Not often am I so mesmerized by an entire concert experience that my mind literally combusts and I’m unable to speak after witnessing the performance. Seeing the Dead Weather play was like witnessing a religious ceremony unfold in front of my eyes.

The congregation gathered at the pulpit (Seattle’s Capital Hill Block Party Main Stage) and clapped, chanted and threw their arms in the air to pay witness to Alison Mosshart from the Kills, guitarist and keyboard player Dean Fartita from Queens of the Stone Age, bassist Jack Lawrence from the Raconteurs and of course, this generation’s equivalent of Reverend Martin Luther King of Rock n Roll, Jack White.

Eyes were drawn to immediate focal point front woman, Mosshart. You couldn’t help but become hypnotized as she swung, shook and writhed around like a female version of the Lizard King. At one point, she stood upon the sound monitors, lost her balance, and crashed to the floor while making it all look intentional.

The band ebbed and flowed through a dynamic set that mainly comprised of songs from their last record, Horehound. They only played three tunes off of Sea of Cowards which was a bit disappointing as it’s been on the top of my playlist since its release in early May.

The unquestionable highlight of the show was when Jack came out from behind the drum kit to play guitar and share vocals with Alison on one mic, Kills style. As they sang the line “Just because you caught me, does that make it a sin?” all bodies became enveloped into the intensity of their interaction. I do not think the longing in her voice and the pained look in her eyes could be falsely manufactured…not by anyone. Clearly, nobody is safe from being glamoured by Mr. White. The entire crowd stood watching and listening as if in a trance. It was pure, beautiful and unholy.

After the encore, the band stood together and took a bow. Jack said, “Thank you and God bless.” No, Jack, thank YOU and let it be known that the Dead Weather blessed us in ways that only the Gods of Rock can.

By now, most of you have heard about the passing of metal legend Ronnie James Dio on the morning of Sunday May 16th. He lost a battle with the ever so nasty illness, stomach cancer.  We all knew he was sick but were hopeful he would make a full recovery and record and do a second tour with Heaven and Hell this summer.  Sometimes the dragon is more powerful than the Mighty Dragon Slayer, which I’ve always imagined RJB to be.

He was a rainbow wizard with an amazing musical career that spanned six decades.

It started in 1957 in a band called the Vegas Kings, in which he played trumpet and bass.

He was a natural singer and recorded and performed in several different bands that didn’t have a lot of mainstream success until the heavy rock, blues based Elf took off in 1972.

After Elf, Dio went on to sing with Rainbow, Black Sabbath and his solo band, Dio.

One of the highlights of his later career was reforming with Black Sabbath and recording the Heaven and Hell record followed by a tour. I saw the Radio City concert and it was a complete mindblower. He still had the fortitude to bust out the old Sabbath songs with power and force!

Dio was my first big arena show in 1985. I remember how excited I was for the show and how even more excited I was when my girlfriends and I picked up guitarist Vivian Campbell and bassist Jimmy Bain at the guitar shop and gave them a ride to their hotel. (My bff ended up making out with Jimmy in the backseat. I’m sure he was at least 45 at the time and she 16!)

Metal fans become very attached and fiercely loyal to their idols because we somehow relate to their message and it moves us in ways that are hard to explain.

From now and forever when I greet my fellow Hessians, rock out at a show or to my favorite metal records, the “devil horn salute” will behold an everlasting magical sacred meaning. I will remember the man who popularized it by keeping his spirit alive with each mighty raise of the fist, pointer and pinky up high with thumb clasping bent middle and ring fingers. Thanks for leaving us with the bounty of your metal heart, Ronnie James. You were the greatest. Long Live Rock n’ Roll!!!

News of a Soundgarden reunion show had been swirling around the Seattle scene for weeks.  Everyone knew it was coming, but it was a matter of when, where and would I be in the right place and right time to get a golden ticket?  After much scrambling, phone calls, texts, emails, secret handshakes, websites, passwords and methodical refreshing my browser at 11 a.m. on Friday, I ended up with that ultra mega golden ticket to Nudedragons! (secret show=secret name! clever, eh?)

Soundgarden has meant so much to me over the years…since 1989 to be exact.  I have seen them perform many times. Most memorable was when they opened for Jane’s Addiction, at the Seattle music festival Bumbershoot, and at the Annex Theater in front of 100 people.

Guitarist Kim Thayil and The Big Unit, Randy Johnson used to pal around when Randy pitched for the Seattle Mariners in the mid 90’s.  They showed up at the Crocodile Café one night when my band Shug was onstage.  That was a total freak out moment for my bass player and I being huge fans of the team and the band. Randy was in Seattle last week as he was invited to throw out the first pitch at the Mariner’s opening home game. Must have been a walk down memory lane for him too as he stopped by Soundgarden’s rehearsal studio to listen to them tune up for their secret show.

The band has not performed live since 1997.  Everyone wondered, would they sound the same? Would Cornell be able to hit the high notes? Could they actually pull it off?

They answer is hell yeah to all of those questions and more.

They started the show with Spoon Man, which I was actually happy about. I felt like starting the show with one of their “hits” was fair, because once they launched in to Gun, Rusty Cage and Beyond the Wheel I actually LOST MY FUCKING MIND.  I’m still getting goose bumps thinking about Chris wailing like I remember him doing so back in the day.  They played Flower, Ugly Truth and an amazing version of Fell on Black Days.  Hunted Down and Nothing to Say were rocked back to back in honor of those songs being re-released as a 7’ on orange vinyl on “Record Store Day” which was April 17th.

They closed with an interesting version of Waiting for the Sun by the Doors.  After the song, Ben Shepherd tossed his bass up and over his head and it landed magically in front of his bass cabinet causing it to emit an ominous, growling, deep feedback that reverberated through the club.  The crowd chanted, wanting a second encore and waited around long after the lights were turned on, but sadly, the show was over.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve been drenched in sweat and spent from rocking out so hard at a show.  Just like I remember it…I’m still grinning and my ears are still ringing.

A few weeks ago while driving my Mustang with the stereo cranked, I heard a song on my local rock station I did not recognize. It sounded like a modern/medieval metal version of White Snake meets Thin Lizzy meets a raucous King Arthur’s Knights of the Roundtable meeting. This very thing makes me quite excitable, so when I got home I checked the station’s play list and holy shit! I just happened upon the first release off Slash’s new solo record simply titled Slash.

The song I creamed my bucket seats over is titled “By the Sword.” The howling pipes were none other than Wolfmother’s singer Andrew Stock. This tune is just the first of a monster list of rock n roll royalty: Iggy Pop (Stooges), Lemmy Kilmeister (Motorhead), Ian Astbury (The Cult), Dave Grohl (Nirvana & Foo Fighters), ex G n R band mate Duff McKagen, Cris Cornell (Soundgarden and Audio Slave) and none other than the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne. For those who like their heavies a little lighter, never fear. How about some Fergie, Kid Rock or Adam Levine? The ladies will LOVE the Maroon 5 crooner’s song “Gotten.” Make no mistake; Slash leaves nothing behind on any song when it comes to his shredding, soulful guitar leads and solos. I’m a Les Paul junkie and his tone makes me crazy because it’s so damn 70’s analog fuzzy cherry maple syrup! I would eat his tone for breakfast if it were possible!

Slash proves not only is he a great modern day guitar hero, but also a capable contemporary rock n roll composer. I listened to a radio show he hosted and told the story behind the creation of “Slash”. He wrote the music for each song with a vocalist in mind and asked if they’d like to be on his record. Apparently everyone responded favorably! Each singer worked on lyrics and vocal melodies and the songs were nailed down in the studio.

Santana had tremendous success with his “Supernatural” record and performed quite a few tour dates. “Slash” rides along the same concept, so if he tours I’d be interested to see the guest star vocal lineup. Almost everyone will be wearing whisky, denim and leather instead of tie dye and bong water and that’s ok with me because I’ll be backing that whisky shot with luscious fuzzy Les Paul syrup!

Wanna know about the next awesome album? ADD US ON FACEBOOK!

When I let my tattoo artist ink me at his leisure, he chose to put flaming cherries on my neck.  He told me that the iconic symbol of the flaming cherry embodies my spirit.

Apparently, wild rock n roll/punk rock and hot rod chicks and the exploding cherry have something in common. We love to raise hell and hell, most of us are easy! POP!

Executive producer Joan Jett and former singer Cherie Curry clearly guided Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning through the process of getting in touch with their inner “cherry bomb.” Michael Shannon plays the creepy record producer Kim Fowley. The other band members played their part in true rock fashion. Scout Taylor-Compton who played Lita Ford was a dead ringer. Some might find the girl on girl action scene with Kristen and Dakota at the roller rink worth the price of admission and everything else a bonus!  (70’s girl fashion, camel toes, sparkle makeup, pills, cocaine and getting lucky!)

The movie’s soundtrack held a stellar lineup and kept the film driving from start to finish. Set yourself up to be ruled by 70’s heavies David Bowie, Sex Pistols, MC5, the Stooges, Suzie Quattro, and of course, the Runaways.  Dakota Fanning takes on the vocals of Cherie Currie and nearly had me convinced she’s the real deal.

I’m an old school rock chick who played in all female bands and grew up worshiping the likes of the Runaways and Joan Jett. One of my former all girl bands, Shug opened for Joan Jett and it was a fuckin’ dream come true to hang out with her and soak up her kick ass energy. That woman IS ROCK N ROLL. (and she plays for the other team…sorry guys!)

During her first solo tour, I had the pleasure of hanging out with Lita Ford. She was and still is one of my guitar idols. I was so impressed with how open and encouraging she was to me in regards to being a female guitarist. Both women have inspired me to the core to say the least, so I get this movie.

Even though the Runaways were Kim Fowley’s pervy wet dream masterminded to exploit the band for sex and money, he did show them that rock n roll is a man’s world and to be respected you have to rock with your cock out!

Cocks rocked and as a result they kicked serious rock n roll ass all over this planet!

I’m raising both fists with the rock n roll horn salute to the Runaways…now and forever!

Hello daddy, hello mom… see this movie, ’cause it’s THE BOMB!

Though viewable now in limited release, this movie opens nationwide on Friday, April 9.

Since its creation, metal has always had a symbiotic relationship with medieval times, outer space and mythical creatures. Why should the new High on Fire record record be any different?  There is a modern twist to it, however. Snakes of the Divine were inspired by the new age writer David Icke and his “Reptoid” theory.  Icke’s conspiracy theory comprises of the belief that that human beings are the result of a breeding program conducted by a race of reptilians called Anunnaki from the planet Draco. I listen to enough of Art Bell’s Coast to Coast to know this and apparently front man and Rolling Stone “New Guitar God” Matt Pike knows too!
This record melts your face off. Even with the tempo changes, it remains a blistering rollercoaster ride through its entire journey. The band is tight as hell. Lots of heavy bass lines, double bass drums and slammers. Pike’s heavy fuzz based guitar riffs mixed in with an onslaught of solos will make any guitarist OR fan cream their jeans.  His voice sounds like he regularly drinks whisky for breakfast, then spits it into your face in a ball of flames!
They are about to embark on a US tour as headliners and are obviously quite excited about it. I’d say they’ve earned it with this record…already a classic ass kicker!

Snakes of the Divine  should have a warning sticker on it saying “IF YOU PLAY THIS RECORD ON YOUR CAR STEREO AT FULL VOLUME YOUR EARS MAY BLEED” or “IF YOU BLAST THIS WHILE SKATING YOUR LOCAL HALFPIPE YOU MAY GROW A TAIL.”
Excuse me while I go lay on my heating rock, snack on some grub worms and plug in my ear buds.

—Miss Shug

I am Miss Shug. I am a broad, but keep in mind I’m really a 15 year old boy hopelessly trapped, disguised if you will, in a very shapely female body. I will laugh at your fart jokes, I love sports, food and muscle cars, but my main love has and will always be music. I was raised on it and grew up worshipping REAL guitar heroes like Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Angus Young and Eddie Van Halen.  I learned how to play guitar as a teen and started rocking in bands. After high school I went to college for radio and worked at Tower Records.  I was living in Seattle during that time which happened to be the dawning of the Sub Pop era.  Most nights were spent getting my mind blown at shows watching fledgling bands such as the Melvins, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone, Alice and Chains, Soundgarden and Nirvana. I was lucky enough to be a part of that scene and have only the fondest of memories (from what I can remember!)

My goal is to entertain you with Miss Shug’s Music Rack with album and show reviews, up and coming bands and hot local/international music scenes, top 10 lists and whatever else I can drum up for you.  I’m always open to listening to new bands and hearing about the next hottest thing. I’d love any tips or flips you can offer in regards to hidden gems. Send ‘em my way!

Rock on, Brohams!