Posted September 3, 2011 at 8:05 am | No comments
Weezer’s 2008 effort, known to many as “The Red Album,” confounded many fans with its decidedly un-Weezeresque musical material, save for one big, fat hit: “Pork and Beans.” It has a great chugging Weezer riff, the clever lyrics that Rivers Cuomo has become known for, and one of his best, catchiest choruses in a long time. Rivers wrote the song after a particularly angering meeting with Geffen label executives, where he was told that the new album needed more commercial songs. This pissed Cuomo off, inspiring him to write “Pork and Beans,” which ironically became Weezer’s most successful single to date, topping the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart for 11 straight weeks.
Posted in: Guitar Tab
Posted September 2, 2011 at 7:03 pm | 6 comments
This has been a momentous and fortuitous year for Ryan Rabin. The amazingly gifted co-founder, drummer, percussionist, songwriter, and producer, of indie rock band, Grouplove is poised for the September 13, 2011 international release of Grouplove’s stellar eponymous debut album, Never Trust A Happy Song.
In barely a year’s time, Ryan and his Grouplove band mates, Christian Zucconi, (lead vocals, guitars), Andrew Wessen, (lead guitar), Hannah Hooper, (vocals, keyboards), and Sean Gadd, (bass guitar), have released a critically acclaimed EP last January, they’ve been heralded by NME Magazine as one of the “Best New Bands of 2010.”
Posted in: Indie Rock Interviews, Interviews, Rock Interviews
Posted September 2, 2011 at 2:54 pm | No comments
Guitar International magazine has assigned our past Western Illinois University (WIU) summer intern, Brady Lavin, as its new Managing Editor. He is finishing up degrees in Music Business and Accountancy at WIU. His past experience has included running Rock N Rolla, a music newsletter and entertainment guide. All advertising proceeds from the newsletter were used to promote music and education.
Posted in: GI News, Guitar News
Posted September 2, 2011 at 8:05 am | No comments
“Pinball Wizard,” along with “See Me, Feel Me,” is the most famous and enduring songs from The Who’s infamous “rock opera” Tommy. The song tells the story of the deaf, dumb and blind Tommy winning a pinball competition by feeling the vibrations of the machine from the perspective of the champion who he unseats. Despite being a rock ‘n’ roll classic and a staple of countless classic rock stations, composer Pete Townshend at first hated “Pinball Wizard,” thinking it was clumsily written. The rest of the band disagreed immediately upon hearing the song; they could tell it would be a hit.
Posted in: Guitar Tab
Posted September 1, 2011 at 8:05 am | No comments
When Wolfmother burst onto the rock scene with the blistering “Woman” in 2006, people were marveling at this band that sounded like Black Sabbath fronted by Robert Plant. With “Joker & the Thief,” the sixth single from their self-titled debut album, the Wolfmother took it to the next level, pumping in even more high-octane fuel to the hard rock fire. “Joker & the Thief” is a driving rock song, obviously influenced by the beginnings of hard rock in the ‘70s, but firmly rooted in the present. Its fast-paced riffage and constant energy have made it a favorite to include in commercials, video games and movie trailers, appearing in the films Jackass Number Two, Shoot ‘Em Up, the Hangover and even Shrek The Third.
Posted in: Guitar Tab
