Exene Cervenka mellows out with "Somewhere Gone"

Hey everyone! I hope all is well. Do you remember Exene Cervenka, co-lead singer of the punk rock band X? Well she's back again only solo this time with her new album called "Somewhere Gone" (Bloodshot Records).

This record has a very mellow, folky sound to it. It puts me in a very comforting mood. "Somewhere Gone" is like an escape from a stressful reality. It takes you to a place that's almost like home, but only better at times. Yet, the songs are too similar and don't differentiate from each other.

The song "Let Go and Be Sweet" was peaceful. These words spoke a lot to me. People are always so caught up in their own world that they sometimes forget how to be kind to others. Sometimes, we got to just forget our problems and enter a world of cotton candy bliss and just be sweet. "Somewhere Gone" had a more somber sound. It seemed to be about a girl who is either looking for something or is lost. It's like she has no place to call home and is in a state of escaping peril.

This album had a different sound than what I expected from this former punk rocker. The essence of its sound rocked me to sleep and made me forget about my daily problems just for a little while. Cervenka's hardcore sound has softened up a bit over the years, yet I'm sure rockers out there can appreciate the consolatory and lyricism of her majestic music. "Somewhere Gone" is available on itunes. You should check out her Christmas album too.

Happy Holidays!!! Have fun out there.


-Tiffany

Oh Betty!

well well well another **BETTY* HoLidAy extravanganza..this time at the very chi chi 'HiGhLiNe BallRooM'...BETTY is so kool & chic & they really know how to do a holiday show right..& the certainly wear slick outfits..black leather, rubber, spandex, silver boots, straps, holey tights, SEXY SEXY SEXXXY...the sisters Amy & Elizabeth..& the drop dead knock out Alyson Palmer front the band...their songz are catchy & the harmonies are exquisite...doesn't hurt they have the theme song from 'the L Word'& the audience is theirs...eating out of their handz so to speak..they had a great song called 'cheater' & another called 'linda blair' & they are often playing around with gender bending & breaking the rules in all sorts of relationships...lust is a common thread thru out..It doesn't hurt that Gloria Steinham introduced them & I even had the pleasure of thanking her for paving the way for all of us & she responded "Sure, it was fun!"..I bet she could still be in PLAYBOY..she's gorgeous...'It's my Party" Leslie Gore also sang with the band & my fearless *GRGR* leader Gail & i sat at the "GORE" reserved table...we even ate some yummy vegan burgers & fries...highly recommended at the Highline... classy classy evening & my first candy cane of the season to boot...BETTY is worth seeing any time you can...they put on such a great show & have been doing it for a long time...their chemistry is so natural...& they being the pros they are were stupified by doing an encore of an unrehearsed tune & nailed it...BETTY is like a living cartoon & they definitly have you leaving happy... www.helloBETTY.com

Happy Holidaze!
Rew

Ang loves Chelsea Girls

Hello Hello!
I know it's been a while but I'm back to share with you a new found love for Chelsea Girls.
Thanks to the help of a little site called YouTube, I typed in "Welcome to the Jungle" and added girls, to see if there were any badass rocker chicks who could pull off GNR. And like magic, I discovered the Chelsea Girls-an amazing all female cover band hailing from the L.A. area.

Chelsea Girls features some incredibly talented rockers, including lead guitarist Allison Robertson of The Donnas. The other members also have impressive resumes as well.

Lead vocalist Tusedae is an operatic soprano, a world renown DJ, and a former Playboy model. Bassist Corey Parks is a member of Nashville Pussy and has designed clothes for Rock royalty such as Steven Tyler and Lenny Kravitz. Drummer Samantha Maloney has played with such bands as Hole and Motley Crue.

Truly a set of girls who can play just as dirty as the guys.

All one can say is :WOW! Check out some of their footage for yourselves.

For more info about the Chelsea Girls go to:myspace.com/chelseagirlsrock

-Ang xoxo

Blameshift...Stay Tuned for More!

Blameshift has bright future ahead of them and a glittering past behind them.
The native Long Island band released their first album in 2007 and then committed to non-stop touring.
Members Tim Barbaur ( guitar and vocals), Joey Meyer ( bass), James Miller (drums) and rocking lady Jenny Mann (vocals) spent two years non stop touring. Playing eight national tours and six dates on Vans Warped Tour.
They had a little break and then headed back on tour this past summer.
The band recently finished up the Girls vs Boy tour and are now, finally, back home in Long Island and working on their new album.
If their new album is anything like the tracks they have now, then it will rock out loud!
In my opinion, Blameshift kicks ass ! Front girls Jenny can pull her weight with the boys.
My two favorite tracks have to be; Saints & Sinners and War Withing,mix rocking chica Jenny with her awesome band-mate Tim and you have a masterpiece!

You can purchase their album at select Hot Topic and F.Y.E stores.
Want to know more about Blameshift and the band's rocking members? Look out for the Q&A I did with them and check out the Blameshift Myspace page @ www.myspace.com/blameshift to hear some of their hot tunes!
Be sure to look out for their new album!
Till next time!

Peace and Love,
Daniella

RockLove Jewelry

I think its inevitable that every woman likes a little jewelry in her life. It really makes the perfect outfit just pop. If you're looking to put a little edge in your wardrobe, you should check out Rocklove jewelry. They have some awesome styles from their Torch Song Collaboration, Victorian Glam, Pin Up Vixen and much more. I personally loved their Pearl Chain Collection. It puts a classy, yet rocker edge to chains to rock out on your neck and wrist. Being a little classy, yet edgy works out well. Check out some of these styles for yourself.

Harlee Recommends The Radiates

The Radiates. A hip band whose name is almost as striking as their completely distinct sound. Lead singer and guitarist Aidan has a soft but raw voice that is almost mesmerizing. Bassist Max keeps his laid back attitude while plucking swiftly on his bass and drummer Jack has no problem maintaining the differently beated songs. Though they all work together to keep the smooth and relaxing feeling of the music there different sound is mainly do to the striking vocals of their other vocalist and keyboarder Scout. I'm addition to her impeccable style and always perfect hair, Scout belts out the strongest notes I have ever heard. She has no problem helping the band stand out against other teen bands and we all know it. Check out myspace.com/radiates or their facebook page to see when their next shows are and hear their distinctive and alluring music. Don't miss out on your chance to see these guys perform because I guarantee you won't regret it.

Harlee Ludwig, GRGR Teen Correspondent

The best laid plans...Living Colour @ CMJ

My Friday night CMJ plan so carefully laid out, was completely shattered when I got a text message from my buddy Kelsey, (front man of Pillow Theory...): "Living Colour acoustic show, Angels and Kings, 10 o'clock:) "I'm so there", I texted back. All prior plans were promptly thrown to the curve (Sorry School of Seven Bells).

A little background on my relationship with Living Colour: "Cult of Personality" was one of those songs where I clearly remember where I was the first time I heard it. I was a musical theatre/teen pop geek that hadn't really discovered anything beyond what was fed to me by TV, radio or school. And although just a child, I had sensed that mainstream entertainment went through massive shifts usually based on political/economic climates or a need for a movement to clearly rebel against the one that came before it. So here I was a young pup with a Jordan Knight poster, memorizing my lines for my school production of Bye, Bye Birdie, faithfully listening to my top 40 station B96 in Chicago.

Cult of Personality comes on out of nowhere and kicks my ass. "When a leader speaks, a leader dies" were not lyrics that were typical of mainstream radio. This song actually scared me, shook me, and gave me a glimpse into the forefront of the next wave of music. It was obvious with that one song that the cultural tides were changing. It wasn't until my adulthood, however, that I would become familiar with the bands full catalog until I caught Medicine Stick (fronted by former Living Colour bass player Muzz Skillings).

Medicine Stick had tapped into a similar "stirred up" type of feeling when I caught his band. Once I found out Muzz had been in Living Colour it compelled me to dive deeper into Living Colour's catalog. I grew to love all phases of the band both with Muzz and (current bassist) Doug Wimbish. And Medicine Stick inspired me to start my own band, edibleRed, which has lasted over a decade.

I arrive an hour early, pleasantly surprised that 1) there was plenty of room (as the show was booked last minute) 2) there was a very interesting band playing before hand, Bern and the Brights an acoustic 5 piece with strings. 3) WRXP who has completely revolutionized commercial radio in New York city was running the night.

Bern and the Brights had an earthy,down home,genre-bending yet folksy feel. Ethereal, introspective and full of quick surprises... a reggae groove here, a ska beat there.... If No Doubt and Jack Johnson were college buddies sharing a bong hit at student housing and jamming...
that would be them....

As Living Colour set up, the only resemblence to an acoustic show was the brushes and scaled down kit donned by Will Calhoun. Corey Glover was fiddliing with the jukebox, Vernon Reid was somewhat under the radar back in the corner and Doug Wimbish was just hanging out and being awesome as usual.

"They said if we play too loud, they're gonna call the cops...obviously they don't know us too well!" exclaimed Big Man Glover (as written on his T-shirt). That would be the first of many zingy one liners... Sonically my favorite thing was the vocal blend between Corey, Vernon and Doug. Vernon's guitars were way down in the mix, yet the "bar band sound" contributed an air of charm. They played the hits, but seemed to be slightly tuned into each other on the newer stuff, namely "Behind the Sun".

Jokingly, Vernon teased the crowd with the "Cult of Personality" riff which inspired screams of "DO IT!!" Glover’s eye rolling and beating the microphone on his head in exasperation greatly contradicted the sheer thrill of the 50 or so people in attendance. It's hard to know what goes through the mind of a frontman of a band that has superb catalog, yet it commonly identified with one song. I briefly felt slighted as a fan. I wished Corey could just roll with it a little more. He then made a joke about being on Youtube saying "Who’s that cover band playing that Living Colour shit". I feel like Glover missed the memo that platinum artists who play in small bars are awesome.

They seriously redeemed things during "Asshole" which was perfect for the bar band version of Living Colour and really brought it home during "Out of my mind" which was unfortunately the last song of the evening. "Don't tell anyone we did this", exclaimed Corey. NO Corey, I am telling EVERYONE... And now I know you were using reverse pychology on me because I saw the "Angels and Kings" links on all of the Living Colour twitter pages. Nicely done, Big Man Glover.

Collette McLafferty, Guest Blogger