Kiko Loureiro – Fullblast [2009]

 

Kiko Loureiro released his 3rd Solo studio album in March this year

If you own the previous 2 releases, this one is pretty much the same musical style, none of the tracks really stands out from the rest.

Loureiro’s “No Gravity” remains my favorite solo album from him.   

Tracklist:

"Headstrong" - 4:50
"Desperado" - 5:46
"Cutting Edge" - 3:53
"Excuse Me" - 4:27
"Se Entrega, Corisco!" - 6:31
"A Clairvoyance" - 3:19
"Corrosive Voices" - 4:28
"Whispering" - 5:54
"Outrageous" - 6:11
"Mundo Verde" - 1:48
"Pura Vida" - 4:11
"As It Is, Infinite" - 2:17

Websites:

http://www.kikoloureiro.com.br/

http://kiko-loureiro.blogspot.com/

 

Lessons from “Fullblast”

New Morley Wahs!!!

George Lynch Red Dragon 2 Wah

George Lynch’s 2nd signature wah pedal from Morley

- Switchless Wah On/Off
- Electro-Optical Wah
- 3 Wah Modes:

1] Wah (traditional wah sound)

2] Wow (bit of overdrive with unique vowel-like tone, i really like this mode)

3] Wah Lock (allows user to electronically lock the Wah in Wah mode. A NOTCH knob allows you to dial in the appropriate Wah frequency.

 

Kiko Loureiro Distortion Wah Volume

- Electro-Optical Wah and Volume
- Built in distortion pedal
- Level, Drive and Tone controls for Distortion

Kiko Loureiro’s very 1st signature wah pedal!

This 3-in-1 pedal consists of Distortion, Wah and Volume Mode. All 3 modes can be engaged separately or in combination.

 

Video Demo!

VelvetJoint Studios

 

Walked by the old VelvetJoint Studio after chillin’ at the Prince of Wales…for a moment there i thought they had reopened!

Alas it wasn’t to be…seems like Ashraf forgot to remove VelvetJoint’s poster from the door.

I was shocked to discover what used to be the coolest studio in Singapore, had become workers quarters.

Below is a picture of my last jam at VelvetJoint:

 

This is what it looks like now:

[This isn’t the actual picture, but this is pretty much what the studio premises looks like now]

 

Sad but True…

[#3] Jamming @ Chapter6 Studios!

 

Went jamming at Chapter6 studio on Hari Raya, this is my 2nd time jamming @ Chapter6.

We booked the other studio this time (lower floor), this studio looks bigger compared to the last one (higher floor, with recording equipment)

There’s 3 sofa sets in there…yeah..3!

This studio has a couple of Vox Valvetronic AD100VT-XL guitar amps, they sound pretty decent.

Craftsman guitars (w/ humbuckers in the bridge), Hartke 112 Hydrive 250 watts bass amp.

Craftsman bass (i think…)

Vocal equipment

Pearl Drumset (i think..)   

All in all, it was a more comfortable experience compared to the previous one…partly because our band has shrunk in numbers

The acoustics of the studio sounded pretty good

This studio could rival Odiocrib..

CityMusic Year End Sales 2009!

 

Yup, it’s here again…

 

Download PDF for the available offers:

http://www.citymusic.com.sg/newsletter/sale_09/CityMusic%20Catalogue%202009.pdf

Zakk Wylde in Singapore!

 

MEET ZAKK WYLDE at SWEE LEE CONCEPT STORE @ KATONG SHOPPING CENTRE on 30 Nov 09, 7pm!

You can either PM on MySpace or email at gibsonguitarsingapore@myspace.com with your name, NRIC or Passport number and contact number to RSVP today!.

http://www.myspace.com/gibsonguitarsingapore

Famous Picks –> Ace Frehley [KISS]

Ace Frehley’s Picks!

Ace Frehley released his 5th solo studio album 2 months ago called “Anomaly”

Official Commercial for Anomaly:

”Shock Me” Live:

Watch till the end, if you haven't seen his “Smoking Guitar”!

Official Site: http://www.acefrehley.com

Things you can use to hold your hair

 

[Picture Source: http://wopico2.blogspot.com]

Pencil, Pen, Scissors, Rule…lol

Stagetrix Guitar Products

 

Pedal Riser

Pedal Fasteners

http://www.stagetrixproducts.com/

Slash’s Paradise City

Featuring Fergie & Cypress Hill:

Slash & Fergie performing Sweet Child O’ Mine @ Slash’s birthday party

Flight of the bumble bee @ 320 bpm

This is INSANE.

Buckethead Signature Gibson Les Paul

Gibson releases Buckethead’s signature Les Paul ! ! !

Details:

Body - 2-piece maple top, with ultra-strong Franklin Titebond 50 glue to a slightly over-sized chambered mahogany body

Scale – 27”

Fingerboard – Grade A-Ebony 12"

Frets – 24 Jumbo

Inlays – None

Nut - White Corian 1.715”

Pickups – Gibson 496R [N] & 500T [B], bridge pickup is split via a push/pull switch on the Tone knob to achieve a single-coil tone

Volume Control – Single knob, 300k linear pot

Tone Control – Single knob, 500k non-linear pot

Toggle Switch – 3-Way

“Kill” Switch - 2 red “arcade” style pushbutton kill switches to mute the output of the guitar, as well as a push/pull switch on the Tone potentiometer to access the bridge pickup’s split-coil feature

Tuners - Chrome-plated locking Grover keystone tuners [advanced 18:1 gear ratio]

Bridge - TOM

 

Official Site:

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Buckethead-Signature-Les-Paul.aspx

A video of the Guitar:

Here’s some Buckethead ACTION for Ya!!

Something EXTRA, Buckethead dancing to MJ's Thriller:

MUSE Big Night Out 2010!

 

Got this in the mail,

go to the link below for more information:

http://www.lamcproductions.com/lists/lt.php?id=LURVBAoDAQRVSlAPS1EBAVA%3D

Daniele Gottardo is Good

Stumbled upon this video on Youtube, Daniele Gottardo was a finalist in Guitar Idol 2009.

I find that he has his own unique style which many guitarists are lacking nowadays including myself, most of us are either shredding mindlessly or copying too much from the more established guitarists.

I feel he should have won the competition instead of Jack Thammarat

Checkout more of Daniele Gottardo’s music on his myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/danielegottardo

{Cover Songs} Billie Jean (Michael Jackson) By Chris Cornell

 

Chris Cornell played an unplugged version of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” live in a concert in Sweden.

The cover came about when Cornell was having a conversation regarding the art of cover songs with his wife, Vicky Karayiannis.

{Cover Songs} Trouble (Elvis Presley) By Danzig

 

Danzig covered The King’s “Trouble” in his “Thrall: Demonsweatlive” EP which was released in 1993.

{Cover Songs} Dream Theater

We all know Dream Theater has covered many of Metallica & Iron Maiden’s songs, so i won’t be talking about those here.

Instead, did you know that Dream Theater actually did a cover of Tori Amos’ “Winter”?

Labrie seems to be laboring through this song….sounds pretty awful..

 

They’ve also done Led Zeppelin’s “Since i’ve Been Loving You” recorded live

This one sounds much much better!

{Cover Songs} Between The Buried And Me

 

In 2006, Between The Buried And Me released a cover album consisting of several rock/metal classics including:

Metallica’s “Blackened”

Pretty decent cover

Soundgarden’s “The Day I Tried To Live”

I prefer it with clean vocals…

Pantera’s “Cemetery Gates”

Is it me or are the guitars not mixed properly..? & i thought they would do some growling here…oh well…

The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Geek USA”

Their cover sounds pretty weak…

[Un]Sound’s New Old Tracks

I have uploaded a couple old tracks that i recorded sometime back (when my audio interface was still working) onto my imeem page…give it a listen if you’ve nothing better to do!

(I go by the moniker [Un]Sound on Imeem)

 

XYZone - [Un]Sound

Alternative Positive Theories - [Un]Sound

Placebo Live in Jakarta

UK band Placebo will be playing live in Jakarta on the 16th of February 2010 at the Istora Senayan

Ticket Information:
Limited Pre-sale (23 Nov 09): Rp. 375000 (Tribune), Rp. 475000 (Festival)- (Max 2 tickets per purchase)
Normal: Rp. 495000, Rp. 595000 (Festival)

Muse returns to Singapore!!

Muse will return to Singapore for their 2nd concert, headlining 2010’s “Big Night Out”, on the 3rd of February at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Tickets available in 3 days! November 16th 2009 through Sistic

Prices (Sistic booking fee applies):
$168 (Standing Pen A)
$148 (Seated Terrace)
$128 (Standing Pen B)
$128 (Seated Terrace)
$98 (Seated Balcony)

Early Bird Special:
Get $10 off all ticket categories from November 16th to 30th 2009

 

Green Day Live in Singapore

DATE
14 Jan 2010, Thursday 8.00PM

DURATION
approx 90 Minutes

VENUE
Singapore Indoor Stadium

TICKET PRICE (EXCLUDE BOOKING FEE)
Standard - S$88, S$128, S$148
Free Standing - S$128 (12 yrs old & above only)
Add: $3 Booking Fee per ticket for tickets above $20 and $1 Booking Fee per ticket for tickets $20 and below.

The death of Tupac Shakur [1971-1996]

Tupac Shakur was a rapper, actor and social activist.

Before he made it big, he was a roadie and backup dancer for the hip hop group Digital Underground.

In 1994, Shakur was shot 5 times and robbed in the lobby of a recording studio by 2 men, twice in the head, twice in the groin and once through the arm and thigh, miraculously he survived and even checked out of hospital 3 hours after surgery.

1995, he was sentenced to 1.5 to 4.5 years in prison on a sexual assault charge.

After serving 11 months of his sentence he was released from prison on an appeal.

In 1996, Shakur was shot 4 times, in the chest, the pelvis, his right hand and thigh, unfortunately this time he wasn’t as lucky.

A few days later, Shakur died of severe internal bleeding in the hospital.

It is said that after Shakur's cremation. Some of his ashes were mixed with marijuana and smoked by members of Outlawz (a group founded by Shakur).

Although Suge Knight, CEO of Deathrow Records (Instrumental in helping Shakur out of prison) and Biggie Smalls (The Notorious B.I.G.) were later linked to Shakur’s murder the case remains unsolved.

uneXpecT

Formed: 1996

Country: Canada

Label: The End

Status: Active

Official Website: http://www.unexpect.com/

uneXpect is an extreme avant-garde band, they incorporate almost every style of music to their sound…from Death metal to Jazz!

They are one of the most mind blowing bands i have ever heard, their virtuosity is unbelievable and they play in some pretty sick time-signatures.

Below is the video of "Desert Urbania" off the 2006 album "In A Flesh Aquarium"

Estradasphere

Formed: late 1990s
Country: USA
Label: The End
Status: Active
Official Website: http://www.estradasphere.com/

Estradasphere is an experimental band, consisting of 6 multi-instrumentalists, they play all kinds of combinations of music…from classical to gypsy to surf to jazz all the way to heavy metal!

 

Below is the Live performance of "Smuggled Mutation" off their 2006 DVD "Palace of Mirrors"

Amazing Stuff!!

Stolen Babies

Formed: 2002
Country: USA
Label: The End
Status: Active
Official Website: http://www.stolenbabiestheband.com/

Stolen Babies is an avant-garde metal band, their musical style & look has heavy influence from Dark Cabaret (gothic rock, punk, deathrock, and darkwave music..)

Below is the Video of "Push Button" off their 2006 album "There Be Squabbles Ahead"

Ayreon

Formed: 1995
Country: Netherlands
Label: InsideOut
Status: Active
Official Website: http://www.ayreon.com/

Ayreon is Musician/Composer Arjen Anthony Lucassen, musical style derives mostly from heavy metal and progressive rock, but also includes genres like folk, classical and electronica...

Many of Ayreon's album includes collaborations with many fantastic musicians from other bands such as:

Daniel Gildenlöw (Pain of Salvation)

James LaBrie (Dream Theater)

Jørn Lande (Ark)

Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)

Tom S. Englund (Evergrey)

Michael Romeo (Symphony X)

Devin Townsend (Devin Townsend Project)

Derek Sherinian (Planet X)

Stephen van Haestreg (Within Temptation)

Mr. Lucassen has great taste in the people he works with!

Below is the Video of "Loser" off the 2004 album "The Human Equation"

Alamaailman Vasarat

Formed: 1997
Country: Finland
Label: Wolfgang Records
Status: Active
Official Website: http://www.vasarat.com/

Alamaailman Vasarat which means Hammers of the Underworld, is an Avant-Progressive Big-Band...their musical style is as strange as it gets combining symphonic rock, traditional folk and free composition..

On their official website they jokingly refer to their style as being "kebab-kosher-jazz-film-traffic-punk-music"

Below is the Video of "Astiatehdas" off their 2003 album "Käärmelautakunta"