Here's the LATEST on the Loudini Rock and Roll Circus!
Hosted by: LouLombardi aka Loudini and Kevin O'Connor
Title: Tribute to Spinal Tap!
Time: 10/02/2015 07:00 PM EDT
Episode Notes: Lou and Kevin pay tribute to the greatest "rockumentary" of ALL TIME... "THis is Spinal Tap!" Birthday shout outs to Sting and Tiffany. Plus music by Steve Cal', The Delaneys, Silk9, The Turbosonics, and ALBUM!
Hosted by: LouLombardi aka Loudini and Kevin O'Connor
Title: Tribute to Spinal Tap!
Time: 10/02/2015 07:00 PM EDT
Episode Notes: Lou and Kevin pay tribute to the greatest "rockumentary" of ALL TIME... "THis is Spinal Tap!" Birthday shout outs to Sting and Tiffany. Plus music by Steve Cal', The Delaneys, Silk9, The Turbosonics, and ALBUM!
When I began building this site, I thought it would take a few hours of probing, hunting, gathering, and collating. As with so many expectations about the heavy metal band known the world warmed over as Spinal Tap, I was wrong. It took hours upon hours, days upon days, cold beers upon cold beers. In the end, I found myself with little more understanding of the phenomenon known as Tapmania or the Tapheads who are caught up in it — only a sickening sense that I had wasted several months of my quickly shortening life on a band whose only distinction is that they play loud and their lyrics sometimes rhyme. More significantly, perhaps, is that with each passing year, more of Tap's fans are learning to read. Thus this site.
What I hoped to do was document every ounce of creative energy and tension that Tap has inspired in its fans and other bands (none of whom you've heard of or, perhaps, even exist). My friends, after viewing the 40,000-word draft of the A to Zed guide and literally wiping the glaze from their eyes, accused me of being anal-retentive about Tap. No, I replied, I am anal-inventive.
Nigel TufnelI'm not alone in my appreciation for the English rockers that dedicated fans know simply as "them guys." Marty DiBergi's well-received documentary about the band's 1982 U.S. tour inspired widespread interest in Tap, whose fortunes were sagging. As the New York Times noted during the band's 1992 Break Like the Wind tour, "the impact of This is Spinal Tap cannot be underestimated. Fans can recite scenes verbatim. Phrases such as 'It's such a fine line between clever and stupid' [sic] have become part of the rock vocabulary. Songs from the movie are considered classics." Rolling Stone, on the other hand, once described Tap's music as "simple and brainless." So opinions vary.
On Tap's now-defunct 900 phone line, David noted that "it's important to know everything you can about the band," and with this A to Zed guide, Tapheads of all persuasions (including the easily persuaded) can learn everything they ever wanted to know about Tap — and more. Much more. Much much more. Much much much much more. So much more that if you try to swallow it all, you'll need an antacid, one of those little cherry ones are nice, or the plain if you don't like fruit flavors.
David St. HubbinsThe Tap basics are all here to be digested, from aluminum foil to miniature bread to Yes I Can. Every morsel that could be squeezed was squeezed, including outtakes and commentary on the 1994 Criterion release of DiBergi's rockumentary (if you will), dozens of forgotten magazine and newspaper articles, and the official band biography, Inside Spinal Tap. Its author, Peter Occhiogrosso, has reviewed the A to Zed collection and even called a priest in an attempt to have it blessed. Because of Tap's well-known contract with Satan to sell their souls, their mother's souls and their sister's puppies' souls for fleeting fame, this proved impossible. The guide remains damned.
One of chief criticisms of DiBergi's film was that he chose not to portray the illicit drug use or wild sex that is commonly associated with heavy metal bands, although more of this activity is apparent in outtakes. With the exception of keyboardist Viv Savage and drummer Mick Shrimpton, the entourage is never shown ingesting anything more harmful than alcohol and marijuana. And only one groupie was captured on film with her clothes off as she spent a great deal of time looking for a lost contact lens in the nude, apparently so she would be able to see where she left her knickers.
DiBergi would later explain that he left the drugs and sex on the cutting room floor because by the time he caught up with Tap in 1982, there wasn't much of it to film. David, Nigel and Derek had been together for 15 years and had grown out of the experimenting phase that overtakes many younger bands. They also may not have been able to afford many drugs or impress many groupies, seeing that half of their tour was canceled and they tried to market a black album.
Derek SmallsBut we're not here to pick nits. David, Nigel and Derek, whatever their faults, are good people. They have risen above the everyday head-banging bullshit to capture our hearts and wallets with overpriced, shoddy goods. It's as if they were our big toe, which we stubbed on a brick, then when we bent over in pain, we saw a dime and banged our head on a low shelf trying to pick it up. That, really, somehow, sums up Tap: A painful journey toward a tiny reward that's out of reach. The Village Voice once noted that "David, Nigel and Derek aren't stupid, exactly, but they're certainly clods, average guys who parlay minimal musical talent, dogged ambition and the luck of the zeitgeist into 17-years-and-counting of lowbrow fame and fortune."
Despite the band's disdain for DiBergi's documentary, Entertainment Weekly credits it with making Spinal Tap "a household name" (although only in homes that aren't occupied). During my research, the lone poor review of This is Spinal Tap I could find appeared in Creem, a magazine read chiefly by teenage boys who are still mastering the air guitar. John Mendelssohn wrote that the film was "a self-indulgent bore" and "a maddening exercise in squandered opportunities." In addition, he felt it had "long, long stretches without anything even remotely amusing being said or done," that "you get tired of Nigel, the most brainlessly insipid lead guitarist in the history of British rock" and that "the music is atrocious. You'll spend lots of your time watching This is Spinal Tap yawning or wishing you'd brought earplugs."
They can't print that, can they?
What I hoped to do was document every ounce of creative energy and tension that Tap has inspired in its fans and other bands (none of whom you've heard of or, perhaps, even exist). My friends, after viewing the 40,000-word draft of the A to Zed guide and literally wiping the glaze from their eyes, accused me of being anal-retentive about Tap. No, I replied, I am anal-inventive.
Nigel TufnelI'm not alone in my appreciation for the English rockers that dedicated fans know simply as "them guys." Marty DiBergi's well-received documentary about the band's 1982 U.S. tour inspired widespread interest in Tap, whose fortunes were sagging. As the New York Times noted during the band's 1992 Break Like the Wind tour, "the impact of This is Spinal Tap cannot be underestimated. Fans can recite scenes verbatim. Phrases such as 'It's such a fine line between clever and stupid' [sic] have become part of the rock vocabulary. Songs from the movie are considered classics." Rolling Stone, on the other hand, once described Tap's music as "simple and brainless." So opinions vary.
On Tap's now-defunct 900 phone line, David noted that "it's important to know everything you can about the band," and with this A to Zed guide, Tapheads of all persuasions (including the easily persuaded) can learn everything they ever wanted to know about Tap — and more. Much more. Much much more. Much much much much more. So much more that if you try to swallow it all, you'll need an antacid, one of those little cherry ones are nice, or the plain if you don't like fruit flavors.
David St. HubbinsThe Tap basics are all here to be digested, from aluminum foil to miniature bread to Yes I Can. Every morsel that could be squeezed was squeezed, including outtakes and commentary on the 1994 Criterion release of DiBergi's rockumentary (if you will), dozens of forgotten magazine and newspaper articles, and the official band biography, Inside Spinal Tap. Its author, Peter Occhiogrosso, has reviewed the A to Zed collection and even called a priest in an attempt to have it blessed. Because of Tap's well-known contract with Satan to sell their souls, their mother's souls and their sister's puppies' souls for fleeting fame, this proved impossible. The guide remains damned.
One of chief criticisms of DiBergi's film was that he chose not to portray the illicit drug use or wild sex that is commonly associated with heavy metal bands, although more of this activity is apparent in outtakes. With the exception of keyboardist Viv Savage and drummer Mick Shrimpton, the entourage is never shown ingesting anything more harmful than alcohol and marijuana. And only one groupie was captured on film with her clothes off as she spent a great deal of time looking for a lost contact lens in the nude, apparently so she would be able to see where she left her knickers.
DiBergi would later explain that he left the drugs and sex on the cutting room floor because by the time he caught up with Tap in 1982, there wasn't much of it to film. David, Nigel and Derek had been together for 15 years and had grown out of the experimenting phase that overtakes many younger bands. They also may not have been able to afford many drugs or impress many groupies, seeing that half of their tour was canceled and they tried to market a black album.
Derek SmallsBut we're not here to pick nits. David, Nigel and Derek, whatever their faults, are good people. They have risen above the everyday head-banging bullshit to capture our hearts and wallets with overpriced, shoddy goods. It's as if they were our big toe, which we stubbed on a brick, then when we bent over in pain, we saw a dime and banged our head on a low shelf trying to pick it up. That, really, somehow, sums up Tap: A painful journey toward a tiny reward that's out of reach. The Village Voice once noted that "David, Nigel and Derek aren't stupid, exactly, but they're certainly clods, average guys who parlay minimal musical talent, dogged ambition and the luck of the zeitgeist into 17-years-and-counting of lowbrow fame and fortune."
Despite the band's disdain for DiBergi's documentary, Entertainment Weekly credits it with making Spinal Tap "a household name" (although only in homes that aren't occupied). During my research, the lone poor review of This is Spinal Tap I could find appeared in Creem, a magazine read chiefly by teenage boys who are still mastering the air guitar. John Mendelssohn wrote that the film was "a self-indulgent bore" and "a maddening exercise in squandered opportunities." In addition, he felt it had "long, long stretches without anything even remotely amusing being said or done," that "you get tired of Nigel, the most brainlessly insipid lead guitarist in the history of British rock" and that "the music is atrocious. You'll spend lots of your time watching This is Spinal Tap yawning or wishing you'd brought earplugs."
They can't print that, can they?
Steve Cal' is a blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Philadelphia, PA. He first picked up the guitar at age eight after hearing Santana's instrumental Samba Pa Ti and started performing professionally with a band at fourteen years old covering songs by groups such as Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Cream, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and The Doors. Cal' was first introduced to the blues after hearing B.B. King's The 'Thrill Is Gone.' He has also stated that the album 'Muddy Mississippi Waters Live' was another inspiring introduction to blues music.
In 2013 he released his debut album with his band, The Steve Cal' Band. The album primarily consists of original songs written by Cal'.
The Steve Cal' Band was a top winner of the 2013 Beta Hi-Fi Emerging Music Festival at World Café Live, which highlighted the finest emerging songwriters in the region.
Blues Rock Review has included one of the band's songs on their Volume 4 Sampler CD which features the best up and coming blues rock artist in the country.
In 2013 he released his debut album with his band, The Steve Cal' Band. The album primarily consists of original songs written by Cal'.
The Steve Cal' Band was a top winner of the 2013 Beta Hi-Fi Emerging Music Festival at World Café Live, which highlighted the finest emerging songwriters in the region.
Blues Rock Review has included one of the band's songs on their Volume 4 Sampler CD which features the best up and coming blues rock artist in the country.
The Delaneys are currently promoting their 4th studio album titled Bullfighter - released digitally on 10.23.14 and available 11.22.14 through cdbaby and amazon. The album was produced & recorded by Rick Witkowski (B.E. Taylor, Crack the Sky) @ Studio L, Weirton, WV and mixed & mastered by Joe West (Toby Keith, Jimmy Wayne, Keith Urban) @ Gasoline Inc., Franklin, TN.
The group has been performing and entertaining crowds in and around the Pittsburgh area for the past 17 years. Influenced by a variety of musical tastes - elements of Beatle-esque harmonies, Foo Fighters consistency, and “face-melting” guitar solos make up The Delaneys’ sound. This group always delivers with a high-octane stage performance simply described as: Rock. Roll.
Proud of their city’s sports tradition, you can often catch a Delaneys set during various Steelers, Pirates, or Penguins pre-game festivities at their respective stadiums. They have been honored to work with various hometown athletes on fundraisers in conjunction with local charities especially: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Operation Troop Appreciation.
The group has been performing and entertaining crowds in and around the Pittsburgh area for the past 17 years. Influenced by a variety of musical tastes - elements of Beatle-esque harmonies, Foo Fighters consistency, and “face-melting” guitar solos make up The Delaneys’ sound. This group always delivers with a high-octane stage performance simply described as: Rock. Roll.
Proud of their city’s sports tradition, you can often catch a Delaneys set during various Steelers, Pirates, or Penguins pre-game festivities at their respective stadiums. They have been honored to work with various hometown athletes on fundraisers in conjunction with local charities especially: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and Operation Troop Appreciation.
Silk9 is a Pittsburgh PA based hard rock band that was founded in April of 2013 by Anthony
Leone and Jamie Rohr.
The" vision" of Silk9 was to "embrace" the essence of the 90’s and add an original spin
on today’s hard rock genre.
In May of 2014 the band released its first EP entitled “Exit the Pain.” Songs from the EP have
been featured on 97.7 fm located in Butler PA, Adrenaline 101 internet radio, 105.9 fm the X, in
Pittsburgh PA., 102.5 WDVE in Pittsburgh PA, ThePAROCKSHOW.COM, The EAgle 107.5 and recently featured on Lou Lombardi's, Rock n' Roll Circus.
We strive to keep our standards high by working with some of the top local bands in the area and national acts such as Lynch Mob,
Adelitas Way, The Art of Dying, Hillbilly Herald, Drowning Pool, Crobot,Skid Row and on most recently Jake E Lee's Red Dragon's Cartel
Leone and Jamie Rohr.
The" vision" of Silk9 was to "embrace" the essence of the 90’s and add an original spin
on today’s hard rock genre.
In May of 2014 the band released its first EP entitled “Exit the Pain.” Songs from the EP have
been featured on 97.7 fm located in Butler PA, Adrenaline 101 internet radio, 105.9 fm the X, in
Pittsburgh PA., 102.5 WDVE in Pittsburgh PA, ThePAROCKSHOW.COM, The EAgle 107.5 and recently featured on Lou Lombardi's, Rock n' Roll Circus.
We strive to keep our standards high by working with some of the top local bands in the area and national acts such as Lynch Mob,
Adelitas Way, The Art of Dying, Hillbilly Herald, Drowning Pool, Crobot,Skid Row and on most recently Jake E Lee's Red Dragon's Cartel
The Turbosonics is a three piece instrumental surf-rock band based in Pittsburgh, PA. Turbosonics play original instrumentals, traditional surf music (Dick Dale, Link Wray, The Surfaris, The Ventures, etc.), and a few from bands like the Pixies, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet and The Propellerheads.
Check out a show, you will not be disappointed!
Check out a show, you will not be disappointed!
Thousands of years after the annals of prehistory closed, man has fashioned sound as terrible as exploding stars. Gods will tremble at the sonic slaughter unleashed by our races hands. Music is humanities calling card to the universe and its’ message is clear: “Beware the might of man.”
Since man awakened from his primordial slumber, he has sought to harness the essence of life through sound. The rumble of earth, scream of storm and call of the predator. Man offers his music to the heavens in awe, anguish and anger hoping his place in existence be remembered by all things.
Deep in the foothills of the ancient Appalachians lies the tiny crossroads of Rogers. There, the last vestiges of somber, proud hill–folk wax into legacy and wilderness swallows ancestral lands back into inhuman mystery. It is amongst this quiet and isolated realm that a thunder summoned from an age forgotten, heralds a new dawning for the music of man. That thunder is named ALBUM.
Since man awakened from his primordial slumber, he has sought to harness the essence of life through sound. The rumble of earth, scream of storm and call of the predator. Man offers his music to the heavens in awe, anguish and anger hoping his place in existence be remembered by all things.
Deep in the foothills of the ancient Appalachians lies the tiny crossroads of Rogers. There, the last vestiges of somber, proud hill–folk wax into legacy and wilderness swallows ancestral lands back into inhuman mystery. It is amongst this quiet and isolated realm that a thunder summoned from an age forgotten, heralds a new dawning for the music of man. That thunder is named ALBUM.