PRECIOUS METAL version 2017 LIVE at THE ROSE 4.22.17

Precious Metal, the most charismatic all-female metal band of the 1980s and 90s is, after a successful 2014 reunion for ChemoWize cancer charity (LINK,) back via a fulltime working configuration as depicted herein. Added to founding members Leslie Knauer (vocals,) Alex Rylance (bass,) and (pre-Carol Control) Susette Andres (drums) are guitarist Jeff Mattern (The Wild Side) and multi-instrumentalist Aviva Maloney (The Monkees.) Note oodles of personality, pulchritude and confidence in both stage presentation and my new studio shots for them below.

 The Rose club in Pasadena featured a full house for Precious Metal opening for Richie Kotzen (Mr. Big, Poison) on 4.22.17. Their dynamic set rock and rolled PMetal favorites from their three major label releases of yore like "Right Here, Right Now!" plus fun new originals, including one sung by Susette.

 Below, America's (and Australia's!) favorite Heavy Metal Sweetheart, Leslie Knauer, once deemed "the 38th best rock singer ever, either gender" by some Brit trade rag. High praise indeed, and utterly deserved. Leslie's amazing vocals are still everything they ever were and more, alongside her always upbeat presence.

 The venue in Pasadena's Old Town area was a former high-end grocery, hence the all sheet-metal-walled backstage dressing room in its former meat locker (which given the current state of the music biz some might consider all too apropos...)

Precious Metal 1986 and 2017. Left, fair use © Julian Wasser. All Rights Reserved.
Right, re-staging for 2017.

PRECIOUS METAL REUNION LIVE at Palladino's 12.3.16

Precious Metal, consisting of three founding members bassist Alex Peterson, singer Leslie Knauer and drummer Susette Andres augmented by Jeff Mattern on guitar and Aviva Maloney on sax/keyboards lit up Palladino's in Reseda CA Dec. 3, 2016 with an amazing set of PMetal classics and new originals. 

A Precious Metal reunion with 4/5ths of the band's members who had recorded 3 of their their 4 major label album releases together in the 1980s and 90s (Peterson, Knauer, guitarist Mara Fox, lead guitarist Janet Robin and drummer Carol Control Duckworth) convened for their first reunion in 25 years organized by Petersen for the charity Chemowize Foundation and hit West Hollywood's Mint's stage two years ago to wild acclaim (see LINK.) The impetus to continue the fun roped in their first drummer, Andres, later of Bombshell and The Wild Side with Mattern when Duckworth wasn't available. (The relocated Fox remains there in spirit and songwriting.) 

 

Leslie remains active in many musical projects including Naked Hand Dance with husband Al Teman, but full-on metal songstress vocals are her fortè of fortès. You have not LIVED in the modern music world until you've heard the power of Leslie igniting "Howl At The Moon"at full throttle. (See LINK for worldwide acclaim for Leslie's voice.)

 

Set list: Mr. Big Stuff, You Do Something Special, Anybody's Lover, Howl At The Moon, Baby It's You*, Let The Music Move You, Trouble, Listen To Your Heart, Chasing Rainbows, Thrilling Life, Right Here Right Now 

                                       

                                  *(Leslie's platinum-selling single in Australia from a prior band Promises)

LESLIE KNAUER AND AL TEMAN LIVE 4.23.16, Maui Sugar Mill Bar

Leslie Knauer, (left) vocalist, songwriter (past groups Precious Metal and Kanary, see LINK and LINK) with her soulmate Al TeMan (right) of their current bands Naked Hand Dance and Diamond Star Halo played a rare gig at Maui Sugar Mill Bar, Reseda, in the Valley sector of L.A. 4.23.16.

Leslie is a world class singer, so even their opener of a wacky Roger Miller cover sounded more polished than it deserved to. But the set really takes flight with selections from Leslie's vast repertoire of amazing, original songs which better showcase her soaring vocals. The room filled immediately with the stragglers waylaid outside. Percussionist Scott Breadman rounded out the trio.

 Left, Leslie's typically ebullient stage manner; right, also on the bill, a Greek singer from band appropriately named Electra.

 

PHOTO OPS:

 Above, Al, Leslie and Len Fagen, legendary booker the much missed Coconut Teaszer Club in Hollywood, an Alternative oasis in 1980s/90s Hollywood which was the first U.S. club to give a residency to British songstress P.J. Harvey (essentially breaking her for this country) and so very many other acts I photographed from Bo Diddley to Ron Asheton.

 Below, Leslie with Donna Balancia, Editor of California Rocker and West Coast Rocker.

 
Leslie, Al and two of Leslie's many friends and wellwishers.

DOUBLE DOG DARE! THE DOGS rock important 2016 gigs, with DR. BOOGIE and DRIVE LIKE JEHU

 

In preparation for their spring 2016 Mid-West Tour, singer/guitarist Loren Molinare, bassist Mary Kay and drummer Tony Matteucci a.k.a. THE DOGS played two important gigs in the L.A. vicinity. First came opening for Drive Like Jehu at the Echoplex, 2.28.1, then a power-packed gig with Dr. Boogie at The Redwood, 3.5.16.

At the former, this characteristically hardest rockin' band provided an energetic preamble to the reunion of noisemeisters Jehu, seen below at their sound check.

      The Dogs' set list:

PHOTO OPS:

The Dogs find a familiar appellation on a local storefront...

 Leslie Knauer of Diamond Star Halo, Naked Hand Dance an Precious Metal poses with Mary Dog who played bass in their past band together Kanary.

~~Meanwhile at the Redwood on 3.5.16~~

Tony Matteucci of THE DOGS and Luis Herrera of Dr. Boogie both attain Drum Nirvana...

The Dogs provoke their usual hardest rock/punk redux Detroit-style mayhem...

Left, guest photographer 

Donna Balancia captures 

your humble photojournalist

trying to clap for THE DOGS 

without damaging three cameras 

around her neck. Right, set list.

Dr. Boogie work up a sweat in both band and audience with singer Chris P. wailing their Stonesy/Faces/New Barbarians but sui generis hard rock. They highlighted some of the many cool tracks of their new release "Got To Get Back To New York City" and premiered new material to boot. They should be off on their East Coast tour by the time you read this.

 Left, glam-ish Gypsy Roller from San Jose; and Richmond Sluts' drummer, multi-instrumentalist John Tyree's newest in his panoply of fascinating groups Cheap Tissue opened, making for an all cool bands' lineup.

 PHOTO OPS:

Jeremy White, lead singer of The Blessings with Mary Dog; Mary Dog and Loren Dog with Jimmy Robinson, producer of The Dogs' 1978 material. Since his move to New York and other parts unknown, they hadn't seen him since that time.

 

 Below, Tony Dog photobombs first shot with Mary and Jimmy

Above, Editor of California Rocker Donna Balancia, Vince Conrad, singer/producer Richard Duquay who has produced the recent Dogs' releases, Tony Dog.

Loren Dog and Tony Dog flank their merchandise person March Cachon.

Chris P. of Dr. Boogie backstage,"It's good to be king."