“It’s All I Need” – Jeff Sandoval and Mike Araiza

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Ok, so I have had this track for a few days now and can’t get enough of it. Jeff and Mike will be releasing the lyric video to the world tonight 01/31/14 at 6pm mst right here: Jeff Sandoval & Mike Araiza on their Facebook page.

Let’s talk a bit about the track and the video. While it is an acoustic track it does not come off that way at all, in fact, it’s pretty damn heavy. Let’s talk about the bass first. Kurt Arft lays down a heavy, dirty bassline that, by itself, does not seem like it belongs in this song but it fits like a puzzle piece into it. Kurt gives it that groove that this song so rightly deserves. Chris Collier, who not played drums on this but produced it as well, put all of those puzzle pieces together into one solid track.

What can I say about Mike Araiza? The guitars on here are clean, and I mean CLEAN. Mike is so full of melody and it truly shows in his playing and style. I keep forgetting that this is an acoustic track.

Ahhh the vocal stylings of Jeff Sandoval. There are not to many vocalists out there that can still give me the chills, Jeff is one of them.  You feel ALL of the emotion that Jeff is imparting into his vocals.

The video for “It’s All I Need” is an incredible piece of work as well. While it is a “lyric”video it leaves you with the images playing over and over in your head. You will find these images replaying in your mind every time you listen to this song.

Don’t miss out on the premier on 01/31/14 at 6pm mst right here: Jeff Sandoval & Mike Araiza on their Facebook page!

A conversation with guitarist Mike Araiza

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I have known Mike Araiza for several years now. In fact I remember sitting in the parking lot of the Owl Cafe with him and Jeff Sandoval listening to the freshly minted tracks from the Of The Earth project they had just completed.

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They moved on in their journey and the next step was an album of songs they had written that turned out to be the frank Hannon Band ‘Six String Soldiers. Which featured appearances by legendary guitarists Dickey Betts, Dave Meniketti, Rick Derringer, and Pat Travers.

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Now, I am excited to say, Mike and Jeff are taking the next step in their musical evolution. They are going to be releasing a series of new tracks as single releases over the next year. The first of which is tentatively called “All I Need” or “It’s All I Need”. This first track features mutual friend Kurt Arft on bass guitar and Chris Collier pulling double duties on drums and production duties.

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bassist Kurt Arft

bassist Kurt Arft

drummer and producer Chris Collier

drummer and producer Chris Collier

 

Mike and I had a nice conversation about all of these events and would love to invite you to listen to it right here:

 

Make sure you got to Mike and Jeff’s Facebook page and give them a like and show your support: https://www.facebook.com/JeffandMikeMusic!!!

 

it’s loud, it’s tonerific, it’s Jeff and Mike!

the Hellion

 

 

 

 

MY 2012 TOP 10 – (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)

GYPSYHAWK – REVELRY & RESILIENCE

gypsyhawkCD COVER

1. Overloaded
2. The Fields
3. Hedgeking
4. Frostwyrm
5. Galaxy Rise
6. 1345
7. Night Songs from the Desert
8. The Red Wedding
9. Silver Queen
10. State Lines
11. Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo

GYPSYHAW BAND

I had the great fortune of getting to know guitarist Erik while he was on tour helping my good friends in Scattered Hamlet. I was excited for this release and was not disappointed when it dropped. You need to check this one out!

 http://www.metalblade.com/gypsyhawk/
http://gypsyhawkusa.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/Gypsyhawkusa?fref=ts

HOTEL DIABLO – THE RETURN TO PSYCHO CALIFORNIA

HOTEL DIABLO CD COVER

1. Psycho, California (Explicit)
2. What You Do To Me (alt)
3. What You Do To Me
4. Trigger
5. All These Years
6. Wicked Lines
7. Bury You
8. Bury You (alt)
9. Taken
10. Wonderwall
11. Set It Off (Explicit)

HOTEL DIABLO BAND

     Alex Grossi gave me a great interview and Hotel Diablo delivered a fantastic release! Awesome CD guys thanks!

http://thehoteldiablo.com

https://www.facebook.com/hoteldiablo

ALL HAIL THE YETI – ALL HAIL THE YETI

ALL HAIL THE YETI CD COVER

1. Deep Creek
2. When The Sky Falls
3. Suicide Woods
4. The Weak and Wounded (Prelude to Flames)
5. After The Great Fire
6. Bloodguilt
7. The Art Of Mourning
8. I Am Wendigod
9. Axe Murder Hollow
10. Ruby Ridge (Every Knee Shall Bow)
11. Judas Cradle

ALL HAIL THE YETI BAND

A great bunch of guys and a kick ass band. I have gotten to know guitarist Craw, and interviewed  him and singer Connor. Can’t wait to hear more from these guys!

http://www.allhailtheyeti.com
http://www.twitter.com/allhailtheyeti
http://www.myspace.com/allhailtheyeti
http://www.reverbnation.com/allhailtheyeti
http://www.youtube.com/allhailtheyeti
http://www.twitter.com/allhailtheyeti
http://www.twitter.com/hailconnorcade
http://www.alhailtheyeti.tumblr.com

https://www.facebook.com/officialallhailtheyeti

FRANK HANNON BAND – SIX STRING SOLDIERS

FRANK HANNON CD COVER

1. I’m Alive (feat. Pat Travers)
2. Set Me Free
3. Six String Soldiers
4. Lipstick, Smoke and Gasoline (feat. Dave Meniketti)
5. Invincible
6. Cross Your Mind
7. Touch The Ground (feat. Dickey Betts)
8. I’m Just Sayin’
9. Love, Life and Beauty
10. To The Light (feat. Rick Derringer)
11. Redemption
12. 12.21

FRANK HANNON BAND

I happen to be good friends with guitarist Mike Araiza and vocalist Jeff Sandoval so this release has special meaning to me. I am so happy that their dream is coming true for them, and I wish them continued success.

http://frankhannon.com/
http://www.myspace.com/frankhannon
https://tinmanmerchandising.com/FrankHannon
http://twitter.com/frankhannonband
http://www.reverbnation.com/frankhannonband

https://www.facebook.com/FrankHannonBand

ADLER – BACK FROM THE DEAD

ADLER - Back From The Dead

1. Back From The Dead
2. Own Worst Enemy
3. Another Version Of The Truth
4. The One That You Hated
5. Good To Be Bad (feat. John 5)
6. Just Don’t Ask (feat. Slash)
7. Blown Away
8. Waterfall
9. Habit
10. Your Diamonds
11. Dead Wrong

ADLER BAND

I am glad to see Mr. Adler back in good form. Solid band, solid songs, solid CD!

https://www.facebook.com/adlermusic?fref=ts

http://www.adlerrocks.com
https://twitter.com/adlerrocks
http://www.youtube.com/adlerofficial

L. A. GUNS – HOLLYWOOD FOREVER

LA GUNS CD COVER

1. Hollywood Forever
2. You Better Not Love Me
3. Eel Pie
4. Sweet Mystery
5. Burn
6. Vine Street Shimmy
7. Dirty Black Night
8. Underneath The Sun
9. Queenie
10. Crazy Tango
11. Venus Bomb
12. I Won’t Play
13. Requiem (Hollywood Forever)
14. Araña Negra

LA GUNS BAND

L. A. Guns has been one of my favorite bands for many many years. Even though there has been lineup changes and controversy this lineup carries on the sleaze.

https://www.facebook.com/officialLAGuns

http://www.laguns.net
http://www.twitter.com/LA_Guns
http://www.myspace.com/lagunsofficial

SUNSET RIOT – UPRISING

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1. Red Ferrari
2. Something’s Gotta Give
3. Red Leather
4. Save Me From LA
5. Stir Crazy
6. Mama Said

SUNSET RIOT BAND

My good friends from Australia, Sunset Riot. I am lucky to have become a member of the Sunset Riot family. These guys know feel good Rock N’ Roll and continue to delight fans around the world! So Check them out!

https://www.facebook.com/sunsetriot?fref=ts

http://www.sunsetriot.com
http://www.youtube.com/sunsetriot
http://www.reverbnation.com/sunsetriot

THE BLACK SAINTS – HELLBENT & HEARTLESS

THE BLACK SAINTS CD COVER

1. Top Notch Lady
2. Capone (Explicit)
3. 1-2-3
4. Amends
5. Façade

THE BLACK SAINTS BAND

Great new band with a great sound!

https://www.facebook.com/theblacksaints?fref=ts

http://www.theblacksaints.com

BLOODY HAMMERS – BLOODY HAMMERS

BLOODY HAMMERS CD COVER

1. Witch Of Endor
2. Fear No Evil
3. The Last Legion Of Sorrow
4. Say Goodbye To The Sun
5. The Witching Hour
6. Black Magic
7. Trisect
8. Beyond The Door
9. Souls On Fire
10. Don’t Breathe A Word

BLOODY HAMMERS BAND

Mysterious band with a dark gloomy sound. This CD grabs hold and never lets go.

https://www.facebook.com/BloodyHammers?fref=ts

http://www.bloodyhammers.com

DOWN – DOWN IV PART I- THE PURPLE EP

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1. Levitation
2. Witchtripper
3. Open Coffins (Explicit)
4. The Curse
5. This Work Is Timeless
6. Misfortune Teller

DOWN BAND

It’s Down is any other explanation needed?

https://www.facebook.com/down?fref=ts

http://www.downontour.com
http://www.downboard.com
http://www.officialdownstore.com
http://www.myspace.com/downnola
http://www.down-nola.com

*SPECIAL BONUS*

SCATTERED HAMLET – IT ONLY HURTS (SINGLE)

SCATTERED HAMLET CD COVER

1. It Only Hurts

SCATTERED HAMLET BAND - Copy

Scattered Hamlet of all the bands listed are more than family to me. I have been friends with them for a while now. I actually head up their fan-base “The Hellriders”. They released a single this year and have a full release Skeleton Dixie coming in 2013. DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS BAND!

https://www.facebook.com/ScatteredHamlet?fref=ts

http://www.scatteredhamlet.com

A great 2012 for music!

the Hellion