REIGN IN BLONDE

ARE FEMALE FRONTED BANDS BECOMING A THING OF THE PAST?

I just read that Lacey ~~Mosley~~ Sturm is leaving Flyleaf.

Is there something in the water with you people?!? STOP DRINKING THE GODDAMN KOOL-AID.

Sure, it’s honorable to want to dedicate your time to raising you child and be a normal person, but first Nightwish and now Flyleaf? Who’s next, Maria Brink??? (Wait… is that a bad thing?)

Here’s the thing. With Nightwish, the got lucky (in my opinion) when they ditched Tarja and went with Anette cause their career could’ve easily died. Who knows what’ll happen with Floor Jansen. Maybe I’m wrong, but Lacey Mosley IS Flyleaf. I’ve already completely lost interest in them and Kristen May hasn’t even taken over yet.

There’s something fishy about all this… I just don’t know what it is yet.

-Julia

JULIA HAS A QUICKIE WITH JENN “JENNCITY” ARROYO

Whether you know her from her from her music or you know her from Big Brother, Jenn “JennCity” Arroyo is a force to be reckoned with. I was lucky enough to ask the Big Brother 14 badass some questions about life, music, and of course, BB. Keep reading to find out some inside dirt, but if you’re a hater… well YOU CAN FUCKING SUCK IT!!!

First, let’s talk music. How is the new project going, and how would you describe to your fans?

Hey! Yes, I’m really excited about my new project, JENNCiTY. It’s more rock n roll with metal sprinkles on top. It’s like a dirty, sexy, good time. Someone said to me that it was like if Joan Jett and Deftones were to make babies. I’m very cool with that set up.

What’s good with Suicide City? Anything news on that front to look forward to?

Ahh.. my dear Suicide City. I wish I could tell you. We are on hiatus and I really don’t see when or how we could all do it again but, you never say never in this business. That band will forever have my heart and I loved every crazy moment of it.

I imagine one of the hardest things about being in the Big Brother house is not being able to listen to music for so long… Who were the first bands/artists you listened to once you got home?

That was THE WORST. No music. Couldn’t bring or play any instruments.. SO BRUTAL. The first jam I threw on was Pantera’s Great Southern Trendkill. I love that album so much. It was very fitting for the moment. Next up was Bleeding Through, some older Fear Factory, SNOT, and Deftones. Pretty sure some AC/DC was in there too. ;)

I interviewed Morgan and Mercedes Lander a while back, and they said that you were one of the few former members they keep in touch with. How was it when you first left Kittie, and what is your relationship with them like now?

Well leaving the band was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made professionally. I loved the girls (still do) but, I had to make a decision for myself. I wanted to branch out when it came to songwriting and the situation at the time was a bit bleak when it came to all the troubles with the label the band was on. I had started working with Billy and the boys and was really excited with the music we were coming up with and the vibe was just right. I wanted to do something different so, when it came to telling the girls I was leaving, it wasn’t pretty at first but, we worked it all out. They understand where I was coming from and hey look, the ladies are still killing it. I love the new album “I Failed You.” When it came to Big Brother, they were very stoked for me as well. So, it’s all good in the hood.

So, I’ve heard that you didn’t go the traditional audition route for Big Brother… What made you want to give the game a try?

Yeah.. wow.. A casting director found me after I posted “Happy Birthday” on someone’s Facebook page. It went from an email, the next day a Skype chat, then plane tickets to head to LA to take a bunch of tests to make sure I was crazy enough to do the show. Ha!

I couldn’t ignore the fact that this would be a once in a lifetime experience to do so I was absolutely on board. It came at a perfect time in my life to do it so, I went for it!

Read more after the jump!

WELL, AT LEAST ANETTE OLZON WILL ALWAYS HAVE A PIECE OF NIGHTWISH

Imaginaerum, a.k.a. the Nightwish movie, finally has a full length trailer out. Truth be told, even as a semi-closeted Nightwish fan (and I say that just because it’s “cool” to not like them I guess. Whatever, I roll with you Finnish weirdos) I kinda thought the movie was gonna be super nerdy and have a ton of plot holes and such, but… I think I was wrong. It actually looks… really neat and original and uh, imaginative? Oh yeah, I said it.

I might have to go to Finland to see it, but it would probably be worth it. I’m in!

-Julia

FUCKED UP FRIDAY- 10/12/12

If you’re one of those impatient people out there, I’ll give you my bottom line right at the beginning: It’s no wonder the radio industry is dying a slow miserable death, it’s mostly crap!

But as with most things in life, where there is a lot of junk you might just be able to pick out something good. Here’s the story (and a little background): up until GM went bankrupt a couple years ago my family had a dealership, so any time there was something wrong with my car or someone needed a new car, it was a piece of cake. Now, not so much. My dad is pretty stubborn though, so since he doesn’t think ANYONE in Syracuse will do a good job with Big Dave, he insists on switching cars with me when they come visit and driving BD 3 hours to my hometown to get it fixed there. So that’s why I’m currently driving my mom’s car, which is nicer and newer than mine and has SiriusXM.

Every once in a while I relish the time I have with Sirius and listen as much as I can, but on normal days I face the following radio scenario: My drive to work is short and I don’t feel like fiddling around with my phone to find a station I like so I usually just listen to regular FM radio. …I won’t name names, but my rock station that used to be my best option has just become so obnoxious and annoying and the music has gotten worse. In CNY that pretty much only leaves me with country or “today’s hits”. Last time I checked, I’m not driving a John Deere, so I go with the latter.

SURPRISINGLY, I have come to enjoy the Elvis Duran show. If you’ve heard it before you’re probably thinking “Julia, really? I thought you were more intelligent than that” I hate to admit it, but the people on that show are actually funny and they come up with good topics to talk about all the time. This is the problem with radio today. It is FUCKED UP that there are NO GOOD ROCK MORNING SHOWS anymore! It’s either boring as hell, or the jock is so wrapped up into being a Howard Stern clone that it’s too obnoxious to listen to. So… tell me again why I’m working for a non-profit and not a radio station? Oh yeah… thanks recession.

In the meantime, Happy Friday. Let’s do this thing.

-Julia

I’M IN A GOOD MOOD TODAY

The title says it all. Sometimes I forget how much writing makes me happy. And also sane. It should go without saying, but same goes for music. Sometimes I just need that boost to get me going, and I’m not talking about SK energy, fiddy.

Now, here’s what I was thinking about today… It is absolutely ridiculous that I’ve never seen Lamb of God live. I finally got tix for their Toronto show last January, but we had a health emergency so we didn’t go. Then the whole controversy happened, yada yada yada and I was like “FUCK, now i’ll never get to go”. Well friends, I now have tickets for the upcoming Stroudsburg, PA show which is about a month away. (The actual crazy part is that we’ve been to this venue a couple times before and it’s kinda small, so I’m super curious to see how this monster show turns out.)

And uh… that’s it! I’m in a good fucking mood today and I just felt like sharing. Funny what a little time and some good tunes will do for a person, huh?

-Julia

HO’S HELPIN’ HO’S

Here’s something you don’t see everyday. Anette Olzon of Nightwish had to miss out on the Denver stop of their tour due to illness. Usually, missing your lead vocalist would cause most bands to cancel their show, but this time that wasn’t the case. Alissa White-Gluz (The Agonist) and Elize Ryd (Amaranthe) jumped on stage with some handwritten lyrics and filled in where they could. Awesome! I wondered how the crowd felt about the change, but it seems like they didn’t even mind all that much.

One time about 10 or 12 years ago my mom took me to see Gypsy on Broadway. (Yes, once upon a time I was kind of a theater fag. Anyway…) It’s my favorite musical ever and I was DEVASTATED when I found out that the understudy was filling in for Bernadette Peters. I’m sure there were some Anette fans that we bummed, but a couple drinks in I’m sure no one cared any more.

Think Anette will repay the favor someday?

-Julia

UPDATE: To answer my own question, uh, apparantly not. Anette released a statement about the show saying:

“And one more thing…. I was never asked if it was okay they used Elize and Alissa in the show last night. I don’t think it’s a good decision they made and I’m sorry for those of you who came to see the whole band but got something else. But I was very ill and this decision wasn’t mine. Tonight I’ll be on stage doing my best despite illness :-)

Thanks for your support! And you know, this is just music. Like life, sometimes we get ill and shows do get cancelled. Rihanna wouldn’t ask Britney Spears to sing for her if she was ill. To think a show is more important than the humans in the band is for me, so totally not in this world.”

Whoopsies on the rest of the band I guess. I’m imagining a swarm of curses in Swedish and Finnish and neither of them understanding each other. Hope they get over it quick so that Anette doesn’t become the next Tarja…

ANOTHER UPDATE: And now the reports are coming in that Anette is OUT of Nightwish! I must’ve missed my calling as a fuckin psychic.

AND ANOTHER UPDATE:TLC just offered me my own show: “Salt City Metal Medium”. Stay tuned for more info…

BIG BROTHER’S METAL ERA COMES TO A CLOSE

I have a confession to make. Big Brother has been keeping me from RiB. I never even liked this stupid show until The Beardo forced me to watch it last year, and now I’m a freakin addict. I have the apps, I watch the live feed, I read the blogs. It’s pretty bad.

This summer saw former Kittie bassist Jenn Arroyo play with the other houseguests, and from the beginning she had the deck stacked against her. She was considered a “floater” (no not like shit, as in someone who lays low and doesn’t make big moves but flies under the radar to the end) and didn’t win a lot of competitions. BUT, homegirl made it to the final five, with a POV win and surviving two eviction nominations.

Sadly, I’m 99% sure that tomorrow will be Jenn’s last day on the show. She’s on the block against Alabama belle Danielle, and it’s not too likely that Dan (Danielle’s coach and closest ally) and Shane (Danielle’s summer-long showmance) will vote to keep her in. No doubt she’s had a great run though and her final five standing leaves her in the jury, so at least she’ll be a presence right up until the finale. Good summer and good game Ms. JennCity. Way to represent.

-Julia

P.S. Perk of the live feed: I had no idea Until The End was recorded sans ProTools and that she played a 12 string bass on “Burning Bridges.” Cool beans man.

JOAN RIVERS HAS NEVER BEEN SO RIGHT

Avril Lavigne just got engaged to the guy from Nickelback… so if they have kids, they’re going to make the worst music EVER!”

-Joan Rivers on this week’s Fashion Police

A little late on the pop culture scheme, but dead on nonetheless.

-Julia

I DON’T LIKE THE NEW IN THIS MOMENT ALBUM

It’s official. I’ve had enough to actually listen to ~~The Maria Brink Band~~ In This Moment’s new album Blood, and well… I think it’s their worst album to date. And that’s too bad cause I really like blood!

Here’s the thing. Everyone and their mother knows that Maria Brink is hot. Big boobs, little waist, long blonde hair, tattoos, yada yada yada. But, when you’re a woman in metal there is a certain amount of pressure on you to be more than a pretty face. The better looking you are, the harder it is to really be on the good side of the hardcore metalhead population. Why? Because metalheads are smart. Unfortunately, good looks usually are making up for a lack of talent.

Now, this isn’t exactly the point I’m getting at, because I do think that she has talent. The reason I’m not loving the new album is because it is so blatantly over-sexed. I think at one point I actually heard her whisper “Fuck me now.” Great, more teenage boys with sad hair are jerking off to you now, too bad the appeal is lost on your female fans.

On another note though, you’re thisclose to wearing pants instead of the babydoll dress getup! Mazel tov.

-Julia

AND I’M BACK

Hey, look! A CHIMERA CAT! I needed a little breather there. My bad. In my own defense, I never promised regularity. Anyway…

Let’s play a little catch-up. What the hell has been goin on recently?

Randy Blythe is back in the US. Yay!
Baroness got in a bad bus wreck in the UK, but everyone’s gonna be OK. Hooray!
Gorgoroth kicked out their vocalist and Jeff Tuttle left The Dillinger Escape Plan
Avril Lavigne is engaged to Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger (Insert chuckle here)

Aside from that last bit, it’s been a decent news week(s). Honestly, I’ve been watching a lot of Big Brother live feed now that Miss JennCity is on the block (oh yeah, spoiler alert or whatever). More on that later.

-Julia