When the Winds of Change Can Be a Rockin Good Thing!
http://www.chicagosrock.com/chicagosrock_launch_issue_004.htm
Report and Photos by Cathy "Nightcatt" Palmer. Artwork by Dave Andre.
TROUBLE, a Chicago based band, has been rockin’ the United Sates
and parts of the world since 1979. Like many bands that have survived
decades of music, TROUBLE has not been exempt from change. Changes in
personal lives, artistic impression, approach to and attitudes towards
their music and conducting band business can easily lead to the demise
of a great band. But TROUBLE stood strong and survived.
TROUBLE has a fan base that is truer to their love for music than some
people are to their own personal love relationships. Talk about
loyalty! This was quite apparent when former lead singer Eric Wagner
parted ways with the band. Of course, with a major change like that
there were the usual hisses and grumblings from some fans, but that was
expected.
So, when I had set out to see TROUBLE with their new line up, including
Kory Clarke as their front man, I was excited and expected to see a
great show. I was already familiar with Kory’s music from his
other band, WARRIOR SOUL. But I too, (the skeptic) wondered how he was
going to make the transformation to a more down tempo, Doom band. But,
since he’s a professional, I trusted that the founding members of
TROUBLE, Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin, who still hold court, knew
something that I didn’t, and I looked forward to hearing the old
TROUBLE music and the new.
For more
information about TROUBLE’S new CD release, tour dates,
CD’s and merchandise for sale, please visit the following
websites: www.myspace/troublechicago as well as WWW.NEWTROUBLE.COM
Look out Europe! There’s some new TROUBLE coming your way!
Artwork courtesy of Dave Andre, ANDRE DESIGN, Berwyn, (Chicago),
Illinois and Sweden. www.myspace.com/andredesignstudio
Kory brings a soulfully, strong, high energy level to the music! His
sexy and raspy voice brought a new dimension to TROUBLE’S show.
Most impressive, though, he never strayed from the roots of
TROUBLE’S heavy metal origin and writings.
Lead guitarists, Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin, known for their doomy
tones and power chords, performed at a greater intensity than
I’ve seen in a while. There too, releasing a higher energy level.
Now, Kory isn’t the only musician in the band pulling double
duty. Rick (Wartell) had also been playing with WET ANIMAL when TROUBLE
was not on tour. Choosing to incorporate his WET ANIMAL rhythm section
into TROUBLE’S was by far a great move. With Shane Pasqualla on
bass, and ‘Marko’ on drums, the new band line up for
TROUBLE tightly made the transition, bringing an eerily intense,
legendary doom band together with the total heaviness that everybody
expected. This new line up successfully bridges the older TROUBLE songs
with the new, without sounding like two different bands on the same
stage.
TROUBLE still carries a distinctive music style and lyrics to each
song. Their deep dark lyrics lead you through life’s journeys, as
power riffs draw you into the darkness or the light. This is a band of
ROCK SOLID PROFESSIONALS! Fans, older and new stood side-by-side
wanting more music then the night allowed them.
TROUBLE kicks off their European tour late September with CANDELMASS,
continuing on with PENTAGRAM, and will perform October 17th at the
HAMMER OF DOOM FEST, Wurzburg, Germany.
..