Alice Cooper Superstar made his presence known in New Jersey when he thrilled a packed hall at the Mayo Center in Morristown. Alice’s faithful arrived in full force, and in full make-up, enjoying songs from his 30 plus year career.
You know George. He’s that gravely-voiced madman who sings about bein’ bad and drinkin’ alone. He would like, no, he demands one bourbon, one scotch, and a beer, and screw you if you don’t have it. He’s bad to the bone and has been since he started playing blues standards and his own dirty originals with his band The Destoyers in the mid ’70s.
1986’s Master of Puppets, metal giants Metallica’s third studio album, is widely regarded as one of the best metal albums of all time. It has been included on “Best of” lists in publications ranging from Q to IGN to Rolling Stone and even TIME Magazine. The seventh track from that album is “Orion,” the only instrumental track James Hetfield and company decided to include. The song, whose name allegedly came from the “spacey” bridge section, features several solos that are often mistaken as the work of guitarist Kirk Hammett. They are actually bass solos played by the late Cliff Burton, who died soon after in a van crash while touring behind Master of Puppets.
A live favorite for Metallica fans, “One” was the third single from their 1988 album …And Justice For All. Since its release as a single in 1989, it has gone on to become one of the fearsome foursome’s most popular and well-loved songs, helped by the song’s status as Metallica’s first Top 40 hit. Like many Metallica songs, “One” begins with James Hetfield fingerpicking a tender yet ominous intro, over which Kirk Hammett plays a clean guitar solo. In typical Metallica fashion, it builds and builds, getting faster and heavier through multiple changing time signatures, which leads to a Kirk Hammett tapping-ridden guitar solo. I hope your tap chops are up to snuff!
Rory Gallagher’s second solo release, Deuce, keeps the same blues trio format but brings about a whole new Rory. Recorded at Tangerine Studios in London, this album is distinctly grungier and more soulful. Gallagher’s guitar tone is much richer and layered many times to create different textures and sonorities.
“Master of Puppets” begins with two of Metallica’s most recognizable riffs, one moving right into the other in typical Metallica thrash fashion. As the second track and title track of Metallica’s third studio album, 1986’s Master of Puppets, the song is distinctive for its extended, almost tender instrumental section that serves as a bridge for the otherwise driving headband-inducing riff fest. Late bassist Cliff Burton has said that “Master of Puppets” is one of his favorite Metallica songs, and his definite favorite from that album. Featuring some great melodic solo work from Kirk Hammett, “Master” is about how when people become addicted to drugs, the relationship flips, with the drugs as the master and the person as the puppet.
Rory Gallagher’s third solo recording, Blueprint,, takes us back to a format heard on the famed Irish guitarist’s first release, featuring Lou Martin on keys. The resulting sound is a blend of his previous two albums, combining an experimental attitude and sound with powerful melodies of different styles to achieve a wholly more mature, and refined musicianship.
Mid-way into tonight’s set, singer Geoff Tate told the crowd, “It’s been 30 years since the band formed. We can’t live in the past because it already happened and we can’t live in the future, so we can only live in the present and enjoy the moment.” He then asked the crowd, “Are you enjoying yourself tonight?” the crowd responded with a thunderous applaud in agreement. That set the tone for tonight’s show!
One of metal legends Metallica’s most well-known songs, “For Whom The Bell Tolls” is a lesson in writing ominous heavy metal music. While Metallica are known for their fast-paced thrash metal, they slow it down to a crawl for this superheavy buzz saw of a tune. The song, which was the third single from their 1984 album Ride the Lightning, is based on the novel For Whom The Bell Tolls by author Ernest Hemmingway about the immorality of modern warfare. You’ll have to tune your guitar a little sharp to play completely in tune with this song, as Metallica tuned up a little to be in tune with the tolling bells at the beginning.
We now give you my long, overdue review of Middle Tennessee State University’s Tennessee Guitar Festival 2011, hosted by Dr. William Yelverton on June 1st-4th, 2011. I know these things are supposed to come out right after the event happens, so my apologies for that. The only excuse I have is that I’ve been on two continents, 13 different states (11 U.S. and two Brazilian), and have traveled almost the distance of the circumference of our planet since then. I won’t apologize for that, though. I had a blast!
