It’s the week before the New Year and most are staying low-key. Not John’s Music Blog. There is no “off” button here at John’s Music Blog, even after a 38-hour international travel demon hell ride. If you expect me to give you some sort of “best-of” list, though, you are out of your goddamn mind.
I’m not so interested in year-end lists, but I am interested in contemporary rock music. Apple Music’s “The Riff” playlist sounds like a middle-aged dad in his immaculate man cave, watching college football on multiple flatscreens. Is Guitar Hero still popular? This is Guitar Hero music. I’ve never played Guitar Hero before, but I’m pretty sure Brian Gibson from Lightning Bolt worked on those games in some capacity. Rock on!
Halestrom “Heavy MeNtal (Fuck Yeah)”
I actually saw Halestrom live once. I was on the road supporting JEFF The Brotherhood and we played on the same day at the same corporate rock and roll complex as a package tour featuring Chevelle, Halestrom and Evanescence. (Think I’m playing? Here is footage of me crowdsurfing while Chevelle rocked.) They were on the big stage outdoors; we were in the small club in the basement. Their tour was called the “Carnival of Madness.” Evanescene were great and Chevelle brought an actual Chevelle with them, but Halestorm stole the show: I remember being blown away by their drummer, who I later learned is the brother of the singer. He had plenty of sick stage moves that put to shame anything me or my indie rock friends were attempting to do. The phrase “low-pro” exists for a reason. This band is full-pro.
According to BAD OMENS on Twitter, “Just Pretend” wasn’t supposed to be a single, and it still doesn’t have a video. It “popped off” 6 months after its release. I guess that’s how things go now, even in retrograde genres like rock. I get a bit of a Hoobastank vibe here.
The one time I attended a taping of Saturday Night Live, this was the band playing. I wasn’t so familiar with them, and I was surprised by how loud their amps sounded in the room. I guess it makes sense: SNL has a pretty modest PA system. Måneskin are from Italy and blew up on the strength of a viral Motown cover. “LA FINE” is sung in their native tongue and has a disco rock feel, with vocal cadences that swerve into Kiedis Country.
I’ve seen some people talk shit about this song, but what the fuck do you want out of Metallica in 2022? This rocks! I love how obviously programmed the double kick sounds. Kind of reminds me of Ministry. And you just know Lars is secretly working on some sort of proprietary AI music project right now.
Bray Watt (Feat. Code Orange) “Shatter (Entrance Theme)”
It’s only natural that a professional wrestling entrance theme is on this list. Code Orange comes from hardcore; they are right up there with Turnstile in terms of potentiality. I think about Turnstile often: once you check that Pitchfork box, that Fantano box, that NPR box, where do you go? You gotta get the pro wrestling kids, you gotta get the Foo Fighter Fathers. I’m losing my mind.
Mildly interesting to see Iggy Pop here. But there is no doubt about it: the man is a Rock Icon. He deserves a place on the wall at the cave next to Kurdt and Stevie Ray and all the rest.