The Kunes Clark Band is a brand-new Rock and Roll creation of singer Jimmy Kunes and guitarist Angus Clark. This is their album release show and you don’t want to miss it if you can help it. The summer heat might be levelling off but that molten Rock and Roll isn’t going to stop for anyone.
It’s Halloween and with this post I am giving you a treat that will not promote tooth decay nor lead you to issues with your waistline. In the spirit of my inquiries that featured “Music Resolutions”; I’ve polled a number of Metal and Rock musicians in my world and asked them “What is your favorite Horror movie and why”. So get some popcorn, dim the lights and sit under a cozy blanket as we learn of some awesome talents favorite creepy film. It’s a lengthy list but splitting this one into parts didn’t make sense. Let’s go.
Chris Caffery (Savatage/Trans-Siberian Orchestra): “Halloween”. Because it was the only movie that not only scared me in the theaters it scared me afterwards in real life. In my opinion it’s the best horror film ever made. In the sense of true horror. A real killer. There was no superhuman bs in the first one. Just pure evil.
Gogo Melone (Aeonian Sorrow): From old films was “Dracula”… I really like the atmosphere and as a kid I was a big fan of vampires. The movie that scared my ass off the most and had nightmares for days with, were “The Ring” and “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”…I don’t think I’ll ever see them twice again ??
Jimmy Kunes (Cactus): God there’s so many. “Fearless Vampire Killers”, I know it’s a spoof. But what a film!!!
Elise Ryd (Amaranthe): “The Shining”. Those two kids are the most scary thing I’ve seen. And I don’t like that dude Johnny towards the end. “Here’s Johnny” ? And this is true.. Every time I’m in a hotel with long corridors I expect those kids to show up in the end of the hallway. Haha, that image is haunting me, STILL! It’s Enshrined in my memory.
Archie Kuosmanen (Santa Cruz): Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining because it’s the undisputed heavyweight champion of horror flicks!
Continue reading Happy Halloween 2017: Rockers Divulge Their Favorite Horror Films
Over the summer months our own stalwart adventurer Kat Electric was visiting Deutschland for studies, family time and some glorious Rock & Roll. One of the concerts that she attended was the always awesome Cactus and her report on the gig at the Musikkafee Rex in Bensheim follows below the logo.
Artist: Cactus
Venue: Musikkafee Rex (Bensheim, Germany)
Opener: n/a
Date: 5/16/2017
Label: Sunset Blvd. Records
So I get off the plane in Frankfurt, the heart of Germany’s banking center, and what interesting sites there are to greet me! An unshaven, bloated and greasy haired driver who speaks in strange post Brooklyn via Croatia “engrish” and who doesn’t seem to understand a word of German gives me a three tooth grin from under his hand scrawled sign : Katerina Vilson of Spinal Pap : Deutchlund velcomes yoo! “Welcome in Germany! We love Bush!” My driver says. I purposely fail to mention that we are eight years into the Obama administration – what would be the point, and ask to be pointed to the car. He goes on to discuss his auto repair abilities and shows evidence of such every time we hit a bump. “Wheel not perfectly square but Drago make it work just good. . .” He dropped me off a block away from my less than 5-Star where I reserved a single, but am informed it won’t be ready so early in the day – it is 4PM – so, I wait. Shortly after I arrive my parents and younger brother stroll in from their day at the market and we all sit down to some wonderful schnitzel and kraut. Interesting first day to say the least but it will all be worth it if only this summer of concerts that I have planned comes off.
First day in the country, and first up was the legendary Cactus. My dad and I had this show on our calendars since its announcement. Pop had never seen them and I knew they put on a show well worth ignoring the jetlag. We arrived at 7PM to find a sizable crowd ready and geared up for the show well in advance of the 10PM set time. These normally reserved Germans are very serious about their rock ‘n roll. Stoic faces and with arms crossed as they stand and stare at the stage, but when the lights come up – it is all arms flailing and voices at node breaking level for the rest of the evening.
Continue reading Cactus @ Musikkafee Rex (Bensheim, Germany) – (5/16/2017)
The geography of music is changing a little bit as it was recently announced that Carmine Appice was reinventing the band Cactus after the departure of bassist Pete Bremy and retirement from touring duties by founding guitarist Jim McCarty. Read the full statement and inside scoop below. I’ll return at the close with some thoughts.
The Press Release:
Coming off a very successful US tour and the release of its first studio album in 10 years, Black Dawn, the time has come for founding member and world renown drummer Carmine Appice to re-energize and rebuild Cactus. The band was once heralded by critics as America’s answer to Led Zeppelin.
Appice announced today two new members to the legendary band’s line-up: bassist Jimmy Caputo and guitarist Paul Warren. Caputo replaces bassist Pete Bremy, who has left Cactus to pursue other projects. Warren, best known as lead guitarist for Rod Stewart, Tina Turner and Joe Cocker, will be the band’s new guitarist for touring, taking over for founding member Jim McCarty. McCarty remains a writing and recording member of Cactus but unfortunately is unable to tour with the band due to health reasons. Lead vocalist extraordinare Jimmy Kunes and harmonica wizard Randy Pratt, both of whom joined when the band re-grouped in 2006 remain in the line-up.
“Nearly five decades after I formed this band, the time has come to re-invent Cactus once again,” says Appice, who also still drums for Vanilla Fudge, The Appice Brothers, and The Platinum Rock All Stars. Adds Appice: “The music remains the same and Cactus is still a ‘hot and sweaty’ band. The level, quality and consistence of the band’s musicianship is as strong as ever.”
“I saw the original Cactus live a few times, and they absolutely killed it,” says guitarist Paul Warren. “That was one of the great bands of the era, and they are still a great band, today. I am excited, and honored, to play with such an historic band!” Warren, who has his own successful solo band, is a native of Detroit and who considers Jim McCarty as one of his biggest musical influences. “”Filling in for Jim McCarty will be a challenge. Not only is he a founding member of the band, he is a brilliant guitarist and one of the best to ever come out of Detroit. Jimmy could never be replaced. I plan to honor and pay homage to his work with Cactus while still bringing some of my own ‘Detroit attitude’ to the legendary music of this band.”
Continue reading Carmine Appice Presents: Cactus “Redux” w New Band Members
The Details: There are many who referred to Cactus as “The American Led Zeppelin” and those are some seriously big words to stand with if you are a band but when you consider the fact that this powerhouse quartet that came to be with members of The Vanilla Fudge, Mitch Ryder’s Detroit Wheels and The Amboy Dukes. The original lineups presence upon the music scene was not that long but their power and sound would resonate for decades to follow and find them influencing the likes of Van Halen, The Black Crowes, Montrose and even the mighty Anvil. In 2013 we find the band featuring two original members with Carmine Appice and Jim McCarty who are joined by the talented Jimmy Kunes (vocals), Pete Bremy (bass) and Randy Pratt (harmonica) and thanks to the fine folks at B.B. King’s, we are going to put some lucky PiercingMetal fans into the show for free. Read below on how to participate.
When and Where: Wednesday, September 14th at B.B. King Blues Club 7:30pm (237 West 42nd Street NYC)
To Participate: In one of my reviews of the bands concerts I am pretty sure that it was mentioned how we were latecomers to the Cactus sound ourselves but really what we were seeing. I’ve caught them numerous times right here at the B.B. King’s venue and I want you all to take a chance in this contest so you can also get with the program. Of course if you are a lifer to their stuff this one will be easier for you. Tell me three reasons you enjoy what this band is all about if you are aware of them or three reasons that you need to be at this show if you are still in need of a schooling. If you need to merely discuss the various members (hint hint Carmine Appice should be a whole lot of stuff to say) you can do that. You can name your three favorite albums and tell me a little about why each is a favorite or perhaps a few past concert recollections. You can add what we are all in store for if we attend here in NYC. Just make it a little interesting. Make them solid to read more than just a plain old “because he rules man” because that is just too un-original and boring and this stuff remains as good site reading going forward. I’ll be responding to the comments that I like most right below their answer. Please note this is for a single ticket only and no plus one requests will be honored. Sorry. Hey if you win you can always help your friend pay for a ticket or buy them something to drink inside the venue.
Continue reading Win A Ticket To See Cactus @ B.B. King Blues Club on 9/14/2016