A Hard Rock Broadside from Soundside

A Hard Rock Broadside from Soundside Keywords:

Related Article:A Hard Rock Broadside from Soundside

The Music of Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson

The summer of 1968, Canada: a new band was brought to life - Rush. It started out as a heavy metal band and throughout the years it has evolved musically, embracing numerous rock genres as hard rock, modern rock and progressive rock. Rush did not have a smooth start, for many band members have come and gone until 1974. Prior to this, Rush had only managed to release one album in March of 1974. However, in July 1974, Rush was about to achieve its definitive form as Neil Peart stepped in to replace John Rutsey and since then Rush has managed to release eighteen albums, the latest of which was released in 2007.

Neil Peart’s arrival in Rush was a blessing for the other two members, Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee. As the founder of Rush, Alex Lifeson had great plans for this band, but they were drawn back by members coming and going. Prior to Neil Peart joining Rush, this rock band had only managed to release one album. After Neil Peart’s arrival, Rush released two albums in the coming year, 1975, and sixteen others until 2007.

Neil Peart always dreamt of becoming a drummer and as an adolescent he dropped out of school to pursue his dream. The England rock scene was increasingly evolving, so Neil Peart went to this country to become a full time drummer. However, because of numerous set backs, he decided to return to Canada where he joined Rush. For this rock band, Neil Peart became more than a drummer; he also became a song writer. Although he had found his band, Neil Peart did not give up his dream of becoming one of the greatest musicians ever and his talent and efforts paid off. He is regarded by both critics and fans as one of the greatest rock drummers ever. The long list of honors and awards that Neil Peart has received stands as proof of his great skills.

Alex Lifeson, the founding member of Rush, embraced the coming of new member Neil Peart and with him, Rush received success and world reconnaissance. Ever since he was a boy, Alex Lifeson dreamt of playing the guitar and his dream finally took shape in 1968, with the birth of Rush. As the rock scene progressed throughout the years, with the birth of many genres and sub- genres, Rush also needed to make progress in order to rise to fans’ standards. Alex Lifeson did not limit himself to playing electric and acoustic guitar, and started experimenting the mandolin, mandola and bouzouki, instruments he now plays very well. Moreover, in concerts, he occasionally plays the keyboard and does backing vocals. Alex Lifeson is regarded by both critics and fans as a great artist and guitar player, but unfortunately he is mostly overshadowed by his band colleagues.

Since its birth, Rush evolved enormously and with each album, this rock band became more and more famous. Although the members decided to take a five-year break, their come back was magnificent and they are now as appreciated as ever. The three band members, Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart have succeeded in making Rush one of the most appreciated and inspirational bands of all times.

Progressive Rock Bands that Inspired the World

Psychedelic music is believed to be the starting point of progressive rock. Some people also believe that bands like The Beatles contributed to the progressive rock movement. However, the two progressive rock bands that most people see as being the first of this new- found genre were King Crimson and Yes. These progressive rock bands appeared at the end of the 1960s and although the first band was attributed to hard progressive rock sub- genre and the second to symphonic rock, they were both catalogued as progressive rock bands, as their sound was unique and more sophisticated. Genesis is yet another rock band that aspired to progressive rock. Their third progressive rock album set things straight for this band. They were a symphonic rock band and thus a progressive rock band.

Great Britain was the first country that started the progressive rock movement, but Italy was not far behind either. Banco Del Mutuo Soccorco and Premiata Forneria Marconi were progressive rock bands that led the way for all rock bands all over Europe to progress and define this rock genre. As far as the progressive rock movement is concerned, these two European countries were the ones that opened all doors and invited all rock bands to evolve and give the world great progressive rock albums. However, Great Britain is still the top promoter of progressive rock bands, with Caravan, another progressive rock band from this country, being the one that defined the third sub- genre of progressive rock: Canterbury. So, at the end of the 1960s, progressive rock bands established three sub- genres: hard prog, symphonic and Canterbury.

The 1970s represented the crowning of progressive rock as a genre and some of the greatest progressive rock albums were released in this decade. Jethro Tull’s “Thick as a brick” or Rush’s “2112” are only two of the most appreciated progressive rock albums released in the 70s. Moreover, this decade brought another ten sub- genres of progressive rock to life, and many progressive rock bands came forth in this period. As if progressive rock was not complicated enough, art folk, classical prog, folk prog, ambient, Rio, pomp prog, jazz fusion, electronic, Zeuhl and krautrock were listed as sub- genres of the 60s rock genre.

In the next two decades, progressive rock did not progress as much as it had up to that moment. In the 80s, it was dethroned by the punk movement and progressive rock bands chose to give birth to another sub- genre: neo progressive. There were few progressive rock albums released in the 80s, some of the most prolific ones being Rush’s “Moving Pictures” or Fate’s Warning’s “No Exit”. Progressive metal rock was also listed as a sub- genre in this period. The 1990s were dominated by the development of metal prog, through Dream Theatre. This decade is mainly characterized by the revival of the progressive scene of the seventies.

For more resources about Progressive rock bands or even about progressive rock albums please review this web page http://tormanmaxt.com

CD Review: A Hard Rock Broadside from Soundside

If I had the power, I would change the title of the new Soundside CD from "Seconds to Sunrise" to "Working Man's Soundside." No, not as some type of homage to the Grateful Dead or their album of the same name, but because in today's segmented music scene dominated by generic suburban pop, ring tone rap for real and fake ghettos, and indie rock for the college-educated hipster, there is a definite dearth of good honest rock and roll. The kind of rock that gets you through a day of loading boxes onto palettes or house painting. Rock for the unpretentious, for folks that work in delis or hang sheet rock. Soundside brings back the old school rock sound - hard but not metal, melodic but not Justin Timberlake, and with a touch of grunge, minus the tortured angst.

If this Seconds to Sunrise had come out twenty-five years ago, they would have been hailed as the new gods of power pop or new wave by way of Cheap Trick. In other words, it's chock full of hard rock hooks, pop sensibility, and pogo-beat rhythms along with sensitive, low key, acoustic guitar-laced moments. "Back To The Beginning" kicks things off with a radio friendly two chord rock anthem that has a danceable groove, over which Rich Arcati sings nostalgically of all night partying fun: "I reminisce the time I made us, it's been awhile but how could I forget... who remembers what time we got home? / It's just another morning that I can never wake up... Back to the beginning of our lives." The music here is kick ass rock and roll, with a crisp backbeat and bass and guitars hitting all the right marks.

"With You" starts out softly with acoustic guitar and voice. When the rest of the band comes in it's on a lower intensity musical plane, mixing the emotional sincerity of a ballad and driving rock. This and most of the CD are carried by front man Arcati, with his vocal mix of Eddie Vedder and Robert Plant (at his least screechy), and guitarist Dan Reardon. "Living in the Rain" flips the script on the classic rock song form of soft to loud by giving a heavy metal blast of an intro followed by low volume acoustic guitar and voice. This gives way to a section of melodic, country-tinged rock that would fit in between Sheryl Crow and Nickelback on a VH1 set. Its companion piece on the CD is "Beautiful Life," a straight rock ballad with touches of violin and cello and a simple piano riff underscoring the vocal line.

"Creepin' In My Mind" is another example of full-on rock intensity, with a heavy, guitar-driven groove straight from the old Detroit rock city sound of Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop. This song, and the others on this filler free CD, is locked and propelled by Karina McMahon and Matt Fox on drums and bass, respectively. "Stuck In A Memory" rocks in a loping hard rock, headbanging almost-waltz that nods to Led Zeppelin. This changes into a power pop chorus that is at once sweet and savage yet tasteful and true. In fact, this could be said about the whole Seconds to Sunrise. Soundside draws from the wellspring of guitar driven, kick-out-the-jams rock, giving the listener the musical equivalent of an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. No bones about it, Soundside is definitely maximum rock and roll.

http://www.soundsideband.com

Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas

The Hard Rock Hotel is easy to find. It's just off the Las Vegas Strip, which is where the New York, New York, Paris, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Caesar's Palace, and all the other major places are located. It's called the resort district in most circles.

If you'd like to pass on mellow atmospheres that feature the likes of Barry Manilow and “soft rock,” then the Hard Rock just might be your favorite place in Vegas.

One attraction at the Hard Rock is The Joint, which is their entertainment venue that features awesome acts, such as Cheap Trick, Korn, Rob Zombie, Godsmach, The Fixx, and my personal favorite, Tool-plus many other top-of-the-line rock acts. They also have featured KC and the Sunshine Band and Flock of Seaguls, so there's a nice mix of music.

And if you're the nightclub player, the Hard Rock is your best bet. Their club, Body English, is one of the best in the city. Just don't waste time coming during the week. As any top club, they are open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And no, they don't serve lunch. Body English is a night place. They open the doors at 10:30 p.m. Closing time is about 4 a.m., so you have up to about six hours of clubbing. Oh yeah, don't come dressed in jeans and a faded t-shirt. You've got to dress to impress as Body English is an “upper level” club. Don't come looking like the bargain rack at Wal-mart.

Need to get your hair done? No problem. Brannon Hair, which is a celebrity-style salon is located at the Hard Rock. Named after celebrity stylist and owner, Brannon, it's “the” place to go. Some of the clientele has included Nikki Hilton, Vince Neil, Britney Spears, Jon Bon Jovi and other celebs. And now this celeb salon is open to you at the Hard Rock.

Before you ask, no it's not a McDonald's assembly line of knock-off hair styling for mass public consumption. Brannon Hair has just four chairs and guests receive celebrity treatment all the way. Get your hair done here and you'll have a fun and interesting story to take back home.

Either way you slice it the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is a great place to visit when you're in Las Vegas. Will Win is a professional gambler, ex casino dealer and author. Play online casino games at the top online casino!

Rock Climbing with Style - Bouldering and Indoor Climbing Gyms

Rock climbing may sound like the most basic of sports. Find something to climb. Climb it. How hard could it be? Well, there is more to it as tends to be true for most things that seem simple at first. When it comes to rock climbing, there are different styles for different folks. Let’s take a look at a couple.

Bouldering – Bouldering is perhaps the most popular form of rock climbing, although many would argue with that. The reason I suggest it is has to do with availability. Simply put, most people can find boulders somewhere relatively close to their home, which makes it a readily accessible option.

Bouldering is exactly what it sounds like. You look for ten to 15 foot boulders that you can climb. Once you are ready, you just climb them but you should do more. Since falling from a boulder is less dangerous than a cliff, a host of opportunities are presented to you. You can practice the basics to build up your technique and strength. You can also try new techniques since the risk of injury is minimized. All and all, bouldering is a great way to get your technique in order or try rock climbing for the first time. To prevent scrapes, it often helps to throw a mat down on the ground to cushion you when you fall.

Indoor Climbing – Indoor climbing represents another good way to practice your technique, learn new skills or just start out as a beginner. As mentioned above, it can be hard to find good climbing locations close to where you live. With indoor climbing, you have no such problem. In most major cities, there are now indoor climbing gyms. The gyms are all different, but many have fixed walls while others have rotating walls that change the terrain you climb. All are usually set with ropes to cut out some of the work. As a beginner, you can almost always get climbing lessons at the gyms, which makes them another great place to get started.

If you are looking for climbing options that don’t require you to travel, bouldering and indoor climbing gyms represent great options. Beginners can get the basic downs and old pros can work on technique and try new things.

John Grimes is with All Terrain - makers of natural products for the outdoors.

The Music of Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson

The New Myrtle Beach Hard Rock Theme Park

Hard Rock Hotel San Diego now Available for Resale

The Hard Rock Hotel And Casino

The Music of Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson

Leave Comment