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FORMAT DOCUMENT
People Say…
"They sound a little like….."
Early Aerosmith,
Grand Funk, Van Halen, Bob Seager, Early Jimmy Page, Thin Lizzy, Lenny Kravitz, Bad Company, Humble Pie, AC/DC, Black Crowes,
Rod Stewart, Kid Rock, The Rolling Stones, Brain Adams, Deep Purple...
..but it’s Their own brand of Kick Ass
Rock & Roll.
- MRN
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ROCK REVIEW - January 3, 2005
MUSIC CONNECTION – Hollywood, CA
January
3, 2005 Vol. XXIX No. 1 - Page 46
Demo Critiques – Executive committee
Thumbing it’s snout at
studio trickery, this Dawg’s concept is to have it’s members plug in and – with no prior rehearsal –
rip into some from-the-gut blues rock music until an “unpolished gem of rock” emerges. On the band’s second
full-legther, the results are right up any classic rock fan’s alley. Robin Trower, Bad Company, Steve Marriot and Grand
Funk are all avidly channeled by these seasoned, hard-hitting musicians. “Are You Still My Lover” stands out.
 ROCK REVIEW - December 2004
MUSIC MORSELS - Album Capsules
December 2004 by Mark
E. Waterbury
Music Morsels – Serge Entertainment
http://www.serge.org/musicmorsels1204.htm
The
second CD from California's RAWK DAWG features more blistering rock and roll with whiskey blues fueled vocals slightly reminiscent
of Phil Lynot. Growling guitars and gritty rhythms take their cues from Kings X, KISS and the Black Crowes. This band is one
that has that uncanny knack of taking a fairly simple approach to rock and squeezing every microcosm of power out of every
aspect they can. This makes for powerfully enjoyable music.
****************************************
 ROCK REVIEW...
September 22, 2004
"Rawk Dawg, the west coast guitar driven rock
monster, has just released their 2nd disk called "We Only Came To Rock" and it quickly dispels the notion that second
efforts frequently lose steam. In a thousand years, when they open the great time capsule of rock n' roll music from the second
Millennium, they will find these guys still steaming. People keep saying that rock n' roll will go the way of Ragtime and
20's American Jazz and Big Band dancing music and Late 40's swing and so on and so on but all I can tell you is that my 15
year old son took my copy of this disk and he won't give it back. Nuff said, Dudes! These guys pay homage to the very beginnings
of what makes us all bob our heads to this music -- like the days of Savoy Brown and The Vagrants and drumming like Corky
Lang and Ginger Baker -- Rawk Dawg isn't touring right now and we wonder why? At least they should be putting out DVD's of
them jamming at home so the younger folks can play them on their 42" plasma screens...."
Edward Sackett
- Senior Music Editor C500.COM
They'll have a 3 song blast on the front page and will go into Heavy Rotation right
after --
Michael Shaffer, WebMaster C500.COM
the voice of low power radio
********************************************
"WE ONLY CAME TO ROCK" - RAWK DAWG
September
13, 2004 by ROTCOD
RAWK DAWG CD - "WE ONLY CAME TO ROCK": & they ain't lyin', people! Edgy
stuff here that'll keep yer' earz' on their toes! I only had to listen to the 9 tracks once to know this is a cracker-jack
top-rawker! Thrum-hard drums crackle like thunder under (& sometimes in front of) guitars that bring to mind Robin Trower
on steroids... on "Hook Up" (my favorite track), there are pea-gravel vocals that grate against your "nice"
tendencies & reveal your inner emotions for what they (really) are - raw & sore! Another great cut is track 5, "Did
I Get Lucky"... about th' early onset of Parkinson's, perhaps? Heh! Heh! Pretty rough when you can't even remember what
yer' GOT last night, but I remember LOTS of nites when I couldn't remember (in th' BAD ol' daze, o' course). I still think
these guys ought to put some CREDITS on th' jacket somewhere, but maybe they're on th' run from George W. Bush, or somethin'.
This second CD (we reviewed their first one over HERE), earns them a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for all greased-lightning rock fans...
GREAT album, folks... keep 'em coming! by Zzaj Productions – Rotcod Zzaj Lacey, WA –
ROTCOD
aka Dick Metcalf - Lacey, Washington, USA He's been playing, publishing and reviewing all types of music for over 30 years
now!
rotcod@comcast.net
Site: http://home.comcast.net/~rotcod1/Z66Reviews.htm
Rawk Dawg: We Only Came To Rock: It's time
to ROCK OUT! (Or is it?)
RAMPWAY - Arts & Entertainment
Published October 27, 2004
By Matt Sailor
Among their musical influences, Redondo Beach's Rawk Dawg counts Van Halen, The Rolling Stones, Deep Purple and Bad Company.
When the first track on their second album, "We Only Came to Rock" kicks in, these influences are clearly heard.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then this improvisation-focused group wears their loyalty to the history of
hard rock on their sleeves. But that's not to say that there is nothing of value or interest in their music. I can't profess
any inordinate love for any of the bands listed as Rawk Dawg's favorites, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed their
music. The production on the disc is completely without frills, and unlike a lot of music, you can easily pick out the two
different guitars, the bass, the drums and the vocals. There's no "atmosphere" on this album, just the hard pumping
of the music like a bawdy jackhammer.
On the better tracks on the CD, such as "Are You Still My Lover"
and "Did I Get Lucky," Rawk Dawg makes you feel like you're sitting in the garage of some friend, listening to the
latest songs that his weekend band has come up with. If you let your mind wander, you could even mistake these songs for covers
of existing rock songs. This isn't a bad thing. In fact, it's the thing that appeals most about this album. The lyrics aren't
poetry: "When you feel an earthquake shaking your bed/well don't call CalTech, cause it's all in your head/It's just
me/making love to you." But these guys are classically trained in the style of music where the only "movements"
are those in your feet, in your fists and in your hips. Rawk Dawg will not be changing the world with their music, and they
might not be doing anything new, but they deliver what they promise: straightforward, no nonsense rock music.
__________
Get all the RAWK DAWG
reviews in a PDF document
by clicking
below.
FORMAT DOCUMENT
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ROCK CITY NEWS
MARCH 30th issue & REVIEW
 
RAWK DAWG is 4 piece Rock n’ Roll Army following the likes of Motley Crue in bringing RAW ROCK back
into the spotlight. Reviewers across the country seem to agree.
MUSIC CONNECTION magazine of Hollywood said on
January 3, 2005: Thumbing it's snout at studio trickery, this Dawg's concept is to have it's members plug in and - with no
prior rehearsal - rip into some from-the-gut blues rock music until an "unpolished gem of rock" emerges. On the
band's second full-legther, the results are right up any classic rock fan's alley. Robin Trower, Bad Company, Steve Marriot
and Grand Funk are all avidly channeled by these seasoned, hard-hitting musicians. "Are You Still My Lover" stands
out.
On the East, Serge Entertainment /MUSIC MORSELS of Georgia said in December 2004: The second CD from California's
RAWK DAWG features more blistering rock and roll with whiskey blues fueled vocals slightly reminiscent of Phil Lynot. Growling
guitars and gritty rhythms take their cues from Kings X, KISS and the Black Crowes. This band is one that has that uncanny
knack of taking a fairly simple approach to rock and squeezing every microcosm of power out of every aspect they can. This
makes for powerfully enjoyable music.
In Florida, THE COLLEGE 500 is www.C500.com said in September 22, 2004:
"Rawk Dawg", The West coast guitar driven rock monster, has just released their 2nd disk called "We Only Came
To Rock" and it quickly dispels the notion that second efforts frequently lose steam. In a thousand years, when they
open the great time capsule of rock n' roll music from the second Millennium, they will find these guys still steaming.
In another entertainment part of the world, Jo Island of RAWK DAWG is the voice of KING KONG in the line of toys to
be released in conjunction with the Universal Pictures Film, King Kong, directed by Peter Jackson. Playmates Toys Ltd is the
Master License holder.
********************************
MUSIK MAGAZIN Review (in German)
AUSTRIA / GERMANY
Das Erstaunliche daran, wie RAWK DAWG ihre Musik schreiben, ist, dass sie sie eigentlich gar nicht schreiben.
Sie gehen ins Studio, haben ein paar Wortfetzen mit, die cool klingen, stecken die Stromgitarren, den Bass und die Mikros
an, dann wirft sich einer hinter das Schlagzeug. Irgendjemand drückt dann noch schnell auf "Aufnahme" und dann
wird improvisiert. Erstaunlich eigentlich.
Vor allem deshalb erstaunlich, weil trotz dieses sehr ungewöhnlichen
Kreativprozesses wirklich so etwas wie Rockmusik aus den Lautsprechern dröhnt. Okay, man darf sich keine ausgeklügelten
Arrangements erwarten, und die Produktion ist auch nicht so, wie man sie vielleicht gerne hätte, aber unerwarteter weise
passt alles.
Die raue Produktion, die Songs, okay, die Texte sind keine Perlen, aber für großteils
improvisierte Wortfetzen erstaunlich zusammenhängend und ja, es ROCKT.
Der Titel der CD ist gleichzeitig
Programm. Nichts als pure, reinrassige Rockmusik wohin das Ohr hört. Hin und wieder denkt man sich zwar, das kommt einem
bekannt vor, aber wenn man aus dem Stehgreif spielt, ist das glaube ich mehr als nur verzeihlich. Und wenn man bedenkt was
uns manche Leute nach ewig langen Kreativprozessen als Musik zu verkaufen versuchen, dann kann man vor den Herrn von RAWK
DAWG nur den Hut ziehen, denn das Material ist durch die Bank hörenswert und es fällt keiner der Songs irgendwie
negativ aus dem Rahmen. Extrem positiv aus dem Rahmen fällt auf jeden Fall mal der Opener "Are You Still My Lover",
mit Sicherheit der Ohrwurm dieser CD.
Unterm Strich neun Songs, die Rock N Roll Vibes versprühen und richtig
rau und dreckig aus den Boxen donnern. Ja, diese DOGS ROCKEN.
*****************************************
MIXPOSURE REVIEW - GERMANY 4/22/05
by
Marijan - REVIEW CREW MIXPOSURE
"ARE YOU STILL MY LOVER"
"POWERFULL"
Excellent
vocals over a beautiful foundation. Great thrilling guitars. It's very upbeat and I like it a lot. Excellent production and
musicianship. Very pleasant track to listen to. Great work and highly recommended!
*****************************************
STUBBLE – MUSICZINE – Issue 37 Jan. 2005
By LB - Medford,Massachusetts
www.stubblemusiczine.com
stubblezne@aol.com
RAWK DAWG- We Only Came To Rock (Music Room Publishing) Post Hendrix guitar rock with lots of
bluesy hooks. Wish it was instrumental as the guitar playing is the attracting force. A remarkable improvement over their
debut CD that in a few years they will refer to as a demo. Rawk Dawg rocks this time! LB
*****************************************
THE CELEBRITY CAFE
“ROCK WITH AN ATTITUDE”…
There is no false advertising
here. This is the type of Rock that the Rolling Stones used to do. We're not claiming it's the next Rolling Stones, but it
certainly has a raw, edgy quality that's rarely seen in these techno, hyper-produced days. by THE CELEBRITY CAFE - 12/09/2002 ______________ ZZAJ PRODUCTIONS
rotcod@comcast.net
ROCK
REVIEW 2002
RAWK DAWG's "ROCK WITH AT ATTITUDE"
This is indeed some rawk-in' stuph! Pretty basic
4-piece grouping, with guitar (Jo Island & Justin Case), bass (Evan Chuley), drums (Mia Ana) & vocals (Jo Island &
Evan Chuley), but they distinguish themselves with rock tunes that are definitely in "harder edge" territory. I
dig it 'coz they don't over-glam it, keepin' it to that kiind o' rock that was made for moto-cycle mamas & ridin' th'
roadz! The liner notes hype it as having been improvised, & there is a real sense of spontaneous playing... so, it ain't
all hype! Even us old pharts need a dose of th' juice every once in a bloo moon, & these volkz got energy quotients at
th' mega-watt level! If yer' a hard-core improv/free-jazz purist, you won't find this attractive... but if you like to feel
those raw instincts pumpin' through yer' veins - GET THIS ONE!GREAT stuff, reminiscent (in some spots) of Bachman-Turner Overdrive
& (even) Deep Purple.
...Rotcod Zzaj
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 RARWRITER.COM™RAWK DAWG www.rawkdawg.com RAWK DAWG
did well in the 2006 Rock City News Awards,
competing strongly in the Outstanding Hollywood
Band and Outstanding Blues Band categories. Singer/guitarist Jo Island fronts this balls-to-the-walls
four-piece guitar and drums classic rock unit that
will put you to mind of Motley Crew, Robin Trower,
Bad Company, Steve Marriot and Grand Funk. Jo is a throwback
to an earlier time in rock, the kind of a guy who hosts late night jams in darkly lit Sunset Boulevard clubs. Rawk Dawg has been entered into the 47th Grammy Awards program again with We Only Came To Rock, with
submittals in 13 categories including Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Performance. Rawk Dawg released Rock With
An Attitude in 2002, then in 2004 released their second LP, We Only Came to Rock, which yielded the college radio hit “In My Mind,” which was one of the top 10 singles on college radio that year. The band received Grammy
nominations for Best
Rock Album, Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance. They have been featured on the Lollapalooza Tour, sharing a stage with Jane’s Addiction and The
Donnas. The band
also released a well-received studio improv LP, Raw, which included nine “unpolished gems.” Jo Island has also lent his voice talents to Kong Tones, a minisoundtrack of the sounds of KING KONG ® that was sponsored by movie director Peter Jackson (King Kong, Lord of the Rings Trilogy). Also lending their talents to
that recording were the V-Rex’s, Raptors, Natives, and Jungle Drums. The CD was produced to represent sounds from the film and used in association with the
marketing of King Kongrelated consumer products.
RAWK
DAWG MP3S: Listen to Rawk Dawg MP3s on their site, or go to Jo Island's MySpace http://www.myspace.com/joisland ****************** Reviewer: Cap'n Barney WMHB DJ - capnbarney@gwi.net
"ROCK WITH AN ATTITUDE"
Every few years, we hear that "rock is dead". Well, RAWK DAWG
let’s us know that not only is rock alive, but it’s also kickin, bustin’ up the furniture and breakin’
down the walls! Want that live-feel, kickin’ rock sound? Check out RAWK DAWG’s "ROCK WITH AN ATTITUDE"
and you WON’T be disappointed! When I listen to RAWK DAWG I think of: Black Crowes and the raspy vocal style of Bryan
Adams. Plus the opening guitar riffs on tracks 7 (THAT LITTLE TATTOO) and 9 (WALKIN’ OUT OF MY SHOES) are vintage early
Van Halen power chords and the songs just plain ROCK!
by Reviewer: Cap’n Barney, WMHB community DJ
capnbarney@gwi.net
Colby College, Waterville, Maine
and on the website www.colby.edu/wmhb/reviews
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INDIE-MUSIC.com
by Shellie Byrum
"ROCK WITH AN ATTITUDE"
Attitude. It’s what a lot of people long for; to possess a certain persona that tells people you refuse to be messed
with.
That’s the first word that pops into your mind when you listen to Rawk Dawg’s debut album, fittingly
titled Rock with an Attitude.
Rawk Dawg, a rock group consisting of Jo Island (Vocals/Guitar), Evan Chuley (Bass/Vocals),
Justin Case (Guitar) and Mia Ana (Drums), gives a hard rock performance with a classic appeal in the album.
Hints
of AC/DC, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, and maybe even a little early Aerosmith can be heard throughout Rock. Island’s voice
has that typical raspy, unpolished quality that is prominent in the best of rock groups.
The raw attribute that
pervades the vocals is also present in the music. These songs were apparently recorded in improv sessions, so the production
is a little rough around the edges. The outcome is definitely under processed, and yet that seems to fit the band perfectly.
Rawk Dawg produces the kinds of songs that you can literally rock out to. Think motorcycle bars, with the music blaring
and beers being downed.
As the instrumentation is basic, two guitars, bass and drums, nothing particularly special
is heard throughout the album as far as different musical approaches. Again, just simple rock songs, something that you don’t
have to think about to listen to and enjoy.
The lyrics follow the same path. Whether you choose to listen to the
words or not, it doesn’t matter. It’s apparent that Rawk Dawg only came to rock, not convey anything of deep philosophical
merit.
But the lack of complexity is not an issue, because if you’re listening to Rawk Dawg, you don’t
want to analyze or think about life. You just want to rock, and gain that attitude that can only be found with rock music.
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