



Episode 147: When the Live Version is Our Definitive Version! With Joey Suto of Rock Show Critique
Please welcome Joey Suto of Rock Show Critique to the cast! We have a fun and varied show for you tonight, with lots of physical product. Expect CDs, vinyl, and maybe some tapes too. Tonight we’ll be looking at songs where the live version is our definitive version! This is a topic right up the Mad Metal Man’s alley!
Surely, you can name a few yourself. Some will be appearing in tonight’s show! Think about songs where the live version is always the go-to for you. And which live version? A newer one? A vintage one? We’ll hear 30 picks tonight, not including overlap. (Disclaimer for the pedantic: We don’t care how much of a recording is “live” for this exercise.)
Join us live, as we love to interact in the comments!
Friday May 15 at 7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic. Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.
MAY 14, 2026: The 2025-2026 season of the Moncton Wildcats has been nothing but edge-of-your seat entertainment, and the team has definitely proven that they are one of the strongest teams in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). However, a noteworthy element this season was not on the rink, but rather in the stands. This is, of course, the introduction of a pair of fans that have come to be known as “The Sin Bin”. They seem to have appeared out of nowhere and quickly became favorites among other fans, but the question remains: Who are these masked individuals? Where did they come from, and why are they so popular among fellow fans?
They’ve certainly made a point of keeping their identity a secret, and while we might be unable to uncover who they are, we’re going to do some digging and try to answer some of these questions as to where they came from using the online sources at our disposal, such as the Moncton Wildcats Fan Club Facebook page, as well as Wildcats superfan, the inimitable “blind ref” himself, Ken Shea, who seemingly has become close to the Sin Bin and frequently shares selfies of himself and the duo on an Instagram fan profile called refkenandthesinbins.
Our research has taken us as far back to December 13th, 2025, which appears to be the first appearance of the duo, however they weren’t yet donning their signature blue suits, but rather green suits with the name “HFX DIVE TEAM” inscribed in the front. Appropriate, as the Wildcats were going up against the Halifax Mooseheads that night, a game that the Cats took home with a final score of 5 to 1. The green duo appeared before the game, dancing away in section 105, mimicking swim moves, and seated themselves appropriately next to the opposing penalty box. They showed us what they were all about by playfully heckling players from the other team during penalties, and during intermissions they walked around the Avenir Centre, quickly gaining popularity among other fans as they posed for selfies and gave out high fives. The Halifax Dive Team even made it onto the winning post on the official Moncton Wildcats social media profiles, that night.
It came as no surprise when the duo returned for the New Year’s Eve afternoon game against the Charlottetown Islanders, less than three weeks later, this time adorning new blue suits that represented the Wildcats colors, with a new name revealed: The Sin Bin. Sin Bin 1 & Sin Bin 2, to be more specific. What this meant is that we could expect them at any game at any given moment. They were no longer exclusive to Halifax games. From what we’ve observed since, Sin Bin 1, who always sits in the front row next to the penalty box, does most of the heckling and provoking towards the opposing team (in a playful, harmless manner), while Sin Bin 2 always sits directly behind him and does much of the crowd interaction, jumping out of his seat and high-fiving other fans after a goal. The new suits weren’t the only change brought on by the duo, as they introduced a new character trait, this time around: They were now mute. Some fans remember hearing them speak during their first appearance, while this time around, not even a peep was heard. One can assume this is done in an effort to keep their identity anonymous, now that they knew they’d be appearing frequently.
The Cats won this game once again, with a victory of 6 to 1. Could this masked mystery crew be the team’s good luck charm?
Not necessarily, as their next appearance on January 17th against the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, the Cats lost 7 to 4. But even with this defeat, the Sin Bin continued to gain popularity in between periods, and even appeared in a social media promotional spot shot at Taverna Greek Resto Bar & Grill in preparation for this big game.
With almost one month with no news, The Sin Bin returned in a promotional spot advertising the February 16th Family Day game against the Halifax Mooseheads. What was notable from this spot was that it revealed the return of “The Blind Ref” Ken Shea, who hadn’t made an appearance since the previous playoffs. It was a union of super fans, if you will.
While the Sin Bin guys were wearing their signature blue suits in the commercial, you better believe that they showed up to the game wearing the green Halifax Dive Team suits that started all, ready to heckle the Mooseheads without any mercy. The month-long break seemed to be good for the Sin Bin / Dive Team, as they appeared to be in full form for this game. Certain fans have wondered if the performers in the suits are consistent, or if there’s been personnel changes. We like to think that they’ve been the same since the beginning, as the chemistry between the two has always been the same. Some claim they are brothers, but once again, any information regarding their identities has been scarce, right down to their age. Are they teenagers? In their twenties? Older? Nobody knows, and this mysterious aspect is what makes the blue crew all the more appealing.
Since this “return to form”, the Sin Bin have made regular appearances, cheering on the Wildcats at every home game during the playoffs, spinning white towels in the air, and even making an appearance wearing white t-shirts with the words “GO CATS GO” proudly displayed on the front. There was only ONE occurence to date where only one Sin Bin attended a game without the other. On May 1st, during Game 5 of Round 3 against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, Sin Bin 2 could be seen cheering on the cats without his usual sidekick, often holding up a sign that said: “Wish you were here, Sin Bin 1“. A video / sketch was shown on the Jumbotron, explaining Sin Bin 1’s absence as an electrocution, but from what we understand, the Sin Bin 1 performer was simply out of town that day and couldn’t attend. Other speculations suggest he was sick, but only the Sin Bin know the real reason behind this absence. The mystery continues…
While we don’t know what the future holds for the Wildcats at this point in the playoffs, we hope to see more of this duo next season, as they bring a certain energy to the Avenir Centre, not to mention joy to fellow fans of all ages.
Fans of Max the Axe: BEHOLD! The Lego animated music video for “I Don’t Advocate Drugs” was a tour-de-force effort from Lego animator Harrison Kopp. What you may not know is that Harrison packed the video full of Easter eggs that only diehard fans will catch. Until now: Please join Harrison and Mike for this very special breakdown of the entire video.
Thrills and chills: Find out about the “next plane to Vegas”! Is it concealing “Guns to Iran”? Who owns a deadly snake, let alone two? And where the heck is Pablo?
Enjoy this awesome breakdown. Original music video at bottom. Three cheers to the talent of Harrison!
From the album Live In Ontario, here is the second music video from the CD: “I Don’t Advocate Drugs”. This video was painstakingly animated, using real Lego bricks, by hand. No AI here folks. Bricks were collected to create these characters including all four members of the band: Max the Axe (lead guitar), Uncle Meat (lead vocals), Mike Mitchell (bass), and Dr. Dave Haslam (drums). Depicting a druggy trip and a stage performance by the band, look for several easter eggs referring to past Max the Axe songs, or even Dr Dave’s well-stated hatred of Transformers.
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK bonus episode
2026 sees the release of the official Iron Maiden documentary Burning Ambition. This milestone certainly deserves its own episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden.
Fortunately, Johnny Metal saw the film on May 7. He came to us with his thoughts, and we’d like to share them with you today. This afternoon, May 8, we are doing our first Grab A Stack of Rock afternoon cottage show of the season. Johnny will be joining Mike to share his review of the film. (Meanwhile, Harrison will slumber in Australia, preparing for a weekend of recording.)
Please join Johnny and Mike, live this afternoon, to talk Burning Ambition!
Friday May 8 at 3:00 PM EST, 4:00 PM Atlantic. Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.
Past episodes:
Handy YouTube Playlist:
Handy YouTube Playlist:
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK episode 146
Iron Maiden surprised many in 2015 when they announced that their new album, The Book of Souls, would be a double CD set clocking in at over 92 minutes. Those who were tiring of long Iron Maiden epics would be faced with five bonafide long-bombers, including the longest Iron Maiden song of all time, “Empire of the Clouds”. Led by single “Speed of Light”, The Book of Souls would go #1 in Australia, #2 in Canada, and #4 in the US. That is where our three co-hosts are from for this appropriately long episode.
Joining Mike and Harrison tonight is Reed “Attention to Detail” Little of the Contrarians. As usual, Reed brings his analytical mind to the table with some interesting notations. Together we break down all 11 songs, as well as the first (and last) Iron Maiden B-side in several years: “Maiden Voyage” from the Record Store Day single for “Empire of the Clouds”. This spoken-word track features Bruce and Nicko, and we’ll let you hear some of it tonight.
This episode is completely unedited. After covering the 11 songs, the tour, and artwork, we will leave you completely exhausted. Join us in the comments tonight!
Click above for the link to the show
Friday May 8 at 7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic. Enjoy on YouTube.
Past episodes:
Handy YouTube Playlist:
RECORD STORE TALES #1242: How My Brand New Ruko U11MINI 4K Drone Ended Up on the Bottom of Lake Huron
It was like watching time stand still. First, I heard the motors fall silent. Then, I watched it begin to fall like a stone. I calmly and solemnly thought, “There is nothing I can do. It is going right into the water, and there won’t even be point in fishing it out. It is what it is.” It made a satisfying “THONK!” sound as it crashed into the nearby rock pile. I stood a moment in silence as I considered any options, and concluded there were none, so I turned around and walked the path back up to the cottage.
How did we get here? Let’s rewind.
In 2024, I took a chance and indulged myself in my first and most trustworthy drone: the Potensic Atom SE. It was a revelation to me, as readers know. I took the drone to the cottage and flew it over Lake Huron repeatedly. Stunt flying over the rocks is a treat and results in amazing “feels like flying” video footage. My review of the Potensic went viral with a modest 4000 views. It was enough to get the attention of the Ruko company in 2025, who offered to send me their brand new U11Mini 4K in exchange for a review. It had two advantages over the Potensic that I hoped to exploit. The first is the 3-axis brushless camera gimble, which enables level images no matter what angle your drone is flying at. The other is the 4K camera, a step up from the Potensic. Imagine the video of Lake Huron I could capture with that!
First Flight of 2026 with the Potensic Atom SE drone
I flew the Ruko twice and wrote a positive review. I did struggle a bit with the controls, but chalked it up to inexperience. I expected to get the hang of it, but that never happened. It was just a really difficult drone to fly, and that did not improve after I wrote the review. Landing on a specific target was simply impossible, and the drone would fly off on its own without any input from the controls. I re-calibrated the Ruko and fiddled with the settings. It could not hover in place, moved on its own, and crashed into a tree. I sent an email to the Ruko company, who asked for my flight logs. After reviewing them, they sent me a replacement Ruko. This arrived in the winter, so I had to wait until spring 2026 to try it. I fully expected all issues would be resolved.
One thing I noticed about the Ruko is that it couldn’t handle light winds as well as the Potensic. The Ruko tends to drift while the Potensic is still as a stone. I waited for the first quiet morning before removing the second Ruko from its packaging and preparing it for first flight. I had already had my first flight of 2026 with the Potensic, which performed up to its exemplary standards. There was less wind on the morning I tested the Ruko. I began in a small clearing as I usually do. The Ruko always takes time connecting to the GPS, which is a much faster process with the Potensic. (On my original Ruko, there were days it could not connect to GPS at all, and I had to pack it up again.) Once connected, I started the motors and began to hover.
The new Ruko was still not as rock-steady as the Potensic, but it was a marked improvement over the original Ruko. I felt reassured that whatever was wrong with the original drone (they never told me) had been fixed. I had a very early U11Mini, one of the first in Canada. It is possible improvements or corrections were made after. With my new drone now in the air, I marveled at the clarity of the video. I took it up higher, with the intention of flying it over the lake and capturing those misty greens and blues.
With great care, I drifted slowly over the trees, and down to the beach. The drone seemed to be performing acceptably. Time to test the camera. I wanted to get some footage of the rock piles and compare the quality to the Potensic. Already, I was impressed with the level camera. I panned straight down to capture the rocks. The drone seemed to struggle a little over the rocks. It lost altitude, so I raised it again. It started to drift downwards again, so I raised it. I panned back up to the horizon with the intention to fly back in, when suddenly the motors died. They just stopped completely, and the drone fell from the sky, into the water and rocks below.
First and Final Flight 2026 with the RukoU11Mini 4k drone
“It didn’t cost me anything,” I lamented I walked back up the trail to the cottage. “Except the memory card!” I shared the memory card between the Potensic and the Ruko, so there would be no more flying at all for me this weekend.
The Ruko company advised me not to fly the drone over water, but at this point I have two years’ experience doing just that with my Potensic. I have a cottage on Lake Huron: of course that’s what I’m going to film with my drone! If I cant fly over water, then I’m not interested in a drone. The Potensic flies like a slalom skier through the rocks, but the Ruko couldn’t even hover over them. Even if I chose to ignore the Ruko company’s directions, it was with the experience I’ve gained, and the certainty that I would chose the Potensic over the Ruko every time if I couldn’t fly over water.
When the water levels drop in the coming weeks, I’ll walk out to the rocks and fish what remains of my drone from the water. Maybe some adventurous canoer will have already found it by then. I will never fly a Ruko drone again, but my experience with the 4k camera and the 3-axis gimble was positive. Potensic have a drone similar to mine, but with the 4k/3-axis camera option. It’s pricey (about the same as a super deluxe Rush box set), but I am seriously considering that upgrade.
I have flown three drones to date, and I’m still flying the first. Now that I have a newer and bigger memory card in hand, I look forward to our further adventures this summer.
Rest in peace, Ruko, in your watery grave at the bottom of Lake Huron.
A long held Grab A Stack of Rock tradition has been to have a theme video with every guest that has ever been on a show. Today, 55 humans and several animals have appeared on Grab A Stack of Rock, either live or pre-recorded. The theme video has been updated with newest guest Alex Winter from Tainted Decibels, and Rob Daniels piloting a Rebel Snowspeeder. The complete list of all 55 cast members is below. Thank you for watching as we prepare to wrap up 50 Years of Iron Maiden and get on with a new series. I am happy to announce when Maiden is complete, we will be tackling the Sabbath career of one Tony “The Cat Martin” in a six part series.
Enjoy the video.
Music & vocals by Tee Bone, remix and guitar solo by Tim Durling. Writting by M Ladano, J Ladano, T Erickson
By request of Henry Wright, the “fourth member of the band” here at Grab A Stack of Rock, here is a recap of Friday, May 1st’s episode. It was episode 145: Top Seven Black Crowes Songs. For this episode we had three passionate fans: Mike, Uncle Meat, and new guest Alex Winter. Alex also brought some great physical product, including vinyl and promotional items. We also learned about some shadowy corners of the discography (such as iTunes Originals) and a man with a Black Crowes tattoo on his leg. With plenty of personal connections and agonizing cuts, here are our top Crowes tracks:
ALEX WINTER
7. Profane Prophecy (A Pound of Feathers)
6. I Ain’t Hiding (Before the Frost…Until the Freeze)
5. Blackberry (Three Snakes and One Charm)
4. Go Tell The Congregation (By Your Side)
3. Jealous Again (Shake Your Moneymaker)
2. Remedy (The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion)
1. She Talks To Angels (Shake Your Moneymaker)
UNCLE MEAT
7. Nebekanezer (Three Snakes and One Charm)
6. Midnight From the Inside Out (Lions)
5. Horsehead (By Your Side)
4. Descending (amorica)
3. No Speak No Slave (The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion)
2. Wiser Time (amorica)
1. Thorn In My Pride (The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion)
MIKE
7. You Wear It Well (1972)
6. I Ain’t Hiding (Before the Frost…Until the Freeze)
5. Kicking My Heart Around (By Your Side)
4. Words You Throw Away (Shake Your Moneymaker deluxe)
3. Twice As Hard (Shake Your Moneymaker)
2. The Garden Gate (Before the Frost…Until the Freeze – vinyl version)
1. Descending (amorica)
Grab A Stack of Rock episode 145: Top Seven Black Crowes Tracks with Uncle Meat and Alex Winter
Show summary:
Please welcome to the show, from the Contrarians and his own channel Tainted Decibels, musical scholar Alex Winter! Looking for a good theme to get Alex on a list show with Grab A Stack of Rock, Uncle Meat tossed ideas out and we all grabbed on to The Black Crowes as a topic we’d be eager to sink our beaks into. Formed in Atlanta Georgia in 1984 by the Brothers Robinson, the Crowes have broken up and reunited twice. They are currently in a “together” phase, and already on the second full-length album of this third era of the Crowes. With their new album A Pound of Feathers on shelves, the time is right to pay tribute to this ever-changing flock.
We decided on a Top Seven list as a new format. Better than a Top Five, but still hoping to do it in a timely manner. Let’s give it a shot.
All Black Crowes songs are on the table, and the table is open for discussion!
Episode 145: Top Seven Black Crowes Tracks with Uncle Meat and Alex Winter
Please welcome to the show, from the Contrarians and his own channel Tainted Decibels, musical scholar Alex Winter! Looking for a good theme to get Alex on a list show with Grab A Stack of Rock, Uncle Meat tossed ideas out and we all grabbed on to The Black Crowes as a topic we’d be eager to sink our beaks into. Formed in Atlanta Georgia in 1984 by the Brothers Robinson, the Crowes have broken up and reunited twice. They are currently in a “together” phase, and already on the second full-length album of this third era of the Crowes. With their new album A Pound of Feathers on shelves, the time is right to pay tribute to this ever-changing flock.
We decided on a Top Seven list as a new format. Better than a Top Five, but still hoping to do it in a timely manner. Let’s give it a shot.
All Black Crowes songs are on the table, and the table is open for discussion! We love to interact in the comments, so join us at 7:00 PM EST!
Click here for the link to the live show
Friday May 1 at 7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic. Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.
Thank you again to Marco D’Auria for inviting me for this special episode of the Contrarians! Join us for some more Record Store Tales, including how the Beat Goes On got started selling used CDs in 1994! Hear how 15 CDs quickly turned into 5000. Lots of great memories and crazy stories. Give it a watch.
All my Contrarians appearances to date: