Starting July off strong, ARZ rocked the house at Dante’s in downtown Portland. Made up of lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Steve Adams and drummer/synthesizer-er Meryl Hale, the pair performed live along with some of their own pre-recorded tracks. The music was awesome and it sounded like a full-on, filled-out band. Big time.
Hale advised us that ARZ is heavily influenced by 70s bands like Rush, Yes, and ELP. They showed during this performance that they can rock with the best of them. Their music was filled with awesome change-ups and excellent guitar solos, vocals, drumming, and instrumental work. The songs are free-flowing and take us on a wicked journey. I was totally impressed by this band, and the audience lapped these tunes up greedily. This band successfully blends the power of the 70s and blends it masterfully into something new with a touch of gold.
ARZ has an album coming out this summer that will be in my collection for sure.
Echo Helstrom brought a unique energy and sound to the stage, delighting the audience. The band had a smooth, mellow sound that was overflowing with feeling. The catchy rythyms and hypnotic melodies contained many styles of music all rolled into one. The instruments themselves blended to produce a lovely sound: with smooth, mellow acoustic guitar, deep upright bass, driving, jazzy drums, and electric violin all changing from soft and gentle to bright and upbeat. They manage to blend Eastern sounds and classical strings, 60s beach music, varied harmonies, a dynamic range of volume, solos, echoes, feedback, progressions, and on, and on, and on . . . . The band is very ecclectic and talented in many genres and styles of music.
They currently have an album available on iTunes, and a new one will be released soon.
Obscured By Clouds has been around for a while, and their experience shows. They rocked the power chords, producing a solid hard-core sound. They made all the right moves to leave the audience begging for more: excellent guitar riffs, solos, and harsh sounds followed by softer ones with lots of little licks. Thumping, driving bass and drums supporting keyboards and killer lyrics made me move my head and tap my feet along with the kick-ass rock and roll.
The power of this band is awesome to behold live, as well as from the safety of home, cranked up on the CD player.
DOWNLOAD: Obscured By Clouds - Terrapin (MP3) or Follow us for more Obscured By Clouds MP3s (Twitter)
Two songs go in, one comes out. Pick a side.
Columbus Short Would be an excellent match for Sam Cooke (especially if this movie was to include Sam’s Soul Stirrer years). Just as long as in the movie Sam does the singing of course lol. But as far as physical resemblance my boy Columbus Short all the way. View this clip of Cadillac Records were he played lil walter… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmxTbcnW6bY
by Akin Z on Wed Feb 1, 2012 at 12.37 am from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
Oops meant Aloe Blacc not Black. Sorry about the typo. If you doubt that he should play Sam check him out here on you tube singing Loving you is Killing me. The likeness is uncanny - but the voice is quite different.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yJuyaVcL2I&feature=artist
by Tamara L on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08.30 am from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
I have read the Peter Guralnick book and it is thoroughly researched down to the minutest detail. Amazing.
I would go for Aloe Black because he looks so much like Sam, but for heaven’s sake why are we talking about the quality of the actor’s singing? Sam’s singing has got to be dubbed in. We want the real thing not an impersonator. There is only one Sam Cooke. The actor can act, let Sam do the songs.
by Tamara L on Tue Jan 31, 2012 at 08.24 am from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
Thanks for the mention, we do appreciate your time and attention. Please check us out@DirtyDurdie.com.
once again thanks for noticing us.
by Dirty Ice on Tue Jan 24, 2012 at 11.04 pm from the entry: Yasiin Bey - Fete (Providence, RI; Dec.10, 2011)
John Boutte should play Sam Cooke. Except the point someone made about him dying young, this is true. Boutte may be a bit too old.
by Brendan on Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Sam Cooke to get a movie
La cara de kurt de: NO ME DIJERON NADA :| ajajjajajaja
by asdsad on Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 04.29 am from the entry: Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic Weigh In On Kurt Avatar
Blacks say the word 50+ times a day. Fuck the double standard, stop trying to create controversy.
by Steve C on Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 02.00 pm from the entry: John Mayer is about to get swallowed up in public outrage
