Rockin' Rich Lynch Presents His Week In Review

• WEEK IN REVIEW ARCHIVE

Rockin' Rich Lynch's "Week In Review" - March 14, 2025

Nashville's Rockin' Rich Lynch (www.RockinRichLynch.com) is a journalist, concert reporter and rock photographer with decades of experience in the music business. He receives dozens of new releases every week that all vie for his unique review style and personalized perspective. If you would like to see this column prosper - or if you would like to bolster RRL's ongoing muscial efforts - the best thing that you can do is BUY His Debut Album in order to support his ongoing creative journey.

Rockin' Rich Lynch's Week In Review - March 13, 2025

• Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks: Live - Perpetual Change - Jon Anderson's long and storied career in YES along with his considerable solo output over the years share one undeniable characteristic - that is every new album and musical direction was usually marked by the idea of "perpetual change". From the experimental and questionable long-form prog rock in the 70's (Tales from Topographic Oceans) to embracing emerging trends in the 80's (90125) there was always a newness and audible nuance with each successive project that the legendary singer and frontman would become involved in. So, it's strangely satisfying that his latest package Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks Live - Perpetual Change really offers nothing much in the way of new music as much as it presents a riveting revisitation of his past glories. And - if you ask most of the keyboard warriors online who still post about Jon and YES on a regular basis - that is absolutely alright by them. It was also just fine for the fans at the Aracada Theater in St. Charles, Illinois where the 10-track album was recorded while Jon and his band of gifted geeks were on their highly acclaimed August 2023 summer tour. The ecstatic applause and enthusiastic response is heard early and often as the opener "Yours Is No Disgrace" comes to an end and the listeners are seemingly shocked that this very YES-like grouping and its leader sound so amazing as they deliver their take on some of the best known tracks from the complex back catalog of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. The Band Geeks began as the house band for the Band Geek podcast - an internet show created by the group's musical director Richie Castellano (Blue Oyster Cult) who was tasked with putting together the cast of enthusiastic younger musicians for the inaugural tour that would ultimately lead to the creation of an album of all-new material by Jon and the band True that itself would be released to much critical acclaim in 2024. Of the collaboration Jon Anderson said: "It's true, I never left YES in my heart and soul... ever!! Too many amazingly powerful memories... And of course the music never left me... So here I am, still wanting to sing the songs again, and bring MY true feelings to the lyrics... Melody and lyrics has always been my passion... I sing them now with an older and I hope wiser state of mind... I've been wanting to have that feeling again... of performing the songs I lived for, and the music I helped to create and design, with the sound of the band of old around me once more... The first time I heard the BAND GEEKS I truly freaked out – they sound just like the classic YES of the seventies, the YES that I know and love..." The stunning set includes all of the classic favorites and longer studies on in-concert rarities "Awaken" and "Gates Of Delirium" that have awoken YESFANS out of their slumber in delirious fashion. Now comes word that there will be another chance to celebrate the music yet again as a multi-leg tour for the summer of 2025 with Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks is planned and ready to prog rock one more time. YES! (More at > www.jonanderson.com)

• Dream Theater: Parasomnia - Dream Theater surely wasn't sleeping on the making of their latest record Parasomnia that is the crowning achievement of their long-awaited reunion with founding member Mike Portnoy. Many point to Portnoy as being the heart and heartbeat of the progressive rockers and his return to the fold has elevated the pulse-rates of the global progressive metal community and with good reason. Now, none of this means that James LaBrie, John Petrucci, John Myung and Jordan Rudess were snoozing during his sabbatical from the organization these past fifteen years. They did release five fine albums with the undoubtedly capable Mike Mangini taking up residence in the drummer's seat while scoring their first-ever Grammy Award for "The Alien" from 2021's A View from the Top of the World. Still, with the release of Parasomnia - a collection of tracks loosely based around the concept of sleep disorders - it's as if Dream Theater has pulled a Rip Van Winkle to awaken from a slumber that finds them picking right up where they left off with 2009's Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Exciting, explosive, epic and extraordinary are all words that easily apply to the eight songs that range from the crushing "A Broken Man" to the contemplative "Bend The Clock". Surprisingly, with song titles like "Night Terror" and "Dead Asleep" that offer a musical take on the horror genre the overall output on Parasomnia is more inspiring than terrifying as these world class musicians put their skills on display in ways that lesser players can only dream of. For most of Dream Theater's existence there's been a characteristic to their music that has kept them from achieving say the broader commercial appeal of a Rush or Metallica who have mined similar creative veins. But, absence makes the heart grow fonder - and there is an element of "you can't be missed if you don't go away" - that have resulted in the group's highest charting album of their 40 year career. They couldn't have drawn it up - or dreamed it up - any better. Now, their finicky and often hard to please fan base wants to know - "What's next?" (More at > DreamTheater.net)

• Ringo Starr: Look Up - With the latest wave of popular musicians throwing their hat into the country music marketplace - it made complete sense for Beatle legend Ringo Starr to do the same. For him it was literally old hat. Ringo's January 2025 offering in the genre titled Look Up is his second official foray into the field since recording his sophomore solo record Beaucoups of Blues in Nashville in 1970. For those who doubt that Ringo has beaucoups of bonafides to claim a piece of the country music pie all one needs to do is turn the clock back to 1965 when Ringo sang lead on a cover of the country song "Act Naturally" that helped Buck Owens and his Bakersfield Sound become one of the most successful country stars of the decade. In fact, Ringo's bandmate Paul McCartney confirmed on the March 10 airing of "Ringo & Friends at the Ryman" on CBS that, "Ringo was the first guy in the Beatles to really turn us on to country music. We were kind of very much into rock 'n' roll. But, he was heavy into country. He had a lot of records we didn't have and he was a big admirer of some of the country stars of the time. He goes way back in country music." That television special featured many of the guest artists who appear on Look Up including Jack White, Billy Strings, Sheryl Crow, Molly Tuttle and many more in a two-hour documentary that was lovingly produced to serve as a true celebration of Ringo Starr and his famous band more than six decades after Beatle-mania was the new style of music that was sweeping across the nation and the world. Look Up was produced and co-written by T Bone Burnett who gave Ringo the spark of the idea that would grow into his first country album in more than 50 years and his first full-length album since 2019. Look Up opens with the breathtaking "Breathless" that is powered by the fancy fretwork of the jamband world's Billy Strings who shines bright - especially on the psychedelic coda that recalls the era from where Starr really made his name. The title track features Nashville's own Molly Tuttle on backing vocals to bolster an anthem that is positive, optimistic and even surprisingly spiritual ("Look up, Roll away the stone, Look up, When you're all alone"). The groovy guitar undercurrent continues here as making the opening two numbers especially appealing to the fans of the Beatles' mid to late 60's output. Look Up is a grower especially the tracks that contain the authentic country underpinnings provided by the on-point pedal steel guitar playing of Paul Franklin and country music fans seem to agree. The album has garnered critical acclaim and earned Starr his first top 10 on Billboard's all-genre Top Album Sales chart at No. 7 in January. It has since reached the top of multiple other charts including No.1 Current Country Album sales, No. 1 Current Rock Album sales and No. 1 Americana/Folk Album sales. The album also hit top 10 on Current Digital Album sales (No. 4), Overall Digital Album sales (No. 6), Internet Album sales (No. 2) and Indie Store Album Sales (No. 2). Billboard charting includes Billboard Rock Albums (No. 23), Billboard Americana/Folk Albums (No. 12), Billboard Country Albums (a career-best No. 27) and Billboard Rock & Alternative Albums (No. 30). On the overall Billboard 200, the album debuted at No. 147, marking Starr's 20th entry. Internationally Ringo earned No. 1 on the Official UK Country Artists Chart, No. 79 on the UK/OCC all genre Official Albums Chart Top 100, and No.1 in Denmark. Ringo's patented catch phrase of "Peace and Love" makes an appearance on the album's closer "Thankful" that is the only offering on Look Up that has a Richard Starkey writing credit. There's no doubt that Starr has gratitude for his long career that began with a meteoric rise with his fifteen minutes of fame lasting more than 60 years now. The Beatles' drummer has forged a multi decade solo statement that comes around more frequently than Halley's Comet and he's done it again with Look Up. Now that Ringo has effectively and convincingly stamped his brand on the Nashville scene - including a debut performance at the Grand Ole Opry earlier in the year - we expect to see him back in these parts on a more regular basis. That will give us all a chance to get back on the Yellow Submarine to journey back to the Octopus's Garden a few more times as we ride the crest of Ringo-mania into unchartered waters. Right On - Peace and Love! (More at > Ringo Starr)

• Warren Haynes: Million Voices Whisper - With Warren Haynes first solo album in nearly a decade - Million Voices Whisper - the talented singer, guitarist, producer and frontman goes way back to his Allman Brothers Band roots to remind fans just why they fell in love with the captivating and charismatic performer in the first place. Of course, ABB was a musical collective that had a rebirth in the 90's when Haynes joined Allman's co-founder Dickey Betts as the second guitar in that historic band. Later, the spirit of Duane Allman would be revived when the precoscious young gun Derek Trucks joined the fold - and it is his presence here on several tracks that really lights a fire to recall the halycon days of the final quarter century of work by the joy-inducing jam band from Jacksonville, Florida. But times change and this dynamic duo haven't worked together much since the retirment of the Allman Brothers Band in 2014. The opening track "These Changes" - a co-write between Warren and Derek addresses this theme - and the glory of those past times really begins to heat up around two-thirds of the way in on the smoldering opener. When the former bandmates begin to trade emotional and explosive licks just as they had done for hours on end back in the day it's as if no time has gone by at all. The spirit of Gregg Allman also makes an unexpected appearance on the record as Haynes and Trucks complete a song of his. Of "Real, Real Love" Haynes says - "This was a song that was started but never finished by Gregg Allman. He had showed it to me and we had talked about it, and I completed it after he died. I finished it in a way that's reflective of the way Gregg wrote and then invited Derek Trucks to be part of the recording process, which really took it to the desired next level. I wanted to write it as if Gregg were singing it. Even in the way we approach the song as a band, and in the way I approach it as a singer, I had his presence in mind the entire time." The happy reunion on Million Voices Whisper ends as it begins with a long outro heard on "Hall Of Future Saints" - the 9 minute and 23 second epic that closes out the triumphant 11-track masterpiece. In between Haynes works with contemporay comrades Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson on "Day Of Reckoning" which stands as a modern day call for unity. "This Life As We Know It" is another uplifting and life-affirming anthem in the style of the ABB that deals with navigating the never ending changes that living brings. Ample horns and a discernable homage to Van Morrison remind listeners that Haynes has world-class soulful vocal chops in addition to his much respected guitar skills. With the release of Million Voices Whisper Warren Haynes might be hearing from many of the those millions of Allman Brothers Band fans demanding more of these type of musical stylings in the future. We wouldn't blame them either as this celebratory project is something to scream about for sure. (More at > WarrenHaynes.net)

• Kim Richey: Every New Beginning - For a CD titled Every New Beginning from Nashville's highly-acclaimed Americana artist Kim Richey there are a lot of snapshot memories from the distant past present in her very vibrant and visual lyrics as heard on the album's ten quality tracks. Together, they all work to help paint a picture that lets the listener in on just who the artist Kim Richey is now as she sets out on the next chapter of her much-lauded musical career. Then, there is the idea of movement that dominates the subtext on several of the selections that find Kim moving forward in her artistry with a cohesive theme of looking back and taking stock firmly in place. Take "Chapel Avenue" - for instance. The hypnotic opener parts the curtains to namecheck many moments in time from way back in the day that only an audience of a certain age could really appreciate. But, being of that demographic she sings about I was drawn in and ready to see where we were going next. If you are looking to find who Kim Richey might remind you of in terms of female contemporaries well you might hear a bit of Chrissie Hynde, the ladies from Fleetwood Mac and Sheryl Crow - especially on the next three tracks that follow. "Goodbye Ohio" finds her moving on from her mid-western childhood home while "A Way Around" navigates a more adult situation while it recalls the best work on Rumors with a little guitar work in the style of the Byrds thrown in for good effect. "Joy Rider" continues the journey with a solid rock direction provided by many of Music City's best players on board. Overall, Every New Beginning is a great place to start if you are new to the Kim Richey catalog. For her existing fanbase that has developed over a long career marked by consistently good output - well they might consider it a welcome continuation down an already well-trodden path that is made all the more sweet by the what could have beens of recent years. (More at > Kim Richey)

• Pure Prairie League: Back on Track - There are some groups in the pantheon of modern music for whom change is almost a constant. With Pure Prairie League - they entered the consciousness of the general listening public when they busted out with the ever-infectious pick-fest known as "Amie" in 1972 via the Craig Fuller fronted version of the band and there's been no looking back ever since. A few years later in that decade they would introduce future country music superstar Vince Gill with the demanding and pleading ballad "Let Me Love You Tonight". So, as you can see PPL learned early on that success can be achieved despite a change in lineup and that knowledge has kept the band alive for more than a half century now. Fast forward to the current day, founding father John David Call who expertly holds down the pedal steel chair just as he has done for the past five decades plus returns with a re-booted line-up and a fantastic new record Back on Track which marks their first release in nearly twenty years. Luckily for fans of the pioneering country rockers - the resulting 12-track record was very much worth the wait. Expertly produced by veteran PPL bassist and bandleader Michael Reilly, Back on Track was recorded at Riverfront Recorders in Madison, Tennessee with additional recording at Twilight Zona Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee - all just a stone's throw from Nashville, Music City U.S.A. Today's Pure Prairie League features founding member John David Call on pedal steel guitar; Scott Thompson on drums, percussion, and vocals; Randy Harper on keyboards and vocals; Jeffrey Zona on guitars and vocals; and Jared Camic on bass and vocals. Back On Track also boasts special guests Jenifer Wrinkle on fiddle; Jeff (Birdman) Kirk on alto sax; Mat Britain on steel drums and percussion; and Gary Burr, a PPL member in the mid-80s and late-90s, on vocals. This quality cast of characters gets to work early and often quickly starting out with the upbeat and fast paced "The Beginning" that proves that they have not lost the golden touch that made them radio staples in their early years. The next stop on the journey is the picturesque pop-leanings of "Picture Perfect Life" that is nothing short of satisfying as it nods perfectly to their glorious past. Later, we are reminded how PPL were also early pioneers of genre fluidity emerging as a captivating jam band with strong country leanings only to be over-shadowed later by the AM darling version of themselves. On Back on track, PPL moves toward the destination of powerful AOR, even veering near the realm of prog rock to find a sonic solution to a "Modern Problem". If that wasn't enough PPL can also lay claim to the title "southern rock kings" most notably on "Skipping Stones" and the title track, album closer "Back on Track" that revives a sense of jam with modern production values to bring this unexpected and exhilarating trip to a satisfying and full-circle conclusion for PPL and their fans. Admittedly, we did not have being blown away by a modern PPL album on our bingo card when the week started. But, Back on Track this far down the line for Pure Prairie League is nothing short of pure perfection. So, grab your ticket and enjoy the ride. The country rock juggernaut that is PPL are back and ready to roll once again. (More at > Pure Prairie League)

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WEEK IN REVIEW: Expertly reviewing the latest music releases that you need to know about!