Author: Matt Quina
I grew up with five older siblings. My oldest brother was into The Rolling Stones, Three Dog Night and Creedence Clearwater Revival. This was the soundtrack of my younger days. When I was 14 Van Halen's debut had just come out. I had never heard anything like it. Later that summer, I was helping my neighbor with some yardwork and the neighbor on the other side was blasting KLOS on their car radio while cleaning the car. Kashmir by Led-Zeppelin came on and that was really unlike anything I had ever heard. I was hooked on rock n' roll from that point forward. Here we are in 2020 and I have been working for Screamer Magazine for just over four years and I have not lost my love for rock music and count myself fortunate to be working in this field and have had the almost inconceivable opportunity to cover and speak with artists, who if you had told me five years ago, I would have been photographing or speaking with, I would have told you you were nuts! I have a motto I repeatedly utter: "I can't believe they let me do this!"
ROBERT PLANT & the Sensational Space Shifters Carry Fire Into the L.A. Rain
Robert Plant is no stranger to the term “reinventing oneself.” After the demise of Led Zeppelin, he wrought a new version of his creative self, with two different solo bands compiling three albums each. After that came a brief detour from solo work for musical exploration with pal Jimmy Page on an album and tour. The early… Read more »
KILLTHRAX II Infects House of Blues – ANTHRAX, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, HAVOK
It’s February 14th, Valentine’s Day, and love is in the air. Nothing says “Be Mine” better than a Saint Valentine’s Day (Metal) Massacre from Anthrax and Killswitch Engage. The two aforementioned bands brought their Killthrax II tour to the Anaheim House of Blues with special guest Havok for an evening of in your face, no… Read more »
METAL ALLEGIANCE Rocks NAMM – House of Blues
It’s late January. The music industry descends on Orange County, California. It’s the four day event that turns the capital of family entertainment into NAMM-aheim. Manufacturers of things musical, from guitar picks to amp cabinets are filling the Anaheim Convention Center to show off their latest technologies and shiniest new objects. Musicians also stream in from… Read more »
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Swings in the New Year in Thousand Oaks
Long before David Lee Roth’s Banshee scream, before Elvis and his pelvis and before Sinatra and his Jack, swing musicians were the decadent kings of cool. With the waning hours of 2017 winnowing away, the auditorium of the Fred Kavli theater swells with a mature crowd, eager to ring in the new year with a… Read more »
Been Caught Giving – JANE’S ADDICTION Headlines Rhonda’s Kiss Benefit
Jane’s Addiction, Los Angeles’ own groundbreaking alternative rockers, headlined the annual Rhonda’s Kiss Benefit Concert at the Hollywood Palladium on Friday, December 8th. Rhonda’s Kiss is a non-profit organization, named for it’s inspiration, Rhonda Stefanski, who lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in 2014. The program provides support for programs to cancer patients and their… Read more »
MORSEFEST 2017 – Cross Plains, Tennessee
Dateline, September First and Second, 2017, Cross Plains, Tennessee: In a church just off Interstate 65, about 30 miles north of downtown Nashville, the now annual convening of progressive rock fans that come from literally all over the world gather for Morsefest 2017. This once-a-year event offers fans of Neal Morse and his band… Read more »
UFO – The Salentino Cuts
Legendary British rockers UFO released their take on 12 classic tunes originally performed by other artists. The band currently consists of original members Phil Mogg, lead vocals; Andy Parker, drums; longtime keyboardist/rhythm guitarist, Paul Raymond; lead guitarist Vinnie Moore; and relative newcomer, Rob De Luca, bass guitar. The Salentino Cuts rose out of a suggestion from Cleopatra… Read more »
THE DEAD DAISIES Live! – At the El Rey – w/Special Guests The Dives
On Los Angeles’ famed Miracle Mile, lies the historic El Rey theater. The El Rey played host to Australian founded band, The Dead Daisies on Friday night, August 25th. The Dead Daisies are one of those outfits that is constantly in flux, with members changing on a pretty regular basis. The current lineup has been touring… Read more »
THE WINERY DOGS – Dog Years: Live In Santiago & Beyond 2013-2016
The dog days of summer are heating up, and the members of The Winery Dogs are all off touring the world with other projects. Never fear, dog lovers! Like a freshly filled kiddie pool on a sweltering summer day, relief is on the horizon. The Winery Dogs have announced a new DVD concert film, set… Read more »
R.E.O. SPEEDWAGON & STYX Unite to Rock The Greek!
Styx and R.E.O. Speedwagon are no strangers to sharing the same highways and stages together. On Saturday, June 24th, they made what was the fourth stop on their 2017, United We Rock tour at the Greek Theater. Joining forces once again, along with special guest, former long time Eagles guitarist, Don Felder, they filled the cool evening… Read more »
MR. BIG LIVE! – The Canyon Club
Mr. Big, the hard-driving, 90’s quartet with a pop edge rolled into Agoura Hills for a show at the Canyon Club on Friday, June 23rd. Touring out ahead of their forthcoming album, Defying Gravity, the Canyon Club show is the penultimate date of the U.S. leg of their tour. Following a June 24th show at the… Read more »
WARRANT – Live! Canyon Club, Agoura Hills, CA
On Saturday, May 20th, Warrant made a stop at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills. Barely a week after the release of their latest album, Louder Harder Faster, this show closed out their May tour dates. Touring resumes in early June and they will be on the road through the end of summer, with a few… Read more »