Stone Temple Pilots - in London Thursday!

If you're in the mood for some good ol' rock and roll, you should visit the John Labatt Centre to see the Stone Temple Pilots!

They'll be playing at the John Labatt Centre this Thursday, November 19th, so if you're a fan and you haven't got a ticket yet, you might still have a chance. I don't know this band very well but I listened to some of their songs on their MySpace and I think it's pretty good. They sound semi-metal semi-pop rock, so if you like either genre you might be into this music. I can't make it to the concert so if you got to see it let me know how good they are live!

Album Pick: Images and Words

I'm a huge Dream Theater fan, so I had to bring up this album eventually. Images and Words is the second studio album released by Dream Theater, and many would argue that it's their best work. This was their first and only album to go Gold, and it has their only big hit that received radio play and featured by MTV, "Pull Me Under." That being said, every track on this album is a masterpiece. If you've heard other Dream Theater songs and thought they were too heavy on the metal side, you should give this album a try. While there are still metal influences, this album is much more progressive than their later albums. Some influences include Queensryche and Rush, so if you're a fan of either of those bands, this album is a must. It is also their first album to feature lead singer James LaBrie. They auditioned over 200 people before giving him the gig, and he's been with the band ever since. I personally recommend listening to "Take the Time," "Metropolis Pt.1 - the Miracle and the Sleeper," and "Learning to Live." You may find it hard to digest at first, but if you listen enough times, you'll begin to get an appreciation for the amount of creativity and time put into the writing of this music, which is something you don't find very often in popular mainstream music.

Wednesday Nights at Spoke! Rick McGhee!

If you like the sound of a nice old man playing hearty folk songs on an acoustic guitar while getting your drunk on a Wednesday night, then the Spoke at the UCC is the place to be! Come listen to Rick McGhee at around 10 o'clock. I was there a couple weeks ago, and he reminds me of the cool uncle who plays tunes at the campfire pit. He does some great covers including "Needle and the Damage Done," "My Girl," and of course, "American Pie." Come listen and sing along. It's Wednesday, but you'll find a lot of people there. We are Western students after all!

"And them good ol' boys were drinking whisky and BEER!,

Singing this will be the day that I DIE DIE DIE!"

Upcoming London Shows! (LIST)

There are a bunch of cool shows happening in London this week. If you've got some free time on your hands you should check them out and support the local music scene!

Nov. 12 @ 7:00 PM

The Midway State - London Music Hall

Nov. 13 @ 8:00 PM

The Trews - London Music Hall

Nov. 14 @ 10:00 PM

Mad Caddies - Call the Office

Nov. 15 - 8:00 PM

Chantal Kreviazuk - Centennial Hall

Nov. 19 - 7:00 PM

Stone Temple Pilots - John Labatt Centre

Hope to see you there!

Album Pick: Neil Young - Live at Massey Hall 1971

I'm sure most of you are familiar with Neil Young and lots of the great songs he's written. If you like his studio albums, you should take a look at his live album from Massey Hall, Toronto. I really think there's something special about this live performance, and I personally prefer most of his songs performed this way rather than their studio versions. It is just him and his guitar or piano (depending on the song), without a band backing him up. I think certain songs, such as Cowgirl in the Sand and Journey Through the Past sound better than the originals. If you're not a fan of live music because you don't like the sound (I often feel the same way), the quality of the recording is as good as it can get.

Give this album a listen! It's Neil Young at his best. Here's the album:

What do you look for in music?

Have you ever noticed that one of the easiest ways to annoy someone and put them in a bad mood is to play music that they don't like? Ever been really excited to share your music with a friend only to have them say it's garbage and then obnoxiously change it to something they want to hear? Why are a lot of people so unwilling to be open minded towards music they don't know? Is it because a lot of people think the music they listen to is a reflection of themselves? For example, would it be possible for someone who's into pop music to also listen to a lot of heavy metal? I'm sure it is, but I don't see it very often. Is it because people who like pop can't stand the sound of heavy metal or they don't like the idea of being associated with the crowd that listens to that kind of music?

I think it's more simple. People look to music to make them feel a certain way, and everyone has different expectations in that sense. I personally prefer anything that is melodic, and written well. To me, lyrics are an afterthought, so genres like rap and hip-hop aren't really my flavour. Some people prefer lyrics over melody, and some people want music to calm them down instead of really high energy music. What do you prefer? What is it that makes a song pull you in? What kind of music do you hate? Is it because you think it is crap or because it makes you feel emotions you'd rather not feel? Think about it.

Album Pick: Art in Motion

A lot of the albums I've recommended have been pretty heavy sounding, with a lot of metal influences and quick tempos. If you didn't like any of that stuff and have decided that my musical tastes suck, check this guy out. Andy McKee is an instrumental guitarist and I think he is one of the most talented guys I've ever seen. Every song is layered so that it sounds like there are multiple tracks in each song, but it's really just one man and a guitar the entire time. The track Drifting got him youtube fame with over 24 million views! On some songs he's got a custom guitar with bass strings added which make the instrument look half like a guitar and half like a harp. You'll find this a lot more relaxing than past bands I've featured. If you like it let me know. I'm a huge fan of acoustic instrumentals so I'm also looking for some recommendations. I'd love to hear some.

Here is the album in it's entirety. Check out some tracks. Rylynn and Africa are my personal favourites. I've included a youtube video so you can see what this guy is doing with his hands. Truly amazing to watch and hear. Enjoy!