Archive for March, 2025

Mari Hamada 35th Anniversary Budokan DVD

Posted: March 31, 2025 in Best of Trinkelbonker, Classic Rock, Cool stuff, DVDs & Blu-rays, Hobby, Japanese rock & metal
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I have had my eye on this one for a while, the Mari Hamada “35th Anniversary Live Gracia At Budokan” DVD. Recorded at the famous Budokan on April 19 2019 (last gig of her “Gracias” tour) and released in time for Christmas in Japan that year, it was a Top 10 hit over there. 26 songs over 144 minutes is one hell of a show, but I could have watched another hour, easy. Incredible players: Takashi Masuzaki (guitar), Isao (guitar), Boh (bass), Hideki Harasawa (drums), Takanobu Masuda (keyboards), Masafumi Nakao (keyboards, sound effects), and Eri Hamada (backing vocals) makes for an incredible experience. Add Billy Sheehan to the mix (on a couple of songs, just awesome) and the Zero To Thirty Five Orchestra and you have an awful lot of talent on that stage. Mari, it goes without saying, is a star for a reason. She can sing. I mean, she can really sing. She is up there with the best. She is so good at times that I react as if a sports fan has witnessed a home run. The visuals are great, everything is top notch. Had I known how incredible this DVD was I would have bought it years ago. It is actually a double DVD and you get a nice 52 page photo book in the package as well. Eri Hamada is her sister, and also a phenomenal singer. For a new fan, there is a lot to unpack here, loads of history. I may be late to the party but I am here now.

(My shot of said DVD)

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Fox Day Babymetal News – New Album, New Label, New Collaborations

Posted: March 31, 2025 in Babymetal, Best of Trinkelbonker, Classic Rock, Cool stuff, Japanese rock & metal
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Babymetal has signed a worldwide deal with major label Capitol Records and the new album “Metal Forth” will be released on June 13. Collaborations includes artists like Poppy (“From Me To U”, new song, video coming up), Slaughter To Prevail (“Song 3”, new song), Bloodywood (“Kon! Kon!”, new song), Polyphia (“Sunset Kiss”, new song), Spiritbox (“My Queen”, new song) as well as the big hits with Tom Morello (“Metali!!”) and Electric Callboy (“Ratatata”). Other songs are titled “KxAxWxAxIxI” (that would be “Kawaii”), “Algorism” and “White Flame”. The title “Metal Forth” can be interpreted as moving forward, but it is also a way to hint that they regard this album to be the fourth, since they always looked at “The Other One” as a concept album. Says Tom March, Chairman & CEO of Capitol Records: “Babymetal’s groundbreaking sound and compelling artistic vision have not only cultivated a worldwide following, but have also demonstrably shifted global music culture. We at Capitol Records are privileged to join them in this next chapter as we continue to amplify their international reach and influence with the upcoming release of “Metal Forth” (end quote). Says manager Key “Kobametal” Kobayashi in the same press release: “This year, Babymetal celebrates its 15th anniversary and embarks on an exciting new chapter. With Capitol Records as our global partner, the sound of Babymetal will resonate across the world as we take on bolder, more dynamic endeavors than ever before. Stay tuned for what is to come” (end quote).

(My live shot of Babymetal, new album cover inserted)

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Looking Good

Posted: March 31, 2025 in Jämtland (County), Stugun
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Took a stroll down by the waterfront and the snow is gone now. The sun is shining but the winds are cold. Still, a beautiful time of the year and the best is yet to come.

(My shot)

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Hobby Update

Posted: March 31, 2025 in Classic Rock, Cool stuff, Deep Purple Family, Hobby, Magazines
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Having fun adding stuff to he old Deep Purple collection. The remaining pile of magazines is getting smaller. This ad for the early 1990s compilation album “Purple Rainbows” had me going for it in the CD/LP collection, and guess what? Did not have it. Darn it.

(My shot of updated binder)

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Kate Gunn

Posted: March 31, 2025 in Books, Cool stuff, Hobby
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I love the old Kate Gunn books, published here (Sweden) in the Hemligt Uppdrag title in the early 1970s. This one (original title is “Touchfeather”) from 1973 has a great cover (the same model was used for these books and I think I had a bit of a crush on her back in the day, whomever she was). Author/screen-writer Jimmy Sangster wrote them. It was the golden age for this culture.

(My shot of said book, photographer not credited)

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Groovy (2)

Posted: March 31, 2025 in Best of Trinkelbonker, Cool stuff, Hobby, Music (general)
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I showcased the recent Nicki Minaj “Queen” album cover on the blog a couple of days ago and mentioned that it reminded me of the 1970s disco era. Case in point, here is a 1979 LP with artist Amii Stewart called “Knock On Wood” that has a similar cover that has aged rather well. These records have covers that are more than special, they really are pieces of art.

(My shot of said LP, cover is credited to Cooke-Key/Brian Aris)

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Walking In Starlight (7)

Posted: March 30, 2025 in 220 Volt, Best of Trinkelbonker, Classic Rock, Cool stuff, Jämtland (County), Live Concert Reviews
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Today I highlight the “Jemtland Rock” gig at Gamla Teatern in Östersund (Jämtland County, Sweden) that took place yesterday. Four bands from these parts participated and I think it was a wonderful idea to put this line-up together. I was not there but friends of mine was so I asked them to help out a bit. Many thanks to Jonas Öhlund, Seth Nilsson, Mona Jansson and Johan Nahlin for words and pictures. Also, thanks to various members from said bands for personal quotes. Jonas Öhlund, former member of Pride, wrote this about the night: “I had been looking forward to this evening for a while and the expectations were met. Not only did the bands deliver but the whole event was something special. People had clearly been looking forward to this evening. I got the opportunity to speak to people I have not seen in 30 years. Great fun! Gamla Teatern was surely the right place for this event. It is such a classic location for the ones of us that were teenagers in the 1980s and the place where I saw 220 Volt for the first time. The variation of music genres among the bands was a great move. There was something there for everyone! It must be something in the air or the water in Jämtland that produces all the great bands and musicians! The crowd was enthusiastic and all the bands got a great response. I am not gonna lie, but it was 220 Volt that was the reason I travelled from Sundsvall (188 km) for this event. I have seen them many times over the years and was looking forward to hearing their new singer. He did deliver, that is for sure! Hitting all the high notes. Not seeing Peter Hermansson behind the drums was strange, but Björn Höglund is surely the right replacement with a similar groove to his playing as Peter. The first time I saw Mats Karlsson and Thomas Drevin on Gamla Teatern’s stage was more than 40 years ago. The youthful energy is gone but replaced by all these years of experience, but they surely enjoy themselves on stage. Mats is a true professional that sees the people in the frontrow. The next album will be a killer!”.

Enjoy these posts!

(Ad seen here is from official platforms, image of Velvet Insane guitarist Jesper Lindgren was shot by Johan Nahlin – special thanks to everyone involved, bands, photographers, friends)

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Walking In Starlight (6)

Posted: March 30, 2025 in 220 Volt, Classic Rock, Cool stuff, Jämtland (County), Live Concert Reviews
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Headliners 220 Volt are no strangers to the old Gamla Teatern venue that they performed in yesterday. This is the old hunting grounds of the early 1980s, when they sold out this place again and again even before they got signed to CBS. Drummer Björn Höglund sat in for Peter Hermansson, but he is pretty much part of the 220 Volt family by now (he was after all part of the band The Summit with Mats Karlsson on guitar a while back, and he has been a guest with the guys before). Great choice when a call has to be made. This was also the first concert for new singer Fredrik Nordh which is another landmark occasion and even though I was not there myself I am still glad it happened in Östersund. Says Mats Karlsson; “What can one say? Wonderful night, good fun to be able to present a new singer on, for us, classic ground. It is going to be so much fun to be able to take this further now with new music”. My old friend Seth Nilsson saw the concert and sent me this note: “I last saw 220 Volt at the Sweden Rock Festival in 2002 and I guess I have not payed too much attention since. One could tell that they performed on home turf for a partisan crowd, and the joyful spark was obvious. As for the tempo, or the energy level, it has slowed down a bit but they are such great musicians and what they have going now still sounds great. Drummer Björn Höglund did a good job as a guest player but it is obvious that he has played with them before. Full house and we got three encores. Money well spent”.

(Live shots by Jonas Öhlund and Seth Nilsson, many thanks)

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Walking In Starlight (5)

Posted: March 30, 2025 in Classic Rock, Cool stuff, Jämtland (County), Live Concert Reviews
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Wizzard was the third band of the night and the reformed group returned as conquering heroes on home turf (well, close as they hail from a village not far from Östersund). They released the “Ninya Warrior” album in late 2023, an official anthology of their early recordings. For them, this was the best possible exposure, and it was a success for sure. I asked them for their take on the night and got this reply: “It was amazing to play in Östersund again, it has been a while since we last performed here at Rock SM in 1988. To be able to share this stage with three such wonderful bands and to be face to face with such an amazing crowd made this a unique night. The response was overwhelming and we are very happy that the audience and everybody that showed up enjoyed the concert so much”.

(Photos courtesy of Jonas Öhlund and Mona Jansson, many thanks!)

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Walking In Starlight (4)

Posted: March 30, 2025 in Classic Rock, Cool stuff, Jämtland (County), Live Concert Reviews
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Second act of the night was Souldrainer, a melodic doomsday death metal band from these parts. Formed in 1999, they are now four albums into their career. They were very happy about the night. On their official facebook page they posted this image (that I have shamelessly borrowed for this post, with a few insertions) and said: “Fucking Hell, Östersund, sweet hometown!! Many thanks to the audience tonight, the best that we have ever experienced in Östersund”. Needless to say, we can see a lot of happy faces in that crowd.

(Image courtesy of Souldrainer facebook, no malice intended in borrowing this)

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