Photo: Contributed

Last week, we were introduced to Black Star Riders, via their lead vocalist Ricky Warwick, a new group growing out of the Legacy of Thin Lizzy.  This week we continue that journey, and will look at the actual recording of their debut, “All Hell Breaks Loose”, which was recorded in just twelve days!  The group enlisted veteran Producer Kevin Shirley, here Ricky takes up the story:

RW: “…we took the stuff to Kevin Shirley, …didn’t want to change much, and what he wanted to do was capture the energy and attitude that we already had.  He didn’t like to spend a long time on records, he wanted to get in there and play live with the band….record as much and keep as much from those live takes as we could and keep the overdubs to a bare minimum, and record that way.”                                                                                                         

Now, this methodology was new to Black Star, however they went along with it, and were very pleasantly surprised.  The result is a very high energy album that does capture the way these guys play live.  The group consists of veteran musicians, each member has been around for a long time with a solid working man’s reputation and highly crafted.  So when one listens to this debut, you would expect to hear that solidness, and confidence—and you do!  But, there is something else in the mix…I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it excites you…and it just sounds so fresh.  Black Star Riders will hit the road in June, playing first in Germany…then towards the end of the Summer; the group will be back Stateside, for some dates and hopefully some in Canada.  Come the Autumn, the group begins a full-fledged tour of the UK, and Europe-busy times for the Riders!

Now, Ricky and I talked about the ‘state of health’ of the music business, especially in North America, and he has some very intelligent and strong opinions on its conditions, but the bottom line is this:

RW: “…it’s all about connecting with the fans one on one now,…”   Now to paraphrase the rest of that part of our conversation… Ricky and the rest of the group recognise the power of ‘social media’, the empowerment of the Internet, and yes the traditional structure as well, and a combination of all of that is what is needed in our modern times for any musician.  The group’s label, Nuclear Blast does just that. RW: “…Nuclear Blast, for me is the perfect example of what we were just talking about.  They are a Company that is independent, they have been established for many years….they’re thriving…they are still doing the ‘old school’ stuff, but when it comes to embracing the ‘new’, they are at the forefront of that.”  In the dying moments of our conversation, what with discussing the new album, the decision to go out as a new group, the state of the business and the swiftness of how everything is falling into place, each member feels energised, and Ricky himself sums it up quite well…RW: “…man I feel like I’m nineteen again!  It’s a great feeling; I haven’t had this feeling in years you know!”

And it certainly shows in the album too!  “All Hell Breaks Loose” will make every old codger, like myself, feel the same way! as for the nineteen year old music lovers out there---yeah! if you want a tough, rock-hard musical excursion…it is the Black Star Riders…look for their debut, and if you have a chance, take their show in—you will be revitalised, I promise you that!       

Upcoming Club/Concert Highlights:

97^th Street Social House:    The Ozzy Ozmunds:    May 10^th & 11^th   The Zamboni Brothers:    May 24^th & 25^th     Wheelhouse:  May 31^st & June 1^st

The Blue Gator:   Zamboni Brothers:   May 9^th    Pappa Dawg:   May 10^th & 11^th  Crosstown Bus:   May 17^th & 18^th     Random Act:  May 24^th & 25^th   Orio:  May 30^th  Zamboni  Brothers:    May 31^st & June 1^st      Young ‘Uns:    June 7^th & 8^th    Sherman Doucette:   June 14^th & 15^th                                                                                                                       (don’t forget: Wednesday Night Blues with Pappa Dawg—throughout May!!)

The Minstrel Café:    Lydia Hol:  May 9^th & 10^th  Fighting Orange:  May 11^th    Joshua Smith:  May 14^th    Paul Rushka  Quintet:  May 15^th

O’Flannigan’s Pub:    Wild Son:  May 10^th   Poppa Wheely:   May 17^th    Radio Lifeline:  May 24^th          Stone Iris:  May 28^th

The Streaming Café:    The Archers:  May 11^th                 

Notable Concerts:    

the Flu:  Hometown Dates:   June 5^th:  Rotary Centre with King Doom and Callum Hughes

Prospera Place:  Sting:    May 30^th   Kiss & Shinedown:    July 8^th 

Vernon:  Funtastic---Honeymoon Suite:  June 28^th  Sweet:  June 29^th  Julian Austin  Aaron Pritchett:    June 30^th   

Summer Stomp ’13 (Sicamous)---Headpins  July 20^th 

Dancin’ Barefoot Music Festival- Peachland :  Nick Gilder & Sweeney Todd: July 20^th                 

South Okanagan Events Centre (Penticton):   Alan Jackson: August 3^rd

Peach Festival  Penticton:  Honeymoon Suite:   August 8^th   

Photo: Contributed

Notes & News:   Locally, the news is that the Sturgis North Motorcycle Jamboree and Music Festival will be held in Merritt: August 22^nd to 25^th…this year’s event will occupy the original Merritt Mountain festival site!  We should look forward to more music, more Artists and more fun!   Something new this year will be the 1^st Annual Supernova’s ‘Battle Of The Bands’, although not all the entertainment line-up has been announced…there will be an expansion to include some Country Artists on the Sunday!  Watch this space for complete Artist Line-ups  for the up-coming Festival!

…if you have a musical story or news and would like me to write something… drop me a line at:  fbainternational@telus.net  and let’s celebrate Kelowna’s rich and varied music community together!!.....

Photo: Contributed

We all know the tragic story of Phil Lynott, the leader of legendary band Thin Lizzy.  Although he passed in 1986, his spirit and legacy lived on with various line-ups of the group since 1996.  Scott Gorham took the helm and insured that Phil’s legacy was kept intact.  In 2010, the Thin Lizzy line-up included Scott, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton…along with Marco Mendoza and Ricky Warwick.  Continuing to tour, the group decided to start to write, and by this time (2011) Damon Johnson had joined the band.  The original idea was to write new material for a brand new Thin Lizzy album.  However, the musicians, who, held the highest respect for the legacy of the band and, of course Phil Lynott-(the group’s late leader and chief songwriter) made a decision:  Ricky Warwick takes up the story from there:

RW:  “The decision was made about a year ago to actually start writing….and obviously that was for at that time, was going to be, as we felt at the time, a new Thin Lizzy record.”    “The decision to actually change the name and to move forward was last September (2012) That was when the decision was made, but we didn’t actually come up with the name until about November.”  So it is all very very recent stuff”

A bold and brave move!  It is not easy coming out of such a strong entity as Thin Lizzy, but it had to be done, the group as it stands today is a separate entity, thus the new band ‘Black Star Riders’ was born!  Once the decision to form a new group out of the nucleus of Lizzy, events started to rush by!  The album was recorded in only twelve days!  It was like all this pent-up creative energy was let loose…

RW: “Yeah…you know…listen; you know, the four of us that came from Thin Lizzy had chemistry there…we all have a great chemistry, great camaraderie  and we are all very close, even when we are not doing the band stuff…there’s a lot of love there, not to get too wishy washy!”  “And that’s a good spirit…a good spirit to have.  So it’s a right positive environment when you are writing .”  “You know we are all Rockers, we all lived and have had trials and tribulations and we all have great stories to tell and they just seemed to pour out when we started writing because suddenly we were given this freedom and it was almost like when we changed the name, in a very bizarre way, some of the shackles were taken off…because if we had to make the record as Thin Lizzy there was definitely a certain road we would have had to go down and we couldn’t veer from it, of course.”  But as soon as we changed the name, suddenly, we could go down that road because obviously we want to retain some of that Lizzy       spirit,  as it is part of who we are…Scott Gorham is always going to play guitar as Scott Gorham which is a side of Thin Lizzy and we don’t want to change that.  So we can go down that road or we can turn off any of the little side roads we want to  and go down them as Black Star Riders, which is what really appeals to me about the whole thing.”    

Yes, appealing, very appealing—the group took the task seriously and when out touring as Lizzy in 2012, they also fine tuned the new material, writing and re-writing . 

Ricky:  “…this album was written pretty much on the road last year when we went out as Thin Lizzy….Damon and I,…we would not take hotels, on gig days we would turn up and get the guitars up and spend three of four hours just working on the songs and writing…and on the back of the tour bus …and when we were in hotels, we worked it all the time, so the album was written together when we were on the road.”

Currently, ‘Black Star Riders’ are preparing to take their debut, “All Hell Breaks Loose” on the road!  This Spring/Summer will be the first chance anyone will hear the new material:

RW:  “…when we play the first show in a few weeks time, it will be the first time we play these songs….”  “We are starting with a few Festivals in Germany…and then go back out in August, we hit the States, and then we do a full European/UK tour, I think from October right up to Christmas. 

Things just seem to fall in place for the group, even though it seems so fast---already booked across the world, even before the album comes out, so it was right to make a decision to expand upon their collective experiences as Thin Lizzy and to move forward.  The debut?  It’s a scorcher, straight up in yer face Rock, and next week we’ll be letting Ricky talk to us more on the recording and writing of the record and their hopes for the future.

Upcoming Club/Concert Highlights:

97^th Street Social House:    JC Wilson:  May 3^rd & 4^th     The Ozzy Ozmunds:    May 10^th & 11^th                        The Zamboni Brothers:    May 24^th & 25^th     Wheelhouse:  May 31^st & June 1^st

The Blue Gator:   Deb Stone Band:  May 3^rd & 4^th     Zamboni Brothers:   May 9^th                                             Pappa Dawg:   May 10^th & 11^th     Crosstown Bus:   May 17^th & 18^th     Random Act:  May 24^th & 25^th      Orio:  May 30^th      Zamboni  Brothers:    May 31^st & June 1^st      Young ‘Uns:    June 7^th & 8^th             Sherman Doucette:   June 14^th & 15^th                                                                                                                       (don’t forget: Wednesday Night Blues with Pappa Dawg—throughout May!!)

The Minstrel Café:    Pappa Dawg Blues Band:   May 3^rd & 4^th     Lydia Hol:  May 9^th & 10^th                 Fighting Orange:  May 11^th    Joshua Smith:  May 14^th    Paul Rushka  Quintet:  May 15^th

O’Flannigan’s Pub:    Wild Son:  May 10^th   Poppa Wheely:   May 17^th    Radio Lifeline:  May 24^th          Stone Iris:  May 28^th

The Streaming Café:    Christina Martin:  May 4^th  The Archers:  May 11^th                 

Notable Concerts:    

the Flu:  Hometown Dates:    May 4^th: Gateway 21 Venue (Delta Grand)       June 5^th:  Rotary Centre with King Doom and Callum Hughes

Prospera Place:  Sting:    May 30^th   Kiss & Shinedown:    July 8^th 

Vernon:  Funtastic---Honeymoon Suite:  June 28^th  Sweet:  June 29^th  Julian Austin  Aaron Pritchett:    June 30^th   

Summer Stomp ’13 (Sicamous)---Headpins  July 20^th 

Dancin’ Barefoot Music Festival- Peachland :  Nick Gilder & Sweeney Todd: July 20^th                 

Peach Festival  Penticton:  Honeymoon Suite:   August 8^th                

Photo: Contributed

The last time I wrote about this fine individual, it was at the end of 2012, and I wrote….He took a risk and it payed off!...I’m talking about local talent entrepreneur Kevin R. Berry, better known throughout Kelowna as Rann Berry:  He fronts a very popular music ensemble, Rann Berry and The Random Act.  Kevin has also developed a full fledged Showband/Revue during 2012, and has had enormous success with his Vegas Revue style One Hit Wonders…a concert performance concept that has an historical element to it.

Kevin has taken this concept to stages across the Interior of BC, during which time he was involved in an auto accident that nearly ended his career!  Thankfully, it didn’t, and Rann Berry and The One Hit Wonders are back, this time around…possibly bigger than ever!  Kevin is taking the show on the road, with new centres to perform in and making good on some of last Winter’s cancelled shows.

Currently, we can look forward to a special show at the Creekside Theatre on Saturday May 11^th, and The One Hit Wonders will have Special Guest: Diamond Jones, whom will bring you those soul stirring renditions from Neil Diamond and the funkiness of Tom Jones. A special night indeed! 

As spring turns to summer, and the sun gets brighter, so does this talented Artist.  Kevin has secured shows at venues such as River Rock Casino in Richmond and Boulevard in Coquitlam.  To top it off…he will be opening for Journey and Boston at select dates in July!!  “Rann Berry & the One Hit Wonders”—a true Vegas-style experience, and one that you can see right here in the Valley on May 11^th!  Tickets are available now at: The Lake Country Coffee House, The Creekside Theatre Box Office or by calling the following phone number:  250-868-7680

Photo: Contributed

Recently I’ve had the privilege to talk with Ricky Warwick of Thin Lizzy.  The group has recently decided to branch out from Thin Lizzy and form another musical venture…”Black Star Riders”!  Next week we will begin the story on this brave and bold decision, in Ricky’s own words!

Upcoming Club/Concert Highlights:

97^th Street Social House:    Out Of Eden:  April 26^th & 27^th    

Doc Willoughby’s:   Willhorse:  April 26^th  

The Blue Gator:    Jimmy LeGuilloux  Band:   April 26^th & 27^th    Deb Stone Band:  May 3^rd & 4^th    Zamboni Brothers:   May 9^th   Pappa Dawg:   May 10^th & 11^th   Crosstown Bus:   May 17^th & 18^th   Random Act:  May 24^th & 25^th   (don’t forget: Wednesday Night Blues with Pappa Dawg—throughout May!!)

The Grateful Fed:     Paperboy:  April 20^th    J.D. Edwards:  April 26^th  

The Minstrel Café:    The Rowdymen:   April 26^th    Blue City Trio:  April 27^th    Bruce Spencer:  May 2^nd      Pappa Dawg Blues Band:   May 3^rd & 4^th    Lydia Hol:  May 9^th & 10^th   Fighting Orange:  May 11^th

The Streaming Café:    Nuela Charles:  April 27^th    Christina Martin:  May 4^th  The Archers:  May 11^th                 

Notable Concerts:    

the Flu:  Hometown Dates:    Flashbacks:  April 28^th with One Bad Son and Malibu Knights       May 4^th: Gateway 21 Venue (Delta Grand)       June 5^th:  Rotary Centre with King Doom and Callum Hughes

Prospera Place:  Sting:    May 30^th   Kiss & Shinedown:    July 8^th 

Vernon:  Funtastic---Honeymoon Suite:  June 28^th  Sweet:  June 29^th  Julian Austin  Aaron Pritchett:    June 30^th   

Summer Stomp ’13 (Sicamous)---Headpins  July 20^th 

Dancin’ Barefoot Music Festival- Peachland :  Nick Gilder & Sweeney Todd: July 20^th                 

Peach Festival  Penticton:  Honeymoon Suite:   August 8^th                 

Photo: Contributed

Notes & News:   Black Sabbath’s new album “13” will be out in June…tour dates have been announced for the Summer of 2013 with one in Vancouver on August 22^nd….The Eagles are also touring this Summer….Black Star Riders debut out in May, as well as Bai Bang, The Poodles, and Blackmore’s Night have new releases! 

Here’s Canada’s own ‘Bad Boy’…still rockin’ in a grand way!!

…if you have a musical story or news and would like me to write something… drop me a line at:  fbainternational@telus.net  and let’s celebrate Kelowna’s rich and varied music community together!!.....

Photo: Contributed

Flu Season …is about to hit the valley BIG TIME!...Kelowna’s own infectious foursome the Flu are about to descend onto Kelowna with three special Showcases!  The group are coming off a very successful appearance at Vancouver’s The Roxy, and will do the same here at Flashback’s, Gateway 21 Venue and the Rotary Centre.  The good news continues, with the announcement of the completion of their debut album!  The lads are in a Kelowna studio putting the finishing touches on the album, which will be released in June!!

Felix, Alex, Jonny and Oz invite everyone to come out on the 28^th of this month to Flashbacks and take in their new performance set.  Guaranteed to be a highlight of this season’s Live Music in the city, the Flu will be unveiling new material which will be on their debut.  At Flashbacks the group will appear with ‘One Bad Son’, and ‘Malibu Knights’.  Becoming known as one of Canada’s premier Indie bands, the group has caught the attention of such music heavyweights as Jeff Dawson, Mike Fraser, and Ralph James!  The buzz is intensifying, and don’t be surprised to hear about a cross-country tour and possible inroads to an international stage!                                                  

Photo: Contributed

 The greatly anticipated new album from Bai Bang is about to be unleashed!  “All Around The World” will see an April release, you guessed it!, all around the globe.  The new disc is the group’s eighth effort, and is more melodic than previous excursions.  Diddi’s vocals are stronger and have more depth than what we have heard before…and the music contains the same high level of intensity with positive and bright messages and some will become instant anthems for the new wave of Hard Rockers.

Photo: Contributed

Now, not since the ‘70’s and Nazareth, has an Artist deserved the label; Hardest Working Group.  Jorn does, and he and his musical troop are releasing a brand new album aptly entitled “Traveller”!  Jorn has also enlisted two new and energised members to the group—ex-Wig Wam bassist Bernt Jansen and musical brother Trond Holter.  These two have been playing with the band since early 2012, and the results of their joining should be very interesting indeed!  Stay tuned for more info, on the Hardest Working Group in musicdom, Jorn!

Upcoming Club/Concert Highlights:

97^th Street Social House:    Easy Fix:  April 19^th & 20^th   Out Of Eden:  April 26^th & 27^th    

The Blue Gator:    Zamboni Brothers:  April 19^th & 20^th   Poppa Dawg:  April 24^th    Zamboni Brothers:  April 25^th    Jimmy LeGuilloux  Band:  April 26^th & 27^th    Deb Stone Band:  May 3^rd & 4^th

The Grateful Fed:     Paperboy:  April 20^th    J.D. Edwards:  April 26^th  

  The Streaming Café:   Prairie Dance Club/ Raquel Wachol:   April 20^th   Jordan Klassen:  April 23^rd                

The Streaming Café:   Windmills & Joyful Door:  April 19^th    Pappa Dawg Blues Band:  April 20^th              The Rowdymen:   April 26^th   Blue City Trio:  April 27^th  

Notable Concerts:    

South Okanagan Events Centre:   Motley Crue:   April 20^th   Alan Jackson:  August 3^rd

 Kelowna Community Theatre:   Randy Bachman:   April 20^th     

Prospera Place:  Sting:    May 30^th   Kiss & Shinedown:    July 8^th 

Vernon:  Funtastic---Honeymoon Suite:  June 28^th  Sweet:  June 29^th  Julian Austin  Aaron Pritchett:    June 30^th   

Summer Stomp ’13 (Sicamous)---Headpins  July 20^th 

Dancin’ Barefoot Music Festival- Peachland :  Nick Gilder & Sweeney Todd: July 20^th                 

Peach Festival  Penticton:  Honeymoon Suite:   August 8^th                 

the Flu:  Hometown Dates:   Flashbacks:  April 28^th with One Bad Son and Malibu Knights     May 4^th: Gateway 21 Venue (Delta Grand)      June 5^th:  Rotary Centre with King Doom and Callum Hughes

…if you have a musical story or news and would like me to write something… drop me a line at:  fbainternational@telus.net  and let’s celebrate Kelowna’s rich and varied music community together!!.....