A Review of Airbourne’s Latest: IsIt All Bark And No Bite?
May 26, 2013
AIRBOURNE
Black Dog Barking
Roadrunner
rating: 10 / 10
by Michael Kirk
Let’s get the usual music critic comparrison out of the way. Blablabla AC/DC… Blablablabla Rose Tattoo… and for this album, I’d also like to throw in,Blablablabla… early Def Lepard.
So with that said, let’s get into this, shall we?
I’ll admit it. I am only a casual fan of Airbourne. I’ve always respected their mission to hold the flag for hard rock in one hand and a bottle of whatever in the other. But the songs didn’t do much for me when listening to the whole album. in short.. There was a lot of filler to skip through on the first two albums.
Oh but wait my friends… That isn’t the case on Black Dog Barking. From the anthemic “Woah Oh Oh Oh” of of “Ready To Rock” all the way to the self-titled closing track, this is a fist pumping, head banging, hard rock master piece that will shake the earth, peel that paint off the walls, and will work just fine as a soundtrack for an evening of rough sex.
The band says they worked through the holidays at the end of last December to make sure this album came correct. They even enlisted producer Brian Howes [Hinder, Daughtry, Nickelback] to help tie it all together. The rythenm section is beefy and full, while Joel O’Keef’s guitar tones have a warm bite, much like those of Angus Young and Steve Clarke, while his always up to 11 vocal delivery reminds you more of a blend of Blackie Lawless and Joe Elliott, than Brian Johnson.
The subject matter covered by the band is everything you care about as a young man just itching to quit school and join a band, “”Cradle To The Grave”. A guy or girl out for the evening with the hopes of getting lucky, “Nobody Fits Me Like You”. Or a middle aged true believer tryig to stay true to themselves, even as they crank up the radio in the Family Truckster after dropping the kids off at soccer practice, “Live It Up”.
2013 has been a relatively piss poor year for rock albums. But just in time for summer, Airbourne has crash landed with 10 songs that hit your senses like a riot after a Aussie rules football match. If this quartet from Victoria call it quits after this album, they will have walked away leaving us with a career defining classic.
Classic Albums Revisited – Ted Nugent Cat Scratch Fever – RnR Geek Show 495
March 5, 2013
On this show I revisit a classic album – Cat Scratch Fever from Ted Nugent.
Rock and Roll Geek Show 493 – Monday Night Trainwreck
February 18, 2013
On this show I play a show review of Ian Hunter at the Fillmore in San Francisco, drink toasts to beer fund donations and play your comments.
Music by:
Rock and Roll Geek Show 465 – Old Man ROCK
June 10, 2012
On this show I pay tribute to Bobby Durango and Bob Welch, both musicians who died this week. I also do a Listening with Butler, a Van Halen show review and much much more.
Motley Crue Kernel Panic
June 16, 2011
We had a great time at the Motley Crue/Poison/NY Dolls show last night at Bill Graham Civic Center.
Unfortunately, due to Casey and my beer addictions we only caught the last song from the NY Dolls. They played Personality Crisis. They sounded great and I was surprised to see the great Earl Slick on guitar.
Poison was ridiculous but I enjoyed their set. My favorite part was when the backdrop dropped to reveal another backdrop : A band portrait, complete with a shirtless Bret Michaels . They start the song and Bret is wearing a shirt with the EXACT same photo as the backdrop! Good times.
Motley Crue delivered a great live spectacle even though their performance seemed uninspired. As much as I wanted to dislike their set, they actually put on a great show.
I did notice something quite funny during their set at least 2 times.
On the video screen behind them, the computer that runs the video had a kernel panic.
Check out the video below of Tommy’s drum solo. 37 seconds in, the kernel panic takes place.
Judas Priest’s K.K. Downing Announces His Retirement
April 20, 2011
IT IS WITH REGRET THAT JUDAS PRIEST ANNOUNCE THAT K.K. DOWNING HAS FORMALLY RETIRED FROM THE BAND AND WILL THEREFORE NOT BE JOINING THEM ON THEIR FORTHCOMING EPITAPH TOUR.
THE BAND RESPECT HIS DECISION AND NATURALLY ALL WISH HIM WELL.
HAVING THOUGHT LONG AND HARD ABOUT HOW TO PROCEED, ROB, GLENN, IAN AND SCOTT UNANIMOUSLY AGREED THAT THEY SHOULD GO AHEAD WITH THE TOUR AND NOT LET THE FANS DOWN ALL AROUND THE WORLD.
FATE ALSO STEPPED IN AND DELIVERED THE PERFECT REPLACEMENT – 31 YEAR OLD BRITISH GUITAR PLAYER RICHIE FAULKNER – HE HAS BLENDED INTO THE BAND PERFECTLY AND IS A GREAT TALENT WHO IS GOING TO HELP SET THE STAGE ON FIRE!
THE EPITAPH TOUR WILL INCLUDE SONGS FROM EVERY PRIEST STUDIO ALBUM AND ALSO TRACKS THEY HAVE NEVER BEFORE PERFORMED ON STAGE PLUS ALL THE OLD FAVOURITES!
WITH A NEW ALBUM DUE TO BE RELEASED NEXT YEAR THE METAL GODS ARE PREPARING TO TOUR THE PLANET ONCE MORE – HEAVY METAL AT ITS BEST COMPLETE WITH LASERS, LIGHTS, BIKES AND HELLFIRE!! IT’S A SHOW NOT TO BE MISSED!!
WonderCon 2011 Costumes
April 5, 2011
Bigr Audio Headphones Review
March 21, 2011
Bigr Audio Headphones
- COMFORT; feel the music, not the headphones. Plush earcushions covered with breathable materials keep you cool and comfortable
- Ready For Smart Phones; headphones come with built in microphone so you can easily speak while on the go.
- BiGR bamboo Box; our bamboo box feutures a beautiful laser engraving and very freindly for the enviroment
- BiGR Clean Cloth; ultra soft bamboo fiber bag for storing as well as keeping your headphones clean and safe
- BiGR Flatwire Cablesgreat sound comes from great cables. our flatwires wont tangle
- 20Hz – 20KHz frequency response
- Standard 1/8 input jacket.”
- Long, durable Headphone cable
- Soft Ear cushion covered with breathable material.
Gary Moore Dead at 58
February 6, 2011
According to Thin Lizzy’s Facebook Page:
It is with great sadness we hear of the passing of Gary Moore. Our thoughts go out to Gary’s family at this time and our memories of Gary and his contribution to Thin Lizzy and music in general will live on forever.
Brian Downey: ‘I am in total shock. I have known Gary since 1967 when he was in Platform Three and he’s been an amazing friend ever since. It was a pleasure to play with Gary again in 2006 after his days with Lizzy. He will always be in my thoughts and prayers and i just can’t believe he is gone’
Scott Gorham: ‘Playing with Gary during the Black Rose era was a great experience, he was a great player and a great guy. I will miss him.’
I’m extremely saddened by this news. Gary Moore was one of the greatest living guitarists on the face of the earth.
Holiday Buying Guide – Tommy James – Me The Mob and The Music
December 17, 2010
Michael Butler shows a great ROCK Biography for the holidays
Me The Mob and The Music by Tommy James with Martin Fitzpatrick
AMAZON LINK – Me, the Mob, and the Music: One Helluva Ride with Tommy James & The Shondells
and
Tommy James and The Shondells – 40 years The Complete Singles Collection
AMAZON LINK – 40th Anniversary Singles Collection
FIND MORE AT TOMMYJAMES.COM
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