TheRighttoRock.com has issued their latest podcast interview (episode #25), featuring Bassist Nick Brophy. Nick took time out of his busy schedule to discuss Riverdogs new album California. Interview lasts approx. 30 min.
The boys recently caught up with Nick Brophy (Riverdogs) to discuss the Riverdogs latest release, California. Since reforming the original line up in 2003, the band had only released one studio album until now. Nick discusses how the new album came together - as well as the possibility of a few live shows - and much, much more.
And hey if you dig the Riverdogs' music as much as we do, show them some love by purchasing California from your favorite online store won't you? We here in Houston may have been knocked around recently, but we've still got our HORNS UP!
You just can’t help but love the ‘Dogs. One of my favourite ‘soulful’ rock bands that I’ve followed since their incredible debut. But don’t leave out the equally essential Bone and Absolutely Live!
While the guys delivered a taste of new material with the World Gone Mad album – constructed from left over songs of the past and unfinished tracks during previous attempts to reform, this is their first proper full length new material release with the original lineup since the debut back in 1990.
California was billed as the return to their hard rock roots, which I find wholly misrepresentative on two fronts. First – the band has never been a hard rock band. Bluesy/soulful rock/melodic rock is more accurate; but secondly – this album is nowhere near what you’d define a hard rock album to be.
That little peeve stated, we can concentrate on what California is – and that is a gem of an album that is drenched in soul, exquisite songs and a sublime production and mix that is among the best I’ve heard in a long time. Every note and every emotion is there to be heard. Well done Nick Brophy!
While it isn’t rocking by any stretch, it is a guitar driven record and Vivian Campbell shows his intricate skills on a collection of slow, moody, expressive songs. The soloing is wonderful, the riffs warm and perfect foil for the hypnotic soulful vocals of Mr. Rob Lamothe.
Rob is one of my favourite vocalists, his tone and his talent for emotional lyric delivery is a huge appeal to me and this is one of the best collection of his vocals I’ve heard yet.
The opening American Dream is one of only a few songs with pace, but there’s nothing but quality here. Golden Glow for example is just about as good as it gets. And each song, while remaining generally mellow, has its own personality.
The Heart Is A Mindless Bird is another lyrical and musical gem; The Revolution Starts Tonight is powerful and the punky Searching For A Signal gives a mid-album tempo shake-up.
Ten Thousand Reasons is another highlight while Catalina doesn’t have the best chorus, but the tempo is welcomed.
The star for me on this moody, mature, elegant and engaging record is the subtle, haunting vocal dominated I Don’t Know Anything. What a song.
To my surprise, the Japanese bonus track is not a lame edit/acoustic version of an album track, but rather another all-new song (When The Mic Drops) and one that carries quite a swagger.
It took a few listens and the right mood to best appreciate this album and its various intricacies, but once there, it’s no turning back. A great album from one of the best sounding bands of this ilk.
Everyone involved delivers electric performances and the songs definitely engage.
Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell discusses the new Riverdogs album California, Whitesnake, Dio & his firing from the band, the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, Shadow King with Lou Gramm, Sweet Savage, Last In Line, Def Leppard and more.
In our second interview, we sit down with the Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, Josh Klinghoffer, backstage at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Topics include: Chris Cornell, joining the band, Dot Hacker, John Frusciante, Beck and more.
Mitch Lafon
Music journalist and so much more...
Listen to Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon on PodcastOne.
While waiting for the new RIVERDOGS album to arrive, make sure your collections are complete and grab the band's last album WORLD GONE MAD.
The album has been out of print for some time now, but I have a limited quantity of CDs left here which can be purchased for $10 plus $5 shipping worldwide.
Track listing: 01) World Gone Mad 02) Big Steel Town 03) Best Day of My Life 04) Just A Little Higher 05) For You 06) This Empty Room 07) Glitter Town 08) No Matter What (Live)
Featuring Original Members Rob Lamothe, Nick Brophy, and Vivian Campbell
The Riverdogs ARE BACK! Original members, Rob Lamothe (vocals, guitars), Nick Brophy (bass, vocals) and Vivian Campbell (lead guitar), along with long time drummer Marc Danzeisen, have reunited to record their fifth album, “California". The album will be released on July 7, 2017 via Frontiers Music Srl. You can watch a behind-the-scenes video about the making of the album here:
Mixing the soulful vocals of Lamothe with the edgy guitarwork of Campbell and solid rhythmic lines from Brophy and Danzeisen, the album marks a definitive return to the sound of their critically acclaimed 1990 self-titled debut album.
On the making of the album, lead guitarist Vivian Campbell says, "[w]hen my friends at Frontiers suggested a Riverdogs album in the spirit of the original debut record, I jumped at the chance to make it. In my opinion, "Riverdogs" was a highlight of my career with some of my best guitar playing and definitely a record that flew under the radar. Having a clear direction of exactly what kind of record to make really helped the four of us create the music and there was an intense collective focus throughout the entire process that never wavered. I really think that we hit the target in creating a record that has all the hallmarks, the integrity and the emotional strength of the original debut. The fact that we've all remained such close friends throughout all the years only added to the joyous experience that was the making of this record."
“Going in to this project, my goal was to enjoy the opportunity of making music with some of my best friends, to share this incredible experience with my family...and to create something that Riverdogs fans will probably think is pretty bloody awesome. Big guitars! Beautiful melodies! Words about crazy, complicated, real stuff! I feel like Nick, Viv, Marc and I all brought our 'A-Games' to the writing and recording sessions. That's way more important than money and awards and fame to me,” adds vocalist and guitarist Rob Lamothe.
Bassist Nick Brophy sums up the writing process for the album: “In summer of 2016, I found myself in Los Angeles, reunited with 3 of my closest friends, about to begin a new Riverdogs album. Marc had arranged a rehearsal environment at a friend’s house which was to provide the creative atmosphere for writing new material. I stood there with bass in hand thinking “OK, now what?” Little did I know that a few days later we would have six new Riverdogs songs and the album ‘California’ was born. The remaining six songs came, surprisingly, just as easily, a testament to the amazing talents of Vivian, Rob, Marc and the effortless way in which we work as a group. Our clear goal for this album was to remain true to the original Riverdogs sound and provide fans with a new set of songs which carry on the legacy of a truly remarkable band.”
Riverdogs formed in Los Angeles at the end of the 80’s, when flashy, glitzy hard rock ruled the day, but they were determined to avoid clichés and adopted an original sounding blues rock style. Vivian Campbell of Sweet Savage, Dio and Whitesnake fame at the time (soon to join and become a long-standing member of Def Leppard and later, founding member of Last In Line as well) was initially brought on board to produce the band's first demo, but was so impressed with the band that he actually became a member and played on the debut album. Soon after the release, Marc Danzeisen joined Rob, Nick and Vivian to complete the line-up.
Though fans and critics gave the album a warm reception and high regard, the unfortunate and age old story of change of personnel at their record label came about and eventually led the band members to go their own ways, with Campbell settling into the Def Leppard lineup and Nick Brophy becoming a respected engineer and producer. Riverdogs, with a reformed line-up, released two more records in 1993, "Bone" and "Absolutely Live", before going on an extended hiatus. They reconvened, with the original line-up, in 2003 to record new material and play a few reunion shows. Those new songs were recorded as demos, but only completed in the studio in 2011 when their last album, “World Gone Mad” was released.
Now, six years after their last studio album, Riverdogs have crafted “California”, a record that truly recreates the magical sounds of their early days and that will surely be welcomed with open arms by fans both old and new!
Frontiers Music Srl is excited to announce the return of RIVERDOGS! Featuring original members Rob Lamothe (vocals, guitars), Nick Brophy (bass, vocals) and Vivian Campbell (of Def Leppard and Last In Line on lead guitars) together with drummer Marc Danzeisen, the band has already started writing songs which will end up on the anticipated fifth album! Check out this video message from the band taken at the recording studio! Frontiers plans to release the new record in early 2017.
The following two new Rock Candy titles are available now from www.rockcandyrecords.com for a discounted price including postage to anywhere in the world for the next two weeks ending on April 22.
HANOI ROCKS 'TWO STEPS FROM THE MOVE' CANDY233
BACK IN THE early eighties when Hanoi Rocks moved lock stock and barrel from Finland to London the streets were on fire with possibilities. Looking like an explosion in a paint factory and sounding like a devilish mash-up of the Rolling Stones jamming with the Sweet, it's fair to say that they made a unique impression. With an anything can happen and it probably will vibe, the band's ferocious on stage performances were legendary, establishing them as the front runners of a movement that looked like it would instantaneously blast them to success.
Signed to CBS records and teamed up with renowned producer Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Kiss) 'Two Steps From The Move' was cut in the frenetic environs of New York City, polished in Toronto and completed in London. It was hailed as a masterpiece, bringing together all the hopes and promises of a band perfectly poised to assume complete control of the scene. However, during their American tour, front man Mike Monroe broke his ankle, forcing the group to postpone dates. Then, while Mike was recuperating, on Dec 8th 1984 the band's British drummer, Razzle was tragically killed in a Los Angeles automobile accident with M'tley Cr'e frontman Vince Neil in the driving seat.
Loaded with an incredible selection of songs, 'Two Steps From The Move' found them focussing on as much mayhem as humanly possible with a penchant for cheeky lyrics and catchy melodies. Tracks such as 'Don't You Ever Leave Me', 'Boulevard Of Broken Dreams', 'Up Around The Bend' and 'Boiler (Me Boiler 'N' Me)' defined their unique brand of swashbuckling bravado perfectly.'
Special Deluxe Collector's 2CD Edition, 11 bonus tracks, fully remastered sound, 20 page full colour booklet, new interview with Mike Monroe, 3,400 word essay, rare photos and enhanced artwork.
TRACK LISTING: DISC ONE (ORIGINAL ALBUM): 1. UP AROUND THE BEND 2. HIGH SCHOOL 3. I CAN'T GET IT 4. UNDERWATER WORLD 5. DON'T YOU EVER LEAVE ME 6. MILLION MILES AWAY 7. BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS 8. BOILER (ME BOILER 'N' ME) 9. FUTURAMA 10. CUTTING CORNERS 11. TWO STEPS FROM THE MOVE.
DISC TWO (BONUS TRACKS): 1. DON'T YOU EVER LEAVE ME (12' VERSION) 2. BACK TO MYSTERY CITY (SINGLE B-SIDE) 3. UNTIL I GET YOU (SINGLE B-SIDE) 4. MENTAL BEAT (SINGLE B-SIDE) 5. OIL & GASOLINE (JAPAN SINGLE B-SIDE) 6. MAGIC CARPET RIDE (JAPAN SINGLE B-SIDE) 7. SHAKES (JAPAN SINGLE B-SIDE) BBC FRIDAY ROCK SHOW SESSION: 8. I CAN'T GET IT 9. UNDERWATER WORLD 10. DON'T YOU EVER LEAVE ME 11. BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS
RIVERDOGS 'S/T' CANDY263
DESPITE COMING and going in the blink of an eye, the Riverdogs have always been held in high esteem. Sure, lots of underachieving acts are bestowed with acclaim but if one group genuinely deserves reappraisal, the Riverdogs are about as deserving as you can possibly get. And the reason isn't just because the band featured the presence of former Dio and Whitesnake (and future Def Leppard ) guitarist Vivian Campbell. They were formed in Los Angeles at a time when hair-metal was king, but were determined to avoid clich's, adopting a bluesy, almost Americana, style where restraint was central and excess frowned upon.
Naturally Vivian Campbell played an influential part in fashioning the musical palate but both bassist Nick Brophy and vocalist Rob Lamothe also attracted immediate attention. The latter displaying one of the most soulful voices this side of Paul Rodgers. Warm, commanding and instantly identifiable, Lamothe's voice didn't rely on meaningless bombast to get noticed.
Produced by Michael Frondelli (Kiss, Rolling Stones) and polished by Jeff Glixman (Gary Moore, Georgia Satellites) their album was greeted with universal acclaim but any hopes of hitting the big time were immediately extinguished when their label president was fired and a new regime installed showing zero excitement amongst the new team. It was a devastating blow and one that they never recovered from. One of the most overlooked records of all time.
Special Deluxe Collector's 2CD Edition, 11 bonus tracks, fully remastered sound, 16 page full colour booklet, features Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell, new interviews, 3,400 word essay and enhanced artwork.
TRACK LISTING: DISC ONE 1. WHISPER 2. TOY SOLDIER 3. BIG HOUSE 4. HOLY WAR 5. BABY BLUE 6. I BELIEVE 7. WATER FROM THE MOON 8. RAIN, RAIN 9. SPOOKY 10. AMERICA
DISC TWO: LIVE RADIO STATION PERFORMANCES 1990 11. WHISPER 12. TOY SOLDIER 13. BIG HOUSE 14. HOLY WAR 15. BABY BLUE 16. I BELIEVE 17. WATER FROM THE MOON 18. RAIN, RAIN 19. SPOOKY 20. AMERICA 21. PENNSYLVANIA (NON ALBUM TRACK)
