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Wall’s
Top 10 Live Acts of 2007
The reviews of most of these shows can be
found on this site
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Scorpions, Grand Sierra Theater, Reno, NV 9-22-07
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Heaven
and Hell, HP Pavilion, San Jose, CA 4-24-07
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KISS,
Rockfest, Cadott, WI 7-21-07
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REO
Speedwagon, Moondance Jam, Walker, MN 7-12-07
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Def
Leppard, Moondance Jam, Walker, MN 7-11-07
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Linkin
Park, Shoreline Amphitheater, Mt. View, CA 7-29-07
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Rush,
Chronicle Pavilion, Concord, CA 8-3-07
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Saliva,
Rockfest, Cadott, WI 7-20-07
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Hinder,
Rockfest, Cadott, WI 7-22-07
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Turbonegro, Slim’s, San Francisco, CA 10-08-07
Wall’s
Top 10 rock things of 2007
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Three
Days Grace-although the band’s second record, One X,
came out in 2006, I didn’t really get it until this year.
And am I glad I did. This is easily the best alternative
rock record of the last 5 years, and might be one of the
best ever made. Great songs, big hooks, loud guitars and
songwriting that few bands can match have helped transform
these guys from an opening act to an arena headliner this
year. Now, please come to the Bay Area before you go back in
the studio, guys.
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Primal
Fear-easily the best heavy metal band currently operating,
the band really topped itself with its latest record, New
Religion. Often compared to Judas Priest (vocalist Ralf
Scheepers was the runner-up to Ripper Owens back when the
band was looking for a singer after Rob Halford first left),
the band has moved past those comparisons with the addition
of orchestral arrangements and a guest female vocalist. But
don’t worry-these guys still rock, and songs like “Sign of
Fear” and “Psycho” can still rip your head off. It’s stuff
like “Everytime it Rains” and “Fighting the Darkness” that
could one day win the band a crowd here in America.
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Hinder-I
love these guys because they have fun, which is something
that has been missing from rock music. Not the best
musicians, these guys do have a knack for writing great
hooks (four singles off the Extreme Behavior record
and counting), and were easily the best young band I’ve seen
this year. If you want further proof, pick up the re-issue
of the band’s debut record—it includes a DVD of live
performances that show the band’s stage prowess.
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Turbonegro-please read the live review on this site, and
consider picking up one of the band’s records if you like to
rock. The band’s stage show is so over the top that its
local appearance in San Francisco back in October was
stopped because the crowd broke down the barrier in front of
the stage. If you like Alice Cooper, KISS, Cheap Trick and
Motorhead, all mixed with lyrics that would make your mommy
blush, start listening to these notorious Scandinavians.
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Lizzy
Borden-when I first heard that Lizzy had a new record coming
out, I was glad, but I had no idea it would be this good.
It’s been a great year for metal, if you’re willing to
search it out, and the Appointment with Death
album is second only to Primal Fear’s on my year-end list.
Filled with heavy guitars and the kind of ghoulish hooks
that were always Mr. Borden’s specialty, this 11-song opus
is easily the best set of songs of his career. And that
mean’s it tops his Master of Disguise concept record,
one of the most underrated rock albums ever made.
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Fuel-it
didn’t seem this band had much of a future after drummer
Kevin Miller and singer Brett Scallions left two years ago,
but guitarist Carl Bell rallied his new troops, singer Toryn
Green and drummer Tommy Stewart, along with longtime bassist
Kevin Abercrombie, to make a superb comeback album (Angels
and Devils). Too bad hardly anyone noticed and the band
still toils in nightclubs and not arenas where it belongs.
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Saliva-this band has absolutely kicked the Rockfest’s ass in
both 2004 and earlier this summer, and continues to ply its
trade on stages around the country, supporting its new
record, Blood Stained Love Story. It would be nice to
see these guys hook up with someone like Fuel (the two bands
have toured successfully before) and help spread the word
that nu rock can be just as exiting as the classic kind.
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Glam
rock-led by a comeback by Hanoi Rocks, glam rock continues
to get better and better. Check out records from Crystal
Pistol, Crashdiet, Crash Kelly, Chinatown, Endeverafter,
Crazy Lixx, Hardcore Superstar, Poets and Pornstars and
Dirty Penny if you don’t believe it.
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The
Cult-a year with the Cult is better than a year without,
even though the band’s latest record wasn’t its finest hour.
Despite that, the band toured successfully (which is always
a good thing) and it sounds like this time that Ian and
Billy are back for good. We can only hope so. Now how about
a tour that features the entire Electric album as its
centerpiece.
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Gamma
Ray, Helloween, and the rest-if you think heavy rock is
dead, just take a listen to the new records by these bands
(along with Primal Fear and Lizzy Borden) and you might have
a different opinion. Here’s a few others to check out as we
say goodbye to 2007-Sinner, Icarus Witch, Iron Savior, Rob
Rock and the legendary UDO, Megadeth and a great Rob Zombie
live record.
See you all in the Midwest this summer! And thanks for
supporting CRR!
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