"You are transparent. I see plans within plans."
- from the movie 'DUNE', (1984)

NOVEMBER 7, 2007

Due to various administrative issues and the creation of upcoming ROCKWIRED-related projects, ROCKWIRED (radio show and website) has been out of the loop for a couple fo weeks. Now we are focusing on showcasing a select few new releases (some of them christmas related), and looking back at some of the artists that made the year 2007 ROCK!!!

There is no better time than the Holiday Season to reflecton all that ROCKWIRED has to be thankful for. In a time where the common gripe about music is that there is nothing worth listening to, ROCKWIRED is here to say "think again."

Personally, I proud to say that of my extensive CD collection, the ROCKWIRED music is what I always find myself listening to and humming if I'm ever away from my computer (which is almost never). My only problem with doing a weekly showcase is that it is not always easy to go back and re-showcase someone. Now, this upcoming Holiday Season will give and you as the listener and reader the chance to get re-aquainted with some of ROCKWIRED's finest.

~ ~ ~

ROCKWIRED WELCOMES BACK MATTHEW JORDAN

Earlier this year, KTSTFM.COM had soem technical diffulties that had lasted about two weeks (an extremely rare occurance). As a result, ROCKWIRED LIVE's showcase of signer-songwriter, MATTHEW JORDAN was pre-empted adn aired at an unusual hour. On Saturday November 10, 2007, ROCKWIRED LIVE will be re-airing the showcase of MATTHEW JORDAN's electrifying LP 'HORIZON'.

READ THE ROCKWIRED ON-LINE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MATTHEW JORDAN HERE
LISTEN TO ROCKWIRED LIVE ON WWW.KTSTFM.COM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2007 @ 5:00PM (PST)

~ ~ ~

BRIAN LUSH INVITED AS A PRESENTER AT SOUTHBAY MUSIC AWARDS

Also on Saturday November 10, 2007, I will be a guest presenter at the FOURTH ANNUAL SOUTHBAY MUSIC AWARDS. I have no idea what I'llbe presenting but everyone can be assured that it won't be problems. Sheesh!!! I've never been invited to an awards show before. Does anybody have any idea what I should wear. E-mail me at djlush@rockwired.com for suggestions.

Next week, visit us at ROCKWIRED.COM and get a look at exclusive photos of the event. Quite a few artists nominated for the SOUTHBAY are artists that have been showcased on ROCKWIRED such as NEVERWONDER, ANDY WALO, JAY GORDON AND THE PENETRATORS, and 2007 ROCKWIRED AWARD WINNER PEACH.

If you live in the Southern California and would like to attend, here is the info:

4th ANNUAL SOUTHBAY MUSIC AWARDS
REDONDO BEACH PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10th, 2007
DOORS OPEN AT 7:00PM
TICKETS $25.00
FOR MORE INFORMATION
WWW.SOUTHBAYMUSICAWARDS.COM
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/SOUTHBAYMUSIC AWARDS
OR CALL
(310) 542-5479

~ ~ ~

THE FEISTY PIRANHAS

Performing November 10, 2007 at the SOUTHBAY MUSIC AWARDS is a band called THE FEISTY PIRANHAS, who have just released their latest CD THE END. I recently sat down for an interview with drummer PETER LUST. That ROCKWIRED ON-LINE EXCLUSIVE interview will be coming to ROCKWIRED.COM, Tuesday November 13, 2007.

LISTEN TO ROCKWIRED LIVE ON WWW.KTSTFM.COM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2007 @ 5:00PM (PST)

~ ~ ~

2008 ROCKWIRED AWARDS

In early 2007, I was thinking about dismantling the ROCKWIRED MESSAGE BOARD. On the day I was going to do hit 'CANCEL', I though about posting some questions on the MESSAGE BOARD. The questions were regarding the selection of what people thought were the best artist (male or female), band, album, and song. Almost immediately, people started to respond. Instantaneously, I designed a whole webpage around these five multiple choice questions and the ROCKWIRED AWARDS was born. (By the way, the winner actually takes home an actual plaque. See the picture above)

At the moment, we are gearing up for the 2008 ROCKWIRED AWARDS and are tallying the number of hits that each rockwired interview has received. This is how the nominees are determined. The nominees will be announced JANUARY 8, 2008. We are also working on the web pages for the 2008 ROCKWIRED AWARDS which will include new interviews with the nominees, as well as exclusive updates from the winners from 2007. Stay tuned for more.

SEE THE NOMINEES FROM THE 2007 ROCKWIRED AWARDS HERE

~ ~ ~

2007 HIGHLIGHTS
The year 2007 will go down in my book as the year were everything having to do with ROCKWIRED fell into place. In 2007, ROCKWIRED actually ROCKED!!!

KING KARMA

If there was ever an explosion to let me know that 2007 had arrived, it was because of a band from north of the border called KING KARMA. Despite the name of the show, I always kind of felt that we underrepresented true rock n roll. KING KARMA are the embodiment of everything that makes rock n roll ROCK!!!

READ THE ROCKWIRED ON-LINE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KING KARMA HERE

THE APPEARANCE
While KING KARMA had that rich, vintage hard-rock sound, THE APPEARANCE had that edgy, sophisticated power-pop sound, mixed a little alienation and a little angst. Their debut CD, 'LOST IN AURORA' is one gritty-ass rock gem. If this is only the beginning, just try to imagine what's coming next.

READ THE ROCKWIRED ON-LINE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE APPEARANCE HERE

DEAD ROCK WEST
It was CINDY WASSERMAN'S resemblance to PRINCESS LEIA that attracted me to DEAD ROCK WEST, but after listening to their debut CD 'HONEY AND SALT' (POPULUXE RECORDS) you get a sense that FRANK LEE DRENNAN and Ms. WASSERMAN are  the best  psuedo-country vocal team this side of EMMYLOU HARRIS and GRAM PARSONS (but with power chords).

READ THE ROCKWIRED ON-LINE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH DEAD ROCK WEST HERE

VANESSA VAN SPALL
I got an e-mail from VANESSA VAN SPALL asking me to consider her music for ROCKWIRED. She didn't need to worry. Her CD COTTON-POLY BLEND gets you at the first listen. There aren't too many artists that do that these days. At the time that I'm writing this, there is a lot of talk about ANNIE LENNOX's latest CD 'SONGS OF MASS DESTRUCTION'. While I am a huge fan of Ms. LENNOX, let me tell you that I'm spinning COTTON-POLY BLEND a lot more than I am 'SONGS OF MASS DESTRUCTION'. LENNOX's first single 'DARK ROAD' has nothing on 'PALM OF YOUR HAND'.

READ THE ROCKWIRED ON-LINE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH VANESSA VAN SPALL HERE

OLAV LARSEN
I waited forever for this guys CD. It had alot to do with peculiarity of it all; a black guy from Norway doing Americana-Country styled music in the vein of GRAM PARSONS. I can't even remember what the hold up was but as soon as I got the CD, I could stop playing it. OLAV LARSEN AND THE ALABAMA RODEO ALL-STARS were a pleasant surprise in 2007.

READ THE ROCKWIRED ON-LINE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH OLAV LARSEN HERE

ANDY WALO
This was an interview that I truly enjoyed doing. Before speaking with ANDY WALO, I had a series of questions prepared which is something that I normally don't do. ROCKWIRED interviews are usually conducted at the top of my head in an effort to make them more conversational. Why did I put all of this effort into speaking with ANDY? It must have had something to to do with the fact that he is Swedish. I LOVE Swedish people and the music that comes out of SWEDEN (yes, ROXETTE and ABBA included!). However, it's not power pop that's on display here. It's all about the blues.

READ THE ROCKWIRED ON-LINE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ANDY WALO HERE