Videos

Grab A Stack of Scenery! April 25-28 2024 at the cottage [VIDEO]

Visual Supplemental to #1123: To Be Alive Again

Things to watch for:

  • Jex playing air guitar
  • A high kick by Mike
  • A couple Jen cameos
  • Some Arkells tunes
  • Jen’s first time driving an RC car

VIDEO: Work in Progress demo: Audi RS Q e-tron Lego Technic 42160

Back into Lego for a little over a year now, I wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to do something with gears, the more complex the better. Ideally I wanted something motorized. The Lego Audi was an affordable option.

Powered by three motors and six AA batteries, the motorized parts these days are quite different from my time.  I recall having a giant Lego brick that you could turn into a tank, which was handy since that’s how it was shaped.

Building a set like this is a process of discovery.  You’re not sure what exactly you’re doing at first, until things comes together.  The front end, with two motors, came first.  One motor is dedicated to the rack and pinion steering.  There are a pair of nice heavy shocks for the front suspension.  The rear end has another pair of shocks, and a bluetooth power box that syncs up to a phone app.

The controls are simple and even have brakes.  These might come in handy if racing indoors!

Just wish the car was a little faster.

5/5 stars

 

#1122: Debbie’s Records [VIDEO]

A video sequel to #725:  Mum’s Music

RECORD STORE TALES #1122: Debbie’s Records

Rediscovering music can be just as good, if not better, than discovering it in the first place.

I’m not sure why I segregated these records from my collection.  When we brought “Mum’s” music home with us after she passed, I stuffed these nine albums in my closet, without assimilating them into my proper collection.  I’m sure there were reasons, but today I welcome them with open arms.

Mum liked Canadian music, soundtracks, and the classics.  Not so much classical, but classics like…well, you’ll see.

I made this video instead of writing a story, because I wanted the camera to capture the emotions of seeing these records.  I went in unspoiled.  I didn’t look at the records in advance, because I did not want to spoil the surprise.  It has been years since I looked at or played any of these albums.  These not were the only albums of Mum’s that we kept.  Elsewhere, mixed into my collection properly, are the Beatles, Gordon Lightfoot, and The Buddy Holly Story.

Please enjoy this emotional look at Debbie’s Records.

 

Road Tunes: Top 11 Albums & Songs to Play with the Windows DOWN! – CD, vinyl, cassette & 8-track

Friday afternoon and we’re off to the races!  The Summer 2024 season of Grab A Stack of Rock has commenced and Jex Russell was there to ring in this happy tradition.  The theme(s) for this week are:  Top 11 Albums & Songs to Play with the Windows Down!  Summer is the time for rocking the road, and Jex and I brought the thunder with two excellent Nigel Tufnel Top Ten lists!

Highlights:

  • Music on four of the major physical formats:  CD, vinyl, cassette and 8-track!
  • Lots of Canadian content:  Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, & Quebec represented!
  • Stories of years gone by:  1991, 1992, 1996, 2002, 2023 and today.
  • A brand new release making the list.
  • Bad behavior  with Bob and Peter.
  • Jex and the Chili Peppers.

Show notes:

This show was dedicated to my Uncle Paul, and my mother in law Debbie, who inspired some of these picks.  It’s also in the spirit of friendship and good memories with Jex’s friend Lucas, and my friends Peter, Bob and Trev.

See you next week for Top 11 Marillion albums with Todd Evans and Uncle Meat!

 

 

 

Top 11 Albums to Play with the Windows DOWN! 1st Cottage Show of the Season with Jex Russell – CD, vinyl, cassette & 8-track

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man

Episode 57: Top 11 Albums to Play with the Windows Down – with Jex Russell

Show & Tell on four formats:  CD, cassette, LP and 8-track

Long we have waited, but Spring is here and the traditional outdoor afternoon Grab A Stack of Rock is back too.*  Jex Russell joins for this happy cottage tradition.  Last year, these afternoon outdoor shows were incredible fun!  If you were there last year, you know!  If you weren’t, join the rock and roll party today at 3 PM E.S.T.  It’s our first live show in almost a month, after several weeks of popular re-runs!

The theme this week is a “Nigel Tufnel Top Ten” list:  Our 11 favourite albums with play with the windows down!  There are so many to choose from, this list is literally wide open.  What are you choosing to play this spring with the windows down?  Many of my picks are traditional favourites with stories attached.

Now, due to a miscommunication on my part, I will do top 11 albums, while Jex will do top 11 songs!  This will give us plenty of variety in the lists.  Expect plenty of show & tell.

This episode is dedicated to my late Uncle Paul, whose beloved ‘Cuda appears in the show art.  He loved music and cruising, and we spent many summer hours in his car with the take deck going!  Will Van Halen make these lists today, or something else?  Tune in and join the fun!  We always chat with the comments section, live.

What are your top 11 albums or songs to play with the windows down?  Drop a comment today, on Grab A Stack of Rock.

Friday April 26 at 3:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 4:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

 

 

* forecast is for 14 degrees C

KICK AXE! Grant’s Rock Warehaus tackles one of the best Canadian bands with whom you’re not familiar enough! All albums ranked!

This weekend on Grant’s Rock Warehaus, we tackled a band that needs and deserves more attention:  Canada’s Kick Axe!

“Nobody’s talking about Kick Axe!” said Grant.  We aim to change that with this show.  Please give it a watch!  What are your favourite Kick Axe songs?

This show almost didn’t happen.  I wanted an expert on Kick Axe, so I asked Derek Williamson of Thunder Bay Ontario, who saw Kick Axe live back in the day and also interviewed the guitarist Larry Gillstrom.  He stonewalled me three times, so we decided to do it without him.

Show notes are below, if you want the Cole’s Notes version, but you’ll have to watch the video to get our album rankings.

Formed 1976, Regina Saskatchewan as “Hobbit”.

Original lineup:

  • Victor Langen, bass, vocals
  • Gary Langen, drums
  • Larry Gilstrom, guitar

Ray Harvey added on guitar.

Moved to Vancouver BC, Gary Langen leaves band replaced by Brian Gillstrom, Charles McNary hired as vocalist.

1981 – Playboy Street Rock – live track called “Reality is the Nightmare”.

1981 – Weekend Ride / One More Time (Harvey on vocals).

Produced by Bill Henderson and Brian Too Loud McLeod of Chilliwack.

Wrote “Heavy Metal Shuffle” which opened Vices later on.  Attempted to record an album but never released it.

McNary replaced by George Criston, who brought in power, range and soul as well as a unique sound.

1984 – Signed to CBS in Canada, approached Spencer Proffer to produce because they wanted the same sound as Metal Health by Quiet Riot.  Proffer liked the band personally and thought highly of their musicianship.  Album Vices released on Pasha in the US.

Recorded existing material (2 songs re-written with Proffer) in Hollywood at S.I.R.  30 Days in the Hole – a cover, like Cum On Feel the Noize, but not intended to be a hit, just a showcase for their talents.  Released on the soundtrack to Up the Creek.

Ran into Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler – supposedly approached Criston to replace Ian Gillan in Black Sabbath.  Proffer was working with both bands.

Vices is their best album.  Proffer intended it to be a concept album about vices.  Not a bad song.  Bangin’ backing vocals.  Music video for On the Road to Rock made major impact in Canada, with the comedic video attracting attention.  The Vices mascot was one of my first “rock buttons”.

Vices did not perform to expectations, but Kick Axe wrote three songs for the next Black Sabbath album:  “Wild in the Streets”, “Hunger”, and “Piece of the Rock”, later recorded by W.A.S.P. and King Kobra.  Kick Axe did not want to lose Criston to Sabbath.  “Piece of the Rock” is one of the rarest Kick Axe tracks, only released on a 2005 issue of Rock the World.

1985 – Second album – Pasha wants band more streamlined for radio.  Brought in Pasha staffer Randy Bishop to help on lyrics.  Co-wrote 5 songs and co-produced Welcome to the Club.  Some of the heaviness is blunted, in favour of better song structure and melodies.  Recorded at Metalworks in Toronto.  Cover art by Hugh Syme, which the band never understood the meaning of.

Band brought in cover of Joe Cocker’s version of “With A Little Help From My Friends”.  Rik Emmett, Lee Aaron, Andy Curran, Alfie Zappacosta and more on backing vocals.  Very cool music video made of the recording session.

Pretty solid album, though not as banging throughout as the original.  The cover tune is completely different, but really excellent.

The band and Proffer blame lack of sales on parent label Epic.  No support.  Toured with Autograph, Krokus, Night Ranger, Helix and Triumph.

1986 – Ray Harvey returns home to deal with family matters.  Joins Rock & Hyde as touring guitarist (Bob Rock & Paul Hyde).

The Transformers soundtrack released.  Hunger, and Nothing’s Gonna Stand In Our Way released as Spectre General.  All done by Proffer, without knowledge of the band.  Due to pseudonym used, no benefit to band happened.

Still signed to CBS in Canada.  Next album picked up by Roadrunner in US.

Rock the World (initially “Fuck the World”) recorded as four piece.  Self-produced primarily by Larry due to lack of funds provided by CBS.  Recorded at Right Trak in Vancouver.  Also forced to mix the album themselves.  The cover tune this time is The Chain by Fleetwood Mac.

Band breaks up – sherrifs seize equipment due to unpaid debts.  Later immortalized in the song Rocking Daze on Kick Axe IV.

2002 – Kick Axe reunite with Gary Langen returning, this time on lead vocals.  George Criston remains active in country and more soulful music.  Has expressed no interest in returning to rock.  Has not participated with reissues.  Has worked as a guitar tech for Sarah McLachlan, Dido, Avril Lavigne, and k.d. lang.

2004 – Kick Axe IV self produced.  Best song Rockin Daze written by Brian Gillstrom.  Decent album but not memorable long-term except for Rockin Daze.  Gary Langen has a style of voice reminiscent of Phil Naro.

2008 – Gary Langen leaves band, replaced by Daniel Nargang.

2023 – Run to the Thunder, first new song in decades, to be followed by new album.

 

 

 

 

 

Grab A Stack of HOT OFF THE PRESSES Rock! RECORD STORE DAY 2024 PREVIEW! #RSD2024 with Peter Kerr

Record Store Day is already said and done in Australia, and Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation has returned with reports, and bounty.

Peter presents to us some exclusive Thin Lizzy, Motorhead, and some acts that are a little more regional to his neck of the woods.  I show off a bit of my favourites from past years.  We also discuss the value and collectability of RSD releases in general.  Give it a watch!

If anyone wants to do me a solid, I’m looking for:

  1. Def Leppard
  2. Eric Carr
  3. Paramore

 

VIDEO: New Grab A Stack of Rock “Faces” shirts available at Teepublic!

Here’s a fun and quick video for you!

Thank you to Jex Russell for helping me present this brand new “Faces” shirt from Grab A Stack of Rock!  (Shirt pictured provided by Mike Semeniuk.)  These have been popular, probably due to the handsome mugs on ’em!  This new shirt features some popular guests.  In order:  Mike Slayen, Johnny Clauser, Peter Kerr, Jex Russell, Dr. Kathryn, Spenny Rice and Harrison Kopp.

Don’t forget, you can choose not just to support me, but the other wonderful creators in this community.

  • Tim’s Vinyl Confessions
  • 2 Loud 2 Old Music
  • Visions In Sound
  • The Contrarians
  • Grab A Stack of Rock

Every shirt, sticker or coffee mug keeps us going.  I say this factually.

Please give the video below a watch – trust me it’s worth it! – and consider supporting us on Teepublic.

teepublic.com/user/grab-a-stack-of-rock

#1120.5: We Have Opened! Grab A Stack of Rock returns to the cottage! First cottage video of 2024

As the Klingons (and Stooges) say: Qa’pla! (Success!)

I’ve been checking out the weather forecasts for weeks.  There hasn’t been a clear, beautiful Saturday to go to the lake.  Even this week, the forecast was for flurries and cloudy skies.  That all changed Thursday, when the weather was looking like sun and cloud.  When Saturday finally rolled around, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.  Jen, my dad and I bundled up and headed to the lake for the first time in over five months.

This time it went without a hitch! If you recall, 2022 was the year of the melted glasses, and 2023 was the almost-speeding-ticket.  There were no such problems this year.  It was cold, and we had to bundle up, but that was a minor inconvenience.

Now I’m not saying everything was perfect; that’s not how it goes in cottage country.  Winter always does some damage, it’s just a matter of how much.  One lady across the road had a cedar tree down.  That wasn’t our issue; ours was pest related!  There is an animal living under the shed, perhaps a skunk?  There was a drowned mouse in the toilet, and the mice had gotten into the spice cabinet.  Virtually everything has to be tossed.  They really seem to like the smell of garlic.  My garlic olive oil had its cap gnawed clean off.  My sister had it even worse.  She bought a dozen mouse traps, and every one was full.

There was also an issue with the internet.  It should have been connected, but we fiddled and fiddled around with no success.  It turns out, Rogers cancelled the service by mistake!  My dad was trying to cancel his home service, but without success.  Now we know why.  Rogers cancelled the cottage service by mistake!  I phoned home to tell my mom, who quickly sussed out the problem.  By the time we left the cottage, internet was restored.

The stage is now set for my favourite thing ever:  cottage episodes of Grab A Stack of Rock!  Though nothing is planned yet, it’s definitely happening.

Road tunes – April 6 2024:

  1. Alice Cooper – Goes to Hell
  2. Alice Cooper – School’s Out
  3. Alice Cooper – Greatest Hits (miscellaneous tracks)
  4. Deep Purple – Bananas
  5. Deep Purple – Now What?!

Heavy on the Bob Ezrin this time out.

Please enjoy the first cottage video of 2024.

Mike and Aaron go to Toronto: The Complete Series + More

If you weren’t following back from 2012 to 2019, you may have missed all the Mike and Aaron Go to Toronto excursions!

From 2012 to 2015, Aaron and I went to “Taranna” every year to go hunting for CDs, records, books and more.  We always made our regular stops:  Sonic Boom, BMV and Pauper’s Pub.  Some years, we hit up shops like Kops Records, Paradisc Bound, and Moonbean for coffee.  I missed 2016 and 2017 to go to TF Con in Toronto instead.  There are only so many dollars!  Aaron and I returned in 2018, at the behest of my late mother-in-law, who was dying of cancer.  “Go with your friend,” she insisted.

After her passing, Jen and I decided to spend the summer of 2019 at the cottage.  We were not able to go at all in 2018.  We made up for lost time, but in 2020 the pandemic hit!  Aaron and I were not able to return to Toronto together since.

I always documented and edited these trips into videos.  I recently compiled all these videos (and some bonus stuff) into two live streams that you are able to watch below!  Both streams have bonus footage!  The first has a musical unboxing from Aaron.  The second stream has a brand new chat with Aaron that you have never seen before!

Aaron and I will be returning to “Taranna” in 2024.  Watch this space…