Instagram Live. Local. Morning Show Crossover.
Watch the video to find out what I have NEVER done that I’ve always wanted to do...
What’s something on your “Never Have I Ever” list??
Oh yeah, here’s what that sounded like on the radio:
Forest Blakk at KiSS: old lives, future hopes and how art brings light to dark places
An excerpt from FOREST BLAKK's official bio:
"He was born in Montreal and his early years were spent with his mother, who had Blakk at 17 and struggled with addiction, and his stepfather, a notorious drug dealer.
Blakk can tell you hair-raising tales of his childhood, including an assassination attempt on his father on the family’s front stoop, rooms full of cash, and moving around constantly... to evade child services when Blakk’s teachers in Canada discovered the physical abuse his father had inflicted on him."
Forest has been musically inclined since childhood, using an old Don Henley tune as a reprieve from the gloomy surroundings he was born into. He ran away from home at 13, and moved in with his grandmother at 15. She bought him his first guitar and will be seeing him play it, all these years later, to an arena crowd later this summer.
In a former life, Forest gained local success in a band but he didn't seem too interested in talking about that...
“Yeah, that’s the past. The past is the past. I think like all things, that was my elementary school [outlet]. Yeah, I had to learn. I paid my dues like I think a lot of artists do... but I hadn’t really found myself... I had to go from the caterpillar to the butterfly.”
#rockfest2017 Parts 1 & 2
Video footage from Amy.Volume on Instagram covering Friday @ Rockfest in Montebello, Quebec. Footage includes clips of AFI, Dance Laury Dance, Bad Religion and The Offspring.
Video footage from Snapchat (@amyvolume):
Heading back for round two this afternoon. Looking forward to sets from Eagles of Death Metal, Alexisonfire, Queens of the Stone Age and Iggy Pop. IGGY POP!! Punk legend!!
TIPS: wear boots - wear comfy footwear that can survive the sloppy muck & mud. Maybe bring extra socks, too!
Bring cash. Sun screen. A rain coat or poncho. A hat.
Pro TIP: if you're driving, bring snacks and water in the car. After a long day at Rockfest, you'll be happy you have some H2O and sustinance for the ride home.
*Written from the perspective of a 31/f with rheumatoid arthritis (I always take Tylenol before spending all day on my feet) accessing privilidged areas reserved for Media.
10 Albums of Significance
There was a post circulating Facebook a while back that had people posting their Top 10 Albums. Not necessarily their faves - but albums that held some significance in their lives. Generally, I refrain from hopping on those types of bandwagons but this was one I wanted to jump on I just couldn't think of the albums.
It wasn't easy coming up with a Top 10 list but after much deliberation: I did it!
Starting off with an absolute classic and Canadian legend. I can easily credit him/this album as my "gateway" LP to rock music. If I remember correctly, my dad bought me this CD from CD Warehouse when I was really young.
"So Far So Good" is full of Cancon hits that was the right mix of 90s love ballads with ass kicking bangers. It was so good, I felt proud gifting this on cassette to Emily K. in elementary school. Had my first slow dance to Everything I Do (I Do it For You) with the boy I shared my first kiss with, too! This album is solid gold. A must have for Canadian 30 somethings.
Fave track: Please Forgive Me
Got into emo, screamo and harder rock in my teens. Thrice was the perfic mix of technical guitar riffs, harmonies, California surf-punk vibes with a harder edge. Thrice continues to make music and push the limits on their sound. I dropped off at Vheissu, but their second LP, The Illusion of Safety, stands tall as my fave Thrice record.
Fave track: The Beltsville Cruicible
The Beatles final album isn't my favorite but it go the most play in my car. I'm a bigger fan of the early Beatles and in a way, this album kinds comes full circle. It's also kinda sad.
Fave track: Let it Be
I was nine years old when this album came out and it's still in my car. It still gets play. Oasis is my favorite band. I never did see them live, but I caught Noel last year at Bluesfest which was a total dream come true. Maybe one day... Fun fact, my preferred Gallagher (Noel) allowed Liam to sing lead vocals on their smash hit Wonderwall if he could sing lead on the album's next track which, of course, was Don't Look Back in Anger. Noel didn't care to sing Wonderwall but he put up a stink to strike a deal that would lock him in for lead on the album's strongest song, in my opinion.
Fave track: Don't Look Back in Anger
1...2...3...4... Punk rock! PUNK ROCK. Real. Gritty. Fast. Simple. Hard. Ahead of their time, man.
Fave track: Havana Affair
As far as absolute guitar legends goes, Jimi's music was palatable, poetic and poppy enough for me to follow. Yeah, we've all been down the Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai wormhole before and they're friggin' awesome, too. This album spoke to my soul. Hendrix was beautiful - still is.
Fave track: The Wind Cries Mary *featured on the Original North American release
Metallica's self-titled, fifth studio effort is an album most of us call "The Black Album." This album was my introduction to classic thrash metal.
Fave track: Through the Never
My best friend in elementary school gave me this CD when Iris broke out and Johnny Rzeznik was on the cover of all the teen magazines. I was way into this album when most girls were asking for Britney Spears' record. I'd pick this LP over any Spears joint, every time.
Fave track: Black Balloon
Pop punk and maybe a little emo, I jumped on the Ataris late. Still regret not seeing them at Maverick's a few years ago. Dang! This band is surf-punk fun when you need a break from the blink.
Fave track: San Dimas High School Football Rules
Since it's impossible to pick ONE blink album, I'm going with their live one. I know every single word to every single song on this record, including the stage banter.
Fave track: Going Away to College