Dimmu Borgir @The Joint @HRH Las Vegas 8-19-18

Dimmu Borgir @The Joint @HRH Las Vegas 8-19-18

Dimmu Borgir at The Joint @HRH 8-19-18

Photo’s: Leah Burlington

The Sinister Minister review of Dimmu Borgir at Psychofest Las Vegas;

On Sunday, August 19th, Vegas felt the burn of Hell…. And not from the summer heat… We were treated to an amazing show from one of the leading Symphonic Black Metal bands on the planet… Dimmu Borgir! And this Minister was fortunate enough to get a killer last minute hookup from my good friend and Rock Photographer extraordinaire, Leah Burlington…

Just before the show I was able to join Leah in DB’s dressing quarters and got to meet (Guitarist) Silenoz! He was very cool and accommodating he was good enough to sit down and grant me a quick interview for The Black Mass on Loaded Radio! We had a beer during and chatted about the bands immediate plans…  Awesome stuff! Then we moved to a different room and shortly after, in walks (Singer) Shagrath… Nearly made up for the performance and I got to say a quick hello… It was really awesome to finally meet this band I have so admired since 1996! After the show, we got to hang at the center bar at the Hard Rock with Silenoz for pretty much the remainder of the evening…  And a great time we had! On to the performance…  Well, what can be said aside of, ‘you had to be there’, cuz you kinda did!  But if you weren’t, let’s just say you missed a show of absolute epic proportions! And this was technically a warm up show for Dimmu, they’re gearing up for their own world tour in support of the new album, ‘Eonian’ I can imagine how killer the entire production is gonna be! I’ve seen Dimmu in full force with the Symphony and it’s amazing what they can do in full effect… So, it kinda goes without saying that if you have the opportunity to witness this spectacular spectacle of Metal… By all means in Hell and on Earth, Don’t miss it!

Dimmu Website: Dimmu Borgir 

YouTube: Dimmu Borgir Videos

 

Alice Cooper Band Pre-Party @Count’s Vamp’d 8/9/18

Alice Cooper Band Pre-Party @Count’s Vamp’d 8/9/18

The Alice Cooper Pre-Party was a total blast!! Most of the Cooper band was there jamming with people from here and rocking Coop covers and many other covers! Jesse/Josiah Camp hosted the event!! Yes he is alive and well!! He was such a blast!! Everyone hung out and met with the Vamp’d crowd and we had SO much fun! This band truly rocks!!

Onstage: Calico Cooper, Ryan Roxie, Chuck Garric, Sheryl Cooper, Tommy Henriksen, Glen Sobel, Jesse Camp, Marque Martinez, Maryann Cotton, Eric Stacy, Mary Kryah

 

Dirty Pairadice Reunion at Count’s Vampd with Smashing Alice 7/27/18

Dirty Pairadice Reunion at Count’s Vampd with Smashing Alice 7/27/18

Dirty Pairadice Reunites onstage during Smashing Alice’s set @Vamp’d

Smashing Alice played Count’s Vamp’d for Dallas William’s Birthday Bash and for the first time in five years, Dirty Pairadice reunited together again onstage for a few songs! Dallas and Ruzz Roxx, who are in SA, exploded onstage with guitarist, Dylan Dice and drummer, Donald Decceco and played their original songs, “Nightlife”, “Dirty Pairadice”, “Can You Feel It?”, and ended with a bang with “Cowboys From Hell!!”I stood there, on the barricade, in tears when I saw them ripping up “Nightlife” again!! They were totally tight and full of new found energy!!! It was very emotional for me to see these guys rocking together again!! It brought back so many memories of hanging out and seeing these guys tearing shit up all over Vegas and especially at Vamp’d five years ago. I did my first band promo’s with these guys!! I have always believed in them 100%. Dylan and Dallas have that “Power Duo” chemistry, like Axl and Slash or Steven and Joe. I have always said that and to this day, I believe this band could make it big. Ruzz and Donnie balance them out with their boundless energy and heavy rhythm section! These four personalities are perfect for a kick ass rock band to conquer the world, not just in Vegas!! It is rumored that Dirty Pairadice is back together, writing songs and maybe even adding another guitarist, for that “Double Axe Attack!” Keep an eye out for more shows in the future!!

Electric Radio Kings @Count’s Vamp’d 7/21/18 Interview

Electric Radio Kings @Count’s Vamp’d 7/21/18 Interview

Electric Radio Kings @Count’s Vamp’d 7/21/18 Interview with Singer Paul Christiana

Leah: Hello Paul! Hey, great show in Vegas a couple of weeks ago!! Great to see Electric Radio Kings grace the stage at Count’s Vamp’d again for the second time!! 

Paul: Well, we have thumbed through a few bassists, but are pushing forward and it is been amazing. The last show we got to play with Michael Grant who opened for us and is an amazing talent. Vegas and Vampd are home base for us and we adore our fans and friends, some who came from Canada and Ohio to see us live. 

Leah: Tell me a little bit about your new band Electric Radio Kings…

Paul: Electric Radio Kings are a 5 piece rock outfit utilizing the best of yesterday’s classics such as Cheap Trick, STP, Guns and Roses and Velvet Revolver and inject it with a new vibe that blends rock from today back to the 70’s. I am the vocalist, Stacey Blades Guitars, Keith Horne on guitars, Del Cheetah on bass and Johnny Rude on drums.

Leah: I am hearing good things about the band, that you guys are getting some serious radio airplay and are getting some nice features in the press. What are you guys doing differently to get radio and the press interested in a new band?

Paul: We are working with Landshark Promotions who released our single “Sympathy for Me.” It was accepted well on Active Rock and thanks to Eddie Trunk and Alice Cooper, it got enough airplay to chart on Classic Rock and Active Rock Radio.

Leah: While you were here for your show, you were in the recording studio working on the new album. Where are you recording and who is producing your album??

Paul: Well we love to keep it in Vegas! It’s our home town and AJ St James has been double duty on the engineering and producing while our brother Danny Koker’s studio Desert Moon has been a chilled out vibe, especially with all the great leopard print and purple velvet.

Leah: You are from New Orleans. What is the music scene like there?? Do they have rock n roll clubs or places that have live rock n roll there??

Paul: New Orleans was raised on Jazz but that is a huge misnomer because as far as rock goes Led Zeppelin were the gods to New Orleans, basically Phil Anselmo from Pantera, Zebra, Lilian Axe, and also Crowbar reign from New Orleans.

Leah: Tell me a little about you, tell me about your past music career and what bands were you in? Did you do the whole 80’s thing?

Paul: I cut my teeth in the 80’s on bands like Y & T, AC / DC, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, The Scorpions, Seems like the 80’s bands such as Motley Crue, Blizzard of Oz , WASP, Dokken, Twisted Sister made an impact on me but nearly what the 60’s and 70’s did. I really love the songwriting of Jim Croce,Carole King ,The Eagles and Van Morrison. We are a blend of all the killer hard rock and songwriting we grew up with.

Thank you Paul!! I wish you guys all the best!!

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Electric-Radio-Kings-2014759445425672/

Landshark Promotions: http://www.landsharkpromotion.com/electric-radio-kings.html

Electric Radio Kings Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06jLFudr8RI

 

Vegas Rock Revolution #6: Void Vator, The Babes, & Crimson Riot @Vamp’d 7/19/18

Vegas Rock Revolution #6: Void Vator, The Babes, & Crimson Riot @Vamp’d 7/19/18

Vegas Rock Revolution Showcase:  Void Vator / The Babes / Crimson Riot at Count’s Vamp’d Las Vegas 7/19/18

Punk power trio Crimson Riot created an uprising of rockers to their feet as they dived into a 30 minute set of 90’s era style punk originals (think Green Day, Social D, Offspring).  As recent winners of the TopGolf   “Who Will Rock You” they came in confident and sharp.  Roxy Gunn is a force to be reckoned with.  Total pros and with their infectious upbeat style got the fans moving early.

The Babes who are from Australia drove in the middle of the night from L.A.  to be part of “The Morning Blend” on KTNV Channel 13 bright and early in the morning here in Sin City.  12-14 Hours later  they were up on stage bringing a big dose good time rock and roll.  Front man Joey Ryan with his Viking looks kept the crowd on edge as he dived around on stage and drank copious amounts of Southern Comfort.  Donna Demasi on lead guitar and some vocals along with her sister Moni Lashes on drums brought more sex appeal and style to this titillating show. Corey Stone the younger but yet much bigger brother held down things with his steady bass style.

Headliner Void Vator returned for their second visit to Count’s Vamp’d and 4th with Vegas Rock Revolution took the stage with a swagger that harkens back to the peak times of metal in the 80s.  Their strong two guitar attack, lead by front man Lucas Kanopa and Erik Kluiber (formerly of White Wizzard/ Gypsyhawk). These two have different styles but yet mesh so good with each other.  The boys from Void Vator broke out a tribute to Vinnie Paul with a fiery rendition of Pantera’s “Goddamn Electric”.

The crowd was left wanting more as the guys left the stage drenched in sweat from another great show in Vegas. It was an amazing night and truly it was so impressive how each band supported each other all through the night which is becoming a common theme at Vegas Rock Revolution Showcases.

 

 

Tom Keifer at the Brooklyn Bowl 7/12/18

Tom Keifer at the Brooklyn Bowl 7/12/18

Tom Keifer at the Brooklyn Bowl, Las Vegas 7/12/18

By: Leah Burlington

I still remember the first time I saw Cinderella on MTV, the video was “Nightsongs”, and it was my first glimpse of this beautiful singer with a bluesy voice, named Tom Keifer. I was intrigued and I had an instant crush on this man with the lips like Steven Tyler and the swagger of Jagger. This guy has it, I thought. I became a huge Cinderella fan after that, seeing them live opening for Bon Jovi and David Lee Roth, twice in one year in 1986. They played arenas back then, and always put on a high energy, fun rocking show!! This band had so much talent! Cinderealla is one of the only “Glam” bands that I will still pop a CD in and listen all the way through. They had substance musically that a lot of the bands in that era, didn’t have. Their videos were corny but cool for the 80’s and I just loved this band.

Here we are thirty two years later, (My how time flies!) and I am seeing Tom and his solo band live at the Brooklyn Bowl. (I saw him at Vamp’d, three years ago as well) He is still touring, rocking and sounding better than ever!  The band are as follows: Tom Keifer (Vocals, Guitar, Keys), Savannah Keifer (Vocals, Percussion, Piano), Tony Higbee (Guitar, Vocals), Billy Mercer (Bass guitar, Vocals) Kendra Chantelle (Vocals, Percussion), Jarred Pope (Drums, Vocals) Kory Myers (Keyboards, Vocals). Half way through the amazing set of Cinderella classics, his beautiful wife Savanna, who sings back-round vocals and comes out during “Don’t Know What You Got Til its Gone”, on piano, along with her talented husband. These two are a power couple onstage and I am sure off.

The show was a stellar dose of talent and pure raw energy from the beginning to the end, the crowd was on their feet singing and rocking out the whole show. Tom would sometimes take off the guitar and do only vocal duties and hold the mic stand over the crowd of enthusiastic fans to sing along with him… On “Nobody’s Fool”, that part where he sings, “I scream my heart out, just to make a dime”, He screams it out while getting down on the stage, with an almighty wail. I mean, he literally screams like a banshee and it’s just clear and clean as a siren! His voice is better than ever, even with all the problems he used to have with it. It’s now a fine tuned force to be reckoned with. Tom still has IT…

My favorite part of the show is the last few songs, when they play “With a Little Help from My Friends”, as it is such a great song to grab a hold of your good friends next to you at this particular moment, hold them close and sing your freaking heart out!! That is what rock n roll is all about!! The communion of souls, yearning to rock and sing and be heard. This is a moment of pure upliftment and that is why it’s my fave part of Tom Keifer’s set!!!

This was an absolutely amazing show and they left us wanting more… It doesn’t get much better than this, musically, emotionally, spiritually.

Set list: The More Things Change, The Last Mile,Bad Seamstress Blues / Fallin’ Apart at the Seams, The Way Life Goes, Long Cold Winter, It’s Not Enough, Somebody Save Me, Shake Me, Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone), Nobody’s Fool, Solid Ground, Night Songs, Coming Home, Shelter Me, Encore: Tumbling Dice (The Rolling Stones cover), With a Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles cover), Gypsy Road

 

Vegas Rock Revolution #5: Duel, House of Broken Promises, Tyrants by Night, Sonolith 7/5/18 Vamp’d

Vegas Rock Revolution #5: Duel, House of Broken Promises, Tyrants by Night, Sonolith 7/5/18 Vamp’d

Vegas Rock Revolution Showcase: Duel/ House of Broken Promises/ Tyrants by Night/ Sonolith at Count’s Vamp’d Las Vegas 7/5/18

Review by: John Gist

Photo’s by: Leah Burlington

Sonolith got the party started with a very strong set to warm up the crowd. Alex Sonolith and his gang have been a regular as an opener for VRR and are known for their hard driving riffing instrumental sets.

Tyrants by Night came on stage blazing with their early Metallica feel and blew away the crowd as they continue to build upon being the hottest heavy rock band in Vegas. Thanks again to Matt O’Rourke, Jay Dumas, Skylar Voegele and Josh Govang for being part of another Vegas Rock Revolution Showcase.

House of Broken Promises came into Sin City just for this show and they brought the fire as Arthur Seay ignited a fast and furious riffing and grooving set pounded out by longtime drummer pro Mike Cancino and front man Joe Mora.  These desert rockers come from Coachella Valley that has produced such bands as Queens of the Stone Age, Kyuss, Brant Bjork ,Eagles of Death Metal and Unida (Both Seay and Cancino are also members of Unida as well as Kyuss vocalist John Garcia). They represented and proceeded to melt the faces on the rocking crowd at Count’s Vamp’d.

And finally headliners, Texas boys DUEL. They were so excited to play they snagged new tattoos down at Count’s Tattoo Company! These cats brought such an amazing energy to their set. The crowd was lifted into a frenzy as front man Tom Frank (formerly of Scorpion Child) and lead guitarist Jeff Henson really are spectacular live players and for some of us music fans watching/ hearing duel guitars done right is an art in and if itself. Shaun Avants (formerly of Scorpion Child) on bass and their pounding drummer Justin Collins keep the fury going! It’s no wonder these guys are about to do their 5 European Tour.  Fans went nuts rocking to the songs deep into the night like true rockers no how and closed down Vamp’d hours later !

Jizzy Pearl & Love/Hate @Count’s Vamp’d 6-23-18

Jizzy Pearl & Love/Hate @Count’s Vamp’d 6-23-18

Jizzy Pearl’s Love/ Hate @ Count’s Vamp’d  6-25-18

by: Leah Burlington

I remember in 1990 this killer album by this killer new band called Love/Hate. The album, “Blackout in a Red Room”, was instantly a classic and still holds true today. I loved this album so much, that when Love/Hate came to Vegas to play one of the coolest rock clubs of its day, Calamity Jane’s, I had to be there. I don’t remember much from almost thirty years ago, but I do remember this: Love/Hate tore up that stage with pure rock n roll intensity and unbridled energy!! This new front man named Jizzy Pearl, was a force to reckoned with. This band was so hard core, they were almost punk!! They all had matching black and red stage clothes and Jizzy had a cross made of bud cans. I will never forget that and they were awesome!!

Fast forward about thirty years and Jizzy Pearl is living in Las Vegas, having played over the years in Ratt, LA Guns, and sometimes with The Sin City Sinners. Now he has gone back to his roots and recorded a new album with Love/Hate called “All You Need is Soul”, which came out in April of this year. He is on the road doing the “Sticks and Stones” tour with band mates, original Love/Hate drummer Joey Gold, guitarist Darren Housholder, and bassist Doc Ellis, from the Sin City Sinners / Original Sin, who is a major player here in the Vegas scene.

I haven’t seen Love/Hate live in many years and I was truly excited to see them again after all these years although it’s only Jizzy and Joey from the original band. This “new” band unleashed the fury of rock from the moment they stepped onstage until the end of the show and that is saying something. Jizzy sounded amazing and had a lot of energy, hamming up for my camera and just being Jizzy. He commanded the stage like the old days and he was having a blast!! His guitarist really blew me away. This blonde tan man with muscles(Darren Housholder), played that guitar like he was lifting,(well the expressions on his face looked like he was lifting!) although the guitar looked tiny in his hands! This guy was up front and center, in my face all the while I was shooting. He is fun to shoot and he shreds!! Doc Ellis played bass with his friend Jizzy on this show, and we all love Doc and his cool demeanor with smoke trailing around his head while rocking that bass. Classic drummer Joey was keeping that back beat alive and hard!! These guys were tight as a band!! I really enjoyed seeing these guys live and loved the energy of the show!! I even told Jizzy later that they and he sounded just as good now as he did almost thirty years ago!! It was an absolutely great show with old classics from “Red Room” and songs off the new album!! If they come to your town, make sure to go see them!!

Also in the July issue of “Sin City” Presents Magazine!

Dio Disciples @Count’s Vamp’d 6-29-18

Dio Disciples @Count’s Vamp’d 6-29-18

Dio Disciples: Count’s Vamp’d 6-29-18

By: Leah Burlington #LiveWithLeah2018

Dio Disciples are three of five members of the Dio band from back in the day, which is Scott Warren, Craig Goldy and Simon Wright, along with bassist Bjorn Englen, Tim Owens, Oni Logan and sometimes Mark Boals on vocals. Dio had many band members come and go over the years, but Dio Disciples are officially sanctioned by Wendy Dio, Ronnie’s wife. I just learned that Tim “Ripper” Owens, Oni Logan, Craig Goldy, Bjorn Englen, Scott Warren and Simon Wright are expected to start studio sessions in the near future for an original album as well as a new and improved Ronnie James Dio hologram.

I had an amazing time at the Dio Disciples show! It’s always great to see these guys do all the legendary Dio songs and really great to see my friend Bjorn Englen and Tim “Ripper” Owens slaying onstage again. It’s has been a few years since I have seen them. The whole band was super tight and they kicked ass with so much great energy and talent! Tim sang his ass off and still sounds amazing!! It was a killer set as always and they always bring the wonderful energy of Ronnie with them back to the stage. You can really feel him when they play his music. I really miss seeing Dio live…

The band came out after the show and signed everything and posed for photos. These guys learned from the best. Ronnie James Dio. That is how he was. Kind and generous to all his fans, interested in what people had to say and he never let a fan down. Craig, Scott, Simon, Tim and Bjorn, were all gracious to us. Thanks guys!!! We all had a blast!! Thank you Dio Disciples for coming to rock the stage again at Count’s Vamp’d!!!

 

Also in the July issue of “Sin City’ Presents Magazine!!