Posts Tagged ‘Chad Smith’

Supergroups have a tendency to be a little like those McDonalds employees you see with the coveted ‘Five Stars’ on their badges, you think they are going to be something special but they still sneeze on your fries.

Looking to redress the balance, Chickenfoot return to build on the success of their debut offering and unleash Chickenfoot III.  Titled in true Spinal Tap style, Sammy Hagar explains the numerical anomaly; ‘It’s so good, it’s like we jumped right past having to make a second record’.  A confidence it has to be said is not entirely without merit as Chickenfoot III is good.  Really good.

How much you will enjoy this album depends on your views on stadium sized classic rock, for this is (as you would expect from its contributors) a classic rock record.  A manly slab of riff laden, testosterone driven rock, the kind of tunes that will put hairs on your chest.

Proving this point somewhat is the opening ‘Last Temptation’, Joe Satriani puts his stamp on the intro before it gives way to the bruising syncopated rhythms of the verse and towering vocals of the chorus.  A brute force attention grabber. 

‘Alright Alright’ is a Stones meets Rod Stewart swagger fest, culminating in some serious shredding from Satriani and much like the foot stomping ‘Big Foot’ which sees Hagar in full Zeppelin mode, they are huge slabs of granite riffage and gravel pit vocals, making both hard to resist.

That is not to say that this is an album without subtlety however, ‘Come Closer’ allows the more mellow side of the band to surface whilst ‘Three And A Half Letters’ is a surprising emotive piece.  Based around Hagar reading out first-hand accounts from people who have struggled to find work, make ends meet or cope with the horrors experienced during their service in the armed forces, it maintains a defiant rather than depressing tone expressed through the primal scream cry of the chorus.

On first listen this would almost appear to be the Hagar/Satriani show but on each repeat you realise that whilst perhaps not flashy, Chad Smith and Michael Anthony are the air tight glue holding this collection together, flawless performances from two musical heavyweights.  Far from being an albatross around their necks, these are big tunes, from big stars that can carry the mantle of ‘supergroup’ with ease.

Jules says….

Find out more by visiting the Chickenfoot website HERE.

Following the release of their long awaited second album ‘III’, the hottest rock & roll band in the world, Chickenfoot, have announced a 5-date UK & European tour for January 2012; their first European concerts since July 2009.  Including 2 UK concerts in Manchester and London, tickets will go on sale at 9am on Friday October 14th 2011; further info is detailed below, and at www.chickenfoot.us.

Chickenfoot will perform songs from their gold-selling, eponymous debut album, alongside tracks from the critically acclaimed ‘III’, for the very first time outside of the United States.  The European tour kicks off at the Manchester Academy on Thursday January 12th, followed by London’s O2 Academy Brixton (Saturday January 14th), Paris Olympia (Monday January 16th), Tilburg O13 (Tuesday January 17th) and Dusseldorf Mitsubishi Electric Hall (Thursday January 19th). Tickets for the 2 UK concerts will be available from www.livenation.co.uk/artist/chickenfoot-tickets.

Featuring guitar hero Joe Satriani and Van Halen duo, bassist Michael Anthony & frontman Sammy Hagar, Chickenfoot drummer Chad Smith has temporarily handed his sticks over to the legendary Kenny Aronoff, who will join the band for these concerts.  Says Joe Satriani, “Kenny brings that same combination of super chops and wild energy to the band that we’re used to; and, offstage, he’s just as crazy as Chad”.  Watch a video of Chad Smith introducing Kenny here.

Chickenfoot fans in the UK will be treated to a special Planet Rock pre-sale, where tickets can be purchased 24 hours ahead of the October 14th general on-sale date.  By visiting www.planetrock.com, tickets will be available from 9am on Thursday October 13th.

CHICKENFOOT, the acclaimed US supergroup featuring guitar hero Joe Satriani, frontman Sammy Hagar, bassist Michael Anthony (both formerly of Van Halen) and world renowned drummer Chad Smith, celebrate their highly anticipated second album Chickenfoot III with a special concert and Q&A webcast, streamed worldwide tonight (Sept 28th) from 8pm (UK time) at www.chickenfoot.us.
 
Originally transmitted live yesterday at 6pm PST (2am UK time), tonight’s one-off re-broadcasting is aimed exclusively at Chickenfoot’s European fan base.
 
Produced by Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Metallica), Chickenfoot III comes complete with innovative, never-before-seen 3D packaging. Each physical copy of the album with contain a pair of Chickenfoot 3D glasses where fans can view otherwise hidden album cover art, 3D pictures of the band, and hidden messages.

There are some bands that almost transcend the need for review, such is the might and fame of the Chili Peppers that most people reading this will already know whether they love or loathe this album and nothing I can say will influence that.  But I’ve gotta write something.

Ten albums in and with the departure for the second time of guitar virtuoso John Fruiscante, even the devout among us were prepared for a ‘through the motions’ album.  After all, with World domination long since crossed off the ‘To Do’ list, where is the motivation?

But the Chili Peppers have always defied expectation and ‘I’m With You’ has more than a few tricks up its sleeve, this is a Red Hot Chili Peppers album without doubt, but there are just a few glimpses of maturity creeping in and dare I say, growing old gracefully.  That is not to say that the shirts are back on and that their socks will now only ever be worn on feet, the video for the first single ‘The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie’ has the band leaping around a rooftop with scant regard for aging hips or impending free bus passes.

Kiedis’ lyrics have always seemed to straddle the line between profound and absurd and when they don’t fall into this bracket they are usually about sex and ‘I’m With You’ is no exception.  This time however they are also dealing with mortality and the age old life and death themes.

With the departure of Fruiscante and the introduction of relative youngster Josh Klinghoffer, Flea once more steps up to lead the majority of the tracks with his peerless bass lines.  Flea remains one of the greatest bassists, ever, and this album will only compound his status.

Kicking off with the disco funk of ‘Monarchy Of Roses’ with pulsing bass and infectious chorus, followed swiftly by ‘Factory Of Faith’ with trademark Kiedis lullaby rap, you just can’t help but smile.  They may not be treading new ground, but they are great opening act.

One of the highlights of the album is the truly beautiful ‘Brendan’s Death Song’, a touching ode to their friend Brendan Mullen who died in 2009.  Anthony Kiedis’ vocals have an achingly soulful edge that gives this track some rare emotional punch and is incredibly affecting.

The album is awash with the soaring chorus and driving funk beats you would expect, ‘Ethiopia’, ‘Look Around’ and ‘The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie’ continue in the well-worn furrow the band have laid down over the last 25 years or so.

There are however those aforementioned deviations from the funk-rock blue print.  The smooth lounge-rap (new genre alert) of ‘Even You Brutus?’ is charmingly different to anything they have done before, led by piano before Flea’s rubber stringed bass steals the show once more.

‘Police Station’ has an almost Madness-esque jauntiness to it and ‘Meet Me At The Corner’ is refreshingly mellow and reflective.

For a band nearing their 30^th Anniversary, the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s are still sounding remarkably youthful. Whilst ‘I’m With You’ may not be as exciting as ‘Blood. Sugar. Sex. Magik’ or as majestic as ‘Californication’, it is more concise than ‘Stadium Arcadium’ and hints at the ‘new beginnings’ Anthony Kiedis has promised. 

Jules says….

Find out more about the Red Hot Chili Peppers HERE.