AUGUST Issue FREE THE Custom Lifestyle Magazine for Car

AUGUST Issue
FREE
THE Custom Lifestyle Magazine for Car, Motorcycle, and Music Enthusiasts
Muscle Car of the Month!
Gary Allen opens up about being a tribute band, working with
the families of AiC, and the
memory that powers his soul.
P. 20
COVER STORY: Dirty Pair-A-Dice
Spend a little quality time with the metal gods of Vegas, try
and keep up, and just let the interview be the interview. CV SW
speaks to the gang from DP.
P. 4
3
Drumiture
10
Drums the Pros Use
14
Guitars the Pros Use
15
Orange Crush Muscle Car
16
Raiding the Rock Vault
18
Mystic Photography in Concert
26
Butcher Babies Interview
32
Las Vegas Nightlife
34
CV Southwest Magazine
News You Can Use
CV SW gives you six
“sneaky” tricks use by
car salespeople to maximize their profit at your
expense.
CV SW offers advice on
how to best prepare for
your summer motorcycle road trip to make it
safe and enjoyable.
P. 12
P. 28
Mystic Photography Concert Series
Table of Contents
Rock Calendar
News You Can Use
Locally Owned / Nationally Known
Spend time viewing the Vegas
concert scene through the lens of
Sherry Keith of Mystic Photography.
Her eye for detail and knack for getting ―the shot‖ gives you an up close
and personal view into the show.
This month…
Raiding the Rock Vault
Great White
White Wizard
Contact Us - [email protected]
CV SOUTHWEST MAGAZINE © 2012-13 is published monthly and NO reproduction of content is permitted without Publisher’s prior approval. Publisher assumes no financial responsibility for the errors in ads beyond the cost of space occupied by error; a correction will be
printed. Publisher is not liable for: any slandering of an individual, or group as we mean no malice or individual criticism at any time; nor are
we responsible for the opinions or comments of our columnists; and promises, coupons, or lack of fulfillment from advertisers who are solely
responsible for the content of their ads. Publisher is also to be held harmless from: failure to produce any issue as scheduled due to reasons
beyond control; all suits, claims or loss of expenses; this includes but is not limited to, suits for libel, plagiarism, copyright infringement and
unauthorized use of a persons name or photograph.
August 1
August 2
August 2
August 3
August 3
August 9
August 9
August 9
August 9
August 15
August 16
August 18
August 21
August 22
August 23
August 23
August 23
August 23
August 23
August 24
August 24
August 25
August 30
August 31
August 31
Every Mon
Every Thu
Every Fri
Every Sat
the Solid Sons
Acoustic Arena
Heavy Honey
Dirty Pair-A-Dice
Grind
Outta the Black
Project 11
Project Eleven
the Solid Sons
Roxx
Outta the Black
Vile Child
Brazen
Vile Child
Brazen
Dirty Pair-A-Dice
Prophets of Addiction
Vile Child
Vinyl Tattoo
Outta the Black
Vile Child
Vile Child
Grind
Acoustic Arena
Grind
Doc's Angels
Arena Tribute
Arena Tribute
Arena Tribute
Beauty Bar
Fiesta Henderson
House of Blues
Hard Rock Café
Club LA
Vamp'd
Vamp'd
Vamp'd
Bar702
Vamp'd
Vamp'd
Cheyenne Saloon
House of Blues
American Legion Hall
Vamp'd
Viper Room
LVCS
Jasper's Bar & Grill
Vamp'd
Vamp'd
the Empire Lounge
Cheyenne Saloon
Ripper's Rock House
Shakespeare's Grille
St Andrew's Hall
Fremont St Main St Stage
Fremont St Main St Stage
Fremont St Main St Stage
Fremont St Main St Stage
Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Destin, FL
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Baldwin Park, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Los Angeles, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Santa Ana, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Ontario, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Akron, OH
Las Vegas, NV
Detroit, MI
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
Las Vegas, NV
The bad boys of Vegas are here, and like it or not, they are here to stay. The gang from Dirty Pairadice has
been bringing down the house all over Sin City, even now branching out to the City of Angels. From Dallas’ vocals to Dylan’s insane guitar shredding, to Ruzz’ pounding bass, and Donny’s thumping beats, DP has been kicking ass and taking names since 2010 with their infectious blend of blues rock, grunge pop, and glam metal.
But at the core of the their infectious sound and their trademark live shows that can be described as nothing short of a sonic and aesthetic spectacle, are four talented musicians just “rolling those bones.”
CVSW got to spend some quality time with a band on the rise...
<CV SW> Who formed the band
in 2010? What were he/they
looking for in music when they
got it together?
DP was formed in 2010 as a
three piece act; current member
Dallas played bass and handled vocals, Ruzz was on guitar along with
their original drummer. Shortly after forming, the original drummer
left, and Dylan & Donnie came in
while Ruzz moved over to Bass.
of all the time we spend practicing
together, all the sweat we put into
being a complete band. We have
become brothers, both on and off
the stage.
<CV SW> Where did the name
come from, any cool story about
how “Dirty Pairadice” came
about?
We have to give credit to
Ruzz & Dallas for that. The band
name was thought up by Ruzz as
<CV SW> The current lineup gels Dirty Pairadice and Dallas changed
on stage, where do you guys get it to Pair-A-Dice. He thinks it gives
sort of a Vegas feel to it…we all
such genuine chemistry?
This line-up has really come agree.
together and meshed well because <CV SW> Your stage presence is
just powerful, do you guys rehearse the show antics or go
where the wind blows, so to
speak?
We don‘t rehearse the antics
we perform on stage. We like each
show to be different and go with
the feel so that it never gets stale;
each show is different, whatever
vibe moves us is just where we end
up.
<CV SW> Did you guys dabble
in anything else growing up, or
was it all music all the time?
We all feel like this is what
we‘ve wanted to do our entire
lives, other general stuff interested
rock band in every sense of the
word. There isn‘t anything fake
about DP, what you see is what
you get from this band, for better
or for worse. We‘re real. We‘re
on stage kicking ass. We know
people appreciate this musical honesty, and it shows with the connection between DP and our fans.
us along the way, but music is
where we all wanted to be.
Dylan, in particular, even
attended MI, Musicians Institute,
up in San Francisco. While he was
studying there he even got to appear in a Foo Fighters video with
other MI students; it‘s all we‘ve
ever wanted to do.
<CV SW> You guys headlined
the main stage of Freemont St
for months, how do you feel that
validated DP as a band?
The Freemont Street concerts last summer were big because
it helped get the word out on DP,
not only locally, but through the
millions of tourists that came
through Freemont during that
stretch of time. We recently played
the Viper Room in L.A. and had
fans come to the show because
they saw the band on Freemont
while in Vegas. It‘s cool to hear
that people actually traveled a distance just to see us play.
<CV SW> What do you guys
think is behind the appeal of
DP?
Our appeal stems from the
fact that we are a tried and true
<CV SW> What goes through
your minds during a show,
when the crowd is going insane,
the venue is vibrating, and it’s
just electric?
According to Dylan...we
play for the fans, whether one or a
thousand. Each and every show excites the band because they are doing what they love to do; it‘s hard
to put into words how that feels,
we‘re just up there rocking out, going with the flow.
<CV SW> Any particularly
memorable shows come to
mind?
Well, of course the Viper
Room show was a huge highlight
for us, but we love to play at
Count‘s Vamp‘d because it almost
feels like home now for the band.
Everyone at the Vamp‘d shows
feels like family each time we play
there; the staff, venue, people, everything there is just top notch, it‘s a
great place to play.
<CV SW> You played that Viper
Room in LA with Future Villians,
tell us what you take away from
a non-local show with a band
like that.
Yeah, that Viper Room
show was an incredible experience. It was huge for us to gain
attention outside the Vegas market;
playing in LA is a great step for a
rock band trying to make it, especially at a legendary club like the
Viper Room. One of our main
goals is to do more LA shows because it creates an opportunity for
the band to gain recognition; you
never know who is going to come
out to see the band and notice us,
so there‘s potential when you play
there. Our number one goal in
2013 is to get signed by a major
record label, and expanding our
reach and popularity to LA will
hopefully help make that a reality. As you all know, it only takes
one right person to attend a show,
hear the band, and then things
come from there.
We opened for Blacklist
Union earlier this year in Vegas,
and part of our management team
has been working with the BU
management team to ―exchange‖
shows; bringing BU to Vegas and
DP to Los Angeles; it‘s a beneficial, cooperative relationship.
<CV SW> What is the craziest
thing you’ve seen at a DP show?
Probably Dylan playing
with blood streaming down his
face during a show.
<CV SW> What do you think is
your greatest accomplishment to
date?
Probably the awards we
won early on. That made us hungry
to be recognized even more, but
also finishing the EP. It took a lot
of hard work and dedication from
everyone involved to make it happen.
<CV SW> Yeah, we were wonder
about that pic of Dylan playing
with blood streaming down his
face, what the heck happened
there?
The now (in)famous picture
of Dylan bleeding on stage comes
from the Viper Room show. Dylan
went to hop on the speakers and a
nearby table at the side of the
stage. He hit his head on a speaker
hanging down from the ceiling. Almost no one saw Dylan hit his
head, but he gashed it pretty bad.
When he returned to the stage to
everyone‘s surprise, blood is
streaming down his face. Dylan
gave the famous quote to the Viper
Room crowd “it isn’t a rock
show until someone is bleeding.” This also has to be the
strangest thing the band has seen
on stage. The crowd loved it, they
went wild.
<CV SW> Let’s talk about those
awards.
2011...VRMA’s…DP is
chosen as “Best Hard Rock
Band”…after only really a year
out and about! Followed up with
“Best Metal Band” by REF Entertainment in 2012… tell us about
those accomplishments, what
keeps you guys motivated after
awards like that?
The awards by REF and Vegas Rocks are some of our greatest
accomplishments to date. We have
a great relationship with both of
those promotions, as well as Rock
Over America based in Vegas.
Those awards early in our career
kind of validated what we were trying to accomplish as a band. It was
nice to be recognized by those
wonderful outlets so early in our
career and it made people stand up
and take note.
<CV SW> Who does the most
song writing, and how do songs
evolve in your writing process?
Do you start with riffs, or lyrics,
or either?
We are a full team when it
comes to song writing. Other than
―The River‖ which Dallas wrote,
the whole band likes to be involved
in the complete songwriting process. This is different from a lot of
bands out there, but we feel it helps
each of us take ownership of the
songs and is part of what keeps the
band so close.
<CV SW> What is your inspiration when you sit to write a
song?
Inspiration can come from
anywhere. ―Concrete Jungle‖, for
example, is a song written about
being locked in jail – enough said
on that subject!
<CV SW> Who are your musical
(or other) influences?
Our influences have to be
modern rock acts with everything
from Foo Fighters, Guns n Roses,
and Avenged Sevenfold.
<CV SW> Any songs really speak
to you on a personal level?
Dallas weighed in on this
and he stated that for him, the ballad ―The River‖ really has a personal connection to him because of
his roots. Dallas grew up in Memphis, Tennessee near the Mississippi River where things just had a
much different feel and vibe than
anywhere else in the country. He
tried to capture that mood and feeling when he wrote that song.
<CV SW> Some pretty big names
like Dave Navarro & Gilby Clarke
are fans and have sat in on a
show…what do you guys learn
from them about music and
showmanship?
With people like Dave Navarro coming to our shows, we feel
it only can help get the word out on
the band and they appreciate any
advice from people who have
―been there done that‖. Recently
Michael Lardie and Mark Kendall
from Great White had some nice
things to say after the show, and
Dylan recently got to spend some
time with Jeff LeBar of Cinderella
when they opened for his new band media – how do you think it’s
Cheap Thrill.
changed the music scene in Vegas? How has it benefitted DP?
<CV SW> Speaking of Vegas,
People have to make a
what are your impressions of choice in Vegas where they are gothe local music scene?
ing to spend their leisure time. That
The local Vegas music sce- is why we are so active on social
ne can be tough; there are a lot of media (Ruzz handles the social megreat local acts competing for time dia outreach for the band). It helps
at different venues. But it‘s a great you reach out to as many fans as
music scene, and the fans are really possible to keep them updated on
the ones who benefit.
things like show dates. You build
your fan base one fan at a time, a
<CV SW> You guys have been social media helps you reach out to
pretty active on FB and social these fans on a group level.
It has really changed the
music scene in Vegas because previously bands had to go out and
hand out fliers and things like that
one at a time to reach people. Now
you can reach your fan base quicker and easier through social media.
<CV SW> In SMASH magazine,
you guys said “let’s let a show
be a show”…tell our readers
what that means to you.
Along those lines, our philosophy is that you do not have to
be choreographed or have every
single thing planned out going into
a rock show. Once things start you
make that connection with the
crowd and then just let things happen as they may. That is all part of
being real out there; start the music
and see where you end up.
<CV SW> Your common slogan is
“this is how we do the night
life”…tell us where that came
from and what it means?
―That‘s how we live in the
Nightlife‖ has become a slogan
from the band and it comes from a
lyric in the hit song ―Night Life‖
available on I-Tunes. It speaks of a
way of life that DP tries to emulate; as Dallas explained, ―the party
does not get started in Vegas until
the sun goes down, and does not
always end until the sun comes
up.‖ We are currently discussing a
video for Night Life, and Dylan is
scheming about doing a theme that
has never been done before. Stay
Tuned!
<CV SW> Tell us about the CD
release this year…
The EP is titled ―Loaded‖,
and has six songs on it. It was produced at Desert Moon productions
down at Danny Koker‘s studio. It
is being released this month, but
we decided to not do a mass release or a huge CD release party,
because we want to release it to
greater our upward mobility becomes, the greater our opportunity
to make it on the national stage. It
is all about showing people what
you got and what you are made of.
<CV SW> It’s July 2013, what’s
in store for the rest of the year
for DP?
For the rest of 2013 playing
with a band like the Future Villians
inside the Viper Room was a great
start. DP will be back at the Viper
Room on Aug 23rd. We sincerely
hope that this is just the first step to
signing with a national label.
Hopefully someone out there with
a label sees one of these big shows
and then the dream becomes realifans at each show little by little, ty, and the sky‘s the limit then.
maybe to tease people a bit, but to
once again make that personal connection with the fans, introducing
them to the songs over time.
<CV SW> What new markets are
you guys looking to break into,
after playing the Viper Room…
what does that mean to you in
terms of upward mobility of the
band?
We are always looking to
break into more markets to reach a
more mass appeal. We are hoping
to do a few more LA shows this
year in order to broaden our fan
base, to make DP a household
name in more than just Vegas. The
more markets we can reach the
Turning
old
instruments
into art!
Instrument Art is something Terry at Guinner
Graphix has been doing for
years for many people that
have a love for instruments. Terry has found, since
being back in California,
that local music stores have a
endless source of instruments
to bring back to life. He will
personalize your drums, guitars, and any instrument you
have. He is currently working
on a Mandolin Jewelry Box, a
custom base for a member of
the all-female band Zepparella, a commemorative CV
WorldWide guitar, and somebody even asked him to do
something with their piano! He can make a piece of
furniture out of an unusable or
unwanted instruments, he does
it all.
To contact Terry, visit:
www.Drumiture.com
Terry has now expanded
his repertoire to include different instruments, everything
from mandolins to guitars of
all kinds, making custom pic
guards and head stock art. He
is constantly on the go, working with different vendors and
personalities to generate great
art pieces, many for charities.
Terry is also the nicest guy in
the room, always willing to
help people out
Terry‘s hope has always been to work
with many wonderful people in many creative
and unique ways, and in accomplishing that
he is living his dream. He loves to save vintage or valuable drums in any way, using
them to make individual, personal, one-of-akind pieces, his skill and perfection borne of
his love of drums and art. Saving drums,
meeting great people, helping those in need,
and creating some very unique drum furniture
is, to Terry, his life‘s calling, and one can see
the passion and skill in his work.
In Terry‘s words; ―to be able to
save these drums and unwanted instruments or cherished mementos and see
the appreciative faces of the people for
whom I have made them is what truly
makes me happy. I‘m excited to say
that Drumiture has many new clients
contacting me daily, and the donations
of numerous unwanted instruments,
which I see as ‗unfinished art‘, is helping me make my dream come true.‖
So You Want to Buy a Car, eh?
CV WorldWide offers some MORE information on automobile purchasing...
Watch for 6 Car Sales Strategies
Most car dealers are wired to make sales.
Even if it‘s a buyer's market, there's no reason to
let your guard down in the showroom. Experienced salespeople have one goal in mind: to put
you in a new car today. And it's their job to get as
much profit out of every sale as possible.
While most car salespeople are honest and
forthright, others may be looking to take you for a
ride. So before you set foot on the lot, be aware of
sales tactics that could bait you into paying hundreds or thousands more than you should.
The Four Square
A salesman puts four numbers in front of
you: the new vehicle price, your trade-in value,
your down payment, and the monthly payment.
He's looking for your "hot button." When you focus on one of the numbers (say you demand more
for your trade-in) he knows he can hook you by
meeting your terms on that part of the deal. Problem is, the other three numbers are already inflated to favor the dealer.
The Waiting Game
"Let me go talk to my manager and see
what I can do," says the salesman. It's a classic
technique. After what seems like ages, the salesDealers start with numbers already geared man returns, ostensibly exhausted from negotiatfor maximum profit. They want to identify which ing on your behalf. "My boss is willing to come
factor matters most to you, so they can appear to down — this is the best deal we've given anyone
"come down" to your terms.
on this car." Don't bite. The dealer's betting that
the longer you sit, the more anxious you'll be to
reach an agreement.
Foiling the “Four Square” Tactic
The Turnover House
Sometimes the sales manager comes to talk
to you himself. Now that you're talking to the
boss, the thinking goes, you'll know you're getting
the best possible deal. The truth is, the "boss" is a
professional closer, brought in to win you over
when the first string can't. It's not uncommon to
go through three layers of sales people before you
reach the dealer's true best offer.
The Sympathy Play
"Hey, I need to make a little money on this
deal, too," he says, citing the struggling economy
or, worse, four kids to feed. It's only fair for the
dealer to make a reasonable profit, but don't be
guilted into paying too much. Rest assured th
dealer won't knowingly lose money just to earn
your business.
The Now-or-Never
"This deal is only good for today." Or,
"There's another buyer interested in this car."
Whatever the salesman's story, some dealers rely
on fear tactics to rush you into a sale. You know
better.
The Free Extras
To sweeten the pot, your salesperson might
throw in pinstriping, rust-proofing or fabric protection at no extra cost. But unbiased experts
agree that these add-ons aren't worth much, despite what the dealer usually charges for them.
Your best bet is to ignore them.
Being street-smart about sly sales techniques is one thing; sticking to your guns and actually getting a good deal is another. So how can
you tilt the odds back in your favor? The answer
is simple: research, research, research.
The Internet has helped level the playing
field for consumers. And thanks to sites such as
Edmunds.com and member-based resources such
as USAA's Car Buying Service , you can enter the
dealership armed with more information than the
salesman himself.
Not only can you research your preferred
© Cars.com, reprinted with permission
vehicle and every available bell and whistle, you
can find out the dealer's invoice (also known as
dealer's cost) and uncover special incentives and
rebates.
It's also smart to know the fair value of
your trade-in by visiting sites such as Kelly Blue
Book, get a quote for insurance on the new vehicle and get pre-approved for auto financing. Lining up these numbers in advance simplifies your
negotiation in the sales office. Still, be sure to set
aside plenty of time for your visit to the dealership, and avoid distractions while you focus on
getting the best deal.
An even simpler approach to consider is
having the price negotiated for you before you
step foot on the car lot. Taking advantage of carbuying programs that offer these special member
prices and services can save you time, money and
the hassles of negotiation.
With solid knowledge about what you want
and how much it should cost, you'll know how to
spot a good deal. And all the slick salesmen in the
world won't be able to change your mind.
Gear the Pros Use!
Kate Roxwell is the original drummer for the punk band,
KLONDIKE KATE! out of Tacoma, Washington. She‘s played over
100 shows and festivals in the band, with punk bands such as Angry Samoans, Left for Dead, Graceland Five, Neutral Boy and many more.
Roxwell incorporates many styles of rock, punk, and tribal beats into
her drumming.
Roxwell was schooled by punk legends including Bob Bulgrien
of Seaweed, AMQA and Alphabet Swill, John Purkey of Subvert, Act
of Sabotage and Sleeper Cell, and Matt Shuttle also of Subvert, Portrait
of Poverty and 13 Scars. ―Living in the Seattle/Tacoma area, I‘m lucky
to jam with great musicians who play many styles of music. I‘m into it
to learn, jam, and have fun.‖
―I play on two sets of Pearl drums. My practice (and recording) drums are an amazing set of Pearl Pro DLX
Series drums. They feature 7 ply shells of birch, mahogany, and lamin. The set includes a 24-inch bass drum, which is
hard to haul around to gigs, so I purchased a smaller set to travel with. On the road, I play on a Pearl Vision, goldflecked set with birch shells. I use Remo pinstriped heads on all my drums.‖
Practice Set:
Pearl Pro SLX Series - Burgundy lacquered finish, Birch, Mahogany and Lamin Shells
24 inch Bass
16 inch floor tom
14 inch rack tom
12 inch rack toms
Gigging Set:
Gold fleck Pearl Vision SST Birch Ply Shells
20 inch Bass
16 inch floor tom
12 inch rack tom
10 inch rack toms
Snare:
Pearl Sensitone 5x14 inch Steel Snare
Cymbals:
Zildjan ZBT 20 inch Rock Ride
Sabian B8 18 inch Medium Crash
Hardware:
PDP Stands
Tama 7000 Pedal
PDP Stool
Hickory 5A or 7A sticks
Gear the Pros Use!
Since I first heard the metal riffs of Motley Crue at the age of 8 I was turned on to
this lifestyle of fast cars, fast women and loud guitars!
I began playing at the age of 15 when I bought my first guitar and from there the
path of finding my style and sound has been a fun ride, similar to being in an X-Rated Disneyland®...
Guitars:
2011 Tiger stripe LTD GL-200 Lynch model with screamin‘ demon pickups for that
ripping sound that splits ear drums and send shivers up the spine.
It has a black and yellow tiger paintjob and a bolt on neck. The body is basswood
with a maple neck and fingerboard with 22 extra jumbo frets. The neck is not super thin
like say an Ibanez wizard neck, but it is quite thin and thinner than most ESP/LTD models.
The hardware includes a Floyd Rose special tremolo system and ESP tuners in black nickel.
It comes standard with one ESP bridge pick up.
Back up guitar
Jackson Fusion 1992 model in a black cherry finish, Floyd Rose and dual humbucker pickups.
Both guitars have the Floyd Rose tremolo.
Marshall Amplification:
DSL 100
This 2 channel monster delivers everything I need for a good clean bright tones to heavy ripping metal tones.
The head has EL-34 and 12ax-7 Groove Tubes replacing the factory ones.
The cabinet is Vintage 30-loaded 4x12 cab, the DSL100's clean channel is brash and punchy, in keeping with
Marshall clean channels of yesteryear, with a powerful treble and a peaky, aggressive midrange
that's mostly tamed by the tone-shift button.
At the other end of the gain spectrum, the super-saturated Lead 2 sound provides practically endless sustain
and a heavy overdrive that's more effective for single notes than power chords.
The two voicings in between - the Crunch and Lead 1 options - are far
more versatile and pleasing to use, the crunch voice is great for blues and classic
rock with a Strat or Les Paul, while the Lead 1 voice sings and responds very
musically, with all the right Marshall ingredients.
Boss GT-100 effects pedal
200 user defined effect slots for you to play with, allows me to have any
tones or effect I need or want. I can go from Panama to Stairway to heaven in the
push of a pedal which is great for what we do in the band spanning all bands
from the 80‘s I‘m able to play the songs in the right tone of the originators.
It‘s also super easy to hook up for recording on my Mac as well.
Strings:
Ernie Ball super slinkys
Cables:
MONSTER!
Picks:
Dunlop heavy!
Orange Crush
Owner - John & Sharma Schlecht
Year/Make/Model - 1970 Dodge Challenger
Dyno says...650 HP!
Vitamin C Orange Paint
500 cubic inch stroker motor
Edlebrock performer rpm aluminum heads
727 torqueflight transmission
4200 dynamic stall torque convertor, back
halved and tubed
Four link rear suspension with coil overs
Narrowed 8¾ inch rear end with spool
488 gears with 41 spline Dutchman axles
Front tires 15x5 centerline rear 15x16 with
33x16 inch slicks
12 point cage
10 gal fuel cell.
From the ashes of loss, rising like a phoenix, GRIND has spent the years mesmerizing audiences
with their show, their talent, and the energetic performance of front man Gary Allen
GRIND, the haunting tribute to Alice in Chains, continues to earn international support and
recognition through their chilling resemblance musically and visually to the classic and tragic original
lineup of AiC. Formed in Lexington, South Carolina in 2010, its mission is solely to pay tribute to the
late Layne Staley, Mike Starr and the memory of his own departed son, Aaron. “Grind is a great surrogacy for fans that miss Layne or never had the pleasure of experiencing him live. For fans of AiC,
and anyone else, they are a must see.”
CV WorldWide had the honor of speaking to Gary about the band, the tragedy of AiC, and the
memory of a son that moves his soul.
<CV WW> Give us the lowdown
on who’s in the band.
Myself, David Corbett on drums,
Billy Price on Bass and Manguss
on Guitar.
<CV WW> Did you gather your
bandmates with AIC in mind
from the start, or did it evolve?
With this particular project,
yes. I was completely focused on a
serious Alice in Chains Tribute. So
Tell me about the process of put- the process was always about pickting together the band.
ing the right people who believed
It continues, it‘s always a in and fit into that niche.
process of perfecting the pieces!
It's no secret, it's tough to assemble <CV WW> Why a tribute band?
four guys who believe in your misI had learned a lot from a
sion and can physically do what it former tribute project and made a
takes to succeed in a really tough decision to go forward with somemarket. I think we have our strong- thing more in honor of those who
est foundation since early 2011 we've all lost.
right now and the stability is much
<CV WW> Ok, why Alice in
needed.
Chains though – was it just be-
very high standard and the band
share it. A fly on our wall would
see that we work very hard on
small details for a better overall
experience. So yes, I hope people
are freaked out (in a good way) and
relive their own Alice in Chains
experiences with us and through
us.
cause of the people they had lost
along the way? Did you particularly admire them? Had you
been a diehard fan for
years? Cuz you know there are
a bunch of bands you could
have chosen.
The story of Alice in Chains
merely still existing today in my
humble opinion is remarkable. Of
course the saddest of stories also
lies within their history. I think I
connect with these losses as a father who has suffered the same
grief and to Layne and Mike's families, especially their Mom's and
siblings. I also admire Jerry
Cantrell so much as an artist, and
for his contribution to the history
of heavy music. Above all, his
willingness and that of Sean, Mike
and William to continue to express
themselves publicly for all of us to
enjoy, is an inspiration.
<CV WW> You guys really do
sound like AiC, does that freak
fans out sometimes?
Thank you. I hope we have
an impact on our fans. I have a
bution to the signature style of Alice in Chains are not to be overlooked. He was a brutally powerful
bassist and his energy onstage was
infectious. There is no mistaking
his tone when you hear it to this
day. Finally, I hope that people,
especially kids learn from the tragic losses of these amazing people
and live a positive life in their hon<CV WW> Why did you choose or.
the name “Grind”?
I chose the name Grind be- <CV WW> How do you feel this
cause I knew that's what I was in lineup meshes so well on stage,
for.
what works so well about
Grind?
<CV WW> A tribute band is
I try and listen to my friends
much different than a cover and just stay aware onstage. I can
band…how much harder do you tell you these guys are focused and
feel you have to work to get no- realize the value in what is happening for Grind, making my job a litticed & accepted?
That's a loaded question. tle easier in the process. Most imThere are a lot of cover bands portantly we're all Alice in Chains
wearing the tribute band label and fans; camaraderie of purpose and
I'm no person to judge, that's just focus help us greatly.
not what Grind is about. Authenticity is critical in light of the loss of <CV WW> Tell us about how
two founding members of the band you’ve succeeded in a tough
we portray. We have built a stage, place being a tribute band, what
production, characters and scenes do you think is your key to sucthat amount to our total musical
experience, all with a hopeful message. As far as acceptance I feel
really fortunate for any level of it
but this is for me, and I accept it.
<CV WW> You say “we have
built a stage, production, characters, and scenes that make up
to our experience, all with a
message”…what message is
that?
A hopeful one. I prefer to
disregard the negative element and
focus on remembering what an
amazing talent Layne Staley was
and that he left so many positive,
beautiful things for us all. And
Mike Starr, his memory and contri-
cess? You guys are NATIONAL,
tell us about the road to that
sort of fame.
Well, first of all, thank you
for that compliment. Being respected in a national touring sense is
very fulfilling. The road started
with a little 90 minute show in a tshirt and shades for a beautiful
group of about 150 in Hartsville,
SC at a little honky-tonk called
Gardner's. At the end of that night,
I had some personal moments that
lead me to our conversation today
and I'm just as determined as that
night. I'm proud to have established
Grind without the ongoing or honest support of any major agency or
management and of the relationships with venues, buyers and promoters worldwide I have been
blessed with.
<CV WW> You talk about being
able to do this without any major agency or management
team…do you think that adding
that to your world would significantly change your path or
your options?
You’ve carved
your niche already, do you
think that might increase your
“ceiling” as a band?
Without a shadow of a
doubt I believe it could take us to a
next level. I have expressed openly
my hope for an experienced and
honest industry professional to join
our team. I have a lot of hopes for
our show that even include a musical of sorts with some scenes and
more elaborate production. Where
we are right now, I really am doing
as much as I can on my own but
my resources are very limited in
comparison to a major management group. I'm sure there is some
taboo to it all and I totally understand that but, I also feel there is
room for Grind in the worldwide
touring arena and the right people
could do us a great service, in trib- really cool memories but they are
brief.
ute to Alice in Chains.
<CV WW> When you’re on stage,
what are you thinking…do you
feel you’re channeling someone
like Layne Staley?
Not really. Our show and
performing in general is a very
emotional thing for me so I have to
try and focus on my role and not
get too caught up. There are times
when I let myself go and they are
<CV WW> You are recognized
publicly by the families of
Layne Staley & Mike Starr – tell
us about meeting them, and
how that came about.
Thank you. I have not met
Layne's mother. Obviously I would
be humbled to. We have communicated though, and while I'll keep
that private I will say she has a
heart of gold and I wish we did not
share the sad bond that we have.
With the help of Mike Starr community leader Shanna Torp, I accepted an invitation to meet some
of the Starr family and perform for
them. They are a wonderful group
of loving people who share their
lives with the people who loved
Layne and Mike.
<CV WW> You performed at a
Seattle show in honor of Mike
Starr; what was that show like?
It was a real challenge just
to get there at first. Just the honor
of meeting family and friends of
this amazing man was enough. We
also got to play, how great is that?
My goal was to personally
ask for a moment to offer my gratitude which I was afforded. The
night was incredible, with Mike's
you are coming. I actually think we
could do tons more in that arena
but I am only one guy and it takes
a lot of time. I hope to have someone take that to another level for
was that a tribute band as well?
Yes and it featured current
Grind members David Corbett and
Billy Price. They have been with
me for a lot of this.
<CV WW> With those projects essentially leading up to Grind,
have you decided to focus solely
on the AiC tribute?
Right now Grind and writing are all what I am focused on
but I do want to make myself available to artists who want a serious
professional amongst them. I certainly would like to have a real
shot on tour with a band before
hanging it up. I've been putting my
name in some hats hoping the right
situation will present itself.
family in attendance, Steve Unger
of Metal Church joining us onstage, Randy Piper playing, I met
members of SATO, Xana La
Fuente and many awesome Burien
Villagers. All of that was just as
special, but the personal things
were my bounty. I'll admit it left
me hungry to return as well.
me one day.
<CV WW> How do you think social media has changed music?
Accessibility. If you had to
turn on a radio or go to the record
shop for the next Metallica album,
we wouldn't even be addressing
this. I hope bands will go back to
asking kids to wait for a song and
buy it in a store to enjoy for the
first time. It's all merchandise and
tours otherwise, because people
just won't buy what they can download.
<CV WW> How did you ever determine that the voice of AiC was
in you like it is? When did you
discover this, tell us about that
process.
Honestly, my connection to
the songs makes me comfortable, <CV WW> Do you have any parand I hope that comes across well ticularly memorable shows?
They all mean a lot but the
when I sing them.
ones with kids connecting to what
<CV WW> I’ve seen you pretty is going on and with my family on
active on social media…how rare occasions, those are really spehave you leveraged it in the cial.
band’s life?
Well if you want to see the <CV WW> In 2005 you formed
world, you'll need them to know ReAlign, a salute to Godsmack…
<CV WW> We don’t want to pry,
but you say Grind is also a tribute to your son, Aaron. Anything you’d like to share on that
front?
I'm glad you asked. I want
the world to know about him and I
so appreciate this forum to express
it. When he died, I survived
through music and performing, and
continue to do so today. I think we
all cope with tragic things in our
own way. This is mine. In reality
everything I do starts and ends with
Aaron.
You said you want the world to
know about him, do you think it
might be important to expand
Aaron’s story a bit for our readers? My readers are only a minute part of our world, but you
can feel free to tell the whole
story if you’d like.
Well I'd only say that I
wouldn't wish the loss of a child on
anyone and I'm certain I will never
face a more tragic event. It's most
important to express, especially to
those I love the most, that I'm doing the only thing I know...to deal.
I see Aaron's face every day, and I
feel an obligation to find something good from such a really horrible thing. Again, we all deal with
things in our own way and are affected in different ways. Gary Allen is dealing with holding his son
as he took his last assisted breath
through singing songs that helped
him cope with the darkest day a
young man could ever possibly imagine. I'm so totally thankful that
I'm being embraced for doing so.
Nutshell…
Tell us about the support of your
family; life on the road can be
difficult, how do they strengthen
your resolve and emotional well
-being?
Well I wish I had a fairy tale
but I don't. My choices have taken
their toll on many of my relationships mostly in part to a lack of understanding. I regret this, but I also
know who I am and I'm comfortable in my skin. I'm thankful for the
love and support of my love Sarah
and many of my family and friends
as well as so many fans of Alice in
Chains, and I intend to continue
respectfully in their honor.
How do you feel the kids connect
to AiC, what do you see that
moves you in that process?
I think parents are making
the initial connection by bringing
them out to the shows. I work hard
with venues to make our events are
all ages and for the most part the
friends attending are really just
having a togetherness, a kind of
cool evening at the shows and it
isn't all crazy like, say, a Pantera
gig. I think the staging and myth
might draw them in a bit too, but I
hope that the songs and our performance keep them coming back. Also, we try to make a show out of
the night. We have some little production elements that put some key
points across in a respectful way
and I think our friends are enjoying
it. As far as what I see that is moving, I mean that starts with just anyone at all attending a show. That
means everything. I don't take it
lightly and I want them to get away
with me for 2 hours. It's always
amazing to have kids up front and
to see the stars in their eyes. I hope
the ones in my own still shine like
that. When the crowds of our
friends sing, or we embrace the
night, the show, the music, that is
very special. I'm quick to remember that this is someone else's legacy though and I hope the way I
honor it is acceptable.
It’s halfway through 2013,
what’s in store for Grind fans
and the band for this year and
beyond?
Well first off I couldn‘t be
happier about what we've accomplished already this
year. Grind is already booked well into 2014, so we'll
be around a while and I hope to further develop our
production to enhance the experience for our friends.
We have not been in the Northeast so we will focus
some attention there and try to get up to New York,
New Jersey and other states in that region. I think
that's a realistic outlook.
There's so much more I want to do and so
many more places I'd love to take our show. Hopefully someone will come along who believes in this like
we do and offer some support that puts us in more
places. If I couldn't sing tomorrow it would be okay
and I would be very proud of this and all it is about
but, I still think I have a lot to say, I'm still very hungry and I would love to be heard.
Gary Allen
Systemec
turning on the
Modern Rock
Metal
Industrialized
Blender
Since 2009!
september 1 st
LVCS
9:00 pM
With
Alien ant farm
Planning a Great Road Trip
aka
“Motorcycle Touring 101”
It‘s AUGUST, and time for ROAD TRIPS
(not that you haven‘t been doing any riding already)! But motorcycle trips demand far more
planning than the equivalent journey in a car.
Though riding provides an inherent sense of freedom, practical limitations require motorcyclists to
think ahead when choosing to hit the open road.
For starters, most motorcycles are limited
in their storage capacity. Though all-out touring
bikes such as the Honda Gold Wing and the
BMW K1200LT offer numerous hard cases for
the storage of extra clothes and gear, long distance riders are often forced to make tough decisions about the details of their trips, and how
much of what items they need to pack.
The first questions you'll want to ask yourself when planning a trip pertain to how long you
plan on being gone, where you intend to go, and
what you have in mind for lodging.
First on your list of "must pack" items is a
safety and repair kit, in case something goes
wrong; contents as follows:
Most bikes come with toolkits, but you'll
want to make sure you're equipped with pliers, wire cutters, and various wrenches
(including allen wrenches.) A small, all-inone Leatherman®-style tool can be a handy
complement to a traditional toolkit, and is
easily accessible for quick repairs or adjustments.
Bringing along extra fuses, bulbs, spark
plugs, and chain oil can make the difference between traveling securely and limping to the next service station.
Ever been caught in the dark? A flashlight
will save you the hassle of trying to use
your cell phone for illumination.
Blowouts are an all-too-common occurrence, and a flat kit which includes
C02 cartridges for tire inflation will get you
on the road again.
If it's good enough for astronauts, it should
be good enough for you. Unexpected mechanical failures or breaks can sometimes
be held together with duct tape, providing a
low-tech solution for potentially crippling
problems.
A first aid kit is something you never want
to be without - whether its poison ivy or an
ankle burn from an exhaust pipe, the cliché
about an ounce of prevention being a pound
of cure is absolutely true. Rather than assembling your own supplies, an easier and
more thorough solution is to purchase a pre
-assembled kit, which will ensure that key
items are not missing.
Unless you're riding a fully fledged touring
motorcycle, you'll probably need to invest in
some type of storage bags; backpacks don't count.
Options include saddlebags (which rest straddle
the seat and rest on either side of the rear wheel,
and are also known as panniers,) and tank bags,
which sit directly atop the fuel tank (and often
have handy clear plastic windows for displaying
maps.) While hard bags offer more weather protection than soft bags, they are also costlier, add
more weight, and require more involved installation. Centrally positioned tail bags are another option if you need even more storage.
While more detailed inspection and maintenance practices can be found in our motorcycle
maintenance section, the Motorcycle Safety
Foundation's T-CLOCS method is an efficient
way to inspect your bike before traveling:
T: Tires.Make sure both tires are properly inflated, using an air pressure monitor that you
bring with you on rides. Don't risk riding on
tires that might need replacement; if suspect a
tire will not last long enough for a ride, have it
replaced.
C: Controls.Are your cables (clutch and
brakes) and controls intact and working?
L: Lights.Make sure your headlights (high &
low beam), turn signals, and brake lights work.
O: Oils & fluids.Check everything from engine oil and coolant to brake fluid.
C: Chassis.Ensure that the frame, suspension,
chain, and fasteners are all secure and intact.
S: Stands.Make sure the center stand and/or
side stand isn't cracked or bent, and that
springs properly hold the assembly away from
the pavement when stowed.
For a more detailed, downloadable inspection
checklist, go to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's website.
Packing for a long distance motorcycle ride
is a delicate balance between bringing enough
items to ensure comfort, and not overloading
yourself with unnecessary weight and bulk. After
you've planned your route, you'll want to check
the weather forecast and get an idea of what to
expect in terms the elements.
A good touring suit is an excellent investment, and when choosing your clothes, consider
packing several thin layers of clothing, rather than
a few thick ones. Flexibility is the key to staying
comfortable; it's far better to have the option to
stop and shed or add layers as necessary, than to
shiver or sweat your way through what would
otherwise be an enjoyable, scenic route.
Be sure to bring energy bars or trail mix
and water; if hunger or thirst strikes while you're
far from convenience stores or gas stations, the
nourishment will come in handy and keep your
riding skills sharp.
When loading up your bike, always put
heavier, more solid items on the bottom and sides
closer to the bike (to centralize weight.) Lighter
items should go on top. If you don't have saddlebags or tank bags, you should consider using
bungee nets to secure loose items. If you must
travel with items secured by a bungee net, ensure
that they are snug and will not get loosened by
winds or g-forces. Again, placing heavier , wider,
and more stable items at the bottom will provide
an anchor for looser, floppier pieces (like sleeping
pads or pillows.)
Finally, equip yourself well. Always wear a
full-face helmet for maximum protection - not only against accidents, but also from the elements.
Full-face helmets can provide a shield from rain
and cold winds, and if constructed with ventilation, can also provide a certain level of comfort in
warm weather. It may feel constricting in heat,
but the overall benefits of choosing safety over
style are vast when considering your long-term
health and well being.
Though it's tempting to hit the open road
and simply follow your nose, don't forget that
you're more vulnerable to the elements, fatigue,
and potentially serious injury on a motorcycle.
Prepare yourself with clothing appropriate for the
weather. Plan a route and, if you don't have a
portable GPS system, do whatever it takes not to
get lost - even if it means taping directions to the
top of your fuel tank. Err in the direction of filling
up with gas too frequently; because of their relatively low cruising range, most bikes will barely
make it across some of the North American
stretches of highway that are sparsely populated.
When in doubt, fill up.
Pace your travels realistically. Don't try to
ride so many hours in a day that it might affect
your reflexes or decision making ability; after all,
most of the fun is in the journey, not simply in
reaching a destination. While riding, be sure to
stop whenever necessary - whether for a snack, a
stretch, or a nap. The simple act of taking a
breather will make the ride all the more enjoyable.
Once you've prepared sufficiently, enjoy
the possibility of the unexpected. Riding requires
a certain amount of discipline and logistical planning, but part of the joy of the journey is the process. Be open to re-writing your plans when necessary, and you'll have a blast no matter where
you end up.
By Basem Wasef, About.com Guide
Real. Loud. Aggressive. Metal.
Making a good pair of sticks begins by selecting the
best wood possible. We manufacture many different models of sticks using Canadian maple and American hickory.
Our maple is considered to be the best in the business
and our hickory from the southern USA is known the
world over as the top choice for stick manufacturing. We
also use red hickory which comes from the heart of the
tree, making it stronger and more durable for those who
need a bit "more" from their sticks.
We use only the finest grades of wood. Every dowel
is hand inspected to ensure that the grain is straight and
free from any defects. Only then does it go to our lathes to
be turned into a LOS CABOS DRUMSTICK. When you purchase a pair of our sticks, you are
investing in quality craftsmanship. With nearly two dozen models to choose from, Los
Cabos Drumsticks offers something for every drummer.
Contacts
• Website: www.loscabosdrumsticks.com
• Blog: www.loscabosdrumsticks.tumblr.com
• Twitter: @loscabossticks
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/loscabossticks
"PREPARING
YOU
FOR
GREATNESS"
Faster than you can say heavy f**king
metal, the Butcher Babies have clawed their way
to the top of the Hollywood music scene to become
the undisputed darlings of the Sunset Strip.
The Butcher Babies are everywhere, they
have had a mountain of press, but they have only now released their debut full length? Why
have they made such huge waves? Their sinister
presence, undeniably talented and heavy music
and the fact that their two singers are insanely
hot females with massive talent, that’s why. During a recent stop on the Metal Mayhem tour Heidi
Shepherd and Chris Warner took a few
minutes to talk about the massive dirge that is
their debut record, Goliath.
An interview with Heidi Shepherd and
Chris Warner of Butcher Babies.
By Jeffrey Easton
Metal Exiles: You guys are out all
summer on the Metal Mayhem
Tour. What is your plan of attack
to make the fans remember you?
Heidi Shepherd: Just being ourselves on stage and we are known
for being a bunch of party animals
so we have a sick time on
stage. As long as we are having
fun on stage everybody else will
too.
Metal Exiles: How were you able
to put two volatile singers in the
same line up and make it work?
Heidi: That‘s simple because you
could not as for a better combination that Carla and myself. We are
like the Spice Girls on crack and
having us fronting the band has
helped our progression and also the
publicity that the band has drawn
because of it has been through the
roof.
Metal Exiles: You‘re about to drop
your Century Media full length review but you guys have had a massive amount of press already. Do
you think having two females up
front is the reason?
Heidi: I do not think that is the reason, I think it‘s because it is something they haven‘t really seen before. I cannot recall a dual female
fronted metal band before us. We
are touching new ground here
which people wanted to be a part
of and we are more than welcoming to that.
Metal Exiles: Shock Rock has had
many faces so what can you add to
that to make your fans stand on
edge?
Heidi: People say that we are but
sometimes I do not see us that
way.
I think people are just
shocked at a couple of girls acting
the way that we do, I think that‘s
what‘s mostly shocking. Besides
Wendy O Williams, I haven‘t seen
a female do anything shocking in
music in a long time. This is really
who we are but with the blood, the
theatrics and the horror, those are
things that we love, it‘s what we
are about. It‘s part of our character, it is who we are when we jump
Heidi: Goliath is something that
we have held inside us for a long
time. I have a green binder that I
have all of my writing in and I
have had it since I was 12 so anything I have ever experienced in
my life is in there and that‘s where
we pulled a lot of the material
from. A lot of things on this record
are things that most people go
through and we just turned a negative into a positive.
on stage so it‘s not for shock, it‘s Metal Exiles: Explain Magnolia
Blvd.
just how we feel.
Heidi: It‘s about people moving to
Metal Exiles: How do you feel Los Angeles with a dream and the
when you are on stage beating the city swallowing them whole. Peoshit out of your drums?
ple lose their focus in life and it
Chris Warner: I am having the can happen to anybody that goes
time of my life and being with four there and gets wrapped up in the
best friends on stage is all I need. scene.
Heidi: The best thing about Chris
is that he has been in bands his Metal Exiles: What stands out on
whole life and he has done great the album that‘s really personal to
things but to have him in our band you?
is huge for us because he is an Heidi: There is a lot of personal
stuff from the whole band on the
amazing drummer.
record but Chris started The Mirror
Metal Exiles: There have been Never Lies.
some pics floating around of you Chris: That song is pissed off,
guys performing topless with elec- when you are looking at yourself in
trical tape covering you. Are you the mirror and you are questioning
ever concerned that people will see things you did, it is just inner turthose and judge you before they moil and you just get frustrated
hear a single note?
with yourself.
Heidi: We haven‘t done that for a Heidi: In Denial is very personal to
few years and it was an ode to me and you can really hear it on
Wendy O Williams. She left us the record. I wrote it about a reearly and we wanted to continue cent experience in my life and
what she started because she was while we were in the studio I was
the first female in metal to do what
the f**k she wanted to do because
she did not care. It‘s funny that
those are the pics to surface but it
doesn‘t matter, people are going to
think what they want to think.
Metal Exiles: Goliath is an angry,
pissed off record. Who pissed you
off enough to write this?
sitting on my knees screaming into
the microphone and I just started
crying. It was such a release for
me and all of those emotions I was
carrying from that experience just
came pouring out when I was singing it.
Metal Exiles: I Smell A Massacre?
Heidi: That is a song that we wrote
after the Sandy Hook incident. There are so many things in
the press these days about these
massacres being caused by gun
control or mental illness. I believe
it starts in the home with how the
parents are raising their kids. Parents are raising their kids to be bullies, raising them very shitty, neglecting them, that is where it
stems from. That is what is what
Goliath is about in general but I
Smell A Massacre is in the mindset
of that incident. Goliath is about
that villain in your life and you can
make the decision to become that
bully or you can change and not
turn
into
Goliath.
Metal Exiles: You talk about the
frustrations in your life but you
beat the shit out of the
drums. How can you be frustrated?
Chris: That‘s what helps me, beating the shit out of the
drums. There were situations in
my life but Heidi and I ended up
getting together, we(and the band)
wrote them out and I just got it out
of my system. I had these feelings
in my system but with writing and
beating the drums I got it out of
me.
Heidi: Playing live shows with all
of us going nuts on stage, we are
all so much nicer because we get to
do that. I think this has saved me
from chopping up many people and
going to jail.
The Vegas hot spot for Live Music did it again. This time
bringing together two of the hottest bands in Vegas, Smashing Alice
& Outta The Black. This was the first time these two bands have
played together and the turnout showed. They blew the roof off the
place with both bands bringing performances that will be hardpressed to be outdone. OTB brought a duo of original songs to the
Vegas
fans
and
Smashing
Alice
turned it up a notch
with a new Deftones
cover, then brought
up Guitarist Jason
Constantine for some
Pantera that blew the
crowd away. Be on
the lookout for bigger
things from both of
these bands.
Vamp'd also hosted one of the
best Rob Zombie Tribute Bands, if
not THE best, that Sin City has ever
seen. Not being a big Zombie fan in
the past, 'House of Zombie' definitely changed that. Fast, loud, aggressive and balls to the wall stage presence brought a full house packed into the main room to witness a fantastic spectacle. You don't normally see
amazingly attractive women in a
band like this, but a powerhouse of a
bass player in Shannon Bizzy drove
the crowd and yours truly crazy with
a show of fire & energy not seen in a
long time. Based in LA, House of
Zombie, would be welcomed back, I have a feeling, without a doubt.
It seems the old and closed Golden Palm has
recently been purchased and reopened offering Live
Music. A monster in the Vegas local music scene and
hugely talented drumming machine, Danny Robert
has yet another project in 'Mumbo Jumbo' and took
the stage at the resurrected venue. Once they get the
place cleaned up and fully functional, we may have
another decent local music venue.
The Stoney Curtis Band took a drive back
down to Club Fortune Casino to rock out to a full
room, as usual. Some of the best rockin‘ blues that
you'll hear anywhere in the valley; heck, anywhere
period.
Every Wednesday Night at Vamp'd, the John
Zito Band takes the stage for a midweek jam for
those that can‘t wait for the weekend. This show is a
Dirty Pair-A-Dice continues rocking Sin City must see as different musicians from all over the valand Hollywood, recently tearing up the stage at ley come out and things tend to get really loud.
Vamp'd and the Whiskey out in LA. They have shows
Another Local Legend, from the Sin City Sincoming up in August at the Hard Rock Cafe and the
ners‘ Todd Kerns, came back to Sin City in his new
House of Blues in Vegas and the Viper Room out in
role of conspirator with Slash & Myles Kennedy. The
Hollywood. Be sure to check them out, you wont be
House of Blues was wall-to-wall people taking in the
disappointed.
Show-of-the-Week when Slash and the boys brought
the house down and showed Vegas why they are one
Alice Cooper Guitarist Kerri Kelli owns a popof the hottest acts anywhere in the country.
ular craft beer bar in Vegas that celebrated their 4
year anniversary, with a Beer Party, of course. With
the 'Inner Circle Family' in tow, we had to partake in
the festivities, just to make sure it was up to par with
the Vegas scene. HaHa.