NIGHT RANGER Live at The Astro! Review / Live Clips & Photos (VIDEO)

 

This week, I am reviewing a recent concert from 80s hard rockers, Night Ranger. I loved these guys as a kid, and bought many of their albums back then. 

I initially learned of the band due to Brad Gillis being a former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne. In fact, the first time I ever saw Ozzy in concert (on TV anyway), Brad was the guitarist!

But it has been a long time since I listened to a Night Ranger record, if I'm being totally honest. I got the opportunity to see the band at The Astro Theater in La Vista (basically Omaha), Nebraska, and I jumped at the chance. I brought along my seven year old nephew who was witnessing his first ever concert.

I had a surprisingly fun and nostalgic evening. I guess you can still rock in America.

NIGHT RANGER Live at The Astro, La Vista, NE 3/1/25 (PHOTOS)

Night Ranger at The Astro 3/1/25

Brad Gillis of Night Ranger

Jack Blades of Night Ranger

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger

Record Store Day 2025 / Bangles Book / Real Estate LIVE / NEW Music Releases (VIDEO)

It's been a more brutal than usual winter here in Omaha, so I've been a bit of a hermit lately. If it can't be done indoors, it ain't getting done!

In this edition of my all-purpose, wrap-up  series, I talk a little about the choices for this Spring's Record Store Day, and how The Replacements fit into it all. I review a recent show from New Jersey indie rockers, Real Estate. The new Bangles book is out! I offer up some details on the book as well as some relevant updates from ‪Rock N Roll Book Club‬.

Lastly, I have a few excellent new releases to discuss.

Rock of Aging Episode 2: Our "Alternate Big 4" of Hair Metal / 80s Metal (VIDEO)

Today's video is the second episode of the "Rock of Aging" series. In this series, my co-host Erika and I will be exploring the depths of our "hair metal" past as well as trying to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades.

In this month's episode, Erika and I offer up our selections for an "alternate" Big 4 of 80s metal. Most people associate the "Big 4" to mean the biggest, most successful thrash metal bands of the 1980s: Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer. But that leaves a lot of amazing bands from the 80s out in the cold.

Naturally, Googe A.I. had something to say on the subject, and offered up the following as the "Big 4 of Hair Metal": Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, Posion, and Ratt. But Google didn't exist in the 80s, and Erika and I did, so our opinions are clearly more relevant. So, we have made our own alternate "Big 4" of the 80s.

Before we get to our choices, we both present some news items from our 80s metal favorites.

Dark Stuff Playlist February 2025 (Apple Music and Spotify)

 

 

February is my birthday month, so my playlist took a bit longer than usual to create. I don't know how it correlates, but i thought that sounded like a reasonable rationale for the lateness of this month's playlist.

I open it up this month with a deep cut from Billy Idol's debut, and immediately jump into Belly's exquisite cover of Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?" The Breeders, Conor Oberst, Styx, The Feelies, St. Vincent, AC/DC, Alice Cooper, Band of Horses, and more follow. 

Listen until the end for Luna's "Fuzzy Wuzzy." You're welcome.

If you use Spotify, you can find the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2nZXQyIr5ZZNRwzz1T2082?si=a2hwHMGPRrG42hGjerkwLg&pi=bOTLi8jUT3288

My Roadtrip to see Vicki & Debbi of The Bangles / Belly / Letters To Cleo / Silversun Pickups (VIDEO and PHOTOS)

This is my vlog or whatever of my roadtrip to see Vicki & Debbi Peterson of The Bangles. THE BANGLES!! Are you effing kidding me?! Wow! This was a fun weekend, my friends.

I drove seven hours to Wisconsin to see one night of the Freezing Man Festival in Madison. This festival is four day event that raises money for Joey's Song (https://www.joeyssong.org/) which is a non-profit that is trying to raise awareness and find a cure for kids with epilepsy.

Honestly, I had no idea about the organization, the venue, the festival...nothing. All I knew was that 2/3 of The Bangles were playing together, and I needed to be there! As a nice bonus, Belly, Letters to Cleo, and Silversun Pickups were also on the bill. I can now cross Belly off my bucket list.

Despite the long drives, this was a great weekend. I hope you enjoy the video and the photos below.

Belly played first

Tanya Donelly of Belly

Letters To Cleo played second

Gail and Tanya of Belly and Vicki Peterson (Bangles) joined LTC on stage

Debbi & Vicki Peterson and Friends

Debbi (left) and Vicki Peterson of The Bangles along with Tanya Donelly

My "Beef" with Jason Isbell / What Counts as "Fair Use" in 2025? / Music & Concert News (VIDEO)

I needed to drop a quick "This Years Week" before I get overwhelmed with a bunch of upcoming projects. First on the docket is that I have removed all my shorts. I got a copyright strike/takedown "request" from Jason Isbell over a short I posted last May. It was a :51 clip of Isbell performing in Omaha. I've had dozens of similar shorts on my channel for years, and never had anything like this happen before. The "request" said that if I deleted the video from YouTube within seven days, I would not receive a copyright strike. I took it down, as I did not want a strike on my channel. Three of those and you're OUT...of YouTube.

I'm pissed at Isbell for doing this, but I went to Stanford University's website on the issue of fair use, and did a little research. After doing so, I have come to the conclusion that the shorts weren't exactly fair use. It was :51 seconds of Isbell performing, and I added nothing of substance to the video. I still think it's bullshit, and I would gladly give the entire eight cents or so the video earned to Mr. Isbell, but there's little point in going scorched earth over a short.

Rock of Aging Episode 1: Heavy Metal Time Machine (VIDEO)

Today's episode is the first in a new series here at The Dark Stuff called  "Rock of Aging." In this new series, my co-host Erika and I will be exploring the depths of our "hair metal" past as well as trying to discover what it is about the music of that era that has kept us captivated for decades.

Our plan is to post a new episode of the show on the 10th of every month! To learn more about Erika, check out her podcast, A92A: https://www.a92a.life/

Because it's the first episode of the series, we begin with a series of five questions for Erika so the audience can learn a little bit about her and her musical taste.

Next up, we engage in a heavy metal thought exercise. In it, we imagine where we would go and what we would see if given a time machine and the ability to see any past concert or tour. Where would you choose? The Beatles at Shea Stadium, Bob Dylan at Cafe Wha, Van Halen at The Whiskey? The choices are endless.

First Video of the New Year! Bangles, Belly, Silversun Pickups, Violenteer, The Fluid + MORE!!! (VIDEO)

Thanks for stopping by to watch my first video of the new year! In this edition of "This Year's Week," I offer up a preview of my road trip to see Vicki & Debbi Peterson of The Bangles! I also have a new Dark Stuff Playlist for January, and some updates to the channel.

Next I have some live footage from the recent Violenteer record release show at Reverb. Also on the bill was Bad Bad Men. Violenteer's music can be found on the streamers or on their bandcamp: https://violenteer.bandcamp.com/ 

The video closes out with a little bit of music news on The Magnolias and The Fluid.

R.I.P. Bob "Slim" Dunlap (1951-2024) // The Replacements (VIDEO)

Thanks for stopping by to watch my latest video. Today is a sad one, my friends. Bob "Slim" Dunlap has died today at the age of 73. Bob is best known for his time as the lead guitarist of The Replacements (1986-1991), but he was a Twin Cities music legend many years prior to that. 

In the 1990s, after The Replacements broke up, Dunlap recorded two solo albums, "Times Like These" and "The Old New Me." He suffered a serious stroke in 2012 and has been unable to perform since then. 

Dunlap's time in The Replacements has been recently featured on the double live album, "The Complete Inconcerated Live," and on the box set, "Dead Man's Pop." Rest In Peace, Bob.

VIOLENTEER / BAD BAD MEN Live at Reverb, Omaha, 12/7/24

These photos are all from the record release show for the new EP from Violenteer. The Omaha band has just released an excellent new self-titled 12". The band's sound recalls classic 90s era Touch & Go Records bands. Unlike most of those bands, Violenteer has no guitarist, and instead utilizes two bass players. The music is heavy, dark, and moody. It's quite good. Violenteer's lead singer, Steve Tulipana, also sings for the similarly inspired band, Season To Risk.

Violenteer at Reverb, Omaha, NE 12/7/24

Violenteer's music can be found on the streamers, and can be purchased on their bandcamp page. 

Bad Bad Men opened the show. BBM's most recent album is called "Messed Up."

Top 20 Albums of 2024 (VIDEO)

Folks, it's my favorite time of year...Best of season! So, here is my annual contribution to the cause! As always, I begin with a quick video montage of 20-11, and then I join you to discuss the Top 10. Here are playlists with a couple of songs from the Top 20 albums:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1n9rUoX9O6lvN7aHtnfAdG?si=0c4724443de148e3

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/best-of-2024/pl.u-11zBDygS6RzqY  

Dark Stuff: RSD Black Friday / New Vinyl Pickups / Speed! Nebraska / New Playlist (VIDEO)

In this edition of "This Year's Week," we hit the record release show for Speed! Lightning 500: new compilation of Nebraska bands from Speed! Nebraska Records. I caught "most" of the show, but had to take a burrito break, and missed a band I wanted to see.

Make sure to check out the latest Dark Stuff Playlist for December 2024!

  

I finally received my copy of the new Susanna Hoffs LP, The Lost Record. Just in time for best of the year consideration!

This Fall's Record Store Day (black Friday) was a total bust for me. I bought nothing. But I did hit a used store and grabbed some unexpectedly great stuff.

The newest episode of ‪Rock N Roll Book Club‬ has just dropped. This month, we read Sly Stone's memoir, "Thank You (Falletinme Be Mice Elf Agin)." Next month is "The Witch's Daughter" from Orenda Fink.

Last up, I offer up a quick preview of some of the stuff I'm currently working on. There's some stuff I'm very excited about that will be premiering next month.

Dark Stuff Playlist December 2024 (Apple and Spotify)

 Spotify:

Apple:

The Mommyheads: Interview with Adam Elk // One Eyed Band // Indie/Prog (VIDEO)

This week, Adam Elk from The Mommyheads returns to The Dark Stuff to talk about his band's newest album, 'One Eyed Band.'

The Mommyheads are a New York band whose sound straddles the line between XTC-style pop and prog rock. I have been a fan of the band since the mid 90s when I first heard the EP, 'Flying Suit.' In my previous interview with Adam, we discussed the band's history: forming in NYC in the late 80s, moving to San Francisco, signing to Geffen Records, breaking up, and ultimately getting back together. I recommend you check out that video for some history (and please excuse my pandemic beard).

The Mommyheads have just released their 16th album, 'One Eyed Band.' It's another in a long line of fantastic albums; and Adam explains some of the themes and ideas behind the new record.

The best place to find the band's music is bandcamp: https://mommyheads.bandcamp.com/

Or their website: https://www.mommyheads.com/