Rising out of the ashes of the failed Maverick Record Company and the embers of a disintegrated band, Hugo Ferreira is back like the mightly Phoenix. His band Tantric has recently released their new album, "The End Begins", and embarked a new tour. BnR had the opportunity to talk with Hugo about life, the album, the tour, and the A-Team. Enjoy!

BnR: Great to talk to you, how's it goin'?

Hugo: I am fantastic and in Sunny California enjoying my day off.

BnR: How is the tour going for you?

Hugo: Aw it's going fantastic. Yesterday we filmed a video for "Down & Out" We have been having a good time. The bus has been breaking down everyday, other than that it has been going pretty good. We are just getting our touring legs back on. We're having a really good time and I am just happy to be out here again.

BnR: You dealt with a lot of shit with your old record label. It must feel great to be back out on the road.

Hugo: It's the most awesome feeling to rise from where I was two years ago and to have worked really hard to get back up here again and to see things come to fruition and see how it feels. There definitely is a god up there!

BnR: How is the chemistry with the new band?

Hugo: I am definitely gelling better with this band than I did with the last band. Kevin Miller (formerly of Fuel), my new drummer is coming from a similar situation. It feels like being in your first band. Everybody is really fresh. We have that hunger you have when you start your first band. It is a fantastic feeling there is great camaraderie. It's a feeling I haven't experienced in a long time. We really have the fire in us.

BnR: With the new band do you have similar influences, say Black Sabbath or something like that that you can gather around.

Hugo: Yea, we all like the same type of music. We also introduced each other to new types of music. We learn a lot from each other especially Kevin, who is the older member. He has introduced us to many various types of music. I am like the baby of the band. They are like my big brothers and they take care of me.

BnR: What band have you been recently turned on to?

Hugo: Well you know the band that I am touring with, Fosterchild, who is on our label. There is another band on our label called Vayden. I think they're amazing and that is pretty much what I am listening to. The Vayden record hasn't been released yet.

BnR: Are they both touring with you?

Hugo: Actually, Vayden will be touring with me. But we are touring with Fosterchild right now.

BnR: So it's only a two band bill?

Hugo: There is another band called Framing Hanley. They are also touring with us.

BnR: Speaking of touring, is there a city you can't wait to get to because they have the hottest groupies with little to no STD's?

Hugo: Oh no, actually I have a girlfriend. But I am just happy that fans just show up. But yea, I could get in real big trouble if I am even there.

BnR: Do you have iPod?

Hugo: Nah, actually I don't, but I have a laptop that I use as medieval weapon and musical storage device.

BnR: Ok, so what is the most shameful artist on your laptop? Is it Don Johnson? You know, you being a lead singer and all.

Hugo: It is mostly new age stuff. Lots of instrumentals while winding down and relaxing, artists like ENYA. That is about as gay as it gets. Other than that its Rock n Roll.

BnR: That is pretty gay! How would you characterize the new sound of the band?

Hugo: It's great, it's definitely a change from the past.

BnR: In a positive way?

Hugo: Yea definitely in a positive way!

BnR: According to Nikki Sixx's blog on Motley Crue, in 2002 you and him colloborated on a song called "Going Under". It was a hit with the A&R team at your old label. Was this song released? How was it colloborating with Nikki?

Hugo: Yea it was an honor to write with a legend. It hasn't been released but it will be. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. It was great because I got to hang out with Nikki at his house and see Donna DiDerrico toss a mean salad.

BnR: Yea he is like a superhero to us. One final question if you were a member of the A-Team who would you be?

Hugo: I would be Face. I can picture myself smokin' a cigar bein' the smooth talker. I enjoy interacting with the people.

BnR: Well thank you Hugo for taking time out of your busy touring schedule to talk a little bit with us. We look forward to seeing you in Lancaster, PA and we are excited to see what Tantric has in store for the future.

Hugo: Thanks guys and I wanted to thank you for taking the time to speak with me and for still caring about Tantric.

Check Tantric's MySpace (www.myspace.com/tantric) for all up to the minute tour dates.

The album "The End Begins" is available NOW!

Randy Blossom…who is this international man of mystery? It sure beats the hell out of the Blogs N Roses staff. What little we know about this enigma comes from Blossom's Myspace page. This one man rock and roll machine from San Fransisco is rarely seen outside of stage getup. Throw Randy in a family portrait and I'd bet a c-note that he'd be brandishing a guitar and positioned in a rocker pose. And I thought I was the only one.

When he's not striking more poses than KISS at mirror store, Blossom churns out an endless stream of DIY rock n' roll on his second album Bring It On. This sophomore effort is blessed with no less than fourteen tracks and seven kick-ass shots of the signature Randy Blossom guitar pose. Lead guitar- Randy Blossom, rhythm guitar – Randy Blossom, bass guitar – Randy Blossom, acoustic guitar – Randy Blossom, vocals – Randy Blossom, drums…four guys who aren't Randy Blossom. Hey, Eastwood said it best, "a man's got to know his limitations."

Blossom throws in enough variety to keep this fourteen track album moving. Staying true to his preening guitar-hero image, the album starts with its most barnstorming track, "I Love Your Jam." The opening salvo is rounded out by the title track and "Dancin' on the Outskirts," a song about a party, accidental drug ingestion and loose females. Then Blossom showcases his artistic range and guitar chops in the vast middle section with highlights being the supercharged flamenco workout "Loca Bonita" (think Robbie Krieger at a bull fight,) "The Blue" and the sitar-tinged "Time to Rock." Who could get away with sitar on a rock song? Brian Jones and this guy. Blossom then dismounts with the instrumental "Lost Sunrise."

Is it too much music or not enough? Hell, I can't figure it out, but the fourteen tracks don't sound as laborious as they look. And speaking of labor, Randy certainly put plenty in himself taking credits for most of the musical performances, the writing, recording, production and artwork. Bravo Randy.

BNR pics: "I Love Your Jam," "Dancin' On The Outskirts," "Loca Bonita," "The Blue" and "Gypsy Queen"

• Apathetic performances. If you just stand there with little to no crowd interaction, it does not mean you are shy. It means you are an uncharismatic dolt. Not everyone can be as fantastic as Metal Skool live, but at least try for me.
• Music lacks resonance. If your music does not inspire a pit, dancing, or singing, but rather bathroom breaks and food vendors being swamped...you have a mondo boring show.

Maybe it was just that one evening with Rob that gave them the problem. Let's wait to see if their Iron Maiden show is a bit better. Well to my surprise, NOT, they mailed in their performance. No energy, no musical chops, no nothing. Part one of my formula has been confirmed. Bullet for My Valentine, might actually be a corporate band. But to prove my theory without a shadow of a doubt, I had to research via Wikipedia.

Bullet for My Valentine used to be called Jeff Killed John in Britain in 1999. Armed with this knowledge I went to YouTube and found what I was looking for.


This was filmed in 1999 when this type of music was becoming more and more popular. They sound like every band of the day, Limp Bizkit, Hoobastank, LostProphets, etc. You will notice the lead singer looks like a British rip-off of Mark McGrath, who was currently riding a wave of success from Sugar Ray. Completely generic and corporate both musically and aesthetically. 

Now that the kind of music played in the clip is no longer popular their sound mysterious changed overnight! Here is what they sound like now:


Hmm this sounds like a severely watered down Lamb Of God. No, I can't do that to one of my favorite metal acts. They just sound like crap. They sound NOTHING like Lamb Of God.

It seems that Bono from U2 will take time out of his busy schedule of saving the world while wearing sunglasses to write music for an upcoming Spiderman musical, according to ContactMusic.com.  This will reportedly be done with the assistance of long time partner, The Edge.  In previous years, U2 has had great success in the film industry, including a mega hit for the Batman Forever soundtrack.  This does not necessarily mean that they will transcend the stage, but if anyone can, it would be U2.