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Music, Pop Culture

Video Clip of The Week: Quiet Riot, “Can’t Get Enough”

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In today’s lesson on Rock & Roll Evolution 101, we find Quiet Riot, the once quasi-notorious, eighties glam-metal band re-imagined for 2017 as a swaggering, super-tight, blues-based rock outfit in the style of, say, The Black Crowes, Blackstone Cherry, and other bands that may or may not have the word ‘Black’ in their name. It’s been ten years since the tragic death of Quiet Riot’s original, inimitable front man, Kevin Dubrow, and in that time the Sunset Strip legends have also parted ways with guitarist Carlos Cavazo and bassist-hunk Rudy Szarzo, leaving powerhouse drummer Frankie Banali as sole survivor of the band’s classic line-up. They aren’t very sentimental in Hollywood.

But if anyone has earned the right to reinvent this band, it’s Banali, who is playing better than ever, and looking ten years younger today than he did when I met him in person in 2001. Amazing. Banali’s fellow Riot-eers are veteran bassist Chuck Wright, guitarist Alex Grossi, and new vocalist James Durbin, who might look familiar to you because he wailed his way to a fourth-place finish in the 2011 season of…wait for it…American Idol! See, Adam Lambert isn’t the only AI alum with the nads to front a classic rock band, I tells ya.

Aurally, “Can’t Get Enough” gains momentum right out of the gate, with Durbin delivering a familiar vocal hook borrowed from Foo Fighters “Learn to Fly,“ and rapid-fire lyrics about the irresistible appeal of life on the road, rocking our for the fans — because Quiet Riot sings about what it knows. Bang Your Head, again! Visually, this is a classic performance piece which keeps you entertained with a few changes in scenario; from a pleasingly pink-lit studio to everyone’s’ favorite outdoor venue: under a freeway overpass somewhere in LA. Certain things should never change. “Can’t Get Enough” can be found on Quiet Riot’s new album, Road Rage, due out later this week on August 4th, 2017, via Frontiers Music SRL. Enjoy!

Quiet Riot 2017

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Music, Pop Culture

Video Clip of The Week: Enuff Z’nuff, “Dog On A Bone”

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For me, it’s always been about the way they sound. It never mattered that Chicago’s Enuff Z’nuff were dismissed by some as a Hair Metal band (like that’s a bad thing) when these guys make music that sounds like a sublime mash-up of The Beatles and Cheap Trick, or a hard rock version of Jellyfish. How can you ever throw shade at that? Fuck.

Gail and Chip Znuff
Gail and Chip Znuff, Summer 2001

In the halcyin days of my former career as a rock journalist, I had some very good times with the band at their shows all over New York, and my interview with bassist/songwriter Chip Z’nuff (who is now also kicking ass on vocals) is one of my favorite conversations Ive had with any musician, ever. If you’ve never heard Enuff Z’nuff before, let this clip for their new single, “Dog On A Bone,” be your introduction to their special magic.

“Dog On A Bone” can be found on the band’s upcoming new album, Clowns Lounge, available December 2nd, 2016 on Frontiers Music Srl. Clowns Lounge is a collection of rarities and early demos that have been reworked and re-recorded by the band. Chip explains, “We had unfinished, unreleased material in the vault, and I went back into the studio in Chicago and started working on all the songs. Guitars, bass, vocals, it all needed to be tweaked, and with help from Chicago Recording Company and Chris Steinmetz of Stonecutter recording studios, we were able to create another rock solid record. It is basically an archival record featuring the original band, and Enuff Z’nuff as it is today. The record showcases the best elements of Enuff Z’nuff in the early days — in-your-face glitter rock with pop overtones. This is a true must have rock record for the diehard Enuff Z’nuff fans worldwide.”

Again, all that matters to fans is how it sounds, which is to say, terrific. Enjoy!

Enuff Znuff Band

Music, Pop Culture

Video Clip of The Week: Inglorious, “Unaware”

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Here at The ‘Gig, we like to show our flexible sense of aesthetics by changing up the Sunday Morning Video Clip between soft songs that sooth, and (because getting out of bed is hard) slightly more strident tunes  to gently kick your ass into gear.  Today we are going with the latter category. If you count yourself among the many hard rock fans who cry out for heavy music that hasn’t forgotten its melodic sensibilities, then you’ll want to know more about UK Rockers Inglorious, who bring us this week’s clip, “Unaware.” All I can say is that I am glad to be no longer ‘unaware’ of this great band!

Managing to sound both contemporary and classic simultaneously, Inglorious remind me so much of Soundgarden (which has a lot to do with vocalist Nathan James’ Chris Cornell-quality set of pipes) only with more consistently appealing songwriting. And you know that can’t be bad. “Unaware” is a bold, modern metal anthem that is equal parts exultant and menacing; the kind of song that embiggens (look it up) you to play it way too loud, just so your upstairs neighbors can hear what a badass you are. I bet they are fucking insane live.

Visually, the clip is showy without being ostentatious, featuring both live performance clips of the band, on stage against screen projections of nocturnal urban landscapes, and James prowling a well-lit concrete corridor and (as Hendrix so succinctly put it) “Comin’ Ta Git Ya!” Come and get me, baby.

Inglorious also includes rhythm guitarist Wil Taylor, lead guitarist Andreas Eriksson, bassist Colin Parkinson and drummer Phil Beaver, and “Unaware” can be found on the band’s self-titled debut album, which was just released on February 19th via Frontiers Music SRL. RIYL: Soundgarden, Dio, Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam’s First Album. Enjoy!

Inglorious Album Art