Posts Tagged ‘Music’
Band of the Week: Shane Hines and the Trance
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, October 17th, 2008
The presidential candidates are torn on the concept of public financing – among other things – but this week’s Band of the Week, Shane Hines and the Trance, is all about it. Started in mid-July, Team Trance was set up as a way to get the fans involved in giving back and helping to finance the Northern Virginia band’s new EP, “The Glory Journal.” So far, the campaign has raised more than $29,000 of its $40,000 goal.
“The Team Trance concept came from the desire to move forward,” says Hines, an indie rocker born and raised in the area. ”We had all we needed to make great music except the money. We decided to ask our community for some help and they came through like crazy.”
Hines and bass player Brian “Thumbs” Keating, a Boston native, formed the band seven years ago when Hines returned from Atlanta and a stint in the band Ode to Abbey. They rock on stage – you can check them out Saturday at the Iota Club & Cafe – but how do they do in a team interview? Let’s find out:
How is the work on the new album coming along? By the way, the “public financing” concept is very John McCain of you. Shane and Thumbs: Hah! God help us for our name and John McCain’s even being in the same thought! The recording process is done and it is off to manufacturing. We did all the recording with Chris Grainger in Nashville. He did an amazing job, and we are pumped about the final product. The commercial release is planned for early 2009, but all the people that contributed to Team Trance will receive their advance copy well before then.
What’s your favorite lyric from the new album? Shane: “You are perfect to me and that’s the problem/See, I would still be there if you weren’t the one/Can’t you see that we can never be?” Regret and destroying what is good seem to be themes that I come back to often and this line pretty much sums that up. Thumbs: “Here comes the shine, the glow” from “Way Up.” Because I like bright shiny objects.
Favorite Northern Virginia restaurant? Shane: Edy’s in Falls Church. It’s a peruvian chicken place on Route 7, across from Skyline Drive. They only take cash, which says it all. Thumbs: Dixie Bones in Woodbridge. I love small, family-run restaurants.
When people can’t find you on stage, they’ll find you …? Shane: With family or friends and writing. Thumbs: My Bat Cave because people scare me. I spend lots of time at home. I am a homebody.
Shane, when did you decide to rock the bald look? Shane: The beginning of the year. I was tired of the bleached blonde hair and due to a bit of a genetic shaft, I don’t think I would have any hair five to 10 years from now anyway. I am far too vain to watch that happen. Just another way to exercise my control freakiness, I guess. Thumbs: I like hair products too much to go without the hair.
Guilty pleasure of the moment? Shane: Same as always - ice cream. Thumbs: Video games. Right now, I am playing “Assassin’s Creed.”
You got to play in Abbey Road Studios, where the Beatles recorded, two years ago. What was that like? Did you get chills and such? Shane: It was unreal. We did get lots of chills. There still are not adequate words to really describe it. So what does it say about someone who supposedly writes words for a living that can’t describe an amazing experience with words? Well, either it really was that incredible or I suck at my job. I can say it was very humbling to be there. Thumbs: It was definitely a challenge to balance the overwhelming feeling of being there with having to focus and perform.
With Team Trance, you’re offering a few perks for people who pony up more than 250 bucks. Have you cooked any dinners, played any living rooms or taken anyone on a road trip yet? Shane and Thumbs: We have not done any cooking yet - I guess our reputation for excellent culinary skills precedes us! There are some studio sessions and home concerts on the calendar, so Team Trance is already keeping us very busy.
And here is something really neat, exclusively for the NoVa Pop Nation: Hines and his crew were gracious enough to give us an early listen to the mastered version of “Way Up,” which will appear on the upcoming EP. So replay it dozens of times, download it and tell your friends!
Shane Hines and the Trance, “Way Up”
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, October 8th, 2008
Hola! I’m off to Seattle in about six hours and will be sleeping the whole time on the plane. (Again, that’s how I roll. Or doze, as the case may be. Thankfully, there might be a Starbucks around when I arrive in town.) That means — oh no! — a certain deficiency in posts the next couple of days. No worries, I will be back next week. But in the meantime, here are a few things to keep you busy in the meantime.
Go see: Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe each try to outchew more scenery than the other in the new Ridley Scott thriller, “Body of Lies.”
Rent: “Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer,” a Z-grade horror movie that’s full of campy fun, freaky monsters and Robert Englund.
Read: Alan Moore’s “V For Vendetta. It’s on the reading list for my trip. You should read it, too. Book club next week, perhaps?
Listen to: Tesla’s “Forever More.” Yes, they are still around. I’m not making this up. Of the hair-band ilk, these dudes were probably the most technically proficient around. Give it a spin. Also, those who like the female pop-punk sonics of Paramore — or are a sucker for a spunky singer — will adore Hey Monday’s new record, “Hold on Tight.”
Buy: The Dismember-Me Plush Zombie from ThinkGeek. I got an email alert this morning that this little dude was available, and was hooked once I saw that he actually has a little plush brain snack to go with all the removable plush body parts. It’s a perfect Halloween gift for your favorite gal or ghoul.
Have a good one and I’ll type at ya next week!!
Band of the Week: Dan Leonard Trio
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, October 8th, 2008
The namesake of this week’s Band of the Week, the Dan Leonard Trio, is a busy guy. As guitarist with the Deanna Bogart Band, Leonard is finishing up work on the group’s new album, one that features his own cut, “Uncle Funkle.” Then there’s the whole disc full of his own tracks that he’s having a CD release party for at 7 p.m. Sunday at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, where he was born.
Now living in Springfield, Leonard says his trio — which features bassist Steve Zerlin from College Park and Arlington drummer Leland Nakamura (with keyboardist Dan Reynolds coming in from Catonsville to sit in) — recorded “The Middle Path” live in the studio with no overdubs. “Also, I just used one guitar and one amp for the entire recording so it is more about a singular voice, phrasing and the interplay within the trio context.”
Leonard’s guitar sings when he plays, a modern symphony of jazz and fusion powered by some serious classical chops, and it’s been a mainstay in the local music scene for 30 years — 25 of them giving back to the community as a guitar teacher. Here’s what else is going on with him these days:
You’ve probably played pretty much everywhere in the area. What’s the best venue to play at? I would put the Birchmere at the top of the list. And Blues Alley for the listening-room vibe.
When people can’t find you on stage, they’ll find you …? I teach three days a week and do some studio work. If I’m not practicing and it’s a nice day, you might find me hiking somewhere.
You have Buddha as your top friend on your MySpace page. Explain. I have an interest in Eastern spiritual philosophy and I’m a regular meditator.
Groovy. And then on Deanna Bogart’s page, your No. 2, it says your nickname is “Thor.” Sounds like a good story to me. Our bassist Scott Ambush would give the name “Tibirius” at Starbucks when he would order a latte just to hear them call it out when his drink was ready so we all came up with a Starbucks alias.
What one guitarist could the music world have not lived without? There are two: Jimi Hendrix for rock, Wes Montgomery for jazz.
Your bio says you were quickly hooked on Jimmy Page and Hendrix after you first started playing guitar when you were 11. So how did you end up majoring in classical guitar and composition at George Mason University? My half sister Diane gave me a recording of classical guitarist Christopher Parkening about six months before I went to college. I was so moved by that music that I was inspired to study it. I think that a foundation in classical guitar is great for a serious player of about any style. I switched to composition a few years in knowing that it would benefit me with my own music.
You’ve taught guitar for 25 years. What is the most common mistake you see in beginning players and how do you fix it? I would say that not taking the time to learn the notes on the fingerboard is the biggest mistake. I haven’t taught beginners in a long time, but I try to get all of my students to identify the notes they are playing no matter what they are working on.
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
I’m a dude’s dude and all, but I’m a sucker for Sarah McLachlan. Her voice is way cool and her songs are really rather good, so I’ve been a fan for a while. I even went to Lilith Fair way back in its second year, checking out a festival stop at Merriweather Post Pavilion in the summer of 1998. I’m sensitive like that. Which brings us to today, which sees the release of McLachlan’s greatest hits collection “Closer: The Best of Sarah McLachlan.” It contains all her seminal hits – “Building a Mystery,” “I WIll Remember You,” “Adia,” “Angel,” “Sweet Surrender” – and the new love songs “Don’t Give Up on Us” and “U Want Me 2.” (Evidently, she’s boned up on her texting vocabulary, or is simply hitting up fellow Canadian Avril Lavigne for track titles these days.)
What happened to the rest of the Lilith Fair posse? Let’s catch up:
Actually, Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders have a new release of stuff out today as well. “Break Up the Concrete” features a revamped lineup for the 2005 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Hynde and drummer Martin Chambers are the only ones still around from their formation in 1978, and Chambers was actually a driving instructor who lived down the street from where Hynde was living in England at the time.
Meredith Brooks, a one-time member of The Graces, had a huge empowerment hit in 1997 with “Bitch” and quickly became a Lilith regular. But then she kinda fell off the face of the pop scene. Her last album, last year’s “If I Could Be…,” was actually a children’s album. She’s been more of a behind-the-scenes producer lately, but you can catch up with what’s she been up to on her blog.
Hopefully, everybody caught Queen Latifah’s surprise turn as Gwen Ifill on “‘Saturday Night Live.” The Queen had a few stints as the hip-hop representation on the Lilith tour, and has made a mark on all sorts of media. She was nominated for a Grammy last year for the standards-laden “Trav’lin’ Light,” is in the upcoming flick “The Secret Life of Bees” and is working with Dr. Dre and LL Cool J on her upcoming new album, due out in December.
Finally, along with the likes of Indigo Girls, Shawn Colvin and Sheryl Crow, Liz Phair was one of the poster women for Lilith Fair. These days, Phair’s been busy doing TV score work for “Swingtown” and the new “90210,” her classic album “Exile in Guyville” got a special 15th anniversary reissue in June and she’s working on new effort that will be released later this year.
Who’s your favorite musical female? Share in the comments or at novapoppin@gmail.com.
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, September 30th, 2008
Today, boys and girls, we’re gonna discuss covers. Specifically, James Taylor’s new album of covers called – yes, you guessed it – “Covers.” The well-done cover song can let one person or band put their distinctive touch on another person or band’s music, hopefully not ruining it in the process. (Case in point: Celine Dion doing AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.” Ick.) Now, the thing about Taylor is that some of his hits – “You’ve Got a Friend,” “How Sweet It Is” – have actually been covers, so the man is no stranger to other people’s stuff. On “Covers,” he brings his very folksy, homey touch to Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues,” Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman,” the Dixie Chicks’ “Some Days You Gotta Dance” and Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away.” Nothing earth-shattering, but if you like your tunes James Taylorized, then here you go.
Here are some other interesting cover-laden CDs:
One wouldn’t necessarily associate Etta James with Cyndi Lauper, but the oddly coiffed Lauper croons in her own style the title track and several other standards on “At Last.” She also takes on ”La Vie En Rose,” “Unchained Melody,” ”On the Sunny Side of the Street” and “Makin’ Whoopee,” a duet with Tony Bennett. Sounds weird but it kinda works. Well, probably more than Etta James’ version of “She Bop” would be.
Even farther in left field is Ozzy Osbourne’s “Under Cover,” where the Ozzman tackles a largely classic rock slate of tuneage. There’s Mountain (“Mississippi Queen”), Cream (“Sunshine of Your Love”), John Lennon (“Woman” and “Working Class Hero”) and David Bowie by way of Mott the Hoople (“All the Young Dudes”) all handled with surprising touch and near reverence from Osbourne. Still, it’s an odd mix and only one – the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” – seems like it’s something up the Ozzy alley.
New Found Glory did two separate records of songs from movies, but the first was by far the best. The EP “From the Screen to Your Stereo” pays peppy tribute to a couple more modern flicks (“That Thing You Do!” for one) yet it’s some ’80s classics with the punk treatment that become classics on their own, including “The Neverending Story” theme and “The Glory of Love” from “The Karate Kid Part II.”
Speaking of pop-punk acts, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes have made a whole CAREER of doing tricked-out covers. The supergroup/cover band have done country songs (“Love Their Country”), R&B (“Take a Break”) and two CDs of ’60s and ’70s hits (“Have a Ball,” “Have Another Ball!”) but the band’s oldies-filled “Blow in the Wind” is their masterwork, with warped editions of “I Only Want to Be With You” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” The last two make me think of the female-songs-by-way-of-dudes group The Dan Band.
So what’s your favorite cover ever? Send ‘em on in to novapoppin@gmail.com and I’ll get a list together for an upcoming post. That way, we all win!
Three Kings, a Queen and the Duke
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008
The best CD release of this week is no doubt Kings of Leon and “Only by the Night.” These three Tennessee bros and their cousin sound like they could be guest-stars on an extra-special episode of “The Dukes of Hazzard,” and they’ve been touted for a few years and three albums now as being one of the better groups in all of rock. But I’ve never been quite taken with them – in fact, thought they were kinda overrated. Then I saw them on “Saturday Night Live” this past weekend, and then heard some of the cuts from the new album like the exquisite “Sex on Fire.” Color me converted to the ways of Leon. And the coolness inspires me to come up with a list of some other other musical acts with royal titles.
Staying with the “king” theme, you have to mention King Crimson, the influential band from the 1970s that you’ve probably never heard on the radio yet threw in everything from progressive to jazz to folk and a whole lot in between with its ever-changing cast of characters. (Tony Levin, for one, is a heck of a bass player.) The younger kids will probably know We the Kings better. Kind of in the poppy vein of fellow acts such as Metro Station, Cute is What We Aim For, Plain White T’s and The Academy Is…, the group has some catchy numbers, notably “Check Yes Juliet.”
You can’t discuss rock royalty without mentioning Queen, one of the best musical groups of all time, no matter the genre. If your knowledge of their catalog is limited to that head-banging scene from “Wayne’s World,” I suggest you first start your musical journey with “A Night at the Opera,” which includes “Bohemian Rhapsody” but also the folksy “‘39″ (which is fantastic yet sounds nothing like Queen) and “Love of My Life.” From there, continue on to the “Flash Gordon” soundtrack and then “Jazz,” which featured the Elvis tribute “Dreamer’s Ball” and “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
And we must mention the Duke himself. No, not John Wayne although he was cool, too. I’m talking about Duke Ellington, the jazz man and D.C. native who was one of THE icons in jazz. His standards speak for themselves. “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” “Caravan.” “Mood Indigo.” “Take the ‘A’ Train.” (He’ll also be on one of those cool quarters to honor D.C. starting next year!) What you may not know is his keen interest and respect for classical music, and any jazz fanatic should immerse themselves in his brilliant, swingtastic adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite.”
What bands would you put in your court to entertain you and your subjects? Let me know in ye olde comments section or drop a line to novapoppin@gmail.com.
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, September 16th, 2008
It’s time to look at what’s going on in country music today, since there are several intriguing new releases out. Which is good because there hasn’t been much exciting going on for a while in that genre. And I don’t count Jewel or Jessica Simpson catching the twang bug as the jumpstart both country AND western need.
Could that be Darius Rucker? Like Jewel and Jessica, he’s coming from the pop side of the street and the seminal 1990s sounds of Hootie and the Blowfish for his country debut, “Learn to Live.” (Maybe people will stop calling him Hootie finally.) But the country vibe doesn’t suit him as well, frankly. His voice is instantly recognizable from his old hits, yet it doesn’t feel right with violins and steel guitars. Then again, it might be the songs. Tracks such as “Don’t Think I Don’t” seem like C-list country songs that people like Brad Paisley passed on, and not insta-classic as, say, “Only Wanna Be With You.” Sometimes the genre crossover doesn’t work – need I mention the name Chris Gaines? Embrace the Blowfish, Darius. Embrace the Blowfish.
What I’m even more shocked about is Kristy Lee Cook’s premiere release, “Why Wait.” The token country singer on “American Idol” this past season, Cook became a national joke – getting stuck in the bottom three on a weekly basis, being the poster woman for “Vote for the Worst,” appealing to the Red Staters with a little Lee Greenwood. But she’s the one having the last laugh. In no way imaginable should a Kristy Lee Cook album actually be listenable. It kinda is, though. Over-produced as hell, naturally (hey, it worked for Shania), but pretty decent. The hoedown rhythms and boot-scooters suit her well, and her voice seems strong – one more example that a producer can make anybody sound good.
Of course, it’s the newbies that no one knows about who stand up in today’s ever-changing country world. Eli Young Band holds a special place for me because they met at the University of North Texas (I spent one horrid year of grad school in Denton) but with “Jet Black & Jealous,” they could be the next straddler of pop country – a little Emerson Drive, a little Sister Hazel. Also make sure you check out the MySpace page of the Portland group Blitzen Trapper. Not only do they have a SWEET band name (Santa may not approve, though), but the dudes are streaming their stupendous new album “Furr” before its release next Tuesday. There’s some old-timey organ goodness in there, good ol’ country rock, a hint of banjo, a sprinkle of indie sensibility, the occasional harmonica, roaming buffalo mentions, shades of Dylan and some kickin’ guitar riffs.
What have you been listening to lately? Let me know in the comments or email novapoppin@gmail.com.
Band of the Week: My Favorite Highway
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, September 11th, 2008
America may have its “Idol” named David Cook, but we also have ours, although the rest of the world may be taking Fairfax native David Cook and the rest of My Favorite Highway as its own sooner than later. Theirs are primetime pop hooks ready for “TRL,” with a piano-laden, radio-friendly sound that inspires swoonworthy texts between teen girls and would be the envy of any top-40 act. Formed in January of 2005 by frontman Cook and his bass-playing cousin Will after David left private college life in Pennsylvania, My Favorite Highway (pictured from left, drummer Bobby Morgenthaler, David Cook, Will Cook and guitarist Pat Jenkins) released their debut full-length “How to Call a Bluff” in July – “What Are You Waiting For” and “Bigger Than Love” are particularly outstanding – and will play Jammin’ Java tonight and the Sterling Community Center Oct. 17 when they’re not out on tour this fall. David Cook’s advice to the NoVa Pop Nation? “Don’t ever fly Southwest Airlines. Don’t forget to vote. If you drive hammered, you will get nailed.” So while you’re taking those to heart, let’s pick his brain on a few other matters:
What’s the best venue in the area to play at? Jammin’ Java. They’re the best venue and the best people to work with in the area.
Fave restaurant? Hooked in Sterling.
When you’re not on stage, people will find you …? I’m probably with my girlfriend, at the beach, at the movies, hanging out at Great Falls Park, traveling somewhere or shopping at Tysons Corner.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure of the moment? I love the new Katy Perry record, and I definitely watch Gossip Girl.
OK, spill: Do you actually have a favorite highway? My personal favorite highway is definitely the Pacific Coast Highway in California.
You also started a clothing company, Highway Robbery. Do you ever rock your own shirts on stage? Yes, I do! There are a few designs that aren’t really my style, but I’ve tweaked several of the designs to meet the specifications of something I would feel comfortable wearing. I wouldn’t call my style “Rock Star” because I can’t really afford to shop at the “Rock Star” stores yet, but for me it’s all about a really nice pair of jeans, my Converses and a v-neck - maybe a vest or a fitted blazer if it’s cold out. I keep it pretty simple.
What is your favorite lyric on the new record, and what inspired it? “A buck forty-five left to keep you alive”: desperation. And “Nothing’s bigger than love”: It’s the truth. Music is a very emotional thing for me and it’s very much inspired by what I’m feeling. I don’t like taking inspiration from other artists necessarily because then, whose music are you really playing? Real music comes from the heart and the soul, and as cliche as that sounds, it’s the truth.
Your music is obviously crazy radio-friendly. Are there labels beating down the door to sign you? There is definitely interest and a lot of good vibe. That’s all I’ll say.
Let’s say you indeed conquer the world. Who is the first person you contact with that newsflash? Oprah. I’d want her on my side.
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
It’s a special Tuesday here at NoVa Pop. Or, as I like to call it, Metalliday.
Metallica is without a doubt one of the most influential bands in metal history, and one could argue of most genres. From the long-haired San Francisco speed metal of the early 1980s to the short-cropped do’s of the more introspective ‘90s to the St. Anger of the ‘00s, these four dudes – as well as its two former bassists, Jason Newsted and the late Cliff Burton – have always pushed the envelope. Or more like crumpled it up, threw it into a shredder and then set it aflame. Metalllica’s next album, “Death Magnetic,” a harkening back to the epic thrash of yesteryear, gets a release on Friday, and the next day, tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. for the 7 p.m. show at Verizon Center with Machine Head and The Sword on Jan. 15. At $62.50 to $82.50, the tix are pretty steep but Metallica is always worth it. And this show will sell out QUICK.
So, with all that in mind, let’s take a look back and rank Metallica’s top five releases.
1. “Metallica” (1991) – The infamous “Black Album” features the album opener “Enter Sandman,” simply one of the best rock songs in the history of ever, but there’s no bad track on the thing. “Nothing Else Matters,” “Don’t Tread on Me,” “Sad But True,” “The Unforgiven” – all classics. True sonic magnificence. ‘Nuff said.
2. “Master of Puppets” (1986) – Eight songs tally more than an hour of a full-on assault that begins with the battering “Battery” and concludes with the instrumental “Orion.” Oh, there’s some goodness in the middle as well – “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” is both brutal and moving, while the opening riffs of the title track are too awesome for words.
3. “Reload” (1997) – While the “Black Album” brought the band into the mainstream, “Reload” won them some major hits: the blistering “Fuel,” the creepy slow jam “The Memory Remains” and the sequel “The Unforgiven 2.”
4. “Garage, Inc.” (1998) – What’s great about this two-disc collection of covers is how Metallica just Metallicizes other people’s stuff. There’s a Mercyfel Fate medley and other tuneage by the Misfits, Nick Cave and Black Sabbath, but the true highlights are the heavyfied version of Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page” and the thrashtastic, mindblowing “Stone Cold Crazy” that almost overtakes the original Queen song. Almost.
5. “S&M” (1999) – Backed up by the San Francisco Symphony, Metallica blazes through its greatest hits in a live setting, and sounds even better backed by a brass section on “No Leaf Clover” and the bombastic “The Call of Ktulu.”
Got a favorite Metallica song? Drop it in the comments section or email novapoppin@gmail.com. And check out the cinematic video below for the new single “The Day That Never Comes”:
Metallica – The Day That Never Comes
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008
Artsyness has always been a part of music, dating back to the classics. Musicians have forever tried to find new ways to take their tuneage to a new level. Hector Berlioz wrote a whole symphony, “Symphonie Fantastique,” out of his obsession with an actress and turned her into a musical idee fixe. Then there are the dudes of today who immerse themselves in their art and actually become it. Such as bands who don masks for live performances and a unique image – makeup is easy, but throwing a rubber thing on your face is hard. Sure, they look like they’re late for a Halloween party but it’s really hard to ignore a gang of guys with instruments looking freaktastic.
This week, Los Angeles band Hollywood Undead unleashes its new album, “Swan Songs,” and while one member seems to be a huge “V for Vendetta” fan with his Guy Fawkes-ish head gear, the group is hip-hop heavy, with Linkin Park overtones, Eminem wit and a healthy use of ‘80s-style keyboards. Yes, it’s that random, but with rave-ups such as “Sell Your Soul” and “Undead” it all kinda works.
When you mention masks and rock, the first thing most people think of is Slipknot, those nine nutty guys from Iowa in matching jumpsuits and ever-changing facial accessories, from the Pinocchio nose to the pig snout. Say what you will, but they rock. The band’s new album, “All Hope is Gone,” is as heavy as any of the percussion-heavy ensemble’s efforts, but “Psychosocial” and other songs that feature more mainstream rock crooning instead of grunting show the band’s true musicianship hidden under those artistic identities. This is metal, however, so there are beefs to be had – such as theirs with the masked Cleveland band, Mushroomhead. There have been minor riots and a few incidents over the years, arguing about who indeed was the first of them to rock the mask-and-jumpsuit look. Mushroomhead even mockingly dressed up as Slipknot a few times. Can’t we all just get along?
Then there’s the purveyors of Finnish monster metal, Lordi. These masked guys (and gal) somehow won the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest (the same one conquered by ABBA and Celine Dion) with their infectious ditty, “Hard Rock Hallelujah,” and released “Bite It Like a Bulldog” this week, the first single from the upcoming album “Deadache” in October. However, you have to go down to Richmond to get the true monstrous freak show. Gwar was formed there in the 1980s by Dave Brockie (aka lead singer Oderus Ungerus) – and if you believe the bio on their website, it involved the Death Pod, the Scumdogs of the Universe and Granbo and the Morality Squad. They’re scaly, creepy, pretty darn sick and all sorts of entertaining. That’s something no mask could ever hide.
Craziest band ever? Put your vote in the comments section or email novapoppin@gmail.com.