this one

Hey everybody! I hope you all are doing well in this Covid infection madhouse that we currently live in. Yeah, this seriously sucks! Two freaking years and still no end of it in sight! In fact, more people are sick from it than ever. That shit messed me up bigtime around Thanksgiving! Thank god it wasn't quite so bad on me as it has been on others. Half the people at my work seem to have it or have gotten it. We can't even hardly run the assembly line properly now, for lack of people. It'quotes bad all around, in every way. The shit is depressing!

The music scene has clearly taken a big hit as well. There are very few venues to play at, and we just recently lost Diamond Concert Hall, a classic Louisville venue where I opened for many national acts. I liked that place! Lots of great memories. This loss will screw us bands even worse no doubt about it. I'm trying to be optimistic and have hope for our scene, but it's just plain hard to do at a time like this. And we haven't really gotten that many national shows in, and the ones we did get, really didn't do much for me. So I haven't done much at all recently. Sorry, I don't have much to report. Not my fault. I am trying! I think maybe I am just way too responsible anymore. I don't drink. Don't party much. Go to bed at 8:30 P.M most of the time. I'm kinda lame, but content in my lameness because I am doing pretty well for myself these days. It feels good, too!

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I have sort of been in the dumps a little bit ever since the girl that I've been dating since last February went our separate ways not too long ago. But things are starting to look up now! Indeed, I have a lot to be grateful for. I am grateful for my health, my job, having my shit together, having money saved, my band, another raise at work, and a great number of other things too many to list! Life is simply too short to let things that cannot be changed bother you. I guess the fact that I am a big-hearted empath makes it a bit harder for me to move on without sorrow. Yeah, I'm a big ol' softie! It's all good, though! I would rather be a person with a good heart, than some POS (and I'm not saying she was at all. I'm just saying in general). I did very recently go on a few dates with a new girl and we had a really great time, so that definitely helped with the depression. Both times we accidentally had something on that matched. Funny! It was nice to be out with such a positive, intelligent and beautiful soul. What a smile! After all the horrible shit I've been through in the last five years, I now look at dating as very selective shopping. No longer shall I acquire things from Goodwill, or from Liquor Barn for that matter. Shitty people deserve shitty people. And good folks deserve the world!

Don't settle! Stay available till you find someone with a good heart that really appreciates you and your effort, and who will do whatever it takes to make things work.

If you rush into something unworthy, you are only throwing away an opportunity for potential true happiness, by being unavailable.

So I'm just gonna take my time and take care of business first, rock out with my music, and hopefully things will eventually work itself out romantically with whomever. I'm in no rush. Rushing into things will end up a freaking nightmare, with people without morals, who should have a horror movie made about them!

It does feel good to have people interested in you though. I cannot lie.

I did get to see the Van Halen tribute JUMP (see review below), from Ohio, that came to open up for my buddies in the Mötley Crüe tribute Theatre Of Crue. Good stuff! Oh yeah! Steve Vai, the guitar virtuoso, is coming to Paristown Hall soon, and I would really like to go check that one out. I saw him at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach several years back and he is phenomenal! All of you guitarists out there, be should be sure to make this show, your minds will be blown, I promise you!

Well,that's it for me this month. Stay safe, and try to avoid this plague at all costs. This shit is REAL, and is no joke.

I love you all, and you can hit me up anytime, for anything.

Eddymetal1@aol.com

I am here to serve the Louisville Music Scene as always, and I will continue to do so, for as long as the good lord lets me.

Peace.

P.S. I hope to see you all at my band Year Of The Gun's next performance! We haven't played since Halloween, so I wanna see all your faces at Louisville Billiards on Friday, February 18. We will be playing with the bands Skipping Stone and Boombox Poets. This should be a real good one, so come on out and hang out with all of us and have a few frosty beverages! I drink so rarely anymore, that two or three drinks and I'm buzzed like a MFer. Aye aye ayeee. See you soon!

The Metal Grapevine

Winners of the Alice Cooper Tickets from Louisville Music News/Livenation are Paul Hart and Richard Bybee:

Congrats to those lucky guys. And thank you to all the people who participated. I will do my best to keep you folks in free tickets! I usually come through pretty good though.

Kid Rock and Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience is coming to The KFC Yum Center:

Friday May 20! I met Kid Rock before he was famous, and he was one very nice guy! I may have to review this show! God knows, there will be plenty of cute women at this show, that's for sure! I'll try to get you people some FREE tickets to Win! Wish me luck!

Alice Cooper coming to Louisville Palace on February 3:

The king of shock rock is coming once again! How does this guy find the strength to tour the way he does? It's neverending! He must really love his job. Here is some footage from a few short months ago.

Steve Vai Coming to Old Foresters Paristown Hall!!

Mark this one on your calendars! Friday, March 11. Especially if you like guitar playing! Because this guy isn't human. He is an entity all in his own! I had the pleasure of reviewing him and his unreal band at the House Of Blues in Myrtle Beach in 2012 and it was out of this world. I gotta see this! YOU gotta see this! Trust me, get your tickets now! Plus you get to see the kickass new venue! Psh it's a no brainer.

Diamond Concert Hall Abruptly Closes:

Yup, another venue lost. Diamond Concert Hall has closed its doors forever. Abruptly. And rightfully so, it has angered those who have devoted time, money and plenty of effort into the place! Shows were booked there! Set in stone shows. I have played there many times, many great shows (opening for Skid Row, Quiet riot, Prong, Flaw, Enuff Znuff, etc etc), but honestly, I saw this coming. I can't believe it has stayed open this long forreal. My hats off to all the good folks who fought tooth and nail to keep it alive. Folks like Terry Harper, Jared Fox Matthews and a whole slew of good people who did not want to see it fall to the Covid epidemic. You did your best and I salute you! R.I.P Diamond Concert Hall. Hopefully someone with some cash comes in and saves the place, and brings it back in full force. Hint hint.

JUMP- The Van Halen Tribute Review:

I was hoping this VH Tribute would be better than the other one I saw last year, and it was! These guys had the looks, vocals, and general magic down pretty well, I say! I can't seem to find any info on these Ohio youngsters, but I will say they had the vocals nailed. That singer has the hair, looks, clothes and voice of David Lee Roth for sure! He nailed those high birdlike screeches that DLR is known for. I have not seen anybody do those as well as this guy! He has charisma, and even does the sword thing, even though its a fake sword. Guitarist Cody Waddle does a great job on guitar, as well as a mortal can do, trying to replicate EVH. That is one tall order I would not even attempt in my wildest dreams! The bassist did fine with bass and backups, and he even had Michael Anthony-looking parachute pants on! He needs to get a Jack Daniels bottle-shaped bass, though! That is a must! The drummer was a seventeen-year-old kid! He looked sooo young! I thought maybe he was 14 or 15 for real! Crazy! But he did a decent job, although of course he was no Alex Van Halen. The kid can play! He looked happy AF up there, going to town! This young man is going places to be playing out so young at the clubs! They did all the Van Halen hits, and then some! It was a good show! I enjoyed it thoroughly. I would go see them again for sure.

Ohio's Motley Crue Tribute Theatre Of Pain didn't have such a good night this night though. They were plagued by gremlins, it seems. Gremlins who knocked over mic stands several times, and a gremlin that gave the new bassist of the band one bad time indeed. His guitar strap kept coming off, over and over, and it was not good. Straplocks bro! It's a must! Especially with that top heavy bass dude was using! That was a major no no! He was a young kid, and quite talented mind you, but this just wasn't his night, despite his enthusiasm. He was a bit green, but we all are when we start, so I forgive him. And then the band got into it onstage and had a falling out right then and there in front of everybody. It was not a pretty sight, and I hate to see that happen to guys I have come to know and love. I'm sure things will be worked out soon, and they will be back in action before long. You got this guys!

Shit happens.

Tool coming again:

Yup, they are coming again. March 4, 2022 at The Yum! I think it might be sold out. I heard tickets were hundreds of dollars. F**k that! It's good that I get in free, because these prices are way too high for the ordinary person to be able to afford. While not a big Tool fan, I did go review/photograph them last time here, and it was a real good show. I had a blast and the Yum Staff was awesome! I did not agree with Maynard hiding behind a curtain for the whole show, but I guess its just that's dudes mystique. He is different though, I'll give him that! Very different, and he can sing, it's just not for me. I find him a bit whiny and nasally. But maybe I'm just weird (duh!!), because everyone else seems to love him (I'm anti-trend), so if you want to go, you better jump on it now, because if by some freak accident it hasn't sold out yet, it will soon! The guitar, bass, and sick drums are what made me like Tool. The band is sick though! Just don't try to sneak onstage like this poor fool did. Maynard apparently knows some Judo!

Cannibal Corpse coming to Mercury Ballroom on March 22:

This band is just too much for the likes of me, but I know a lot of you die-hard death metal fans love them, so here you go! Check out this song called &ld'I Cum Blood.&rd'

Seize The Day Returns:

One really good cover band is back in action after a ten-year breakup, and I'm happy for them. This was one very good cover band! Super impressive! And I'm not really into cover bands very much. Vocalist Pat Michaels has always been a top favorite local singer of mine! It will be so good to hear him sing once again! Great guys, too. It will feature the same lineup of talented veteran Louisville musicians - Erin Flaherty and Kevin Hart on guitar, Tony Lee on bass, and Robbie Hall on drums. Seize The Day does everything from Seventies, Eighties and Nineties rock, from Kansas, to Queensryche, to Soundgarden, they don't mess around! I will be at their first show back, at Louisville Billiards on Saturday, March 19. Come on out and see some incredible talent!

Musician Of The Month for February is bassist Jim Quiggins of Native Sons:

Be sure to check out his feature this month!

Upcoming Shows

21rst Amendment Tavern

Thursday, February 3 – Wendell Williams.

Sunday, February 13 – I Am Heir, What Drives The Weak, Artwork For The Blind and Wretched Idol.

Tuesday, March 1 – Sara And The Safeword, V Is For Villians, Next Attempt and Skipping Stone.

Thursday, April 7 – Left To Suffer, Autumn Lies Buried, Until The Dead Walk, My Own Will and Serotonin.

AJ's Place (Glasgow KY)

Saturday, February 19 – Artwork for The Blind, Lechuga and Devil Be My Judge.

The Boondocks

Saturday, February 12 – The Hoodlums, Big Al, Buckshot George, Randal Luna, , Ched from Hopewell Fault,

Carls Tavern (New Haven IN)

Saturday, April 9 – AftB, Bastard Sons Of A Judas Goat and TBA

Diamond Pub (St Matthews)

Saturday, March 19 – Supernova.

Headliners

Wednesday, February 2 – Washed Out.

Saturday, March 19 – Captured- The Journey Tribute.

Highlands Tap Room

Monday, March 7 – Black Knife and Butchers Dog.

Joe's Older Than Dirt

Friday, February 11 – Soundstation Alp

Kaiju (1004 E. Oak St Louisville KY)

Friday, February 4 – Cryptic Hymn, Bad Wires and Bowels.

Louisville Billiards

Friday, February 4 – Mooseknuckle.

Saturday, February 5 – The Ex Presidents.

Friday, February 11 Beeler Attic

Saturday, February 12 – Sabbath- The Black Sabbath Experience and Hollow- The Alice In Chains Tribute.

Friday, February 18 Skipping Stone CD Release w/ Boombox Poets and Year Of The Gun

Saturday, February 19 Falls City Freeloaders celebrates Dave's Bday, Bash!

Friday, February 25 – The Asshaulers and Elysium.

Saturday, February 26 – Sick Little Things- The Alice Cooper Tribute.

Saturday, March 19 – Seize The day, , Empty Arms Band, Psycho Soul, Kev and Dev.

Mac's Hideaway

Friday, February 18 – Gravel Switch

Magbar

Wednesday, February 2 – Shi, Twin Wizard and Baptize.

Friday, February 4 – Nicholas Johnson and The Same Old Strangers, Naptaker and The Svengali Fiasco.

Saturday, February 5 – Eulogy In Blood, Luther and Artwork For The Blind.

Friday, March 11 – Mothrog, Devil Be My Judge, Artwork for the Blind.

Saturday, March 26 – Maharahja, Shi and The Cryptics.

Manchester Music Hall

Mercury Ballroom

Tuesday, March 22 – Cannibal Corpse

Old Foresters Paristown Hall

Friday, March 11 – Steve Vai

Friday, March 25 – Trampled By Turtles

Thursday, March 31 – Bright Eyes

OLPH Brewery

Saturday, February 5 – Beeler Attic.

Spectators Sports Bar

Friday, March 4 – The Redstone Band.

Friday, April 15 – The Redstone Band.

Symrna Inn

Wednesday, February 2 – Joslin and Friends.

The Thirsty Hound

Saturday, February 5 – Empty Arms Band

Saturday, March 12 – Sound Machine

TK's

Two Lane Bowl

Zanzabar

Wednesday, February 2 – Dark tranquility, Kataklysm and Nailed To Obscurity.