Local music

Watch out for those benefit shows throughout your area… don’t trust them all…

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You know how when local bands like to put on benefit shows to raise money for a charity of their choice for a good cause? While all this is good and cool, don’t trust every benefit show these bands hosts. A lot of these benefit shows can be fake. Well, these benefit shows really do happen, of course but the question you have to ask yourself is — will the benefit show organizers be sending this money they raised to that charity or will they stick that money into their own pockets for their own financial income? That’s what you gotta watch out for, ya know? Hey, I love Benefit gigs. I played on a few of them myself in the past but before you go attend a benefit show, you do your research and be careful with things beforehand. If you go to the wrong Benefit gig, your money that you gave them could be going in the organizers pockets instead of the charity. You wouldn’t want that would ya?

If you want to go to benefit shows for whatever charity — whether it will be for the troops, cancer victims, natural disasters, etc. — don’t believe in all of them. People jump into these benefit shows ’cause they immediately believe they are legit. If things start to look a little suspicious, don’t trust the organizers. I just came across a benefit show that was done by tribute bands that they took money from people for themselves instead of sending the money to charity.

You gotta watch out for that stuff. In your local music scene, you can’t trust anyone and anything.

I don’t trust anybody in local music as people can be too crazy around here. This area is not a positive and lovable music scene as everyone mistakenly thinks it is.

Kev

movies

Cool Photo: Patrick Stewart claims he just had his first pizza today…

Patrick Stewart who is most famous for his roles in, “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and the “X-Men” movies tweeted a photo of himself eating pizza at a restaurant in NYC this afternoon. Patrick claims he never had pizza before and this was his first slice. Keep in mind that Patrick is around 70 years old now and after all these years, he never had a pizza in his life ever? That could explain why the man has always been so skinny! Maybe he has always been on a healthy diet for most of his life? That could be why. Patrick is currently living in NYC and he also has a home in L.A. He switches back and forth for his work in acting.

Patrick is quickly becoming quite the internet sensation. His tweet about Time Warner Cable blew up all over the internet earlier this year, and now Captain Picard has become popular for facebook Meme’s. You see Cpt. Picard Meme’s all over facebook; those “WTF” ones are most popular. Now expect this pizza photo to be all over the internet.

This just proves that “Star Trek: The Next Generation” is still popular to this day. It is a really good show. I’ve been watching “Star Trek: TNG” on Netflix for the past couple of months or so and just starting season 5. I still remember all of these episodes like I’ve just seen them yesterday.

See Patrick Stewart eating pizza photo, here.

Kev

Politics/war

This facebook image pretty much sums it up on why President Obama is such an evil president!!

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Really. We don’t hate on the President for no reason. We know our shit! The things listed here pretty much sums it up on why most of us hate him. This list also sums it up perfectly on why he can easily be compared to Adolf Hitler.

Obama seems to be covering up the deaths of Navy Seals which explains why he never suspiciously acknowledged the death of Chris Kyle.

A lot of this stuff on this list I already know about but there’s a few on here that are new to me. I didn’t know Obama may have had a past with illegal drugs. Didn’t know that he maybe a closet homosexual himself which is what “gay lovers” was referring to. Those few things are new to me but other than that, I already know about everything else.

Sure enough, I’m sure there are some people who still think Obama is innocent and will think none of that stuff on this list is true. I honestly believe that people who continue to side with Obama are misinformed. This is why I do this, to get them informed.

Kev

movies

Report: Sam Mendes in re-negotiations to direct sequel to “Skyfall”…

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Earlier this year Sam Mendes pulled out of directing the follow-up to “Skyfall” due to other commitments but since the next Bond movie won’t get the green light ’til 2016, Sam is now in talks to direct the sequel to “Skyfall”. There has been other directors considered like Christopher Nolan and others but since that Sam will be available in three years, they can’t resist to have Sam back. I can’t blame them though ’cause Skyfall really was the best Bond film. I’m sure Sam will make the next movie just as good. I haven’t bought Skyfall on Blu-Ray yet but going to soon. I love the movie too much myself. It’s the true 007 film we’ve been wanting for years. Remember, the next Bond film won’t be for another three years. Has something to do with MGM studios and money stuff. “Skyfall” really was an incredible flick, and if you haven’t seen it yet, I’d recommend it.

More on the story, here.

Kev

music

Report: Nine Inch Nails to release new album…

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I was never that big on NIN but I do like them. I’ve heard their songs on the radio over the years and I admire Trent’s talent; he’s quite a guy. Trent just announced that he has been keeping a new NIN album secret all along. It’ll get released through Columbia Records, and Trent promises the album will be fucking great. This is exciting news, though. I’ll be looking forward to the new record myself.

See Trent’s announcement, here.

Kev

Health and Fitness

Trying to get bigger chest pecs… really trying but it won’t happen over night…

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Yes, I’m still trying to find ways to get a bigger chest. Trying to get better chest development and I just figured it out. I’m gonna have to have patience. Building muscle really is a slow process but there are still ways to get more gains. 1) You need to eat a strict diet most of the time 2) You need to hit the chest muscles hard once a week. That’s what I have been doing for a long while. I’ve been lifting heavier on the dumbbells for the chest workouts. Been doing a lot of floor presses and been doing more dumbbell flies as well. I also do like 40 – 50 push ups a week.

I still can’t do a 100 straight push ups without stopping but I’m working my way up there. For now I can do a straight 50 push ups without stopping.

Whenever I take my shirt off for a photo, chances are somebody’s gonna say I don’t have much of a chest. Keep in mind that I’ve been working out for 4 or 5 years still. I’m in the intermediate level of bodybuilding now, I would think. I think my chest looks fine now but could use more improvements.

Lately, I’ve been working the chest harder than ever before. My chest muscles are still really sore from my chest workout the other day. That’s good. You want them to be sore. I’ve been following the “No pain, no gain” rule in bodybuilding lately. That really is the secret to more gains. Hit each body part really hard once a week and give each body part at least 4 or 5 days of resting — then you’ll get somewhere.

I really am committed to having a jacked body. I know what I’m doing. Yes, I’m still working out. I keep going all year-round non-stop. I only take a full week off every once in a blue moon.

A lot of people struggle to get ripped. A lot of guys at the Y don’t really have ripped physiques like I do, not trying to sound like an ego-maniac. Maybe once, I’ve seen a huge black guy who is a monster but that was the only true bodybuilder that I saw at the Y. Other guys look like they’re struggling and trying so hard. I really do know what I’m doing in the bodybuilding world.

I don’t do benching at the gym ’cause why? 1) It’s overrated 2) I find the dumbbells and bodyweight workouts like push ups to be more effective. That’s just my humble opinion, folks.

I love bodybuilding and still doing it. It’s not like I want to get a career out of bodybuilding, I just want the look. Not gonna become a model, a bar bouncer, security guard at a concert or anything like that. I just want the big muscular look and already at a decent start! Just want to look better with my shirt off. Plus, to get healthy and change my life around.

Haven’t posted a fitness topic in a while, so why not now?

Kev

Edit to add: Although, I must say that being a bar bouncer or a security guard at a rock concert would be  a fun job. Breaking up rowdy fights sounds like a lot of fun!

Random/off topic posts

Why home recording is the way to go these days…

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I prefer home recording over recording in an over-priced studio. There are too many bands & artists around here who overlook the beauty of home recording. Musicians shouldn’t ignore home recording. I don’t like those local studios where you have to pay hourly. A lot of studios are over-priced. They charge ya so much, it’s ridiculous. The reason home recording rocks so much is that you can make studio quality demos that’ll sound like you just recorded in a studio. If you train yourself how to use music recording software like ProTools and all that stuff, you can make some great sounding demos homemade. Why is home recording better?

1) You can record anytime you want to. You don’t have to set appointments with a local studio. You have home recording equipment, you’ll be able to record all day, every day.

2) Saves money. You don’t have to pay by the hour with your own home recording equipment.

You can even turn your own home into your own home studio. It’s easy to do. Just do the research and buy all the equipment you need to make a home studio. If you want nothing fancy; all you need is a computer and music recording software — that’s pretty much it. My home recording rig is nothing all that fancy. I would like to have better recording equipment and more expensive stuff but someday, I’ll have to start saving for the right equipment. I’ll need better speakers and all that stuff.

I think home recording is way cool. You don’t need those studios. Even a lot of famous bands don’t use expensive studios. A lot of famous bands have their own studio at home. That’s where they mostly make their records. Another great thing about home recording is that you have complete control. You’ll be your own boss and won’t be told what to do by the recording engineer. If you need mixing and mastering done… do the research on that stuff and you can get those done yourself with the right equipment you can buy.

There are some musicians around here that I know who do home recording but we need more. Home recording is so underrated. A lot of musicians and bands prefer to record in professional studios because they probably don’t have any recording equipment at home and they don’t know their stuff either that or they just want to feel like a rock star.

I recorded in a professional studio once to record a demo but to be honest, I didn’t like it. I like to keep it old-school by doing home recording. I’m more used to that.

My next demo that I plan on making will probably be homemade too. Studios are expensive and a lot of them rip you off, anyway. If you want to be a real DIY artist… doing everything homemade is the way to do it.

Kev

music

How Scott Weiland is going to win the dismissal, all the way…

I just read the actual STP lawsuit that was filed against their former frontman, Scott Weiland. I read it over a couple of times.

Read it for yourself, here.

Harsh, very harsh. While you may read that lawsuit, I’m sure you’re going to mistakenly side with the band and you might agree that Scott deserves everything he’s getting. Well to be honest, it really sounds like the band is just telling they’re side of the story. So don’t believe everything they’ve written in their lawsuit.

You see here’s the thing, guys. The band claims that in 1996 they had each member sign a written agreement, the STP Partnership they were referring to. They claim that they have an STP Partnership group that if any member leaves a band they agree to not use the STP band name, songs, designs or any other trademarks for their other projects. I would think Scott has all the right to use the STP name and perform STP songs at his solo shows as he pleases.

I did a little research on trademarks and copyrights. You should too. Go to the trademark website, and look up the STP band name. All 4 original members of STP share the Stone Temple Pilots together. As long as all 4 members is a registrant to the Stone Temple Pilots name, I would think they can use the band name for their other projects all they want to. I also searched the copyright records for the STP song catalogue and it’s pretty much the same there as well. Most STP songs are copyrighted by all 4 members as a registrant. Therefor, Scott shares everything with the band like I’ve been repeatedly saying.

On top of that, the band accuses Scott of making the band look bad by using the STP name and performing their songs to push his solo career. Well if I remember correctly back in 2006 after STP parted ways for a while, Scotty went on to form the Velvet Revolver and the other three members of STP: Robert, Dean and Eric formed another band with that Filter singer in which they named that band, Army of Anyone. Well guess what? Yes, you betcha Army of Anyone used the STP name to help push the band out there and they performed STP songs at all of their shows. So honestly, the other guys: Robert, Dean and Eric are acting like hypocrites when they accuse Scott of these things. To explain the hypocrisy even more, they accuse Scott of stealing the band’s creation when they just released a Megaphone t-shirt; the Megaphone idea was all Scott’s.

I’m not a lawyer so I don’t know anything about the legal stuff but I’m just making observations.

I don’t believe there was ever a written agreement, the STP Partnership, that the band claims. If it was true, then Army of Anyone wouldn’t have used STP to push that band out there. They would have broken the agreement if they did.

Remember, the band is just telling their side of the story, and Scott is just telling his side of the story when he tries to defend himself. It’s all up for the judge to decide. I think STP will get no where with this lawsuit simple because Scott shares everything with them. The band could also be lying about everything they said about Scott being late for concerts and all that stuff.   If the other three guys can play STP songs with their other bands, then why can’t Scott?

On top of this, Scott is the lead singer of STP and he had a huge hand in writing all of the songs so that reason alone is why I believe he has every right to use the STP name and perform their songs all he wants to. He was the one who helped give the band that success so he deserves to celebrate what the band did in the past. The band should be proud of Scott of what he did with the band but nope…. ego and jealousy have to get in the way with everything. Like I said before, that’s the name of the game in the music business. You’re gonna come across a lot of people you can’t trust and a lot of backstabbing. A lot of drama around.

The band also accuses Scott of drug use, of course, but I wouldn’t really believe that either. Scott could be clean, healthy, and good as well.

I’ll be following this feud pretty closely so if anymore news come up in the future, I’ll post my thoughts. I still think Scott is innocent. I’m sure he’ll be successful at proving his innocence when he battles this out in court. It’ll be even better if they just bury the hatchet and act like grown ups but like I said bands are ego-driven pieces of crap, and they don’t care. The band accuses Scott of being selfish when they are the same.

Kev

Politics/war

Happy Memorial Day…

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Happy Memorial Day to all! After all the rain in Upstate NY all weekend, the nice and beautiful weather is finally here on this Memorial Day! Just went to the gym for a quick chest workout, not doing much today.

Hope you are all enjoying yourselves. Whatever you’re doing bbq cookouts with the families and friends be sure to pay your respects to the vets — alive or dead. They all deserve to be thanked for sacrificing their lives for defending our country.

A few weeks ago, I finished reading the Chris Kyle book, “American Sniper”. It’s real insane to me how that guy doesn’t get enough recognition and respect that he deserves. Chris was a pretty aggressive sniper who killed the most more than anybody. He did what he loved. Today, would have been an appropriate day for him to get the Medal of Honor and it’s real sad that he hasn’t been honored yet by the President. “American Sniper” is a really good book though, I’d strongly recommend it. Steven Spielberg’s going to make it into a great film, I think.

Hope you all are having a good day today.

Kev

music

More proof on how STP fired Scott Weiland just to make him look ridiculous…

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Just for the hell of it, I decided to go looking through the STP official website. The band just released a Megaphone t-shirt for sale and it’s a brand new shirt that was released shortly after Scott was fired. Um, excuse me. Whose idea was it to bring the megaphone into the band? Yes, that’s right. None other than Scott Weiland. The megaphone was part of Scott’s well-known trademark for the band. He used the megaphone for a lot of STP songs. He used it all over the first album and Scott used the megaphone a lot for STP shows. To have the band release that shirt after his so-called firing, proves that the rest of the guys are intentionally trying to destroy Scott’s reputation as a person and as a musician himself.

Honestly, I believe they had no reason to get rid of Scotty. They did it hoping to get more publicity… a publicity stunt kind of thing. They did it ’cause they know everyone would be talking about it and they figure it would be good promotion for the band. It’s a ploy. They got the idea when Velvet Revolver booted Scotty a long while back.

Check out the megaphone t-shirt, here.

I know I talk about this a lot but hey, I’m a fan of the band too and like most fans… I hate how they are now. I heard all of STP albums and saw them live in concert once when Scott was the frontman.

I still think Scott is going to prevail in this legal battle. Why? The answer is easy. It’s going to be very difficult for STP to prove how Scott is misusing their band name to push his solo career. Scott has the right to use the STP material all he wants ’cause he owns part of the trademark of the STP name and I’m sure he owns parts of the copyrights of STP’s song catalog. STP is the one stepping over the legal line here for continuing on with the STP name under a different singer.

This is an interesting feud and an interesting battle. I’m looking forward to seeing how it’s all gonna end.

And again, everybody wants to blame this on the drugs. Notice how Scott doesn’t respond to the drug accusations. Not yet, anyway. It’s a smart thing to do is to not respond to the drugs speculation.  I’m sure he gets accused of using drugs still 100 times a day so he probably doesn’t care.

Just let the man live his life and let him do what he wants to do. Kudos to him for sticking up for himself. I even feel bad for the guy sometimes.

Kev

The Official Music Website of Kevin Brock – Brocking N' Rolling