A Podcast-Blog-Photos Website on Concert Reviews, Interviews, & Music Discussions
Posted 5/14/2014
Tom Thompson with Memphis In May Fans
It was the opening night of the Beale Street Music Festival and the gang from Concert Blast were very excited to start the coverage and to be a part of the events taking place at the 2014 Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival. Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, Tom Thompson, and our helper Will Perry had a fun time at this year’s festival. This year’s event was extra special because the weather was exceptional. For the first time since we’ve attended this festival back in 2005, it did not rain at all during these three days. Not only did it not rain, the weather was perfect! Check out this video webisode of our Friday night coverage from the photo pits of Third Eye Blind, Fitz and the Tantrums, and Foster The People. ENJOY!
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Posted on 5/11/2014
Concert Blast Memphis Bound - Left to right Brian Hasbrook, Mike Arnold, and Tom Thompson
It’s that time of year again as the Concert Blast crew make their way to Memphis, TN to cover the 2014 Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival. This year Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, and Tom Thompson brought along their favorite helper, Will Perry. Will had the duty to do whatever the staff needed; take photos, capture video, carry the equipment, and whatever else the crew requested, but most importantly, he’s young enough to keep up with Mike, Brian, and Tom during the physically brutal task (and lack of sleep) of covering a music festival. This video webisode captures the trip down I-40 from Nashville to Memphis and walking through the luxurious downtown Doubletree Hotel before walking to festival. Special thanks go out to our trip’s sponsor, The Best Around food concessions and the video work of Will Perry! Enjoy this first video of our 2014 Memphis in May coverage!
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Posted 5/5/2014
Concert Blast with Jeff Lubin (Four Vines Winery)
Four Vines Winery from Northern California invited Concert Blast for a wine tasting during Memphis in May’s Beale Street Music Festival. Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, and Tom Thompson participated in the event as they tasted two brands from Four Vines Winery, Naked Chardonnay and Biker Zinfandel. To sum it all up, YUM!
Enjoy this video of Mike, Brian, and Tom during the wine tasting with the Four Vines Winery promotional staff.
Special thanks to Will Perry for the video camera work.
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Posted on 4/12/2014
Billy Joel In Concert - Nashville, TN
It was a festive Friday night in Nashville, TN as Billy Joel returned to the Music City to perform another one of his arena-filled, hit-filled, concerts at the large Bridgestone Arena. Concert Blast was sent an email to cover this show on the morning of the concert. Billy Joel’s staff provided two excellent seats to the concert as well as a photo pass. Mike Arnold agreed to write the review while our photographer friend, Sam Shrader took the photos. Enjoy the coverage!
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Posted On 3/26/2014
Mike Arnold with George Thorogood
George Thorogood and his Destroyers returned to Nashville, TN once again to thrill classic rock and rollers with another performance at the Wildhorse Saloon. Concert Blast was invited to cover the show, but before he took the stage, he spent some time with Mike Arnold discussing his career in the backstage Green Room. Listen to the audio podcast or view the video of Mike and George discussing George Thorogood and the Destoyers. Special Thanks to Allen Atkinson for the camera work.
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Posted 3/1/2014
2014 Musicians Hall of Fame Awards Show Grand Finale
Concert Blast covered the 2014 Musicians Hall of Fame Awards Show in Nashville, TN featuring Chris Isaak (a tribute to Roy Orbison), Will Lee (Late Night with David Letterman‘s CBS Orchestra) with Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Kenny Wayne Shepherd with Double Trouble (a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan), Randy Bachman (formerly of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive),and the legendary Peter Frampton . Tom Thompson and Mike Arnold covered this event with the help of Allen Atkinson (substituting for Brian Hasbrook ). Lots of live clips including Tom Thompson playing drums at the VIP After Party! Enjoy the Concert Blast 11th Video Webisode!
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Posted on 2/23/2014
Tom Thompson, Billy Cox (Jimi Hendrix bassist), and Mike Arnold
Mike Arnold and Tom Thompson covered the 2014 Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN for another Concert Blast Webisode. In this Webisode Mike and Tom conduct short interviews with Jimi Hendix‘s bassist Billy Cox, Aerosmith‘s guitarist Brad Whitford, and David Letterman‘s CBS Orchestra bassist Will Lee. Lots of fun… Enjoy our 10th video webisode! Special Thanks to Allen Atkinson for the video work!
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Posted on 2/2/2014
Mike Arnold and Tom Thompson with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top
Concert Blast was invited to cover the 2014 Musicians Hall of Fame Ceremony and Show so Mike Arnold and Tom Thompson jumped at the chance to cover this annual event again. Unfortunately our main photographer, Brian Hasbrook, was out of town, so Mike Arnold and Concert Blast friend Allen Atkinson took over the duties. Those inducted were; Peter Frampton, Randy Bachman, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Capps, Barbara Mandrell, Ben Keith, Will Lee, Corki Casey O’Dell, Velma Smith, and Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. The 2014 Iconic Riff Award went to Roy Orbison for the famous riff in his rock hit, “Pretty Woman”. The 2014 Industry Icon Award was awarded to Mike Curb who created his own record label at the age of 18 and gained national attention a year later. Others at the show to help with the ceremony were; ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Neil Young, Don Felder, Billy Cox, Steve Wariner, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, The Oak Ridge Boys, Duane Eddy, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Chris Isaak, and Brenda Lee. Enjoy the photos from the Concert Blast coverage of the 2014 Musicians Hall of Fame Ceremony and Show hosted by Charles “Chip” Esten.
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Posted on 1/27/2014
Concert Blast - (l to r) Brian Hasbrook, Tom Thompson, Mike Arnold
Concert Blast
Webisode 9 completes the Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival coverage (8 webisodes) with hard rockers, Three Days Grace. Enjoy how we began this webisode explaining that our audio recorder went out during the festival, getting our dinner at The Best Around Concessions, taking a backstage walk to the middle of the Three Days Grace concert and completing everything with a thank you from Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, and Tom Thompson before leaving the festival… Enjoy Our last Webisode from the 2013 Memphis In May Beale Street Music Festival!
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Posted on 1/7/2014
As the guys from Concert Blast reflect back on the coverage performed in 2013, we thought it would be better to show you with hundreds of photographs taken throughout the year in a video segment. The year’s photo coverage began with an interview with singer/songwriter/actress Jewel from our guest blogger/photographer friend Samantha Shrader and ended with Mike Arnold‘s visit to the annual Christmas 4 Kids benefit touring of tour buses. This year also included the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival, the CMA Music Festival, and the K-Love Fan Awards, along with numerous concerts, interviews, and CD reviews throughout the year. Enjoy this video of the Concert Blast 2013 Flashback and Happy New Year from Mike Arnold, Brian Hasbrook, and Tom Thompson!
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