The Winery Dogs thread - Portnoy, Sheehan and Kotzen

[bosk1]

MP was my favorite member of DT. I was crushed when he left, not because I was worried about what DT would do, but because I knew I would have to follow MP from project to project. If there was one I liked, I figured it would be a one and done anyway. I haven't really liked anything he's done since leaving DT. And that bums me out. Even SOA, which I should like, I thought was terrible. I know he and whatever musicians he's working with will absolutely bring it live, but for all intents and purposes, MP basically fell off the map for me.


And that is what really sucks and blows.

Sons of Apollo was excellent, as have been the NMB albums.  But aside from that, I tend to agree with you.

[TAC]

Well, SOA definitely did not do it for me. It does deserve a second chance though. Neal Morse....that's just not my thing.

[Madman Shepherd]

I think I'm leaning toward Onesti screwing up and jumping the gun on sales. MP will be touring with Neal Feb-Apr. I could see him coming back from Europe and then doing a quick practice session with the Dogs and embarking on a tour in May. We'll see.

The dude is notorious for jumping the gun on things.  He puts stuff on sale long before bands announce tours.  Considering how on the ball MP is with stuff like this, I wouldn't doubt if he found out and immediately took action. 

[Stadler]

To be honest, I'd be very surprised if The Winery Dogs actually comes back. I mean, they made some decent tunes, and apparently the shows were fun, but it wasn't growing and not really going anywhere. I mean, if you ask Eddie Trunk, he'd probably want half their profit for him putting together the band (like he always is quick to tell folks). 

But seriously, the Winery Dogs really didn't DO anything. I mean, I know Sons of Apollo are doing another record, and if that doesn't take a leap, I don't see them doing another either.

I almost - ALMOST - want TWD to never come back for that very reason.  Shut Trunk the f--- up. My god. 

Anyway, I'm not exactly with TAC on this, I don't think they BLEW, but it didn't move me much.   LIve it was fun to see Mike but the highlight was that I was literally three feet from Billy Sheehan watching him do what he does in real time (I still don't quite know how he does it) and talking briefly with him after the show, but i'm not holding my breath for more, to be honest.  I'm not holding my breath for ANYTHING that Mike is doing that doesn't have "Neal Morse" involved in it too, to be honest.    That makes me sad.

[The Walrus]

TWD is easily my favorite MP project and it's largely because of Richie. Pleeeease give us a third album soon

[ProfessorPeart]

So, I'm really really leaning to Onesti screwing up now. Richie is hinting that they are firing it up sooner rather than later.

https://loudwire.com/tenacious-d-sons-of-apollo-more-album-updates-2018-bowl-for-ronnie/

- While many acts are gearing up for new music, Richie Kotzen tells us he's excited for a bit of a break. After releasing the solo album Salting Earth in 2017, Kotzen will wrap touring for the disc this week in New York, at which point he intends to return to the new home that he just bought and do some handiwork getting the new place to his liking. “I need that balance. More than anything I like to create and write songs, and I can’t write songs if I’m doing the same thing every day. I’ve got to do some different things,” says Kotzen. When asked about The Winery Dogs, his band with Mike Portnoy and Billy Sheehan, he offered, "Keep your eyes and ears open. It may be happening sooner than you think.

[Samsara]

Given the info on Sons of Apollo going in the studio the first week of January, I wonder...if MP is off tour right now (not sure), I wonder if they are working on The Winery Dogs right now, with an eye on a 2019 release.

[Schurftkut]

i thought billy already said in an interview they were going to do the new album last summer?

also, if i google winery dogs 2019, top link is Graspop 2019 ;-)

[Phoenix87x]

I would love see them live. still on my to do list

[bosk1]

Off topic, but I wonder if Hellyeah may have reached out to Portnoy to fill their drumming spot after Vinnie Paul's passing.  I mean, as busy as he is, I don't see how he could do it without compromising other stuff and spreading himself too thin.  But on the other hand, this seems like it would be the kind of gig that would suit him in terms of drumming style and being able to play decent sized venues and touring with some pretty well-known acts. 

[Samsara]

Off topic, but I wonder if Hellyeah may have reached out to Portnoy to fill their drumming spot after Vinnie Paul's passing.  I mean, as busy as he is, I don't see how he could do it without compromising other stuff and spreading himself too thin.  But on the other hand, this seems like it would be the kind of gig that would suit him in terms of drumming style and being able to play decent sized venues and touring with some pretty well-known acts.

That's a good call. I mean, Hellyeah aren't necessarily at the level of A7X or even DT, so I am not sure it would pay enough to justify, but it is a higher profile gig than what he's currently doing, that's for sure.

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown reunite under a new name and go forward playing Pantera music. It might take another year or so to get it all set up, and prepare the marketing, but I could see that happening. Perhaps with Portnoy and Zakk Wylde (considering Ozzy is about done). I'd support that, as long as it wasn't called Pantera.

[TAC]

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown reunite under a new name and go forward playing Pantera music. It might take another year or so to get it all set up, and prepare the marketing, but I could see that happening. Perhaps with Portnoy and Zakk Wylde (considering Ozzy is about done). I'd support that, as long as it wasn't called Pantera.

Wow, that'd be pretty insane, and I don't even like Pantera.

[Samsara]

They'd play amphitheaters. It'd be huge. And right up Portnoy's alley. Would not be surprised at all. And as long as tastefully marketed and done, people would turn out in droves.

[bosk1]

Even if it isn't tastefully marketed, they would still have really good turnout. 

[Anxiety35]

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown reunite under a new name and go forward playing Pantera music. It might take another year or so to get it all set up, and prepare the marketing, but I could see that happening. Perhaps with Portnoy and Zakk Wylde (considering Ozzy is about done). I'd support that, as long as it wasn't called Pantera.
[/quote]

Talk about Phil and Rex doing a thing with Zakk has been going around for some time. I saw Pantera numerous times in the 90's. I don't think anything could recapture what their live shows were like. Anselmo's voice is pretty much gone now. I'm a Zakk Wylde fan and he may be a fan favorite to do the job, but I think Grady Champion would need to be the tech and get Dime's tone to come out of Zakk's guitar.  Wouldn't want to hear Pantera songs with Zakk's tone.

I'm intrigued with the suggestion of MP on drums. I know he could play the stuff, but I don't think MP when I think of Pantera material. Perhaps considering Mario Duplantier from Gojira or Dave Lombardo would be acceptable?

[Stadler]

They'd play amphitheaters. It'd be huge. And right up Portnoy's alley. Would not be surprised at all. And as long as tastefully marketed and done, people would turn out in droves.

What's your definition of "huge"?  Who draws from a "Pantera" without either of the Abbott Bros.?  Anselmo isn't putting 7,000 into an ampitheater, and neither is Rex Brown.  MAYBE Zakk, but he didn't do that with BLS, so what makes us think it'll happen here?

This reminds me of the discussion back on the old Genesis board; some guy figured that the three-man version toured stadiums doing the "current" setlist, so the original five playing the Lamb would do MULTIPLE NIGHTS of stadium shows in each city.  He sort of envisioned something like the original Wall shows, but in stadiums.  I felt obligated to let him know that that was a wildly optimistic assumption. 

[MinistroRaven]

With an old picture, the Winery Dogs FB page was updated today, I find this quite unusual, does it means some kind of unknown activity from the band?

[cramx3]

Maybe

[El Barto]

I'm not sure I agree.  I felt TWD were the most popular and easily accessible of MP's post DT bands.  Their music was used on Monday Night Football (Hot Streak was used in background music a lot during the season a couple years ago).  I can't think of another MP band that had that exposure.

The shows I saw in Dallas were absolutely packed. I saw both tours (self titled and Hot Streak). The Hot Streak show did better.

They weren't packed but they did draw a good crowd for the two GML shows. The second one was excellent. I enjoyed it a great deal. I thought the Granada show was weak, though.

And Kotzen was the star for all three of them.

[ProfessorPeart]

Hey, look who's touring starting in May 2019. What a shock.

https://twitter.com/TheWineryDogs/status/1063492195808890880

[axeman90210]

Hell yes

[cramx3]

Hey, look who's touring starting in May 2019. What a shock.

https://twitter.com/TheWineryDogs/status/1063492195808890880

 

[RodrigoAltaf]

YAY!!!

[MinistroRaven]

will they have a new album by then? it makes no sense start a tour after the long hiatus, does it?

[The Walrus]

Aw yeah. Gonna hopefully finally see the dogs.

[As I Am]

MP was my favorite member of DT. I was crushed when he left, not because I was worried about what DT would do, but because I knew I would have to follow MP from project to project. If there was one I liked, I figured it would be a one and done anyway. I haven't really liked anything he's done since leaving DT. And that bums me out. Even SOA, which I should like, I thought was terrible. I know he and whatever musicians he's working with will absolutely bring it live, but for all intents and purposes, MP basically fell off the map for me.


And that is what really sucks and blows.

Sons of Apollo was excellent, as have been the NMB albums.  But aside from that, I tend to agree with you.

Aside from Adrenaline Mob & Metal Allegiance, I LOVE EVERYTHING MP has been involved in since bolting DT!

[As I Am]

will they have a new album by then? it makes no sense start a tour after the long hiatus, does it?

No "new" album, just touring again! and most likely ONLY the US in May as Billy has a lot of touring going on with Mr. Big after that in '19.

[ProfessorPeart]

Aw yeah. Gonna hopefully finally see the dogs.

Well, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I have a premonition that they will be playing the Arcada in St. Charles on May 18th. Thanks Ron Onesti for having no self-control!

The Arcada is about 30-35 minutes from me. My fear is that good ole' Ron is going to price the tix at around $75. I think that's what he did on the second leg of the tour for the first album(!). If he goes too high, I will probably pass as much as I want to catch this show.

[TAC]

$75?? That's ridiculous.

[MinistroRaven]

will they have a new album by then? it makes no sense start a tour after the long hiatus, does it?

No "new" album, just touring again! and most likely ONLY the US in May as Billy has a lot of touring going on with Mr. Big after that in '19.

Not even an EP? Come on TWD you must already have something recorded from previous sessions!

[SwedishGoose]

To me the Winery Dogs first album was OK not more than that.... didn't bother with the second.
Sons of Apollo was quite uninterresting to me.

Since MP left DT I have only loved the things he has done with Neal Morse.... really looking forward to the new NMB album and tour next year.

The WD tour seems to be USA only but even if it was coming to my neck of the woods I don't think I would go see it... too much else good coming around that I would rather see.

[RodrigoAltaf]

will they have a new album by then? it makes no sense start a tour after the long hiatus, does it?

No "new" album, just touring again! and most likely ONLY the US in May as Billy has a lot of touring going on with Mr. Big after that in '19.

Not even an EP? Come on TWD you must already have something recorded from previous sessions!

Blame it on Ritchie Kotzen. If it wasn't for him, album 3 would have already been recorded, they would have already toured to promote it, and most likely Sons of Apollo wouldn't have existed.

[cramx3]

will they have a new album by then? it makes no sense start a tour after the long hiatus, does it?

No "new" album, just touring again! and most likely ONLY the US in May as Billy has a lot of touring going on with Mr. Big after that in '19.

Not even an EP? Come on TWD you must already have something recorded from previous sessions!

Blame it on Ritchie Kotzen. If it wasn't for him, album 3 would have already been recorded, they would have already toured to promote it, and most likely Sons of Apollo wouldn't have existed.

Yea pretty much, although I'm not sure I'll complain.  If Ritchie didn't want to do it, I'm glad we got SOA instead of nothing personally.  I'm glad the guys are back, I'm sure they will do something in the NYC area for this tour so I'd love to catch it.

will they have a new album by then? it makes no sense start a tour after the long hiatus, does it?

Why doesn't it?  Get their name back out there, make some money playing shows.  Have a fresh setlist (hopefully) and build some interest in the band after some time away.  I don't even think the hiatus was that long, although for a band with only two albums, yea maybe any hiatus is long. 

[RodrigoAltaf]

I'm hoping they come to Toronto and that they finally play The Lamb live ... Ritchie's solo on that song is out of this world!

[Madman Shepherd]

Aw yeah. Gonna hopefully finally see the dogs.

Well, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I have a premonition that they will be playing the Arcada in St. Charles on May 18th. Thanks Ron Onesti for having no self-control!

The Arcada is about 30-35 minutes from me. My fear is that good ole' Ron is going to price the tix at around $75. I think that's what he did on the second leg of the tour for the first album(!). If he goes too high, I will probably pass as much as I want to catch this show.

I love the Arcada, I love the area, I even love Onesti in the sense that he gets a lot of shows I would otherwise have to drive many more hours to see, so I am somewhat forgiving of his super price inflation.  Buckethead played a show there and the tickets were also $75 bucks which is insane because he was playing a club closer to me (that i couldnt go to) and tickets were $25 and you were literally feet from Buckethead.  I decided to pass on that.

will they have a new album by then? it makes no sense start a tour after the long hiatus, does it?

No "new" album, just touring again! and most likely ONLY the US in May as Billy has a lot of touring going on with Mr. Big after that in '19.

Not even an EP? Come on TWD you must already have something recorded from previous sessions!

Blame it on Ritchie Kotzen. If it wasn't for him, album 3 would have already been recorded, they would have already toured to promote it, and most likely Sons of Apollo wouldn't have existed.

Yea pretty much, although I'm not sure I'll complain.  If Ritchie didn't want to do it, I'm glad we got SOA instead of nothing personally.  I'm glad the guys are back, I'm sure they will do something in the NYC area for this tour so I'd love to catch it.

will they have a new album by then? it makes no sense start a tour after the long hiatus, does it?

Why doesn't it?  Get their name back out there, make some money playing shows.  Have a fresh setlist (hopefully) and build some interest in the band after some time away.  I don't even think the hiatus was that long, although for a band with only two albums, yea maybe any hiatus is long. 

Anymore, albums are becoming a bit of a formality.  You can actually sometimes make more money by touring randomly then spending time and cash on recording something and hoping that brings in more people.  It's a bummer but thats the way things are going

will they have a new album by then? it makes no sense start a tour after the long hiatus, does it?

No "new" album, just touring again! and most likely ONLY the US in May as Billy has a lot of touring going on with Mr. Big after that in '19.

Not even an EP? Come on TWD you must already have something recorded from previous sessions!

Blame it on Ritchie Kotzen. If it wasn't for him, album 3 would have already been recorded, they would have already toured to promote it, and most likely Sons of Apollo wouldn't have existed.

Don't they still have that cover songs EP that Ritchie didnt want to finish?  I don't blame him because MP and his amount of cover songs is a bit excessive.  I get the feeling that even though the band is a democracy, Ritchie sort of steers the ship more.