Rogue Stallion Gallop Torward Rock Stardom

Robert John Acuna is living a double life. You may have seen him attending night classes around campus and been completely unaware that he is also the lead guitar player in the ambitious local rock group Rogue Stallion. Anytime spent between classes and working full time is spent in his practice space in Rosemead alongside his fellow band mates John Gillete (vocals), Joey Mercado (bass), Mike Holland (drums), and Manual Robles (guitar).

Rogue Stallion began to take shape in early 2007 during recreational jam sessions with friends and family. Since that time Robert and his band mates have weatherd line-up changes and the demand of day jobs and college courses in order to pursue their shared love of playing music together. It’s this working class spirit that has driven Rouge Stallion from their humble beginnings to pursue their dream of playing on as many different stages in as many different places as possible. “20 years from now I want to say that I played in Russia, I played in Europe.” Robert says. “We have an inside joke; someday we’re going to take this band all the way to the moon!”

Robert and his fellow band members draw their influences from a variety of different artists and bands. “Overall, we’re pretty influenced by Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, a lot of guitar solo-oriented classic groups. We don’t limit ourselves to that though, we also listen to a variety of different genres including classical music and the blues. Overall, anything classic from the 70’s, almost anything on 95.5 KLOS.” Though many of the bands inspiration is drawn from classic hard rock groups Robert was also quick to point out that there are a few contemporary bands out there that have caught their attention as of late. “I’ve even been listening to a little Avenged Sevenfold here and there. We keep our minds open”

Since coming together they have worked tirelessly to promote their music using myspace and passing out cds, stickers, and flyers all while gigging relentlessly. “Our first show was probably the most exciting, it was in Hollywood and it was also our first time in front of a big audience.” Since then they have seen their efforts pay off, landing opening slots for heavy metal veterans Otep at the world famous Whiskey A-Go-Go and Chris Holmes from W.A.S.P.’s all-star group on the main stage of The Knitting Factory. Not content to rest on their laurels, the band regularly books shows often playing four or five times a month at a variety of different events and are currently entertaining the idea of touring in Germany.

“We all work our day jobs, the main purpose of the band is to have fun and get out to as many people as possible.” Robert explained. “With all our members working together anything we want to do is possible, nothing will be able to hold us back.”

Check out their myspace page for songs and live dates!

-Christopher Diers

Free Music: Alkaline Trio

What college student couldn't use a little free music now and again? Last week we linked you up to that fantastic free covers e.p. by Tera Melos, Idioms (Volume 1) and this week we're excited to tell you that Alkaline Trio has released a free acoustic e.p. The performance was recorded live for Myspace Transmissions and can be downloaded for a limited time. The band runs through two cuts off of their latest album Agony & Irony, one song from their classic album Good Mourning, and throw in a cover of The Cure's "Cut Here" for good measure.

Download it here.

Track listing:
1. Over and Out
2. Love Love, Kiss Kiss
3. Emma
4. Cut Here (The Cure)

-Christopher Diers

Blink-182 announces reunion at 51st Grammy Awards

All three members of Blink-182 appeared on stage together for the first time since 2004 to present the award for Rock Album of the Year before announcing that they have reformed and are currently working on a new record together. The band, perhaps best known for their melodic take on punk rock and toilet humor, had a bitter falling out in early 2005. Guitarist Tom DeLonge soon formed his own group called Angels and Airwaves while drummer Travis Barker and bassist Mark Hoppus quickly started a new band called +44. Neither band was able to achieve similar commercial success or mass appeal.

-Christopher Diers

R.I.P. Lux Interior

Lux Interior, lead singer of The Cramps, passed away this morning due to an existing heart condition at Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, California at 4:30 AM PST today. Lux has been an inspiration and influence to millions of artists and fans around the world. He and wife Poison Ivy’s contributions with The Cramps have had an immeasurable impact on modern music.

The Cramps emerged from the original New York punk scene of CBGB and Max’s Kansas City, with a singular sound and iconography. Their distinct take on rockabilly and surf along with their midnight movie imagery reminded us all just how exciting, dangerous, vital and sexy rock and roll should be and has spawned entire subcultures. Lux was a fearless frontman who transformed every stage he stepped on into a place of passion, abandon, and true freedom. He is a rare icon who will be missed dearly. Interior's death marks the end of the band's 33 year career.

-Christopher Diers

Album Review: Bruce Springsteen - Working on a Dream

Springsteen’s latest recreates the magic - 8.4/10.0



Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band have enjoyed a renewed relevance during the past eight years beginning with 2002’s excellent post-9/11 offering The Rising and continuing with 2007’s high energy, politically charged rock opus Magic. With an appearance at this year’s Super Bowl, the announcement of a four month stadium tour commencing in April, and 1978’s excellent Darkness on the Edge of Town being re-issued as a re-mastered set with tons of extra goodies later this year it looks like we’re all going to be seeing our fair share of The Boss in 2009. As a long-time fan myself (go on, try to embarrass me) I was thrilled to hear that we also had a brand-new album, Working on a Dream, to dig into.

The album begins with the eight minute cowboy anthem “Outlaw Pete”; a string section builds the tension with Springsteen’s familiar gravelly croon narrating the story of the titular outlaw while the E Street band sweep in behind him, rising up like a river about to flood. The track ends with a solemn harmonica echoing in the distance before the band kicks into “My Lucky Day”, revisiting the classic hard-driving E Street sound. For the most part, the rest of the album keeps the ball rolling, delivering heavy doses of Springsteen’s familiar traits, and enough new surprises to justify throwing down a couple of bucks for a new album from an artist with an already impeccable discography.

There are a couple of blunders, though they are few and far between. “Queen of the Supermarket” is trivial at best and outright corny at worst and the lyrics to “Surprise Surprise” seem like they were written at the 11th hour in an effort to complete the record. Overall, Working on a Dream is quite an accomplishment, in some instances finding the band conjuring an impressive wall of sound, others evoking the quieter elements of folk, country, and blues.

The album can be streamed in it's entirety on Bruce Springsteen's myspace page.

- Christopher Diers

Cerritos College Students

Are you a cerritos college student?

Are you a musician, or in a band?

Want to get your music out there?

....then email us at bands@talonmarks.com

We are looking to get your music out there to the masses.

Check back for updates!!!!

-Scott Garite