The Aristocrats

3/05The Aristocrats, Joe Satriani & Animals As Leaders: The G4 Experience (Plus The Critics Weigh In On “Culture Clash Live”)

To The Aristocratic Faithful-

Hello once again! We’re on the verge of announcing the title of our next studio album, as well as summer tour dates for North America. The plan is to release the album in late June, and then hit the road immediately in the U.S. and Canada to support it. (Don’t worry, friends on other continents, we’ll get over there afterwards; more on that in future e-mails.) That official announcement should come in about 10 days, so hold tight while we confirm the last few dates and we’ll get you the info as soon as we can. In the meantime, we have two things we’d like to share with you.

First: One of the big things to happen this month is that Guthrie Govan is on the cover of the latest (April) issue of Guitar World Magazine, along with Joe Satriani and Tosin Abasi of Animals As Leaders. Pretty damned cool. We strongly advise you to find a hard copy of the mag, which has a separate article on Guthrie previewing the new Aristocrats studio album. (But don’t forget to look closely at the cover to see where we’re listed. Did that really happen? :-) )

But one of the reasons this collection of heavyweights is gracing the cover of GW is because they’ll all be gathered for the G4 Experience camp in Cambria, CA in late June/early July. Along with freak/genius Mike Keneally (hence the “4” in “G4”), it’ll be four days and nights of instructional clinics and hang time with all of The Aristocrats, Satch, Tosin and his crew, and more. It’s going to be an amazing time. And if you’re younger and trying to figure out a way to do this that won’t make you skip a student loan payment, apparently there’s some new packages designed just for you.

This is the first time The Aristocrats have ever done something like this, and with our schedules, it might be a long while before it happens again. If you’re interested, check it all out right here:

http://www.g4experience.com/

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Second: Culture Clash Live has been out now for over a month, and we’ve been incredibly grateful for the positive reception it’s received from fans and critics alike. At the risk of humble-bragging, we thought we’d share bits of the coolest critical reviews we’ve gotten so far.

This first one has our favorite imagery:

“It has the drive of blues-based American hard rock, veering into a dalliance with metal, but played with the agility and fluidity of jazzers…there is so much good humour infused in every bar that every track is a delight, a charging rhino in a pink tutu. Culture Clash Live! will have you coming back to it because it is so damn entertaining.”
—Echoes and Dust (UK)

For a moment there “Charging Rhino, Pink Tutu” was going to be our next album title. Just a brief moment.

Then we have another British review, this one with a rhyme:

“Genres are mashed, speed limits crashed and minds warped in a blizzard of ultra chops…it’s delivered with panache, wit and formidable technical prowess. Prepare to be awed.”
–Guitarist Magazine (UK)

Our British friends will almost certainly realize that the following review was not written by one of their fellow countrymen:

“The live DVD held in this release proves that these three musicians are truly human and capable of astounding progressive, jazz-fusion rock…nothing less than stunning musical virtuosity with a side of comical spunk.”
—Alternative Nation (USA)

Ahem.

Anyway, let’s see what the Italian judges have to say:

“[Culture Clash Live] really enhances the histrionics, the eccentricity and the irreverent creativity of these incredible guys … [chickens] and pigs included! As individuals these three musicians are on another planet. Put together they are an explosive mixture and the stage is the place where they are really at home!”
–Guitarist (Italy)

That was translated from the original Italian, so we’re hoping it’s right! Back to the U.S. for this one:

“The Aristocrats continue to demonstrate a level of technique and humility that all musicians should aspire to, and Culture Clash Live! is a fantastic example of why… A gripping sequence of funky rhythms, virtuosic intricacy, and endlessly joyous attitudes, the CD/DVD combo is a must own for fans of the style(s).”
—Rebel Noise (USA)

Let’s not forget our drum-focused friends up north, who penned this carnivorous allegory:

“Culture Clash Live is a venerable meat market of musicality and is definitely worth a pound of flesh (or two).”
—The Black Page (Canada)

And finally (as Guthrie would say), we like any review which focuses on the fact that we’re, you know, a band:

“The Aristocrats are not only a ‘supergroup’ but a very real capital ‘B’ BAND that exists for the only purpose that really matters – making great music. Culture Clash Live is a must, a powerhouse collection from one of the most talented musical collectives on the scene.”
–USA Prog Files

Seriously, we’re truly humbled and glad you dig it. What, you haven’t picked it up yet? Protip: click this link. Or the picture.