Ozzfest for free

[Reality]

Some of the other years I would have been stoked, but this years lineup meh.
Might be different for you.  W.O.W., System of a Down.

http://www.ozzfest.com/news_2006.html

[Rolando Blackman]

Hey Reality!!!
   
Now don't get your hackles up because of the subject...I am not talking about the relevance of your post's topic (although some may...LOL).  What I am talking about is that Ozzy Osbourne is still a 'rock and roller' (there are too many songs that pop in my cranium when this subject comes up, BTW...grist for a future post) with some commercial appeal.  It's pretty funny (and sad, in a way) that the Ozz-man (Black Sabbath!) is still known to the younger folks because of a Monkees-type TV show...but I guess Joe V and Lurker are the only ones here who would understand what I am talking about!

Hey, I was 14 when 'Black Sabbath - Paranoid' first was released...you'd better believe I have some hearing impairment directly attributable to attending Sabbath concerts (generally acknowledged to be the loudest ever)!  LOL
   
Now I know you will probably think I am totally 'ignant', Reality, but I have never EVER heard even one song by 'System of A Down' (that I could tell you I knew was them, at least - hey, I am 51 you realize).  The only way I even know about them is all the bumper stickers I see on the vehicles of the 20-30 somethings on the fwy (those younger than that could care less - I know, my son is 18 and blasts weird manga-music all day long).  What are they (SOAD) all about (genre, best of), anyway?
   
- RB
Shaq #1

[Reality]

No problemo RB.

In fact while i do not claim my sources on Ozzy are 100% correct, their word is he doesn't even sing his songs anymore.  Yep, producer Sharon has brought in a look-a-like voice and Oz just stands on stage and lip sincs.  Stand in guy also does all the studio work on any new songs.  If you saw more then 5 minutes of The Osbornes, no explaination needed.

Modern Oz i am not huge on, but do like some of he and bands songs like See You On The Other Side,  A Shot in the Dark.  Rhandy Rhodes was very good, so was Jake.

Black Sab is on the lineup for 2007 Ozzfest.  Since it's Ozzfest I am assuming Ozzy will take the stage with them and not Ronny James Dio as Geezer and the other ex Sabs hired.

You probably have heard System of a Down and either tuned it out or do not recognize it.
However the whole lineup so far seems to be that dark barky joundra.

[Lurker]

FYI...the bands listed on the site were last year's tour.  The only info about 2007 is the news release.  The dates, bands, etc. are all 2006 info.

[Skandery]

Hey now, Rolando and Reality, no dissin' on SOAD.  I went to Ozzfest last summer and the show brought the roof down and NOT because of Ozzy, he didn't even show up (guess he's too strung  out to do the midwest leg).  Anyways, co-headlining was System of a Down (one of my favorite groups of all time) and Disturbed -- high quality band out of Chicago.

What are they (SOAD) all about (genre, best of), anyway?

System of a Down is considered Alternative Metal and you get a pretty good dose of social commentary and politics in their songs.  They have 5 albums: System of a Down, Toxicity, Steal This Album!, and a double album released 6 months apart in 2005 -- Mesmerize and Hypnotize.  Singles you might know are Chop Suey!, Toxicity, Aerials, B.Y.O.B., Hypnotize, and Lonely Day.  

It's a four piece band and they're all Armenian-Americans (second generation, I think).  Their lead guitarist does most of the writing and all their backup singing and some lead singing.  Their lead singer has a wide range and an array of, shall we say, abnormal vocal stylings.  Base and Drummer are top notch, the Drummer absolutely destroys it on the song Toxicity, considered by the Metal establishment as one of the great Metal songs of all time.          

[Rolando Blackman]

Hey Reality:
   
The 'dark'-type motif you are referring to really gained steam in the early '90s - 'The Seattle Sound'.  That is about when I stopped listening to music, because I was bagging and ragging on my son to do well in school when I wasn't working.  The only thing I know about these days is the rap (especially Tupac and 'Fity' Cent) and manga-music my son listens to...I am inured to the expletives that regularly reverberate through my casa.
   
- RB
Shaq #1

[Rolando Blackman]

Hey Skandery!!!
   
I think I mentioned this here once a long time ago...but again, i am a definite hard-core rocker from way back, in the  Hendrix/Zeppelin tradition!
   
NOTE:  I have a Stratocaster and a Les Paul, BTW...if I say so myself, I used to jam some serious Steve Hunter (my idol - he's the guy doing the guitar solos on Lou Reed's 'Sweet Jane')-type stylings in my day!  However, a quarter-century of not practicing (except for a 4-year period of agony teaching my son - sadly, he really had ability, but no interest whatsoever) would turn even Randy Rhoads' fingers into Jell-o.
   
Skandery, I don't think you realize how much I appreciate your input here.  I was (seriously!) thinking the other day while listening to a great cable station that plays '80s hits that I am SO tired of hearing the same stuff over and over.
I'm going to get some of those SOAD songs you recommended off the Usenet and give them a listen.  I will get back to you on this.
   
- RB
Shaq #1

   

[Rolando Blackman]

Since it's Ozzfest I am assuming Ozzy will take the stage with them and not Ronny James Dio as Geezer and the other ex Sabs hired.

Hey Reality!
   
Not that i am a big Ronnie James Dio fan or anything, but he had one of the greatest videos in the early days of MTV.  I can't remember the name of the song now, but the video starts off with a kid getting into an elevator and pressing the DOWN button...of course, when the door opens he's in a fire-and-brimstone Hell scene with Beelzebub chasing him around in the old-school 'Rock the Casbah' video style.  I remember me and my party animal friends (at that time) guffawing our heads off whenever we saw it - ah, youth...
   
Have you ever heard of Richie Blackmore (guitarist for Deep Purple)?  Dio was the singer for his late '70s "Blackmore's Rainbow" group.  They had some OK stuff...old-school again, my friend.
   
-RB
Shaq #1

[Reality]

Rolando Blackman

Not that i am a big Ronnie James Dio fan or anything, but he had one of the greatest videos in the early days of MTV. 

RB,
an absolute requirement you track down the band Elf, circa 1972 whereupon Dio is their lead singer.  1st album is self entitled Elf, song Hoochie Coochie Lady* is great and the lyrics regarding a portion of the very attractive members of the female species provide a moral truth every male entering dating age should learn.  Great moral lesson for all sincere men.  Rolicking piano in the band.  Some very good songs.  I think they made 3 albums total, with L.A./59 or somesuch being another.

*not to be confused with r and b band who did a similarly entitled song.
update

link:    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(band)

[Reality]

Elf "Hoochie Koochie Lady"

Well, she's handsome
She's got everything a woman could need
And she'll dance some
She can't follow cause she only can lead
But she's built good
She never missed a day of school
And her eyes could
Make you stop to feel like a fool
Hey, she go big time
Always got her hand in the pie
She drinks good wine
Never had a reason to cry
She don't smoke much
Always got a natural high
But you can't touch
She'll shake you up so much
That you'll die

She's so good, she's no good at all
She's so good, she's no good at all

Hoochie koochie lady
Trying to beat Park Avenue
Hoochie koochie lady
Trying to beat Park Avenue
Nnnnnnow-now
Let me tell you, she's handsome
She got everything a woman could need
And don't you know that she'll dance some
She can't follow cause she only can lead
But she's built good
But she never missed a day of school
And her black, black eyes could
Make you stop to feel like a fool
She's so good, she's no good at all
She's so good, she's no good at all
She's a hoochie koochie lady
Trying to beat Park Avenue
Hoochie koochie lady
Trying to beat Park Avenue
Oh yeah!
Hoochie koochie lady
Hoochie koochie lady
hoochie koochie lady
Yeah, hoochie koochie lady

[Skandery]

Not that i am a big Ronnie James Dio fan or anything, but he had one of the greatest videos in the early days of MTV.  I can't remember the name of the song now, but the video starts off with a kid getting into an elevator and pressing the DOWN button...of course, when the door opens he's in a fire-and-brimstone Hell scene with Beelzebub chasing him around in the old-school 'Rock the Casbah' video style.

Are you talking about Dio's solo hit, "Rainbow in the Dark".  I LOVE that song.  I was put on this by my Old School Metal-listening friend.  It grew on me pretty fast.

Skandery, I don't think you realize how much I appreciate your input here.  I was (seriously!) thinking the other day while listening to a great cable station that plays '80s hits that I am SO tired of hearing the same stuff over and over.
I'm going to get some of those SOAD songs you recommended off the Usenet and give them a listen.  I will get back to you on this.

Sadly enough, last August was their last live show because the group is going on hiatus for a while.  The four think they'll reunite at some point in the future but none of them is really sure of anything at this point. 

I gotta warn you that most of the songs are quite odd when first given a listen but tend to grow on you.  They incorporate all kinds of Eastern European and Middle-Eastern songs.  Armenian and Lebanese folk music does influence their sound quite a bit.  Some are standard songs:  Aerials, Lonely Day, and Toxicity.  Some are a little weirder:  "Boom!", "Sugar", "B.Y.O.B.", and "Chop Suey".  Some album tracks I haven't mentioned yet I absolutely adore include:  "Needles" (drug abuse), "Science" (preaches faith), and "Radio-Video" (don't quite know what this is about but when they go into multi-vocal, round-style vocals its hilarious!! ).

To make a long story short, if you're only going to download 5 songs of the Usenet make it these:

"Chop Suey"
"Toxicity"
"Aerials"
"Science"
"Radio-Video"

...get used to those than we'll upgrade you...

[Reality]

Are you talking about Dio's solo hit, "Rainbow in the Dark".  I LOVE that song.  I was put on this by my Old School Metal-listening friend.  It grew on me pretty fast.

Great song "Rainbow in the Dark" but RB and i speak of a differnent Dio/Elf time.
"Man on the Silver Moutain" is 1975 Blackmore/Dio/Elf members:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritchie_Blackmore%27s_Rainbow
I remembere it well RB, just wish in addition to the Altec Lansing speakers that delivered it well i also would not have used as much herbal enhancement.
Do catch up Skander, you will like it based on your liking the other.

Rainbow in the Dark is from Dios band called Dio made in 1983.  Holy Diver album.

Hey RB and Skandery now that RB has us going down memory lane, here is another somewhat obscure band with lots of branches.
Captain Beyond.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Beyond_%28album%29
Can't remember exactly which songs rock out but i think
Dancing Madly Backwords does, several others.
 

[Reality]

To make a long story short, if you're only going to download 5 songs of the Usenet make it these:

"Chop Suey"
"Toxicity"
"Aerials"
"Science"
"Radio-Video"
...get used to those than we'll upgrade you...

I'll give these a whirl.  I heard one of their albums in total. These better be better.

[msc]

Hey Skandery!!!
   
I think I mentioned this here once a long time ago...but again, i am a definite hard-core rocker from way back, in the  Hendrix/Zeppelin tradition!
   
NOTE:  I have a Stratocaster and a Les Paul, BTW...if I say so myself, I used to jam some serious Steve Hunter (my idol - he's the guy doing the guitar solos on Lou Reed's 'Sweet Jane')-type stylings in my day!  However, a quarter-century of not practicing (except for a 4-year period of agony teaching my son - sadly, he really had ability, but no interest whatsoever) would turn even Randy Rhoads' fingers into Jell-o.
   
Skandery, I don't think you realize how much I appreciate your input here.  I was (seriously!) thinking the other day while listening to a great cable station that plays '80s hits that I am SO tired of hearing the same stuff over and over.
I'm going to get some of those SOAD songs you recommended off the Usenet and give them a listen.  I will get back to you on this.
   
- RB
Shaq #1

   

Hey RB! 

I knew I liked you for a reason.  I am a guitar player meeself.  Although I'm a bit younger than you (I'm 32), when I first bought Led Zeppelin II on vinyl and played it in my room (I was 13 or 14) and heard that "Whole Lotta Love" solo I realized at that very second that I had to learn how to play guitar.  The rest is history and I've been an avid, wanna-be guitar player ever since.  Anyway, I immediately submerged myself in classic rock, where else are you going to go for guitar oriented music?  I wore out my Black Sabbath "Paranoid" vinyl learning to play all of those Tony Iommi riffs.  That's basically how I, and just about everyone learned how to play guitar using those power chord heavy riffs. 

Hey, what years are your LP and Strat?  Would you be willing to part with them for the right price?  I've developed a horrible case of GAS (guitar acquisition syndrome) over the years and am always looking to add some quality instruments to my collection ... especially older, high quality models.  I currently own two Strats, two Teles, a LP Standard, a Guild acoustic (my baby) and a 1965 Kay acoustic/electric archtop.  If your axes are just collecting dust, I'd be happy to take them off your hands and put them to good use ;-)

RB, it's never too late to get back in to it, bro.  I know life seems too busy at times, but you can always etch out 10-20 mins a day to jam.  It's good for your soul!  If I didn't have that, my day job would drive me to the looney bin!!! 

Rock on, 

Matt

[Rolando Blackman]

Hey msc!!!
   
That was great to hear you are a fellow 'jammer' - I want to know more, but first...
   
I was classically trained on both clarinet and violin - fortunately for me, I was educated in public school (the 'L.A. City Schools', as the LAUSD was called in yesteryear) during the 'Wonder Years' (1960s, 1970s) when the schools here in L.A. were truly great.  I learned violin in public school at Nobel Junior High School in Northridge, CA (where I still live to this day, BTW - there are still two teachers left there from when I graduated almost 36 years ago!)...the schools don't even HAVE instruments anymore!  I was never into rock at all during my entire time in secondary school - however, I do remember a guy (who later became my guitar teacher) playing "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" at a Chatsworth High School football game intermission - that was cool.  Why?  Because the girls went nutz!  A light bulb's dimmer switch started letting amperage through...
   
However, it was not until I went to UCLA that I really started to develop my skillz on guitar.  One night while having our nightly discussion on the problems of the world and how we would personally solve them, my 4 roommates and I caught "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" (the precursor to MTV) with a segment on Jimi Hendrix at the famed Winterland venue in SF.  It was all over for me...I had to learn how to play like that!  For the next seven years (until I got married when I was 24), all I did was listen to Hendrix and Zeppelin and tried to play like Jimi and Jimmy (Page).  I can still burn "Since I've Been Lovin' You" by Zeppelin, BTW - I broke out the Lester and busted some riffs tonight!
   
My Stratocaster is the last year of the pre-CBS Fender guitars - a '79, with a natural finish and a maple fretboard.  It's
beautiful!
   
The Les Paul is a 1998 sunburst-finish Epiphone with some great action - I love this axe.

Music Man 210 amp with Celestion speakers - oh, yeah.  Of course, I have a Pignose just for practicing.

I also have a Yamaha (can't remember the model) - however, my son took it with him to USC and I haven't seen it in 6 months.  Hopefully, he is practicing - as I said, he really is a natural.  It is probably the best of all of the guitars I have (sweet sustain), but my son has really beaten it up as far as appearance goes.  The other two are immaculate!
 
Because I'm a '70s kind of guy, my influences stem from that period - Ritchie Blackmore, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Schenker (UFO), Al diMeola, Edward Van Halen were the players I strove to emulate.  However, once I got married in 1980, my wife quickly became dismayed with some of the habits of the guys in my band.  In the interests of marital harmony, I decided to reduce my contact with the wild side...I guess it was for the better (LOL).
   
msc, I have to tell you that I cannot part with my instruments - they are like my pets are to me.  However, should I crash (again!) on one of my motocross bikes and my hands become useless, I'll consider it.  I would want them to go to a good home!
     
- RB
Shaq #1