Scream For Iron Maiden, Grab A Stack of Rock!! Mr. Books & Harrison bring the collections, with special appearance by Jex!

“The show must go on.”  That’s the saying, right?  That’s what the most supportive wife in the world said to me tonight when I was debating whether to cancel Grab A Stack of Rock this week.  Another seizure, another fall, thank God no broken jaw.  We’ll have to fill you in on the details later.

An exhausted Mike (physically, emotionally, and mentally) relied on his co-host and guest, Harrison and Mr. Books, for carrying the weight.  Jex Russell also stopped by with some rarities.

We looked at:

  • Rare bootleg CDs
  • Rare DVD
  • All my Maiden vinyl with stories to go with
  • Maiden beer, Maiden menu
  • Books
  • And some tangents.

A great show all things considered, and now I need to go take care of Jen.  See you next week if all goes well.

 

Next week, the summer tour of 2023 rolls on with Nurse Kat and the Arkells!

Iron Maiden’s Gonna Grab A Stack of Rock, No Matter How Far! Tonight at 8:00 PM E.S.T.

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

Episode 24:  Grab A Stack of Iron Maiden

Harrison thought it was time to look at Iron Maiden again.  After all, Iron Maiden was the subject of two of our most successful shows in the past.  Enough time has passed that people will want to see our Maiden collections again.  I’ve dug up all my vinyl, and I have plenty of action figures from Super Seven to show off, as well as other assorted Eddies!

Joining Harrison and I tonight will be Mr. Books from the KMA.  It has been ages since he’s been on the show, so please give a warm welcome back to Mr. Books!

As always, we will start the show with “Ask Harrison” and some unboxings.  Hope you can join us!

SPECIAL TIME!

Friday June 16 at 8:00 P.M. E.S.T.  Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

 

Next week, the summer tour of 2023 rolls on with Nurse Kat and the Arkells!

VIDEO: June 9-11 2023 at the Lake, with the music of Max the Axe

We’ll let the images do the talking!  Our weekend was highlighted by a curious little chipmunk who raided our peanut stash all day long.  We saw skunks, rabbits, and ducks…and I got ’em all on camera.  Enjoy the music of Max the Axe – Live @ the Farm!

The Writer’s Room: Empty Room

The Writer’s Room: Empty Room

From the Adventures of Tee Bone Man & Edie Van Heelin’

Mike sat alone, the lights dimmed, head in hands.  How could things have been going so very well, and then suddenly, so very wrong?

He sincerely believed he had surrounded himself with some of the best talent and support there was.  He valued the always reliable Harrison, his co-writer and artist that they called the Mad Metal Man.  There was Snowman, 80s Metal Man, and Aaron all on his team.  The writer’s room had just expanded to include two new members by remote conference: Holen and the California Girl known as MarriedandHeels.  And now…

“I can’t believe she’s gone,” lamented Mike, staring at the blank screen in front of him.

His coffee had grown cold and his head ached from the strain.  Before him was a blank page with just a title.  “California Girls’s notes – The Adventures Of Edie Van Heelin'”.  A teardrop hit the page.  Mike suddenly and furiously balled up the sheet of paper and launched it into the waste bin.

“How did it go from so very right, to so terrible wrong, so fast?” he asked the empty room.  The room only echoed his question back at him.

They were such good friends.  They worked so well together.  Edie was Mike’s creation, but it was the California Girl who made the character come to life.  Without her input, the character lay flat on the page; no colour, no personality, no joy.

“No green peach tea…no watermelon honey…” sighed Mike.  He had no idea what she was drinking these days.  Those kinds of details couldn’t be made up.  They could only come from her.

Hunched over the table, uncontrollably, he began sobbing.

There was a knock at the door, and Harrison poked his Australian head in.

“I’m sorry to intrude,” whispered the well-coifed man.  “Is everything alright in here?”

Mike looked up, his eyes red, and Harrison knew that everything was not alright.  He took his seat at the table and let Mike talk.

Looking down at his hands, playing with his pen, he simply said “She’s gone.”

Harrison knew who he meant without asking.

“I’m sorry,” he said.  “I’m not much good at these kinds of situations, but you can talk to me if you like.”

Mike took a deep breath.  “There’s only so much I can say.  It’s not her fault.  On the surface it seemed our friendship was rock solid.  We worked really well together.  But we had an argument.  One that we can’t come back from…and now it’s over.”

“Are you alright?” asked Harrison.

“I will be,” sniffed Mike.  “Everything reminds me of her.  Literally everything…she’s on my clothes, she’s in my stories, she’s on a magnet on my fridge…she’s everywhere.  I can’t forget her or erase her.”

Harrison, always the practical one rather than emotional, posed the question on his mind.

“What does this mean for the future of our stories?” he asked.

Mike thought a moment.

“Well…Edie Van Heelin’…I can’t do Edie without her.  It would be like Paul Stanley trying to be Kiss without Gene.  I need my Gene.  I guess that’s it for Edie Van Heelin’.”

Harrison was sad to hear this.  “I’m sorry about that,” he said.  “I know how much you liked writing those stories.”

“I loved writing that character,” corrected Mike.  “I loved working with her on it, but that situation was not sustainable long-term.  It was simply never meant to last.”

“So what will we do?” asked Harrison.

“I know…I know…we have the big crossover with Tee Bone Man coming,” lamented Mike.  “The epic conclusion to the Squirrel Saga.  It has to go up as planned.  It’s the lynchpin.  It connects everything together.  And it was supposed to launch Edie as a new teammate for Tee Bone Man.  Now…”  Mike trailed off into silence.

Harrison let the room be silent a few moments.  Then he raised his followup question.

“Does this mean…Plan B?” he asked with concern.

Mike’s lips trembled a bit.

“I just finished writing Plan B,” he said with sad seriousness.  Plan B was an idea that he had, just in case everything went south.  His relationship with California Girl had become tense in recent days, and he was worried that something like this might occur.  Against his mightiest wishes, that eventuality has now transpired.  It was, sadly, inevitable.  “I wish I never got her involved in my creative life.  I feel so stupid,” he spat.

Harrison consoled him.  “Don’t say that,” he advised.  “You had some very good times, and wrote some great stories.  No matter what has happened now, the things you did were worth it.”

Mike wiped a tear away.  “You think so?  Bringing her into this now creates a mess we have to figure a way out of.”

Harrison pondered a moment.  “Do you mind if I read Plan B?”

“Go ahead,” said Mike, turning the monitor on, and pushing it in Harrison’s direction.  Harrison clasped the mouse and began reading.  Mike watched his eyes dart from line to line, registering shock, melancholy, excitement, and finally terrible sadness.  By the time Harrison had finished reading, he was visibly moved by the story.

After a pause, Harrison said with dead seriousness, “This is one of the best things you’ve ever written.  You can feel the emotions.  This will be very difficult to illustrate.”

“Had to be done,” said a somber Mike as he looked down.  “We needed to end Edie’s story as epic as it began.”

“I agree,” nodded Harrison.  “It’s too good not to post.  But how are you feeling?”

Mike took a while to answer.  “I’m heartbroken.  I’m in pain.  And I think that comes across in the story.”  He paused a moment longer.  “I always said that girl had a natural charisma that made people want to know her.  And look what that did to me.”

“All great artists must suffer for their art,” Harrison comforted.

“Bah!” said Mike with a smile.  “Nothing about my art is great.  But it made me feel good.  And that feeling is gone, for now.”

“I hope the feeling returns,” said a sincere Harrison.

“It will, one day,” responded Mike.  “Don’t get me wrong, my friend.  I don’t really regret anything with her, except the end.  There was hurt inflicted on both sides, but it’s not a competition, and I can’t go back and change it.  What’s done is done.  And I hope she’s OK, wherever she is, whatever she’s doing.  I just want her to be OK.  And hopefully she remembers me well.  I know I will remember her with sadness, but also fondly.”

“A lovely sentiment,” said Harrison, “and possibly a good note on which to end this meeting.  You need to get home, get rested, and recover.  Please do that.”

Mike nodded affirmative.  “I will do that, I promise.  I just need a few more moments alone.”

“Talk to you tomorrow,” said Harrison as he stood to exit.  He quietly closed the door as he left, whispering “May the Force be with you,” to his friend.

As the door clicked shut, Mike collapsed back into his chair and let the tears run down his face.  Alone in the writer’s room, Mike spoke to the California Girl as if she could hear him.

“I miss you, my friend,” he said.  “I probably always will.  The creative energy we shared…it was a rare gift.  It can never be duplicated.  But more important than that…you were my friend.  I wish we never fought.  I wish that argument never happened.  But it had to happen.  It couldn’t be avoided, and now I have to pick up the pieces and carry on without you.  You’ll be fine without me — you were fine before I came along, and will be long after I’m gone.  Me, I’ll always have a California sized hole in my heart.”

He stood, and made his way to the door.

“Goodbye, my California Girl,” he whispered.  And with that the room was empty again.

The end

THE ADVENTURES OF TEE BONE MAN:  PHASE ONE – THE SQUIRREL SAGA 

THE ADVENTURES OF TEE BONE MAN:  PHASE TWO – THE MULTIVERSE SAGA

 

 

THE COMPLETE ADVENTURES OF EDIE VAN HEELIN’

THE WRITER’S ROOM

 

Saturday Afternoon Playlist for Lego Building

This was our playlist on Saturday June 10 for a rockin’ afternoon of Lego building.  We generally took turns picking songs.

You can really see the differences in our tastes.

  1. AC/DC – Heatseeker – Mike
  2. AC/DC – Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution – Mike and Jen
  3. SOUNDGARDEN – Black Hole Sun – Jen
  4. THE POLICE – Walking On the Moon – Mike
  5. GUNS N’ ROSES – Don’t Cry – Jen
  6. THE SOGGY BOTTOM BOYS – Man of Constant Sorrow – Mike
  7. QUEEN – Bohemian Rhapsody – Jen
  8. THE BEATLES – All You Need Is Love – Mike
  9. AEROSMITH – Cryin – Jen
  10. JETHRO TULL – The Whistler – Mike
  11. THE TRAGICALLY HIP – Grace Too – Jen
  12. BRUCE COCKBURN – If A Tree Falls – Mike
  13. PEARL JAM – Black – Jen

 

REVIEW: Kick Axe – IV (2004)

Part Seven of a series on KICK AXE!

KICK AXE – IV (2004 Elfin Stone)

George Criston is one heck of a talented singer.  Always had a lot of power, and range.  However, his heart no longer appears to be with the rock, but with country and gospel.  There’s nothing wrong with that, but when Kick Axe needed to reunite and put out a new album, a new singer was required.  They didn’t have to look far!  Original drummer and brother of bassist Victor Langen, Gary, stepped up to the microphone to sing.  And what a voice!  The rest of the classic lineup was intact:  Victor Langen, Ray Harvey, and Larry & Brian Gillstrom.  On the road to rock!

Gary Langen strikes a tone similar to the late great Phil Naro of Talas, especially on the track “Rockin Daze”.  More than enough to kick all the axes in the room.  Gary also participates in the songwriting on several songs, and providing the slinky tune “Slip Inside My Dream” himself.  Not at all like the one-of-a-kind Criston, but still more than capable.

The best track is, by far, the aforementioned “Rockin Daze” surprisingly written by drummer Brian Gillstrom.  The cool descending riff, the gritty vocals, and especially the killer chorus, make this one the obvious standout.  “The show is over, your rockin’ daze are done!”  Not by far!  There’s a story in the lyrics, so pay attention, but especially listen to the impassioned vocal and stunning guitar solo work.

While “Rockin Daze” is a high water mark, there aren’t any particularly bad songs.  The rest of them are on the same level.  Solid, enjoyable, well recorded heavy rock with the expected impressive musicianship.  Long bomber “City Lights” is pretty epic.  From heavy rockers like “Right Now” to slow, bluesy ballads like “Consolation”, there is a good cross section of songs.  At an hour long, and with 14 songs in total, it’s a long ride and perhaps could have been trimmed down to 10 songs.  On the other hand there’s an argument for value, especially when it’s a band’s only album in so many years.  There are plenty of good songs here, and nothing to make you jump for the “skip” button.  It’s a modern rock album, not as “metal” as the golden days.  A slight progressive edge, with keyboards and acoustics in strategic locations.  Still plenty of guitars, drums, and wicked singing!  The lead solo work on this album is top drawer.  Don’t expect Vices II, though there’s still a common thread here that confirms it’s the same band.

Nothing lasts forever in rock and roll, and while this lineup of Kick Axe survived five years, in 2008 Gary Langen left and was replaced by Into Infinity singer Daniel Nargang.  The band continue to rock and roll, though IV remains their last album.

3.5/5 stars

Part One:  “Reality is the Nightmare”
Part Two:  “Weekend Ride”
Record Store Tales #773:  Rock Candy + Internet = Kick Axe!
Part Three:  Vices
Part Four:  The Transformers soundtrack (as Spectre General)
Part Five:  Welcome to the Club
Part Six:  Rock the World
Part Seven:  IV

Top 11 Cottage Rock Albums with Mike & Jex with bonus Rob Daniels list!

A huuuuuuuuge moustache-sized thank you to Jex Lasso…err…Jexit Stage Left…errr…Jex Russell!  Taking more than an hour out of your weekend to spend with me at the cottage!  I hope you had a good time on your visit!  We got to see a pesky chipmunk, live on the show!

Chippy really liked that Journey cassette that Tim Durling got me!  Yes, Durling bought me In The Beginning by Journey, the compilation I refused to shell out for.  And he got it for me on a cool US cassette!  Let’s just say when Tim wants you to have something for your collection, he ensures you have it.

Today’s theme was our first list show in OVER A YEAR.  The Nigel Tufnel Top Ten is back with a bang, baby.  And huge kudos to Jex and Rob Daniels for some truly excellent, diverse, surprising, and satisfying lists of albums.  Top 11 Albums to Play at the Cottage.  And we had only one repeat album in the whole list.  Certain years seemed to dominate our lists – 1981 and 1988 in particular.  Several artists made repeat appearances, and Jex and I both had the same band at #1.  There was even a weird coincidence involving music and CANDU nuclear reactors.

And Rob?  I’ll always be grateful to you for introducing us to…Jack Shit.

Tune in next Friday at 8:00 PM as we go back to another favourite band:  Iron Maiden.  Mr. Books and Harrison Kopp will be there to bring your daughter to the slaughter, and talk up Eddie and ‘Arry and the boys!  I have lots of Maiden stuff…what would you like to see most?

Thanks for watching.  We’re back, baby.  We’re back!

11. PETER CRISS – Peter Criss (1978).  Uncle Meat once questioned this selection.  “What makes this album perfect for the cottage porch?”  It’s mellow, it fits the vibe, and most importantly, I got it for my birthday in 1987 (with the other three solo albums) and played it the first 2-3 times right there at the cottage.  The important thing is that adult-oriented rock vibe really jives with cottage memories.  Peter Criss sounds like the kind of stuff we’d hear on the radio at the lake.  In fact I know I forced my parents to play it in their car deck with us at least once!

10. QUEEN – Classic Queen/Greatest Hits (red) (1992).  Cheating here by included two, but there are box sets that include both, so na na boo boo on you.  Classic Queen dominated the bedroom during the summer of ’92, and Greatest Hits took its place in ’93.  This was the kind of music I could play with my parents.  In fact, I brought Greatest Hits down to the beach with us to listen to for an afternoon of swimming.  Today, Jen loves the Queen on the porch.  Best track for porching:  “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”.  Perfect for summer dancing and air guitar.

9. HERBIE HANCOCK – Quartet (1981).  Not what you’d call an “easy” listen, but having tested this double album on the porch, I can vouch for its veracity.  My quote from my review:  “Well You Needn’t” –  It’s a nice laid back smoky barroom jazz, piano occasionally stealing the spotlight from the muted trumpet.  This song has me seeing black & white, like an old movie.  It picks up halfway through, with trumpet un-muted, and drums throwing cool beats out left right and center.”  Jazz Saturday was a great success due to this album and I look forward to more jazz on the porch.  In the old days, CBC would play jazz on Sundays on the living room radio.  Before I even knew what jazz really was!

8. OASIS – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995).  “Please don’t put your life in the hands of a rock n’ roll band, who’ll throw it all away.” Oasis do not get enough love on the Nigel Tufnel top ten.  In the late 1990s, I had to look elsewhere to find new rock music that had the spirit of the old.  Oasis were one of the first bands of the 90s that hit the spot for me.  It sounds great with the lake in front of us, and the green all around.  Reminds me of coming here in the 1990s, going on long walked with earbuds in my ears, playing the best of 90s rock, and hoping to run into a girl that would talk to me!  Awesome mellow tracks and some fun bangin’ rockers.  Just fits that happy summer vibe, even though some of these songs are really about the down and outs of rock and roll.

7. JOHNNY HORTON – The Battle of New Orleans (1990).  This country classic has several cottage staples, that we sang loud and proud almost every weekend, as we drove into town to watch the piper band parade, and to get ice cream and candy.  “The Battle of New Orleans”, “Sink the Bismarck”, and “Honky Tonk Man” in particular were the three big ones.  As kids, we didn’t care for “Comanche (The Brave Horse)” or most of side B.  As adults, it’s all good.  Such vivid memories, driving around in the dusk with Johnny Horton on the car stereo speakers.

6. JOHNNY CASH – Greatest Hits, Vol 2. (1971).  Back in those days, there were so many hits tapes available, so we’d order one from Columbia House that had the songs we recognized most.  Greatest Hits 2 had the legendary San Quentin version of “A Boy Named Sue”, plus a bunch of other standards that we would sing along to.  “Daddy Sang Bass”, “If I Were a Carpenter”, “Sunday Morning Coming Down”, so many greats!  Cash only wrote four of 11 tunes on this compilation, but did anyone care?  Heck, those old tapes didn’t even come with liner notes!  Hearing those songs take us all right back to the old days.  They remind me of when Grampa Winter would have his turntable out back, and he’d spin records by the fire all night.

5. THE TRAVELING WILBURYS – Vol. 1 (1988).  The Wilburys entered our lives thanks to Roy Orbison, who once upon a time made my mom’s own list of Top Concerts.  There were only two songs on this album we didn’t like back then, both Dylan:  “Congratulations” and “Tweeter and the Monkey Man”.  Of course, time changes all perspectives.  The Wilburys will always have a place here on the front porch.  They were enjoyed here as a family on a regular basis.  The acoustic rock of the Wilburys truly fits the wood and pine vibe.

4. JUDAS PRIEST – Priest…Live! (1987)  Bought at Stedman’s in July of 1987, the first time I ever heard “Livin’ After Midnight”, “Metal Gods”, “Heading Out to the Highway”, and more!  This was my introduction to the British Steel and Point of Entry songs.  I must have played this double live album a dozen times or more at the lake that summer.  I was really starting to collect Priest on cassette and this opened the floodgates.  I had to get…them all!  It brings back all the right vibes here on the porch, volume be damned.  They always shouted at me to turn it down…

3.  GORDON LIGHTFOOT – Complete Greatest Hits (2002).  Rhino knows how to put together compilations.  This one has both the early stuff and “Edmund Fitzgerald” which is a cottage staple.  The acoustic music is a lovely accompaniment to the creatures of the night, but when that stinging guitar from “Edmund Fitzgerald” kicks in, it is like a herald.  Here’s Gord.  He’s at the cottage and he’s here to stay.  Rest in peace Gordon – we played him here on the May 12 weekend shortly after he passed.

2. BLUE RODEO – Tremelo (1997).  This might be the legendary band’s most mellow album.  As such it works great with the quiet vibes here at the lake.  “Frogs’ Lullaby” can’t compete with the actual wildlife here on the porch, but it sure hits the spot.  “Shed My Skin”, “Moon & Tree”, “Me & Baz”, “Dragging On” and “Disappear” all put goosebumps on the arms.  But then…But then!  “Graveyard” kicks it in the ass as we go fast and heavy for one final 2:26 blowout, sung by Greg Keelor.  “And I love these nervous breakdowns, and I love these new skins, and I love that you were brave enough to sleep with all my friends…”

1. KISS – Alive! (1976).  KISS Alive as cottage music?  What the…?  Back in the old days, I used to pack up my turntable and bring it to the lake with me.  Live After Death and Kiss Alive were two of the most important live records enjoyed here in this environment.  Summer of ’86, KISS Alive was spinning on my original turntable in this very environment, and even though it ain’t exactly live, it sure did sound like it to my 14 year old imagination.  I even played it backwards.  All here, all those years ago!  The end.

 

RUNNERS UP

Alice Cooper’s Greatest Hits (1974) – Thanks Uncle Don

Kiss – Rock And Roll Over (1976)

Poison – Open Up and Say…Ahhh!  (1988)

White Lion – Big Game (1989)

Extreme – II Pornograffitti (1990)