Mars & Rock Academy cover The Riptides’ “Return to Blood Beach”

Author: tracysigler | Posted: August 15th, 2010 | | Tags: , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Mars just finished another week at Rock Academy here in Asheville. At the finale concert the kids tore the roof off with an eclectic mix eight cover songs. Mars recommended this Riptides cover from their instrumental record Mental Therapy. Very surf rock and I love it. Notice Mars’s attention to stage presence. He’s fun to watch, because he looks like he’s having fun.

The kids also did a great cover of Herbie Hancock’s “Chameleon.” Dig the laid back drum solo around the two minute mark. That kid rocks steady! Mars was not in this one. Read the rest of this entry »


Motorhead — Ace of Spades

Author: tracysigler | Posted: June 11th, 2008 | | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Motörhead -- Ace of Spades

If you’ve heard only one song by Motörhead it’s almost certainly “Ace of Spades” from the album of the same name. There’s an AT&T television ad in heavy rotation, or maybe it’s just the type of shows I watch, that has a burly metalhead singing the song at the end. I’ve seen it so much I had to hear the real thing again.

One fun thing about the Ace of Spades (1980, this version on Profile Records 1986) album is its copious use of that curious percussion instrument the vibraslap. Hear one at Wikipedia. No sound conjures up the spaghetti-western, guns-about-to-be-drawn vibe more than the vibraslap’s rattle. I first became intimately familiar with the vibraslap when I was a percussionist in my junior high band, and I’ve been in love with it ever since. So, it’s probably no coincidence that my all time favorite Motorhead song is “Shoot You in the Back.” Just listen to all that vibraslap.

There are a few other great songs, but despite its fame this is not a consistent record. Unfortunately, there is also some really off-putting stuff like “Jailbait.” Come on, man.


Fastway — Fastway

Author: tracysigler | Posted: October 16th, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Fastway -- Fastway

  • Artist: Fastway
  • Title: Fastway
  • Year: 1983
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 7
  • Owner: Tracy and Bob
  • Acquired: 2005 – Another one I got from Bob Bobala
  • Keeper: Yes

Fastway was a hard rock/metal super group with members from Motörhead, Humble Pie, and UFO. Believe it or not, the then-unknown singer Dave King went on to found Flogging Molly. Believe it.

I have always loved the song “Say What You Will” but I never got around to getting the album. Bob Bob’s record collection to the rescue again. (I guess it’s just the luck of the draw but it seems like his old records are popping up more than my own lately.) Some of the songs are highly mediocre, but when they’re good they’re great. Another favorite is “Another Day.” Included with Bob’s copy of Fastway is a one-sided 7 inch with a Zeppelin-style dirge titled “Far Far From Home.” I don’t know what the story is with that song, but I dig it.

You can listen to “Say What You Will” at YouTube.

The Fastway story at Wikipedia.