New Killswitch Engage

Here's the newest video from the Massachusetts metalcore band Killswitch Engage off their self-titled CD that came out today. The song is called "Starting Over".

Stand By Iran

Free MP3 download: http://content.mydamnchannel.com/datastore/donwas/standbyme.mp3

"Stand by Me"

On June 24, Iranian Superstar Andy Madadian went into an LA recording studio with Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and American record producers Don Was and John Shanks to record a musical message of worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran. This version of the old Ben E. King classic is not for sale - it was not meant to be on the Billboard charts or even manufactured as a CD.... it's intended to be downloaded and shared by the Iranian people...to give voice to the sentiment that all people of the world stand together....the handwritten Farsi sign in the video translates to "we are one".

If you know someone in Iran - or someone who knows someone in Iran - please share this link: http://www.mydamnchannel.com/Don_Was/Stand_By_Me/StandByMewithIntro_2168.aspx



CREDITS:

Andy - Vocals
Jon Bon Jovi - Vocals
Richie Sambora - Electric Guitar and Vocals
John Shanks - Acoustic Guitar
Don Was - Bass
Patrick Leonard - Keyboards
Jeff Rothchild - Drums
Tiffany Madadian and Nikki Lund - Background Vocals

Produced by Don Was & John Shanks
Recorded and Mixed by Jeff Rothchild at Henson Studio C, Hollywood, CA on June 24, 2009

Thanks to Faryal Ganjehei
Written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller
Farsi lyric by Paksima Zakipour
Video Edited by Gemma Corfield
Mastered by Stephen Marcussen

The Final Destination Trailer

I think I've made it pretty clear that I love these Final Destination movies. Finally the 4th movie in the series (and the first one in 3-D!) comes out on August 28th, 2009 and the trailer has hit the net. Believe it or not though, it's not called Final Destination 4 but instead they've gone with "The Final Destination". Check it out below.

Also see my "This Idiots Guide To The Final Destination Movies" if you care.


Synopsis: On what should have been a fun-filled day at the races, Nick O’Bannon has a horrific premonition in which a bizarre sequence of events causes multiple race cars to crash, sending flaming debris into the stands, brutally killing his friends and causing the upper deck of the stands to collapse on him. When he comes out of this grisly nightmare Nick panics, persuading his girlfriend, Lori, and their friends, Janet and Hunt, to leave… escaping seconds before Nick’s frightening vision becomes a terrible reality. Thinking they’ve cheated death, the group has a new lease on life, but unfortunately for Nick and Lori, it is only the beginning. As his premonitions continue and the crash survivors begin to die one-by-one-in increasingly gruesome ways-Nick must figure out how to cheat death once and for all before he, too, reaches his final destination.

Book Review: Pressure

Pressure
by Jeff Strand

Synopsis: They first met in boarding school—Alex, shy and nervous, and Darren, constantly scribbling in his journal. They became best friends in college. Alex always knew Darren was a little odd. He didn’t know his friend was murderously insane until Darren asked Alex to join him in his blood-soaked fun. They could be a team, hunting and slaughtering human prey. Alex doesn’t want any part of it. He’s no monster. But Darren is twisted, deadly…and determined. And he won’t take no for an answer.

This is the first book by Jeff Strand that I've read but I can assure you it won't be the last. It starts out very much like a Stand By Me/regular coming-of-age story, but get's pretty dark and sinister as it progresses, especially after the main characters grow up and reach college age. In the early years there's enough humor to keep the book from being too overwhelmingly dark but in the later years it's pretty relentlessly intense. Strand doesn't pull a lot of punches and take the easy way out on some situations as it get's pretty sick and twisted. The pacing of the book as it's builds is fantastic and will keep you page turning.

It had me putting myself in the narrator's situation a few times, something I don't usually do, and wondering how I'd have handled certain issues or dealt with things as they get pretty uncomfortable and ultimately unthinkable. What if you suspect a close friend is actually an insane sociopath? Better yet what if a close friend actually turns out to be an insane sociopath? And how much pain and loss can you take before you crack?

The book is perfectly named as it's very nerve-racking often, despite the mood being lightened at the right times with a very clever mix. Overall it's a very well-written and suspenseful thriller that I may have to read a second time soon. It's probably one of the better books I've gotten from my horror book club in quite a while.

9/10

Lego Awesomeness

I stumbled across this article on Abduzeedo on an artist named Nathan Sawaya who makes some of the most awesome Lego art pieces you've ever seen. Clink the link above to see a whole bunch of these or click here for his web page gallery. Amazing. When I was a kid we used to make Lego dogs and have big warring armies fight it out. Hey, it's not as cool as this but you have to admit that giant armies of dogs is kind of cool. Right? Hello?!?

From Wikipedia: Nathan Sawaya (born July 10, 1973), is an artist who builds custom three-dimensional models and large-scale mosaics from popular everyday items and standard Lego toy bricks. His unique, one-of-a-kind art creations are commissioned by companies, charities, individuals, museums and galleries. He first came to national attention in 2004, when he won a nationwide search for a professional Lego Master Model Builder.After working for the Lego company for six months, he branched off and opened his own art studio in New York and is officially recognized by The Lego Group as a Lego Certified Professional.

Guess Who's Back?

Well like it or not, Creed is returning. Here they are performing "My Own Prison" Live on Fox News' Fox & Friends in Manhattan, NY on June 26, 2009. This is the band's first true official live show before an audience since reuniting.

Stapp looks and sounds pretty good here I think as does the whole band. When they kick it in at about the 3:30 mark it's sort of sad that they're in this environment because the audience is all but dead, but that's sort of expected on this type of show. I like a lot of songs by these guys and have seen them a couple of times so I'm sort of interested to see what the reunion brings.

New CMT Crossroads Kicks Butt

I posted this blog on Friday with the video for "Heaven" from CMT's newest Crossroads episode with Bryan Adams and Jason Aldean, but I watched the full episode last night and was blown away, so here's more.

If you've never watched the show, there is a lot of interaction between the performers and watching these 2 guys sit and talk about how they got in the music biz and showing appreciation for each other's music is great. Plus they have so many great songs between the 2 of them and both do a great job on each other's music. I have a feeling a lot of Bryan Adam fans will be checking out Jason Aldean's music now and vice-versa.

This is Bryan's "Summer of 69" and Jason's "Johnny Cash" both. Check it out.

Sunday Funnies

Book Review: Cover

Cover
by Jack Ketchum

Synopsis: Lee is a veteran who came back from the war a changed man. He’s haunted and scarred. And his grip on reality is weakening, especially since his wife and son left him. He keeps to himself, deep in the woods. But today he’s not alone. A group of weekend campers have intruded on his fragile world. For Lee this means he’s back in the war. For the unsuspecting visitors it means a fight to stay alive.

I love a lot of Jack Ketchum's books (The Girl Next Door and Off Season being some of my favorite books in a while) so I had high hopes for this one. I also thought the basic premise of a group of campers being stalked by a crazy Nam vet sounded pretty ass kicking as well. Perhaps both of those things led to my disappointment in this work of his. There are a couple of major problems for me with it.

1. It just takes too long to really get going. Once it finally does, it's got a good pace and is suspenseful, but I just thought it toiled along way too long with the set-up.

2. The characters pretty much suck, sans the crazy vet (and his dog is pretty cool too). It's a bunch of people I don't like and they're just not very believable. We find out way too much about them as well, and I got confused by who was who as there were too many of their stories you get jammed in here. One particular guy with a hot girlfriend who is friends with his wife was just a bit too much, added nothing, and is just dumb.

All-in-all it's a decent little horror/suspense read but nowhere near up to par for Jack Ketchum and with the 2 major glaring problems I listed above, I'll probably forget about it pretty quickly.

5/10

Start Spreadin' The News

So I'm back from New York. And tired. Ya know it's a city I really would have never thought I'd like but after a few visits I'm come to realize it's one of my favorite cities in America and I put it right up there with Las Vegas, St. Louis and Hollywood. It's just so unique and full of life. It's also massive and I'd love to explore a lot more of it. I've basically only been around the Times Square/Central Park area, except for a trip to Queens for a Met's game, and I'd love to take a full week someday and explore around. Someday I will. I sure wouldn't want to live there, but wish I could visit more often.

Anywho, here's some pics I took:

It Isn't Too Hard To See, We're In Heaven

Wow. This. Is. Awesome.

I was a big fan of Bryan Adams back in the day and now really like Jason Aldean, so how can this not be awesome? CMT Crossroads: Bryan Adams and Jason Aldean debuts tonight on CMT and here's a clip with them doing a KILLER acoustic version of Adam's "Heaven". I can't wait to see what other songs they do. Roll the DVRS!

UFC Magazine

The ever-expanding UFC now has a magazine. Check out the photo shoots for the first issue, which should be on newstands now.

UFC Magazine Photo Shoot - Georges St-Pierre and Thiago Alves:.



UFC Magazine Photo Shoot - Dan Henderson & Michael Bisping:

New York New York

Whew. Been a busy time since getting to NY on Sunday night. I had breakfast in Little Rock Sunday, lunch in Atlanta and dinner in New York. Fun day. Since then I've been sitting in exciting technology round table meetings (although the tables were actually in a square formation) and attending a technology seminar. You'd think it would be geek city, but there are some super hot ladies at this thing. But yeah, it's still geek city. I fit right in I guess.

I've explored the city a bit. I've eaten at Fresco's, Lindy's and the world famous Carnegie Deli, where I had the most awesome (and massive) corned beef sandwich I've ever laid eyes on. I also walked around Times Square and down to and around Central Park, which is a really cool area.

On Sunday night we hit a little beer bar I'd read about called The House of Brews. It's a little off the beaten path of Times Square, but worth the walk. Great selection of brews (I had a Checker Cab Blonde Ale and Brooklyn Lager) and it's sort of a dive bar, which I love. Full of locals (except us). I've also hit up Heartland Brewery and sampled their beers, Bridge Bar, Mickey Mantle's, Rosie O'Grady's and O'Malley's Irish Pub in Times Square. I love going to cities and trying to sample every single beer not available back home. That would be a tough task here, but I'm going to continue to make an effort. I'm heading to The Ginger Man tonight and it looks like they have TONS of good stuff. Newsday called it "a beer lover's paradise". Hey, that's me.

Loads of pics as always. I'll post some when I get home.

Saturday Funnies

Cool Animated Video

Check out this cool new animated video from Miami band Black Tide, "Warriors of Time". The track is from their debut CD Light From Above.

The animated video follows Black Tide's mascot, The Bastard, as he travels through the past, present, and future. Lot's of cool violence, explosions and butt-kickings abound. I like the song and love this style of animation so I think it rocks.

Black Tide is set for this year's Warped Tour.

Black Tide - New Music - More Music Videos

If you're diggin' this, here's another Black Tide video I posted several months ago as well.

Trailer for "Whiteout" Hits The W-W-W

All the sudden Dark Castle Entertainment is really getting on the ball. They've got Orphan hitting the theaters next month (see post here) and now comes news that Whiteout will be in theaters September 11th. The trailer is out also and it looks pretty sweet.

Synopsis: A U.S. deputy marshal, (Kate Beckinsale), the only one assigned to Antarctica, must investigate a murder on the frozen continent within three days before the arctic winter begins. She crosses paths with a U.N. operative (Gabriel Macht), also investigating the murder.

Another Year Older

Yeah, it's my birthday again. I've had some good celebrations over the years, usually with a road trip of some sort, but since I'm going to NYC this weekend for 5 days I think I'll just go to the ballpark tonight and take in a game and a few cold ones. I guess that's actually just a regular night, but hey it's my birthday so I'll do what I want!

I've come a long ways I guess. 30 years ago I was 13-year-old lad sitting in my bedroom playing Atari and listening to Black Sabbath. Now I'm a 43-year-old sitting in the living room playing Playstation 3 listening to Black Sabbath. Well, I haven't come that far I guess.

I wish something cool had happened in history on my birthday, but alas every year I look through the "this day in history" type things and never see anything. It's a pretty dull day, this June 18th. But some cool people were born at least. No, I'm not talking about me.

Is it any surprise that a guy who wrote a drinking song that says when he has too many he becomes "the worlds greatest lover and a dancin' machine" shares his birthday with me? Poetic justice that Blake Shelton shares this day. See the fun drunken video below all these other awesome humans celebrating today:

* Martin St. Louis (plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL... has won the Hart Trophy (MVP) and played in 5 all-star games)

* Assuerio Silva (0-3 in the UFC... got beat by Cheick Kongo, Brandon Vera and Tim Sylvia at least!)

* Sandy Alomar Jr. (1990 MLB rookie of the year)

* Lou Brock (from El Dorado, Arkansas... Hall of Famer for the STL Cardinals... thanks Cubs!)

* Sir Paul McCartney (wrote a couple of songs you might know... including the "you say it's your birthday!" song)

* Dizzy Reed (best known for his tenure as the keyboardist for the rock band Guns N' Roses)

* Bruce Smith (pro football Hall of Famer... He currently holds the record for most career quarterback sacks with 200)

* Alison Moyet (English pop singer-songwriter)

* E.G. Marshall (played Art on Christmas Vacation, one of the greatest holiday movies ever)

* Roger Ebert (movie critic... just like me! He's fatter though)

* Silkk the Shocker (Lil' Romeo's uncle!)

So if you see any of those peeps today tell them happy bday as well. And here's the drunken fun of the Blake Shelton video I promised. Enjoy this day as I shall.

Blake Shelton

More CMT Music

More CMT Music Videos

More Dangerous New Machine

Here's another video from Dangerous New Machine. I posted their video for "Skeletons" way back here. This one is called "Burn". They are currently putting the finishing touches on a four-song EP entitled "Skeletons".



The clip was directed/edited by Scott "El" Haney of El Haney Video Productions and includes studio as well as performance footage.

Erik Rogers - Vocals (Stereomud)
Billy Grey (ex-Fozzy, Sick Speed) – Lead Guitar
Jake Kitchens - Bass
Rodney Beaubouef (ex-Stuck Mojo) – Drums

Movie Review: Star Runners

Synopsis: Given an undercover government mission to retrieve a "crate" from a distant planet, Ty and Lei find that they must smuggle not a crate, but a woman off world -- and when their rocket-ship crash-lands on a planet packed with vicious giant alien bugs, they'll need all the cunning and ferocity they possess to stay alive.

For a sci-fi film without 1 single original idea in it, it's actually sort of watchable. With all the usual SyFy Channel downfalls like poor script and cheap special effects in place, I still had some fun as I usually do with their films.

Giant bugs run amok in some outer space post? C'mon, that's good stuff. These bugs seem to like to use their pinchers for decapitating too. Paint-by-numbers plot points though, like the ole "traitor among us", "bad guy military leader", "sexy confused chick with small outfit and repressed memory" ( a personal favorite of mine) and an Asian sidekick who can get anything technological up and running if you just give him the time dammit. Pretty much every 5 minutes something is happening that made me go "oh yeah, they did that in _____". That blank is filled in a lot of times with Starship Troopers, but also some of The Fifth Element, Serenity, Pitch Black maybe some Firefly and of course giant (laughable) CGI monsters from several SyFy Channel originals. Oh I'm not saying it's as good as any of those films mind you, it's just ripping them off.

No big stars in it of note, unless you count Connor Trinneer from Star Trek: Enterprise who plays Han Solo... err... I mean the lead character. James Kyson Lee who plays the annoying Ando in the series Heroes is in it also.

So yeah, don't run out and seek this or anything, but if you like to kill time laughing at and cheering for these B-movies this one isn't just awful. OK, it's bad maybe, and derivative, but not awful.

3/10

Scorsese's Latest Thriller Looks Creepy

Here's the trailer for Martin Scorsese's upcoming film "Shutter Island" and I think it looks pretty awesome. The cast isn't too shabby either, with Leonardo Dicaprio, Michelle Williams, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson and Max Von Sidow.

Here's the plot I've heard: Drama is set in 1954, U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leo) is investigating the disappearance of a murderess who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is presumed to be hiding on the remote Shutter Island.

Release Date: October 2nd 2009

Well Finally!

If I've said it once I've said it a million times whilst drinking a tasty Capri-Sun... we can put a golfer on the moon but why can't mankind put beer in these pouch thingies? Well, look no more my friends. These "beer pouches" were designed by the Beverage Pouch Group for nanobreweries that don't want to invest in expensive bottling equipment.


Now I know what you're thinking, the same thing I first thought of... does it hose the taste and can I crush these on my forehead when done and still look cool? Well here's a quote:

"The best part is the "organoleptic film structure" that doesn't change the taste of the beer at all. The slightly flexible pouch gives the beer room to fizz, and it's easy to fill with the cap on the bottom. Don't expect beer from the majors to sell like this, but this could be a big plus for local beer craftsmen."

Nothing about the crushing on the forehead bit though, but it seems safe enough. Of course, the only true test will be me drinking hundreds of them and forming my own opinion.

They're also making these in bigger versions, like this 64 oz badboy:

Somebody let me know when they find these somewhere. Stat!

Marilyn Manson's Armageddon Video

This is the clean version of the video and song, called "Armageddon".

Marilyn Manson from June's Revolver issue:

"It’s the song that I 100%, absolutely would never believe a record company would want to release as a single. Half the point of writing it was just to piss them off. That’s the type of thing that comes out of my mouth on a regular basis. Some people think I have a chromosome disorder in my brain, so I make up words and phrases that are ridiculous. I say it’s a “superhero special feature."

I love this guy. Good to see Twiggy back in the band too. This is one of the few artists left that I've always wanted to see live and never have. Maybe I'll correct that fail this year sometime.

Back to the video, MM also says that it has a very intentional "Adam Ant/Gary Glitter throwback vibe."

So get into the fist-pumping, glam-stomp of a chorus. Loudly.



i've got a black eye of a soul
my morals in a hole
i wish i was still dead
but the tv said,
its just a "tropical depression."
pointless intervention,
legal separation.
call my dealer or my lawyer
"We've got a situation!"

My Kind of Biking

I came across this story on Reuters about a "beer bike" in Amsterdam and thought it was really cool. I've never heard of this until now. I wish there was one of these rolling around my neighborhood, although it's not really hard to see why there would be a cause for concern for safety with something like this. This would never go over here in the land of lawsuits I'd guess. When I finally make it to Amsterdam though, if these still are in operation, you can bet I'll be having a cold beer on the "uncontrolled projectiles".

Last round called for the Amsterdam "beer bike?"

AMSTERDAM (Reuters Life!) - Although famous for a love of bicycles as the city's preferred transport, Amsterdam officials are starting to draw the line at a popular "beer bike."

The bike, which can seat at least 10 people around a central "bar" as they pedal through the city center, is a frequent sight in the Dutch capital and is said to be popular with stag and hen (bachelor and bachelorette) parties. A non-drinker steers the bike.


But two accidents involving the bikes since the start of April has prompted the city councilor responsible for transport, Hans Gerson, to investigate how many bikes there are and whether they pose a problem.

"This beer bike is completely legal, but he (Gerson) is not very enthusiastic about this idea of people drinking while being amongst traffic," a spokeswoman said.

But she downplayed the possibility of a ban, stressing the alderman is looking into various options.

Ard Karsten, owner of beerbike.co.uk which rents bikes to tourists, said he was open to talks with the council, adding his company only rents a beer bike out with a driver and has never been involved in an accident.


A compromise could involve the council obligating all firms to supply a driver with the bike, he said.

"We're not out on the street en masse and it's simply controllable. It is about fun and teambuilding," Karsten said. "We have a very beautiful route and people simply enjoy it, but some people ruin it for others."

A spokesman for the Amsterdam city center district, Ton Boon, said the bike was already banned in the red light district and welcomed Gerson's inquiry. "It causes a lot of nuisance."

Amsterdam newspaper Het Parool had reported earlier this week an accident last weekend resulted in various injures, while three women were injured two weeks ago.

"It is an uncontrolled projectile," motorcyclist Karin Wolfs, who was involved in an accident was quoted as saying.

New Video From Papa Roach

Here's the latest video from Papa Roach's "Metamorphasis" CD for the song "I Almost Told You That I Loved You". The song is a pretty fun and filthy little ditty and the video captures that same feel. Lots of sexy women.

Papa Roach will tour with Nickelback on their Dark Horse Tour this summer through Live Nation outdoor amphitheater's with Hinder, Saving Abel, and Nickelback starting on July 10, in New York.

Go Arkies!

Got my old man butt out of bed on Saturday and ran the Arkansas Runner 2-Miler at 7:30 AM with a goal of sub 8-minute miles. I love the 2 mile runs because you can really just get a nice pace going and cruise along and it's suddenly over, compared to 5K or 10K races. The weather was perfect with a decent breeze and low humidity and I met my goal, running 7.51 minute miles for an average. I finished in 15.42.16, good for 29th out of 108 men and 33rd out of 252 overall. Not too shabby for an old man I guess. I finished 4th in my age bracket.

Got the boat out later in the day as it was a perfect day weather-wise to be at the lake. This cruise was a family cruise with lots of kids and tube-pulling, my first time for that with the new boat. Gas sure does seem to disappear faster. I'm used to cruising around a bit, dropping anchor and just chilling for hours. We had a great time, got some sun, ate some great campfire food and just generally enjoyed being away from it all.

Good weekend for other Arkansans too:

* North Little Rock's Roli Delgado lost at UFC 99, but went the distance and put up a helluva fight to nearly upset Paul Kelly it sounds like.

* Batesville's 50-year-old Mark Martin won the Lifelock 400 yesterday in the best race of the season.

* Little Rock's Derek Fisher won his 4th NBA Championship with the Lakers.

* John Daly returned to the PGA tour, wore the ugliest pants in history (see below) all weekend, and finished a respectable 59th for $12,096. The PGA tour needs Big John.

* Benton's Cliff Lee took a no-hitter into the 8th inning before the Cardinals broke it up last night. He still finished with a 3-hit shut-out.

* North Little Rock's A.J. Burnett went 7 scoreless innings for the NY Yankees to beat the crosstown rival Mets yesterday.

* The Razorbacks baseball team upset Cal-Fullerton in the first round of the College World Series 10-6.

And just to start your week, here are some of John Daly's greatest (or worst) pants: