Save Yourself From A Stabbing

Industrial metal band Stabbing Westward emerged from the Chicago rock scene in the mid 80's, but it wasn't until 1998 that they made a big hit nationally. The band had a breakout Save Yourself hit the top ten in 1998 and peaked at #4 on the mainstream rock charts. The band never got much of a break after the song, always being compared to Nine Inch Nails and Gravity Kills, it became hard for them to get taken seriously. The video for Save Yourself was a very good creative video, but too closely resemble a Nine Inch Nails video to make the band stand on its own.

Stabbing Westward - Save Yourself

Aint No Diva High Enough

The song, Ain't No Mountain High Enough was original a hit for Marvin Gaye and Tammie Terrel. Diana Ross also turned it into a #1 hit, in 1970. On Vh1's 2000 version of Diva's Live, Ross and fellow divas, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey, Donna Summer, Rupaul, The Supremes, and Destiny's Child performed a spectacular version of the hit. Ego's were put aside and the voices flowed. It doesn't get much better than this line-up.

Diana Ross, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey, Donna Summer, Rupaul, The Supremes, and Destiny's Child - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (VH1's Diva's Live 2000)

I'll Be

One of my favorite singer/songwriters is Edwin McCain. McCain brings true heartfelt vocals along with a passion for performing and writing to every song. Unfortunately he has never been able to breakout and receive the acknowledgement, for his great songwriting. His biggest hit to date was 1998's I'll Be, which was featured on the first season finale of the show Dawson's Creek.

Edwin McCain - I'll Be

With A Little Help From Your Friends

Opera great Luciano Pavarotti performed an incredible version of the Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting song All For Love. Pavarotti was joined by Adams, Andrea Bocelli, as well as an orchestra and a pair of female backup singers. This is an awesome performance.

Luciano Pavarotti and friends - All For One

Pearl Jam and Fans

People either love or hate Pearl Jam, there is really no middle ground. One thing's for sure, though. Pearl Jam's fans are very loyal. This is a great live performance, largely due to the crowd interaction.

Pearl Jam - Daughter (live at the Leeds Festival 2006)

Live And Stoned

Monster Magnet were a very energetic and animated band. That may have all been due to singer Dave Wyndorf due abuse. One thing you could always count on from them was an entertaining show. Here's a performance from 2004's Hurricane Festival in Scheeßel, Germany.

Monster Magnet - Supercruel

When Is Enough, Enough ?

In 1994, The Eagles reunited. They did this despite the fact that they still hated each other. The group decided that enough money could make a reunion tour worth having to be around each other. They openly reunited just for the money and made a ton of it on the Hell Freezes Over Tour.

Since The Eagles reunion, many of bands have reunited. Some have actually managed to revive their career (Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, The Police), but most disappeared back to their jobs at Wal-Mart. Some bands have even decided that they should reform with new sings (The Doors, Alice In Chains, Queen, Blind Melon, Boston) and tarnish the bands original legacy. The one thing that keeps this trend going is money.

It’s seems that people always want that one last chance to see their favorite band or even a band that reminds them of their youth. This allows these groups one chance to make themselves important again and it gives the aging baby boomers a chance to feel young again. The sad thing is that the reunion tour is bigger (not better) than ever, just look at last years Police, Van Halen and Genesis tours.

This year is no exception and may have even more shitty reunions than ever. The biggest may be Stone Temple Pilots and Motley Crue. Motley Crue are back, even though Tommy Lee said he would never play with the band again and Mick Mars is still alive so prop him up and let the fun begin. Stone Temple Pilots, on the other hand, will be a crap shoot. It could put on a great show every night, but with Scott Weiland’s history the chance of that is small. The smart thing that both of these bands are doing is making each show like a festival, that way you may get your money’s worth.

The worst reunion news has to be New Kids On The Block. It blows my mind that anybody would care to see this. I watched them perform on the Today show last week and it was terrible. Their horrible dancing made then looked like fools and they sounded off key and flat. Yet, somehow they are selling out shows in minutes (Chicago sold out in 10 minutes) and have added a full summer of shows.

If that wasn’t bad enough. Their is also talk of an Extreme reunion, a Jackson 5 reunion (that rumors comes up every year) a Led Zeppelin tour. Who gives a shit about Extreme? The Jackson 5 have tried it before and nobody cared and please, please, please somebody stop the Led Zeppelin tour. This would do nothing but suck. These are old men, well Jimmy Page looks like an old woman now, and it just won’t be good. Does anybody really think that 60 year old men singing Black Dog and Rock and Roll will do anything but embarrass the band?

Also, reuniting this year are The Black Crowes, The Breeders, Yes and The B-52’s. The Black Crowes are a good band and are always worth checking out, but I’m not sure I see any reason for the other ones, especially B-52’s.

When will this stop? When will people stop paying to seeing band that only sound have as good as they should? When is enough, enough ?

Dueling Banjos

One of the best music related scenes in a movie came from Deliverance. As disturbing as the movie is, this is classic.

Dueling Banjos

These Girls Are Loud

Who says reallity show can make music stars. The British show Popstars manufactured the group Girls Aloud and they have become one of Britains most success girls over the past few years. Since 2002, thay have had 18 consecutive Top 10 singles (including three number ones) and five platinum albums (including a number one). Here is a look at a song from their first album.

Girls Aloud - No Good Advise

Sum Say

Sum 41 have begun work on a new album after tons of touring and that whole Avril Lavigne marriage thing. Let's just hope she doesnt have much influence on the band new album. While we wait for new music let's check out a song from Chuck.

Sum 41 - Some Say

August Rush

The movie August Rush features some great music. One of the best was by relativly unknown Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Here is his song This Time along with a slideshow from the movie.

Remember This one?

Here is a classic from the 80's.

The Pointer Sisters - Jump

British Folk meets American Jazz

British folk artist Beth Orton was joined by American jazz/folk guitarist Terry Callier (minus his guitar) for this great performance of the song Dolphins.

This Is A Test

How does this look on the page?