I stumbled across this ah-mazing Journey cover today at The Daily What. It’s a little bit rock, a little bit country and a whole lot of kick-ass. What could possibly be a better way to start off a short work week than with an alt-country cover of Journey? Nothing I say. Nothing at all.

Clem Snide covers Journey

I was worried. I questioned the quality of a band that was, seemingly, a one-hit wonder 12 years ago. How good could they still be? I went into the concert at WorkPlay Theater last night not expecting too much. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I’ll start by telling you about the opening band. Hightide Blues is a Southern Rock band that’s roots are from Auburn, Alabama but has since moved it’s base of operations to the metropolis of Atlanta, Georgia. On our drive over, I made the mistake of telling Robin (my partner in crime for this particular evening) that if we were late it wouldn’t really matter because opening bands typically “suck balls.”

Again, I was horribly inaccurate. This 4-piece hit the stage with more energy than an atom bomb. Imagine the Black Crowes, with Ray LaMontange on vocals and a little Allman Brothers guitar work thrown in for good measure. It’s unusual to see a band that is so passionate about their music that it shows on stage. I suppose that burns away after playing songs over and over on the road. And as a former professional musician I know this plight. But these guys were different. Either they are GREAT actors or they are having as much fun playing these songs today as they were two years ago. Two stellar track that everyone should check out are “Let it Roll” and “Dreaming Alone.” The latter of which is receiving tons of airplay around this area.

I honestly thought after their stellar performance that The Verve Pipe could only let me down. Their set started off with many, many technical problems. During one such problem they broke long enough to tell us that they were playing with all borrowed gear seeing as how all their gear was lost in Chicago by the airline and had been subsequently flooded with water.

Fortunately the folks at WorkPlay and 100.5 FM were kind enough to go out and get them loaner gear. But a band without their own gear is like a portrait artist without a subject to paint. Gear is crucial to musicians – this is why guitarist name their instruments. So it took a few songs for this Michigan-based band to find it’s groove. But after a slow start these guys didn’t just hit their stride, they exploded with a ferocity of flaming solos over alternate vocal patterns and 3-part harmonies that absolutely blew me away. Singer Brian Vander Ark has incredible range and depth. I have never seen such a stellar concert in such an intimate setting. There was no “rock star bravado” from the band either. They were everyday down to earth guys, who love what they do – and do it as well as ANY professional band I have seen.

After hearing this set I was floored that this band was a one-hit wonder. I have the sneaking suspicion they were screwed by a record label – or as I have dubbed it – Blind Melon syndrome. Their one big hit – the Freshmen – which I most looked forward to hearing, might have been my least favorite song of the set. While no doubt a great song, it is in no way representative of their overall body of work. They rock and rock hard. Great guitar licks, a strong and solid rhythm section, fabulous keys and percussion support with some phenomenal harmony work thrown in made this an UNBELIEVABLE experience.

The two cover songs they did left my knees shaking. It takes a lot of rock balls to cover a Beatles song – and their rendition of Strawberry Fields Forever absolutely floored the audience, At one point towards the end of the song I gazed around the 400 or so people in attendance to see why no one was clapping. It was because everyone was simply drop-jawed. I’ve never heard anything like it. They also covered Supertramp’s “Long Way Home” to close the set – and with the help of their harmonica playing guest (who should be a superstar in his own right) they ended what might be one of the best set’s of music I have ever been party to. Songs to check out include Colorful (which Mark Wahlberg lip-syncs in the film Rockstar), Happiness Is and Villains.

I can’t recommend either of these acts enough; buy their albums, catch them on the road, request them on the radio. In today’s world of homogenized rock these are two unique bands with quality lyrics and unbelieveable musicianship, and passion and love for what they do. But they never forget that they too are just people. They check their rock and roll attitudes at the door – if they even have one. It was a night I won’t long forget. Head out and see them as soon as you can. You won’t regret it.

Despite my fruitless attempts to find a job in this crappy economy (not a good job, mind you – just a job period) things have been going remarkably well lately. My brother pointed out to me that reading my blog really makes me seem like a sad, unhappy person. Well, he didn’t say those exact words. But he pointed out that my ramblings don’t really mesh well with who I am in reality.

I think that’s mainly because I only write when I am down or have something on my mind. So as a New Year’s resolution I have decided to post and blog about many, many things in my life. Good days or bad, sunny or cloudy, for better or worse – I’m going to dive into my blogging a little more seriously. Wait…less seriously. Damn it. You know what I mean.

This is the first of such posts, I suppose. Things are going great for me! I went to a Whole Foods with one of my favorite people in the world last night and all I can say is WOW! That is the coolest store EVER! It made me really hungry. Post our trip into Whole Foods we went and hung out with some of Robin’s friends and had a great time. I had forgotten how awesome it is to get out and meet new people and have new experiences. I spend too much of my time staring at a computer screen. Yet another activity I plan to remedy this coming year.

I was debating going out and watching the UFC fight tonight – but as a boxer I’ll inevitably have a ton of UFC fans and amateurs telling me how boxing sucks and is a dying sport. I get tired of defending my pastime to people. If only I could punch them in the face one time – then they would see…or feel. So tonight might be fight night. And then tomorrow – concert in Birmingham at the Workplay theater. The Verve Pipe! I’m going old school and looking forward to holding up my lighter during Freshmen. So to answer my many critics, am I really that depressed? Nothing could be further from the truth. I keep living and loving and enjoying my time and life. La de dade da -and the beat goes on.

It's Russell's World, Party-Time, Excellent!

I had what most people might consider a non-traditional upbringing. Sure, I had two parents who loved me and provided as best they could (which was tough since they were schoolteachers), but I was an unusually tough case. An aspiring musician, I was playing in bars on The Strip all night by the age of 16 and trying to get myself to class in one piece and sober each Thursday and Friday morning. Crashing on couches, travelling the country, making money, meeting beautiful older college girls and lying about my age and playing guitar all night for hundreds and hundreds of people – it was a wild ride. But I needed a change. So I joined the military where strangely enough, I once again found myself trying to get up and to work each morning in one piece and sober.

Do the decisions we make when we are young, wild and carefree affect the rest of our lives?The age old question – Is it nature or nurture? Have I struggled with responsibility because I was a wild, rough around the edges 17-year-old? Or was I just born this way? I thought joining the armed forces would discipline me a little more. Honestly, it just honed my drinking and partying skills to the point I could have won competitions. I threw down so hard in Germany, and did so many things I regret still, that I was actually glad to get on that jet out of Europe. Of course, my next assignment in Panama City, Florida didn’t help calm me down much. I was in to that place like a hobo on a ham sandwich.

And here I am now, 10 years and two wives later – still struggling everyday to break those old chains that bind. I feel a bit like Hank Williams, Jr. – all my rowdy friends have settled down. But I’m still here – the Energizer bunny of good times. I look around and I AM the party these days. It’s as if there was a pack of wild mustangs running free and one by one they got wrangled up. Suddenly I look around and it’s just me running the range.

Maybe that’s a sign it’s time to change. Maybe I have officially gotten too old for this life. But I feel so young at heart still – so wild and carefree. And I am having the time of my life. It’s not my reality to think I’ll ever be that guy with the 9-5 job and a big house and nice car. Or the guy coaching little league baseball and hauling the kids around all evening. I guess you are who you are no matter how hard you try to change.

That’s not too say I haven’t calmed down some. If it’s illegal I don’t do it anymore. I’ve ingested and tried just about everything there is to try at least once. These days I leave that fun for the younger generation. Most people sit back and reminisce about their hay-day: being 17 and using fake ID’s, drinking with friends in the woods, hooking up with guys or girls they dug on, chiilin in pool halls, drinking nickel beers in the bars after class or hanging out in the dorms with buddies. I still stay up all night and play music in bars. I still break hearts and take names. Right or wrong I am still living that life. And probably will be until they day I die.

As someone who was a professional musician for a bit of my life, I am generally pretty easy on bands I see and hear no matter their talent level. We all have to start somewhere. I’m sure I played some absolutely atrocious gigs in my life, and I know some of my readers were around for a few of those. But for the love of God, I hope it was never this bad. They could play this to torture terrorists at Guantanamo Bay. Honestly, when I heard this cover of The Final Countdown by Europe my stomach hurt so bad I thought I had been kicked in the twins.  Please tell me they are doing this on purpose.

There is absolutley no way this singer could be any worse. Just when you think that they can suck no more, it just goes further and further downhill. I felt for the people that had to sit in the audience with a straight face. Here’s some advice to you young musicians out there. Recording yourself can be a great learning device: but NEVER post it to You Tube without getting some serious critiques first.

[youtube=

There are no words…

Other than to say that this…

Led me to THIS! Old school bitches!

[youtube=