This past weekend I went to see the Michael Moore film, Fahrenheit 9/11. Everyone needs to see this film. Parts of it are hilarious and parts of it are extremely difficult to watch, but it gives the typical not-super-political person, like me, a laser perspective into what’s going on in Iraq. Continue reading The Roof Is On Fire: Thoughts on Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11
Artist: Hand of Doom
Album: A Beginner’s Guide to the World’s Best Black Sabbath Tribute Band
Release Date: 2002
Label: Idaho/Retrophonic
Inspired by her visceral rock sensibilities amid MTV-spawned Osbourne’s-mania, former Hole/Smashing Pumpkins bassist, Melissa Auf Der Mauer formed Hand of Doom, a just-for-fun Black Sabbath tribute band, with friends Nick Oliveri (Queens of the Stone Age) and Pedro Yanowitz (ex-Wallflowers). Hand of Doom played three sold-out LA club gigs and captured the live magic of those shows for A Beginner’s Guide to the World’s Best Black Sabbath Tribute Band — your eight-song souvenir of these three enchanted evenings.
Continue reading CD Review: “A Beginner’s Guide to the World’s Best Black Sabbath Tribute Band” by Hand Of Doom
I was hanging out with David Lee Beowulf last night at Vinny “Beany” Cecolini’s Wrestlemania party, and Dave told me that Dead Milkmen bassist, Dave Blood (born David Schulthise) had just died on March 9th. Apparently, he took his own life. What a drag.
Continue reading RIP Dave Blood of the Dead Milkmen
Artist: Bree Sharp
Album: More B.S.
Release Date: August 13, 2002
Label: Ahimsa/Union
NYC singer/songwriter, Bree Sharp’s promising 1999 debut, A Cheap and Evil Girl scored a minor hit with an aural mash note to X-Files hunk, “David Duchovny.” On Sharp’s cleverly entitled follow-up, More B.S., there’s more folk than rock going on in this mixed bag of exceptional pop tunes, with the maturity of her songwriting suggesting a 20-something Joan Jett disciple exploring her Fiona Apple side. Among many stand-out tracks are the thoughtful new-age lullabye, “Galaxy Song”; the understated hilarity of “Dirty Magazine; and an engaging “Bonnie & Clyde” style tale of two doomed outlaws — “The Ballad of Grim & Lilly” — which mixes woozy trip-hop beats with lyrical fatalism, revealing Sharp’s flair for storytelling that’s a cornerstone of great songwriting. It’s on “The Last of Me,” a hauntingly direct tune about the promise of revenge in the aftermath of a failed relationship, however, that she really hits her stride.
Official Website: http://www.breesharp.com
This article was originally written for Rolling Stone’s Online Magazine. Though Rolling Stone remains in print and online, this article is no longer a part of their archive and has been added to the content base of The Worley Gig for our readers’ enjoyment.
Supagroup “Rock Across America!”
New Orleans based take-no-prisoners rock and roll traditionalists, Supagroup, are in the midst of a brief tour across the southeast – including two shows in New York City — before returning home for the annual Mardi Gras festivities. Following a short break, Supagroup will head to Austin, Texas for the South By Southwest Music Conference, then return to New Orleans for a performance at Jazzfest. It’s just business as usual for a band that spent half of 2003 on the road with bands like Queens of The Stone Age, Supersuckers, Fu Manchu and Drive By Truckers in support of its critically lauded, self-titled fourth album.
If you believe early predictions that rock and roll will be this years’ hip-hop, then Supagroup might just do for the genre what Outkast have done for 70’s funk. On Supagroup, the quartet mix the classic blues rock of early Stones and Humble Pie with the guitar ferocity of Motorhead and AC/DC, the Supersuckers’ sly humor and the “drink-and-rock” good-time vibe of the late, lamented Unband. The result is a fairly potent elixir. “With us, you have to start with Bon Scott-era AC/DC,” explains vocalist/rhythm guitarist, Chris Lee from Supagroup’s van, somewhere in Georgia. “AC/DC is my favorite band of all time, but my second favorite band is DEVO. Freedom Of Choice was the very first record I bought with my own money. What I liked so much about DEVO was their sense of humor and really subversive view of the world, which gets a bit into what we’re doing. If I were to describe us I’d say we’re AC/DC meets DEVO.” Supagroup includes Lee’s younger brother, Benji on lead guitar, drummer Michael Brueggen and bassist Leif Swift.
The band’s mission is simple: Supagroup is here to rock you senseless. “So many people claim to be ‘Rock’,” says Lee, “but when we say ‘Rock,’ people understand we’re guys that listen to a lot of Van Halen, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.” Lee also emphasizes that Rock is not a complete equation without the Roll. “The ‘Roll’ is the part where it swings,” he says. “Without the Roll, you’re a metal band that’s really stiff, or you’re a technician; you’re not feeling it.”
In 2004, Supagroup has its sights set for success across the pond, where rocking artists like The Darkness, Andrew W.K. and Jet have been embraced by the UK media and fans alike. And with Supagroup now represented by Sanctuary Management, this could be a break- through year for the band that originally formed in 1996, finding their voice with the music they love hearing as well as performing.
A video for the band’s new single, “What’s Your Problem?” is currently generating some buzz and Supagroup’s relentless touring schedule has made their song “Rock and Roll Star” something of an unofficial band anthem. “People always ask us to play “Rock & Roll Star,” he says, “which is just a song about being on the road, not getting anywhere, playing rock music when nobody likes it, and not giving a f**k. The thing is,” he continues, “despite anything I could complain about, being in a rock and roll band is awesome! When you’re doing what you love, it doesn’t matter whether you’re successful by other people’s definition. When you’re happy, that’s what matters. What makes us happy is rocking for people.”
When they’re not touring, members of Supagroup can often be found at The Saint, a New Orleans’ bar co-owned by Chris Lee with several partners, including former White Zombie bassist, Sean Yseult. “Benji, Michael and I all work there, and Leif works at Juan’s Flying Burrito a block away,” Lee laughs. “The Saturday before Mardi Gras, Benji’s working from midnight to 8 AM. Come on down, we’ll be there.”
Supagroup Tour Dates:
2/04 – Jacksonville, FL, Jack Rabbits
2/05 – Miami, FL, Churchill’s
2/06 – St. Petersburg, FL, The Emerald Bar
2/07 – Tallahassee, FL, Beta Bar
2/11 – New York, NY, Sine’
2/13 – New York, NY, Plaid
2/14 – Richmond, VA, Canal Club
2/20 – New Orleans, LA, Tulane University
Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Supagroup
This article was originally written for Rolling Stone’s Online Magazine. Though Rolling Stone remains in print and online, this article is no longer a part of their archive and has been added to the content base of The Worley Gig for our readers’ enjoyment.