Focusing on North America, the film reinforces the idea to act locally to infuse global action. The documentary lays out specific solutions and global ideas, illustrating a blueprint for a better way forward. It presents solutions to the planet’s currently dire situation by enacting proven methods of independent and sustainable living through community involvement, art and music. Ultimately it reveals how a new culture that utilizes the best of both native and non-native’s views of governing, managing economy and spiritual balance is possible……http://shadowtrainmovie.com/
Please vote for SHADOWTRAIN (Under a crooked sky). A film by George Lynch featuring New Mexico’s own Gregg Analla. This film is too important to ignore. If you support music, Common sense change and the indigenous peoples of New Mexico and beyond, now is a great opportunity to make a difference.
DEADLINE MUSIC TO RELEASE MIKE TRAMP’S NEW SOLO RECORD, COBBLESTONE STREET, ON MAY 7
Los Angeles, CA…On May 7, Deadline Music (a subsidiary of Cleopatra Records) will release COBBLESTONE STREET, the latest solo record from White Lion vocalist Mike Tramp. COBBLESTONE STREET offers a unexpectedly softer side of the rock front man, with ten acoustic-leaning tracks. “This is the album I’ve dreamed about making for the last thirty years,” said Mike.
COBBLESTONE STREET is a folky, melodic “movie” of Mike’s life, starting with the title track, a nostalgic ode to his childhood hometown. The single, “New Day” is jangly and joyful with a sing-a-long chorus. Songs like “Caught In The Storm” and “Ain’t The Life I Asked For” reflect the impeccable storytelling and delicate guitar work of Mike’s influences Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Bruce Springsteen. The album closes with a special new acoustic version of White Lion’s hit, “When The Children Cry.”
The album was recorded at Medley Studio in Copenhagen, Denmark with co-producer/engineer and multi-instrumentalist Soren Andersen. “It was a wonderful feeling, sitting there on the couch listening to the songs that were rough and naked, but at the same time so complete,” recalls Mike.
In 1983, Mike Tramp founded the rock band White Lion in New York. The band’s second album, PRIDE, when double-platinum with the hits “Wait” and “When The Children Cry,” and the band toured worldwide. After White Lion broke up, Mike formed a much harder outfit, Freak of Nature. FoN released three albums, and toured with Dio. He has recorded solo rock records, but the COBBLESTONE STREET acoustic record and tour is a new journey.
*A portion of the proceeds will go to support the Boot Campaign*
On April 24th, an all-star cast of musicians will perform at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood, CA as part of a benefit concert for the Boot Campaign and their support of our military veterans. In a rare appearance, these alternative rock stars will appear together, performing songs off the “Battlefield of the Mind”documentary soundtrack, releasing on the same day on Chill (www.chill.com/botm). April 24th is also the official release date of the documentary.
“Battlefield of the Mind”, a film ArtistDirect calls, “the most powerful documentary of the decade,” is a full-length documentary that tells the raw and tragic details of what life is like as an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran today. Many veterans suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and among them are those whose lives have fallen apart and have become homeless as a result. Severe PTSD leaves these returning heroes on a downward spiral into their own personal hell. The documentary is available to stream and download at: http://chill.com/fran_strine/battlefield-of-the-mind
The musicians performing together for ONE NIGHT ONLY in support of the film and the cause include:
– David Ellefson of MEGADETH
– Troy McLawhorn of EVANESCENCE
– Sal G of STAIND
– Pete Murray of LO-PRO
– Neil Godfrey of LO-PRO
– Headliners EYE EMPIRE, featuring Corey Lowery (STUCK MOJO /STEREOMUD /DARK NEW DAY) and B.C. Kochmit (SWITCHED) and Ryan Bennett (TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION) and military veteran Donald ‘DC’ Carpenter (SUBMERSED)
Event Details
The event will open at 7:00pm with filmmaker and participant interaction, exclusive look at the documentary, and Q&A. At 8:30pm the doors will re-open for the all-star jam and performance from Eye Empire.
*A taste of the music from the soundtrack can be found here. (The track is “No Words” Featuring Mike Mushok, Pete Murray, David Ellefson and Sal G.)
Tickets are $20 for full access, $15 for performance only.
VIP tickets (which include early access to soundcheck) are made available at www.chill.com/botm.
The Documentary
Narrated by David Ellefson (MEGADETH), Co-produced by Aaron Lewis (STAIND), this documentary by Fran Strine takes on a tragic truth – that those men that put their lives on the line to defend our freedom have come home to a world plagued by PTSD and homelessness. 1 in 7 homeless adults are veterans and over ¼ of homeless veterans suffer from mental illness, physical illness and substance abuse at the same time.
These sad truths moved a concerned public to donate en masse to get the film made leading to a rousing KICKSTARTER success. The film raised 190% of its funding goal with the soundtrack raising 120% of its funding goal. The film is currently available on CHILL (chill.com/botm) and will see its official physical release along with its soundtrack on April 24th.
“After engaging in conversations with these veterans living on the streets and hearing their stories, I knew this was the documentary I had to make and show that we, as citizens can make a difference,” says director and co-producer Fran Strine. The VA was approved $1.35 billion for the homeless in 2013 – a mere 0.035% of the $8.3 trillion US budget, says The White House Office of Management & Budget. Forbes adds that providing permanent housing for the chronic homeless would save taxpayers $3 billion.
The soundtrack for the film features members of many prominent rock bands. DC of EYE EMPIRE, a former soldier himself, said of his band’s involvement, “I have always been sensitive to issues that face our troops Stateside & abroad. When our good friend Fran mentioned that he and Aaron were going to be making this film and that he would like for us to be involved with the music, we were very humbled.” Vocalist, Pete Murray (previously of ULTRASPANK) called working with the likes of Ellefson and Mike Mushok of STAIND “…an amazing experience. Working with other musicians with different backgrounds and influences has been an incredible opportunity.”
In addition to his narration duties, MEGADETH’s David Ellefson contributed to the soundtrack. He explains the synergy between the music and the film, “Lyrically these songs were inspired directly by the film and the people portrayed in it. In many ways, the Soundtrack continues the narrative of the film in music form. I am proud that the songs and people involved in making them took the subject matter to heart and used it as the springboard for our songwriting.” Composing score and soundtrack music was a labor of love for STAIND’s Mike Mushok. “In writing music to the film, I got to watch a scene and express how I feel about it by writing music to it,” explains Mushok. “It was something that I really enjoyed doing and am happy with the way it ultimately turned out.”
Spread the information about the plight of these veterans by purchasing the film and soundtrack and sharing it with your friends and family. Information is power and “Battlefield Of The Mind” is the ultimate ammunition in battling veteran homelessness and PTSD.
The Soundtrack
Track listing:
1. War Isn’t Over Yet – Eye Empire
2. Give Me Life – LoPro
3. Tear It Down – Feat. Mike Mushok, Pete Murray, David Ellefson & Sal G.
4. Wake of War – Feat. Troy McLawhorn, D.C., Mike Mushok, Corey Lowery & Mike Froedge
5. No Words – Feat. Mike Mushok, Pete Murray, David Ellefson & Sal G.
6. Not Like You – Feat. Troy McLawhorn, Pete Murray & Mike Froedge
7. When – Life on planet 0
8. Witness – Viasava
9. Drop us in hell – Feat. Sal G & Joseph Dougherty
10. Awakening – When earth awakes
11. Wake up – Feat. Michael Benedetto & Keith Caro
12. Save me – Feat. Michael Benedetto & Keith Caro
13. Ask McFly – The Dreaded Marco
14. Hollow Destination – Otan Vargas
For press inquiries and additional information, please contact Adrenaline PR and Maria Ferrero at 732-462-4262 or maria@adrenalinepr.com.
About Boot Campaign:
The Boot Campaign is a grassroots initiative started by five women from Texas known as The Boot Girls. The campaign encourages everyone to ‘get their boots on’ providing an easy and tangible way for Americans to show appreciation for troops, cultivate awareness of the challenges they face upon return and raise funds for military programs meeting the physical and emotional needs of our heroes. What better way to say “Thank You” to our troops than wearing a pair of boots just like theirs? Proceeds from boot sales combined with donations and corporate sponsorships help us to assist wounded military and their families with job placement, mortgage free homes, PTSD counseling, adaptive clothing and so much more.
About Chill:
Chill is the premier video platform and marketplace to find entertainment content distributed for a global audience direct from artists, comedians and filmmakers. Consumers can stream or download-to-own top films, docs, series and comedy specials in HD quality to any device and transact worldwide. Chill recently released the critically acclaimed Maria Bamford: Special, Special, Special. Based in Los Angeles, CA, the company is backed by venture funding from Kleiner Perkins, William Morris Endeavor (WME), 500 Startups, Redpoint Ventures, Crunchfund, Science Media, Troy Carter and Atlas Venture. Chill is founded by Brian Norgard and Daniel Gould.
Deadline Music/Cleopatra Records to release first single “Cold”
from the upcoming April 23rd album Frequency Unknown from QUEENSRŸCHE!
Deadline Music / Cleopatra Records is proud to announce the release of “Cold,” the premier single from the upcoming Queensrÿche CD, Frequency Unknown (due out Tuesday, April 23rd). Mixed by Anthony Focx (Jason Newsted, Aerosmith, Night Ranger, Ted Nugent) the single is available on iTunes for downloading and will also be released as a special limited-edition 7” vinyl single with a newly-recorded version of the Queensrÿche classic “Silent Lucidity” – mixed by Jürgen Engler (Doro Pesch,Die Krupps ) -on the B-side.
Catch Geoff Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE on their 25th Anniversary Operation Mindcrime Tour in a city near you!
Hard working drummer Jason Delismon from the band A.D.D. gave me a call and gave us the rundown on his band and his side projects. Great guy, great band, looking forward to hearing more from and watching this band get the credit they deserve. Do yourself a favor and check them out!!! He understands the meaning of showmanship and giving the fans a ROCKIN’ good time!
Jason is sponsored by the following kick ass companies:
DEADLINE MUSIC TO RELEASE CRUCIFIED FROM METALLERS
M:PIRE OF EVIL ON MAY 7
Los Angeles, CA…On May 7, Deadline Music (a subsidiary of Cleopatra Records) will release CRUCIFIED by M:Pire of Evil, the thrash metal project by former Venom members Mantas (guitar), Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan (vocals, bass), and ex-Throwdown drummer JXN.
CRUCIFIED bulldozes through eleven tracks (including nine Venom favorites from the PRIME EVIL era), opening with the driving “Temples of Ice” and not taking its foot off the gas through the closing beast, “Taking It All” (which includes the perfect anti- chant). The riffs are dense and mighty, rhythms propulsive, and the vocals relentlessly intense. The record takes on dystopian themes of destruction, evil, and corruption and in the case of pointed tracks like “Blackened Are The Priests,” all three.
In 1979, guitarist Jeff Dunn took on the name Mantas and created a musical entity that would inspire an entire subgenre of metal. Venom combined dark, heavy and loud with a proficiency that created history with two records, WELCOME TO HELL and BLACK METAL, that are considered the gold standard of thrash. Built on this foundation, M:Pire of Evil formed in the U.K. in 2010. Their debut record displayed musical integrity and prowess befitting of the legacy. CRUCIFIED, MoE’s second full-length record, continues that legacy.
Ever since Crowned By Fire hit my radar I have been jonesing to see them live. I have been lucky enough to have become friends with guitarist Justin Manning, and interviewed him on several occasions. When the promise of new music via a new EP called SPACE MUSIC FOR CAVE PEOPLEwas announced the metal world shivered in anticipation. Add to the fact that it was being recorded at The Black Vatican (Zakk Wylde’s personal studio) AND was being produced by the one and only Sterling Winfield (Pantera, HellYeah, Damageplan, yeah that guy) make it a winner straight out of the gate.
Even cooler was the announcement of their Southern Horsepower Tour 2013. The Metal Gods were smiling down on me when it was revealed that the tour was starting in my hometown. FINALLY I would be able to experience Crowned By Fire in person. The day had finally come.
The day of the show was it was hard to stay focused on work but I managed. A text and then phone call with Justin let me know they were closing in on my home town. They wanted a day room to freshen up before the show so a quick phone call to the man Trev McKendry (band manager) and info was passed along and the band was taken care of.
I met the guys as they were getting ready for the show and found them to be just as awesome as I had hoped them to be. I wanted to do something nice for them and get them dinner before the show. We headed towards a restaurant that was near the venue but it had unfortunately gone out of business. There was a local brew pub right next to the venue that served food so to the Farside Brew Pub it was. Pizza was ordered and Charles, the proprietor, took care of the beer needs. With bellies full, and good craft beer enjoyed, we were off next door to the venue.
The amount of gear that the guys pulled out of their trailer seemed endless. It was miraculous how they had fit everything into such a small trailer.
Eventually the gear was in and the set up began. We were all awestruck by the awesomeness of the gear as it was un-crated and revealed. Justin had some wonderful guitars with some awesome stories behind them. The Green V OV Doom and its custom paint work by the AWESOME Jason Oberly .
Green V OV Doom with custom paint by Jason Oberly.
Probably one of the more surreal moments of the night was getting to hold in my hands the guitar given to Justin by the one, the only Zakk Wylde. I could feel the immense power emanating from it as it was in my grasp. I was holding the mighty Ol’ Betsy in my grasp. It also had a custom strap made by Chad Erickson of Carved Rock Leather!!!
in awe that I am holding a guitar given to Justin by Zakk Wylde.
After watching Justin warm up with licks that would kill a mere mortal it was time. As I was shooting pics of the stage I heard Justin call my name, I handed my camera off to Charlie M.F. Owens and went to see what Justin needed. I was again floored when he told me I was introducing the band. Well, now I was not only going to see one of my favorite bands, I was going to introduce them as well.
“Well alright Hooligans! Are you ready for CROWNED BY FIRE?!?!?!” I roared into the microphone and it was on. Exploding on to the stage Crowned By Fire delivered everything I expected, and then some. The band lineup was spot on, Jonathan Paschall brought the thunder from his throne on high, Chris Breedlove handled the bottom end like a boss, Michael Pacheco kicked your ass with his guitar, and you thanked him for it, John Fitterer stalked the stage like some deranged shaman belting out vocals from some primal age. And then there is Justin Manning , his wizardry of the fretboard was mystical and enthralling. The combination was perfect. We were treated to some of the new songs from the above mentioned impending release as well as some tracks from the always awesome PRONE TO DESTROY.
Wow! What a show! It did not disappoint! Crowned By Fire is a band not to miss and EVERYONE needs to experience it! I will leave you with a video from the show, this is “Buried Away” enjoy!
the Hellion
PS: A special shout out to Chad Miller for keeping the guys geared up and tuned up! Make sure you stop and shake this mans hand for helping to keep the guys runnin’!
Justin and Chad preshow
P.S.S. extra special thanks to Lindsey Thompson for handling the merch area, and various and sundry needs. She will prove invaluable to the guys on this tour.
Justin and Lindsey at dinner
Crowned By Fire, Classic American Metal? You bet your ass they are!
WORNSTAR ROCK & ROLL CLOTHING COMPANYSteps Into MMA Arena with The “Wornstar Immortals” MMA Line
Wornstar Clothing’s CEO and chief-designer—Stephen Jensen—is proud to unleash the new WORNSTAR IMMORTALS line upon the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) culture and the world.
Jensen says, “I’m a big fan of MMA and had a huge opportunity to start pushing the Wornstar line into the MMA realm locally, here in Chicago. I wanted to add to our rock & roll styles and start doing designs that are geared more to the MMA “feel” that MMA fans like myself are wearing. So, we created new designs based on this sport and launched, WORNSTAR IMMORTALS. This is Wornstar’s official MMA branch. We wanted to get some fighters on board to try out the new line and recently, Bellator MMA Featherweight Champion of the World—Pat Curran—approached us and told us how much he loved the look and feel of our brand and how much he wanted to represent our line. Wornstar got behind Pat Curran and made him our first spokesperson for the WORNSTAR IMMORTALS line. I’m excited to announce that Pat Curran will be wearing and debuting WORNSTAR IMMORTALS clothing on April 4th when defends his belt against Shahbulat Shamhalaev live on Spike TV!”
About Wornstar: At Wornstar, we’ve always liked clothes that feel like a second skin, like they’re “worn in.” The whole goal with Wornstar is to make clothing that you WANT to wear, that you’re comfortable in, and that looks cool. We seek the highest quality materials when we craft our clothing.
Since we love music and work with a lot of artists, we also wanted to make shirts that are cool to wear on stage, and have artist’s genuinely embrace the brand, forthe brand. We want that same, “cool appeal” to meet the tastes of our customers. Wornstar is established with the mindset to be a long-standing and classic name.Wornstar strives to be anything but typical, we create designs that appeal to fans and artists of all genres…bridging gaps between hard rock and metal to country and hip-hop with our clothing all with the common thread of American rock & roll. Quality is paramount and Wornstar is all about having “nice feeling” clothes that are really comfortable and that you want to wear every day. We want to make your favorite shirt and we’re continuing to make everything better all the time. –WORNSTAR
Be sure to check out the official WORNSTAR IMMORTALS line and the entire WORNSTAR line at: www.wornstar.com.
You find family in the strangest places. I found Rikk at NAMM 2013 and we hit it off right away. We have stayed in touch since then and had a chance to do a phone interview recently. I am honored to share some of Rikk’s latest accomplishments and a bit of his music with this interview. Rikk has recently been endorsed by Splawn Amps and C.R. Alsip Guitars.
What makes a great guitarist? That’s a hard question to answer. I can tell you in my opinion that it’s not just speed, or technical skill, it’s if the player feels what he’s playing and is able to convey that feeling to the listeners. Redd does just that for me. From the first time I saw him perform with Scattered Hamlet I knew there was something special about him. It’s as if the ghosts of guitar legends past are watching over and infusing Redd with their powers. Check out his skills on “Outlaw Anthem”:
Redd, in my opinion, will only continue to grow as a player and I cannot even imagine the level of greatness he will achieve. From straight up Blues based Rock N’ Roll, to in your face crunchy, tasty metal, Redd has it covered. He whips around the stage like a whirling dervish, never missing a lick while doing so. With Adam Joad on vocals/guitar, Jake Delling Le Bas on drums, Richard Erwin on bass/vocals, and Adam Newell on guitars/vocals, Redd and Scattered Hamlet are a musical force to be reckoned with!
Yup, Redd’s got skills, and one day I hope to see Redd gracing the cover of the guitar magazines. Redd is but one of a crop of new guitarists that should be recognized among their peers, I will focus on these players as well in upcoming posts.
Do yourself a favor and check out Scattered Hamlet and pick up their music at the Scattered Hamlet General Store! Scattered Hamlet has just released their first full length CD Skeleton Dixie to the world, your ears are missing out if you haven’t heard it.
Thank you Redd for giving me faith in the next generation of players.
the Hellion Rocks 