evil -I love it because it makes me feel young. So this year I’m gonna crank up my Misfits, TSOL, AFI, Alkaline Trio CD’s, watch the great pumpkin Charlie Brown, and practice the dark arts-okay the last one’s a lie-we’re taking our daughter trick or treating and feel completely normal. Oh and maybe I'll smudge on some eyeliner.

 

-Daniel N-

 

Pearl Jam – Backspacer (Monkeywrench)

Pearl Jam have always been an album band more than anything else. While every record that they have put out has had a few memorable singles, the albums as a whole package are much more memorable. This distinction has also been shared by bands like The Who, the Clash, The Replacements, Black Flag, The Stooges, Sonic Youth, and Husker Du. In fact it could almost certainly be assumed that if one was to be given access to the collective record collections of the members of Pearl Jam they would be littered with titles like "Quadrophenia," "London Calling," "Tim," "Damaged," "Raw Power,"  "Daydream Nation," and "Zen Arcade." It seems to be no accident that Pearl Jam are carrying on this tradition, or that a listener's favorite record by the band can speak volumes about their musical tastes in general. Those who are into heavier music may be into "Ten" where as those who like music to be strange and unpredictable might be into "Vitalogy" or "No Code," where as "VS" would most likely appeal to a person who likes fast and energetic songs.

"Backspacer" adds its own unique chapter to Pearl Jam's legacy, channeling some of the energy from "VS" but with a more subtle approach and an emphasis on hooks which accent the band's sometimes not-so-obvious pop sensibilities. If there is anger in songs on "Backspacer" one would have to dig to find it, which is a far cry from the material on Pearl Jam's early material. This record, like its most recent predecessor- 2006's "Pearl Jam," shows the band also moving beyond some of the more out there stuff that appeared on albums like "Yield" and "Binaural." In this sense both "Backspacer" and "Pearl Jam" could be regarded as a musical return to form.

The album opens with "Gonna See My Friend," which is definitely of a faster pace as far as Pearl Jam goes. It has a raw and punky edge to it and reflects the band's more simplistic side. The lyrics follow the familiar theme of escape and depending on the listeners perspective it could be interpreted as either a song about getting a drug fix or falling back on friends for support. The fast pace continues for songs like "Got Some," "The Fixer," and "Supersonic" which is driven by a Ramones/early Damned type guitar approach.

While the momentum of "Backspacer" is maintained by the faster songs, it's the mellower songs that help to keep the record balanced. "Just Breathe," which is an Eddie Vedder composition, would have fit well with Vedder's solo songs that appear on the "Into the Wild" soundtrack. In a way the acoustic songs, which are almost all composed by Vedder, are the most intense songs on the album in their naked display of emotions. This is particularly noted in "The End," which appropriately concludes the album and tells the story of two lovers growing apart. Vedder's vocal performance peaks where his voice cracks with emotion when he sings "I will take the blame/But just the same/This is not me/You see/Believe/I am better than this."

While Eddie Vedder's compositions stick out for their often melancholy approach, every other member of the band receives some song writing credits and everyone gets their moment in the sun. "Amongst the Waves" is notable for its guitar rock vibe delivered by Stone Gossard with shredding solos. "Force of Nature" gets Mike McCready's signature while "Got Some" showcases Jeff Ament's knack for unique time signatures and Matt Cameron collaborates on "The Fixer" and "Johnny Guitar." Overall this record gives the guys in Pearl Jam a chance to show off their collective and individual chops.

The one thing that is missed on "Backspacer" are some of the more political lyrics that Eddie Vedder has become famous for. While the appeal to stick to more personal subject matter is understandable, the fire from songs like "The Whipping" and "Garden," "and "Do the Evolution" always helped to give Pearl Jam their identity. With those minor criticisms put aside, "Backspacer" is a welcome addition to the Pearl Jam catalog and will undoubtedly stand out as one of the band's more memorable albums.
 

-Ditch-
Big Wheel Online Magazine

 

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Cop pulls a gun on a haunted house character

 A Baltimore city police officer was charged with assault after he pulled a gun on a haunted house character over the weekend. "I was doing my normal scene at the haunted house, and as I was going out the backdoor with the chainsaw, the officer pulled his gun on me. Basically, he put his gun to my chest and as I was going back in, he said he was a cop".

Electric Eel Shock – at The Warehouse – Aberdeen, UK

Electric Eel Shock (EES) are a three-piece garage metal band, formed in Toyko in the late 1990s. They first toured the United States in 1999 and have been touring the world ever since.

Gian took up playing with four drumsticks and also gained a reputation for playing almost naked apart from a sock covering his modesty, Gian has been arrested once, in Hong Kong and fined HK$100, for playing this way.



Their shows are highly entertaining, with a full on metal show, and lots of interaction with the audience,they have a big cult following.

The catch phrase of the evening is Bastard! No! You Bastard! Ok, I am also a Bastard...." - regarding their song "Bastard" is a crowd pleaser, with everyone singing along.
 

 

-Dod M.-
Big Wheel Overseas Correspondent

 

More photos of the event can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews

 

 

 

Angus Khan – Black Leather Soul

If you're still stuck in the 60's, 70's, and even the 80's, and still can't get enough of Classic Rock and that raw Rock N Roll vibe of bands like AC/DC and Motorhead, Angus Khan is ready to slam you with their sound and presence. Angus Khan's "Black Leather Soul", released through Nickel and Dime Records, has reassured old school rock fans that their beloved genre is far from dead. Angus Khan revives the old sounds Rock N Roll, yet incorporates their own distinct styles and attitudes, giving any willing listener a familiar recipe enhanced with new spices and flavors, and ultimately delivering a taste so divine, you won't know what hit you... or in Angus Khan's case, what KICKED your ass!

"Black Leather Soul" is an album that while maintains the influences of Classic Rock, also possesses variety and a style all its own. One example of this is is the band's cover of "Midnight Moses", originally performed by The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. The song takes a complete change from the original, and as the first track song on the album, successfully reels you in so strongly that the rest of the album cannot be left unheard. Other songs migrate away from the loud in-your-face vibes Angus Khan upholds, like "Silver and Green", which upholds a slower tempo, yet manages to still provide a rhythm you can bang your head to. The different techniques in each song ultimately illustrate the band's talent and how their skills and creativity were able to pull off such a diverse and powerful album.

Angus Khan's "Black Leather Soul" is an absolute winner and choice if you're debating on what to try next. With an aggressively wild attitude, and fast paced Rock N Roll tunes behind them, Angus Khan is ready to annihilate you with an album so fierce, even Chuck Norris won't be able to get out of this one.

Band MySpace: www.myspace.com/anguskhanrocks

Record Label MySpace: www.myspace.com/nickelanddimerecords
 

 

-Stephanie M.-
Senior staff reporter
Big Wheel Online Magazine

 

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