Live reviews

LIVE: MADELEINE PEYROUX wsg SOPHIE B HAWKINS – May 7, 2022
Venue: Bilheimer Capitol Theatre City: Clearwater, FL Dates: May 7, 2022 Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com) There are artists that seem like long shots to ever see live, let alone review and photograph – Madeleine Peyroux is one of those performers. From the first time I heard her rendition of “La Vie en […]

LIVE: LORNA SHORE – April 29, 2022
Venue: The Concourse City: Knoxville, TN Date: April 29, 2022 Review and Photographs by: Rachel Craig (https://www.rachelcraigmedia.com/) Lorna Shore is easily at the top of deathcore – and even the metal genre as a whole. The band has been drawing rapid attention and even went viral just last year, from member changes to one of their songs becoming a popular […]

LIVE: BETH HART – April 27, 2022
Venue: Duke Energy Center for the Arts / Mahaffey Theater City: St Petersburg, FL Dates: April 27, 2022 Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com) Occasionally a tour or show is announced, and I get almost giddy anticipating attending the show. Toss in the opportunity to photograph the show and forget about it. A late April […]
Interviews

Almost A Dirty Dozen with THE VIOLENT INZIDENT – May 2022
According to a recent press release: “UK Based Post-Nu-Metal-Sub-Core supergroup THE VIOLENT INZIDENT have released the official music video for “Nu Metal,” off of their upcoming LP, This Is Nu Metal!. Consisting of highly talented musicians who may or may not be members of other very well known non post Nu-Metal bands, The Violent Inzident is: Tiny D – Wannabe rapper douchebag; C […]

INTERVIEW: BRETT PETRUSEK from FUZZRD – May 2022
According to a recent press release: “Today, FuZZrd present a live video for “Monster Carnival.” To screen the clip, click here: https://bit.ly/fuzzrdlive. The recording will be on all streaming platforms as of tomorrow. Singer and guitarist Brett Petrusek shares, “It was such a great feeling to release Near Life Experience and play our first handful of shows to close 2021. I’ve always visualized 2022 as […]

A Dirty Dozen with DAN SINDEL – May 2022
According to a recent press release: “Los Angeles musician Dan Sindel is best known for his “symphonic guitar” arrangements where he breaks the barrier in multi-tracking techniques with the guitar. Dan’s recordings have earned features in issues of Guitar Player and Electronic Musician magazines and continue to receive international acclaim. He is a unique and distinct artist like no other. His approach […]
Music reviews

CD REVIEW: ROGUE MALE – HARD CASE
CD REVIEW: ROGUE MALE – HARD CASE RM2K MUSIC 2021 Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar 85% It’s been a long time since Rogue Male burned brightly but all-too-briefly in the mid ‘80s and delivered two essential albums, First Visit and Animal Man. Frontman Jim Lyttle recruited Bernie Tormé, Robin Guy and John McCoy for a 2009 […]

MUSIC REVIEW: STONE BROKEN – Revelation
Label: Spinefarm Records Release Date: April 15, 2022 Rating: 96% Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur According to a recent press release, for their latest release Stone Broken decided it was time to turn up the volume — to build on past glories with the intention of making everything bigger, bolder, and the best version of Stone Broken there has been. Disc opener “Black Sunrise” […]

SINGLE REVIEW: THE VOLCANICS – Why’d Ya Do That?
SINGLE REVIEW: THE VOLCANICS – Why’d Ya Do That? Independent April 2022 Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar 95% Let’s not mince words: the sound of a top-notch rock n’ roll band taking flight into the stratosphere and doing what they do is a beautiful, transcendent thing, and there are few who do it as well as […]
Book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: BECOMING MR NICE – THE HOWARD MARKS ARCHIVE by Amber Marks
BOOK REVIEW: BECOMING MR NICE – THE HOWARD MARKS ARCHIVE by Amber Marks No Exit Press Rrp $39.99 Hardcover, November 2021 Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar 90% Howard Marks’ story remains a riveting ride, six years after his death and more than thirty years after he was ‘banged up’ in the USA for his drug smuggling […]

COOKBOOK REVIEW: Savory Dinner Pies From Around The Globe by Ken Haedrich
COOKBOOK REVIEW: Savory Dinner Pies From Around The Globe by Ken Haedrich Allen & Unwin/Murdoch Books January 2022 Rrp $35.00 By Shane Pinnegar 60% I’ll wager ol’ mate Ken Haedrich has never had to cater for a gluten free guest, such is his fascination with big ol’ meat (and seafood, and veg) pies, all lovingly […]

COOKBOOK REVIEW: BIG BOARDS FOR BIG FAMILIES by Sandy Coughlin
COOKBOOK REVIEW: BIG BOARDS FOR BIG FAMILIES by Sandy Coughlin Allen & Unwin Rrp $35.00 By Shane Pinnegar 68% Sandy Coughlin’s Big Boards For Big Families is an undeniably colourful affair, lovingly photographing and describing huge grazing boards designed to be shared by families (or, presumably) groups of friends. All too often Coughlin’s ideas lean […]
Movie & Theatre reviews

THEATRE REVIEW: EVERY BRILLIANT THING
THEATRE REVIEW: EVERY BRILLIANT THING Black Swan Theatre, Perth, Western Australia – 25th August, 2021 Written by Duncan MacMillan with Jonny Donahoe Starring Luke Hewitt By Shane Pinnegar We cried true tears last night – equally from laughter, compassion and respect – as we experienced Luke Hewitt performing the one-handed play Every Brilliant Thing in […]

MOVIE REVIEW: BOSS LEVEL
MOVIE REVIEW: BOSS LEVEL Written by Chris & Eddie Borey, Joe Carnahan Directed by Joe Carnahan Starring Frank Grillo, Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar 72% Frank Grillo oozes charisma and cool as retired special forces officer Roy Pulver in this assassin-Groundhog Day action-fest. Waking up each day on the exact same day […]

MOVIE REVIEW: KING KONG (2005)
MOVIE REVIEW: KING KONG (2005) Image: Wikimedia Hollywood is going through a phase of revisiting old properties of late. And just as recent years have brought us a reimagined take on an iconic Batman villain in 2019’s Joker, or a deeper look into the Alien franchise in Memory (which was reviewed here), we’re soon to […]
News

Early Bird Tickets On Sale Now! For Western Canada’s Decibel Breaking Metal Fest LOUD AS HELL 2022 – July 29 – July 31
Western Canada’s largest decibel-breaking metal festival, LOUD AS HELL has launched its early bird pre-sale tickets for this year’s 10th edition. The live extreme music and camping event will be hosted from July 29th to 31st at the Dinosaur Downs Stampede Grounds in Drumheller, AB. EARLY BIRD TICKETS FOR LAH X NOW AVAILABLE FOR ONLY $120 CAD at […]

Shinedown Releases The “Planet Zero” Music Video
New York, NY – [March 3, 2022] – Multi-platinum, record-breaking band Shinedown have released the thought-provoking and cinematic music video for lead single “Planet Zero” – The video arrives as “Planet Zero” hits #1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart this week. The explosive single, the title track from the band’s seventh studio album […]

Five Things You Didn’t Know about BAD MOON BORN
Five Things You Didn’t Know about BAD MOON BORN By lead singer JORDAN VON GRAE with Shane Pinnegar 1. Our Debut Album Is In the Works After a couple of stand-alone releases and a 5-track singles collection, we decided it was about time we let fly with our debut full-length record. We’re currently in the […]
More

A Dirty Dozen with SIMON ROACH from RXPTRS – May 2022
According to a recent press release: “Bristol, UK-based band RXPTRS – who blend rock, metal, punk, and hardcore with a seamlessness that is enviable, creating something that is unique that seethes with boundless energy – have announced their forthcoming album Living Without Death’s Permission, out June 24 via Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records. RXPTRS (pronounced “Raptors”) are a new wave […]

A Dirty Dozen with LIPS TURN BLUE – May 2022
According to a recent press release: “LIPS TURN BLUE the acclaimed Upstate NY band that releases its debut album on MIG MUSIC May 4th., has released its second music video, PRAY FOR TOMORROW. Although written and recorded with the band’s late vocalist and co-writer, Phil Naro before the current conflict in the Ukraine, the compelling video was created […]

A Dirty Dozen with CHARLES CASWELL from BERRIED ALIVE – May 2022
According to a recent press release: “Berried Alive is a carefully curated world of adventurous music and multi-sensory goodies including, most recently, a beer partnership. In marketing speak, the company is a whimsical and colorful lifestyle brand with an ever-expanding menu of commercial offerings. But the founding duo—husband and wife, Charles Caswell and Kaylie Caswell—aren’t […]

A Dirty Dozen with NINA HAMMERLING from THE BAR CAR BAND – May 2022
According to a recent press release: “THE BAR CAR BAND’s sophomore EP, High on the Sunshine, drops today on CD and all streaming platforms. The group features singer-songwriters Nina Hammerling and Russell Smith in collaboration with guitarist Michael Mugrage (Orleans, Ronnie Spector), drummer Tommy Nagy (Lucky Peterson, The Garcia Project) and special guest bassist Scott […]

Almost A Dirty Dozen with DYMBUR – May 2022
According to a recent press release: “Shillong, India based, Khasi Thraat Folk Metal band DYMBUR has released the official music video for “Rape Culture.” Recorded. Mixed & mastered by founder and guitarist CORNELIUS KHARSYNTIEW at Legato Recording Studio, the video for “Rape Culture” was produced by ANDREAS NATHANIAL WAR and edited by KHARSYNTIEW. The KHASI people are an indigenous tribe, […]

INTERVIEW: UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER, April 2022
INTERVIEW: UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER, April 2022 By Shane Pinnegar Udo Dirkschneider is one of the elder statesmen of Heavy Metal, having fronted German pioneers Accept from their foundation in 1976 through to his departure in 1987. Through that time he helmed the band through seven mighty studio albums, including the seminal Restless & Wild, Balls To […]

INTERVIEW: A. JAY POPOFF from LIT – April 2022
According to a recent press release: “Whether you posted something that didn’t go over well, or you accidentally sent a text to the wrong person, we all have had foot in mouth disease at some point. Sometimes you wish you would have just kept it to yourself is the impetus behind Lit’s new single, “Mouth Shut” today. “Mouth […]

A Dirty Dozen with KEITH WATSON from THE INTEMPERATE SONS – May 2022
According to a recent press release: “Indie rock band The Intemperate Sons released their new single “Dust to Dust” to all major platforms. Formed in the summer of 2019, The Intemperate Sons are an indie-rock band that are the perfect concoction of hard rock mixed with folk, grunge, and alt sensibilities. The band hails from Dallas, Texas and have earned a reputation of writing […]

A Dirty Dozen with ANGIE GOEKE – May 2022
According to a recent press release: “Houston, TX-based Americana singer-songwriter Angie Goeke is set to her release her debut full-length, If I Were Honest, on April 29, 2022. An independent release, the album was recorded in Nashville and produced by Mary Bragg. If I Were Honest presents a stunning, atmospheric Americana collection that melds the many facets of Goeke’s creative and personal […]

A Dirty Dozen with CHAINS OVER RAZORS – April 2022
According to a recent press release: “Chains Over Razors has just dropped their self-titled sophomore release, and the first single “Behind These Eyes” landed itself as the #2 most added spot on the Billboard (BDS) Mainstream Rock Indicator chart and the #1 most added spot on the Foundations chart on the first week of release. Crossing paths in a recording […]