Sinful Lilly at Wicked World Scare Grounds

At least three events took place in Lexington, KY, last weekend: a football game, a horse race...and a Sinful Lilly show at Wicked World Scare Grounds. In the morning, gridiron and equestrian fans crowded the interstates, hotels, and restaurants. At night, loyal rock music fans flooded a highway for this show. If they hadn't seen Sinful Lilly before, they got a bonus package. 

Photo credit Best Shots Photography

Photo credit Best Shots Photography

This was my fifth time seeing them. In this longest set I've seen yet (it lasted about an hour), they played a lot of songs I'd heard but hadn't seen live. Such songs included Bikini Machine, Human Fly, and Nothing Left.

Also part of this rockin' treat (without tricks) was Fredi's guitar solos and Nikki's stage presence...magnified.

Photo credit Best Shots Photography

Photo credit Best Shots Photography

Photo credit Best Shots Photography

Photo credit Best Shots Photography

Before the show, one of my best friends treated me to a delectable Indian dinner at Taste of India. As we ate, she told me a few times no one who eats there leaves hungry. The same applies to this past Saturday's show. If you didn't get your ears, eyes, and heart full of rock music, you did it wrong

Station - Believe (Official Music Video)

Tattered Sons

 I just wanna go to a concert.

Stop crying and throwing temper tantrums. America has opened up a little bit more. And guess what? Bands have concerts again now.

While you were at home pouting, watching another show on Netflix, I was out at Knoxville Harley-Davidson seeing Tattered Sons from southern Kentucky.

Photo credit to owner

With a 14-song setlist, there was plenty to bob your head to and sing along with--or just plain enjoy. This generous setlist allowed everyone to choose their favorites. My favorite original was "Walking Shoes" and cover, "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Other covers they played were "Mississippi Queen"--complete with cowbell--and "Come Together." 

They kept promising some good rock music; they delivered.

Derek Lester, bass
Photo credit Best Shots Photography

Tattered Sons wants to come to Knoxville as many times as possible. Do yourself a favor: turn off the TV, get out of the house, and go see them. 

Stairway to Zeppelin: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin

A piece of advice for those my age and younger: see as many tribute bands as possible. In that way, you can capture the way rock bands played when music was king, had substance, mystery. On the top of your list should be Stairway to Zeppelin: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin 

They graced us loyal, proud concert goers at Open Chord this past Saturday night, playing all the hits of Led Zeppelin. The hour-and-a-half long set did us lifetime Zep fans justice. Bottom line: you name the song, chances are they played it. From "Black Dog" to "The Immigrant Song" to "Ramble On" to "The Ocean" (one of my personal favorites), they kept us on our feet, at the edge of our seats, wanting more. 

In addition to his vocals effortlessly echoing those of Robert Plant, lead vocalist Phil Creamer continually fascinated me with swinging his hips, arching his back. Even at this writing, I'm still mesmerized.

Photo Credit Best Shots Photography

Add to that the audience participation. After all, we know all the words.

Photo Credit Best Shots Photography

Guitarist Paul O'Connor was unreserved in his charisma and talent...especially when they played "Dazed and Confused" (ie, the bow).

Photo Credit Best Shots Photography

Surely everyone who has listened deeply to Zep's songs like I have

loves their innovativeness in their music. Therefore, I won't sound strange when I say I like the thumping bass at the beginning of "Dazed and Confused," brought to us by bass player Eric Swanson.

Photo Credit Best Shots Photography

In case you're wondering, yes, they played "Stairway to Heaven." Something awesome about their cover of it is, they had drums through the whole song. Excellent work, Paul Scholten.


Photo Credit Best Shots Photography

Get It On

THE MYLARS- Satellite Girls

Blacktop Therapy by Prowess

We are the warriors, take no prisoners. Everyone in the Prowess tribe knows this is the first line of the chorus of "No Survivors," which is the first song on Prowess's debut EP, Head First . 

Fire up the cannons and raise the flag/look out, we're going overboard. Those were the first lines in the chorus of "Overboard," the last song on Head First. Little did I know this was a rock-solid (no pun intended) promise from the band to their tribe that these warriors were soon going to go overboard...in a good way...with their music.

In their follow-up album, Blacktop Therapy, Prowess takes that warrior-take-no-prisoners mindset to the next level. The title track, not to mention Dalton Bowes's raw vocals, easily drew me into this virtual road trip.

As each song played, I felt like "The Princess" in The Breakfast Club falling for "The Criminal." These songs reveal a darker, more aggressive side of Prowess; that's all the more a good reason to hang onto every word till the last song fades. Three songs in particular include "Lookin' for a Bullet," "Eyes of a Hunter," and "Welcome Home."

What has always impressed me about Prowess is their rich classic rock sound. My ears were beyond thrilled to hear even more of this absolutely flawless sound on Blacktop Therapy, the tight melodies. My fellow rockers, you just plain can't not listen to the guitar breaks in "Every Right" and "Bring Your Love," The former song stands out to me; I guess no matter what, I'll always want to "Rock all night and sleep all day." "Heart's Desire"...it's the lyrics, vocals, guitar...and the ride cymbal that make that song, that makes me want to bob my head in time to it. Thanks, Brandon!

You pay the price when you play the tune. That's one of the lines from "Tombstone Blue." In my humble opinion, any price I pay (if there is any) listening to Prowess is small.