Livestream Preview: Sully and Friends Live @ YouTube, 8/6/20

Posted on 07/31/2020 by Chris R. Smyth in Preview and tagged charity, Godsmack, hard rock, heavy metal, livestream, post-grunge, YouTube.

Godsmack performs at Jiffy Lube Live on Aug. 19, 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

Sully Erna of Godsmack is bringing together many of his rock and roll friends for a marathon fundraiser to benefit The Scars Foundation, which he founded. The benefit on Thursday, Aug. 6 will stream on Sully’s Youtube Channel, and on the The Scars Foundation’s Facebook Page.

In addition to special sets from Godsmack, and Sully solo, there will be performances by Brent Smith and Zach Myers of Shinedown, Papa Roach, Clint Lowery of Sevendust, Aaron Lewis of Staind, Nuno Bettencourt, and Mike Mushok and Adam Gontier of Saint Asonia.

Livestream Preview: Rock for Relief @ RockForRelief.Net, 7/3/20

Posted on 07/02/2020 by Chris R. Smyth in Preview and tagged Alice Cooper, Alter Bridge, charity, hard rock, Joe Satriani, livestream, Lzzy Hale, Rock for Relief.

Lzzy Hale fronts Halestorm at the UMBC Event Center in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 31, 2018. (Photo by Chris Smyth)

A traditional 4th of July holiday weekend is filled with food, fireworks, and music. And even though much of the country is still shut down due to the pandemic, music will still play a large part in the celebrations.

This year, many of rock’s top artists are coming together on Friday, July 3, to help kick off the holiday weekend with Rock for Relief, a virtual benefit to help raise money and awareness for Feeding America. Presented by United Stations Media Network and Storic Media Podcast Network, the online show is hosted by Lou Brutus and Riki Rachtman, with interviews conducted by Alice Cooper and guitar great Joe Satriani. The show premiers at 8pm ET, and replays at 11pm ET, on Rock for Relief’s website.

Song of the Day: “Down the Road” by Dirty Honey

Posted on 07/01/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged California, Dirty Honey, glam, hard rock, Los Angeles, Song of the Day.

Dirty Honey (Photo by Richie Davis)

On a late-afternoon earlier this month, with Dodger Stadium and the downtown Los Angeles skyline in the background, Dirty Honey took to the hills — with suitcase in hand — and shot an acoustic performance clip of their song “Down the Road” as the newest installment in their “Suitcase Sessions” video series.

Live Review: Elizabeth II @ Jammin’ Java — 6/20/20

Posted on 06/24/2020 by Mark Caicedo in Live Review, Local Spotlight and tagged DC, Elizabeth II, hard rock, Jammin' Java.

Beth Cannon fronts Elizabeth II at Jammin’ Java on June 20, 2020. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

Normally, summer has been in full swing for weeks by this point each year. Concerts, festivals, parades, baseball, road trips and, of course, late evenings out with friends. But as we all know, this summer ain’t normal.

So when Jammin’ Java announced its “A Song & A Slice: A Socially Distanced Outdoor Concert Series” to celebrate the opening of Union Pie (Jammin’ Java’s new pizza shop), a glimmer of hope sprang up that maybe summer had actually returned. And that maybe things could feel a little more normal.

Recently, Elizabeth II turned in a 90-minute, stripped-down, acoustic set to kick off the series.

Preview: Elizabeth II @ Jammin’ Java, 6/20/20

Posted on 06/18/2020 by Mark Caicedo in Local Spotlight, Preview and tagged DC, Elizabeth II, hard rock, Jammin' Java.

Elizabeth II performs at HeraFeston Sept. 22, 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

Summer is traditionally the time for outdoor music festivals, strolling along the boardwalk and kicking back with a beer and pizza. The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily paused many of those traditions, but Jammin’ Java is doing its best to bring a few of them back.

Elizabeth II is performing a free outdoor show as part of the venue’s Summerfest Outdoor Series on Saturday, June 20.

Interview: Vinny Appice (of Black Sabbath, Dio, and Last in Line)

Posted on 05/21/2020 by Chris R. Smyth in Interview and tagged drums, hard rock, heavy metal, Interview, Vinny Appice.

Vinny Appice (Photo courtesy John Lappen Enterprises)

Saturday, May 16, marked the 10th anniversary of the death of legendary singer Ronnie James Dio from cancer. Tributes poured out across the internet from his contemporaries like Rob Halford and artists he influenced such as Lzzy Hale and Scott Ian to his former bandmates in Black Sabbath.

Vinny Appice, the drummer for Ronnie James Dio in both Black Sabbath and Dio, along with his older brother Carmine, took their tribute a step further and released “Monsters & Heroes,” a tribute video honoring their departed band mate and friend.

Earlier this week, Vinny Appice spoke with Parklife DC’s Chris Smyth about why the brothers decided to make the tribute video and his memories of Dio.

Song of the Day: “The Beast in the Shadows” by Michael Schenker Fest

Posted on 05/14/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Germany, hard rock, heavy metal, Michael Schenker, Michael Schenker Fest, Song of the Day.

Michael Schenker Fest (Photo by Stephanie Cabral)

Last year, guitar legend Michael Schenker released his second MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST album Revelation, that features the ever-legendary Gary Barden, Graham Bonnet, Robin McAuley and Doogie White on vocals. The album also features guest singer Ronnie Romero. Instrumental parts were handled by Michael himself, as well as Steve Mann, Chris Glen, Bodo Schopf and Simon Phillips.

Recently, the band were pleased to reveal a lyric video for track “The Beast in the Shadows” from that album.

Song of the Day: “To the Good Old Days” by Dennis DeYoung and Julian Lennon

Posted on 05/12/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Chicago, Dennis DeYoung, hard rock, Illinois, Song of the Day, Styx.

Dennis DeYoung (center) performs with his band. (Photo courtesy the artist)

Former Styx member Dennis DeYoung is back with a new original solo album, 26 East, Vol. 1. The album is available May 22 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Song of the Day: “Leviathan” by Volbeat

Posted on 04/21/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Denmark, groove metal, hard rock, heavy metal, Song of the Day, Volbeat.

Volbeat (Photo courtesy Q Prime)

Multi-platinum Danish rock band Volbeat recently revived their long-running “Official Bootlegs” series with the release of a live video of “Leviathan,” the latest single off their seventh studio album, Rewind, Replay, Rebound (Republic Records).

Livestream Preview: David Ellefson’s Oh Say Can You Stream @ Facebook Live, 4/11/20

Posted on 04/09/2020 by Chris R. Smyth in Preview and tagged Alice Cooper, charity, Five Finger Death Punch, hard rock, heavy metal, livestream, Megadeth, music festival, Tesla.

Megadeth (Photo courtesy 5B Artist Management)

Many of hard rock and heavy metal’s top musicians are coming together online to do a little good on Saturday, April 11, via Facebook Live.

Headed up by Megadeth bassist, David Ellefson, the livestream event, titled “Oh Say Can You Stream,” is an online fundraiser to help raise money for Ellefson’s School’s Out initiative which provides online lessons, instruments, and gear to kids and aspiring musicians during quarantine, and other COVID-19 relief charities.