SPARKS

Buckeye Randy · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2025 5:53 pm Post subject:

Artist: Ricky Byrd
Title: NYC Made
Released: March 28, 2025

Know Ricky Byrd? There’s a good chance you’ve either seen or owned something with Ricky Byrd at some point of your life. Ricky is a member of the RnR HOF as guitarist for Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. Ricky has also performed with Roger Daltrey, Ian Hunter, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Paul McCartney, Ringo, Alice Cooper, Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, Joe Walsh, Mavis Staples, Dion, Brian Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Jimmy Page, Graham Nash, and Elvis Costell plus plenty of others (the list courtesy Ricky’s website).

It’s fair to say that this album is a long time coming. I say this because “Glamdemic Blues” made my year end top 10 (#4) in 2023 and the instrumental “Rhapsody in Blues (One For Jeff)” made my 2024 Big List. My daughter heard the song “Alien” back 2023 and instantly sent it to me knowing it was right up my alley…which it is. Earlier this year, “Transistor Radio Childhood” was released and was instantly added to my ‘2025 keep list’. Sooo…that’s four of the twelve songs that I’m already very familiar with before listening to the official release of the album earlier today.

I miss the days of yore (Randy getting nostalgic). I remember sitting down in my bedroom with a new release and hearing every song for the first time. It was a weekly ritual and at the time I knew it was cool but I didn’t realize I would yearn for it 50 years later. The smell of the new vinyl, reading every credit until memorized and anxiously listening to each track wondering if it would be my new favorite. Welp, dem der days are gone, blow out the candle and get over it!

If I were to categorize Ricky’s new album I would need to use a broad brush. The easiest description is glam but I don’t mean that in a pretentious way at all. The album is not spun from fantasies and daydreams but is mostly personal and even autobiographical at times. It’s glam in the same way Ian Hunter was considered glam or in the same way George Carlin was considered drug humor. Those are not false statements nor are they complete statements that tell the whole story.

It might be easiest to go track by track since the broad brush doesn’t tell the whole story.

1. (Ya Get) 1 Life – Chunky guitar and a melody that reminded me of “Summer Nights” from ‘Grease’ during the first few listens. Totally listenable and not a skipper even after hearing double digit times.
2. Glamdemic Blues – My #4 song from all of 2023. A mid tempo, melodic glammer with a dose of zippity do dah.
3. Rhapsody in Blues (Song For Jeff) – An instrumental tribute to Jeff Beck. The guitar changes roles often in this song which even includes a false ending. Perfect because it’s brisk timing in at 3:04.
4. Sweet Byrd of Youte – Reminds me of Iron City Houserockers (Joe Grushecky) doing his best Springsteen plus the song has a Southside Johnny feel to it.
5. Anna Lee – Not totally different than the previous song except this has some window dressing covering deficiencies. The bathroom harmonies add to the nostalgia and the guitar carries this.
6. Then Along Comes You - OK…the picked notes at the beginning straight up reminds me of Steve Earle’s “Hurtin’ Me Hurtin’ You”. Well, that changes as the song goes into a Blues Brothers’ explosion of honkytonk piano and bluesy horns. This song is not glam by any definition.
7. Transistor Radio Childhood – I wasn’t the only one with a transistor radio in bed as a kid! Very autobiographical as Ricky relives his childhood. Well done.
8. Louanne – A Chuck Berry type rocker which is not a highlight but is mostly enjoyable.
9. Stay Grateful – This might possibly be a grower with half spoken vocals and guitar fills o plenty. Not currently my favorite!
10. Alien – A mid tempo, glam rock, kill shot. This checks all the boxes for me.
11. RnR’s Demise (Has Been Greatly Exxagerated) – Another blast of nostalgia delivered in Ricky’s masculine version of glam.
12. Best Of Times – I find that songs at the end of autobiographical or personal type albums can be embarrassing. Well…my instincts were correct.

This is an early candidate for album of the year but is it? 1/3 of the album was released before 2025! I’m not a fan of the record industry and their current practices but I am a fan of the music on this release. I give two thumbs up to Ricky for this album plus his transparency with recovery from drugs and alcohol. He’s got it going on.

Well Done!
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Billy, Don't Be A Porter

Buckeye Randy · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2025 11:48 am Post subject:

Artist: The States
Title: Gimme Joy
Released: 3/13/25

It’s so cool when you stumble upon things when you aren’t really looking. I’ve only been listening to this debut for a couple days but it really hits a sweet spot with me. It’s like an old friend I never knew.

I’m learning about this band by googling because Spotify has no band bio for The States. The first thing I learn is their guitarist is Joe Imfeld from The Prize. That’s cool, The Prize’s song “First Sight” was #8 on my 2023 Top Ten. Other members are vocalist Scarlett Maloney (Tuffy, Delivery), Paddy Leahy on bass plus drummer Georgie Harkin.

The States are from Australia which seems to be a personal theme with some of my favorite music memories over the years. The Living End put on the very finest performance I’ve ever seen at a Warped Tour, I believe it was 2006. In 2007, I saw The Saints kick off their U.S. Tour and had a fine time sharing drinks with Chris Bailey after the show (RIP). I grew up listening to “Friday On My Mind” by Earthquake (originally done by Australia’s Easybeats) and I’ll be seeing Amyl and The Sniffers next month for a family/boys night out. As you can see, I’ve got connections, mate. Oh yeah, I think Australian rules football is cool.

I love that the release is 7 songs clocking in at 20 minutes. I’ll use a boxing analogy; it’s more entertaining to watch a boxer throwing haymakers trying for an early round knockout than watching a more technical fighter trying to win on points. The States are throwing haymakers and nearly all of them connect.

What do they sound like? Chunky glam washed with a 60’s girl group vibe. It’s punky but not in a Riot Grrrl way. I’ve seen people compare them with The Runaways and Suzi Quatro and I get it...but I disagree. I like both those acts but I find them a bit gimmicky, The States seem to have a more solid foundation. The melodies are rooted in power pop and I mean that as a compliment.

If I was forced to choose only a couple tracks for the unknowing, it would be tough! However, I would go with “Johnny” and “Gimme Joy”. Honestly, my choices might be different every day because there isn’t a clunker in the bunch. I hope this band keeps delivering new material and someday even comes to my town.

Well Done!
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Billy, Don't Be A Porter

KaelMael · Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:27 am Post subject:

Eric Clapton Live at Budokan 2025

Nippon Budokan, Tokyo
April 18, 2025

Cheap Trick made Budokan known to the world, but it is Eric Clapton who contributed the most to the arena by performing literally a hundred times in total since 1974. No foreign artists had played as much as EC and with this 8-night residency, his record will be expanded to 110. I attended the third night.

His performance was utterly brilliant he made me forget the fact that a few weeks before the tour began, he had celebrated his 80th birthday. He kicked off the show with smashing "White Room". There were no fan favourites like "Layla", "Change the World" or "Wonderful Tonight". Some fans must have been left unsatisfied but, as for me, I was happy because he played two other Cream songs plus "Crossroads". And shouting "COCAINE!" with fellow audience was really fun.

Despite it being a fantastic show, I'm not happy about the ever-increasing ticket price, and I thought it’s a bit overpriced. Eric Clapton is about to make a new record for the amount of concerts he did at Budokan. I made a new record for the amout of money I spent for one ticket for a single artist.
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My resume is dull and it's gray

Buckeye Randy · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 3:43 am Post subject:

Buckeye Randy · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2025 3:19 pm Post subject:

Who: The Bouncing Souls
Where: The Agora (Cleveland, OH)
When: April 26, 2025

My first show of the year is the third show of the 2025 Bouncing Souls tour titled, ‘EAST COAST F#CK YOU!’. The title of the tour sets an enthusiastic tone for the evening but the title also casts doubts of coming home with a T-shirt from the merch table. “Hey, look at Grandpa’s shirt” (giggle). T-shirt or no T-shirt this evening, I’m stoked.

I’ve been a casual fan of The Bouncing Souls for over 25 years. It started when Akron’s punk show on public radio would play tracks from ‘99’s ‘Hopeless Romantic’ (shout out to Ron and Ed!). My fandom grew with the purchase of 2003’s ‘Anchors Aweigh’ and continued as I bought others over the years. Since first being introduced, I’ve seen the band three times and all have been memorable from festival opener to club headliner. High energy by band and crowd.

This evening also promises to be memorable but for a completely different reason. It’s the first show I’ve gone to with a non family member in over 15 years. Either I’ve been in a terrible rut or I’ve been happy with status quo. Regardless, I’m looking forward to an evening of fun with a co-worker and fellow lover of punk…though my junior by more years than I care to mention! The age difference is actually cool because it just adds to our collective knowledge.

The Bouncing Souls formed in 1989 and still include three original members. Greg Attonito on vocals, Pete Steinkopf on guitar and Bryan Kienlen on bass. The newbie is drummer George Rabelo (Hot Water Music) has been on board since 2013. The band has 12 releases since 1994 with five being on the famed Epitaph label. Solid credentials for a band with one foot in retro and the other foot planted firmly in being a viable force on the current music scene.

We arrived early to The Agora and took our place in a line that stretched down the sidewalk of Euclid Avenue. We ‘enjoyed’ the unseasonably frigid temps while waiting for doors to open as the line grew from tens of people to hundreds.

The Agora has been a part of Cleveland rock and roll for over 50 years and has resided at three locations. The current location (since 1986) on Euclid Avenue was built in 1913 and retains much of the ornate architecture even as it has changed ownership over the years. The building in an earlier life was home of the WHK radio studios and auditorium. It was there in 1951 that Cleveland disc jockey Allen Freed first coined the phrase “Rock-and-Roll”. That adds a little historical significance as you get a wrist band and pass through the metal detectors. The venue is versatile as it can be changed from an entirely seated 2000 seat venue to a GA venue with no seating other than in the balcony. On this evening, it was General Admission and we staked our territory in the pit.

I’m not crazy about three openers but that’s what we have tonight. The collective highlight was the timing of bands taking and leaving the stage, no delays. School Drugs opened with a smokin’ version of “Sonic Reducer” by Cleveland’s Dead Boys and memorable by the fact that all their songs were less than two minutes. Next up is Dave Hause and the lasting impression was coming off as a poor man’s Springsteen. It fits the New Jersey vibe of the evening but not ideal at a punk show! H20 made tolerating the first two openers all worthwhile. They were incredible and I wish I would have familiarized myself with more of their material before the show. Highlights were “5 Yr. Plan” and “One Life, One Chance” but absolutely everything was solid. Well done!

Finally, the reason we are in Cleveland on a Saturday night. The house system played “Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds as The Bouncing Souls took their places on the stage. The energy level was exactly as anticipated when the band jumped into the opener, “East Coast F*ck You”. All at once; moshing, body surfing and lots of us just happy to jump around or bop up and down. It’s Saturday in Cleveland.

Honestly, I felt that the sound was a bit of a work in progress as the show settled in. There was nothing egregious and it may have been due to the acoustics particular to where we were standing. Regardless of any sound deficiencies, the band was energized and the setlist strong.

Over half of the 20+ songs played are ones that I consider my favorites. I could bemoan all the songs they didn’t play but that’s not fair to a band with such a deep catalogue. The front end of the evening following the opener included some of my personal essentials; “Hopeless Romantic”, “Manthem” and “Kate Is Great”. As a matter of fact, the band seemed to group fan favorites in clusters on more than one occasion. “The Gold Song”, “Sing A Long Forever” and “Here We Go” were also rapid fire. One song that I wasn’t sure we would hear was “Kids and Heroes” but it was included and in near perfect fashion I might add.

The show included an acoustic rendition of “Ghosts On The Boardwalk”. Greg explained that a punk show should never be more than 45 minutes so they divide their show into two parts. Greg and guitarist Pete Steinkopf made the show personal by remembering some of their Cleveland memories from previous years. The crowd responded with cheers as different bands or particular shows were namechecked.

As the evening was drawing to a close, the band played their brand new song, “United”. Most of the crowd seemed familiar with the song even though it was only released three days earlier. I’m not positive but I think “Lean On Sheena” is my all time favorite concert anthem. Everybody knows every word and the band is drowned out at times as the crowd shouts along. The show finishes with “True Believers” and this was also our predetermined que for a dash to the merch stand.

This essay will end the way it began; merch table dilemma. A merch stand can be stressful for a guy like me. I must make quick decisions on overpaying for things I might never see again or buy something I’ll never wear. Compounding the problem is I’m a cheap bastard. On this evening, the decision predictably came down to a tour t-shirt with tour dates and tour name on it (East Coast F#CK YOU) or a simple black shirt with the band logo. I went with overpaying for a shirt with the time-tested band logo. A conservative decision for sure but I’ll be able to wear this shirt around the Grandkids with no worries.

It was a great evening in ‘The Land’ and I look forward to my next show with The Bouncing Souls. Well Done!
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Billy, Don't Be A Porter

Buckeye Randy · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 10:35 am Post subject:

The choices have been made for the 2025 RnR HOF. It's always a debate if chart success is more important than overall quality or being influential or even longevity.

The inductees with some of my comments.

Bad Company - A supergroup born from Free, Mott The Hoople and King Crimson. Four top ten albums in both the U.S. and U.K.. I think they are the most denim sounding band ever and not very influential. Bad Company should be the low bar to pass for future bands from the '70's.

Chubby Checker - Chubby didn't write any of the seven songs that landed in the Billboard Top Ten. All could be described as novelty songs. He's the beneficiary of a catchy name and recording the definitive remake of 'The Twist'.

Joe Cocker - Will this be the last Woodstock inductee? Moderate chart success surpassed by iconic images and cover versions. Leon Russell made this guy a star!

Cyndi Lauper - Cindi helped define MTV in the '80's and was on the cover of every magazine. Only two albums made the Top Ten in the U.S. but she did have eight singles in the Top Ten. Certainly influential.

Outkast - I don't have a problem with non RnR acts being in the HOF. I know very little about the band but they were successful and influential from everything I've read.

Soundgarden - Three of their five albums landed in the Billboard Top 5. "Black Hole Sun" was a video everybody remembers. How many grunge bands will end up in the HOF?

The White Stripes - Considered groundbreaking and influential. Three of six albums in Top Ten, "Seven Nation Army" is played by High School marching bands.
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Billy, Don't Be A Porter

Alex Robertson · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 11:32 am Post subject:

I thought Billy Idol was nominated this year??

Buckeye Randy · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 12:08 pm Post subject:

Buckeye Randy · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2025 1:28 am Post subject:

Recent Favorites...

Samantha Fish - Can Ya Handle The Heat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNsGGAhP5xw
From her album "Paper Doll" released on April 25th. I'm clueless as to why this blues goddess isn't playing arenas but I'm glad she's not! Looking forward to my next small venue show with Samantha.

Frankie And The Studs - Flash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2htsjrStww
Nice balance of '70's punk and glam morphed into a medium/well burger with extra cheese.

Nico Bones - Judy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujDG0PAwmTc
Fresh garage/glam that has a little more emphasis on melody than the bands that inspired them.

Green Day - Smash It Like Belushi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FimVYEK7xPw
This band just keeps kicking out top shelf music that defines their genre a full 30 years after coming out. Impressive when you think about what other 'big' bands did 30 years into a career.

Anthony Gomes - Blame It On Rock & Roll
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9G_qBQg_mw
Guy music by guys for guys. It's your basic southern fried blues riff meets Ted Nugent on a Sunday stroll through the park.

Teenage Bottlerocket - She's The Sh*t
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUZ0VNl6eJw
Simple love songs deliver a timeless message. Music doesn't need to be complicated. I love these guys.

King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard - Deadstick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7t2FL1SRaE
I like to revisit those heady avant-garde days of my youth. This band is pop version of Van Der Graaf Generator with a shot of Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah. Love the horns.

The Bouncing Souls - United
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qO5KJ4L-HQ
The song is heavier on camaraderie than punk energy but the anthem like chorus was fun live last Saturday. This band specializes in positive energy.

Soraia - So Holy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDY85e1uS74
Garage energy with a beat.

Sorrows - What A Good Boy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H5kJrh-QQM
Late '70's California new wave doing best impression of Badfinger. Not a far throw from The Knack or The Romantics with a pinch of The Quick.

Alice Cooper - Black Mamba
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgbkuJo1ifU
First release in 50 years by the original Alice Cooper group. The song would fit seamlessly on Killer, Love It To Death or Billion Dollar Babies. Well Done!

Best cover: Frankie And The Studs - Venus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbNg8uDH0Ew
Billy Joe Armstrong helps on vocals
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Billy, Don't Be A Porter