Spotlight - February
Welcome To The Spotlight!
The response to our last newsletter was exceptionally positive and I want
to thank each and every one of you for reading what I have to say. If it
wasn't for you, I wouldn't be doing this. I also wanna thank the people
who have been spreading the word for me, letting people know about this
mailing list. The more people who know about it, the better it is for all
those involved. To all of you fake people out there who have nothing better
to do than talk trash and try to bring the scene down, make sure you get
your whole head in front of the shotgun...thank you for calling!
The debut print issue of SPOTLIGHT will be completed on March 16th. I'll
spend a few days going over everything once it's completed in order to make
sure that I'm totally satisfied with what I've done. After that, it's off
to the printer and I should have the finished product back by the end of
the month. So, if you wanna place an ad, you need to get in touch now
because, like I said in January's newsletter, we're doing this with or
without you. I don't have to beg for anything and I'm not gonna kiss your
ass. But, if you have an interest in advertising, drop me a line and we'll
discuss it. SPOTLIGHT will be a 32 page, newspaper print magazine that
will be available by mail for $2.00 or free at select locations in Central
Pennsylvania. I'm not gonna hype this magazine up...I don't need to. Once
completed, it will speak for itself and that's all that needs to be said.
So, let's get things started with some of my favorite Pennsylvania bands,
shall we?
SPECIAL OFFER: "No Accounting For Taste," the 13 song, debut CD by Kruzt
can be purchased though this newsletter for only $6.00 (and that includes
postage). If you buy direct from the band, the price is a little higher.
So, order through SPOTLIGHT to take advantage of this special offer. The
music of Kruzt has been compared to everyone from Chuck Berry & Led Zepplin
to AC/DC & Soundgarden. It's modern rock with a few strange twists and
turns...and it's all good! All orders will be shipped out three days after
payment is recieved. So, get your copy while supplies last!
While they're putting the finishing touches on their debut album, Clashing
Plaid wants some of you to hear their music for free. That's right...FREE!
The first FIVE people who check out the Clashing Plaid web page and E-mail
the band will recieve a FREE copy of their three song CD, featuring their
holiday classic, "All I Got For Christmas Was Drunk." The other two songs
on this release are "Happy Little Hell" and "Rain." You have to mention The
SPOTLIGHT Newsletter to win and it's first come, first serve. So, check 'em
out and good luck to all of you!
http://www.clashingplaid.com
February 17th, for those of you who care, is my birthday. It's also the day
that my favorite area band, Spinebelt, releases their new album, "A Small
But Very Permanent Hell," With the release of their debut, full length
release, "The Throne Of The Hive," they came, they saw, they crushed. Now,
with another release under their belts, it's gonna be Armageddon all over
again. So, I suggest you brace yourself because the second wave of damage
that Spinebelt will unleash upon the scene will soon be upon us. This band
will forever change the way you view heavy music. A full review on this
disc will arrive as soon as I have a copy in hand. While you're waiting, be
sure to pick up a copy of "The Throne Of The Hive." Welcome to the world of
Spinebelt...I hope you have insurance!
http://www.spinebelt.com
The Poptart Monkeys have built a reputation as one of this areas "must see"
bands. They have more fans than you can shake a stick at. But, you can't
count Kellogg's as one of their many admirers. No, no, no...they seem to
have a spur in their britches because the band name has the word "POPTART"
in it and, lo and behold, we wouldn't want to ruin the good name of
Kellogg's wonderful toaster treats, now, would we? Come on, people, get a
life...it's just a band out to make some good music. But, because they have
the word "POPTART" in their name, good ole' Kellogg's thinks someone might
get the wrong idea. Next thing you know, they'll accuse the band of having
backwards messages in their music..."kill your toaster, kill your toaster!"
They need to get a life and you need to get a copy of The Poptart Monkeys
debut album, "Dancing With My Lunatic," because it's one of the best albums
you will ever hope to hear in your life. The Poptart Monkeys...get 'em
while they're hot!
http://www.poptartmonkeys.com
When you hear the music of Undergreen, you might hear traces of Megadeth.
In fact, that's probably the one band Undergreen gets compared to the most.
But, what we have here isn't Megadeth. It's a trio of musicians who are
young and hungry for success and you can feel their drive in the music they
create. The best way to describe them, in my opinion, would be heavy,
melodic rock. I've also had the pleasure of seeing Undergreen live a few
times and they put on one hell of a show, full of energy and aggression. In
fact, they're much heavier in concert than they are on CD. So, when it
comes to Undergreen and the BIG PICTURE, you have to see AND hear them.
That's the best way to appreciate what this band has to offer. They have an
awesome CD out titled "The Devil You Know" and, if you're a fan of this
newsletter, well, this is a CD that should be in your collection. It's one
of my favorites, now, make it one of yours.
http://www.undergreen.com
While I've yet to see them live, I've heard from a number of different
people that Spellbound has a fantastic live show. They also have an eight
song CD available, which was recorded on a small four track tape deck in a
basement where the band rehearses. While the production isn't top quality,
obviously, this collection of material proves one thing...Spellbound is a
band with the potential for greatness. They play a style of music that's
near and dear to my heart, good, old fashioned rock 'n' roll. You can't go
wrong with that.
http://www.spellboundrocks.com
A lot of compilation albums come across my desk on somewhat of a regular
basis. But, the ones that I look forward to getting are the ones that come
from 25 Records. Every so often, I get a disc from these people...the name
changes but the concept always remains and concept is mouth watering
pop/rock music that's so sweet it's like sucking on pink cotton candy. The
latest addition to my growing collection of goodies from 25 Records is a 19
song album called "Off The Hook." From start to finish, this is a
consistantly good collection of material. Some of the stand out tracks come
from Osmosis, X-Hail, Tantrum and the ever present and always interesting
Red Ash & The Love Commandos. Check out their web page and join their
mailing list...you might even win a free CD if you're lucky!
http://www.25records.com
The legendary Hobbit has re-formed to record and write once again. While
we're waiting for new material, Midwest Records has released "Two Feet
Tall," a collection of songs from 1979 to 1983 that have remained in a bank
vault for all these years due to legal problems. While these songs come
from recording sessions past, they still hold up rather well today. They're
good, progressive, melodic, tunes...or "fantasy rock" as it was called way
back when. This is an album that would now be considered a classic if it
was released when it was actually recorded. But, they say good things come
to those who wait...and we've waited a long time for this one. Was it worth
it, you ask? The response is a mighty YEAH!
http://www.hobbitcd.com
Coming back to Pennsylvania again, Hobbit reminds me of Hybrid Ice, a band
that is considered legenday in this area. They had a career that spanned
three decades and they were one of the most well known bands in
Pennsylvania. They're back in the spotlight once again with the re-release
of their classic debut, self titled album. For the first time in years,
this collection of material can now be enjoyed on compact disc (it was only
available on record...until now). Hybrid Ice has the honor of releasing
what many people would consider the best AOR rock album to ever come out of
the state of Pennsylvania. There's no way I could even begin to tell you
about this band in a single paragraph. So, if you want 30 years of history,
be sure to check out their official web page. There's a lot to learn about
this band and I'm sure, for those of you who HAVEN'T heard of Hybrid Ice,
that you'll find their web page one of the most interesting band pages on
the internet.
http://www.hybridice.com
Lisa Meri is a musician with a magic touch. Almost every song she has
written has the potential to be a number one single. You're probably asking
yourself, "Well, then why I haven't I heard of her yet?" The answer is
simple...the right people just haven't heard her music yet. That's all
there is to it. Lisa is a singer/songwriter who writes music with an
emotional feel to them and they have something else that 90% of the stuff
on the radio doesn't have...substance. I was first introduced to the music
of Lisa Meri by way of a five song CD titled "I'm Not Gonna Say I Told You
So." Impressive, yes. But, the best was yet to come. Lisa can now be heard
on her newest, ten song release, "Time Will Tell." On this release, Lisa
has a little bit of everything, pop, blues, calypso rhythms & jazz infused
harmonies. I guess you could call it adult contemporary, but, I'd rather
simply call it good music that's well written and highly enjoyable to
listen to...because that says it all. And, hey, she's even been to Europe!
http://home.earthlink.net/~lisameri
He played guitar for the only true madman of rock 'n' roll, Ozzy Osbourne.
Now, Zakk Wylde is creating a little bit of madness on his own with Black
Label Society and his ten song release, "Stronger Than Death." This is a
heavy, guitar driven album that rocks hard and it proves that there is life
after Ozzy (even though life WITH Ozzy probably had some pretty good
perks). Working with a famous name, especially one that people pretty much
bow down to, will almost guarantee success. But, Zakk Wylde proves that he
has the strength, creativity and talent to stand on his own...and he does
it in an explosive and aggressive nature. This is what real music is all
about. The major scene needs a good kick in the teeth and, after hearing
this record, I have the feeling that Zakk Wylde is just the man to do it.
Ozzy would be proud!
http://www.spitfirerecords.com
Lykos #6 is soon to be released. Interviews with Liege Lord, Aurora
Borealis, In Aeturnum, Hatesphere, Deathless, Rebaelliun, and more! Varied
original artwork by Isabel Pires, amd Elvi Howell. Features include The
Ugly, Undermoan and Banned Books. Includes the 3 latest issues of Hair of
the Wolf, featuring over 160 in-depth reviews of demos, CD's and zines,
plus news, contact and website listings etc. First few orders come with a
free copy of Flak You Not and Fifth Season newsletters. Also check out our
web-site, loads of new stuff including web-zine reviews
and zine editors named and shamed. Review database over 500 strong!
http://www.cryogen.com/lykos
Lord Litter is a legendary figure in the independent music scene. As most
of you know, he's a radio DJ who plays the best music the independent scene
has to offer. He's also a journalist...some of you might have seen his work
in the same publication that I write for, Ballbuster Magazine. But, what
you might not know is that Lord Litter is also a musician. Some of his
music has been in the vein of The Rolling Stones. As a solo artist, Lord
Litter creates a style of music that's beyond any sort of label. There's a
bit of blues, some folk, country, rock, acoustic. It's all blended together
to create a collection of songs that are rather enjoyable to listen to. For
something different, yet, good, give his ten song tape, "Downpayment" a
listen. Highly recommended!
http://www.LordLitter.de
If any of you have checked out the Ballbuster web page, especially the
section featuring the Ballbuster Babes, the name Dawn Moore is one that you
should know. For those of you who like to give credit where credit is due,
Dawn was the very first Ballbuster Babe, in fact, it was her suggestion
that got that whole thing started. If you'd like to find out more about
her, be sure to drop by her web page where you'll find links to some great
bands that she's rather fond of, a cool scrapbook and, of course, pictures
of Dawn herself, which are rather cool if I do say so myself.
http://www.geocities.com/looksthatkilll
Since I mentioned Ballbuster in the last two paragraphs, I thought I should
tell you about the new compilation CD that the magazine has just released.
"Ball One: Strike Two" is a double album that features a total of 35 songs.
There's some great artists on here...American Dog, Blood Red Flower, Madd
Hunter, Catch 22, Machinery. There's over 140 minutes of hard, ass kicking
music. You'd do well to get a copy of this release!
http://www.ballbusterhardmusic.com
Well, this should be enough to keep you busy until the next issue. I guess
it all depends on what you like. Maybe one artist will catch your eye,
maybe you'll get into everything I've written about. We have a lot of
people on this mailing list and the reason we have such a wide variety of
musical styles is because we're trying to satisfy each and every one of
you. Don't ever limit yourself to one style of music. Open your mind and
experience new things. Variety is the spice of life...always remember that.
Also, some of the web pages I feature in these newsletters do have
guestbooks. Please take a moment of your time and leave your mark. Let the
artists know that you're checking out their web page because of this
newsletter. They'll appreciate hearing from you and I'll appreciate you
letting them know that these newsletters are the reason why you're checking
them out. Like you, I'm just a fan trying to spread the word about some of
the people I enjoy listening to. These newsletters are all about getting
together and hooking up. This is our music scene, so, let's all come
together and support it.
DEGY SHOP: http://www.degyshop.com
ALTAR NATIVE: http://www.altarnative.com
"I don't need to get wasted. It only holds me down. I just need a will of
my own and the balls to stand alone!" (Kiss)
SPOTLIGHT
c/o Paul Autry
P.O. Box 227
Shamokin Pa. 17872