Continental with The Aviators – at B Ryders – Bakersfield, CA

Life on the road can be tough: most of the time your broke, out of gas and have no place to rest your head at night. Thankfully, if you're in a rock 'n' roll band, a guitar case will do the trick. With many years of experience in the industry (too many to count) and a van he calls home, Ex-Dropkick Murphy guitarist Rick Barton told many tales of roadworn adventure last Friday night at B Ryder's with his Boston Folk-Punk band Continental.

 

The opening act was Bakersfield-based Hard Rock act The Aviators. The release of their first album, "Premium Rock & Roll," created a considerable buzz around town as fans have shown local support that will undoubtedly expand as they continue to perform. Their classic rock sound is straight from the '80s and makes it hard to believe that these guys are only in their 20s. Unknowing listeners might expect to look up and see permed hair and leather pants, but it seems they've purposely strayed away from the cliche rockstar appearence. Their style is simple -- just jeans and a t-shirt. Not the roughest looking bunch, but their lead singer makes up for it with his innate ability to work the stage.

Photo by Breanna Fields

They started off the night with an explosive cover of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Rosie." It was a decision that was made just minutes before taking the stage -- their second choice, "Rock N' Roll," would have gone over just as well, but it was refreshing to hear a cover that isn't played as often. The energy of the room was alive during their set as they ripped into AC/DC influenced material flavored with their lead guitarist's skilled riffs and solos.

Photo by Breanna Fields

On the other side of the stage the rhythm guitarist and bassist were in their corner grooving to the beat of their "new" drummer. Having joined the band only a year ago, The Aviator's sound is already tighter and it doesn't hurt that the ladies seem to love him. 

B Ryer's has always been an ideal place to hit on a friday night. The crowd was gathered around the bar and others at the pool table while The Avaitors ended their set. There was a brief intermission for Continental to haul their gear onstage. It was apparent from the start that they were a hard working rock 'n' roll band. With no roadies in sight, it was all about putting on the best show under the given circumstances.

Meanwhile, the audience got a good look at the band onstage. Tattoos? Check. Sleeveless t-shirts? Check. Looks like a legitimate rock 'n' roll band to me. They certainly played like it. Their style ranged from Hillbilly-Country to full blown Punk Rock. They're the kind of band you might expect to see on the bill at The Hootenanny along with Reverand Horton Heat and Old Man Markley. 

Photo by Breanna Fields

The band originally formed in Quincy, MA after Barton's son, Stephen Barton, suggested that his old man start a group when he heard a solo recording from 2009. Now playing bass in the band, Stephen has embarked on a three month tour with his father that will end in September. Their current tour dates span all over the country from bars to concert halls. 

After pounding through a few numbers including "Hey Baby," which was dedicated to all the "good looking chicks," "Motherfuckin' Dogfight" and "Right By Side," they changed the pace for an impromptu acoustic set. The band members left the stage leaving Barton in the spotlight with his guitar. Strumming through an emotional piece, he went on to say that he's really there to play the songs for himself. He doesn't mind if people listen or not.

Photo by Breanna Fields

It's moments like these the set apart true musicians. There are people that play for the girls or throw a group together to just be onstage; others spend years honing their craft, sweat, blood tears and all the rest. They have a story to tell and it's through song that it is shared. Those moments make all the long nights on tour worth it when the road seems to stretch on for days.

 

                             More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-Breanna Fields-
Big Wheel Contributor

 

 

 

 

Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

The Toy Dolls – The Album After The Last One

It's hard to think of bands that are more straight up fun than The Toy Dolls. This may be the only band on the planet able to give The Adicts a good run for their money. Long-time fans of the band will be pleased to hear that after more than 3 years of work, the band's twelfth studio album, cleverly titled "The Album After the Last One", has been released. And for new fans, this is a great album to get introduced to The Toy Dolls.

Despite almost 30 years as the Toy Dolls' frontman, Olga hasn't slowed down, and the album races along with the upbeat speedy guitars that characterize the Toy Dolls sound. Unfortunately, songs like "Sciatica Sucks" intimate that the back pains that sent Olga disastrously reaching for the Firey Jack all those years ago are still bothering him, but the song its self is hilarious and catchy.

The album covers many of the usual topics - girls, beer, and youthful exploits of young Olga, as well as offering more good advice, such as not driving your car up Draycott Avenue, and there's even a tribute to Decca Wade, everyone's favorite hard drinking ex-Upstarts drummer, all delivered with the usual finger-cramping, tongue-twisting speed and bouncy grins we've come to love and expect from the Toy Dolls.

The album wraps up with Olga doing acoustic recordings of some of the more popular Toy Dolls songs of past albums, including "Firey Jack", "The Sphinx Stinks", and "Cloughy is a Bootboy". This is a definite must-have for established fans, and those not yet familiar with the band.

Keep up with The Toy Dolls here: www.thetoydolls.com
 

 

-Jo Problems-
Big Wheel Staff Journalist
 

 

                                           Go HERE to see all the latest record reviews

 

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Dicks – Kill From the Heart

The Dicks might be the most influential band the world has seemingly forgotten about. The Austin band helped birth hardcore, rising to popularity along bands like MDC, and their addition of blues-influenced riffs echoed with grunge rockers. They've been covered by everyone from Mudhoney to the Butthole Surfers, and memorialized by Limp Wrist. And they hate the police.

Luckily for us, Alternative Tentacles hasn't forgotten about The Dicks, and this year they've re-issued the band's first full length album "Kill from the Heart", with additional bonus tracks from the "Hate the Police" EP originally released in 1980.

This is a great album, both aggressive and thoughtful, with all the energy that characterized the early hardcore scene. The title track "Kill From the Heart" has lyrics like "You fuckin' pig/ death is your fate!/ It's from the heart/ you need to be shot." whereas songs like "Rich Daddy" also address social disparity, unfortunately even more relevant today than it was when the album was first released in 1983. It's not all anger though, as the album also has the popular Dicks cover of Hendrix's "Purple Haze".

The liner notes include lyrics as well as the original album cover and art work for the "Hate the Police" EP. This is definitely a boon for those of us who either weren't able to pick up this album the first time around, or have lost it to the sands of time or tides of thieving exes. Pick up your copy on Alternative Tentacles here: www.alternativetentacles.com, you won't be sorry.
 

 

-Jo Problems-
Big Wheel Staff Journalist
 

 

                                           Go HERE to see all the latest record reviews

 

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Cole Collision – Comfortable

Bill Cole Collision's debut album "Comfortable" has brought the Indie scene of Texas to life with a collection of songs that reach poetic heights. The album includes a lyric sheet that reads as a diary of confused thoughts coupled with romanticism and troubled times that go unresolved.

Credit must be given to the fact that this is a group of young artists, teenagers — more specifically, that have turned their musical inclinations into a cohesive album of modern sounds strewn together by its diverse nature. The album's diversity could be attributed to their influences that range from Weezer to Youth Lagoon. Vocalist Pierce Poterfield and guitarist Evan Campbell decided to collaborate on the project after they were sentenced to community service as a result of "doing some things with some people (that shouldn't have been done)." After spending a number of grueling hours hanging up clothing at a thrift shop, the boys stumbles upon a hat which subsequently started the conversation of forming the band. In late December of 2011 they ended up in Passive Recording Studio in Tulsa, OK to record and mix their album with James Reza, who also contributed to the album as a drummer and keyboardist. The first track off the album, "We Gonna Go Down and Never Come Back," is best enjoyed while in a mellow mood. It's a slower tune that contains an electronic drum beat that's consistent throughout and provides listeners with a steady groove. The band showed their range on "The Soft Tears of Jimmy Swaggart" while mixing Indie-riffage with easy-to-follow vocal arrangements. They go on to unleash "Abernathy," the catchiest tune off of the album that voices a concern for widely accepted notions claiming "it's that crippling mass appeal and it seems so mainstream." Moments of confusion are scattered throughout where the lyrics seem lost in the translation, but Porterfield's warm vocals make up for any miscommunication. It's all about putting your own meaning to the words, anyways. The album overall is far from mainstream and is recommended as a good listen for fans of Indie, Alternative and even Pop music. This release has proved that Bill Cole Collision will be a creative force to wrecken with and will no doubt encounter growth on future releases.

 

-Breanna Fields-
Big Wheel Contributor
 

 

                                           Go HERE to see all the latest record reviews

 

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

Show preview: Blondie and Devo – at The Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA – September 12, 2012

The cleverly titled Whip it to Shreds tour is taking off this summer and hitting Los Angeles on September 12th at one of the cities finer outdoor venues; the Greek Theatre! The co-headline tour will feature both new wave heroes Blondie and Devo, doesn’t this sound like a match made in 80’s heaven? Get your dancing shoes ready as this show will have you busting a move all night long.

As you may know; both bands on this extremely awesome bill are highly unique in their own ways in their respective genres and have equally raised the bar with their unconventional approach at rock music dating back to the mid 70’s. Their punky attitudes mixed with their unusual textures cemented these bands with cult audiences that have remained loyal through out the decades and beyond. Having seen both Devo and Blondie within the year, it is safe to say both bands still pack venues with ease and put on a show that is worth every dollar spent.

Some 35 years later both bands still stick out for the best reasons possible as their music has stood the test of time going on to sell more 50 million albums combined. Both bands have been touring in support of albums they’ve put out within the last few years. Devo’s being 2010’s Something For Everybody.

Blondie have been on tour for the last year in support of their ninth studio album Panic of Girls which dropped spring of 2011. We caught them last year and we can confirm that they sound great as ever. They played a bunch of new songs with a ton of Blondie classics mixed in for good measure, not a hit was left out!

As for Devo, we can say the exact same thing about the boys from Ohio. Devo still put on one of the nuttiest live shows in music history and play a number of new tracks as well as their huge back catalog of hits that make for a giant sing a long set. Both bands give younger up and coming bands a run for their money despite being over twice most bands age, true legends.

Fans of both bands could expect to lose their voices as they will have hit after hit to sing along to for over 2 hours of music come September 12th.

For more info visit http://www.greektheatrela.com/events/event_details.asp?id=2369

See ya at the show

 

-Louie Bones-
Big Wheel Staff Journalist

 

Check out more show previews HERE

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

 

New Rides of the Furious Swampriders – Compilation

This is the fourth title in the Furious Swampriders collection, a series of compilations designed to be "different, rusty, dusty, dirty with edges" according to the history presented in the liner notes. It is certainly that. With artists spanning from the well-known like Deborah Harry,to the more obscure like The Dad Horse Experience, and songs that are a hectic mix of funk, Punk, soul, blues, country, and gypsy, this is certainly not something easily categorized.

Fans of the weird and esoteric may already be aware of this series, and have been keeping a lookout for it, but anyone into cattlecore, The Hangmen, Blackbird Raum, or even Rob Zombie's seminal movie "House of 1000 Corpses" would probably enjoy having this album on hand for those nights when everything goes a little weird and you need a soundtrack to match. You can find it, and the three equally eclectic preceding albums on Sireena Records here: www.sireena.1a-shops.eu
 

 

-Jo Problems-
Big Wheel Staff Journalist
 

 

                                           Go HERE to see all the latest record reviews

 

 

Send your comments to the editor HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

« Previous Page — Next Page »