The 2011 motion picture “Drive”, starring Ryan Gosling, was certainly one of the more critically acclaimed films of the year. The story of a stunt driver who moonlights as a getaway driver featured superb acting and some truly unforgettable brutal displays of violence. The motel scene? The elevator scene? But something else that stood out was its 80s-style electronic-pop soundtrack. One of the stand-outs of the film’s soundtrack was this song, “Nightcall”, originally released in 2010 by French electro-house artist Kavinsky.
DuvNic Remembers: Kavinsky “Nightcall” from Drive Soundtrack
Posted: February 23, 2012 in Alternative Rock Music, Entertainment0
In our weekly search of all things steampunk on the internet, we came across a random graphic artist’s website. Bjorn Hurri, a United Kingdom based conceptual artist/illustrator, has sketched some of the greatest Star Wars steampunk art we’ve seen yet. Here’s a few of his designs. Many more designs are available for viewing on his website, http://bjornhurri.com/.
Han Solo
Boba Fett
Yoda
Princess Leia
CD RELEASE OF THE WEEK – Buckethead “Electric Sea”
The follow up to Buckethead’s previous solo CD Electric Tears which was released in 2002. Electric Sea features more of the melodic and atmospheric Buckethead solo guitar virtuosity with multi-layered acoustic and electric guitars washing over you through eleven new songs.
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This Means War
Two of the world’s deadliest CIA operatives are inseparable partners and best friends – until they discover that they’ve fallen in love with the same woman. Deciding to keep their friendship a secret from her, they pull out their full arsenal of fighting skills and high-tech gadgetry to defeat their greatest enemy – each other.
Rated PG13. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hardy and Chris Pine.
DuvNic Remembers: Guns ‘N’ Roses Reuniting for Hall of Fame
Posted: February 16, 2012 in Alternative Rock MusicThe classic Guns ‘N’ Roses lineup from their “Appetite for Destruction” album will reunite for the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame ceremonies in Cleveland in less than two months, according to current keyboardist, Dizzy Reed. On April 14th, Axl Rose and Reed will join Slash, Duff McKagan and Steven Adler on stage to accept their induction. Rumors have also been swirling that the band may actually perform a few songs during the ceremony. This would be quite an achievement given the friction that has existed between Rose and his former bandmates following the release of the Use Your Illusion albums. No word yet on whether Izzy Stradlin, who’s name was oddly absent amongst this breaking news, will be present for the ceremony, too.
Here’s a blast from the past from the original lineup from their “Destruction” album…
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CD RELEASE OF THE WEEK – Heartless Bastards “Arrow”
Brimming with confidence and creativity, Arrow sees Heartless Bastards pushing their distinctive sound forward with their most eclectic, energetic collection thus far. The album – the Austin, Texas-based band’s first release with Partisan Records – is marked as ever by singer/guitarist/songwriter Erika Wennerstrom’s remarkable voice, at turns primal and pleading, heartfelt and heroic. Songs like “Parted Ways” and the searing “Low Low Low” expertly capture the Bastards’ multi-dimensional rock in all its strength and spirit. Following upon the difficult introspection of 2009’s acclaimed third album, The Mountain, Arrow stands as a powerhouse new beginning for the Heartless Bastards.
“The Mountain was me going through some things after being in a relationship for nine years,” Wennerstrom says. “This album is kind of like me being comfortable again.”
Arrow serves as the recorded debut of the Heartless Bastards’ current iteration, their latest and greatest line-up since Wennerstrom first convened the band back in 2003. Drummer Dave Colvin and bassist Jesse Ebagh – both of whom played on the Bastards’ first-ever demo recordings – returned to the fold in order to play live behind The Mountain. Soon after embarking on tour, Wennerstrom decided to put more meat on the band’s raw bones by enlisting guitarist Mark Nathan, who had ostensibly come aboard to handle the live sound.
“I wanted to add another guitar,” Wennerstrom says, “so I asked Mark, ‘What do you think of joining the band?’ and he was into it. I’ve always planned on being a four-piece, but it just takes a while to find somebody that you feel you click with. I’d rather have it be stripped down than just have somebody there for the sake of having them there.”
The expanded line-up brought additional color and dynamism to the Heartless Bastards’ already colorfully dynamic rock ‘n’ roll. With their sound honed to a razor’s edge by night after night of playing live, the Heartless Bastards were soon ready to record for posterity. But having spent so much of the past year on tour, Wennerstrom knew she needed some downtime in order to turn her musical ideas into fully-fledged songs. In Fall 2010, she embarked on the first of what would be several solo road trips designed to clear the cobwebs and help focus her songwriting. Wennerstrom visited friends and family in Ohio, hung out at All Tomorrow’s Parties in the Catskills, spent alone time in Arkansas, a lake cabin in the Allegheny Mountains and at a ranch in West Texas.
“It was really nice,” she says. “I didn’t feel like I was getting much done, but I realized that a lot of that experience ended up being reflected in the songs. I didn’t get a lot of the writing done right then, on that trip, but I feel like getting out there really helped me later on.”
2011 saw the Heartless Bastards hitting the highway once more, taking the opportunity to road-test Wennerstrom’s new songs on a bare-bones “acoustic” tour as well on a series of dates supporting Drive-By Truckers. The band set to work on Arrow just two short days after their return to Austin, a revved-up, well-oiled rock ‘n’ roll machine.
“We just went right in,” Wennerstrom says. “There’s a definite sound that comes from a band that’s been on the road and I really feel like it’s translated on the album.”
The band spent the next month with producer Jim Eno at his Public Hi-Fi home studio. Eno – known far and wide as the drummer in Spoon – guided the Bastards through the recording process, helping them to infuse their myriad influences and ambitions into the songs.
“Jim was really great to work with,” Wennerstrom says. “He asked me what kind of approach I wanted to take towards each song and we’d take it in that direction. It was like, what were you thinking for each song, as far as inspiration?”
Arrow showcases the depth and breath of the band’s indelible sound, with songs like “Got To Have Rock and Roll” and “Down In The Canyon” lighting upon spaghetti western film scores, Seventies soul, psychedelia, funk, blues, glam, and mudhole-stomping hard rock. Two years of nearly non-stop touring resulted in an astonishing musical telepathy among the Heartless Bastards, with all four players intuitively able to craft Wennerstrom’s songs into maximum form.
“I’m so in synch with this band,” she says. “Songs seem to go where I want them to go and it doesn’t take a whole lot of time. Even though I’m not very communicative, they know me well enough and get it.”
Kicking off with the widescreen vision of “Marathon,” the album is more wholly fleshed than anything in the Bastards’ prior oeuvre, while simultaneously securing the band in all their straight-on, unadorned majesty. Arrow is the glorious sound of a four-piece rock ‘n’ roll outfit in full flight, with little outside accompaniment bar conga player Matthew “Sweet Lou” Holmes’s performance on the evocative “Skin and Bone.”
“It’s a pretty stripped-down album in a lot of ways,” Wennerstrom says. “There’s really not a lot added to these tracks, they’re really mostly live takes. We talked about adding things, but when we listened back, we thought, ‘I don’t know if this really needs more.’”
With Arrow complete, the Heartless Bastards are now itching to get back out there. Inveterate road warriors, the band is at their electrifying best while on stage, making deep connections with both their audience and their music.
“It can be hard at times,” Wennerstrom says, “but I love it. I love playing on stage. It’s that hour and a half, that time that we’re up there, that I love most. There’s a lot of sitting around, trying to find things to fill in the time, but then we finally start to play, it’s so worth it and rewarding.”
Arrow sees the Heartless Bastards doing what all great bands do – furthering their artistic scope with each successive effort. With its impressive range and undeniable vigor, the album flies straight, honest and true, the finest distillation yet of this extraordinary rock ‘n’ roll band’s fiery, unforgettable sound.
“I feel like this is the strongest record I’ve ever done,” Wennerstrom says. “I feel like playing with these guys, us all being so connected, really helped make it so fully realized. I’m really, really happy with it.” – Amazon.com Editorial Review
Our website, www.duvnic.com, now features daily deals with products from 50-75% off normal retail prices! Check back every day as new merchandise will be featured, including our popular men’s and women’s graphic t-shirts, women’s bottoms and ever our doggie tees. Only $4.99 for one of our soft cotton men’s tees or women’s tank tops? Take advantage of these prices while supplies last! Some of our older designs have been discontinued and once they’re sold out, they’re gone forever.
NEW RELEASE FRIDAY: Star Wars Episode One – The Phantom Menace in 3D
Posted: February 10, 2012 in Entertainment, Science FictionStar Wars Episode One – The Phantom Menace in 3D
13 years since it debuted on big screens and continued the Star Wars saga, The Phantom Menace has been given the 3D treatment and re-released today. Yeah, most of us were disappointed by what we had waited so long for… but it is a visually striking film and probably worth another a few more bucks into George’s pockets for this 3D edition.
Synopsis: Sci-fi adventure which takes place before the birth of Luke Skywalker, featuring the friendship between the young Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, who would later become Darth Vader. The galactic government has been weakened, and when the peaceful planet of Naboo is threatened by the giant Trade Federation, it seems that nobody will step in to defend Queen Amidala and her people. Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi are sent to find a settlement and discover the extent of the planet’s peril. In the course of their adventures, they find a young slave, Anakin, whom Qui-Gon senses is destined to bring balance to the Force. Against Obi-Wan’s suspicions, he decides to train Anakin as a Jedi Knight.
Rated PG. Starring Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman and Ian McDiarmid.
Metallica’s former bassist, Cliff Burton, would have been 50 years old tomorrow. One of the greatest bass players of his generation, his life was tragically cut short in September 1986 when the band’s tour bus overturned in rural Sweden during their Damage Inc. world tour. Cliff’s “lead bass” style is evident throughout Metallica’s first three albums, Kill ‘Em All, Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets.
Here’s his solo performance of “Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)” from the Roskilde Festival in Denmark in 1985.
Ever since the launch of our Steampunk Tees, we’ve become fascinated with the amount of Steampunk-inspired products that are currently available for purchase. In the past, we’ve brought you links to Steampunk watches, clothing and even a Manhattan apartment! Now we bring you something very dear to own hearts… Steampunk Guitars! Each one is hand-crafted by internationally syndicated cartoonist Tony Cochran and the average price is around $1,500. Click on the picture and check out Tony’s steampunk inspired guitars.
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