Tag: Chicago

TAFKAVince “Magazine Pages” video premiere

Published on by veglamLeave a comment

Chicago, IL, May 19, 2023. The video was created and edited by Vince and features live footage shot by Jason Grigsby and still photos taken by David Sameshima, Di Kulka Piteo, Deb Sonzo, and Greg Matherly. The track “Magazine Pages” appears on the band’s album A Problematic Opera, which will be released on Friday, May 26.

The Artist Formally Known as Vince Band (or TAFKAVince Band for short) formed in 1996 and began playing out regularly upon the release of 2002’s At Last CD. Other notable releases include 2007’s Welcome To The Show, the 2011 vinyl release On Display, and the singles “NYC” and “Luck,” which were released in 2014 and 2016, respectively.

TAFKAVince Band features Vince on vocals and guitar, Lauren Kurtz on vocals, Brian Chinino on drums, percussion and backing vocals, Chris Geisler on bass, percussion and backing vocals and Vee Sonnets on guitar, backing vocals and keys.

The band plays a heady mix of glam, punk, and rock n’ roll and has built a reputation as a fierce live act who have graced stages at the Empty Bottle, Beat Kitchen, Liar’s Club, Subterranean, Reggie’s, The Hideout, and Double Door in their hometown of Chicago and have performed at the esteemed venues Berlin (NYC), Plain Dealer Pavilion (Cleveland) and Slash Run (Washington DC) while on tour.

TAFKAVince Band has opened for (and held their own against) Michael Monroe of Hanoi Rocks, The Fleshtones, The Undead featuring Bobby Steele of The Misfits, Hunx & His Punx, The Dollyrots, The Melismatics, Scott Lucas and The Married Men, Prima Donna and many other celebrated bands from the indie underground.

The Artist Formally Known as Vince Band will be releasing the six-track album A Problematic Opera, featuring guest performers Brian Smith, Joe Vitti, Yoko Schmadeke, and Maureen Grady, digitally and as a limited edition CD on Friday, May 26 with to a run of 200 10″ vinyl records to follow. The album was produced by Tony SanFilippo & TAFKAVince Band, recorded and mixed by Tony SanFilippo at Oxide Lounge in Bloomington, IL, and mastered by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering. Album art and design is courtesy of Darrick Elia.

Available for pre-order at

https://theartistformallyknownasvince.bandcamp.com/album/a-problematic-opera

Spotify pre-save

https://show.co/pQffTv6

Enuff Z’Nuff “Finer Than Sin”

Published on by veglamLeave a comment

So we got another gem by the always awesome Enuff Z’ Nuff. Those of us how have been following this band since forever know the whole story behind the ups and downs with the line up, and the never ending drama former (and very genius) singer Donnie Vie. Turns out that Chip and the boys have released 4 studio albums since Donnie’s departure (2018’s Diamond Boy, 2020’s Brainwashed Generation, 2021’s Hardrock Nite and this new adventure, “Finer than Sin”) I have said this before, and I’m gonna said this again. Back when Donnie left the band I had my doubts about Chip carrying on with the band’s name, I felt like literally half of the band I loved was not going to be there. It’s a curious thing when a trademark singer leaves a band, I can think of a lot of them that didn’t get away with it. This is not the case, as I’ve said it before. The songs in “Finer Than Sin” are equally as good as the ones that they used to out out with Donnie. The albums opens with an instrumental called “Soundcheck”, followed by “Catastrophe”, a Power Pop anthem about how drugs can destroy your life. Songs like “Steal The Night” can prove how much of an influence Cheap Trick was on this band, Enuff Z’ Nuff is my favourite band when it comes to bands influenced by the mighty Cheap Trick. The album is (again) filled with classic Hard Rock meets distorted Pop songs, so is the case of “Lost and Out Of Control” I believe the song I like the most here is “Intoxicated”, I understand this like an ode to sugar, if this is the case…then all I can say is that I feel really identified with this concept. “Hurricane” is a song about how fragile everything can be, especially depending on a system that instead of preaching peace, just asks for money. This one can be used as the perfect soundtrack for somebody who’s sick and struggling, while going bankruptcy at the same time. If “Love Grows (When My Rosemary Goes)” by “Edison Lighthouse” would have been released in the year 2022, it would have sounded a lot like “Trampoline”, a beautiful love song . “Temporally Disconnected” was written by Chip and Donnie Vie, it would been really cool to have a guest appearance by Donnie like they did in “Brainwahsed Generation” with “Strangers In My Head”, still, the song kicks ass. There’s a Sex Pistols cover here, “God Save The Queen”, it feels accurate and fun when Chip approaches a Punk Rock vibe. Again, this new lineup of Enuff Z’ Nuff is brilliant, their new album is huge and Chip continues to write big beatlesque hard rocking songs. As long as they keep releasing these albums, I’ll keep buying them. /Juan Pablo Mazzola.

https://www.enuffznuff.com/

Facebook page

Enuff Z’Nuff Live in Valencia, Spain / Interview with Chip Z’Nuff

Published on by veglamLeave a comment

Ever since I started reviewing albums and live shows I decided to write one special article after New Year’s Eve, covering one band. On Nov 20th I got to see one of my favourite bands, Enuff Z Nuff, and I got to interview Chip Znuff. I took advantage of the situation and asked him about several things that I was personally curious about (as a fan) like the story behind “Jani Lane” singing “The Devil Of Shakespeare” or Donnie Vie’s in and out of the band dilemma. Right after the interview I knew this event was going to become “the one” for 2022. Not only I found out that Chip is the sweetest guy ever, he didn’t bitch about me asking personal questions, which is super cool…..but I got to know a bit more about their latest releases. I gotta be honest, when Donnie Vie left Enuff Z Nuff, I was one of too many wondering WTH, like I couldn’t picture the band without him. As Enuff Z Nuff kept releasing mind blowing albums I changed my point of view. That is, my viewpoint was drastically changed by Chip’s version of the band, which has it own vibe, even considering that Chip and Donnie still manage to have a relationship and they contributed on each other’s work, they can walk different roads. Being both of them awesome and prolific at the same time. I doubt their relationship will ever end, both of them are like brothers who at some point decided to go separate ways in life, like Chip said to me “it is like a marriage” Their show was mind blowing including classics like “Baby Loves You”, “Kiss The Clown”, “New Thing” and Fly High Michelle”, mixed with stunning Beatles / McCartney covers (from their amazing tribute album “Hardrock Nite”) like “Magical Mystery Tour”, “Eleonor Rigby” and “Live and Let Die” The band sounds tight as fuck, and one thing that it’s worth pointing out is that they do have fun, they enjoy themselves for sure. This new version of Enuff Z Nuff has already released a few albums, every one of the them is just like everything they ever released, catchy Power Pop / Hard Rock tunes with a meaning. I hope I’ll get to see them again promoting their beautiful and new “Finer Than Sin” album, sometime in 2023. The interview was originally posted on Uber Rock (U.K.) as part of their “Big Uber Rock Interviews” on December 4th 2022. /Juan Pablo Mazzola.

Pictures by Fabio Mogrovejo

https://www.enuffznuff.com/

Facebook page

I Love Rich “You Have The Right… To Remain Sexy”

Published on by veglamLeave a comment

Good to hear from Chicago’s I LOVE RICH, it’s been a while! And even better to hear that they are keeping the flame of dirty glam rock’n’roll alive! When your opening song is called “Rock’n’Roll Is Gonna Burn”, you’re pretty sure it’s going to rock and it does. This song has a bit of Scandinavian rock’n’roll in it while “God’s Gift To Women” is more classic American rock’n’roll with a good heavy rock guitar riff and a big chorus. If you love KISS then “Rock And Roll Sex Cult” will probably be your favourite track and glam metal fans will sure headbang to “Paid In Sex” and “The Right To Remain Sexy.” Songs like “Rock And Roll Conspiracy”, “Rock And Roll Riot” or “Revolution In My Pants” could be on the playlist of every TURBONEGRO fan and “King Of Rock And Roll” and “Make Out City” might not change the face of music but they won’t fail at making you rock and party! Have a good time all the time? These guys sure know about it! /Laurent C.

Facebook page

https://iloverich.net/

Criminal Kids “Live At Liar”s Club” EP

Published on by veglamLeave a comment

“Even CRIMINAL KIDS are capable of doing something nice sometimes”….
That’s very right since these 4 live songs were recorded in Chicago to raise money for the band’s home base Liars’ Club. CRIMINAL KIDS play hot and sweaty in your face punk rock’n’roll sometimes reminding of NASHVILLE PUSSY. Songs like “Little Bitch” or “Outcast” will make you wish you could be headbanging at one of these guys’ gigs. You won’t really get any big choruses or hooks but lots of energy and sleazy guitar riffs. This is fast and hard! You’ll hardly get enough time to be able to breathe and a band like JUNKYARD will come to your mind while listening to “Vanity.” The full version of this rawk’n’roll live performance can also be watched on YouTube. /Laurent C.

Facebook page

Italian TV release debut single “Straight To Me”

Published on by veglamLeave a comment

Italian TV is a new collaboration between old friends. Tony Manno (The Black Oil Brothers/Dusty Curbside) and TAFKAVince are longtime friends and former bandmates. Both having busy lives rarely find time to see each other. To remedy this situation they decided to set aside some time to get together and catch up under the guise of writing songs. After a couple meetings the first song was written.

“Straight To Me” is an acoustic song in the vein of Suicide Twins and The Jacobites while “Move On” almost sounds psyche rock.

More info: https://italiantv.bandcamp.com

Jollys “Cosmic Heels” 7″

Published on by veglamLeave a comment

Chicago’s JOLLYS have just released a new 3 song EP released by Australian record label Salty Dog. “Cosmic Heels” is a glam rock song with lots of reverb and a garage rock production. The songs sounds a bit like a dirtier version of GIUDA, contemporary glitter rock with 70s roots. “It’s You” will take you to the 60s with its cool psych pop vibe. It brings bands like The DANDY WARHOLS or The BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE to mind. The third song on here, “I Don’t Mind” sounds as if it was taken right from the 70s, with a bit of an ALICE COOPER feel. Short but really sweet! But guess what? The band has also released “Sweet Freak”, their debut full length album in October (released on cassette by Dumpster Tapes), and you’ll hear 10 songs in the same vein, with more glam punk influences in songs like “Dolls”, “Waste Of Time”, “I Don’t Wanna Take You Home”, or “Be A Punk.” /Laurent C.

Facebook page

Criminal Kids “S/T” EP

Published on by veglamLeave a comment

The punk’n’roll scene has been quite quiet lately, and this can appear as surprising since bands like NASHVILLE PUSSY, SUPERSUCKERS or ELECTRIC FRANKENSTEIN were everywhere in the mid 00s. Hailing from Chicago, CRIMINAL KIDS is part of a new wave of American punk rock’n’roll bands although they actually started in 2008, but got back to life last year. The songs are played with some wild 70s punk energy, with classic hard rock solos, and “Outcast” even has some early GUNS N’ ROSES flavour to it. The sleaze rock side of the band can also be heard in “Night”, which reminds me a bit of CRACK COUNTY DAREDEVILS.
6 songs out on vinyl and released by Spaghetty Town Records! /Laurent C.

Facebook page
Buy from Spaghetty Town Records