The lead off track, “Beautiful,” co-written by Lee expresses the love for a woman with a natural beauty.  With Beautiful starting off “Comin’ Back Around”, you get to hear the incredible harmonies of Lee and Elaine early in the CD.  “Those Were The Days” is a nostalgic and heartfelt look at a time when life was simpler with Lee singing lead.  “He threw me the keys to my Granddad’s old Falcon,” is the first line and it says it all about life and family.  In the title track, Elaine takes lead and shows the amazing range of her voice.  Then she uses her powerful voice to expand on that performance with the next song “Rain”, which seems to be a popular song subject lately.  Lee and Elaine expressed outstanding harmonies in the warm, slow song about the impact an adoptive mother had in her children’s lives in “Everything I Ever Wanted.”  They followed that up with the up-tempo back and forth lyrical tribute to the heroes and legends of country music in “They Shaped The Country.”  The Roys close out the CD with a song about a true American hero, “American Farmer.”  This high energy song will be a classic and would be the perfect song and group to open up this year’s Farm Aid Concert.

In “Comin’ Back Around,” The Roys have put together a CD that is strong from the first note to the last song with no filler.  If you like Joey + Rory, you will love The Roys so make sure you pick up “Comin’ Back Around” when it comes out later this year.

Upon meeting Krysta Cameron from Iwrestledabearonce, I noticed how tiny and feminine her demeanor was. She carries herself with a cute flirt, skin embraced with tattoos, and a great smile. Krysta is nowhere near the girl next door. She has a voice, and a lot of power behind it. She has a message, and she is handing it out to the world. Vans Warped Tour showcased with over 30 bands has brought a new outlook to the next generation of music, and Iwrestledabearonce is here in Colorado to tackle it.

I first asked Krista how it felt to be on tour with so many other notorious bands. She brought back with a quick response of how great everyone has been. “It’s like one big family, and we all have a common ground… our music.” Krysta has such a great energy about her that I had to know where that comes from. It’s not something that just everyone carries with them. She said that her family has always been very supportive of her music and decision making in her life. All the members from iwrestledabearonce were all at one point in other various bands which is what has brought their new sound to life. There was no specific genre in mind, more over just a feeling, a thought, that when they all came together was seen as a common goal. Asking Krysta about her band brings a look to her face, as if you had asked her about her own family that she is more than fond of. They live together, eat together, tour together, play video games together, and of course rock the world together! Traveling to various places around the world has allowed iwrestledabearonce to really learn the market of new and old venues. They love and appreciate the different styles of their fans from state to state. ”Every place is different, with a kick ass new group of people!” I wanted to know what it was that inspired iwrestledabearonce for their latest album. Krysta said that they had the most amazing experience making this album. The last one they did felt very rushed, and they felt this time around they really got to put a lot more of themselves into it. “Booze, Venice Beach, Horror Films… and just an overall inspiring atmosphere brought out the emotion for the album.” Some of the musicians that have inspired them along the way are Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Veruca Salt (I totally agreed with her on this one!), and of course The Deftones, Korn, and Slipknot. Krysta never wants to just stick with one genre. She knows that keeping her audience entertained is twisting and melding all the genres into a new exciting sound. Where do they see themselves in five years? Krysta laughs… “Well hell, who knows, I’m just flying by the seat of my pants” I will say though, I think we are just now finding out who Krysta is and we are all waiting to hear what that passionate voice is bringing us next.

Heaven Fest 2010 — A Huge Colorado Christian Music Worship and Arts Festival — Bands, DJs, Artists and more touted the Heavenfest website.  This festival took place on July 31^st, at Union Reservoir outside Longmont, Colorado.  Heavenfest offered over 70 bands on 7 stages on 300 acres.   This festival is unique to Colorado, though there were many license plates in the parking lot from Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

This is the first year the festival was held in Longmont, and apparently, a vast improvement over last year’s site in Brighton.  My daughter and I jumped in the car for the 20 minute drive to see a couple of our favorite Christian metal bands; The Devil Wears Prada, and Maylene and the Sons of Disaster.  Traffic was light at best, and the volunteers running the parking lots were very helpful.   The stages were set up in a way that made them all very accessible.  In addition to all the other offerings, over 80 people were baptized in the reservoir over the course of the day.

It would be easy to lump this festival in with other big summer tours; Vans Warped tour, Mayhem fest, etc. except that from the time we arrived, it had a much different feel.  There were your usual rock t-shirts and merchandise tents, but there weren’t any people drinking alcohol in the parking lot or inebriated inside the festival.  This probably attributed to the very few dehydrated fans needing medical assistance on this very hot Saturday.

The organizers of HF made it very easy for fans to see the show even if you couldn’t afford to pay the full price for tickets.  If you went to the website before the show, HF offered what it called “pay what you can tickets”, and they backed it up by offering tickets for as low as 1 dollar.  There was also free water available, though the lines did get a little long at times.

We visited every stage to watch a few of the acts.  Based on fan responses and the attendance at the “meet and greet” tent, some of the favorites were Kutless, Mary Mary, Barlow Girl, Thousand Foot Krutch, Hawk Nelson and The Devil Wears Prada. 

While we spent the bulk of our time at the Heavy Metal stage enjoying very hard core music, there was no doubt that this was a Christian festival.  Before every band played, organizers would take the stage to pray with the crowd while trying to raise awareness of the plight of orphaned children all over the world.  Signed guitars were also made available for silent auctions to raise money for basic necessities like clothes and clean water for the children orphaned by natural disasters.  This had every opportunity to become overly preachy, but it was nothing like that.  There was very much a tight community feel to the whole thing, and a few of the bands shared personal stories while performing about turning their back on drugs and promiscuous sex and handing their lives over to God.  The fans listened intently to their musical heroes describing a life devoted to worship.  All fans were urged to spread the word, be a volunteer, and make a positive difference in someone else’s life.

The heavy metal stage felt like a reunion for the bands as they have clearly crossed paths before and enjoy each other’s company.  Band members were helping other bands load and move equipment all day, and there was a real sense of camaraderie between the performers.  We had the good fortune to meet, take pictures, and talk with Dallas, the singer from Maylene as well as Jeremy, one of the guitar players for TDWP.

All in all, this event was one of the best outdoor festivals I’ve been to in quite a while.  I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in a day of togetherness.  If you don’t come for the worship, come for the music because there is something for everyone at Heavenfest.

Photo’s by C. Michael Stewart

The first HullabaLOU Music Festival conducted July 23-25 at Churchill Downs attracted 78,753 fans from across North America despite searing summer heat. “The question we have been asked over and over has been, will HullabaLOU return in 2011?” stated Steve Sexton, president of the Churchill Downs Entertainment Group (CDE).  “The answer to that question is a resounding yes!”

On-site research conducted during HullabaLOU’s three-day run indicated that 99-percent of fans would recommend HullabaLOU to a friend. Additionally, 70-percent said they would personally return to the festival next year, and another 28-percent said they might attend in 2011, listing heat and potential artist line-up as factors in their decision to return.

The inaugural run of the HullabaLOU Music Festival attracted fans from 47 states and Canada who flocked to the historic Louisville, Ky. institution to enjoy exciting performances from an all-star roster of 66 artists topped by Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney and the Dave Matthews Band.

“Fans are telling us they had a great experience, and we’re really pleased by the overwhelming response to the first Hullabalou Music Festival from the thousands of fans in our region and those who visited Churchill Downs from throughout North America,” said Steve Sexton, president of Churchill Downs Entertainment. “Thanks to everyone – our guests, our artists and their management teams, HullabaLOU vendors, official sponsors and partners, our employees and Churchill team, our countless volunteers and all throughout the region who supported the festival and warmly embraced visitors and fans throughout the week. 

Sexton previously indicated that CDE’s three specific major goals for the first HullabaLOU Music Festival were largely realized.  The goals included:

•    Creation of a large scale, unique music festival experience;
•    Building a major nationally-acclaimed event; and
•    Make the event financially viable with potential for future growth.

CDE staff members will analyze feedback from fans and performers over the next few weeks and review all areas of festival operations in an effort to improve on the impressive debut of HullabaLOU while planning for the 201l event.

Fans are encouraged to post input on the event’s Facebook page, which attracted more than 26,000 friends in the months leading up to and throughout HullabaLOU’s three-day run.

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The Motor City Madman is at it again…a new tour tearing across America and a CD just released in time for July 4^th.  Ted Nugent is a good man and an amazing guitarists and rock and roll legend.  He loves this country, her fighting men and women, the common man and of course our constitutional freedoms.  StageShottz recently caught up with Nugent to see what he had on his mind.

StageShottz Magazine: You are a rock and roll legend and have been playing professionally for over 50 years.  How has the music scene and industry as a whole changed over that time in your eyes?

Ted Nugent: There was a firestorm of enthusiasm following Les Paul’s amazing invention perfected by Chuck Berry, Bo Diddly and all those passionate founding fathers of rock-n-roll in the 1950s. There was a tidal wave of exuberant celebration by the masses for this exciting and brand new primal scream music. Though I am one super lucky musician to still be touring like an animal possessed, sadly that same mass enthusiasm has dissipated in the recording industry, from record companies, to retail, to radio and beyond. Add to that the explosion of video recording technology, unlimited access to unlimited entertainment is instantly global now. New artists have 1000 times the challenge that we original rockers had I do believe. 

SSM: From the beginning your music has been full of heart, soul and hell raising, how would you describe your music and where it comes from within you?

TN: My original inspirations were the original masters like Bo, Chuck, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown, all the fiery black artists that raised maximum hell with their over the top intense live shows and music. Given the fact that I am a natural born predator, you combine the fury of those black heroes with my primal hunting lifestyle and you have the ultimate, defiant, rugged individualism spewing from every song, every guitar lick, and every performance to this very day. I am clearly touched by the hand of God.  

SSM: Being very patriotic and a supporter of our troops, can you tell me about the 2 disc CD you just put out in time for our country’s birthday, “Happy Defiance Day Everyday”?

TN: The heart and soul of American DNA is defiance. We defied kings, emperors, slave drivers, despots and tyrants to live the America Dream of independence and individualism. I am blessed to spend sacred time often with the heroes of the US Military and their families, and they inspire my every waking day. That warriors volunteer to chase down and destroy evil so that good can win over bad and ugly is the greatest sacrifice of mankind. I do all I can to show how much I appreciate their sacrifices.

SSM: You released you 2oth studio album, “Love Grenade”, in 2007, when can we expect a new CD of new music from the Motor City Madman?

TN: I have a tsunami of new killer songs that I can’t wait to capture on tape. We hope to have a new CD of wild eyed krankers in 2011.

SSM: I recently talked to Charlie Daniels, who is also very conservative on his politics, about the state of the country since the last presidential election; he thinks this is a dangerous time in our history.  What do you think of where America is at the moment in time?  And can we see you run for office anytime soon?

TN: We are living in treacherous times at the hands of the viciously anti-American Mao Tse Tung fan club in the White House. The runaway corruption and abuse of power by soulless, criminal politicians is unprecedented in our lifetime. Barak Obama, his administration and laughable Czars clearly hate the American Way. We must rid ourselves of these cannibals ASAP. I pray to God that there are enough Americans who know better to get the job done in the voting booth from now on.

SSM: Is there anything you would like to say to the fans?

TN: God bless you all. My fellow hardcore music lovers have created this wonderful gravity defying career for me forever and I deeply appreciate it with all my heart and soul. There’s more where this came from. I am turning up the heat to say thank you!

The last time I saw the Scorpions live was in the late 80’s so I was understandably skeptical going in to the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN to see their current tour, “Get Your Sting and Blackout World Tour 2010.”  This two year tour will be the legendary bands farewell tour.  I was also saddened by this being the farewell tour of one of rock and roll’s major hitters.

Excitement in the air was as thick as the manufactured smoke as the light went down and the first chords echoed through the arena.  I was blown away by the musicianship of the band just as I was 20 years ago.  Dual guitarists Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs looked a little older but sounded equal if not better than they did in years past.  Schenker has the energy of a teenager running all over the stage and Jabs still has the most amazing fret work.  Put them together, side by side, at the end of the catwalk and everyone was on their feet.  Lead singer Klaus Meine still possesses his strong vocals and think German accent.  He certainly doesn’t sound like he’s 62 belting out classic Scorpions hits.  The “new” members, new since the last time I saw them, are bassist Pawel Maciwoda and drummer James Kottak.

The show started off with the title cut from their newest release, “Sting In The Tail.”  By the third song, “Bad Boys Running Wild,” the entire audience was singing along.  Meine showed a lot of class dedicating the song “Send Me An Angel” to the late, great Ronnie James Dio, who passed away earlier this year.  Dio was a friend to many and meant a lot to musical community.  The Scorpions followed that up with the crowd favorite “Holiday.” 

Kottak gave the rest of the band a break with a tin minute solo that would have made his brother-in-law, Tommy Lee of Motley Crue, proud.  As the only American in the band, Kottak has proven to be a great fit.  Kottack’s solo lead into the hit “Blackout”, and then into the solo of the twin terror or six strings, Schenker and Jabs.  Following the guitar solo and ending the show was “Big City Night.”  The crowd did call the band back out for a three song encore featuring “Winds of Change” and the all time classic hit, “Rock You Like A Hurricane.”

The Scorpions may have aged a little just like all of us but they are still the power house rock and roll band they always were.  They will be sorely missed after this tour is over but the good thing about a 2 year long tour is that you can catch their show multiple times before the curtain falls on the Scorpions forever.

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