Cinder Road Rulz
I saw these dudes from Timonium, Md., open up for Chris Daughtry a few months ago — and immediately, the suburban-dirtball gene in my DNA kicked into overdrive. Cinder Road, which plays St. Pete on Saturday, can’t be much older than my rippiest pair of Levis, but they play like ’80s hair-metal gods, all hip-thrusts and lascivious licks and plaintive howls. It's the headbanger equivalent of comfort food.
Lead singer Mike Ruocco, the dude in the middle, looks a little like Christina Ricci, which totally confuses me sexually. But I can overlook that (or at least ignore it until I need therapy) and tap into their Ratt 'n' Roll aesthetic. You do know how to Ratt 'n' Roll, right?
I'm also convinced Cinder Road could kick the sh-- out of Nickelback in a streetfight. Not that they play the same music. Nickelback blows -- Cinder Road rocks. But Nickelback seems to be the metal of the moment, which is sad. Cinder Road is tried-and-true glam-metal, which obviously means that Timonium, Md., is the new Sunset Strip, which I suspected all along.
To hear music clips, you can go here.
Cinder Road, with Candlebox, plays Saturday, July 21 at 8 p.m. Jannus Landing, 16 Second St. N, St. Petersburg. $19.50 advance, $23 day of show. (727) 896-2276.
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
THIS WEEK'S SHOW: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers rock Tampa Bay. To hear the latest "Stuck in the 80s" episode now, 
Just scored my tix to catch the New Pornographers on their new tour, the last night of the tour, should be fun ... uh, closest they get to New Music Central (aka, Tampa/St. Pete) is Atlanta ...
:-P ...
Posted by: chase | July 19, 2007 at 08:59 PM
Candlebox is still together?
Posted by: sarah | July 20, 2007 at 08:42 AM