Why are the US rail companies in such bad shape? My train was nearly 2 hours delayed yesterday. How does this happen? Because the old rail system has one track going one way, one the other, which both need to serve both freight and passenger trains. Come on, this is 2014! Can we have another track just for passenger railcars? Or even in case of emergency? Antiquated. European rail companies ROCK! Fast and efficient. OK, I’m done….The Rockstar Energy Mayhem kicked off on Saturday in San Bernardino, CA! Heard Korn’s set was classic and Jonathan and Fieldy brought their sons out for a song to bounce around the stage. JD said he’s bringing the fam out for this summer run, so I guess I’ll get to see Zeppy and Pirate later this month when they are at Jones Beach in Long Island. Meanwhile, kind of a bummer. The only bands who will be performing at that show will be the mainstage acts, because the venue isn’t set up for extra stages. Bummer. Wanted to see Body Count and Suicide Silence. 🙁 ….Meanwhile, we are getting closer to the launch of the new hardDriveRadio APP! Keep an eye on this space for news of when you can download it on your iPhone or Android….And Friday night, the hardDrive Live Tour kicks off at Capone’s in Johnson City, TN! Many thanks to Black Stone Cherry, We As Human, Kyng and Fifth Freedom for being a part this summer run. Check the tour site (www.harddrivelivetour.com) for all the dates, tickets and line-up for your local show. I’ll be at the show in Nashville at the Exit In on Saturday with our contest winner Heather from Huntsville, AL! Will post some shots on our Facebook for sure…. The 4th annual “Aaron Lewis and Friends” concert to benefit the It Takes A Community Foundation was held Friday, June 27th at the Pines Theater in Look Park in Florence, MA. This year’s version featured an acoustic performance by Staind and also featured acoustic performances by Shinedown’s frontman Brent Smith and guitarist Zach Myers and Lewis with children from the Russell H. Conwell School in Worthington, MA. See pictures from the event here. Another band that performed from Vermont was Dionysia. Check them out on their Dionysiamusic Facebook. Aaron is also hosting his 3rd annual golf tournament on Aug 9. See the It Takes A Community Facebookfor more. Meanwhile Aaron told Audio Ink Radio to name the one song that defines both the band as well as his solo career as a country artist. Lewis said, “For Staind, ‘It’s Been Awhile,’ and for my solo work, ‘Country Boy.’ It’s Been Awhile’ was the Number One most-played rock song of the decade, so that’s why it would sum up that project. ‘Country Boy’ has over 21 million views on YouTube. Those two songs I will have to play for the rest of my life.” Staind is playing just a handful of shows this year, with Lewis devoting much of 2014 to solo shows. The last Staind album, a self-titled effort, came out in 2011. The band does not yet have plans to enter the studio. Guitarist Mike Mushok told the Midland Daily News back in May about the band’s future, “It’s got to be something that Aaron wants to do. I always enjoy writing with (Aaron) and I look forward to it. We complement each other. He makes what I do better.” (Thanks Pulse Of Radio.)….Happy 56th to Kevin Bacon. Sadly, I have no 6th Degree of Separation instance to share.
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