Van Halen 2012 Tour
Van Halen recently released their first new album in fifteen years, Different Kind of Truth, with front man David Lee Roth.
Their initial single from the album “Tattoo” was met with mixed reviews:
“Crappy un-imaginative song, Crappy un-imaginative video………..This sucks! I really was hoping to like what I heard but I’m pretty let down that this is the best they could come up with. Van Halen 4?”
“it’s almost immediately forgettable regardless of a solid Eddie Van Halen guitar solo, but it’s otherwise bathroom-break material for the upcoming tour.”
When they released their new album fans started to change their tune. While the album continues to get some mixed reviews, it continues to gain ground. As of this week Different Kind of Truth is #2 on the Mainstream Rock charts, second to Black Keys.
Some of the positive feedback:
“After a couple of months since this album came out, I can’t believe how incredible it really is.”
“This album has truley (sic) come at a time in which “Rock and Roll” was really dead! As a singer in a band, trying to find modern rock n roll that could actually be sang live was almost impossible! The over processed music today is just…fake, uninspiring and talentless. “A Different Kind of Truth” is a roll down the window and turn it up kind of album.”
Putting aside all the reviews, you can judge for yourself as Van Halen kicks off their Van Halen 2012 Tour starting this month.
The original dates skipped Sacramento entirely, but they will be coming through on a later leg of their tour on August 25th at Power Balance Pavilion.
Be there – then decide.
It’ll be a trip seeing David Lee Roth bouncing around the stage regardless!
Randy Miramontez - Downtown Sacramento - Bay Area ConcertsRock Guitar Legend Tommy Bolin Paid Tribute On “Great Gypsy Soul”
Tommy Bolin - Great Gypsy Soul
The CD and special deluxe edition double with bonus material was #1 on Amazon’s rock download last week.
An all-star Lineup contributes to all new recordings of “Teaser” Tracks Performing Alongside Bolin. Guests Include Peter Frampton, Warren Haynes, Nels Cline, Steve Morse, Steve Lukather, Brad Whitford, Joe Bonamassa and others.
In the annals of rock history, Tommy Bolin occupied a brief, but shining stint as a brilliant guitarist who wowed those in the know with his mastery of many genres–rock, fusion, funk, reggae and heavy metal among others. Along with a much lauded solo career that pushed the boundaries of rock/jazz fusion, Bolin played with The James Gang and Deep Purple which set him up for major solo guitar stardom which was cut short by his untimely death in 1976.
There’s been much written about the guitar wunderkind and now a top notch roster of players have signed on to pay tribute to Bolin on Great Gypsy Soul. Produced by Greg Hampton and Warren Haynes, it’s a remarkable project that brings together major players who actually perform alongside Tommy Bolin’s playing and vocals from the recording outtakes to his solo debut album “Teaser.” Peter Frampton, Warren Haynes (a key supporter of the project and who recently posted about it to his 150,000 Facebook fans), Nels Cline, Steve Lukather, Steve Morse, Brad Whitford, Joe Bonamassa, John Scofield, Derek Trucks, Glenn Hughes and Myles Kennedy all contribute to this amazing project.
The Huffington Post and Guitar World have confirmed coverage in upcoming publications.
Great Gypsy Soul was released on 429 Records on March 26th and immediately became Amazon’s #1 Rock Download for last week! Great Gypsy Soul is both a widely available single CD format and a double CD with 39 minutes of bonus available only at Amazon.com.
Tommy Bolin was the quintessential guitar prodigy who focused his talents within the burgeoning rock/metal scenes of the early 70′s as well as mastered a highly lauded jazz fusion technique catching the attention of rock and guitar legend peers.
It was just a matter of time before Bolin was making a name for himself playing on projects as diverse as Billy Cobham’s “Spectrum” project (considered one of the great jazz fusion recordings of all time), replacing Joe Walsh in the James Gang, playing session work on seminal fusion projects by Moxy and Alphonse Mouzon, to replacing Ritchie Blackmore in Deep Purple. With the release of his second solo album “Private Eyes”, what should have been a red letter moment for Bolin, opening up for Jeff Beck in Miami, sadly turned tragic as Bolin was found dead of an overdose shortly after the gig.
Says Warren Haynes: “Many of the guests added after the fact have a close personal connection to Tommy–all share in acknowledging his place in rock history. Watching (and hearing) it all come to fruition some 35 years later was a journey of its own–well worth the travel.”
Track Listing:
Disc 1
The Grind w/ Peter Frampton
Teaser w/ Warren Haynes
Dreamer w/ Myles Kennedy and Nels Cline
Savannah Woman w/ John Scofield
Smooth Fandango w/ Derek Trucks
People People w/ Big Sugar and Gordie Johnson
Wild Dogs w/ Brad Whitford
Homeward Strut w/ Steve Lukather
Sugar Shack w/ Glenn Hughes and Sonny Landreth
Crazed Fandango w/ Steve Morse
Lotus w/ Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Huges and Nels Cline
Disc 2 Bonus CD
Flying Fingers w/ Oz Noy and Nels Cline
Marching Bag-Movement One w/ Nels Cline, Bolin, Greg Hampton, John Scofield, Sonny Landreth
Marching Bag-Movement Two w/ Nels Cline, Bolin, Steve Lukather, Derek Trucks, Peter Frampton
Marching Bag-Movement Three w/ Gordie Johnson, Bolin, Nels Cline, Oz Noy, Steve Lukather, Steve Morse, Joe Bonamassa
Marching Bag-Movement Four w/ Nels Cline, Bolin, Warren Haynes, Joe Bonamassa, Oz Noy, Brad Whitford, Peter Frampton
Longtime Drummer for Doobie Brothers Dies
The Doobie Brothers in 2011 - Click for more images
Longtime drummer for the Doobie Brothers Michael ‘Big Mike’ Hossack died at his home after battling cancer in Dubois, Wyoming, on Monday at the age of 65.
Big Mike was a member of the Doobie Brothers between 1971 and 1973, during which time he played on several of the Doobie Brothers best-known hits, including “Jesus Is Just Alright,” “Listen to the Music” and “China Grove.”
Returning to the band in 1987 he remained until his health took a turn for the worse in 2010
The Doobie Brothers had released a statement in January letting Hossack’s fans know that he was improving slowly.
The Doobie Brothers Tom Johnston remembered Hossack, “Mike has always been a part of my musical life and the life of the Doobie Brothers; from our earliest singles, like China Grove and Blackwater to our most recent single Brighter Day. He was an incredible musician, a studio quality drummer. The last few years, he was brave and determined to keep on playing in the face of ill health, and I will always admire him for that. He was a terrific dad and family man, and we will all miss him.”
The Doobie’s Pat Simmons, who was a close friend of Hossack’s, said, “When my kids were little, they used to call him Big Mike, because to them he was such a big guy. But to me and those who knew him, he had an even a bigger heart. We were friends for 43 years and we shared some wonderful adventures together, times I will never forget. Thanks for all those wonderful memories Mike, and all the great music. We love you.”
He will be missed.
Randy Miramontez - Downtown Sacramento - Bay Area Concerts
