Comic Actor/Musician duo Jack Black and Kyle Gass also know as Tenacious D are going to be releasing The Complete Masterworks 2 DVD on November 4th. This 2 disc DVD release will includes almost 3 hours of footage including a behind the scenes documentary with Tenacious D as they filmed The Pick Of Destiny. Also included are live performances, videos, and also appearances on SNL and Conen O’Brien.
I have been a fan of Tenacious D since I discovered them one night on HBO back in the late 90’s. I believe there were only six episodes that were shown and soon it disappeared though as per Kyle Gass, HBO was looking to take over creative control and they band preferred to do it on their own.
In 2001 the band released their debut CD Tenacious D with a full backing band including Dave Grohl. They toured constantly and I am happy to say I saw them twice that year, once headlining to Agora and the other when they opened for Weezer at CSU. I witnessed the Sax-a-boom…
Their first DVD collection The Complete Master Works was released in 2003. The DVD included all of their HBO episodes making that alone worth the purchase. Full of videos and live perfomances I must have watched it a dozen times the week I bought it. The duo is hilarious.
The movie Tenacious D in The Pick Of Destiny was released in theaters in 2006. It was a funny movie but…well you need to see it for yourself if you have not. That’s all I am going to say about that. The soundtrack to the movie was all Tenacious D as well making it their second CD release.
Now comes The Complete Masterworks 2. I am very interested to see what this DVD will contain.
But who can wait???
I found this small clip on MySpace and can not wait to see this DVD….
Manson said, “We have a new guitar player that’s gonna play for the first time tomorrow; it’s the first time we’ll play on stage [together]. His name is Wes Borland and he used to be in a really terrible band that he left because he felt that it was a destructive force in art, and he has his own band, BLACK LIGHT BURNS, but now he is in MARILYN MANSON. We don’t know how permanent that is, but starting tomorrow [Aug 16th, 2008] will be the first step. So this will be the most indestructible MARILYN MANSON.”
Also within the same article:
Manson‘s longtime bassist, Twiggy Ramirez, toured with Manson earlier this year for the first time since 2002. The two co-wrote “Antichrist Superstar”, “Mechanical Animals” and “Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death)” together and Manson told The Salt Lake Tribune this past spring that he couldn’t be happier about Ramirez returning.
This could be something huge. Marilyn Manson is currently in the middle of recording a new album that is slated to land next year. If Wes Borland continues to stay with the band after the tour he really could help contribute to the best Marilyn Manson album since Antichrist Superster (that of course would be my favorite album). Twiggy & Borland could be an amazing matchup.
I find it funny that I randomly came across this recently as I just added Limp Bizkit’s debut CD Three Dolla Bill Yall into itunes. Why? Was it because I missed the nu-metal sensation? Perhaps. I actually think the album is good and only took it out of my collection in the past because I was so burnt out on Limp Bizkit.
I was always a fan of Wes Borland though. Big Dumb Face is hilarious. Here, just check out this video and you may agree:
Weird. I love it though.
Then there is Black Light Burns. I had no idea this band even existed until recently and to be honest I am pissed. How could I miss a band that not only had Wes Borland fronting it but also Josh Freese (NIN, A Perfect Circle, and The Vandals) and Danny Lohner (NIN and A Perfect Circle)???
If you have not heard of Black Light Burns you might want to check out the following video just to give you a taste of their sound:
Black Light Burns recently released a deluxe version of Cover Your Heart And The Anvil Pants Odyssey.
Look for Marilyn Manson’s new album to drop some time next year.
California punk rockers Unwritten Law have recently released their second live DVD for your visual and listening pleasure. This time around the band has teamed up with Suburban Noize Records to release Live & Lawless, a CD/DVD release that is more of a celebration of their success as a modern punk rock band rather then just another live show.
Recorded in March of 2008 at the historic Key Club on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip, the band consisting of singer Scott Russo, guitarist Steve Morris, bassist Pat “PK” Kim, and temporary stand-in drummer Dylan Howard, make a point to play their hearts out to their hardcore fans.
Unwritten Law
Formed in the early nineties, Unwritten Law first started out as a speedier punk band but throughout the years they took different approaches to making music, and soon matured into more of a hard rock act. 1998’s self titled album had a couple of tracks that were put into heavy rotation on the radio but nothing more than that. In 2002, the band came out with Elva and their song “Seeing Red” became a chart topping hit.
Just one year later, the band was approached accidentally by VH1 (they meant to call Jimmy Eat World) to see if they would play some acoustic tracks. The result was Music In High Places, a part studio part live acoustic album that coincided with a separately released DVD called Live In Yellowstone.
Live & Lawless is the band’s first start-to-finish live DVD. This release also comes with a CD full of the tracks the band played that night in Hollywood. The CD has seventeen tracks plus a bonus track. The DVD covers the twenty-two song set and also contains some bonus footage.
The show starts with the band on stage in full force playing “Underground”. One of the first things I notice is that there are no bouncers in front of the stage and to me that is a nice thing to see. This show is strictly the band facing the fans. Hit songs “Teenage Suicide” and “Calin” were played to approving fans as they sang along as loud as they possibly could
The acoustic version of “Rest Of My Life” featured just Scott Russo and the crowd. His voice was on point throughout and did not crackle or show any signs of being tired even though sweat was dripping off his forehead. The rest of the band slowly snuck on stage where they smoothly depart into “She Says”. The crowd erupted as soon as they sang the refrain to the song.
“Before I Go” is a bonus treat to the crowd as the band starts a mini acoustic session with the entire band playing their acoustic instruments. I love the way this song sounds. They continue with “Elva” and surprisingly “Shallow”, a real old track by the band.
This was the first time I had heard the old school song performed acoustically and Scott Russo even admitted to the crowd that is was a special song they were going to play. I must say the song brought back some memories. Hearing the band slow the track down a bit and play it unplugged just made it that much more enjoyable. The only sad thing about this song is that I would guess two thirds of the crowd may never have heard this before. Arms waving and smiles were among the many but when it came time to sing along there was not as much partaking.
Before engaging in “Save Me” front man Scott Russo took a moment to spread some love to all the sardine packed fans in the front row. He asked everyone for some crowd participation before starting the song and just about everyone complied. With big thank yous it was clear that the concert was coming to an end.
Making this show even more memorable to myself, the very first song the band ever wrote, and one of my personal favorites, “CPH” closed out the show. Nothing like an oldie to wrap things up, especially when it was one of the first songs I heard as a teenager that caused me to become an Unwritten Law fan.
DVD bonus features included the music video for “Shoulda Know Better” as well as a intimate interview session with questions coming from the fans who were actually at the DVD shoot that evening. Hearing the story from Pennywise about Fletcher jumping a van into someone’s backyard was amusing. The band answered questions individually, shared their influences, decisions to change up their style, and even some more personal stories. The answer to how would Pat “PK” Kim look if he were bald had me laughing out loud as the bassist drew up a picture of himself.
There was not a dull moment throughout the entire live show. This DVD is pure evidence what a punk rock show should be. Seems like only yesterday a young punk rock me was in the crowd checking out Unwritten Law singing all of the songs they sang at the top of my lungs. Over ten years later, they still have it and show no signs of tiring out one bit.
Here’s a couple of clips from the DVD just for a small taste:
Wow. She still is looking fiiiiine. Of course this is an old pic to the left, but I am sure you have seen her recent photos.
Seriously now, why do I know this? Well because Fox 8 News kept playing her songs on their show this morning and they keep wishing her a happy birthday. So I guess I will too.
I am not a fan of Gwen Stefani when it comes to her solo career.
I much prefer No Doubt. Sure, she has not damaged her image too much by going solo but by doing so she has attracted a whole new fan base. In fact she is quite the popular one. I myself though can not stand much of her hip hop-ish pop powerful songs. I find the songs too much for me to handle.
I prefer the classics, you know, when it was pop ska punk. Does that make sense? She was cute, innocent, and did not wear bling.
Gwen Stefani left No Doubt to work on her solo project which was supposed to be a new wave sound but to me sounds a little different from that.
Having married Gavin Rossdale, former front man of Bush, the couple now has two children and pretty much successfully manage to stay out of the blood thirsty paparazzi grasp. They to me are the smart couple and just keep to themselves for the sake of family. No point in mixing work and him right?
Now Gavin Rossdale tried his own luck and released his own solo attempt Wanderlust earlier this year that in my opinion was not that good. I wrote a review about it and I must say there were a couple of winners on the disc but for the most part it was not that good. It could have just been me of course.
Rumor has it the remaining members of No Doubt have been writing new material and are waiting for Gwen Stefani to return although she may be taking her time as just just gave birth to her second child over the summer.
When she returns is up to the birthday girl and I hope it is soon.
Here’s a Gewn Stefani time line for ya:
And now for some solo material… (also when she went a little gangsta)
I cringe when I hear this…
And this… (even worse)
She is still pleasing to the eyes though…and certainly does not look 39. Let’s hope with age she becomes a little wiser and calls up the boys from No Doubt to start recoding some new material.
Rock act Clutch has recently released Full Fathom Five: Audio Field Recordings 2007-2008, a CD including many of the live tracks that appear on their first ever live DVD. The CD and DVD appear to be aimed towards the Clutch fan base as it is being sold only through Clutch’s official website, Merch.Com, and other Clutch websites. So far both releases are not available in retail chains.
Where Clutch has released live albums before, this is the band’s first live DVD to be released and also is their first release under the band’s own label Weathermaker Music. Clutch plans on releasing further material on their own label.
Clutch
Formed in the early nineties, Clutch was not your typical rise-to-the-top rock band. Gaining early commercial attention was something the band seemed to never worry about. Starting off selling out small clubs, they, through hard work and perseverance, soon found themselves selling out larger shows and were later headlining tours. Their sound is that of metal, stoner rock, and even a little blues mixed up. Their solid sound seems to lure in new fans with every release.
Speaking of fans, famous skater misfit Bam Margera labels himself and hug fan of Clutch and even helped direct the video for “The Crowd Goes Wild” for the band. As a return perhaps, Clutch played live for Bam Margera and a few lucky attendees on a ski slope on a past episode of Viva La Bam. That is about as mainstream the band has ever been as they really do not care for the predictable rock band approach.
If you have never seen Clutch live, you need to know that they are here to rock. They do not have fancy stage setups nor do they pause a lot in between songs. I can say this from experience as once I heard them through the doors of the House Of Blues in Cleveland. The show was sold out and my only way in fell through (it sounded great). I also can say that a year later I went back to the same venue with ticket in hand (visually just as amazing).
The CD and DVD capture tracks played by Clutch on four separate occasions in New Jersey, Pittsburgh (Mr. Small’s Theatre, one of the coolest venues I have ever been to), and overseas in Sydney. For a review of the DVD check out what Charile Doherty, a Blogcritics.Org writer had to say about it.
Starting off the fifteen track CD was “Dragonfly” a rather grungy track with Neil Fallon roaring throughout as the guitar riffs landed heavy and the drumming was stern. I especially got a kick out of the track originally found on Elephant Riders going into a little jam session and then unexpectedly slammed into From Beale Street to Oblivion’s “Child Of The City” without even missing a beat. Upon the completion of these two songs, the crowd went spastic.
“Texan Book Of The Dead”, the first single off the CD, showed Nail Fallon’s voice struggling a tad but hardly noticeable to the point where the song was dire sounding. “Oh Eee Oh Ahh Ahh” was sung during the track reminding of Alvin & The Chipmunks. The song is currently in heavy rotation on Sirius’ Faction Radio.
“The Mob Goes Wild” was nowhere even close to sounding like the studio recording with a slowed down chorus but I loved the organ playing and just the energy that could be felt throughout. Sometimes a change in tempo and pitch is a good thing. “Cypress Grove” simply rocked out with help from some sick harmonica playing. Once again there was a mid song jam session making for an incredible listen. “Ship Of Gold” and “10001110101” were two other favorites of mine that I enjoyed profusely.
The only vice I have with the performance was that the band really only focused on material from 1995 onward. Many of the songs played were welcome to my ears but I was kind of hoping to hear a rare track from Transnational Speedway League. We can all dream, can’t we?
This CD is just a sample of the twenty song live DVD that was released showcasing their abilities. I now have to go out and order the DVD because after hearing this I need to see it. Hell, any fan of solid rock music should check the DVD out and if for whatever reason you have no DVD player then this CD should at least give you a small fix of what Clutch is capable of doing. Do yourself a favor and order the CD or the DVD today by heading over to Clutch’s website, you won’t regret it.
For your viewing pleasure “Texan Book Of The Dead”:
Here is the video that Bam Margera directed, “The Mob Goes Wild”:
