Videos

Disco Loadout! The Arkells Discography ranked on Grab A Stack of Rock with Nurse Kat

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 60: Disco Loadout! The Arkells Discography Ranked!

Please welcome back superfan Nurse Kat, returning to discuss the Arkells one more time!  Last time she was on, she talked about seeing the band 13 times in an 18 month span.  Now, a year later, I wonder how many more times she’s caught the band live?

The occasion?  Today’s release of the new covers album Disco Loadout Vol. 1, featuring songs by Hall & Oates, Peter Gabriel, Abba, Bruce Springsteen and Whitney Houston among others!  The Arkells have always had a knack for covers, and today they put their money where their mouths are with their first full-on covers album.  Our copy is pre-ordered and we hope to have it in hand to show tonight.

Kat and I will be talking favourite songs, from album to album, and then I will attempt to rank all 10.  A daunting task; I will not be relying on my written reviews for this job.  I will listen to them all with fresh ears and try to figure out a ranking.  We will even be running clips from our favourite videos.

Tune in tonight for the epic of Arkells appreciation!

 

Friday May 17 at 8:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 5:00 P.M. Pacific.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

VIDEO: Unboxing Music and a Surprise from @Darcyska!

Do you ever order a lot of music and then forget about it?  I was confused when I saw this parcel from Quebec on my desk.  Do I know anyone in Quebec?  Thomas Polychuck, and that’s about it.  While I am expecting a parcel from Polychuck soon, this wasn’t it.

I was confused at first, but one disc in this package indicated who it might be from.

SPOILERS: Read after watching!

D’Arcy Briggs is a friend from the Darcyska YouTube channel.  I’ve been on his show before, as has Jex Russell and John Clauser.  I recently sent him a care package which he showed on his channel, and he returned the favour!  The sending address threw me, which is why I seem confused at first.

Here’s what he sent:

  • Star Wars “Nien Nunb” figure 3.75″ action figure!
  • Big Shiny Tunes Bonus CD (1999) Levis exclusive CD
  • Vincat – I Like Their Old Stuff Better (2005)
  • One Drop – One Drop  (year unlisted)

One Drop looks like reggae, and it looks like they actually have a lot of albums out.

I look forward to checking out some new music with my new copilot!

The Best Music Videos, and a Stack of Nostalgia with Dr. Kathryn and Jex Russell

And the Oscar for Best Music Video Re-enactment goes to:  JEX RUSSELL!

Folks, Jex could not make it to the show live tonight, but he prepared his list in advance and appeared by video.  And folks…Jex knocked it out of the park this week.  That’s all I’m going to say.  Jex also provided physical product in the shape of vinyl for his picks.

Between Jex, Dr. Kathryn and I, we ended up covering some of the best music videos for:

  • Canadian content
  • Impact and influence
  • Cool factor
  • Mid-80s metal icons
  • Pop classics
  • Obscure gems

What we didn’t cover, the comments section did!  Thank you for watching and commenting on this show.  On a personal note, this was a technical challenge this week as I had to manage 21 individual video files for presentation, but fortunately it went off with very few glitches!

If you watch only one thing today, watch Jex Russell’s #1 pick.

See you next week with D’Arcy Briggs and Nurse Kat as we celebrate the release of the new Arkells album Disco Loadout!

 

Top Five Music Videos From Our Childhoods, with Dr. K and a list from Jex

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

Episode 59: Top Five Music Videos From Our Childhoods

This show is a little different, and has been in the planning stages since February.  Tonight on Grab A Stack of Rock, we present to you our Top Five Music Videos from our childhoods!  Dr. K will be in the special panel tonight, with Jex Russell providing his list but unavailable to go live.  This particular grouping is interesting, because Dr. K and I grew up during the dawn of MuchMusic, but Jex Russell is a little younger and grew up with a completely different set of music videos.  

Either way:  nostalgia on tap tonight!

Here’s the new twist:  Normally we show off physical product on our show.  It is called “grab a stack of rock”, after all.  This time, the stacks of rock will be in the form of short video clips from each of our picks, that we will show and comment over tonight!  I have personally edited these clips myself, and if all goes well, this should be a lot of fun.  We are all psyched to see how this works.

Wish us luck tonight as we try something new!  Either way, you can expect lots of laughs, some music history, and some cool music videos!  Tonight on Grab A Stack of Rock!

 

Friday May 10 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

Rock Daydream Nation: The Rise and Fall of Hair Metal – Tuff’s Debut Album Reviewed!

Hot on the heels of the fallout from our Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years critique, I was invited back on Peter Kerr’s Rock Daydream Nation along with John Clauser and Steve Deluxe, to review the debut album by Tuff.  I’d never heard What Comes Around Goes Around before, so it was a little “tuff” for me to get up to speed with the other guys.  I listened to the album intensely for a week, and then we recorded this show.  It is a show of which I am extremely proud.

The goal here was to be fair and honest.  I think we were.  I will tell you one thing:  one of our panel members went in with a negative perspective, but had it changed after playing the album today.  I highly recommend you check out this excellent episode.    Even if you don’t like the band Tuff, or the hair metal genre in general, what we have here is a thoughtful and sometimes hilarious discussion about music that, for a little while at least, was one of the most popular genres in the world.

This is what Peter has to say about the show.

Rock Daydream Nation featuring John Clauser (My Music Corner), Michael Ladano (Grab a Stack of Rock) and Steve Deluxe (Rock and Metal Invasion) talk about Hair Metal in the 90s and specifically the Tuff debut album What Comes Around Goes Around (1991)…

For those who like it saltier, stay tuned for my written review which goes up tomorrow.  It’s a little spicy.

Clutching a Misplaced Script an Hour Before a Brave Holiday in Eden: Top 11 Marillion Albums with Todd Evans and Uncle Meat on Grab A Stack of Rock

Thank you to Todd Evans and Uncle Meat for a full two hour extravaganza of Marillion love!  Despite some connection issues, the Meat Man persevered and brought with him an interesting and sometimes surprising list for his Top 11 Marillion albums of all time.

Only three albums did not get listed by anyone.  Others appeared on all three lists.  In fact, all of us picked the exact same #11.

One thing is clear:  Each of us has an emotional connection to these records that we picked.  The music is personal.  It’s important to our personal history.  There was a lot of love for all eras of Marillion on this night.  Highlights:

  • Discussions on the making of certain records, such as Holidays in Eden and Seasons End.
  • Marillion’s knack for epic closers.
  • Concept albums, double albums, and live albums.
  • One album that made a list that isn’t technically a studio album.
  • Moments that make your skin vibrate.
  • Love for later albums including a lot of praise for An Hour Before It’s Dark and Marbles.
  • The mid-show break was a music video by Jacob Moon:  his cover of “Kayleigh”.
  • Sounds that can’t be made, and songs that should have been on the albums.
  • Remix albums and EPs.
  • Bonus tracks, B-sides and box sets.
  • and one vintage 2004 Front Row Club t-shirt!

Please enjoy this excellent love letter to Marillion, with lots of physical product on three formats (cassettes, CD and vinyl).  Thank you for watching!

 

Next week:  We are back at the cottage with another list show:  Top 5 Childhood Music Videos with Jex and Dr. K!

Marillion Ranked! Top 11 Marillion with Todd Evans and Uncle Meat, on Grab A Stack of Rock

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

Episode 58: Marillion Ranked! Top 11 Marillion with Todd Evans and Uncle Meat

 

It has been almost a decade since we’ve ranked the Marillion albums, and Meat only did five back then.  Now we’re doing 11, and we’re doing them with the Contrarian that may know them best:  please welcome Todd Evans to the show!

I know that my list will not be the same as the one I did in 2015.  I have a strong feeling of Meat’s top six, but beyond that?  Your guess is as good mine!  As for Todd?  I expect nothing less than intelligent and thoughtful picks from this veteran Contrarian.

Marillion is a band I’ve been passionate about for half my life, but this is the first time we’ve ever covered the band on either the LeBrain Train or Grab A Stack of Rock.  Be there for this historic show, and as always we will be chatting in the comments!

 

Friday May 3 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

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.