ANRLOGOHIGH

Audio Nation Pit Stop: Laura Wilde Interview

Audio Nation Pit Stop is a little late this month, this is an interview by Audio Nation’s Shamas with singer song writer Laura Wilde. 

Transcribed by BInky Yutz 

ANRPIT Interview

Shamas: Hey everybody, Shamas Maximus, I am live on Audio Nation Radio Studios, with the one and only Laura Wilde. She’s joining us for a….we call it Eight with the Great Laura Wilde. And here she is; Thanks for being with us on Audio Nation Radio.com. It means the world to us and we’re big fans, how are you, dear??

Laura: I’m very well, thank you so much for having me. It’s such a pleasure to be chatting with you.

Shamas: The pleasure is all mine. So you’re just back off tour with Ted Nugent, and he’s been around a long time, so what was that like for you?

Laura: Oh, it was such an amazing experience. I mean, we got to travel across the whole country, and play shows every night, which was like a dream. And we made so many new friends and, I mean, Ted was such a great artist to learn from: everything from his showmanship, performance, and playing ability, was just flawless and energetic.

Shamas: That’s nice, yeah, he’s a wild man, he’s known for his antics. I’ve heard a couple stories myself, and I’m sure you got a few while you were on the road!

Laura: Oh definitely, well they don’t call him the Motor City Madman for nothing.

Shamas: And there you go, there you go. I also read some reviews from the southeast; I lived in the southeast for like seventeen years, and Ted is huge down there, and from what I read, and a lot of the ones that I read, the commentary was honest and reflected a deep respect for your talent and your rock and roll persona, specifically. What was your reaction to that, or had you heard it before now?

Laura: Well, that’s actually the first time, I’ve heard that, and I’m really so honored and humbled, and it was so rewarding to read the positive reviews, and know that the crowd enjoyed the shows, as much as I enjoyed playing them. Cause it really means the world to me, and that’s what it’s all about.

Shamas: For people that don’t know, you did everything on your CD; you recorded the bass, the drums, and the guitar, all of them. Was there an instrument that you enjoyed playing when you made the album, that you, you know, you enjoyed more than you thought you would, and are you self taught or are you schooled?

Laura: Umm…yes I’m actually a self taught musician. Ah…when I was about 12, and got my first guitar. I was supposed to have guitar lessons at school, but the teacher was always on tour, and would forget to tell me. So I just stood in the little music room and learned songs by ear, off the radio. And I mean, being self taught can be great because you get to learn at your own pace, but you have to make sure you don’t get lazy and fall into a playing rut, where you don’t stretch yourself.

Shamas: That sounds like sound advice. The same could be said for a, for a lot of professions. You guys know who you are…. just sayin’…just sayin’…We do represent part of a virtual community, and I’m sure there’s some people out there, would like to know; Are you a video gamer? and if so, what’s your medium, you know X Box, PS3, Cell Phone, PC, Tablet, and a, if so, what’s your favorite game at the moment?

Laura: Well my all time favorite consoles would have to be the Nintendo NES N64. Actually whenever I go back to Australia to visit my family, I usually stick around with my little cousins, and play my old Nintendo 64, which I handed down to them. And yeah, I’m basically crazy about anything to do with Super Mario. And yeah I’ve got a bunch of….(Shamas: Nice) yeah….I’ve got a Super Mario background on this computer, actually….

Shamas: Nice

Laura: But um….yeah I’ve got a bunch of different emulators on this computer as well, so I can play everything from, you know, Super Mario 3 NES, to Super Mario Land on Game Boy, yeah everything…everything you could possibly think of.

Shamas: So you heard it first here people, Audio Nation Radio.com, Miss Laura Wilde is a Nintendo girl…

Laura: Yeah, Nintendo freak….

Shamas: I bet you, have you tried guitar hero?, speaking of video games!

Laura: Ah….yes….and surprisingly, I’m probably the worst person in the world at guitar hero.

Shamas: You know… I wouldn’t… that’s not a bad thing though….cause I keep tryin’…..ever since guitar hero came out, I’m not a fan by the way. Ever since it came out, you know, you got all these kids struttin’ around, and I’m like that’s not really playin’ the guitar, that’s….you know, just because… you’re not a rock star just because you can play guitar hero, just in case you were wondering…

Laura: Yeah, I mean, there are 5 year old kids that, you know, seriously walloped me at that game….which is just….I’m like “Come On”….

Shamas: Nice…so there you have it people, once again, I would like to point out that Miss Laura Wilde has just proven me right, again, just sayin’ , so a….

Laura: Yeah, if anyone wants to feel good about themselves, they should play me in guitar hero.

Shamas: Oh, are you a fan of Slash, by the way, I have to ask that just for my fans, because they know I’m a self proclaimed prophet for Slash, too.

Laura: Oh yeah totally, I’m a huge Slash fan and he’s one of my main guitar influences.

Shamas: Oh nice, cause that leads into our next question…you know…who is your first musical love, and have you had a chance to meet them, or are they still living?

Laura: Well my first musical love from when I was actually three years old, was Lenny Kravitz, and I unfortunately haven’t had the chance to meet him just yet, but hopefully I will, someday soon.

Shamas: Nice….that is awesome.

Laura: Yeah he was very cool…. you know he had the crazy dreads, and the flying V pointy guitar, and when you’re a little kid, all that stuff is just like wow…

Shamas: Nice…did you hear how his drummer got her job? The original one with the big afro..

Laura: Oh yeah, she was the one that I saw in the video clip as well, it was the “Are You Gonna Go My Way”, that was the first time I saw her.

Shamas: Right, right, she ah….she got her job…she interviewed for her job with Lenny over the phone. He called her and said “You got a kit there?” and she was like “Yeah” and he was like “Put the phone down and play something”…and she got the job..

Laura: Oh….I haven’t heard that one…but I heard that they, she was the first person out of about two thousand people to audition, for the drum position, and they just knew she was gonna get the job, and the rest of it was like, well it’s just going through the motions cause these people made the effort to come down…but we already know who we’ve got.

Shamas: Oh wow, OK, see I hadn’t heard that one…I guess, I need to…we need to fact check that…Note to self….fact check..

Laura: Yeah if I ever meet him, I’ll ask him…I’ll ask him and let you know.

Shamas: Yeah, yeah, that would be awesome…that’d be awesome…so a… so Lenny Kravitz really, that’s pretty cool and surprising, cause he is a really good guitar player, and a lot of people don’t get it, they think it’s more about his style, his personality and his voice, but I think he’s a really good guitar player.

Laura: Yeah, I mean, he’s definitely…he’s got…he’s the whole package really…and he’s got great songs and I’ve always been a huge fan.

Shamas: Awesome, awesome, now what’s next on your radar? I mean has touring inspired or shaped how you think about what you want for your next album?

Laura: Yeah touring’s definitely had a strong impact on how the next album’s shaping up…it’s, it’s made me…I really want to do it, as close to the live show as possible now…cause touring’s made me see how important it is to capture the raw energy from the live show on the recordings..

Shamas: Nice, nice so a, the band gonna join you in the studio then, for the next one?

Laura: Yeah I reckon, we’ll, you know, get the band in, mic it up, and just go absolutely nuts, and get it all on the analog tape.

Shamas: Nice

Laura: Kick it old school

Shamas: Well you know, I had to buy that Foo Fighters album with the old analog tape piece’s in them, cause it was recorded in Dave’s garage,

Laura: I just saw that sound CD documentary, a couple of weeks ago, and I saw how “Nevermind” was made, and all those great… Fleetwood Mac and Tom Petty and those classic albums were made…and I was like “Oh My God”, I’ve got to get into this…so yeah, I’m really curious to try something different and really excited as well.

Shamas: That’s very cool…and of course you know, we can’t wait for the next album…but certainly, if you guys get a chance…we will be posting Ms. Wilde’s tour dates as soon as she gets them, and we get them, you will know…Audio Nation Radio.com…that’s what were here for, that’s what were here for…

Laura: Yep…well, I’ll let you know as soon as I do.

Shamas: Well, I ah…again, you know, I told you before and I’m gonna say it again…I am very appreciative of you hangin’ out with me, and ah…you know, I love to break the typical stereotypes, and obviously you’re very intelligent and talented…but we do note that you did make “Revolver’s” Top 25 Hottest Females in Hard Rock” list…what are your thoughts on making the list and where were you when you heard about it?

Laura: Well I was actually in Westbury, New York, when I heard about it…and I honestly couldn’t believe it, especially when I heard about the other girls that were on the list, like Amy Lee…and you know all these amazing…Lizzie Hale and all these amazing, talented girls, so I was like “Oh My God” I can’t believe I’m in there…so it was just so surreal picking up that issue at the newsstand and seeing myself in it…I nearly practically hit the roof with excitement..

Shamas: Nice, it’s probably like how I was whenever I got the…the other day when I got…Oh, you know…Ms Laura Wilde has time to speak with you, I was like “Yes, yes”….

Laura: I fumbled and bumbled around with the software…I’m glad I got it working right.

Shamas: Yes, well you did a good job…your welcome to pop in unannounced anytime you want in any of my shows; you’re more than welcome to come hang out.

Laura: Oh, well, thank you I’ll have to pop in and say Hello…

Shamas: Absolutely, absolutely….so right now you’re just hangin’ in California and planning any shows there soon?

Laura: Ah…well we just played, we played The Dean Guitars NAMM Jam, when was it?…in January, and then we played the Whiskey A Go Go, last month

Shamas: You got to play, you got to play the Whiskey…I mean, if you get a chance to play it, it’s one of those things, you got to play the Whiskey.

Laura: And those shows garnered a lot of new industry interest…so were just, we’re in a new developmental phase right now, so, yeah, I can’t really talk about it that much…but I’ll let you know all the developments when they are all fully defined

Shamas: No worries….no worries…that’s awesome…

Laura: You’re talking like an Australian….

Shamas: Did you say you want me to talk like an Australian?

Laura: No…didn’t you say “No Worries”…

Shamas: No worries…yeah

Laura: No worries…that sounds very Australian

Shamas: Oh…No Worries…sorry about that…

Laura: Makes me feel like I’m at home…

Shamas: Oh…welcome home then Luv…no actually I’m known for butchering Australian and British accents, actually people on Audio Nation get to hear me do it on a regular basis, so….

Laura: Well I’m gonna tune in next time you’re having one of your little Australian accent rants, and yeah, I’ll be the judge of that.

Shamas: Awesome…good…I’ll look forward to that criticism or praise.

Laura: I’ve heard some really terrible ones, so I’m sure that you couldn’t be that bad.

Shamas: Well you guys can check out Ms Laura Wilde, ww.LauraWilde W I L D E… LauraWilde.com…and find out all about her, you can go to Audio Nation Radio.com’s facebook page and find that we have liked her facebook page, if you wanna check it out… and, of course, she’s a… are you into Twitter, cause it seems to be the new thing?

Laura: Yes, I have a Twitter account; it’s a…Twitter.com/LauraWilde

Shamas: There you go, so follow her, and a, @ANationRadio, is following her, and you should follow us too… Thank you again for stopping by, Miss Laura, we do appreciate it greatly.

Laura: Thank you so much for having me and it’s been such a pleasure chatting with you, again.

Shamas: Absolutely…anytime, you are always welcome.

Laura: Thank You, I’ll have to stop by again soon.

Shamas: Absolutely.

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Man Week Title Card

Man Week – Jimi Lanley Experience

As one of the few REAL live bands in SL, The Jimi Lanley Experience blends live preformances in RL with the visual experience only SL can offer. Jimi wanted to bring his RL experience as a professional musician into Second Life and went on a hunt for an all-female backing band, to accompany him with the live recordings of his side project band. He soon found the perfect lineup in Juliet (drums), Ninee (bass) and Gypsy (keyboard) and built a stage for the purpose, filled with lighting, pyrotechnics and all the goodies you can imagine, all portable and can be put up at any venue.

The band only needed a few rehearsals before they were ready for their first gig. The response was so great that the four of them decided to continiue the “Experience”.

The difference between The Jimi Lanley Experience and most other live artists in SL is that they can focus on giving you the real visual experience by having four members there to control it without having to give you the false studio feeling of playing other peoples music. Jimi’s expansive experience really shows in their performance, as he blends the live recordings with the effects on stage perfectly, making it feel like you are really watching a live band perform live, in real life. It is a real band, performing live that you hear and it is real performers you see on stage, not just some parked avatars on poseballs. Continue reading

penti-2013-04-01-a

Penti – Bosk, A Dip In The Nature (new video and single)

The serene notes of Isdiri Misti Sini had us at the office enthralled. When we got a note that Marco Porcelli, aka Penti, had released yet another single, I jumped over it as soon as I could, popping up that press kit and put the song on.

I can tell you right away, this song couldn’t have come at a better time for me, after all the stress on a particularly busy day, hearing that guitar whisk me away to a far off land, where the grass is always green, but the leaves have just turned autumn red. This song is more than just ambiance thou, it is an experience!

Bosk makes perfect use of all instruments in an expertly put together composition that never strays away from the emotions, but still manages to enhance them as the song progresses. As the final tones ring out, I found myself shocked to be sitting there in my chair, as I could’ve sworn I was walking through a green field of grass, bordering the sea, atop a hill and watching the seagulls in the distance. I listened to it again, and these same images popped into my head, even as I was doing other things and again, when the final tones ring out, I find myself shocked to just be sitting there, looking into nothing at all.

Porcelli has a way with his music to take your mind off everything else and just follow his vision, but here is a scary (or perhaps proving) point: I checked out his video for this song, and it mirrored the images in my head perfectly!

Such is the power in this wordless piece of art, that I didn’t have to see the video to see exactly what Porcelli himself had envisioned for the song. Continue reading

Sbeast

Music That Wowed Us: sBeast

The Elder Scrolls V:  Skyrim, a game that came and wowed everyone, the most epic and massive adventure game of our generation (sorry Demon Souls we love you too.). Big battles, Big Dragons, and the best music.

Sometimes it amazes me about the talent that is out there. With the release of the epic adventure video game it didn’t take long for someone very very talented to take the theme song from the  very popular video game, Sons of Skyrim, and turn it into something epic and out of control. Check it out. sBeast.

Books From My Youth

Books From My Youth: An Introduction

When I was younger I wasn’t really allowed to watch television, at least anything that wasn’t educational in my father’s eyes. I had to find another way of entertaining myself, funny enough my love for reading didn’t start with my dad’s no TV rule. It started when I was living with my Aunt. She would take me to the Library every Saturday and that is where my love for books began. Continue reading

Erato-artist-photo

Music That Wowed Us: Erato

Here is another thing we are going to start doing with the Torch. We did it on our other blog called indie Music Army where we highlight amazing talents that exist in Second Life and Real Life. 

First we’ll start with a Scandy girl group Erato. Erato-artist-photo

I was strolling around youtube one night and I just stumbled onto this group playing their butter dishes. These girls have a great harmony and not only can you see it, but you can hear and feel it. What they have done in this video is simple and just amazing, I loved every second of it. It has not only turned my head but several others since there are around 5 ERATO cover videos in the sidebar. They are singing Robyn’s ‘Call Your Girlfriend’ and it’s definitely worth watching, listening to, commenting on, and rating.

ERATO Cover

ANRLOGOHIGH

ANR Pit Stop: Binky Yutz review of Yes in Concert

Friday, March 22, 2013 Hard Rock Casino, Biloxi, MS

The group “YES” has been around for over 45 years. They were formed by Chris Squire and Jon Anderson in 1968. The other original members were, Bill Bruford, Peter Banks(who recently passed away, in 2013) and Tony Kaye.  No less than 18 different players have been members of the band, over those 4 and a half decades.  The band has released 21 albums to date.

The show Friday night showed off the exceptional playing ability of the current members:

Steve Howe on guitars

Chris Squire on Bass (the one and only bass player Yes has ever had)

Alan White on Drums (joined in 1972, been behind the drum kit ever since)

Geoff Downes on Keyboards (joined Yes in 1980, went on to form Asia w/ Steve Howe)

Jon Davison on Vocals (joined Yes in 2012, also a member of Glass Hammer & Sky Cries Mary)

The show started simply enough with a large screen displaying images of the band and the players over the years, followed by several shots of their album covers, most particularly: The Yes Album, Close to the Edge, and Going for the One.  Without much to do, the band simply walked out on the stage, waved to the crowd, took up their instruments and began playing the album, “Close to the Edge”; they played the entire album note for note from beginning to end.  At the conclusion of “Siberian Khatru”, the final track on “Close to the Edge”, Steve and Chris chatted with the crowd a bit, then launched into “Yours is No Disgrace” and continued to play the rest of “The Yes Album” in its entirety, note for note.  The most memorable segment from this portion of the show is when Steve Howe came out with an acoustic guitar, and played “The Clap”.  Although Steve is getting up there in years, his playing ability has not even slightly diminished.  The crowd went wild, as they then played the opening notes of “Starship Trooper” and again with “I’ve Seen All Good People”.

Jon Davison on vocals is a perfect fit for that Yes sound; his vocal style is so similar to Jon Anderson, one could barely tell them apart.  In no way was Mr. Davison trying to mimic Mr. Anderson’s sound, his voice is so close to Jon’s, that all he had to do was sing in his natural voice to deliver the tunes we were used to hearing, in the style we were used to hearing them.  Other than Jon Anderson, no one could have done a better job with the vocals than Jon Davison.

The overall sound of the show was beyond compare: every note from every instrument, and every vocal was clean and crisp.  The sound man (a woman actually), really had their act together, and mixed the show beautifully.  Something else I noticed, which is true of every Yes show, Chris Squire’s bass is prominently featured, almost like a lead player.  At times I felt the bass rattle the entire building, without any distortion.  Alan White’s drumming was spot on, as one would expect from a drummer of his caliber.  Geoff Downes, rejoined the group in 2011.   He absolutely nailed all the keyboard parts perfectly, as one might expect from a former member during the 80’s.

They did extend the final track, “Perpetual Change”, just a little. They fired up the confetti cannons at the end of this song. There was so much confetti it literally blocked out the view of the stage for a minute or so.

For an encore, they performed “Roundabout”, from the album “Fragile”.  Once again the crowd went wild; the entire venue was on its feet for the finale.  As they said good night, the band seemed very humble, and not full of themselves at all.  They appeared gracious, and genuinely seemed to appreciate the audience.  I know, as a member of the audience, we felt the same way…..I highly recommend catching them if they are in your area…ticket prices were reasonable also, $75 is not bad, for a legendary band of their status.

Binky Yutz

Article courtesy of: Audio Nation Radio

Things to Do in Second Life – Week of March 24, 2013

Check out some of the fun and exciting things to do and see in Second Life this week:

Fundraisers:

2013Relay for Life: for team registration and more information, please see the official websites:

http://rflofsl.intuitwebsites.com/

https://www.facebook.com/rflofsl

Teams R Us:  Already have a SL Relay for Life Team and are you looking for some help with events? If so try Teams R Us! The first Teams R Us event will occur this weekend and it is a Country Music Jam:  Get those line dancin’ moves polished and be ready for the FIRST event of the season, a country music jam and roundup! This themed weekend of great music by some of SLs favorite country performers and djs will have everyone scootin’ to the nearest western store for some gear and then dancin’ and yeehawin’ till the SL  sun goes down (several times). Contact Prettykitty Gumbo in world for more information and to find out how your team can be a part of this great event!

5th Annual SL Buddy Walk:  Come to the 5th annual SL Buddy Walk, running March 17th to the 31st! See some of the best SL designers and shop for a cause, with proceeds going to NDSS (National Down Syndrome Society). To celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st, they will have a live music festival with some of the best live performers on the grid. For more information and the schedule, see slbuddywalk.org

Easter  Themed: Continue reading

KP

Music Fun: Sing Your Heart Out With Karaoke Party

The things we come up with to cure our boredom, Youtube, Facebook and now Karaoke Party. Yes I said “Karaoke “, you all just cringed didn’t you? Well never fear, you can enjoy this in your house, on you own, all you need a microphone, your computer and the internet.

Karaoke Party is a free online music service that allows its users to enjoy the freedom of Karaoke, with out the embarrassment that might come with it..well that’s unless you want to share it with friends. KP allows you to record yourself while singing, battle other users and even challenge your friends to beat your score.

How did this come to be? Continue reading

Trash Fashion

Trash Fashion: Let’s Get Ravin’.

One of the last bands I remember writing about was a London Nu Rave band called Trash Fashion. These colours boys came to my attention with one of their songs ‘Mom & Dad’ and they actually invited me to one of their gigs, which I didn’t go to. Never the less Trash Fashion was a very interesting band and they did answer the few questions I asked them.

THEIR MUSIC

As I said,Trash Fashion were Nu Rave, a small genre of Hardcore beats. Think Dub step light with vocals. They reminded me a lot of The Foals, their turns were fast, upbeat and did make you want to jump out of your seat and dance. I did listen to the all of their songs but my favourite is the one that brought me to them, ‘Mom & Dad’. At first glance it does sound like complete noise, but it’s actually them singing about love for their parents, although their music video is very weird. Oh that’s right, Trash Fashion actually have music videos, professionally made music videos. One thing I remember about their videos were that they were colourful, very colourful and had a good beat and tempo that always had me moving in my seat. Continue reading