Tuff Dusts Off Some Gems With The Release of "The Glam Years: 1985-1989"

I gotta admit, I was a little skeptical about reviewing the new release from Tuff,  The Glam Years: 1985 - 1989.

This album is a collection of two groups of tracks.  The first group is comprised of songs recorded with original singer Jim Gillette who went on to front Nitro, release a series of metal vocal training cassettes, and marry Lita Ford. The second group is comprised of songs recorded with best-known vocalist, Stevie Rachelle, before the band's seminal album, What Comes Around Goes Around.

So how good can this album actually be?  I mean, if glam songs and recordings weren't good enough to see the light of day in the '80's, they really wouldn't be worth listening to today, right?

SYKA Sends A Shock Into The Female-Fronted Modern Rock World With "Stay Wild"

Here at Helping Hands Rock Reviews, we have been watching New York-based SYKA for a couple of years now.  From the beginning, we recognized their enormous potential.  But there always seemed to be a gap between where they were at the time and that potential.

That gap, however, has closed with the release of their latest EP, Stay Wild.

If Lzzy Hale is the mother and Maria Brink is the daughter, SYKA vocalist Jesyka Loren is making a vigorous run at becoming the Holy Spirit of female-fronted modern rock.  Loren's voice is a top-notch blend of legit vocal prowess and Pop-Rocks-in-the-throat grit.

Concert Photos: Skratch Performing at Altar Bar in Pittsburgh on July 3, 2015

Skratch

Concert Photos: Fatality Risen Performing At Altar Bar in Pittsburgh, PA on July 3, 2015

John Wright, Jeff Loy & Eric Stickney

Concert Photo: Sebastian Bach Performing at Altar Bar in Pittsburgh, PA on July 3, 2015

Are you confused by the title of this post?  Perhaps I made a typo and left off the “s” on the word photo?   Unfortunately, that is no typo.  I expected to be spending my day editing photos from the Sebastian Bach show here in Pittsburgh to share with you but unfortunately things did not go as planned.

When I found out that Sebastian Bach (ex-Skid Row singer) was coming to town I was excited to pursue photo credentials for the show so that I could provide you with images of a singer that I always looked at as an icon.  

About a week before the show, I was delighted to receive a message from his management at his record label approving me for one ticket and one photo pass.  The only photo policy that I received in that message was “First three songs, No flash!”  That is a very typical protocol for shooting bands these days so I was happy to know that I was on my way to getting some great shots to share with you here.