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ROCK ON! This Week's Sound Bites....4/17/14


By Danny Coleman

originally published: 04/17/2014
“I prefer to look forward and not back. I don’t know too many people who consistently look back twenty years all of the time. I mean, I’m glad that our fans still do; that’s a really good thing but I prefer to look ahead,” says Sebastian Bach as he elaborated on his recent release “Give ‘Em Hell” and his days as the front man for one of Atlantic Records most successful acts, Skid Row.

That was then and this is now and Bach has embarked on a national tour, something which he enthusiastically has looked forward to. “This tour has like forty or fifty shows booked; it’s a real rock tour. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do, it’s been a long time for me and I am loving it; I’m living the dream, I really am.”

Rising to prominence as the front man of Skid Row, Sebastian has worn multiple hats since his departure from the group; literally becoming a multi-stage personality. Bach has starred on television in a recurring role on the CW’s “Gilmore Girls,” has performed on Broadway in “Jekyll & Hyde” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” as well as toured nationally with a production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and has made multiple appearances on MTV and VH1. “Yeah, I’ve done Broadway four times,” he said, “It’s the biggest thing, well it’s like that word association game; you could give me a word and I’d never run out of things to say about it. I could just keep coming up with words to describe how great it was. I did one that was like a rock show and three more traditional style plays, the beauty of it is I never had to shout or yell; I could just sing and sing properly.”

Along with all of those accomplishments, Bach is also a “Multi-Platinum” recording artist; a stigma that he is quite happy to have. “It’s funny you ask that,” he stated, “Well, what’s funny is that I now live in Beverly Hills, CA. and I look at my house and the walls are full of gold and platinum records. My next door neighbor is a famous actor and he comes over and he’s amazed at them all and I’m like, wow he’s in my house and he’s like, wow you’ve got all of these on your walls (laughing) and I realize how lucky I am. Did you know that Skid Row is one of the top ten recording artists in Atlantic Records history? Last I check we were right behind “Led Zeppelin II” and that’s pretty darn good I’d say (laughs).”

With the release of “Give ‘Em Hell,” Sebastian has attempted to take this disc to a “New level of Album Recording.” The time and effort put in from the recording process through to the final mix and mastering was paramount to Bach as he undertook this project. “It is fascinating to me how many people spend so much money and time making albums and then it’s a piece of crap when you put the headphones on, some stuff I’ve heard, you may as well listen to on those headphones that come with your new cell phone.”

Siting a huge obstacle as transferring what was done in the studio to the final product without compromising the work itself; Bach is meticulous about what gets in the hands of the listener. “Dave Grohl said to me that the biggest job of a musician is “saying no.” That is the biggest challenge for us, getting the actual product from the studio to you, the public. People don’t know the difference between WAVE files and MP3s and I made sure that the quality of this album is, not just because it’s mine but it’s really a fight as a human being to bring the music the way it’s supposed to be to the people. Pandora, Spotify, MP3 formats are made so people can get an idea but not necessarily really hear the music as it should be; I refuse to do things that way. I say no a lot because I know what I want and how my music should be represented. I look at it this way, if I don’t leave a lot of pissed off people in my wake; then I’m not saying “no” enough. I think I’ve done that with this album, it totally kicks ass and it’s what I do for a living so it better be good (laughs).”

The players on “Give ‘Em Hell” and his band were hand-picked by Bach himself and are all experienced rockers who have added much more than even Bach himself could have ever hoped. “You know, people often ask me, “When are you getting back with your old band?” I say, if I did that I couldn’t make a record with these guys. I’m a fan of these guys too, Duff McKagan, Steve Stevens, John 5; these guys I really like as musicians and people too. John 5 co-wrote “Temptation” with me and also did the video, I am very lucky to have these guys with me. Steve Stevens, people think he’s just a hard rocker but he’s astounding and does so many styles of guitar and Duff is fantastic.”

Bach kicked off his “Give ‘Em Hell Tour of Hell 2014” recently and has two shows planned in the New York City area shortly after the albums official April 22 release date. Bach and the boys will be rocking B.B. Kings in NYC on April 24 and then at the Starland Ballroom in his native New Jersey on April 25. These two shows are the first of four straight which take the band down to Maryland then up to Maine, followed by a lengthy break in the schedule before departing for France and the European leg of the tour near the end of June.

Does he ever tire of the touring and the rock lifestyle? The answer is a resounding “No!” “Are you serious? It is what I’ve always done. I mean I have this voice, it’s been what; twenty five years now? There are some who argue that my hair has something to do with it but although that may be part of it; my voice has been the constant. I plan on doing this for a long time (laughs).”




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Sebastian Bach tour dates, ticket info. and more can be found at www.sebastianbach.com


This space welcomes any suggestions and/or comments. Please send them to: Rockonradio1460@hotmail.com


That's it for this week! Please continue to support live and original music and until next week....ROCK ON!
THIS WEEKS CALENDAR LISTINGS

Alchemist & Barrister

28 Witherspoon Street Princeton
(609) 924-5555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Arnie Baird

Sun. 9 p.m. Paul Plumeri Trio




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Wed. 10 p.m. Open mic. night Hosted by Eric Puliti

All shows 21+
Amarones Windsor Inn

29 Church St. Windsor
(609) 448-714
Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Pizza Night w/Scott Gager & Debbie

Fri. 8 p.m. Rick & Kenny

Sat. 8 p.m. Meg Hanson Band Feat. Billy Hill

Tues. 7 p.m. Texas Hold'em
Blend

911 Rte. 33 Hamilton

(609) 245-8887
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke
Candlelight Lounge
24 Passaic St. Trenton
(609) 695-9612


Sat. 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Earl Ross "Texas Tenor Style" Quartet. (No cover-$10 minimum)





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Centro Bar And Grille

2360 Rte. 33 Robbinsville

(609) 208-9300
Thurs. 9:30 p.m. Dave Vroman
Chambers Walk Cafe
2667 Main St. Lawrenceville
(609) 896-5995


Fri./Sat. 6 p.m. Dick Gratton


The Backstage at Championship Bar
931 Chambers St. Trenton

(609) 394-7437
Thurs. 6 p.m. CDC, Loyal To The Grave, Strength Through Suffering, Full Nelson. All ages, $10

Fri. 6 p.m. Gideon, Kublai Khan, Illusionist, Young Graves, Premonitions, Heroes, The Second Phase. All ages, $12

Sat. 7 p.m. Dead Wings, Continuum, Sick of Silence, Eye of Anubis, All For One. All ages, $8/$10

Sun. (4 p.m.) Bermuda, Set To Reflect, Reborn Divided, Footage Of A Yeti, Revelations, It Compels You, Paradigms, In Search Of. All ages, $10/$12 (11 p.m.) Dreadpool Parker, A-On, Rocky, (TBA). Ages 21+, $5 (free admission w/ first show entry)

Mon. 6 p.m. Fit For An Autopsy, Bottom Feeder, Toothgrinder, Proletariat, Jackknife, (TBA). All ages, $10/$12
Dubh Linn Square
167 Rte. 130 North Bordentown
(609) 298-7100
Sat. 2 p.m. Andrew Pittman

Sun. 4 p.m.Billy O'neal


Tues. 9 p.m. Open Mic. Night hosted by Shaun Ruymen
Fran's Pub

116 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.

(215)862-5539


Fri. 9 p.m. DJ Night

Mon. 8 p.m. Open Mic Blues Jam

All shows 21+
Havana New Hope
105 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-9897

Thurs. "Beat The Clock" College Night DJ Dance Party

Fri. 9 p.m. Swift Technique / William Gruff $5




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Sat. 8:30 p.m. Bigg Romeo

Mon. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ DJ Ron Sherr and Bridge

Tues. 8 p.m. Local Original Music Series w/ Nytrous

Wed. 8 p.m. Pat Foran and Friends

All shows 21+
Ivy Tavern
3108 S. Broad Street, Hamilton
(609) 888-1435
Fri. 10 p.m. Blind Lemmon Pie

Sat. 10 p.m. Stage Hamz
All shows 21+


John & Peter's
96 S. Main St. New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-5981

Thurs. 9 p.m. The Devyl Nellys

Fri. 9 p.m. Luke Elliot

Sat. (3 p.m.) Old Rugged Sauce (9:30 p.m.) The Billy Hector Band

Mon. Open Mic.

Tues. 9 p.m. Max Pain & The Groovies

Wed. The Invitational (Featuring John & Peter's House Band)
All shows 21+
JoJo's Tavern

2677 Nottingham Way Hamilton

(609) 586-2678


Sat. 9:30 p.m. Mario DiBartolo Band

Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke
McGuinn's Place

1781 Brunswick Ave. Trenton

(609) 392-0599
Sat. 10 p.m. Out of The Red
Millhill Basement

300 South Broad St. Trenton

(609) 989-1600
Fri. 9 p.m. The Cryptkeeper Five, Trophy Lungs, Victory Boy, The New Warden, Awkward Friends, J Kutchma.
Palermo's Of Hamilton
310 Klockner Rd. Hamilton
(609) 838-7979


Thurs. 9 p.m. Karaoke

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Alright Alright

All shows 21+
Patriot's Crossing

1339 River Rd. Titusville

(609) 737-2780
Fri. 7:30 p.m. Fortune Ridge

Sat. 7:30 p.m. Blues In Disguise


Pete's Steak House
523 Whitehorse Ave. Hamilton
(609) 585-8008


Fri. 9:30 p.m. Ernie White and Tom Reock

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Deep Release
RHO Waterfront


50 Riverview Plaza Trenton


(609) 393-7300
Thurs. 9 p.m. College Night w/ DJ Paul Desisto


Sat. 9 p.m. "Spring Freestyle Party" w/ Judy Torres and Soave feat. DJs John Rossi, Scott Valyo, Billy Gray, Mark Hawkes. Ages 21+, $30


All Shows 21+
Spigola Ristorante

3817 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Rd. Hamilton
Fri. 8:30 p.m. Steve Bross

Sat. 8:30 p.m. Kathy "Babe" Robinson w/ Tom Adams
Sunsets at Cream Ridge

181 Rte. 539 Cream Ridge

(609) 208-2500
Thurs. 7:30 p.m. Joe Kaplow

Fri. 6:30 p.m. Rob Silvers Duo

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Thomas Wesley Stern

Mon. 7 p.m. Open Mic. and Karaoke w/ Rich Barry


Tavern On The Lake

101 Main St. Hightstown
(609) 426-9345


Fri. 9 p.m. Steve The Band

Wed. 8 p.m. Whiskey Fueled
The Cool Cricket

216 4th St. Fieldsboro

(609) 291-9110
Fri. 9 p.m. Karaoke

Sat. 9 p.m. Sick Intent

Sun.1 p.m. Bikes, Babes & Booze
The Ivy Inn

248 Nassau St. Princeton

(609) 921-8555
Thurs. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr

Fri. 10 p.m. Never Enough

Sat. 10 p.m. Mad Notes

Tues. 8 p.m. Quizzo w/ Bob E Luv

Wed. 10 p.m. Karaoke w/ Ron Sherr
The Record Collector

358 Farnsworth Ave. Bordentown

(609) 324-0880

Fri. 8 p.m. Raymond the Amish Comic. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $15 (advance)

Sat. (10 a.m.) In Store Concert w/ Anker, Successful Failures, Jon & Deena of the Cucumbers. (8:30 p.m.) Essra Mohawk. All ages, doors at 7:30 p.m., $15 (advance).
The Sticky Wicket
2465 South Broad St. Hamilton
(609) 439-0007
Fri. 9 p.m. All For Bettee

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Bent Mushroom

All shows 21+
The Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 656-3200
Sat. 7 p.m. Trenton Freedom vs. Columbus Lions. Tickets $11, $13, $19, $24, $29


Tir Na Nog
1324 Hamilton Ave. Trenton
(609) 392-2554

Fri. 9 p.m. Mike Brill

Sat. 9 p.m. John Alberici

All shows 21+
Trenton Social

449 South Broad Street Trenton

(609) 989-7777
Thurs. 8 p.m. Cinema Thursdays Presents: Billy Was a Deaf Kid

Fri. 10 p.m. Friday night w/ Jay Kountree & Jaxx

Mon. 10 p.m. Service Industry Night w/ DJ-Jay Kountree

Tues. 9 p.m. LiveMusic/Open Mic.
Triumph Brewing Company (New Hope, Pa. Location)
400 Union Square New Hope, Pa.
(215) 862-8300

Thurs. 10 p.m. Bengal Gold

Fri. 10 p.m. Highway 41 (Allman Bros. Tribute). $5 (coverage)

Sat. (1 p.m.) James Tristan Redding / Kelso Gin Whitney. (10 p.m.) Universal Rebel. $5 (cover charge)

Sun. 7 p.m. Open Jam Night hosted by Paper Submarines
All shows 21+
Villa Romanza

429 Rte. 156 Hamilton

(609) 585-1717
Fri. 6 p.m. Arturo Romay

Sat. 9:30 p.m. Jayson Dimanche of the Cincinnati Bengals
Wildflowers Inn


2572 Pennington Rd. Pennington


Sat. 9 p.m. Live Acoustic Rock
Mon. 9 p.m. Karaoke

All shows 21+

Photo credit: Lizzy Cupcake





Danny Coleman is a veteran musician and writer from central New Jersey. He hosts a weekly radio program entitled 'Rock On Radio' airing Sunday evenings at 7:00pm EST on ThePenguinRocks.com where he features indie/original bands and solo artists.

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