I’m a little late to the party, I know, but this past weekend I finally got around to seeing The Grey. Liam Neeson stars in this survival thriller, and I have to say, he is exceptional.

Going into the theater, I didn’t exactly have any set expectations. I heard it was depressing, I heard it was violent, I heard it was sad.

Leaving the theater, I felt like I had just seen one of the best films of 2012. Neeson was incredible as John Ottway. His supporting cast was also phenomenal, specifically Frank Grillo and Dallas Roberts. Every single character was executed perfectly, pulling you into each personal story, and making it that much harder to witness their deaths.

Was it depressing, violent, and sad? Yes, yes (not gratuitous by any means), and yes. But what it was above all of these things was real and raw.

When I walked away, I was shocked by how real the movie felt. Joe Carnahan did a great job of bringing the depravity and helplessness of being stranded in the wild to life. Carnahan not only directed the film, but he also produced it and wrote the screenplay along with Ian MacKenzie Jeffers, author of Ghost Walkers, the short story the film is based on.

The Grey is one of the best films I’ve seen in a long time. It’s one that will stand the test of time…Survival, desperation, camaraderie, faith…It covers it all. While you still have the chance, get to the nearest theater and see this movie. It is fantastic.

Let me say this: Woody Harrelson is a GREAT actor. He’s unique, he’s different, he’s raw.

He plays characters with such humanity and reality, it’s hard not to love him and hate him simultaneously. And if you’ve seen his latest endeavor, Rampart, then you’d have a hard time disagreeing.

Set in ’99 Los Angeles, Rampart follows the downward spiral of LAPD officer “Date Rape” Dave Brown. Brown is a corrupt, dirty cop. At one point, I can’t help but feel like his actions are justified. At another point, he’s the scum of the earth. For the entire film, though, he’s tragic and deserving of a world of sympathy.

Is it the quintessential cop movie? No. It’s a heartbreaking character study of a man who gets deeper and deeper into his own filth as he tries to climb out of it one pathetic decision at a time.

I loved this film. It’s beautifully shot, it’s incredibly acted, and the story pulls you into the downward spiral of Harrelson. Go out and see this movie.

The two-day “lifestyle” festival takes place June 23rd and 24th, 2012 at Bader Park in Atlantic City, NJ. Metallica will be headlining each night, and has already gotten fans excited for what to expect: One night, they will play the “Black” album in its entirety. The other night? “Ride The Lightning,” front to back…Yes, even “Escape.”

Throw in some other classic Metallica tunes, and you have an epic weekend with the greatest band around.

Now, watching Metallica perform two nights in a row at an abandoned airport would be enough to justify the ticket cost ($150-$225 for two-day passes)…But that’s not all you’ll get. Remember, this is a “lifestyle” festival.

So first with a festival, you expect a big line-up of bands, right? How about bands like Avenged Sevenfold, Arctic Monkeys, Modest Mouse, The Gaslight Anthem, Lucero, Gary Clark Jr., Cage The Elephant, The Sword, and more.

Yeah, you read that line-up right. It’s an eclectic list of diverse bands, ranging from country to alternative rock to heavy metal. There are more bands on the list, and even more that will be announced in the next few months.

On top of that, the “lifestyle” portion of the festival is still a bit ambiguous, but promises to satisfy ticket holders. “More than just music, the festival will also feature a lifestyle element showcasing the band’s individual interests – and allowing fans to interact directly with each of the band members.”

This isn’t some festival put on by a production company that invites bands to play…This is Metallica’s festival. As they put it, Metallica “will be the headliners, curators, and instigators of” the weekend extravaganza.

So where did the name “Orion” come from?

Well, obviously, it’s the name of one of Metallica’s greatest instrumental songs from Master of Puppets. It also is a salute and tribute to the late Cliff Burton, who dominates the song playing lead bass. Kirk Hammett said in the band’s press conference, “Orion is his musical statement.”

Free Gotham will keep you posted with the latest on Orion Music + More as the weeks and months pass. Rest assured, you will get a complete recap of the events of the weekend of June 23rd and 24th. Think “Fear and Loathing in Atlantic City.”

Metallica proves time and time again that they are the band to be reckoned with…From The Big 4 shows to their domination of the entire globe…to their epic 30th Anniversary week in San Francisco last year…Metallica doesn’t slow down, and Orion Music + More is a testament to their dedication to their fans, and to the world of not just rock and roll, but music in general.

June can’t get here soon enough.

The Orion Music + More Press Conference

Orion

Generally speaking, I don’t get too excited when musicians get crazy involved in politics. It’s one thing to make tunes that deal with the issues, but sometimes the artists try to get involved and come out seeming more arrogant than normal…At least, that’s how I feel.

All that being said, I couldn’t be happier with Flynn’s real response when asked for his opinion on the current Presidential race.

“I’m not really into the Republicans, but I’m not really into the Democrats either. I think they’re both kind of full of it. I feel like the whole thing is kind of a farce, really. The choice is between this guy and that guy, but it’s just so skewed… These candidates come out of nowhere. It’s like, ‘Who is this guy? Who wants this person to be the President?’ And then, all of a sudden, you hear about him, and it’s kind of, like, we’ve got this illusion of freedom of choice, and I don’t really feel like it is the freedom of choice, because I don’t know if any of those guys would be the one that I would want. Some of them may be a little more in line with what I believe, but I think they’re all kind of full of it. . . I think most politicians are all full of it, man. They’ve got their lobbyists and they’ve got all their corporations that are backing them. And if they fucking step out of line, man, they’re getting fucked. They’re not gonna be able to do the things. I think the corporations just have them so in their pocket that they could talk a good talk, but at the end of the day, what’s really gonna change until the corporations are taken care of?”

Agree or disagree, Flynn is an advocate for his fans…And this answer just reaffirms that.

If you haven’t picked up Machine Head’s “Unto The Locust,” I don’t know what you’re waiting for. It’s an incredible album, from start to finish, and is easily one of the best of 2011. Click here to check out our review.

From the moment I heard their debut in 1978, I was hooked. There’s something about Van Halen that has always (save for that little blip in 1998) been unique. It didn’t matter if it was Dave, or Sammy. When you heard Van Halen…you knew it was Van Halen.

There’s always been the argument; “They sold more records with Sammy.” First of all, that’s simply not true. According to the RIAA Van Halen have sold somewhere around 56-million records in the US. Now, that number has increased over the years, but assuming their stats are accurate as of right now (no pun intended) 34 million of those were DLR-era records. So, that argument is refuted.

Then there’s the “They had more hits with Sammy.” And this is absolutely true. The addition of Sammy Hagar to Van Halen absolutely made them a more inclusive musical entity. Prior to Sammy, Van Halen were more of a Hard Rock band, bordering on Heavy Metal. Sammy’s addition made their music much more palatable to the masses, and easier to exposure on Top-40 radio.

The fact is…this debate is probably the most intense, and hotly contested in Rock history. Everyone has an opinion. This isn’t like Steve Perry-Journey, or Brian Johnson vs. Bon Scott. Peter Gabriel vs. Phil Collins. None of them have raged on like the Van Halen lead singer argument. With apologies to my good friend Gary Cherone, Dave v. Sammy has been that element that both unites & divides Van Halen fans (and Rock fans on the whole).

The band’s dysfunction is as legendary as their musical output. Quick synopsis: All bands are dysfunctional. Dave quits in 1985. Band and ex-lead singer snipe each other in the press. Sammy joins. Lead singers snipe each other in the press. Sammy quits. Band and ex-lead singer snipe each other in the press. Dave returns for two songs. People rejoice. Internal dysfunction continues. Dave is out again. Cue sniping. Extreme frontman Gary Cherone joins. It’s an unwinnable situation. Band releases Van Halen III & tours. Record doesn’t sell. Gary is out. Sammy & Dave tour together? Ex-lead singers snipe each other in the press. Van Halen goes through period of inactivity. Sammy returns for “Greatest Hits Package & Tour” Edward Van Halen is in poor health. Tour concludes. Sammy is out again. Sniping? you bet! Original bassist Michael Anthony is also out. Band drafts Edward Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang to play bass. Dave comes back (again!). Band tours. Reports of dysfunction continue. Time heals all wounds. Band makes first full record of new material in 14 years, and first with DLR in 28. Sammy Hagar continues to snipe. Shockingly, DLR ignores the bait. Band plays secret shows in NY & LA. Reviews are strong.

That’s where we are today. Which brings me to my “review” of the forthcoming “A Different Kind Of Truth.” Which will be in stores Tuesday, Feb 7th.

I won’t go into a song-by-song review. Plenty of those will pop up around the ‘net soon enough. Yes, many of the tracks originally sought life in the 70s. This is not a new concept. Bands draw on past material all the time. Refreshing the tones and lyrics. Creating their music. It’s *their* music. Who cares when it was written? It’s being released now. I don’t get that argument at all.

The thing that strikes me about “A Different Kind Of Truth” is the *vibe* of Van Halen is present throughout. Highlights for me include “Blood & Fire” & “Stay Frosty”…which may already be my favorite Van Halen song of all time. What’s interesting is the fact that a 57-year old David Lee Roth has written lyrics that continue his unique ability to write absurd commentary without sounding silly or outdated. I won’t say it’s a maturity. I’d say it’s a comfort level. He knows he can write clever double-entendre. He also knows that writing the kind of stuff certain other ex-vocalists have written, comes off as an old man struggling to remain relevant to “the kids.”

This doesn’t happen on ADKOT.

The most striking element of the record is drummer Alex Van Halen. He “sounds happy.” It’s hard to put into words. The band sounds…right. He is in a groove. You’ve heard it said before that a record is an attempt to capture a mood. The band at a moment in time. They have done that. Once this album is heard by the masses, it will become clear.

The Dave vs. Sammy debate is clearly over. They made great music with Sammy. Even the doubters have to cop to that.

Sammy & Michael Anthony have a good band with their Chickenfoot outfit (which also features guitar hero Joe Satriani). They’ve released 2 CDs of their own and are playing this Spring/Summer at a club/theater near you.

But…They are the “Mighty Van Halen” with Dave. And, they’ll be frequenting the local hockey rink near you soon.

There’s nothing like Van Halen. Thank your deity of choice. You can’t put it into words. You just have to be able to hear it.

What is SOPA and PIPA? According to Wikipedia (ironic, right?!):

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is a U.S. House bill to fight online trafficking in copyrighted intellectual property and counterfeit goods.

The Protect Intellectual Property Act (Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011 or PIPA), also known as Senate Bill 968 or S.968, is a proposed law with the stated goal of giving the US government and copyright holders additional tools to curb access to “rogue websites dedicated to infringing or counterfeit goods”, especially those registered outside the U.S.

If you spent any time on Twitter or Facebook this week, you would’ve been hardpressed to find a single supporter of either of these acts. People began blacking out their status updates, signing online petitions, and calling their local Congressmen.

The one thing that a certain musician doesn’t understand is this: Where is the uproar against Internet piracy?

Agree or disagree with SOPA and PIPA (many feel the language is too broad and gives the Government too much room when making decisions based on the legislation), former Guns n’ Roses bassist and current frontman of LOADED, Duff McKagan wrote a compelling article that is worth your time.

‎”Anti-piracy legislation could be bad for the Internet business. It almost takes my breath away. Internet piracy has claimed half of the recorded music business, and made the prospect of making a living as a musician harder for artists of all rank and file. Why didn’t Google, or Facebook, or Wikipedia ever stand in solidarity with musicians, actors, and writers – most of whom have never known fame and fortune – as their works were stolen with no recourse on their sites?”

Click here to read Quit Whining About SOPA and PIPA. Where’s the Public Outrage Over Internet Piracy? at SeattleWeekly.com.

And for a different take, check out Metro Focus’ SOPA Is a Threat to NYC’s Growing Tech Industry at Thirteen.org.

Do you support McKagan?

(click on picture to open file)

Published in:

The Album Network magazine – June 6, 1997

Is there an archetypal locale in this great country of ours from which hardcore rock bands are formed? First responses might be Los Angeles, New York, Detroit or maybe even Washington D.C. But wherever this mecca of aggressive rock may lie, the humble and quaint surroundings of San Francisco, most probably don’t pop up very often in hard-edged comparisons. After all, the bay area is the home of the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and Journey to name a few.

Although most of the members are involved in various side projects, a team sense of pride is deeply rooted within the band. It is a fierce energy that has bonded these men together for a career that has spanned fifteen years and seven albums to date. But this is not a happy band. The members of Faith No More feel they have not fully realized their potential nor have they received the attention they deserve.

Plenty of rock and metal bands have incorporated different musical styles into songs, usually in very small doses. With Album Of The Year, Faith No More have taken the next step on the road to darker pastures. Battling constant rumors of a split and the ever- present battles in the court system, bassist Billy Gould took some time out to discuss the state of Faith No More and set the story straight.

Faith No More has always been about explosive music, yet as of late the rumor-mongers and fortune-tellers of the music business have predicted the eminent implosion of the band. Let’s set the story straight!

Billy Gould: “In a nutshell, here is our history – Faith No More have been together for almost fifteen years, releasing seven albums to date, one every two years. When any group of people are together for that long there is bound to be some turmoil, but nothing that was to overwhelming to resolve. As for rumors and insignificant gossip, we have been dealing with those kinds of breakup speculations since we recorded our first album. Our last album, King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime was somewhat of any angry record. The material came out of the firing of our guitarist, Jim Martin. We all thought the band was lacking in guitar heaviness in the past. So our intention was to record an extremely guitar heavy album. Once the record was completed, we hit the road touring for a short nine months. Not wanting to be too burned-out, we stopped touring a little early and went immediately back into the studio to record a new album.

“The way we work musically is a democracy. This process is a little harder because the album needs to be worked out to everyone’s satisfaction. As members of the band, we all realize there is a need to compromise, but at that same time there is also the desire to be able to exercise your own artistic vision. It is that reason, (Mike Patton has Mr. Bungle; Roddy Bottom started Imperial Teen; and Mike Bordin has been playing with Ozzy Osbourne); they all have their side projects. Each of these other projects is completely different from the others.

“Once you get the demons out, then your ready to come back and face the war with a clear head. Each of our albums has been a logical progression. As far as a particular formula for our sound, we don’t follow any particular guidelines. A formula is not something that we could really hold onto. We are a real band: An organic entity that matures, experiences changes and gets older. As we see it, our responsibility is to grow in the most natural way as possible. Album Of The Year expresses that growth. Although, for a definition of the album, its’ meaning will probably not be evident for a couple of years – until we can all look back and see how it fits into the rest of our chain of records.”

As an anti-formula band, Faith No More seems to thrive on the philosophy of concentrating on areas that are lacking from past albums. Is there a certain point you are trying to get across?

BG: “The Real Thing might be unique and a little different from the mainstream, but for the most part it was a pop-rock album. Unfortunately, as a result, we had developed into almost a cartoon type band. In order to show a different, darker side of the band, we recorded the Angel Dust album. Although this was a heavier record, with a lot of atmosphere, it never really smacked you in the face. King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime was really where we attempted to do just that.

“We always try to do strengthen those area’s we feel are shallow. King For A Day was the release valve. An explosion of music that we really felt we needed to express. Our new record, Album Of The Year, is somewhat of an after effect. The debris has settled, leaving the exposed the wreckage. In all, it is a post explosion, moody album that deals with the topic of death.”

Is this a manifestation of the D.i.Y. (Do It Yourself) philosophy?

“If you think about the process of maturity, there are certain point where adolescence ends and adulthood begins. There are always certain things that signify each of these stages. But, for the most part, growth can be a very intense process. Bands of today are not encouraged to grow and develop, taking chances with their music. It is a very painful thing to do. So we took it upon ourselves to push who we are as a band and what we are representing musically. In more simple terms, we record what we heard inside of our heads and not necessarily what outside influences are dictating.

“It is impossible to classify Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd; they are in a group unto themselves. Similar to that, we want to create our own category, where there are no comparisons of any kind. People have always tried to classify our music. Some say we are metal while others say we are more funk oriented and still others think we are the perfect crossover mix. We would prefer people to say instead, Faith No More recorded a new album and it sounds like Faith No More! To be creatively satisfied is the ultimate goal of any musician.

“The same can be said for the name of the album. It has really taken on a life of its own since coming up with the title Album Of The Year. On one hand it took a whole year to record, so it really is the ‘album of the year’. But is also a tongue and Cheek joke. It is a response to the way things are over-hyped these days. This level of hype and the threshold of a person’s credibility has been taken to such an extreme that the title becomes a relevant statement of the times.”

Over the years many artists have been labeled wild cards – renegades that are outside the fringe of conventional music. Do you feel Faith No More is now caring that flag?

“We have been ignored over the last couple of years. For a lot of people, especially in the music industry, everything would probably be better if we just went away. Our music makes it very difficult for radio programmers to categorize because we the wild card that doesn’t fit into any one format. If the world were orderly and neat with everything fitting into its’ predetermined slot, the whole business would run much more efficiently. But that is fantasy and this is reality. For better or worse, people today are on the bandwagon where everyone belongs to a particular group. So by giving the record the title Album Of The Year, it is our way of injecting a little obstinacy into reality.”

In the past, Faith No More has shied away from the over use of toys that modern technology provides. Has the band now embraced the new age?

“Our philosophy has always been that the more stuff you include on a record, the smaller the album becomes. As a result, we have always tried to keep things as minimal as possible. But then again there is nothing wrong with pro-technology either. The most important thing is that it works well with the music.

“The beauty of modern technology is that it puts the power back into the hands of the musicians and away from studio tech’s and engineers who have, for the most part, made themselves a necessary part of the recording process. In the past a few thousand-dollar investment got a band a three-song demo tape with no flexibility for creative input from the band. Now, for that same investment, a band can buy a computer hard drive recording system and make demos to their own specifications. There is a certain amount of pride that goes with doing something for your self. For example, we edited this record in my basement. That’s not something that could have been accomplished five years ago.”

You once said ‘The music business is disgusting’. Do you still feel that way?

“There is a lot of hypocrisy in the industry. Most of today’s music mirrors what is going on in the business right now. This irresponsibility comes from the corporate nature music has evolved into over the last several years. A major reason why records aren’t selling is due to the lack of connection people have with the music. The industry is out of touch with what is written and recorded. In short, there is so much control over what is being released that the music tends to suit the needs of the people who are promoting it rather than those who are recording or buying it.

“If you don’t sell records, the band is eventually going to get dropped from the label. A record companies vision is on a quarter-by-quarter basis. They are very short sighted; it’s part of the business. So, if you are going to pursue the path where you are self-reliant, you then run the risk of losing everything you have worked hard to achieve. There is also the realization that there may be no rewards at all, other than the self-satisfaction of enjoying what you are doing. For better or worse, we have taken that path. But I am relieved that, like this interview, it hasn’t all gone for nothing!” ^m^

Line-Up: Origin:

Mike Patton – Vocals San Francisco, CA

Jon Hudson – Guitar

Mike Bordin – Drums

Billy Gould – Bass

Roddy Bottum – Keys

About The Current CD:

This is the seventh album from a career that has spanned over fifteen years. Other notable successes of Faith No More – 1989′s double platinum The Real Thing and 1992′s gold album Angel Dust.

Discography:

Album Of The Year (Slash/Reprise, 1997)

King For A Day, Fool For A Lifetime (Slash/Reprise, 1995)

Angel Dust (Slash/Reprise, 1992)

The Real Thing (Slash/Reprise, 1989)

Introduce Yourself (Slash/Rhino, 1987)

We Care A Lot (Mordam, 1985)

Produced By:

Roli Mosimann, Billy Gould & Faith No More

Label:

Slash/Reprise

Website:

www.fnm.com

© May 22, 1997. Michael D. Vogel. All Rights Reserved. This originally appeared on the Vogelism blog at http://www.vogelism.com, authored by Michael D. Vogel. This article may be shared or reprinted as long as the entire copyright message, including the source location of this article, accompanies it.

Now, “Whoa” could mean a lot of different things. Maybe he found a hilarious video of a talking dog, maybe he just won the lottery, maybe he meant to send the email to someone else.

Fortunately, the latter was not the case, and the body of the email was better than I could have imagined. A simple “Whoa” summed it up perfectly.

The Yardbirds Announce Brief Northeast Tour

The headline comes courtesy of GuitarWorld.com. Now, if you don’t know anything about The Yardbirds (which I’m sure is not the case), then let this serve as an introduction: This English rock band jumpstarted the careers of a handful of guitarists you might be more familiar with…Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck.

The Yardbirds set the stage for guitar innovation in the 1960s, and really created a blueprint for rock and roll that is still used today.

From TheYardbirds.com: “We really didn’t know what we were doing in those days. We were just trying everything and thumbing our noses, not knowing that it would become a blueprint for a lot of stuff.” – Co-Founder Chris Dreja

According to Guitar World, “The lineup includes original member Jim McCarty (drums) plus guitarist Ben King, bassist David Smale and vocalist Andy Mitchell, whose sound is straight out of the mid-’50s Chicago school of blues.” Unfortunately, Dreja will not be part of this short tour as he is recuperating after a recent illness.

Needless to say, if you have the chance to see one of these shows, don’t miss out. I know I’ll be there.

2/1/12 – Buffalo, NY – The Tralf
2/2/12 – Nichols, NY – Tioga Downs Racetrack
2/3/12 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
2/4/12 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre
2/6/12 – Alexandria, VA – The Birchmere
2/8/12 – Tarrytown, NY – Tarrytown Music Hall
2/9/12 - New Brunswick, NJ – State Theatre

A force to be reckoned with might be a significant understatement. If you’ve never heard Face The King, I’d prepare yourselves to get familiar with them in 2012. Already getting ready for the new year, Face The King has made a list of resolutions, a few of which include selling out Gramercy Theater, selling out an out-of-state show, finishing the “greatest record ever,” and landing a major label deal. If a band can do this in 2012, my money is on Face The King.

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to chat with the guys of this great local band…if you’re looking to get into them, check out their official website at FaceTheKingBand.com.

Your latest EP is called “The Burning and The Falling Down.” Where did that title come from?

Eric Zirlinger (singer/guitarist/keyboardist): You are the first person to ask that question.  It actually came from the chorus of the song.  “The Burning and the Falling Down” are the things that we deal with everyday that stand in our way.  It is that feeling of the world collapsing around you.  The chorus line is actually “crawl right through the burning and the falling down.”  This is the idea of not giving up no matter what is going on around you.  You may not get through it so easily – you may have to “crawl” – but if you keep going, eventually you will make it to the other side.  This is what it feels like being in a band.  In this case, we are the ones crawling.  And while it seems like we might be moving too slow, we are still moving forward.

What are the plans for your next EP? You just started recording in December, right?

Dan DelVecchio (backup vocals, guitar): Yes. As of December we just finished recording drum tracks at The Factory Underground in Norwalk, CT. We were able to get free recording time there as one of the many prizes from winning a competition called the “i95 Rumble At The Room” in Brookfield, CT. The rest of the EP will be recorded in our newly home grown studio. As far as its release, we don’t have an official date yet but we’re hoping for late March, in time for our big show at Gramercy Theater in NYC.

You recently had some good news regarding a private show at the NAMM Convention in California. How’d you score that gig?

Dan: It was pretty simple, all we did was follow their extensive application process for the “NAMM at Night After-party.” You answer a variety of questions regarding the band’s origins and send over a hard copy of your CD to them by mail. Usually when you hear about a band getting an opportunity such as this, people right away assume that the band/artist must have “known someone,” who gave them the hookup. This wasn’t the case at all. Face The King was selected out of a few hundred other applicants by a panel of judges to be one of the bands to play at the after-party. We are also very fortunate and thankful to KORG, VOX, Blackstar, as well as others for backing us in our attendance to the convention.

How did everyone in the band meet? How’d you decide to form Face The King?

Eric: We met by fate.  A chance encounter in a small music store in Long Island.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  It was raining  and for some reason I was wearing a sombrero.  How great of a story would that be if it were true?  The real story is that we all grew up playing in bigger bands in New York.  Joey knew me and Anthony because he played in bands with both of us before.  He suggested we try jamming together and we all clicked.  Dan came later in the mix when we were looking for a great guitarist.  He is pretty good – not great – so we did settle.  I am okay with it I guess.

What was it like being called “a force to be reckoned with” by Lyrical Lust? That definitely puts the pressure on, doesn’t it?

Eric: It sounds like we are a super villain in a Batman comic actually.  You could not ask for a better compliment.  That kind of says to the world – “Here is Face The King. You better stand up and take notice.”  I think we live up to the hype and the pressure.  Not just because we are great – but because we will work harder than any other band out there.  Our goal is to be the best band on and off stage.  From playing and records to networking and marketing – we pride ourselves in the ability to work as hard as we possibly can.

What has it been like being an up and coming band in New York City?

Eric: Being an up and coming band in NYC is liking pushing a boulder up an ice covered hill barefoot.  Not to say it is impossible – just challenging.  But we like that challenge.  You hear that the scene is dead and that it is impossible to make it in this business.  Yet it still happens – everywhere.  We know it is tough.  However, we think that if you are good enough, if you make a big enough sound, and if you work hard enough to make that sound undeniable – that you can make it in music.  It might be one of the music capitals of the world – but it is hard to stake your claim.  The fact that we are referred to as an up and coming band in NYC means we are getting that boulder a little closer to the top.

What’s been one of the biggest obstacles you’ve overcome as a band to get to where you are today?

Eric: Biggest obstacles are time and money.  Both are not things that you overcome.  They are things you work with and manage.  You make sure that every penny spent is spent with a purpose.  Do we need to buy this piece of equipment right now or is it more valuable to save that money for mixing a record?  It even spills into your everyday life.  You start to make your own meals to save money rather than eat at a restaurant.  As for the time issue…we are constantly balancing the band life, with the day job, and the social life.  It is like walking a tightrope.  We are still here though – so we must be doing okay managing both.

In New York City, where is your favorite place to play a show? What about seeing a show?

Dan: So far, I would have to say Gramercy Theater. Soon after the release of our second EP, “The Burning & The Falling Down,” Face The King played to a packed house there, and the response we got from the crowd was electrifying. The acoustics and the lighting are also top notch. Compared to many other venues in the city as well as Long Island, even the sound engineers are very accommodating to the bands that play there.

As far as seeing a show, this one wouldn’t be too hard to guess. Madison Square Garden is of course the ideal place for anyone to see a concert. Every single musician no matter what part of the world they are from will tell you the same thing, which is that there is nothing like it.

Maybe Face The King will be lucky enough to grace this legendary stage one day. Well..we can at least dream can’t we?

–

I don’t think there’s a better phrase to sum up Face The King than: “Here is Face The King. You better stand up and take notice.”

It’s a new year…time to stand up and take notice.

Corey Taylor…

You know and love him as the rambunctious lead singer of the metal innovators Slipknot. You know him as the unmasked but just as hardcore lead singer of Stone Sour. You know him as the New York Times bestselling author of Seven Deadly Sins: Settling the Argument Between Born Bad and Damaged Good.

If you’ve seen him on his new “solo” tour, then you also know him as a giver of speeches…an acoustic performer…an advocate for his fans.

Monday night Taylor performed to a sold-out crowd at The Highline Ballroom on West 16th Street in Manhattan. For about 40 minutes, he spewed a stream of consciousness at the crowd. The topic of the night?

Wrath.

You see, his new book takes a look at the seven deadly sins, and last night in New York City he took a deeper look at wrath. He said it only made sense…New York City isn’t exactly the happiest place in the world. He talked about how his rage kept building and building, from traffic jams to strange hotels to an old lady kicking a little dog on the sidewalk.

“What I’m basically saying is embrace your rage. If there is a God, it’s God’s way of letting you know that you’re still alive and you still give a shit…Only things that just fucking drive us up the wall can incite us to do better things and be better toward each other.”

After this address, Taylor opened up to page 31 of his book and read a few passages on wrath and rage. Then came the audience question and answer time…There were a few good questions, a few strange questions…and one question that has probably been asked at every performance, but is also probably the most anticipated question…

What’s going on with Slipknot?

“There will eventually be a new Slipknot album,” Taylor told the crowd. But he assured them that absolutely there will NOT be an album in 2012. What there will be, though, is an American tour during the summer. Details? He said we would know everything about the touring “festival” in a couple of months.

After the spoken word portion of the night, Taylor took a five minute break and then came back on-stage to do several acoustic tunes.

From “Bother” to Elvis Presley’s “Burning Love,” Taylor was in rare form performing unique renditions of fan favorites.

The highlight of the night? It comes down to two songs…Either Slipknot’s “Snuff,” which he dedicated to Paul Gray, or his cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Something I Can Never Have.” Oh, and make sure to watch “Burning Love.” He starts out with a quick shout out to “The Heretic Anthem.”

Fortunately, I snapped videos of both of these songs and more…enjoy, and if you haven’t, go out and pick up Seven Deadly Sins: Settling the Argument Between Born Bad and Damaged Good and make sure to go see Corey Taylor live…You won’t be disappointed.

Snuff

Something I Can Never Have

Burning Love (beginning with The Heretic Anthem)

Down In A Hole

Hesitate

ZZYZX Road

Spit It Out