Alter Bridge Premiers "Show Me a Leader" Exclusively on Sirius XM Octane

Written by Robin Ervolina
For those of you just tuning in, Alter Bridge debuted their new single "Show Me a Leader" off their newest CD The Last Hero, due out 10/7/16. For those of you who are diehard Alter Bridge fans, you were up at 6:30 a.m. to hear it for the first time on Sirius XM's Octane. Says Alter Bridge's Myles Kennedy (vocals/guitar):

Show Me a Leader is a reflection of how polarized and fractured things are in our society. This song doesn't push an agenda, it simply expresses a very common sense of disillusionment people seem to be feeling at this point in time.

Upon first listen, this is a catchy tune, a radio-friendly upbeat number that has my ear. Scott "Flip" Phillips (drums) and Brian Marshall (bass) lay down a solid rhythm section and my heart rate increases. However, had I not known it was Alter Bridge's newest single, I'm not sure I would have figured it out from the intro. Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti has an easily recognized, highly celebrated, style that is not immediately evident in "Show Me a Leader." As it turns out, nearly one minute and a half of the full version (the guitar intro and solo by Kennedy) was edited to produce this radio cut. But fear not, Tremonster fans; Mark breaks out a seven-string guitar and kicks out a killer solo later in the song. While Alter Bridge has a world-wide following, it feels quite obvious upon first listen that this is a timely release during a divisive election year.

We're all too divided this time/Show me a leader that won't compromise/Show me a leader so hope never dies/We need a hero this time

In an interview with radio DJ Supa Dave of 101.1 WJRR - The Rock Station, Kennedy responds to a fan question regarding lyrical inspiration for The Last Hero. "We were watching campaigns, paying attention to how that was all going, which was a bit of a charade, so there was a little bit of -- that made it into some of the -- so that was inspiring." It's not great stretch to assume "Show Me a Leader" is one of those songs Kennedy is alluding to.
As for the song as a whole, it's familiar, but different. When a band with a catalogue spanning over a decade completes their fifth album, you have to wonder if they're going to sound the same, or if they've given over to experimentation and progression. If you listen to their previous four albums in succession, it should come as no surprise that the fifth produces a new sound, still Alter Bridge, but ripe with purposeful evolution and influence (Kennedy, an accomplished guitarist as well as lead singer also tours and sings with Slash & the Conspirators.) I have to admit, "Show Me a Leader" is slightly reminiscent to Slash's "World on Fire," but that's okay. Myles performs with both bands, so ultimately the influence is at least partly his own. In regards to the sound of The Last Hero, Tremonti states, "It's more progressive than what we've done in the past, the arrangements are more involved. There's a lot going on. I think when people first hear the record, they're going to have to hear it a good five or six times before it really sinks in."
So, give it a listen five or six times, in fact, listen to it as much as you want today (before it goes on sale tomorrow), courtesy of Alter Bridge and Sirius XM's blog. Just click here!
Alter Bridge is touring now, and will be making an appearance at Louder Than Life on October 2nd where it's a good bet you'll be hearing "Show Me a Leader" and more from The Last Hero.

Research credit: Allison Theriot

Vanilla Women: Interview with Jasin Todd

A few months ago I hit a local bar in town to catch one of my favorite artists playing an acoustic set with his friend Jasin Todd. Shinedown fans know Todd as the guitar player, founding member and co-writer of some of Shinedown's most riff-laden and clever songs off their first two records, Leave A Whisper and Us and Them. I was fortunate enough to spend time with him after the gig, discussing music and life, and how many strips of bacon one can expect from an order of bacon at 4a.m. He admitted he was recovering from industry burnout, and though he was unsure of his next steps, he knew the music bug had infected him once more. Before he left town, I made a point of doing what anyone with half a brain would do; I friended him on Facebook.
A few weeks later Todd invited me to "like" a page called Vanilla Women. I clicked the link and much to my delight discovered he had a new collaboration with Adam Latiff and Damien Starkey (Puddle of Mudd), and Zac Gilbert (Cold). Over the next few weeks they would release a track via Facebook called "Shakin My Cage." Within the first minute of this gritty, funky earworm, I was hooked. I immediately hit Jasin up for an interview, and he was kind enough to take time from the studio to talk with me about his new collaboration.
Shockwave Magazine: Tell me how Vanilla Women came together, and how you came up with the name for your new band.
Jasin Todd: Guess about a year or so ago I came back into Jacksonville Beach, Fl and ran into Adam Latiff somewhere, and mentioned if he would be interested in putting together a project. He agreed that it could fun, and we set up a write along with Damien Starkey.
As far as the name goes, it's a play on the word 'vanilla' ... everyone knows it means sorta plain or conventional, not exactly adventurous. Some people say music in general, at least in the popular formats, has shifted back to that -- boring. We try to bring back the risk-taking spirit of rock n' roll. People seem to absolutely loathe the name, at first, which is wonderful to me. Then over time, it seems to grow on them. So I believe we chose the right name to represent the music.
What was the writing process for your first song "Shakin' My Cage"? Has that changed as you've continued recording, or do you think the method is working right out of the gate?
The process for VM has been the exact same since we wrote together for the very first time. It's something I've certainly never been exposed to. The three of us show up to Damien's studio, exchange our hellos, and then say, "Ok who's got what?" No one comes prepared, no one comes with any ideas -- nothing ... which is absolutely insane to me, from a writer's standpoint. We literally wait until we see each other in the studio, come up with a riff, lay it down, and then the train just sorta starts laying it's own tracks. It's pretty intense to see it all unfold, speaking for myself. Even on the tones of the instruments, we never spend more than a couple minutes getting sounds. It's pretty much Les Paul/Marshall or Telecaster/Marshall. This shit isn't rocket science; the greats have already showed us what works. Plug in and let the song speak is our motto. Within five hours top, we have a fully tracked record, with everything completed, usually including a rough mix as well. It's insane. We've kept this philosophy through the recording of what has turned into five tracks now.
You've embarked on a few journeys since your Shinedown/Fuel days. You've mentioned on social media that music comes so easily to you and the guys in Vanilla Women. What do you attribute that to, and what about this collaboration is making this new venture so rewarding for you?
Music is all about chemistry. You either have it or you don't, it's not something you can force or fake, well, actually you can, but at this point in my life and career I choose not to. I'm been really lucky with all the bands I've started or toured with and only made one mistake a couple years ago now. I got with some really horrible people, on a human level as well as musicianship, and it messed me up mentally for awhile. So Vanilla Women has really put me back on track spiritually and musically. It's so rewarding to be around people that speak a common language of music, but most importantly know how to be humble and treat others with respect.
If I'm keeping count, there are now three Vanilla Women songs available for purchase and/or streaming. Are there plans for an album release in the near future?
As of now yes there are three tracks available for purchase and download from all the usual sources, with a forth dropping soon. It's by far our most exciting track yet and we're super stoked for everyone to hear it. As far as a full album of material, we'll have to see what happens and if there is enough interest. Guess we'll have to leave that up to the public.
Do you have any touring plans so Jasin Todd and Vanilla Women fans can come out and support you?
As of right now, there's nothing solid lined up, but I'm always out on an adventure of some sorts so the best way to keep track is to check my Facebook fan page or track me on the Bands in Town app.

There's a reason why so many musicians jump at the chance to work with Todd, reasons that became clear to me the night I saw him sitting on a wooden stool in a small bar. Todd isn't showy. He doesn't rely on gimmicks. I know that's not remarkable in and of itself, as the same can be said of many great artists who play for the love of the music. What I mean to say is, that's the bar for any great artist, and yet Todd, dressed down with nothing but a guitar and a mic, so greatly exceeded that expectation I had to take notice. That night I got a small sampling of the depth of his intellect, the passion he has for music, and the amazing fact that he is, at the end of the day, a humble goddamn genius.  He doesn't just play music, he exudes it, and Vanilla Women testifies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBiw2ZIkhLs

Styx: BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fl - 1/29/16

Written and Photographed by Robin Ervolina
Back to the Future. Back to the Future 2. Back to the Future 3. Hot Tub Time Machine. Hot Tub Time Machine 2. Okay ... you get my point. Generation X is obsessed with time travel. Maybe there's a reason. Maybe my generation wants to return to the past, not to suffer through zits and rejection and calculus exams, but to tap into that careless joy that existed before we had bills to pay and kids to raise and responsibilities that had actual consequences. Enter Styx -- thank our lucky stars -- enter Styx on January 29, 2016 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.
Styx took the stage after Tesla as part of the Def Leppard/Styx tour, the last performance before Def Leppard was forced to cancel the tour due to illness. We were fortunate enough to be there for the beginning notes of "The Grand Illusion." We were fortunate enough to be transported to our bedrooms in our parents' house, our school-days' dances, our cassette tapes in our first car. We clapped along with Tommy Shaw to "Too Much Time on My Hands." We shed tears alongside our seat-mates to the cover of Bowie's "Starman," and the timeless "Lady," in spite of the fact that we were temporarily transported back to reality when we held our cell phones up during "Light Up" instead of our colorful, fat BIC lighters (some of us used them to warm up our eye-liner, you know.)
Photographers are not permitted to return to their seats between sets. After the first three songs we were ushered back, way back, stage to await Def Leppard. It was backstage when I heard magic happen: "Come Sail Away," every lyric, sung by every person in the 2600+ seat venue. I couldn't help but channel Cartman in my head, but more than that, I couldn't help feeling envious that I wasn't singing with my peers. My husband sent me a text half-way through the song. "I'm 13 again. I'm a 13-year old kid at my first concert."
For all their spectacular lights, for all their oh-so-obvious joy at performing, the real thrill of this show is that Styx is as eager to bring the past forward as we are to return to it -- and THAT is the essence of this show. I'm sailing away, and I've set an open course to the best parts of my adolescence. Sorry Katy Perry, but Styx is the soundtrack to my teenage dreams.
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Pearl Jam: BB&T Center Fort Lauderdale, FL - April 8, 2016

Written and photographed by Robin Ervolina
Pearl Jam kicked off it's 2016 North American Tour last night at the BB&T Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The last time Pearl Jam played south Florida was 2008, so it's no wonder excited fans bought out the venue in a rumored-15 minutes. Because there was no opening act, the house filled slowly, so rather than make fans miss out on the event of the year, Pearl Jam chose to wait until most of the attendees were in place before taking stage. It's not a concession as much as an agreement, unspoken but understood; Pearl Jam is it's fans, and it's fans are Pearl Jam. The relationship between them goes beyond loyalty; it's a mutually beneficial, symbiotic entity, a perfect world between artist and music-lover.
The clock struck 8:40 pm and R.E.M.'s "It Happened Today" rang out through the speakers. Eddie Vedder and crew arrived to a euphony of appreciation. With the house lights on, Pearl Jam picked up their instruments and started riffing like the opening of their 1993 release Vs. before the house lights dropped and PJ launched into "Go." Eddie Vedder's voice, unchanged in 25 years, was strong and clear. His stage presence bled of humility; he is unaffected by the crowd, undeterred from his delivery. He is, quite simply, having fun. From the audience, cheers and screams turned to unified lyrical recitation as fans sang along word for word. Eddie Vedder looked to his "fan-mily" and exclaimed through a crooked smile, "That's pretty good!" The crowd dissolved into cheers again, then back to singing. This would be the pattern throughout the three-hour, 32-song show. Pearl Jam gives, the crowd gives back, and the circle is never broken.
Eddie Vedder shares throughout the set. He brought a bottle of wine, but states had he known so many people were going to be there, he would have brought enough for everyone. He tells an amusing story about the tiles in his bathroom "judging" him. He wonders if his toothpaste crystals are drugged. Before launching into "Severed Hand," Vedder cautions everyone to watch their drinks. The audience shares with Pearl Jam in return. A woman moved to tears during "Last Kiss" is seen on the large screen. The audience sings "Happy Birthday" for Mike McCready's 50th celebration. Vedder even briefly entered the political discourse by dancing around the stage in a Donald Trump mask during "Do The Evolution." Two vulnerable moments stand out: "Light Years" is performed in memory of Skully Quinlan,  a crew member and guitar tech who passed the day of this opening show, and a moved Vedder performs an acoustic version of "I Am A Patriot," the fulfillment of a promise to the father of a soldier named Ty.
Three hours, two encores, and a 32-song set of hits, fan favorites, and deep cuts ... this is the bar Pearl Jam set last night to an audience ranging from infants to seniors. The longevity of Pearl Jam cannot be explained simply by citing their musicianship, their lyrical genius, or the loyalty of their fans. There is magic in every moment, undefinable and unexplainable, but oh so sublime, and oh so right. Pearl Jam is playing Miami tonight, then headed up north to continue the tour through August 22, 2016. For info on dates and cities, click here, and if you find a single seat available, take my advice and buy it. There are legendary events that you can miss in your lifetime, but this isn't one of them.
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Dropkick Murphys: Electric Factory - March 13, 2016

Written and Photographed by Robin Ervolina
How do you celebrate a 20-year anniversary? If you're the Dropkick Murphys, you celebrate your anniversary by doing the same damn thing you've always done; you play great music, incorporating generations of fans that celebrate the same values of family, roots, tradition and honor ... and mosh pits ... lots and lots of punk-loving pits.
The energy inside the aptly named Electric Factory was maxing out as the Philly crowd anxiously awaited the Dropkick Murphys 20th Anniversary show. Opening bands Darkbuster and Tiger Army entertained a crowd that needed no warming up, and the city of brotherly love met them attentively and with great appreciation and enthusiasm. However, once the opening refrains of "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya" and the silhouette of Ken Casey appeared on stage, everything changed. The attentive crowd morphed into a massive pit no attendee could avoid, a pit that persisted throughout the 22-song set, never settling, always welcoming, and wildly appreciative. Fans in the back threw their arms (and sometimes legs) in the air while fans toward the stage were glowing of stage lights and admiration. Al Barr took no time walking off the stage and into the crowd, singing not to them, but with them.
Dropkick Murphys played a good mix of songs spanning their 20-year career, including "Famous For Nothing" and "Rose Tattoo." Local step dancers took the stage with the band for "Prisoner's Song" and "I'm Shipping Up To Boston." Near the end of their set, Casey addressed a young boy on the rail wearing a black Dropkick Murphys shirt and newsboy cap. "I've been watching my man down here down front. He knows every goddamn word, and we want to ask him to come up here and sing a song." With that, nine-year old Patrick was hoisted on stage and enthusiastically rocked out "The Boys Are Back." He wasn't the only fan lucky enough to join the show. During "Kiss Me, I'm Shit-Faced" more fans were invited on stage to join the revelry.
A Dropkick Murphys event is more than a concert; it's a night of, dare I say, "family," joining together in what I can only describe as unity with a throw-caution-t0-the-wind chaser. The Electric Factory show was their last before heading home to Boston, as per tradition, to ring in St. Patrick's Day, but make no mistake; the Dropkick Murphys never walk alone. Anywhere they are, they are at home with the fans of all ages that love them. Here's to 20-years of solid, celtic punk rock music and may we have many, many more for the generations of fans to come. Sláinte!
Photos by Robin Ervolina
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Hellyeah - Shiprocked Cruise 2016

Photo/Written by Robin Ervolina
There is no way to sugar-coat this: as much as I love me some recent supergroups, Hellyeah is the super group to end all super groups. Featuring Mudvayne vocalist Chad Gray, Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell, and Pantera drummer (and brother of Dimebag Darrell) Vinnie Paul, Hellyeah has one helluva pedigree. Cool thing is, they don't boast about it, and they sure as hell don't rely on it. Each time they take the stage, it's a masters' class in how to earn cred the honest way; they rock ridiculously hard, give everything to their performance and their audience, and reach fans with their energy, their music, and their message. Oh yes, their music has a message; don't be ashamed of your mistakes, don't be afraid to make them, don't be a dumbass and forget to learn from them. Hellyeah gave Shiprockers a stand-out performance, difficult to categorize, let alone photograph... and Croce thought saving time in a bottle was hard.
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Avatar - Shiprocked Cruise 2016

Photo/Written by Robin Ervolina
According to Ralph Sutton, host of the SDR Show and Master of Ceremonies for Shiprocked, when Shiprockers are asked what bands they would most like to sail with, Sweden's Avatar is the most requested. The excitement surrounding the booking announcement was, however, surpassed by the sheer frenzy of activity on the main deck by an anxious crowd awaiting Avatar's first performance. The anticipation appeared to be two-fold: Avatards, as their fans are known, awaiting their beloved band, and those rockers who were curious to see what the Avatar-related fuss was about. By the end of the first song, those two camps were indiscernible. Avatar took the stage with all the pomp and circumstance of theatrical band, but unlike so many groups that rely on the show to earn fans, Avatar has serious substance behind their imagery. They rock hard, connect with the crowd, deliver profound ideas via prolific lyrics accompanied by expert musicianship.
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