My shoot with the local band “TailGun” In studio on high key white and low key on black.
Let it Rawk: At Count’s Vampd 8/01/15
by: Leah Burlington
Let it Rawk is an All Star Band with musicians that all had big bands in the 80’s. The main man is founder and guitarist Stacey Blades, who played with LA Guns and Roxx Gang. They also have their main singer from Black n ‘N Blue, Jaime James wailing on vocals. There are some other musicians that come and go from show to show and this incarnation was with the mighty Oz Fox from Stryper on guitars, Jimmy DAnda from Bullet Boys on the drum kit and Sean McNabb on bass who has played with just about everyone, including, Quiet Riot, Lynch Mob, House of Lords and more.
Let it Rawk is a feel good show with so many of our favorite songs of our 80’s era with all the pomp and glam of the day. All these guys are talented and been in the spotlight in their own right most their lives and they give it all they have onstage. Let it Rawk puts on one hell of a rock n roll show!! Make sure to go see them if they come your way!!
Set List is: Autoblast, Wanted man, Into the Fire, Never Enough, Rattlesnake (An original song), Love Machine, For the Love of Money, Miss Mystery, Two Time Woman, American Rebels (Another original) The Hunter, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Wild Side, Mr. Brownstone, Round and Round, and I Wanna Rock.
Dragonforce & Kamelot with Sicocis at HOB, Las Vegas NV Dec 7th 2015
By: Leah Burlington
When I found out that one of my top fave bands, Kamelot, was coming to Vegas I was first in shock and then worried about whether there would be a crowd there. They have never played in Vegas before and like all firsts there is always a bit of doubt that people may not come. The energetic and talented Dragonforce, who has played here before to pretty good crowds, was opening for them so I figured it would be pretty good for the bands. My buddies in local metal band Sicocis helped out by selling tickets to locals to get some more people in the door and that helped immensely. They also tore up that stage and warmed up the crowd for the awesomeness that was to come after. Sicocis was awesome in their own right so they got a whole story dedicated to them in this issue…
Dragonforce is known for their upbeat version of power metal and their two inhuman guitarists Herman Li and Sam Totman play extremely fast solos with intensity and virtuocity. Their music is sometimes referred to as “Nintendo Metal” or as I have lovingly referred to them as chipmunks on speed. The bands new singer (He came in 2011) Mark Hudson looks like a blonde Viking and sings like a beast. This band went on this night with so much fire and fury that as soon as these guys exploded onstage I felt the energy go up about 100 percent! The four main guys all ran around the stage with so much excitement, guitarists Herman and Sam, along with bassist Frédéric Leclercq and Keyboardist, Vadim Pruzhanov, we like a blur and hard to capture on camera. They would all get right up front and center and just shred out together like their lives depended on it. They are an absolute blast to watch and their energy is palpable. Yes you can feel the music!! Live, Dragonforce cannot be beat so when it was time for one of my all time fave bands to come out, I was a bit worried. I know Kamelot can deliver as well so we waited after we collected ourselves and caught a second wind.
The set list for Dragonforce was “Fury of the Storm”, “Three Hammers”, “The Game”, “Heros”, “Cry Thunder”, “Valley of the Damned”. “Ring of Fire”, “Through the Fire and Flames.”
Kamelot is one of the most talented heavy yet symphonic power metal bands around. In the lines of say Nightwish, but they are definitely their own style. They have this amazing new singer, Tommy Karevik, who replaced the mighty Roy Khan who was like a God in our eyes for many years. Tommy slid easily into the shoes of Khan in 2012 as they released the abum “Silverthorn.” The newest album, 2015’s “Haven” is an epic album as well and has put Tommy up there on the pedestal that Khan left empty. They usually have a female singer join them onstage for some of their songs and they brought us the amazing Kobra Paige from “Kobra and the Lotus” to mesmerize us with her beauty and vocal abilities on this tour. Kamelot’s music is hauntingly beautiful, romantic and dark with some glorious vocals and blast beats from the mighty drummer Casey Grillo, along with the ever bouncy and heavy handed Sean Tibbets on bass who’s blonde braids make him look like a wicked mad man. The backbone of this band and founder, guitarist Thomas Youngblood is the man behind this glorious sound and word that is Kamelot. He is the reason for the amazing beauty of this music. He formed Kamelot in 1991 and they have eleven albums to their name and have travelled all over the planet on tour since then.
When they came out I was in awe of the lights the sounds and the aggressiveness of the music as it pounded me into blissful submission. The music has highs and lows and is like a symphony of dark and light. I was blown away by how amazing Tommy’s voice was all through the show and how he and Kobra singing together was entirely magical.
I loved watching Sean stomping his way across the stage and pounding his bass while keyboardist and multi talented composer Oliver Palotai would bang his head and throw that beautiful hair around all while playing his keys like a beast. Thomas commanded the stage with that regal presence that he always has while watching the crowd’s reaction. He looked convinced that we were loving it and with a smile he raised a mic stand to us and let us sing! Tommy sang his ass off and I was just enthralled with the whole set and didn’t want it to end. Even though it wasn’t a huge crowd the band was happy with our screams and and swore to come back to Vegas again. This was one of the best shows of the year for me and all the while getting to see it in my own hometown!!
Kamelot set list: “Veil of Elysium”, “When the Lights are Down”, “The Great Pandemonium”, “Center of the Universe”,(With Kobra) “Karma”, “Talk”, “Torn”, “Here’s to the Fall”,” March of Mephisto” (With Kobra) “Decible”, “Rule the World”, “Insomnia”, “Liar,Liar” (With Kobra) “Forever”, “Revolution”, “Sacrimony”(With Kobra) and “Continuum”
Ghost at the House of Blues, Las Vegas 10/31/15 Halloween
A fan’s Perspective:
By: By Luthien Lexenstar
It’s 10:30 AM on Halloween and I am sitting, with beer in hand on the floor of the Mandalay Bay Casino outside of The House of Blues. The show doesn’t start for another 10 hours. What would make me wait in line that long for a concert you ask? One word … GHOST.
I just picked up a friend from the airport who flew in from Los Angeles to see the show. I met her through a fantastic Facebook group known as Ghost American Ministries, a group of Ghost fans with one thing in common, their love of all things Ghost. Throughout the day more friends from GAM will join the line, some flying in from places as far away as Texas with one mission only, to spend the night at another Ghost ritual.
Ghost are a Swedish metal band from Linköping, Sweden, whose music combines 70s and 80s classic rock with a modern satanic twist. (ALL tongue firmly in cheek) Their tunes are catchy enough to sing along to but with crunchy riffs to satisfy even today’s metal purist. I like to think of them as a thinking man’s black metal band. Unlike most of today’s black metal aggressiveness, Ghost spread their message with thoughtful and provoking lyrics and uplifting tunes with nice melodies.
The evening opened with the lovely Rosalie Cunningham and Purson from England playing their psychedelic brand of hard rock. Their songs reminded me of Black Sabbath, the Doors and some earlier Soundgarden. The music was hypnotic, and as many a male friend pointed out to me, Rosalie was very easy on the eyes. It was a great way to start the night.
After the haunting opening music of “The Masked Ball” by Jocelyn Pook, Ghost took the stage in all their satanic glory opening with “Spirit”. Their set resembled an evil church complete with stained glass windows and incense, Papa Emeritus III, adorned in his papal robes and all the Nameless Ghouls decked out in tailored suits with spats.
During “Pinnacle to the Pit” Papa mesmerizes the audience who sing along to every single word of the song. The Nameless Ghouls are just as captivating as they parade and strut about the stage with one guitar player striking his foot repeatedly on the stage, known affectionately to fans as the Omega stomp.
After the favorite from Opus Eponymous “Ritual” finishes Ghost launch into Con Clavi Con Dio and Per Aspera ad Inferi complete with swinging thurible burning sweet incense.
Other highlights of the evening include Papa serenading a young lady from the audience during the song Cirice. As he sings to her, “Cant’ you see that you’re lost without me” that young girl standing next to me bursts into tears and sobs. This is not the only emotion that Ghost have managed to invoke that night. The song “He Is” brought a tear to me eye in all its beauty, even if it is about the dark side of life and faith.
Later in the set, Ghost perform one of their heavier songs “Mummy Dust”. During this song we are treated to a “keytar” solo which I have not seen since the likes of Gregg Guiffria from Angel in the late 70’s. The night concludes with the upbeat “If You Have Ghosts”, a cover by Roky Erickson and Monstrance Clock from “Infestissumam”.
Judas Priest at The Pearl at the Palms 10-17-15
By: Michael Taylor
Edited by: Leah Burlington
Judas Priest as been rocking the world for a long time, and doing it very well, as I recently discovered at my first Priest show at the Pearl in Las Vegas. My only regret about this show was that I had not seen Priest before this night. Before Priest even came on I could feel the energy rising in the audience and it came to a head as the sound system started playing “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath and the entire audience was singing along. That would not be the last time everyone in attendance was joining in song.
When the curtain finally dropped, the place exploded and everyone was on their feet. I was a bit further back than I normally am for concerts, but it gave me a unique perspective of both the band and the crowd. Priest’s light show was absolutely stunning when paired with the visuals being projected behind the band, there were times I couldn’t tear my eyes away from that instead of watching the band itself perform. To top it off they had album covers projected between songs to show off Judas Priest’s 40 year history. You’d think that they may have lost a step or two in those years of touring and album crafting but you’d be wrong. Rob Halford’s vocal talents defy the laws of time and he can still hit every note, even when performing “Screaming for Vengeance”, for the first time in 30 years, and the newer song “Halls of Valhalla.” Rob’s range is incredible with a plethora of growls and higher pitched screams and he still at 64, has the energy to pull it off. It’s been a long time since a solo gave me chills but Richie Faulkner & Glenn Tipton’s dueling solo’s did just that. These two shredded all night long and the crowd loved every second of it. As for myself I just reveled in the skill and mastery of their instruments while allowing the music to take me its hold on me.
At one point I heard someone shout “Here it comes!”, shortly after hearing a motorcycle start and being revved up, and to my naïve self I had thought it was just over the sound system, but I was immediately proven wrong when Rob drove back on-stage with his Harley, all surrounded by smoke while the band went into “Hell Bent for Leather”. This is where the crowd really lent its vocals to Rob’s and the entire building reverberated with the power and glory of the combined voices. After the first encore Priest teased us for only one more song but ended up playing a few more. By the end everyone was chanting Priest, Priest, Priest, and even the stage lights were pulsing to the beat of the chant. It was a thing of beauty. Learn from my mistakes and get out and see this band live before it’s too late!
Doing a studio photo shoot with the lovely and talented Rock Goddess, Leona X was a pleasure and a gift. I got to shoot one of the most amazing rocker ladies out there with her gorgeous blue “Goddess” by Gibson and her 65 Gibson SG. As she came out in her self made blinged out “Elvis” looking cat suit, I knew I was in for a rare treat! She looked stunning and as rocking as you can get!! We did three outfits in two rooms, one high key and one low and spent three hours laughing and just having fun! This is just some of the shots I got out of the session…
You can see Leona X on the Cover of the new issue of Sin City Presents Magazine along with an in depth interview coming Oct 1st 2015 here: Sin City Presents
Website: Leona X Rocks
Facebook: Leona X
Leona X on Youtube: Leona X: Are You Ready for This?
If you want to book me for a shoot in this studio, please e-mail me at Rockinpix666@gmail.com
The Sin City Sinners have been a Vegas staple of the Vegas music scene since 2007 with then Lead guitarist Brent Muscat from Faster Pussycat, Todd Kearns on guitar and vocals and all around comedian, Rob Cournoyer (Raging Slab) on drums, and Dee on bass. Those were the days of the notorious “Dive Bar” and the days where The Sinners started to have special guest musicians get onstage and play with them. Back in those days I saw Jizzy Pearl, Randy Piper, Frankie Banalli, Paul Shortino, Jimmy Crespo, and many others play at the “Dive Bar” with The Sinners and some of these guys hadn’t played out in years. Some of the guys actually ended up moving here. Those were fun times in a dinky ass smelly bar that had a killer vibe…
Read more in the new issue of Sin City Presents out Oct 1st here: Sin City Presents
Official Sinners website: Sinners on the web
Sin City Sinners on Facebook: Sin City Sinners
One of the 80’s most notorious hard rock female bands, Femme Fatale, blew the roof off of Vamp’d on September 4, 2015. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, lead singer, Lorraine Lewis restarted the band in 2013. Having a new lineup, they have been rockin’ cities nationwide since…
Read more of this review in the new issue of Sin City Presents Magazine, coming out oct 1st here: Sin City Presents
Official website: Femme Fatale
Facebook: I Love Femme Fatale
Lorraine on Facebook: Lorraine Lewis
TailGun & Back ‘N Blue on 8/22/15
Our own kick ass original local act, TailGun opened the show for Black ‘N Blue and warmed up the crowd first with some searing rock that kept the flames burning bright as they came in hot and left us wanting more. TailGun is: Dru Jaxin-Vocals, Cory Kay-Bass, Todd Turgeon-Drums, Rob E.G.-Guitars, and Larry Kelly-Guitars.
For full review of Black ‘N Blue and TailGun go to Sin City Presents on September 1st for the new issue!!!
Check out TailGun on Facebook here: TailGun Rocks
For video of TailGun click here: TailGun: Coming in HOT
(Video courtesy of Trish Kerr/ Trishaidekaphilia Trish