pacificlectic : concert reviews & eclectic music news

One of the tragically timed bands in existence… Extreme.  They were too good to be lumped in with the “hairband” era, yet with their power ballads as their primary radio coverage – that’s what they got labeled.  Then grunge came along and washed well-produced, melodic art-rock out to sea…

I was lucky enough to catch their Saudades de Rock tour in Cincinnati a few years ago (with King’s X, too!). Extreme’s power duo of Gary Cherone (vocals for Extreme & one-time Van Halen) and Nuno Bettencourt (guitars) are one of my favorite duos to watch – period.  They work sooo well together.  Well, Nuno is now a hired gun on tour (currently Rihanna); so Gary is heading out on the road with his side-band: Hurtsmile.  It also has Gary’s brother Markus on guitars (who I saw in 1995 with the band FLESH with Nuno’s brother Paulo on vocals… incestuous Boston music scene – for sure!).

I shant be lucky enough to catch this tour… but if you’re in one of these spots in the U.S. or Japan, check it out.  Gary is an impressive performer.  Their self-titled debut album came out in February (see link to the right for sound samples).

Hurtsmile 2011 Tour

• May 13 – the Cube Club – Newark, DE
• May 14 – M3 Rock Festival – Columbia, MD
• June 3 – Club Red – Phoenix, AZ
• June 4 – Casino Del Sol – Tuscon, AZ
• June 24th – The Bottom Line / NAGOYA
• June 25th – Red Box / KURASIKI
• June 26th – Caravan Sary / KOCHI
• June 27th – Bigcat / OSAKA
• June 29th – Live House enn 2nd / SENDAI
• June 30th – OEast / TOKYO
• July 1st – Live Space C-moon FUKUSHIMA
• July 2nd – STB139 / TOKYO
• July 21 – B.B. Kings – New York, NY
• July 22 – Showcase Live – Foxboro, MA
  http://www.hurtsmile.com/

~Dan – np: Placebo – Sleeping With Ghosts