Originally slated for release this month, Leave Me Alone, the debut album from Nick Oliveri’s Uncontrollable is now set to arrive on Oct. 28 courtesy of Schnitzel Records. The new band, as it were, is essentially Oliveri. He plays everything on the record but lead guitar, for which he enlisted a number of comrades and friends as guests. Not a bad way to go when you happen to be buddies with Phil Campbell from Motörhead. That’s a good friend to have.

The PR wire has details and more on Leave Me Alone:

release date of Nick Oliveri solo album moves from Sept. to October

Nick Oliveri’s debut solo album, Leave Me Alone, is having its U.S. release moved from September to late October. The album gives powerfully captivating proof of his mastery of multiple instruments while boasting some of the most intensely visceral, hard-rocking music he’s made – no small achievement for someone who’s served time in the ranks of Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, and The Dwarves, not to mention his own band Mondo Generator…among others.. Produced by Oliveri himself, recorded by Harper Hug and Trevor Whatever, and mixed by Mathias Schneeberger Leave Me Alone will be released on Schnitzel Records October 28.

Many artists struggle to establish their musical identity; Nick Oliveri has forged his through a long career of hard work and full command over his craft and his music. Recording at Thunder Underground Studios in his longtime haunt of Palm Springs, CA, Oliveri sang and played drums, guitar and bass — all the instruments on every track save the guitar solos. The solos were provided by an array of distinguished guests including Phil Campbell from Motorhead, Mickey Melchiondo (a.k.a. Dean Ween) from Ween and Moistboyz, Stephen Haas from Moistboyz, Mike Pygmie from Mondo Generator, Marc Diamond from The Dwarves and Bruno Fevery from Kyuss Lives!/ Vista Chino; mostly once and future bandmates. There’s also a guest vocal by Blag Dahlia from The Dwarves.

Born in Los Angeles, Oliveri began his musical career in the late 80’s with Katzenjammer whose personnel would eventually gain worldwide recognition under the name Kyuss. Appearing on their Wretch and Blues for the Red Sunalbums, Oliveri left the group and joined The Dwarves. He eventually rejoined Kyuss guitarist Josh Homme forming Queens of the Stone Age. Nick would go on to front his own band Mondo Generator and collaborate onstage and in the studio with a wide variety of distinctive, oftimes extreme outfits including the Mark Lanegan Band, Masters of Reality, Turbonegro, Moistboyz, Bl’ast, and Kyuss Lives!/Vista Chino to name but a few.

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Nick Oliveri, “Too Tough to Die” (Ramones cover) live in Paris, July 21, 2014

Masters of Reality, Flak ‘n’ Flight (2003)

First, I love this album. I don’t know that I have a favorite live record, but if I did, this would have to be high on the list if not at the top. From the dripping sentimental opening guitar lines of “The Ballad of Jody Fosty” used as the intro on down to Mark Lanegan himself showing up for “High Noon Amsterdam” and Chris Goss (2010 interview here) leading the way brilliantly through a set spanning what was already by then a substantial career backed by drummer John Leamy and Queens of the Stone Age‘s Josh Homme and Nick Oliveri, ending with “She Got Me (When She Got Her Dress On)” and the Ramones cover “Cretin Hop,” it’s just perfect. Right band, right time, right songs. The versions here of “Rabbit One” and “Why the Fly?” outdo their studio counterparts (the latter is my favorite single Masters of Reality moment, period), and “Deep in the Hole” and “Third Man on the Moon” remind of how criminally underrated 2001’s Deep in the Hole — the full-length which Masters of Reality was touring to support at the time — is in the sphere of desert rock. Unreal, how good this record is.

Of course, Goss is probably best known as the producer of Kyuss at their peak, having helmed the holy trinity of 1992’s Blues for the Red Sun, 1994’s Welcome to Sky Valley and 1995’s …And the Circus Leaves Town, but Masters of Reality goes all the way back to 1981 when Goss started the band on the East Coast. Their first album, Masters of Reality (aka The Blue Garden) arrived in 1989 and it and 1993’s Sunrise on the Sufferbus set the band apart from both commercial rock and the nascent grunge movement, “alternative” still very much an underground ideal at that point. It would be six years before Welcome to the Western Lodge showed up in 1999, but when it did, it found Masters of Reality with a more psychedelic focus — influences and experiments that would solidify into the prime songwriting of Deep in the Hole two years later. Goss‘ second album working with Leamy, it also featured Dave Catching, Lanegan, and a host of others, including Homme and Oliveri, who at that point were one year removed from Queens of the Stone Age‘s second album, Rated R.

I don’t know how they wound up doing the tour with Goss. Rated R came out in June 2000, so a full year’s touring cycle (which included their disastrous stint on Ozzfest 2000) would’ve likely been done, but I’m not sure on the timeline of this European run, which was Sept.-Dec. 2001, and when Queens started working on their third record, 2003’s now-classic Songs for the Deaf, on which Goss also appears, singing lead on the bonus track “Mosquito Song.” Still, Flak ‘n’ Flight captures all of these players at an arguable pinnacle of their powers, and is a thrilling, special document of a moment not likely to come again. Masters of Reality‘s latest outing was 2009’s Pine/Cross Dover (review here), which showed Goss‘ will to manipulate a pop influence was unabated.

Hope you enjoy.

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Next week is Vinyl Week. I’ve got a backlog of LPs that need to get written about, so I’m just gonna plow through them as best I’m able. To be honest, I doubt I’ll get through all of it — the pile’s like that — but I’m going to try damn hard to do precisely that and we’ll just see how it goes. Stay tuned as well for a couple giveaways (yes, vinyl giveaways) and anything else I can think of. I also have a couple streams planned, for Brain Pyramid and U Sco and who knows what else will come down the line in that regard, but my priority all next week is LP reviews, so if it’s news or whatever that has to get pushed back to fit that in, that’s what I’m going to do. The rest can wait. I gotta clear some space on my desk.

So, reviews of Storm Ross, 35007, The Kings of Frog Island, Mos Generator and more coming up next week. It’ll be awesome.

I’m also leaving in a little over an hour’s time to go see Blackwolfgoat‘s CD release show in Allston, so I’ll review that as well. Big Friday night out. I was all set to go see Magic Circle in Cambridge last night, but the thought of being in such proximity to Harvard this close to the start of the semester scared me off. Wide-eyed scholarship winners perpetuating the global elite. I stayed home and hung out with The Patient Mrs. I’m sure the show was good, but can’t say I feel like I lost out.

There’s more, but I need to put some water on for pre-show pasta. Do us both a favor and have a great and safe weekend, and please check out the forum and radio stream.

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Though he’s had EPs and shorter releases out under his own name and built a catalog as principle songwriter in Mondo Generator, bassist/vocalist Nick Oliveri will issue Leave Me Alone as his debut solo full-length, in September through Schnitzel Records. Oliveri, who’s spent the better part of 2014 working with Bl’ast, also put in appearances with The Dwarves and John Garcia‘s solo outing, in addition to his own acoustic shows — a solo appearance at the UK’s Download Festival stands out — and sitting in with his former band, Queens of the Stone Age, for one of the stops on their tour.

How Leave Me Alone might be distinct from Mondo Generator in vibe or approach remains to be heard, but Oliveri‘s lined up a selection of killer guitarists — including Kyuss Lives! bandmate Bruno Fevery — to contribute, and he produced the album himself at Thunder Underground, which has more or less become the home of CA desert recording, so it seems like it’s going to be worth finding out.

From the PR wire:

Nick Oliveri (ex Kyuss, QOTSA) releasing hard n heavy solo debut

Many artists struggle to establish their musical identity; Nick Oliveri has forged his through a long career of hard work and full command over his craft and his music. His new album, LEAVE ME ALONE, is a powerfully captivating proof of his multi-talented personality. The new album is being released on Schnitzel Records worldwide in late September 2014.

Recorded at Thunder Underground Studios in Palm Springs, CA. Oliveri plays all the instruments on this recording, including drums, guitar, bass and vocals. It features guitar solos from some special guests though, namely Phil Campbell from MOTORHEAD, Dean Ween (a.k.a. Mickey Moist) from WEEN and MOISTBOYZ, Stephen Haas from MOISTBOYZ, Mike Pygmie from MONDO GENERATOR, Marc Diamond from THE DWARVES and Bruno Fevery from KYUSS LIVES! and VISTA CHINO. There’s also a guest vocal by Blag Dahlia from THE DWARVES.

Produced by Oliveri himself, recorded by Harper Hug and Trevor Whatever, and mixed by Mathias Schneeberger the album will be released on Schnitzel Records this September.

Schnitzel Records is home to Ween, Alain Johannes, Dean Fertita (Hello=Fire), Moistboyz and The Moons.

Oliveri will spend most of 2014 on the road. Playing both acoustic and with his new band, UNCONTROLLABLE. Nick will also be headlining the Acoustic Stage at this year’s Download Festival.

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Nick Oliveri, Live at the Black Heart, London, 2014

After ending their supporting slots for Clutch‘s annual holiday tour (review here), Wino, Saviours and Mondo Generator for a round of tour dates that’s currently winding down on the West Coast. I missed them when they started off the run in Brooklyn owing to illness, but the kind souls at Digitalive Productions taped the entire Wino set last Friday, Jan. 4, at Pittsburgh’s 31st St. Pub with three cameras in HD and with soundboard audio. I don’t mind saying I watched the whole thing this morning and short of being in 3D or actually being the show itself, it’s about as close as modern technology can bring you to the real thing.

Of particular note is the finale of Savoy Brown’s “Hellbound Train.” Wino‘s been kicking the song around for a while now — he also played it on tour with Conny Ochs last year — but as it closes out the set here, he’s joined on stage by Nick Oliveri of Mondo Generator and Saviours’ Sonny Christopher Reinhardt and Scott Batiste. The four-piece run through a pretty basic arrangement of the song, though flourishes like Scott Batiste‘s cymbal crash near the finish are worth noting, but still, just to have those dudes on stage at the same time is pretty killer. Not that Wino can put out a record with every tourmate he has, but a collaboration with Oliveri on bass would be awesome.

Other highlights of the set include “Crystal Madonna,” which is another song he performed with Ochs, and “Adrift” and “I Don’t Care” from the Adrift acoustic debut. If you’ve got 35 minutes, I’d recommend a front to back viewing session, full screen if need be.

Happy Wino Wednesday:

It’s strange, because Nick Oliveri has such a reputation for being predictable and reliable, but Mondo Generator has canceled their previously announced US tour. Insert your own “rejoining Queens of the Stone Age” rumor here. The PR wire sent over this brief statement:

Mondo Generator have had to postpone their current US tour. The band are very sorry about this and would like to apologize to all involved; The shows will be rescheduled to run in December and January. New dates will be announced shortly.

I don’t think I’m breaking any new critical ground when I say that Mondo Generator‘s last full-length, Dead Planet, wasn’t exactly blowing the doors down. Nonetheless, as the figure so critical in bringing any kind of edge to the songwriting of Queens of the Stone Age, to whom I can only hope and imagine he’ll return eventually if not sooner, I have faith in Nick Oliveri to pull a killer record from out his often-seen ass, and I look forward to the Time to Destroy LP that will follow the band’s new single, Dog Food.

The PR wire has the goods on Dog Food, which features Happy Tom (Turbonegro) and Dave Grohl, and some Mondo Generator tour dates. Be friends with it:

Mondo Generator have announced a run of shows through August and September in support of their new single Dog Food (available on August 10). Special guests for all shows will be Tweak Bird with Its Casual and Violent Soho also joining for selected shows. Tickets are on sale now at venues and usual outlets…

Aug. 4- Elbo Room, San Francisco CA
Aug. 6- Dante’s, Portland OR
Aug. 7- Studio 7, Seattle WA
Aug. 9- Club Vegas, Salt Lake City UT
Aug. 11- 3 Kings Tavern, Denver CO
Aug. 12- Riot Room, Kansas City MO
Aug. 13- Triple Rock Social Club, Minneapolis MN
Aug. 14- Frequency, Madison WI
Aug. 15- Double Door, Chicago IL
Aug. 16- Southgate House, Newport KY
Aug. 17- Smalls, Hamtramck MI
Aug. 18- Bug Jar, Rochester NY
Aug. 19- Santos, New York NY
Aug. 20- Middle East Upstairs, Cambridge MA
Aug. 21- North Star Bar, Philadelphia PA
Aug. 22- 37th & Zen, Norfolk VA
Aug. 24- Casbah @ Trenton Music Hall, Charlotte NC
Aug. 25- Stella Blue, Asheville NC
Aug. 26- Hi Tone Cafe, Memphis TN
Aug. 27- The Conservatory, Oklahoma City OK
Aug. 28- Emo’s, Austin TX
Aug. 29- Skillman Street Bar, Dallas TX
Aug. 31- Launch Pad, Albuquerque NM
Sep. 2- Spaceland, Los Angeles CA

Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Mondo Generator, Dwarves, duh) has been playing solo acoustic shows out west for a couple years now, but following the release of his album, Death Acoustic, he’s heading east for two weeks next month. The PR wire has the details:

Nick Oliveri has taken his Death Acoustic tour to Australia, New Zealand and Europe, now he is heading home with a run of solo shows across the United States east coast during January/February and west coast dates set to follow shortly after. Catch Nick in intimate, solo mode at :

Fri, January 22nd – Middle East, Cambridge MA
Sat, January 23rd – Pianos, New York NY
Sun, January 24th – Khyber, Philadelphia PA
Mon, January 25th – Velvet Lounge, Washington DC
Tue, January 26th – Volume 11 Tavern, Raleigh NC
Wed, January 27th – Casbah @ Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte NC
Thu, January 28th – Lenny’s, Atlanta GA
Fri, January 29th – The End, Nashville TN
Sat, January 30th – Hi Tone, Memphis TN
Mon, February 1st – Double Door, Chicago IL
Tue, February 2nd – Frequency, Madison WI
Wed, February 3rd – Southgate House, Newport KY
Thu, February 4th – Grog Shop, Cleveland OH
Fri, February 5th – Small’s, Hamtramck MI
Sat, February 6th – Garfield Artworks, Pittsburgh PA

…Here he is in a clip from when he and Josh Homme were on tour with Masters of Reality (note the “We don’t give a fuck!” reference that shows up on the Flak ‘n’ Flight live record), talking about how much he hates corporate rock. You even get to see Chris Goss for a couple seconds. Charm abounds!