CVSW September 2014 by CV WorldWide Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2014

THE Lifestyle Magazine for Custom Vehicle & Music Enthusiasts

ALWAYS FREE

Contents... Rock Calendar

Las Vegas Nightlife; Kevin Lastovica

News You Can Use - Motorcycles: Chopper Kits

Order in the Chaos; Brien DeChristopher’s Music Blog

Gear the Pros Use: Guitarist Ronee Pena

News You Can Use - Cars: 11 Mistakes of Shoppers

Gear the Pros Use: Drummer Marco Zavala

Tattoo Gallery...readers send in pics of favorite tattoos

Jamie Paulus Pure Sin Photography, always up for bringing us the BEST shows, gives us Loverboy, Foreigner, and Styx; with a review by Kathleen Clarkson. Page 30

Sherry Keith Mystic Photography in Concert brings to life the incredible concert storm that is Ill Nino. Page 8 CV Southwest Magazine

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CV SOUTHWEST MAGAZINE © 2012-13 is published monthly and NO reproduction of content is permitted without Publisher’s prior approval. Publisher assumes no financial responsibility for the errors in ads beyond the cost of space occupied by error. Publisher is not liable for: any slandering of an individual, or group as we mean no malice or individual criticism at any time; nor are we responsible for the opinions or comments of our columnists; and promises, coupons, or lack of fulfillment from advertisers who are solely responsible for the content of their ads. Publisher is also to be held harmless from: failure to produce any issue as scheduled due to reasons beyond control; all suits, claims or loss of expenses; this includes but is not limited to, suits for libel, plagiarism, copyright infringement and unauthorized use of a person’s name or photograph.

Sept 6 Sept 11 Sept 12 Sept 12 Sept 12 Sept 12 Sept 13 Sept 13 Sept 13 Sept 13 Sept 14 Sept 15 Sept 17 Sept 18 Sept 19 Sept 19 Sept 19 Sept 19 Sept 20 Sept 20 Sept 20 Sept 20 Sept 21 Sept 21 Sept 22 Sept 23 Sept 24 Sept 25 Sept 26 Sept 26 Sept 26 Sept 27 Sept 27 Sept 27 Sept 27 Sept 28 Sept 28 Sept 29 Sept 30

Grindstone Creek Total Chaos Future Villains Hemlock Smashing Alice Total Chaos Grindstone Creek Hemlock Systemec Total Chaos Total Chaos Total Chaos Total Chaos Total Chaos Brazen Hemlock Smashing Alice Total Chaos Daze Gone By Future Villains Hemlock Total Chaos Hemlock Total Chaos Total Chaos Total Chaos Total Chaos Total Chaos Brad Bailey Hemlock Total Chaos Mr Scary Smashing Alice Total Chaos Vile Child Brad Bailey Total Chaos Total Chaos Total Chaos

Dirty D's Dive Bar Vamp'd Riot Room Vamp'd Burt’s Tiki Lounge Rat Rods & Bettys Car Show Rat Rods & Bettys Car Show Vinyl Snowboard On The Block Festival The Hideout The Pheonix Lounge The Hattrix Reggie’s Music Joint Vamp'd Woolys Vinyl Corktown Tavern Gold Mine Tavern Sunet Strip Music Festival Another Hole in the Wall The Historic Melody Inn Mindframe Theatres The Grog Shop Plush Farmers Market Three Links Limelight Cheyenne Saloon Chesterfields Mango’s Vamp'd the Firehouse Red 7 Cheyenne Saloon Dive Bar Sector 7 Launchpad Yucca Tap Room

St Joseph, MO Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV Kansas City, MO Las Vegas, NV Salt Lake City, UT Lathrop, MO Lathrop, MO Las Vegas, NV Denver, CO Omaha, NE Sioux Falls, SD Kenosha, WI Chicago, IL Las Vegas, NV Des Moines, IA Las Vegas, NV Detroit, MI Henderson, NV W Hollywood, CA Steger, IL Indianpolis, IN Dubuque, IA Cleveland Heights, OH St. Louis, MO Oklahoma City, OK Dallas, TX San Antonio, TX Las Vegas, NV Souix City, IA Houston, TX Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV Austin, TX Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV El Paso, TX Albuquerque, NM Tempe, AZ

<CV SW> Tell our readers who's in the band and their role? Justin Theriault - Vocals & harmonica. David Harris - Guitar, slide, mandolin & bg vocals Josh Masters - Bass bg vocals Michael Cheatham - Drums & bg vocals

only goal was to write great songs. Yes the band is originally from Columbus, OH. We toured the Midwest, Northeast & the Southeast doing around 200 shows year, as well as shows and other countries such as Japan, South Korea, Guam & Singapore. It came time to make a new record and we needed some new inspiration. We knew some people out on the West Coast and they convinced us that being here would be a great idea to write and record plus we wanted to play more on the West Coast because we haven't really done that as much in the past.

<CV SW> Tell us about the beginning, who founded the band, what was the catalyst behind it? We understand you are originally from Ohio, what brought you to Vegas? <DAVID> The band was formed by me, Justin and Josh. I was in another band that was falling apart at the time and Josh and Justin we're in a similar situation. When we first got together our <CV SW> Talk to us about the

journey to find the right combination of musiciansâ&#x20AC;Ś <DAVID> It's not easy to find the right combination of people where everybody's on the same page that's for sure. Good intentions only get you so far. We are hard on ourselves as a band because we want to be better than we were on our last show. We want our next song to be better than the last song wrote. <CV SW> Tell us about the name, where did it come from? <DAVID> Our name was inspired by our original drummer. He was going through a break up and every song he heard on the radio was a heartbroken love song. He kind of made a com-

guitar & they were terrible but I wasn't good enough to play other people songs at that time. And I just kind of never stopped writing.

ment in passing and we all looked at each other & said that's it. <CV SW> What were your initial thoughts on creating the band, how did you think you'd fare in a pretty high quality music market? <DAVID> We didn‘t think in those ways. We wanted to write music that we could enjoy playing live in front of everybody. <CV SW> Who do you guys count as your musical influences? <DAVID> That's a tough question because we listen to so many different styles of music. But some bands we do agree on our Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, the Black Crowes & Lenny Kravitz. This list could go on forever but there's a few. <CV SW> Have you guys always wanted to play music, or were there other interests when you were younger? <DAVID> I can only really speak for me but there's nothing else I wanted to do. I start writing songs as soon as I got my first

combination that you think works so well? <DAVID> I think we're at a point in the bands life where we're connecting stronger musically as well as personally and it <CV SW> Some of you have been shows when we play live. in other bands before this one, tell us about those? <CV SW> In the end, while all <DAVID>I was in a band called bands WANT to be successful, are ‗Pay the Girl‖ we were on TVT you prepared for the success this records we had a top 20 single will bring? with a song called ‗Freeze‘. <DAVID> We have been <CV SW> What do you hope to knocked down & dragged around accomplish with your music, what so many times but always got back up that anything that hapmessage do you try to convey? pens we will be ready for. <DAVID> I mean for the songs, we hope maybe to bring people <CV SW> What kind of pressure back to rock 'n roll. Remind do you feel, if any, to produce a sucthem how cool it is to plug a Les cessful record? Paul into a Marshall and just turn <DAVID> There might be an it up and hit a power cord. unspoken pressure but we just try <CV SW> What motivates you to to write songs that we will want keep improving, to keep expanding to play live. your horizons as musicians and a <CV SW> How will you decide band? <DAVID> The fans; the live which songs to release as singles? show & music in general. We do <DAVID> When you write a this for the people that love the batch of songs there's always a few that kind of stand up on top band. so just don't think about it. You'll <CV SW> What is it about THIS know when you hear the song.

get their act together with how they pay the bands. As far as singles I still prefer a body of work versus buying one song. We are releasing a few EPâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s in a year vs. one CD every other year. So you'll get more new music with the way the industry is. <CV SW> Social Media platforms...savvy PR tools or necessary evil? <DAVID> I think you have to do it. People are so used to getting what they want right now that no one wants to wait to get that information.

<CV SW> How has the response been so far from the shows you are playing? <DAVID> The people of been great. We are always seeing new faces as well as the faces we saw the preview show. <CV SW> How important is it for fans of the headliner to come early to see the opening band, to support them? <DAVID> It's a great way to find new music. We've been lucky to open up for some great bands & their fans have really embraced us. <CV SW> Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk about the music industry today...and social media...music distribution is much different now, do you see that as progress? The ability to market/sell individual songs, does that benefit the industry as a whole? <DAVID> I mean that's a tough question. If I had to take a lesser of two evils I guess I prefer people streaming the song versus stealing the songs from the Internet. But streaming still needs to

home and brought it to them. They are great people. We would do it again in a heartbeat. <CV SW> You guys played Vans Warped Tour in addition to the Changjiang International Music Festival this past April. Tell us about that. <DAVID> Warp tour was fun. It's kind of weird cuz your in competition with all these other bands to try to get people to come to your stage to watch your band & you never know what time you are going to play until the day of the show. You have to work your ass off on Warped Tour but it's rewarding. China was a blast like I mentioned earlier. We can't wait to go back. Amazing music fans.

<CV SW> Do you guys have a favorite place to play? <DAVID> Any place with the stage and people is our favorite place to play. We definitely dig the Palms, they been great to us, <CV SW>What is it about your as well as LVCS. music that you feel appeals to fans? <DAVID> I think it's that we are <CV SW> Have you had any par- playing rock & roll. Not a lot of ticularly memorable shows to date? bands are doing that right now. Why was it memorable; good OR I'm talking Stones/Aerosmith inbad. spired rock & roll. Where you <DAVID> We j u s t hear rock but also a blues & played Changjiang International Music Festival in China playing for over 80,000 people so that was pretty badass. Also opening for Bon Jovi and Kid Rock was a huge learning experience, playing at Meadowlands stadium & learning how to work a stadium crowd. <CV SW>We understand you went overseas twice to play for the troops, tell us how how that came about and how was that experience? <DAVID>The military booked us to come over and play some shows for the troops. We support anybody who's fighting for our freedom. We took a piece of

southern influence.

you guys listen to during downtime and relaxation? <CV SW> What can fans expect to <DAVID> The Black Crowes, see at a show? Nick Drake, Soundgarden, David <DAVID> High-energy rock 'n Bowie. I mean this answer could roll show, with a lot of guitar riffs go on forever. and catchy melodies that you'll be singing later to yourself. <CV SW> How much pressure is there to “produce” with every new <CV SW> Do any of your songs musical offering? speak to you on a deep personal lev- <DAVID> We don't think about el? it. If it feels good as are writing it <DAVID> Yes for sure. All of then we know we're on the right our songs are about things that track. have happened in our lives. <CV SW> It’s still very early, <CV SW> How have you guys where do you see the band in 3-5 grown as a band and as musicians? years? Idealistic and realistic? <DAVID> We were constantly <DAVID> Touring & making writing so you grow as writers by records. It's about the music to trying new things, letting new ex- us. periences inspire you. <CV SW> What are your plans as <CV SW> Where do you think far as touring, anything in the you are in the journey Love Sick works? Radio ? <DAVID> We hope to get back <DAVID> We're starting a new to our touring cycle later this chapter in a way but we have a year. We are itching to start playton more to write still. ing on the road again. <CV SW> What other bands do <CV SW>Okay, what’s in store for

the remainder of 2014? What other big projects are in the works? <DAVID> We have a new EP coming out September 16. Plus we have a lot more shows that will be announcing very soon. <CV SW> Any final words you would like to convey to your fans? <DAVID>Thank you to anyone that believes in the band and if you haven't check the band out yet please check us out.

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onsoon Season is coming to an end in Vegas, but the bands are still turning up the heat with no end in sight. World Record performances, Charity Drives and some up and coming bands are showing their chops.

Starting the month off hard and heavy, David Reed Watson and the 'Electric Messiah' boys opened the Vamp'd stage for favorites, LA Guns. This combination would pack any venue in Las Vegas and they did not disappoint this time. The SA boys will be some of the many musicians participating in what has to be the biggest local music event of the year. KISS Night III at Vamp‘d, the 3rd consecutive year, brings out musicians from all over the world to play a tribute to KISS and contributes all proceeds to the local charity, Imagine, which provides musical instruments to schools and children and is a non-profit organization. Way too many Musicians to name will be playing a few songs on the Vamp'd stage while patrons can purchase raffle tickets to win many prizes that have been donated by everyone across the Vegas valley. It will definitely be the only place to be on August 30, which since just after the deadline for my column, cannot be featured this month. Look for highlights next month. The ‗Moaning Blacksnakes‘ have been playing the recently re-opened Sand Dollar stage what seems like every weekend and from the look of it, seems to be getting people back out there. It was a good live music hangout back in the day and hopefully the new owners can get it back there. Davy-o and the boys from 'Forget to Remember' took the stage at Jack's Irish Pub, inside Palace Station Casino, the place that used to be an every-weekend stopping point when Rik & Sean from 'Nuff Said' were rocking the stage for so many years. '3Align', after their recent CD-Release party in the Chrome Showroom up at Santa Fe Station, brought their rocking stage show to Vamp'd to open up for the legendary 80's Rocker, Stephen Pearcy, from RATT. Al and the boys shows the packed house just what they have been talking about, with their new sound. I gotta say, their music is something that may just get them a record deal. It's new, it's old, its hard, its rockin‘. It‘s only a matter of time.

Speaking of '3Align', our good friends from 'Systemec' opened up for them at their CD release Party and also for the newest member of the local music scene, 'Dilana'. Systemec's new drummer is Danny Robert; it seems he‘s in another band every time I turn a corner and I have now lost count at something like 37 bands or something. Rock on Brother! Mid-month a brand new Craft Beer Bar, 'Rebel Republic', opened on the west side of town that may have the potential of hosting a band or Smashing Alice was asked back to play another After- two. One of the bartenders and a huge supporter of Party at Vinyl inside Hard Rock for some touring the local music scene, Wendy, will definitely have bands and they did not disappoint with another full some influence when the time comes to offer any house that went to the wee hours of the morning. Con- type of live music. With 50+ Beers on Tap, a shitcert-goers from the Offspring/Pennywise/Bad Reliload of made-from-scratch menu offerings and 'Tall gion show moshed, partied and some even got up on stage to help the band sing a few. The guys never dis- -Boys' of Old Milwaukee, Hamm's & Olympia for appoint and its no surprise that Max has them on reg- you die-hards, this is a true live music type of bar. Located on the northwest corner of Sahara & Valular rotation there. ley View, local musicians need to go check the place out, say hi to Wendy and have a few...dozen beers. Tell her Kevin, the camera guy sent you ;) To bring the month and the summer to an end, the 'End Of Summer Classic Rock Party' at Tommy Rocker's on the 30th, with Tommy Rocker opening up for Kelly Dorn and his 'Driving While Blind' crew. Those on the south side of town that can‘t venture out west to the KISS Night or the others tend to like the central location of Tommy Rockers and the place has been a winner for the 16 years that I've been in Vegas and have been going there. Tommy Rocker never has a bad party, let‘s put it that way. Well, time to go shoot another show, so that's a wrap for this month. Make sure and send me all of your events my way via Facebook and I'll do my best to give you a mention, and may possibly come out to shoot a show.

Want a Chopper? Build Your Own! by Michael Holmes Motorcycle chopper kits are a growth industry. But what does that mean to you and me? Well one thing that we know is that we will have more choppers to ogle at. There is not a single day that goes by without more and more pictures of chopper bikes that have just been finished showing up in all the motorcycle magazines. Then at the weekends, when we are on our ―hot‖ rides, we will see four or five show finish level bikes. There are more choppers around now than there have been in the last twenty five years. Most of these choppers have been built from motorcycle chopper kits, the ―bike in a box‖ approach. But hey, don‘t knock it! Building your own chopper has never been easier. There are rolling chassis kits, complete bike kits, and frame manufacturers give you a multitude of choice when it comes to take the plunge and buy a motorcycle chopper kit. Thirty years ago, the old school chopper builders had to start with a stock bike off-the-shelf and literally chop it to pieces. With the modern chopper kits, there is a viable alternative to taking the cutting torch to your favorite soft tail! Nowadays, you have a cheap and easier way to build the bike from the ground up. When you take the cost of buying a new bike and the expense of chopping it, it works out much cheaper to start from step one, and your chopper kit. Instead of tossing away the parts that you'll never use again, you can start building your own bike with the parts that you really need. All the parts are included in the motorcycle chopper kit, along with comprehensive instructions. One of the first questions that people ask when considering buying a kit is how will my bike stand outs from all the other chopper kits? Well think of it this way, you are going to buy a chopper kit. A pile of unassembled raw metal. No paint, no real finish, just a blank canvas. Is your taste in paint jobs likely to be the same as the next guy, who buys the very same kit? I don't think so. What about your taste in bolt-ons, seats, exhausts? Just because you buy the kit doesn‘t mean every little thing has to be just so. That is the whole point isn‘t it? It's very easy in this way to build your own custom chopper from a chopper kit. Another big question is, ―How long‖? The answer to that is as long as it takes. Even on the kit bikes, which are supposed to be designed to fit together like a glove, you are going to run into some snags. It can‘t be avoided! If you want a more concrete guide, try this. An experienced kit builder (though not a professional) I spoke to reckons it took 10 full days to build his last chopper from a kit. For someone less experienced it could take a couple of days longer. Twelve 9 hour days works out at 108 hours. Over evenings and weekends, this could drag out to three or four weeks of living in a pile of motorcycle

parts! So be prepared to literally live the experience if you are going to take the plunge. What about the practical side? Well, there is no substitute for experience. The place to start building up your experience with the mechanical side of building to kit bike is with your current ride. Make sure all you can do the basic maintenance on your motorcycle, and then start to do some simple disassembling. Take off the tires, take off the exhaust, real basic stuff; all of this will help to build a new confidence in the shop side of things. You can also get some great videos on maintenance, and even on building the custom bike of your dreams. Read the books, watch the videos, and buy the t-shirt! Believe me, all the preparation you make will stand you in good stead. If you really are hopeless at the mechanical side of things, why not pay someone else to help you build it, or even get them to build the whole thing for you? The cost of the kit plus labor could well work out cheaper than buying a chopper ―off the shelf‖. And of course, when that beautiful chopper is standing on your driveway, and your friends are asking you ―Was it worth it?‖ you can turn to the chopper, drag your hand across the flames on the tank and the polished chrome, turn back to them and say, ―What do you think?‖ Michael Holmes is a enthusiast for all thing motorcycle. His website is a great resource of articles aimed at motorcyclists of all levels.

http://www.kouvradio.com/ Vancouver, WA

At KOUV we believe in keeping it local 24/7 by supporting NorthWest music and business

The NW is RICH in talent and that talent NEEDS to be heard!

At KOUV we believe that the Pacific NW scene is HOT AS EVER!

Order in the Chaos Where have all the mid-level Musicians gone?

growing trend in the local scene in almost any city of your choosing appears to be a self-proclamation on each "player's" behalf of their own excellent attributes and accomplishments…but seemingly very little desire to WORK and STRIVE to better their craft or gain NEW accomplishments. I've been watching quite a few of my friends in certain local scenes struggle to get something positive going, only to break up, disband, or quit within a few weeks or months after starting. Or cannot get going because every time they think they have all the pieces, someone new bails out…so you get the old musical chair going. I don't think I will ever understand this dynamic. Sheesh, if EVERYONE gave up so easily, we'd all still be sitting in caves hoping a sick, old, or injured mammoth will stroll by before we all starve to death. I believe no one will ever get anything if they are not willing to work for it. Everything I do I worked my ass off for, and I tend to expect it from those I choose to work with as well. I never respect a QUITTER or a person who is so delusional that they think they might be the next Eddie Van Halen or Chris Cornell without understanding those guys worked their asses off to get to where they are. It wasn't just handed to them. And yeah, their earlier attempts sucked too. But, they kept at it…and each professional musician out there who makes a living at it does so because of their own powerful and enduring work ethic. Not by just thinking they can step into a quick scenario and SNAP! everything just comes together and off they go. Nope, I believe that you will never end up with a good mid-level band unless you have

a core group of folks with a common goal and work ethic who are not afraid to be creative and reveal themselves at such an intimate level with other dudes in a closed room for a long enough time to get to know each other in and out. But, that depends on EVERYONE in the room…not just me. So, recently, while searching for the right voice for the band I play with we came across quite a few guys who had an AMAZING amount of talent, and a few that have that "something" that you believe would be a good attribute or asset to the situation, but have been sadly disappointed in their lack of any willingness to even do any research on the band or study the material given to them. We even had a few guys actually say that they won't waste the time to write anything or put any work into something they may not pass the au-

dition for. Guess what, you asshole…wonder why you're not in a band? Wonder why we didn't ask you back? Like your tone-deaf, amateur, adolescent lyrical ability is going to win you the spot. But, thank god they show up to their auditions dressed up like Layne Staley or Jim Morrison and wearing dark over-sized ladies sunglasses. Dude, you're not them. You don't sound like them, you don't deserve to appear to look like them, and I'm quite sure they would not respect you if they saw you dressed and acting like them at an AUDITION for another band. And you sure as hell are NOT a rock star. So, all that aside, folks, ditch the impatience and grandiose demeanors and try applying yourselves to your trade, your bands, your band MATES, and be a frigging MUSICIAN for once. You might be surprised that it has a lot better chance of not only SUCCEEDING but EXCEEDING your expectations of your life with music. Maybe the reason you've still not made it is YOU. Not the INDUSTRY, not GRUNGE, not where you LIVE, not the supposedly DEAD SCENE, not your BANDMATES… but YOU. Because only you can take charge of your situation and make it better. Stop waiting on the bus, or hoping you might steal one…and just be open to f**king BUILD one, sheesh! :)

Brien DeChristopher is the guitarist and primary songwriter for Seattle Seale-based hard rock band "Agents Of Chaos". He has played in numerous live and recording bands over the years where he has logged countless hours on stage in live performance, and studio recording time. You can see this and other Pearls of Wisdom at http://www.blogster.com/briendechristopher/

Blue Blood Metal - Wearable Art

<CV SW> Tell our readers who's in the band and their role? Robert A. Whitworth – Lead Vocal/rhythm guitar – aka The Storyteller Michelle A. Whitworth: Bass Lee Taylor: Backup vocals/ lead & rhythm guitar Danielle O'Leary Gregory: Backup vocals Bryan Knapp: Drums

<ROBERT> Oh the name. . . . . LOL!!! That‘s a funny story. It is based off my name Robert Andrew Whitworth, but I didn‘t want to call the band ―The Robert Andrew Whitworth Band‖. So we decided on a name that meant something to us all. And then boom!!! R.A.W. Rebels Against Wicked was born!! We all have such amazing stories to tell of life and our trials and tribulations. We are a group of peeps ―that we call family‖ that have come from hard lives. We are the Rebels that have walked the walk, and we stand against the wicked. Meaning whatever wicked haunts you. Funny thing is that I got a tattoo of the name R.A.W. my arm when I was 19…never thought about using it for a band name.

<CV SW> Tell us about the beginning, who founded the band, what was the catalyst behind it? <ROBERT> Well, I am the founder of this awesome group of Musicians! It all started with wanting to find some musicians to help me rewrite some of my acoustic songs into electric. I had come to a brick wall and wanted to take it to the <CV SW> What were your initial thoughts on creatnext level. ing the band, how did you think you'd fare in a pretty <CV SW> Talk to us about the journey to find the high quality music market? right combination of musicians . . . <ROBERT> It was a little whirly a first but we <ROBERT> I started to entertain the idea while stuck it out and took the advice from our peers doing solo acts opening up for shows in the NW here in the NW area. The band and I have always area. Through that and with the help of my wife been aware of the historical talent that this place ―Ace‖, I had the opportunity to meet some really holds. Some of us have been involved in the music cool people that have helped push me in the right seen for a long time. I like to think of it as a game direction. After that things just fell into place. of golf. It‘s only a game that can be played and <MICHELLE> The original band actually had a never won, so we just play our game and keep dodifferent bass player. I was supposed to just step in ing what is suggested. We stay pretty vigilant in to fill in until they found a bass player. Well that supporting the local music scene, cause we believe never happened and I was officially welcomed in in what you see is what you get. When you don‘t the band. have anything else all you have is your dignity and <CV SW>Tell us about the name, where did it come respect, not only for yourself but for others. So in a from? nutshell we recognize and respect the NW music

swer because I get my influences from a great diversity of different artist. I listen to everything from Bach to Megadeth. I love music with a great drive so most of my influence comes from the edgier side of things. My whole life has been centered around the northwest music scene from my early years to now. The music here is like no other and I‘m blessed to have grown up in the Northwest. <CV SW> Have you guys always wanted to play music, or were there other interests when you were younger? <ROBERT> No, pretty much all of us have been in evolved in music, art, or even dancing that led us to wanting to make music and perform. <DANIELLE> I have always been fascinated with music. I was born with it in my blood. <BRYAN> No, music was something I was born to do. I started playing the drums when I was 3. <MICHELLE> This is a funny story. Let‘s see…it all started as a local music supporter, then girlfriend, wife, promoter, photographer, and manager. This last year I finally became the musician! By far this is the funniest part of being involved with music. <LEE> I have wanted to be a musician my whole life.

scene and in return she has blessed us to be a band. <MICHELLE> Truthfully I wasn‘t sure what would happen when we all got together. We all come from very different backgrounds in music interests and genres. However, when it all came together, we realized we had a very unique sound. I actually don‘t have any expectations in this market. The most important thing for me is to learn, grow, and to have fun. My biggest hope is for mu- <CV SW> Some of you have been in other bands besic fans to walk away feeling awesome after hear- fore this one, tell us about those? ing it performed. <ROBERT>I have been performing as a singer song writer for most of my life and have been in a <CV SW> Who do you guys count as your musical influences? <ROBERT> We have a wide range of influences from the pioneers of 70‘s rock, metal, blue‘s, and R&B…all the way through to today‘s rock styles. We have a little something for everyone. We all pretty much have the same idea though. Rock and roll baby!! We are becoming a solid rock band for sure! <DANIELLE> My earliest influences go way back to a local 1950‘s rock band ―The Fabulous Wailers‖. My Uncle Kent Morrill was the lead singer and keyboardist for over 50 years. They did such songs as ―Louie Louie‖ which was the first rock version of that iconic song. <BRYAN> Neal Peart from Rush, Tommy Lee, Vinnei Paul, to name a few. <MICHELLE> This is always hard for me to an-

few garage bands, but this my first band project. <BRYAN> Left 4 Dead with Lee Taylor from 2009-2012; Degree of Disorder 2012-2014; but none of those bands where as fun as RAW. I enjoy the music so much more now. <MICHELLE> My first project. <LEE> I have been in quite a few bands over the years. The last band was called ―Left 4 Dead‖, Bryan was the drummer, Michelle was our Manager, and Rob was opening up for us playing his acoustic guitar. LOL!! What times those where! That was four years ago and thought it wasn‘t going to go anywhere after that. I was in a couple of garage bands since then. Now look! We are all together in the same band. <CV SW> What do you hope to accomplish with your music, what message do you try to convey? <ROBERT> We hope to continue expressing ourselves and our stories; telling the world, or that one person that they are not alone, and to stand and fight! O and RAWK OUT of course!!! LOL!! <DANIELLE> Our music has a positive message of how we have overcome each of our dark times. <BRYAN> I want to be on the cover of a fucking Rolling Stone. Never give up no matter how old you are or what gets in your way (we hope the cover of CV NorthWest will suffice in the short term the Pres). <MICHELLE> Stand up for what you believe in!

band? <ROBERT> For some of us music is everything. It‘s a language inside itself. We always want to better ourselves so we can better tell you our stories. Our songs have a lot of feeling <DANIELLE> With me it‘s being an influence on <CV SW> What motivates you to keep improving, to the younger generation, getting them involved in keep expanding your horizons as musicians and a music and the music scene. Giving them a passion for music, and keeping them out of trouble. Give them something they can enjoy for life. <BRYAN> All the different genres that have popped up. It used to be simple. You were either Rock, Metal, Alternative, or Grunge. Now there‘s so many new ones that you have to expand your musical likes and abilities. <MICHELLE> I just started this adventure so I‘m so looking forward to learning and growing with my instrument. I work with one of the best bass players the northwest has to offer – Mr. Jeff Morgan. He is also a very gifted instructor and I know the best is yet to come for me. <CV SW> What is it about THIS combination that you think works so well? <ROBERT> Not bragging, but we keep it real. We care about are music. We care how it sounds to

you and to us. <DANIELLE> RAW works so well because we are all family and have been friends for a long time. Some of us were in bands together prior to RAW, so we already know each other‘s music creation likes and dislikes. With no ego problem with the band it makes so easy and enjoyable. <BRYAN> We are family and lifelong friends. <MICHELLE> We are family so we love and care about each other very much. We all have really diverse tastes in music so when we combine that we get some pretty unique sounds. <LEE> Simplicity….every member in this band has been immersed in the NW music scene in one form or another, so it wasn‘t too hard for it all to fall into place. <CV SW>In the end, while all bands WANT to be successful, are you prepared for the success this will bring? <ROBERT> I think so. We don‘t put great expectations on things. We are along for the ride. We are just blessed to have these opportunities. <DANIELLE> We have thought about the ―What If‘s‖, and that‘s the fun part about being in a band, the journey ahead. Things have been moving pretty fast for us and it‘s really exciting. If something comes out of our music that would be awesome. But for now we are just having a blast… <BRYAN> Is anybody? It would be cool to make it, but for now it‘s fun… <MICHELLE> I‘m just honored to be here. <LEE>We will ride that bull all the way to the end! No matter where it leads us!

to produce a successful record? <ROBERT> LOL!!! Not having to do too many takes! We are confident that our producer Jonathan Plum is going to take us to the next level. <DANIELLE> Every band has pressure to make a great album. The thoughts of "What if the public doesn't like our sound? What songs should we use? What arrangement changes; etc...but we got extremely lucky to have London Bridge Studios in Seattle to work with us. Our producer Jonathon Plum has worked some of the greatest Seattle bands of the 90's like Pearl Jam, Alice and Chains, Soundgarden, Candlebox, and Blind Melon. He is super cool to work with, and a genius at the board. He really knows his stuff.... <BRYAN> A lot, with so many great bands out here putting out great CD's you have to put out your best to be recognized. Presentation is everything. <MICHELLE> No pressure. I mean we all want to succeed. In the end, it is always about the whether the listener loves it and if we touch just a few then it is ALL worth it to me!! <LEE> Not so much pressure, but just wanting to make the best CD ever. We don‘t get these opportunities very often, and couldn‘t have asked to do it with a better group of people.

<CV SW> How will you decide which songs to release as singles? <ROBERT> We haven‘t really discussed how but we have some ideas on what songs people like. <BRYAN> OUR music is already well known through the area, I guess we will listen to our fans on which songs are their favorites <CV SW> What kind of pressure do you feel, if any, <MICHELLE> We have fans around home that

we will help select the song I‘m sure. Of course, we look to industry professionals to help us in that decision as well. <CV SW> How has the response been so far from the shows you are playing? <ROBERT> We really seem to connect with people of all ages. Some people didn‘t know what to expect. The word is we are a fun RAWK-ing band, with something for everyone. A great solid rock band! <DANIELLE> The response has been awesome. Like I said, things have been moving super fast for us… <BRYAN> Excellent. We have some awesome fans. <MICHELLE> The most common thing I hear, ―that was so not what I expected‖. I think people thought we would come out way harder. The response I look for is dancing and smiles. <CV SW> How important is it for fans of the headliner to come early to see the opening band, to support them? <ROBERT> It‘s very important! Everyone has been the new kid on the block at one time or another and know what it‘s like to not to have anyone standing at the stage. It helps build confidents and character in us. When bands go on stage they give it their all! They put their heart on their sleeves and let go. I know it makes me play better and feel good when I have my peers watching our band play. <DANIELLE> It is real important. The local music scene is slowly dying. It is hard for new bands. I always try to go to music shows and catch all the acts. Myself, I love to see a new band I haven‘t

heard yet. <BRYAN> Super important, that's how you discover awesome unknown bands. Without local bands there would be no national bands. Everybody was a local band at one point. <MICHELLE> Oh this is opening Pandora‘s Box. Everyone starts somewhere. Sometimes fans at major shows can be very brutal to the openers. Yeah we all know they aren‘t ―so-and-so‖ but holy cow give them some praise for having the balls to stand up there! Showing up early is also good for the venue. Keeps their doors open for music! <CV SW> Let’s talk about the music industry today...and social media...music distribution is much different now, do you see that as progress? The ability to market/sell individual songs, does that benefit the industry as a whole? <DANIELLE> Today in the music industry is so hard to break out. I believe that the internet and the music sharing/stealing is a major downfall for

bands these days. Bands can no longer depend on thier CD sells to make a living. One person buys a CD and 1000 people steal it. Bands now rely on their tours and merchandise to make a buck. <BRYAN> No, it's killing the music business. <MICHELLE> Indeed it is very different today than it was just a decade ago. I first stepped back into the scene as a manager after taking a break from it for awhile. All the tools I learned in the 90‘s were basically out the window. I realized very quickly that I had to adapt my skills. I rode in the back pocket of a great guitar player – Tony DeLisio of Mechanism, who just happens to be a social media genius - and learned what I could from him. I‘ve read as much stuff as I could get my hands on. Yeah I think today it has become a necessary evil. I just wish musicians wouldn‘t get raked over the coals financially because of the new tools we have. Hence, there is the negative side of the industry today. Musicians spend a lot of time, energy, and money to get their music heard not stolen!

<CV SW> Social Media platforms...savvy PR tools or necessary evil? <ROBERT> Please refer to Dani and Michelle for this answer. I am still young. <DANIELLE> Social Media is great for networking but a evil presence when it comes to MP3 sharing or just plain stealing downloads. <BRYAN> Kinda both. <CV SW> Do you guys have a favorite place to play? <ROBERT> We have a couple of places that we had a blast playing, but don‘t want to discriminate between venues. We do have ambitions to and goals to be able to play in the future like: DreamFest, Show Box, HempFest, the Whitewater Amphitheater…just to name a few places. <DANIELLE> We love to play at a local venue called Louie G's in Fife. He is a huge supporter of the local music scene and gives a lot to local charities. The owner is a great guy, and we love playing for people like him. <BRYAN> Any venue that supports the local scene. <MICHELLE> So far Louie G‘s in Fife. Great stage, sound, and people! <CV SW> Have you had any particularly memorable shows to date? Why was it memorable; good OR bad. <ROBERT> Yepper!! Louie G‘s!! It was our first show as a band. There had to been about 70 or so, of our friends, family, and local bands out there looking up at us! It was an awesome feeling! <BRYAN> Playing Oxfest in 2011 to over 5,000

people was definitely a high point of my career. <MICHELLE> My first show at Louie‘s under those lights! Hooked! <CV SW> What is it about your music that you feel appeals to fans? <ROBERT> We‘re real; we have a story to tell. The music really speaks for itself. <DANIELLE> All of our songs are stories that one of us has lived. I think fans like how they can connect with us through our songs. Fans say it's like we have taken a page from their lives and wrote a song just for them. I think that is really cool. <BRYAN> The diversity, and our high energy performances…that each one of our songs is a story of our lives. <MICHELLE> It has feeling and isn‘t the same old, same old! <CV SW> What can fans expect to see at a show? <ROBERT> Awesome energy with a rebel attitude that says who we are! We have a story to tell and we are going to bring it! <DANIELLE> Changes every show. We try not to do the same thing every time. Fans don't like a show they can predict every move. <BRYAN> Fans can expect to have a good time at our shows, every show is different there for you never know what to expect at our shows. <MICHELLE> ENERGY. <CV SW> Do any of your songs speak to you on a deep personal level? <ROBERT> Yes some of them more than others. These songs speak about our lives and how we walk through it. <DANIELLE> The song ‗Redemption‘ is my personal story. It's about my dark drug years and fighting my way back to sobriety. ‗Let Me In' hits close to home for me too. With my dark past comes the untrusting with family and friends. I'm very proud to say those years are far behind me. <BRYAN> Yep, all of them. In way or another I can relate to Rob‘s lyrics. They are deep and meaningful. Everyone in the band has walked a dark path and our songs are built upon that. <MICHELLE> Absolutely! All of the songs do because I‘m married to the songwriter. LOL! I have heard the meaning behind the songs so each one has meaning to me. ‗Let Me In‘ is by far the

most deeply personal for me. I think many of us have felt left out in the cold. <CV SW> How have you guys grown as a band and as musicians? <ROBERT> We are family and we stick together, so it‘s not hard to work with each other. Don‘t get me wrong we do have our moments! LOL!! We are getting tighter and tighter and as musicians, as a band, and as a family. <DANIELLE> As musicians we have grown though the ears very steadily. As a band we have grown into a very tight family. We have such a strong bond which works great when we are composing new material. <BRYAN> We are all family and push each other. This is my first band in this genre of music so it has made me get back in touch with my musical roots.

<MICHELLE> The level commitment has increased and the level of willingness to change, grow, and adapt has increased as well. <CV SW> Where do you think you are in the journey Raw Rebels Against Wikid? <ROBERT> Right where we‘re supposed to be. <DANIELLE> We are in the exciting stage. Like I said before, things are moving quickly with us. Since we have begun the process of production of our album a lot of big people from big name labels have been checking us out. No matter what happens in the future, we will continue creating music. Music is a blast and keeps us sane. <BRYAN> We are where we are. Don't know where we are heading and God only knows where we have been. <MICHELLE> Just the beginning of an epic adventure!

<DANIELLE> I myself listen to big bands such as In This Moment, Alice in Chains, STP, 5 Finger Death Punch. Local band favorites of mine are Mechanism, Mom‘s Rocket, Darklight, Prophets of Addiction. <BRYAN> Myself I listen to a lot of old school <CV SW> What other bands do you guys listen to 80's hair metal. <MICHELLE> Everything and anything. Right during downtime and relaxation? <ROBERT> We pretty much listen to everything now I‘m stuck on Five Finger Death Punch but from classic rock to today‘s metal! We listen to next week it will be something else. everything! LOL!! <CV SW> It’s still very early, where do you see the band in 3-5 years…idealistic and realistic? <ROBERT> I see us going strong really. We all have ambitions and dreams to be the best musicians we can be. There is nowhere to go but up from here; unless something changes in the future which we are not there yet and have no control over. In over all we believe we will go pretty far as a solid RAWK band <DANIELLE> Idealistic I would love to see us on Album #3 and touring nationally. Realistic I believe we will have album #2 and doing coastal touring. <BRYAN>Idealistically, would like to be touring national and at least another album out… realistically, another album of course and west coast tour. <CV SW> We understand you are currently in the studio, how is that going? <ROBERT> We are doing awesome! We are learning a lot working with Jonathan Plum! Through this experience we are going to become better musicians and individuals. He is doing an amazing job getting us ready for the next level! We are very excited!! <DANIELLE> Working on our album at London

<DANIELLE> We have a lot of new material we want to start on as soon as the studio time is finished. Plus we have some set dates for shows up to the New Year. So we are going to stay busy as a band... <BRYAN> Release of our CD hopefully before Christmas and writing new material. <MICHELLE> CD release and performances! Can‘t wait!

Bridge Studios in Seattle has been a awesome surreal experience. It's a lot of fun, and hard work. I will definitely never forget the experience…it's a dream come true...and our Producer Jonathon Plum rocks… <BRYAN> Awesome, working with Jonathon Plum from London Bridge Studios is a great honor. The man knows his music and is a God behind the mixing board. <MICHELLE> It is such a cool experience, worth every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears. You get a chance to hear every note and imperfection so you walk out even tighter as a band. <CV SW> What are your plans as far as touring, anything in the works? <ROBERT> No, not yet. We are taking things one step at a time so we will have our ducks in a row when it is time. <DANIELLE> We have been asked to open for a big band, the negotiations are in work right now so we can't spill the beans on who the band is as of yet… <BRYAN> Not at the moment, we would love to get a tour together in the near future. <MICHELLE> They just tell me when and where to show up. LMAO! <CV SW> Okay, what’s in store for the remainder of 2014? What other big projects are in the works? <ROBERT> Hopefully the CD will be ready before the end of the year. We do have a couple of gigs in the works. One at Louie G‘s on Oct 2 opening up for the Sin Circus tour and one on Dec 19 at a location in Seattle that I can‘t say opening up for an great show of IMMENSE proportions. We will have more details on the 19 show soon. Bryan has the 411 on that.

<CV SW> Any final words you would like to convey to your fans? <ROBERT> Thank you so much for supporting us and helping us become this awesome band! We can‘t wait to share our music and stories with you. We are ready to march with ya‘ll as Rebels Against Wicked! R.A.W. <DANIELLE> Only that RAW loves our fans. If it wasn't for them we wouldn't be where we are today…you ROCK, and keep on supporting your local music scene...keep live venues alive. <BRYAN> Thank you all for your love and support, for believing in us. Without there would be no RAW. <MICHELLE> Yeah let‘s RAWK this shit!! <LEE> We are look forward to RAWING your socks off and massaging your toes! LOL!!

Gear the Pros Use! Ronee Pena - Guitarist for Nadir Live

Greetings fellow gear whackos! I started playing guitar back in 1974 when I was 12. Actually my older brother was given an old Fender amp and a Tiesco del Rey electric guitar. Whenever he wasn't around I would jump on it and I picked it up fast. He said "aw screw it, I'll play drums". Right around the same time I started playing guitar I began tinkering with them which later on would land me a 18 year career as a Master Guitar Builder/Artist Relations Rep with Fender Musical Inst. Corp. I built guitars for people like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Richie Sambora just to name a few. Oddly enough I never made one for myself ! GUITARS - I use Gibson and Fender electric and acoustic guitars. I have a black les paul standard that my longtime good friend guitarist Dave Amato from REO Speedwagon helped me pick out last year at Normans Rare Guitars, LA California. It is completely stock and I love her to death! AMPLIFIERS - Marshalls only! I currently use a Triple Super Lead 100 watt head and 4x12 Marshall cabs with Celestion vintage 30's. EFFECTS - I went through the whole knucklehead rackmount syndrome in the eighties just like most of us in LA at the time. I got rid of all that nonsense a long time ago and went back to the old standard peddle board with (in order)...Dunlop Crybaby wah, Boss OD1, Boss Octive peddle, Boss chorus peddle, Boss delay peddle, MXR phase 90 and MXR noisegate. CABLES - Lifelines. I'm probably one of the only guitarist on the planet the uses a coil cable! STRINGS & PICKS - Ernie Ball Regular Slinkies 10-46 and Fender medium tortoise shell picks. "Play for the people" Ronee Pena Guitarist for Nadir Live

11 Biggest Mistakes Car Shoppers Make The Blunders That Can Really Cost You by Linda DiProperzio, Contributor Edmunds.com

When you're shopping for a car, there's a lot at stake, including time, money and your family's driving happiness for years to come. You don't have to do everything perfectly when you're car shopping, but there are some big mistakes you definitely should avoid. As you start your search for your next car, stay away from these top buying blunders. They can really cost you. 1. Skipping the research phase With any major purchase, you need to do your homework beforehand. Thanks to the Internet, there are reliable sites (like Edmunds.com) that supply a wealth of information on car makes and models, reviews, pricing, rebates and incentives and negotiating techniques. 2. Shopping at just one dealership When it comes to finding a great deal, it pays to shop around. Plan on checking out at least three different dealerships. You don't want to do this in person â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and you don't have to. You can use Edmunds.com and dealership Web sites to view vehicle inventory, and you can ask for prices via the quote-request systems. Compare deals, and when you're ready to buy, let the dealerships with whom you're talking know that you're keeping your options open. This can help you secure a great price. Also remember that it's not just about money: You also want to choose a dealership you're comfortable doing business with. Edmunds.com has dealer reviews that let you read what other shoppers have to say about the dealership with whom you might be working. 3. Ignoring the Internet department Most people aren't even aware that dealerships typically have an online operation that lets you negotiate a price and make a deal remotely. That's a huge stress reliever for those of us who hate negotiating face to face. For the ultimate in stress-free car shopping, check out Edmunds Price PromiseÂŽ, which offers shoppers an up-front, no-haggle price. 4. Focusing on the monthly payment Many buyers go in with a set amount they'd like to pay every month, and are happy to share that figure with the salesperson. "When you do that, you're not actually talking about the total price of the car," says Edmunds.com Senior Consumer Advice Editor Phil Reed. "You also need to take into consideration the interest rate, as well as the length of the loan." For example, a dealer might suggest a longer loan so the car fits in your budget. But a longer loan also means you pay more in interest. In the end, you wind up overpaying for the car.

5. Not doing an appraisal of your trade-in If you're planning on trading in your old car, be sure to look up its value on your own. You can get an estimate of your car's trade-in value from Edmunds.com: be sure to print out the details and bring them with you to the dealership. If you don't think you're getting a fair deal, you might be better off selling the car on your own, either to a private party or to the used-car superstore CarMax. Does your vehicle need some minor work, such as new tires or wiper blades? It's probably not worth fixing, says Matt Jones, senior editor, retail experience at Edmunds. It won't add much value to the trade-in. You're better off putting the money toward the new car. 6. Failing to do a thorough test-drive You're driving a car that doesn't belong to you, so it's normal to be a bit nervous. That's why the salesperson usually directs you where to go during a test-drive, which probably involves going down some local roads and making a few right-hand turns. But does that really give you a sense of how the car handles and how comfortable you are driving it? "Many of the complaints we get about cars could have been avoided with a good long test-drive," says Jack Gillis, director of public affairs at Consumer Federation of America and author of The Car Book. Buyers need to think about how they are going to use the car on a daily basis: driving on the highway, transporting kids and pets and parking under various conditions, for example. The test-drive also is the time to check out visibility when backing up, how a car seat would fit into the back, if that third row is really so easy to get in and out of. Make a checklist of your "must-have" features and refer to it during the drive. Our article "How to Test-Drive a Car" has some useful tips. 7. Skipping the call to your insurance agent You need to look at the big picture when you're buying a new car, especially when it comes to insurance. Will you be paying more or less with this new vehicle? Do you need gap insurance? These are questions that should be addressed with your insurance company, says John Ulin, a secondgeneration insurance agent at Allstate in Levittown, New York. "Many people let the dealership handle everything, but agents often think about issues buyers forget about, such as asking for a Carfax [vehicle history report] if buying a used car. The dealer will pay for it, but you have to request it." 8. Buying from a salesperson you don't trust Too many of us buy cars from salespeople we don't particularly like or trust. Even worse, says Reed, many people buy from salespeople because they feel sorry for them. Remember, this is a business deal, and the result is for you to get the right car at the right price. If a salesperson makes you feel uneasy for any reason (she's too pushy; he doesn't seem to know much about the cars), walk away. Ideally, the salesperson can demonstrate the features of the car and help match a customer to the right car. So look for a salesperson who listens well and answers your questions directly. Then, as you move from the test-drive to the deal-making phase, you will have established a rapport that should make the rest of the process easier.

9. Underestimating the importance of F&I You've negotiated the deal, and you're headed to the finance and insurance office (F&I). You're in the home stretch, right? Wrong. While this step seems like an afterthought, it's actually an essential part of the deal-making process, says Reed. "F&I is where the verbal promises made by the salesperson are carefully put into the contract. It's also where they try to sell you extra things, such as extended warranties, gap insurance, etc. that can wind up costing you more than anticipated." This is another place where research pays off. If you think you might want an extended warranty, check out what they cost and negotiate for a better deal. 10. Taking dealership financing without shopping around The convenience of one-stop shopping at the dealership can be hard to pass up, but it's smarter to look into financing with local banks or your credit union first. Better yet, get a preapproval for a car loan before you get to the dealership. You will know exactly how much you can afford to spend on the car, and you'll immediately know if the dealer can offer you a better deal on the interest rate. 11. Buying under pressure You may hear that a car is "the deal of a lifetime" that happens to only be good on that particular day. But shopping for, buying and driving away with a car in just a few hours is unwise. After all, this is a major purchase that can affect you financially for years to come, so you have the right to sleep on it. And Reed points out that when you express hesitation, you may well get a better offer later on. If you get too much pressure to buy the car that very day, it may be best to walk away. Forewarned, Forearmed With any major purchase, it pays to be informed and prepared. Now that you're aware of these common car buying mistakes, you can ensure you'll find the right car for your family â&#x20AC;&#x201D; as well as getting the most bang for your buck. Edmunds.Com

Gear the Pros Use! Marco Zavala - Drummer for Nadir Live

Drumming! The foundation, direction, and soul of the song.. when I get approach by song writers, musicians and band mates that is what I have in mind. The" Foundation" whether you are co-writing or a song writer gives you the song the foundation sets the direction and soul of the song. Its all about the SONG! It's not how fast you can play or how well your technique is, don't get me wrong there is a time and place for that and every drummer should learn as much technique as possible! However, capturing that special magic the GROOVE the POCKET is key and a role a drummer must play. Groups like" Led Zeppelin' to" The Police" and any successful band have one thing in common.. Great Drummers! With that in mind, I think gear is very important to your sound and feel. if you are playing different genres of music and groups like I am you might want to consider owning multiple drum kits and/ or snares etc.. I'm currently using three drum kits: TAMA STARCLASSIC Birch shells 8*8 Rack Tom 9*10 Rack Tom 10*12 Rack Tom 12*14 Floor Tom 20*22 Bass Drum CRUSH Drums Percussion Acrylic 8*10 Rack Tom 8*12 Rack Tom 15*16 Floor Tom 20*22 Bass Drum Cecilio Drums Maple Shells 8*10 Rack Tom20 9*12 Rack Tom 15*16 Floor Tom 20*22 Bass Drum

Snare Drums: Pork Pie Maple 6*13 Pork Pie Maple 5*12 Spaun Acrylic 6*13 Premier Rock Nine 9*14 Crush Acrylic 6*14 Cymbals: HH-13 Sabian AAX Fusion Hats HH-14 Sabian AA Medium Hats Crashes: 17, Two 18's, 19 Sabian AAX Ride Sabian AA Rock 22 AAX Raw Bell Ride Spash: 10, 12 Sabian

Hardware: Tama Hardware and Pacific by DW Iron Cobra Double Pedals Drum Heads: Evans Level 360 Hydraulic

Styx, Foreigner, & Loverboy Northern Quest, Spokane, WA August 3, 2014 The Northern Quest Casino outdoor summer concert venue was the perfect setting to host Loverboy, Foreigner, Styx. Even though the 3 classic bands attracted an older crowd there were still a variety of various ages at the show, with all ages enjoying every hit just the same. Loverboy kicked it off in 95 degree heat at 7pm and they were on fire, lead singer, Mike Reno, sporting a red bandana, singing ‗Victorious‘. Without hesitation he was onto ‗Queen Of The Broken Hearts‘, and ‗Take Me To The Top‘ with Jack Jones doing dual duty playing saxophone first then switching immediately to keyboards. The rest of Loverboy‘s classics were ‗The Kid Is Hot Tonight‘, ‗Lovin‘ Every Minute Of It‘ and everyone‘s favorite ‗Working For The Weekend‘. Loverboy certainly put on a show to entertain all. Foreigner, a true classic rock band that has been around for almost 40 years, dating back to 1976, seemed to steal the show, with the solid vocals of Kelly Hansen, mastered guitarist Bruce Watson, phenomenal drums by Chris Frazier, deep bass by Jeff Pilson, the talent of multiinstrumentalist Tom Gimbel and a set list of all perfect classic rock hits. Kelly Hansen has the vocals to impress and the energy that surpasses most. Foreigner tore it up from the start with ‗Double Vision‘. My personal favorite, ‗Headgames‘ rocked all in the audience, with Kelly Hansen rocking the tambourine. Both Tom Gimbel and Michael Bluestein played keyboard on ‗Cold As Ice‘ giving it a melodic harmony. Next was, ‗I‘ve Been Waiting‘, followed by their first hit from their first selftitle album in 1977 ‗Feels Like the First Time‘. Tom Gimbel broke out the saxophone for ‗Urgent‘ such an awesome solo performance deserving of

everyone‘s attention and applause. ‗Jukebox Hero‘ was the highlight song of the set list, with dueling drums and keyboards. The amount of energy they put out was unbelievable; everyone in the audience was singing and dancing having a great time rocking to all their classic hits then instantly the stage went black. After a very short 2 minute wait with the crowd chanting ―Foreigner‖ they came back out on stage, Kelly Hansen encouraging the crowd to reach out and put their arms around the person next to them asking all to sing along with them to ‗I Want To Know What Love Is‘ the lighters lit and cell phone lights went up instantly. They brought out Spokane Community Mass Choir onto the stage and they continued the song with the band, it was a beautiful spectacular site to see, beautifully sung. They ended it the set with ‗Hot Blooded‘ perfect song to end a classic set list from a classic band that still has every bit of talent and skill. Classic rock group from the 1970‘s, Styx, played a full set that rocked the socks off all that were there, the young and the old. Styx current band members are, Lawrence Gowan – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, Tommy Shaw, guitar, Ricky Phillips – bass, backing vocals, James "J.Y." Young – guitar, Todd Sucherman – drums. Their set had a very appealing set of stair cases on each side of the stage going up to a catwalk that went up behind the drum set. Underneath the catwalk the backdrop was lined with LED lights that had various displays throughout the performance. Lawrence Gowan‘s swivel keyboard had a silver metal plated emblem of Styx on it. The appropriately opened with ‗The Grand Illusion‘ it almost made one feel like they were at a magic show with the massive red lights and mystery you knew that was under way. Tommy Shaw, guitar, next sang ‗Too Much Time On My Hands‘ with everyone rocking out with their hands in the air. ‗Fooling Yourself‘ was a certain hit with the audience as well as

‗Lady‘. Being in Washington State with marijuana being legal, ‗Light It Up‘ was more than a welcomed song ―Happy 420 everyday‖ announced Tommy Shaw. He then played ―Crystal Ball‘ with an acoustic guitar & soft blue LED lights glowing in the back. The remaining band members joined him, lights shining on them one by one, half way through the song finishing it out in its full magnificent splendor. ‗Blue Collar Man‘ was another classic hit from the ‘70‘s that hit home with many of the older people in the audience. They next merged pieces of the covers of the Rolling Stones‘ ‗You Can‘t Always Get What You Want‘, Paul McCartney/Wings‘ ‗Live and Let Die‘ and

Queen‘s ‗Bohemian Rhapsody‘ before rolling into ‗Sail Away‘. They left the stage for a very brief moment coming back on stage throwing out merchandise into the audience and some members sporting new attire. Lawrence Gowan wearing a black sequence smoking jacket as well as a black fedora and James Young supporting the Seattle Seahawks in a Seahawk jersey. The encore set included ‗Rockin‘ in Paradise‘ and the song that truly makes Styx one of the all-time classic rock bands of the 70‘s ‗Hangman‘. This concert was one of the best that I have seen. It should not be one that anyone passes up.

Kathleen Clarkson