Canadian blues-roots rockers The Commoners have released a 4th single, w/ lyric video from their album Find A Better Way. The single “More Than Mistakes” and the new album can be streamed Here. or watch the video below.
On the punchy and rollicking “More Than Mistakes,” the rock train rolls on full steam ahead. Bright tambourine accents a rhythm section to rival Motown, illuminating a track that instantly pushes listeners to the edge of their seats, raising them to their feet. Alive and free, “More Than Mistakes” affirms the album’s theme of self-empowerment with gusto.
“More Than Mistakes is a song written in self-defiance,” says the Commoners’ lead singer, Chris Medhurst. “It’s about taking on one’s own weakness with a sense of forgiveness for past transgressions, while enthusiastically searching for the limit.”
Possessing a sound tapped from the oaken belly of a whiskey barrel, The Commoners are a four-piece Roots/Rock outfit from Toronto, Canada.
In April The Commoners tour the UK, along with the amazing blues-rocker Troy Redfern!
American ’70s rockers ANGEL returned in 2019 with the excellent Risen album. The band re-launched by singer Frank Dimino and guitarist Punky Meadows put together a new version of the band after each had released solo albums and gone on tour, strangely after many years of each being away. Once Upon A Time picks up where Risen left off, and makes a nice partner to that release. The first single “It’s Alright” is a catchy rocker, very easily likeable. There is a bit more variation on this new album. For myself, I am more drawn to the band’s hard-rock, pop-rockers here. “The Torch” is a fantastic lead off track, glorious in it’s whole production, from the keyboard intro to the acoustic guitars and rockin’ chorus. It should sit comfortably along with classics like “Tower” and “The Fortune” . Favorites also include the pop-rockers “Without You”, “Psyclone”, and “Turn The Record Over”. The ballad “Let It Rain” features added female backing harmonies – as do a number of tracks here, adding something new to the Angel sound, check out the upbeat “Black Moon Rising”. There’s also the ridiculous title of “Once Upon A Time An Angel And A Devil Fell In Love (And It Did Not End Well)” , musically pretty good, but the words and title… if you like pomp and cheese(!?) The band also get in to more glam & pop stuff with the likes of “Daddy’s Girl” and “Rock Star”, both catchy and again, something a bit new, both would make fine singles.
A good album that Angel fans will really enjoy. I can’t help but think also that a few of the rockers here might fit nicely on the latest pair of Uriah Heep albums. Frank Dimino sounds great, as always throughout this record. Like the cover art, though (as always) a band photo is stuck in the middle of it The LP has 11 tracks, while the CD adds 3 more . *Available on clear vinyl, CD and Cassette!
*For more info & tour dates, check out the press release below!
Legendary rock band ANGEL return with a brilliant, melodic and supremely powerful new studio album titled ONCE UPON A TIME, set for release April 21st on Cleopatra Records. The album features 11 brand new songs, plus three bonus tracks on the CD version, all written by Punky Meadows, Frank Dimino, and Danny Farrow. Meadows proclaims, “We are super excited by the release of the new album. We had a blast recording it, and the band is cookin’! It has everything ANGEL fans expect – epic songs, power pop, heavy rock n’ roll, and it’s also deep with lots of surprises! Can’t wait for our fans to lay their ears on it!”
The band is also excited to announce their US Tour with dates kicking off on March 3rd at The Cutting Room in NYC. Many shows have been announced and more will be added. Vocalist Dimino says, “We can’t wait to get back on the road and rock with all the fans. And I am really excited for the new album release, can’t wait for you all to hear it!” Tour dates are listed below so grab your tickets and meet and greet passes as some shows have already sold out!
You can stream the album’s first single, the energetic rocker “It’s Alright” on all digital platforms today.
And be sure to pre-order the CD, vinyl and special limited edition cassette versions now! Longtime guitarist Farrow declares, “The new album kicks ass and I hope the fans love it. It is very diverse and has all the elements of the ANGEL sound and more. The band really worked hard to make it great and an album we can all be proud of!”
March 10th – Sellersville PA, – Sellersville Theater March 11th – Akron OH – The Empire ( Sold Out ) March 12 – Westland MI – The Token Lounge March 14th – Milwaukee WI – Shank Hall March 15th – Madison WI – High Noon Saloon March 17th – Edwardsville IL – The Wildey Theatre March 19th – ST. Charles IL – Arcada Theatre April 28th – Hollywood CA – The Whisky – April 29th – Las Vegas Nev – VAMP’D – August 25th WITH SWEET – Louisville KY – Habana Blues Night Life August 26th WITH SWEET – Columbus Oh – King of Clubs
Many more dates to be announced soon.
TRACK LIST: 1. The Torch 2. Black Moon Rising 3. It’s Alright 4. Once Upon A Time An Angel And A Devil Fell In Love (And It Did Not End Well) 5. Let It Rain 6. Psyclone 7. Blood Of My Blood, Bone Of My Bone 8. Turn The Record Over 9. Rock Star 10. Without You 11. Liar Liar
BONUS TRACKS [CD ONLY] 12. Daddy’s Girl 13. C’mon 14. Let The Kid Out
Rush’s Signals was originally released in September of 1982. Preceded by the single “New World Man”, it marked a change in the band’s sound, with more use of modern keyboards and less heavy guitar. I am sure this was an issue for many Rush fans at the time, but it was a success as the band kept evolving and staying current. The met with mixed reviews, among the most comical being Rolling Stones’ horrible review, calling the band’s latest “duller than ever“, among other things! I wasn’t so into “New World Man”, but the rest of the album (most of) I preferred – particularly “Subdivisions” and “The Analog Kid”, plus favorites like “Countdown” and “Digital Man”.
Not only did the singles get lots of air-play (particularly in Toronto – which is where our closest rock stations were), but the video for “Subdivisions” was a classic, fitting the lyrics of being the outsider trying to fit in – “be cool or be cast out“. The video was filmed in various areas of Toronto (Scarborough), so it’s interesting to see for that aspect as well.
Signals remains one of my Top 3 Rush albums, with the other 2 being Permanent Waves and Moving Pictures – that period where the band sized things down from the lengthy epics to more strong shorter songs, easily accessible for many who might have shied away before. Rush was at their peak with Signals – selling out 3 nights at Maple Leaf Gardens. The album charted at #1 in Canada (their 2nd in a row), #3 in the UK (their 3rd #3), #19 in Sweden, and #10 in the US, while “New World Man” would become the band’s biggest single in the US, and “Subdivisions” would become a mainstay in the band’s live show thereafter (As far as I know…was it ever out of the live set?) Again, another interesting and iconic cover design by Canadian Hugh Syme.
And all of this brings me to the 40th anniversary release of Signals – particularly the box set, coming out in April. ( The re-issue will be available in three versions – Super Deluxe Edition, one-LP Picture Disc Edition, and Dolby Atmos Digital Edition). Upon seeing what’s coming (and what’s been on previous Rush box’s), I am pretty torn about this one, somewhat disappointed. There is the LP, 4 singles, CD (2015 remaster), a blue-ray disc, a hard cover book, poster, new artwork, prints, etc… You can check out the full details here > https://www.rush.com/signals-40th-anniversary-release/
What this Signals box doesn’t have, however – is anything new to listen to, ie – a live recording from the era, And that is a big drawback for me. Retailing at $229 US (!) – and No live show or rare live tracks … !? Hard to believe, but I guess possible, that maybe something of top quality just doesn’t exist!? (Maybe a bigger Rush collector can clarify?) I love the artwork (and keen to see all the new art from Hugh Syme), as well as the 40 page book, and all, but ….for me – I like to get something (new to me) to listen to. Maybe I’ll just eventually end up getting the new picture-disc version of Signals.
Bill Squier, who released such classic ’80s albums as Don’t Say No, Emotions In Motion and Signs Of Life, is returning with a new record after years of being out of the music business. Following 1993’s Tell The Truth, Squier was done with Capitol Records, and would record just one more album – 1998’s Happy Blue, an acoustic album on J-Bird Records, before seemingly disappearing.
But in the past months there’s been signs of a return and finally a confirmation. Longtime friend and bass player Mark Clarke posted on his facebook page (accompanied by a new photo) back in November that he’d been in the studio with Billy, recoding a new song. They’ve also posted brief snippets of new music titled “Give Her A Kiss”. (Now on youtube)
A few days ago, an announcement came from Eddie Trunk – “Psyched to announce I will be world premiering the first new full band / electric Billy Squier song in about 20 years! March 7th 3:30P ET on #TrunkNationSiriusXM 103 Faction Talk or SXM app. And Billy will join me for an exclusive live interview to discuss it! Do not miss it! As a lifelong fan excited for this and honored Billy is breaking it on my show. Billy Squier“
So, finally new music from Billy Squier will come out! Now, if someone would reissue a few of the later albums on vinyl!
British band White Spirit, who’s 2022 album Right Or Wrong featured previously unreleased tracks sang by the late Brian Howe (Bad Company), have posted a new video for the instrumental track of the song “Rock ‘N’ Roll”. This instrumental version is the Japanese-only bonus track. A great ’80s sounding fast paced rock track, love the synths throughout this. Check out the clip below (and others via their new youtube channel). Right Or Wrong featured a number of name players such as Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Black Sabbath) and Russell Gilbrook (Uriah Heep), as well as guest singers Jeff Scott Soto, Lee Small, and Steve Overland, all joining guitarist Mick Tucker and keyboardist Malcolm Pearson.
The band have recently announced their touring line-up, which (besides Tucker & Pearson), includes drummer- Kyle Hughes (Graham Bonnet Band), bassist- Steve Ireland, guitarist- Micky Crystal (Tygers Of Pan Tang), Lead singer- Alexx Stahl (Bonfire, Purple Rising, Viron), plus backing singers Ian Gillson, Linzi Hunter and Jackie Fox. As well, the band are signed on to play the Dominion Festival in the UK, May 7. White Spirit are currently finishing up work on an EP to be completed in March, which will include a pair of older songs, plus 2 new ones, and is being produced by Pontus Norgren (Hammerfall).
If you haven’t checked out Right Or Wrong from White Spirit, I recommend it; a classic ’80s style hard-rock album (see my review elsewhere here). Looking forward to the new songs, and possibly a vinyl release of Right Or Wrong.
The Damn Truth is a Montreal based hard rock band who have been given the nod to open for Glenn Hughes on his Burn 50th Anniversary UK Tour. Not familiar with The Damn Truth, I thought I’d check them out! A classic hard rock band, with psych and blues influences, and a female vocalist – Lee Baum, who is heavily influenced by Janice Joplin, as well reminded me of Janita (Jenny) Haan of ’70s British band Babe Ruth.
The band has 3 albums out, their most recent being 2021’s Now Or Nowhere. Great heavy guitars, hooks, melodies, and vocals! check ’em out.
Last year Windsor, Ontario musician Rick LaBonte released his ambitious 2CD album Living It Up. His third album since 2016, and first to feature a number of guests, which makes Living It Up a curious release to those who aren’t familiar with Rick. Well known locally, Rick plays with The Formula as well as The Blues Side. He’s also a fellow Uriah Heep fan who performed “Easy Livin“, in 2018 in London, Ontario (soundcheck), and later singing back-up during the encore) . Thus, there’s a few Heep guests on this album, which I must admit was my initial interest in hearing this.
Rick LaBonte – “I have written and recorded 24 songs between two of Windsor’s finest recording studios: SLR STUDIO and HIGHLAND STUDIO. Like the Beatles’ song “With A Little Help From My Friends”, I have called on some friends who I felt best suited the songs that I was recording. Each musician shared his talent and time with me. They respected me enough to give me quality performances on the songs the way I wrote them. I am truly lucky to have friends like these.”
Over the past year Living It Up has received lots of attention through radio, local and online press, where Rick (a featured guest on) Sea Of TranquilityLiving It Up was featured in a great review as well as an interview with Rick, and made the show’s Top 50 releases for 2022. Adds Rick – “All songs are original songs that I wrote or collaborated with. To date, 17 songs out of 24 from my latest album have gotten airplay on radio nationally and internationally.”
Not sure wheat I expected, but I am liking this the more I dig in to it. And Living It Up gets better the more I go back to it. Heck, 24 songs to check out and return to. Most impressive here in not the quantity (OK, a little) – but more so the overall performances and solid production. This sounds better than many major releases sound-wise. And songs, well that is the basis for any decent album, and there is plenty here, and plenty that I find myself returning to.
Living It Up touches on pop rock, hard rock, blues, progressive,… Things kick off rockin’ with “Fragile” and “Full Speed Ahead” – both tracks featuring Davey Rimmer of Uriah Heep on bass and Dusty D’Annunsio (Mark Farner’s American Band) on guitar, as well as drummer Todd Lalonde (Orion Sons) on the opener and Heep’s Russell Gilbrook (drums) on the 2nd, as well as guitarist Chuck Lambrick (Teaze) on the latter. So things are off to a good start. Lalonde plays on most of this album, and I imagine the other numerous players here are from the band’s Rick plays with (notably The Formula) as well as local Windsor bands. But anyway, aside from the first 2 cuts, there’s a number of early favorites here – “I Believe” (feat Rick Carr on lead guitar), “Coda” (a bit of a lighter upbeat track that features Russell Gilbrook, as well as Rick on acoustic guitar and various keyboards), the ballad “It’s A Matter Of Time” (with a nice vocal arrangement, featuring co-writer Jim Kickham on lead guitar). Gotta say, although this set rocks in places – like “Cabin Fever”, it is many of the lighter tunes that stand out, like “Tell Me Now” and “Colour Blind”, as well as the bluesy “Moved On” – which features Joe Konas (The Gods) on lead guitar.
Living It Up is highly recommended, not just for it’s guests , but for it’s songwriting, performances, and production. Kudos to Luc Michaud who played various instruments (all throughout this), as well as co-wrote a few songs here, plus Kevin K. Gagnon & David Pastorius (Pat Travers) – who play bass on a number of tracks each. Excellent album cover-art also (Dan Boshart, Marlene Nead, and Rick LaBonté). Will be interesting to see how Rick can follow Living It Up…up.
Tracklisting:
Fragile Full Speed Ahead Let It Show Living It Up All To Yourself Since I Met You Moved On Now And Then Time Well Spent Tell Me Now You The Gallery Of Love
Cabin Fever My Opinion I Believe Night Shift It’s A Matter Of TIme Coda Drama Jane Doe No Way Memory Lane Colour Blind Big Brother
Musicians:
Jeff Burrows (Drums) – The Tea Party, The Saints Russell Gilbrook (Drums) – Uriah Heep Davey Rimmer (Bass) – Uriah Heep David Pastorius (Bass) – Pat Travers Band, Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy Dusty D’Annunzio (Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals) – Mark Farner’s American Band Chuck Lambrick (Lead Guitar, Ebow, Slide Guitar) – Teaze, Greatest Hits Live Joe Konas (Lead Guitar) – The Gods Michael Hereford (Piano) – British Beat 66 Dale D’Amore (Rhythm and Lead Guitar) – Guitar Army Mike Fortier (Bass) – Guitar Army John Kersey (Bass) – The Blues Side, The Ride Nino Maniaci (Bass) – The Source Kevin K. Gagnon (Bass and Backing Vocals) – The Formula Wayne Bracewell (Drums and Backing Vocals) – The Formula Jim Kickham (Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals) – formerly The Formula Ron McMinn (Lead Guitar) – formerly The Buzzard Band and The Blues Side Kevin Peterson (Bass) – The Soulminors Rick Carr (Lead Guitar) – Crack The Whip Allan Kenney (Lead Guitar) – Vital Sines, The Formula Mark Steven (Drums) – Smoking Purple Monkey Gang Kristopher Marentette (Piano, Keyboards) – J# Major Jim O’ Neil (Lead Guitar) – J# Major Todd Lalonde (Drums) – Orion Sons Luc Michaud (Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Rhythm and Lead Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Percussions, Backing Vocals) – Bigg Wiggle Vic Do Rego (Bass) – Playing Ground, Audiowaves Paul Rigelhof (12 String Acoustic Guitar) – Centerpeace, Icy Redd Dillon James (Drums) – The Blues Side
Living It Up album is available on Spotify, i-tunes and YouTube and at Rick’s website : www.ricklabonte.com
Former DEEP PURPLE bass player, and these days of The DEAD DAISIES, will be undertaking a UK tour in October to celebrate Deep Purple’s 1974 album Burn.
Burn was the first of 3 studio albums Hughes was on while with Deep Purple, as well as new frontman David Coverdale. It would be their most successful of the 3, as it landed in the top 10 in most countries, including #1 in Germany & Austria, #3 in the UK, and #7 in Canada. The title track that kicked off the album is arguably the best album opener in the Deep Purple catalogue. The song was used in the movie Almost Famous, and has been covered numerous times, notably by Riot, Jorn Lande, and WASP. Burn also featured the single “Might Just Take Your Life”, as well as favorites “Sail Away” and epic “Mistreated”.
Glenn Hughes’ band will feature Soren Andersen (guitar), Ash Sheehan (drums) and Bob Fridzema (keyboards). The set will also include songs from the 2 albums that came after Burn with Hughes’ – Stormbringer and Come Taste The Band.
For more info, check out below from the press release, as well as tour dates!
GLENN HUGHES PERFORMS CLASSIC DEEP PURPLE LIVE CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF “BURN”
Planet Rock’s 48-hour ticket pre-sale starts 10am on Tuesday 21 February 2023 VIA WWW.PLANETROCK.COM
Tickets on general sale at 10am Thursday 23 February 2023 from – WWW.THEGIGCARTEL.COM
Glenn Hughes, the former bassist, and singer of Deep Purple, known to millions as the ‘Voice of Rock’, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, is pleased to announce, ‘Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the album BURN’ October 2023 UK tour.
*Special guest on all UK shows is Canadian rock and roll band, The Damn Truth.
‘It was 50 years ago, in the summer of 1973, that the BURN album by Deep Purple was written at Clearwell Castle in the Forest of Dean Gloucestershire,” reminisces Glenn. “It was recorded in October in Montreux, Switzerland.”
Continues Hughes, “We all became one in this centuries old castle in the UK countryside, it felt like Deep were a new band, with David (Coverdale) and I as new members, we couldn’t wait to start working on new songs. The atmosphere was electric, in such amazing surroundings.”
“All the songs on BURN were written in the crypt/dungeon, underneath the great hall. We worked on a new song every day, and we were in the flow. Musically we would play, and work out ideas, and David and I would come up with vocal melodies that would later have lyrics. I remember it like it was yesterday.”
“As you could imagine, Ritchie Blackmore was in full prankster mode, Jon had warned me, and he rigged my room one night with a speaker that was hidden, and had ghostly voices delivered to my bedside.”
“The title track was the last song to be written. We came back from the pub, and went down into the crypt, and magic happened.”
Concludes Hughes, “It’s time to celebrate BURN, and I’m really looking forward to seeing you.”
DEEP PURPLE – THE STORY BEHIND “BURN”
“BURN” is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Deep Purple, written and recorded in 1973, and released in February 1974. The album was the first to feature then-unknown David Coverdale on vocals and Glenn Hughes, from Trapeze, on bass and vocals.
The album was recorded in Montreux, Switzerland, in November 1973, with the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. With the addition of David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes, Deep Purple’s hard rock sound incorporated elements of soul and funk, which would become much more prominent on the follow-up album, “Stormbringer.”
In 2004 “BURN” was remastered and released with bonus tracks. Coronarias Redig was recorded during the “BURN” recording sessions, used only as a B-side for the Might Just Take Your Life single in 1974. It appears as a bonus track (in remixed form) on the anniversary edition re-release. The 2004 remix version of “BURN” was later used in “Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock.”
In 2005 an unauthorised documentary about the album was produced as part of “The Ultimate Critical Review” series. It featured brand new interview with the original Deep Purple Mk III bassist and vocalist Glenn Hughes.
Lead single “Might Just Take Your Life,” released 4 March, was Deep Purple’s first UK single in two years.
The phenomenal title track started things off at full throttle and challenged the seminal “Highway Star” for the honour of best opener to any Deep Purple album, while showcasing the always impressive drumming of Ian Paice. The fantastic slow-boiling blues of “Mistreated’s” greatness qualifies it for the highest echelons of hard rock achievement, and therefore ranks as an essential item in the discography of any self-respecting music fan.
The 4th album from Oakland’s Blackwulf is now out. Thieves & Liars, featuring 9 tracks, notably the lead off cut & single “Shadow” . These guys deliver a solid massive ’70s inspired heavy album that is not short on killer doomy riffs, hooks and solos, with great vocals that are somewherez between a younger + heavier Ozzy and a young Rob Halford, at times — this, along with melodies and changes should appeal to fans of Black Sabbath and early Judas Priest fans, among others heavy ’70s . Of the 9 tracks that run together nicely, check out the title track, which oddly reminds me of Sabbath’s “Heaven And Hell”, as well as cuts like “Seems To Me”, “Failed Resistance” and “Brother” (w/ singer Alex Cunningham sounding like a younger Rob Halford at times) – all easily likable heavy doom metal rockers. Thieves & Liars is also highlighted by the 8 and a half minute epic “Psychonaut/Edge Of Light”, which featured one great heavy slower doom number that fades in to the ballad featuring acoustic guitars…which blends in to the brief atmospheric instrumental “Mysteries Of This”. One of those albums that just flows so well from track to track, with no duds, and is over before ya know it. Awesome cover art from David North.
Drummer Alex Napier passed away on January 19. He was the original drummer for Uriah Heep, the first in a number of drummers in the band’s early years. Napier was born in Glasgow in 1947. He joined Spice, taking over for Nigel Pegrum, well before the band added keyboard player Ken Hensley and changed their name to Uriah Heep. It is Alex Napier who drummed on the Heep classic “Gypsy”, as well as “Come Away Melinda”, “Wake Up (Set Your Sights)”, and favorites like “Walking In Your Shadow” and “I’ll Keep On Tryin'” on the band’s 1970 debut album Very ‘Eavy…Very ‘Umble . He also played on numerous Spice demos and unreleased from 1969 that were later released on The Lansdowne Tapes CD in 1993.
Paul Newton posted – “…Alex was a strong, powerful player who has been virtually ignored and unrecognized for his work and contribution to Heep’s success. He was a tough, larger-than-life no-nonsense guy who didn’t take shit from anyone so not ideal for those intent on dodgy dealings…Gerry Bron & Ken Hensley were terrified of him but for me a good kind friend back then.”
Alex left the band due to family commitments (the band not making enough in those days to support a young family). After Uriah Heep Alex Napier would play with other bands, such as one called Prism alongside friend Peter Harrison whom I swapped messages with years ago – “(Alex) as a drummer, was a joy to behold. It’s like watching a ballet, he could do more with his feet on double bass drums than most guys could do with their hands. A f**king amazing drummer!” Napier also had the Alex Napier Band (The Party) around 1980-81. This band featured singer Tony Mason, and recorded a 2 song demo (which can be found on Youtube). Alex eventually retired from playing, and worked as a cabinet maker, according to Harrison. “The last time I’d saw him he had quit playing and was teaching his son. He [his son] was playing drums and using his dad’s kit.”
There’s never been a lot of photos out there showing Alex Napier’s time with Spice & Uriah Heep. He left before the debut album Very ‘Eavy, Very ‘Umble was completed, and by the time the band’s first single “Gypsy” was released Keith Baker was the drummer (who played on the B-side “Bird Of Prey”, and appeared on the single sleeve and subsequent band photos). Napier is often overlooked in the band’s history, often seen as just one in a line of many early drummers that played on the band’s first 3 albums. But his performances on that album are brilliant, having left his mark on a classic on a classic British heavy prog rock album. RIP
Outsider Rock 