Revised article

This is a revised version of an article originally published on [larsolino.dev](https://larsolino. ev/articles/cloudflare-tunnel) on April 17, 2025.

Cloudflare Tunnel lets you expose a local service to the internet without opening inbound ports on your router or publishing your origin IP address. The cloudflared process creates outbound connections to Cloudflare, which forwards incoming requests to your local service.

This guide sets up a locally managed tunnel with a custom domain and a local config.yml. You start the tunnel manually when needed, rather than installing it as a permanent service.

The examples use macOS with Homebrew and a domain managed through Cloudflare.

Note

The tunnel’s routing configuration and credentials are stored locally. DNS records, tunnel registration, and any Cloudflare Access policies are managed through Cloudflare.

Install cloudflared

brew install cloudflared

Authenticate with Cloudflare

Run:

cloudflared tunnel login

This opens a browser where you sign in to Cloudflare and select the domain.

The command creates an account certificate:

~/.cloudflared/cert.pem

It does not create your config.yml.

The certificate authorizes management operations such as creating tunnels and configuring DNS routes. Running an existing tunnel requires its tunnel credentials, described below.

Important

Keep cert.pem and the tunnel credentials out of Git repositories. The account certificate grants broader management permissions than the credentials for an individual tunnel.

Create the tunnel

cloudflared tunnel create my-tunnel

This registers the tunnel and creates a credentials file:

~/.cloudflared/<TUNNEL-ID>.json

Record the tunnel UUID and credentials path printed by the command.

The JSON file contains credentials for running this tunnel. Routing settings belong in the separate YAML configuration.

Creating the tunnel does not start it.

To list your tunnels:

cloudflared tunnel list

Create config.yml

Create:

~/.cloudflared/config.yml

Add the following configuration, replacing <TUNNEL-ID> and <mac-user>:

tunnel: <TUNNEL-ID>
credentials-file: /Users/<mac-user>/.cloudflared/<TUNNEL-ID>.json

ingress:
  - hostname: my-tunnel.example.com
    service: http://localhost:8080
  - service: http_status:404

The fields mean:

• tunnel: The UUID of your tunnel.
• credentials-file: The absolute path to its JSON credentials file.
• ingress: Rules mapping incoming hostnames to local services.
• service: The destination that cloudflared connects to.

The final rule returns HTTP 404 for requests that do not match an earlier rule. Keep this catch-all rule last.

In this example, your application must be running at:

http://localhost:8080

Validate the ingress configuration:

cloudflared tunnel --config ~/.cloudflared/config.yml ingress validate

Configure DNS

Create the DNS route:

cloudflared tunnel route dns my-tunnel my-tunnel.example.com

This creates a CNAME record pointing to your tunnel’s Cloudflare hostname:

<TUNNEL-ID>.cfargotunnel.com

Important

The hostname in the DNS command must match ingress.hostname in config.yml. Here, both use my-tunnel.example.com.

If a conflicting DNS record already exists, inspect it in the Cloudflare dashboard and update or remove it as appropriate.

This DNS step is normally needed only once. Starting and stopping the tunnel does not require recreating the record.

Run the tunnel

First, start your local application on port 8080.

Then start the tunnel:

cloudflared tunnel --config ~/.cloudflared/config.yml run my-tunnel

Explicitly specifying the configuration file and tunnel makes it clear which settings are being used.

While the tunnel is running, open:

https://my-tunnel.example.com

Press Ctrl+C in the terminal to stop the foreground process.

Note

Publishing an HTTP application through a tunnel makes it reachable through its public hostname. To restrict access, configure a Cloudflare Access application and an allow policy for the intended users.

Run in the background

Start the tunnel with a log file and save its process ID:

nohup cloudflared tunnel \
  --config ~/.cloudflared/config.yml \
  run my-tunnel \
  > ~/.cloudflared/tunnel.log 2>&1 &

echo $! > ~/.cloudflared/tunnel.pid

Read the log:

tail -f ~/.cloudflared/tunnel.log

Stop the saved process:

kill "$(cat ~/.cloudflared/tunnel.pid)"
rm ~/.cloudflared/tunnel.pid

Use the PID while it still identifies that running tunnel process. A stale PID file can refer to a different process later.

Avoid using pkill cloudflared for a specific tunnel: it terminates all matching cloudflared processes.

Background execution does not keep the Mac awake or restart the tunnel after a reboot.

Optional ZSH helper script

Save the following as tunnel.sh:

#!/bin/zsh

CONFIG="${HOME}/.cloudflared/config.yml"
LOGFILE="${HOME}/.cloudflared/tunnel.log"
TUNNEL="my-tunnel"

if [[ "$1" == "-b" ]]; then
  echo "Starting tunnel in the background."
  echo "Log: ${LOGFILE}"

  nohup cloudflared tunnel \
    --config "$CONFIG" \
    run "$TUNNEL" \
    > "$LOGFILE" 2>&1 &

  echo "PID: $!"
  echo "Stop this process with: kill $!"
else
  echo "Starting tunnel in the foreground."

  exec cloudflared tunnel \
    --config "$CONFIG" \
    run "$TUNNEL"
fi

Make it executable:

chmod +x tunnel.sh

Run in the foreground:

./tunnel.sh

Or in the background:

./tunnel.sh -b

For background execution, record the printed PID so you can stop that specific process.

Check tunnel status

You can inspect your tunnel in either dashboard:

• Cloudflare dashboard → Networking → Tunnels
• Cloudflare Zero Trust → Networks → Connectors

From the terminal:

cloudflared tunnel info my-tunnel

Caching during development

HTTP traffic through Cloudflare Tunnel can be subject to Cloudflare’s CDN caching rules.

Cloudflare does not cache HTML or JSON by default. Certain static resources, including CSS, JavaScript, and images, are eligible for caching. Actual behavior depends on file extensions, response headers, and configured cache rules.

If changes are not appearing:

1. Check whether the browser is serving a cached copy.
2. Check the application’s Cache-Control headers.
3. Review Cloudflare Cache Rules for the development hostname.
4. Purge the affected URLs if necessary.

For a development hostname, a Cache Rule that bypasses caching can be more convenient than repeatedly purging the cache.

Using a tunnel for SSH

The configuration above publishes a web application. For SSH access, use a separate hostname and an SSH service rule:

ingress:
  - hostname: ssh.example.com
    service: ssh://localhost:22
  - service: http_status:404

Create the corresponding DNS route:

cloudflared tunnel route dns my-tunnel ssh.example.com

The Mac must have Remote Login enabled so its SSH server is available.

For the client-side cloudflared method:

• Install cloudflared on the client computer as well.
• Configure Cloudflare Access to restrict access to the intended users.
• Add a ProxyCommand to the client’s SSH configuration.

For example, on Windows, assuming cloudflared.exe is available on the PATH used by SSH:

Host macbook-cloudflare
    HostName ssh.example.com
    User <mac-user>
    ProxyCommand cloudflared.exe access ssh --hostname %h

If the executable is not found, use its actual absolute path in the ProxyCommand, enclosed in double quotes if it contains spaces.

Test the connection:

ssh macbook-cloudflare

Cloudflare Access handles authentication at the Cloudflare layer. Your Mac’s SSH server still requires its own authentication, such as an SSH key or your Mac account password.

Once the connection works, select macbook-cloudflare through Remote-SSH: Connect to Host… in VS Code and open the project folder on the Mac.

Resources

• Create a locally managed tunnel
• Configuration file and ingress rules
• Tunnel credentials and permissions
• DNS routing
• Default cache behavior
• SSH with client-side cloudflared

Mit Wehmut habe ich heute früh festgestellt, dass dies für dieses Jahr wohl der letzte Tag sein würde, an dem ich mit einer kurzen Hose mit dem Wolf unterwegs bin. Am Ende der Runde war ich mir nicht mehr ganz sicher. Angeblich soll das Wetter generell schlechter werden – warten wir es ab…

It was with a bit of sadness that I realized this morning that today would probably be the last day this year I’d be out in shorts with Wolf. By the end of the walk, I wasn't so sure anymore. Supposedly, the weather is going to turn worse overall — let's wait and see…

Das Wetter ist derzeit geradezu traumhaft – am 5. Oktober war ich abends in kurzer Hose und T-Shirt unterwegs. Die Landschaft wirkt zum Teil wie gemalt. So könnte das Wetter von mir aus das ganze Jahr über sein.

Morgen früh steht dann schon die nächste Runde an.

I'm still the main runner, even though I got up at 5 a.m. again today to show up for my shift in the shaft. This morning, as an exception, we had support from an internationally experienced dog-leash holder to make up for the other main runner's indisposition.

The weather is downright fantastic right now – on October 5th, I was out and about in shorts and a T-shirt in the evening. The landscape looks almost like a painting in some places. As far as I'm concerned, the weather could be like this all year round.

Tomorrow morning, the next round is already coming up.

Derzeit mache ich sämtliche Hunderunden, da die anderen Kandidatinnen verletzt oder abwesend sind. Also nichts mit Ausschlafen am Wochenende, aber mein Schrittzähler wird diesen Monat neue Rekorde vermelden!

Zwischendurch habe ich einige Walnüsse im Wald aufgesammelt, die sonst einem Fahrzeug zum Opfer gefallen wären.

A Sunday in October, ideal weather. The clay pigeon shooters are firing away, but otherwise it is quiet.

We skillfully navigate around all the 'obstacles'. At the moment, I'm doing all the dog walks since the other candidates are injured or away.

So no sleeping in on the weekend, but my step counter will be setting new records this month! In between, I picked up a few walnuts in the forest that otherwise would have fallen victim to a vehicle.

Das Gras ist verbrannt, viele Bäume sehen bereits im August nach Herbst aus. Streuobst bedeckt an vielen Stellen die Erde. Der Wolf war so verträumt und am Schnüffeln, dass er nicht einmal das Reh bemerkt hat, das wenige Meter vor uns im Galopp den Weg überquerte – gut für mich, auf das Theater verzichte ich gerne.

It has cooled down significantly since my birthday on Friday. No harm done, as long as summer sticks around a bit longer, since the second half of our vacation has only just begun. The temperatures are much more pleasant for running, and it gives us more flexibility with our timing as well.

The grass is scorched, and many trees already look like autumn in August. Fallen fruit covers the ground in many places. Wolf was so lost in thought and busy sniffing around that he didn't even notice the deer galloping across the path just a few meters ahead of us—fine by me, I can easily do without that drama.

Der Morgen mit dem Wolf – Sonnenblumen

Das Tier hat mich geweckt. Ich wäre eigentlich gar nicht dran gewesen, aber der Balkon im ersten Stock bot einen leichten Zugang für den vierbeinigen Chefdynamiker. So stand ich am Samstag bereits um 07:00 Uhr auf einem Feldweg – bei angenehmen 15 Grad, absolut erträglich für Mensch und Fellträger. Ich war überrascht, wie viel für die frühe Samstagszeit los war. Abgesehen davon war es ein wunderbarer Spaziergang, bei dem lediglich ein Reh für kurze Aufregung sorgte.

The animal woke me up. I wasn't even supposed to be on duty, but the first-floor balcony made for an easy entry. Long story short, I found myself out on the trail by 7:00 AM on Saturday—in a comfy 15 degrees, totally fine for man and beast. I was shocked by how much action there was for that time of day on a weekend. Apart from that, it was a lovely walk, with just a deer causing a quick stir.

Album of the week 32: Foreign Tongues / Rolling Stones (2026)

Another home run by the Stones! The album rocks with unmatched enthusiasm. You can feel the sheer joy these seasoned rockers had making it in every single note.

That’s my vinyl in the picture.

This is the album! Head over to Album Whale for the rest of this week’s recommendations.

Ein weiterer großer Wurf der Stones! Das Teil rockt mit unfassbarer Spielfreude. Man merkt den Herren im gesetzten Alter in jedem Ton an, wie viel Spaß sie bei der Produktion hatten.

Auf dem Bild ist meine Vinyl-Ausgabe zu sehen.

Das Album ist hier, den Rest der Wochenempfehlungen gibt es auf Album Whale.

Nach einigen Wochen Pause, was vorwiegend dem Broterwerb geschuldet war, gibt es wieder ein Album der Woche.

Schwer vorstellbar, dass die fidelen Recken munter neues Material veröffentlichen und sogar wieder auf Tour gehen. Ich wage zu behaupten, sie machen das nicht wegen des schnöden Mammons, sondern aus reiner Freude an der Sache. Angeblich wohnt Bassist Roger Glover im Fricktal in der Schweiz, womöglich trennen uns schlappe 30 Minuten Autofahrt. Was für ein Vorstellung: Man könnte unvermittelt einer Legende über den Weg laufen!

Aus jeder Rille dieser Scheibe trieft die Spielfreude heraus. Wenn Deep Purple nicht beim traditionellen Hardrock verortet wären, würde ich sagen, dass das Werk eine Art „Free Jazz in Rock“ ist (obwohl ich Jazz eigentlich gar nicht mag). Einzelne Songs bleiben zwar weniger im Gedächtnis haften als bei den Vorgängerscheiben – das ist jedoch eine rein subjektive Einschätzung.

Wer weiß, vielleicht nähern sich die Herren ihren Ursprüngen an. Interessierte sollten sich einmal The Book of Taliesyn anhören – so etwas ist in heutigen Autotune-Zeiten und inmitten von Pop-Sternchen im Badeanzug (ohne einen einzigen echten Hit) unvorstellbar geworden.

Seit einiger Zeit bedient Simon McBride die Sechssaitige. Aus meiner Perspektive ist das eine grandiose Verstärkung für die Band, auf jeden Fall eine willkommene Blutauffrischung. Steve Morse ist ein technisch exzellenter Gitarrist, besitzt jedoch nicht annähernd die mitreißende Power des „Frischlings“. Einen musikalischen Giganten wie Ritchie Blackmore kann man zwar nicht ersetzen, aber McBride ist klasse!

Splat! macht Spaß und ist ein hochwertig gestaltetes Sammlerstück – das Bild zeigt meine Vinyl-Kopie. Ob es mir langfristig im Gedächtnis bleiben wird, muss die Zeit zeigen. Aber wenn ihr euch die Scheibe reinziehen wollt, hört sie bitte mehrmals. Das ist eine dieser Platten, die sich einem nicht beim ersten Hören offenbaren.

Format: Doppel-LP, 13 Lieder | Veröffentlicht am: 03. Juli 2026.

Das Album ist hier, den Rest der Wochenempfehlungen gibt es auf Album Whale.

After a few weeks' break—mostly due to the daily grind—the Album of the Week is finally back.

It's hard to believe that these lively veterans are still happily churning out new material and even hitting the road again. I dare say they’re not doing it for the filthy lucre, but out of pure joy for the music. Word has it that bassist Roger Glover lives in the Fricktal region of Switzerland, meaning we might be separated by a mere 30-minute drive. What a thought: you could literally bump into a legend out of nowhere!

Joy of playing oozes from every single groove of this record. If Deep Purple weren't so firmly rooted in traditional hard rock, I’d say this piece is a kind of "Free Jazz in Rock" (even though I don't actually like jazz). Individual tracks might not stick in your head as instantly as they did on previous albums—but that’s a purely subjective take.

Who knows, maybe the gentlemen are returning to their roots. If you're curious, you should definitely check out The Book of Taliesyn—something like that has become unthinkable in today's age of Auto-Tune and pop starlets in swimsuits without a single real hit to their name.

For some time now, Simon McBride has been handling the six-string. From my perspective, he’s a magnificent addition to the band, and definitely a welcome shot of new blood. Steve Morse is a technically excellent guitarist, but he doesn't possess anywhere near the thrilling power of the "newbie." You can't replace a musical giant like Ritchie Blackmore, but McBride is top-tier!

Splat! is great fun and a beautifully crafted collector's item—the picture shows my vinyl copy. Whether it will stick with me in the long run remains to be seen. But if you want to dive into this record, please give it a few spins. It’s one of those albums that doesn't fully reveal itself on the first listen.

Format: Double LP, 13 tracks | Released on: July 3, 2026.

See the album here and the rest of my weekly album recommendations on Album Whale.

Just added a live recording of the classic Rainbow line-up with Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio, recorded at Düsseldorf’s Philips Halle in 1976.

It’s almost unbelievable how productive musicians were in those days: shortly after leaving Deep Purple, Blackmore released new material and was already touring with Rainbow just a year later.

The album is part of my list »Live Heroes for the Ages« on Album Whale.

Ein unfassbar starkes Album der Stones, veredelt durch hochkarätige Gaststars von Elton John bis Lady Gaga. Sogar Bill Wyman holt noch einmal den Viersaiter aus der Mottenkiste, während Charlie Watts ein letztes Mal an den Drums brilliert. Passend dazu der Titel Hackney Diamonds – Londoner Slang für die glitzernden Glasscherben auf der Straße nach einem Schaufenstereinbruch. Ein perfekt gewählter Name für diesen kantigen, unpolierten Rock'n'Roll.

Dass die Produktion absolut erstklassig ist, versteht sich bei diesen Voraussetzungen von selbst. Was mich neben der puren Spielfreude der Rock-Legenden aber wirklich begeistert, ist die konstant hohe Qualität der Songs. Bis auf den augenzwinkernden „Rolling Stone Blues“ zum Abschluss leistet sich die Platte keinen einzigen Durchhänger. Insgesamt gefällt mir die zweite Seite der Scheibe (ich höre die Vinyl-Ausgabe) sogar noch einen Tick besser, obwohl die potenziellen Singles direkt zu Beginn abgefeiert werden. Für mich ist dieses Werk das beste Rock-Album mit brandneuem Material seit gefühlten Ewigkeiten. Jammerschade, dass in Sachen Nachwuchs auf diesem Niveau im Moment so gar nichts nachkommt.

Hier geht’s zum Album und zu meinen restlichen wöchentlichen Empfehlungen auf Album Whale.

An incredibly strong album from the Stones, elevated by top-tier guest stars ranging from Elton John to Lady Gaga. Even Bill Wyman dusts off his four-string one more time, while Charlie Watts shines on drums for the very last time. Fittingly, the title Hackney Diamonds is London slang for the glittering shards of broken glass left on the street after a smash-and-grab. A perfectly chosen name for this gritty, unpolished rock 'n' roll.

Given the resources at hand, it goes without saying that the production is absolutely world-class. But what really blows me away—alongside the sheer joy of playing from these rock legends—is the consistently high quality of the songs. Except for the tongue-in-cheek "Rolling Stone Blues" at the very end, the record doesn’t have a single weak spot. Overall, I like side two of the record (I’m listening to the vinyl edition) even a notch better, even though the potential singles are rocked out right at the beginning. For me, this piece of work is the best rock album with brand-new material in what feels like ages. It’s a crying shame that there’s absolutely no new talent coming through on this level right now.

See the album here and the rest of my weekly album recommendations on Album Whale.

Paddy Goes to Holyhead - Best of 35 Years (2024)

Album der Woche 22

Da kein einziger Klassiker dieser Band auf den gängigen Streaming-Plattformen zu finden ist, verlinke ich stattdessen diese ‚Best Of‘-Sammlung. PGTH begleitet mich schon so lange, dass ich dazu sicher mal einen eigenen Beitrag schreiben werde.

Since not a single one of the band's classics can be found on major streaming platforms, I’m linking this 'Best Of' collection instead. PGTH has been with me for so long that I’ll definitely write a dedicated post about them at some point.

See the album here and the rest of my weekly album recommendations on Album Whale.

Billy Idol – Charmed Life (1990)

Album der Woche 21

Das Album, auf das Fans und Plattenfirma nach den Mega-Erfolgen von Billy Idol in den 1980er-Jahren gefühlt eine Ewigkeit warten mussten. Es enthält zwar nicht die größten Hits von Idol, ist dafür aber ungemein rockig, kraftvoll und zeichnet sich durch eine konsistente Produktion aus.

The album that fans and the record label had to wait what felt like an eternity for, following Billy Idol's mega-successes in the 1980s. While it doesn't feature Idol's biggest hits, it is incredibly rock-heavy, powerful, and stands out for its consistent production.

See the album here and the rest of my weekly album recommendations on Album Whale.

Um 5 Uhr hellwach, aber als ich endlich schlafen könnte, schlägt der Wecker zu. Zu allem Überfluss die gelben Säcke vergessen, die bei uns natürlich als allererstes abgeholt werden – weg waren sie. Also Hund und Säcke ins Auto gepackt und den Müll still und leise zu einigen »Kollegen« in einem noch nicht geleerten Wohngebiet abgeladen.

Auf der Weiterfahrt dann das nächste Drama: Erst kreuzt ein Reh den Weg, dann muss ich dem Opa ausweichen, der seinen Hund tatsächlich im Auto sitzend spazieren fährt. Kein Scherz, der Hund läuft und der Typ rollt aus dem Fahrverbot kommend hinterher. Endlich am Ziel, Hund aus dem Auto – und 30 Sekunden später stehen wir einem Problemhund gegenüber. Reicht dann auch für einen freien Tag. Schlimmer kann es ja kaum noch werden!

Wide awake at 5, but the moment I could finally catch some sleep, my alarm goes off. To make matters worse, I forgot the recycling bags. They’re always the first to be collected around here, so they were already gone. Cue me packing the dog and the bags into the car and doing an undercover trash drop-off in a neighborhood where the garbage trucks hadn't been yet.

Next up on the drive: total chaos. First a deer darts across the road, and then I have to swerve to avoid the old guy who actually walks his dog by driving behind it. Seriously, the dog is on foot and the guy is crawling behind him in a restricted zone. Finally at our destination, dog out of the car—and 30 seconds later, boom: a problem dog. Honestly, that's plenty for a day off. It can only go uphill from here!

pixelfed.social

Heute ganz kurz und schmerzlos: ein aktuelles Album der Foo Fighters. Kurz, schnörkellos, kraftvoll – genau so muss es sein. Das Bild zeigt meine Vinyl-LP.

Today, short and painless: a recent album by the Foo Fighters. Short, straightforward, powerful — exactly how it should be. The picture shows my vinyl LP.

See the album here and the rest of my weekly album recommendations on Album Whale.

Es war fast absehbar, dass diese Platte bei den Fans einen schweren Stand haben würde — zumal wenige Jahre zuvor das ikonische und ebenfalls sehr empfehlenswerte Dr. Feelgood veröffentlicht worden war. Dieses Album ist kraftvoll, hart und hat stellenweise einen düsteren, ernsten Klang. John Corabi hat mir mit seiner enorm kraftvollen Stimme schon immer sehr zugesagt. Aber die »Marke« Mötley Crüe ist nun einmal der schmierige Vince Neil — und was einmal etabliert ist, muss für viele »Fans« offenbar für immer so bleiben. Alles andere wird nicht akzeptiert. Ich habe die Platte im Jahr ihres Erscheinens auf CD gekauft.

It was almost inevitable that this record would have a hard time with the fans — especially since the iconic and also highly recommended Dr. Feelgood had been released only a few years earlier. This album is powerful, heavy, and at times has a darker, more serious tone. I’ve always really liked John Corabi’s enormously powerful voice. But the Mötley Crüe »brand« is, after all, sleazy Vince Neil — and once something has been established, many »fans« apparently expect it to stay that way forever. Anything else simply isn’t accepted. I bought the album on CD the year it was released.

See the album here and the rest of my weekly album recommendations on Album Whale.

Heute: zwei Alben zum Preis von einem!

Chickenfoot – prominent besetzt mit Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony (beide Van Halen), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) und Joe Satriani – war der Versuch Sammy Hagars, die alten Van Halen-Zeiten neu aufleben zu lassen. Mit Joe Satriani an der Gitarre hatte er einen würdigen »Ersatz« für den virtuosen Eddie Van Halen mit an Bord.

Die beiden Studioalben dieser Supergroup bieten erstklassigen Rock mit eigenem Material im Stil von Van Halen und Led Zeppelin. Für mich gehören die beiden Platten zusammen, daher nehme ich beide auf einen Streich in die Albenliste des Jahres 2026 auf.
Leider findet neues Material in einer Welt, die lieber eine Million Mal die alten Kalauer hört, nicht mehr den Anklang früherer Zeiten. Marken und Bekanntheitsgrad stehen über allem anderen. So entsteht nichts Neues mehr – gerade in der Musikwelt ist das ein kolossaler Verlust.

Wer sich für Chickenfoot interessiert, dem empfehle ich das erstklassig aufgenommene Live-Konzert aus dem Rockpalast (Januar 2012).

Noch heute touren die Herren in mehr oder weniger derselben Besetzung, aber mit altbekanntem Material. Ein kreativer Verlust, andererseits bin ich froh, dass diese beiden Alben herausgekommen sind. Rockmusik dieser Güte mit neuem Material ist zur absoluten Seltenheit geworden.

Die Liste mit den Alben der Woche findet ihr wie gewohnt auf Album Whale.

Today: Two Albums for the Price of One!

Chickenfoot—boasting a high-profile lineup of Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony (both ex-Van Halen), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Joe Satriani—was Sammy Hagar's attempt to revive the spirit of the classic Van Halen era. With Joe Satriani on guitar, he brought a »replacement« on board who was more than worthy of the virtuoso Eddie Van Halen.

The two studio albums from this supergroup deliver first-class rock with original material in the vein of Van Halen and Led Zeppelin. To me, these two records belong together, which is why I’m adding them both to the 2026 Album List in one fell swoop.

Unfortunately, in a world that would rather hear the same old classics a million times over, new material no longer finds the same resonance it once did. Branding and name recognition seem to trump everything else. As a result, nothing truly new is being created anymore—a colossal loss, especially in the world of music.

The gentlemen are still touring today with more or less the same lineup, but relying on well-known material. While that’s a creative loss, I am nonetheless grateful that these two albums exist. Rock music of this caliber featuring original material has become an absolute rarity.

The image shows my Limited Edition Box Set (CDs + DVD).

For anyone interested in Chickenfoot, I highly recommend the brilliantly recorded Rockpalast live concert from January 2012 (see YouTube video link above).

You can find the »Albums of the Week« list as usual on Album Whale.

Der Morgen mit dem Wolf - Zu spät aufgestanden

Da gönnt man sich mal eine halbe Stunde länger im Bett, und schon wimmelt es auf der Hunderunde von Freizeitkapitäninnen. Nächstes Mal definitiv wieder früher!

Treat yourself to an extra half hour in bed, and suddenly the dog walk is crawling with fair-weather owners. Back to the early shift next time.

pixelfed.social

With David Coverdale officially retiring last year, I feel incredibly lucky to have caught their second-to-last show ever (June 21, 2022, in Zurich, see below).

The photo shows my original 1997 CD alongside the 2021 vinyl reissue. I have to agree with Coverdale himself: the tracklist on the 2021 »Redux« flows much better than the original release.

See the album here and the rest of my weekly album recommendations on Album Whale.

What amazing weather — a morning walk with the wolf. This time not in the forest because of the tick plague. Back in the grind again: putting in 50 to 60 hours instead of going on a longer hike.

pixelfed.social

This album is a true "pearl"—largely unknown and, for the most part, absent from modern streaming services (though you can find stuff on YouTube). Back in the late 1980s, I was an avid reader of the monthly magazine Musikexpress/Sounds. It was there that I stumbled upon a review for this band’s debut album, which had been awarded the highest possible rating.

In those days, reviews were vital. There was no World Wide Web, no streaming, and in the provinces where I lived, there were no record stores where you could "test-listen" before buying. So, I took a leap of faith and ordered it via mail-order. It wasn’t an easy decision; music carried a real physical and financial weight back then. As a student, I invested the lion's share of my allowance into my collection—usually one record a month, maybe two if there was a sale.

The Value of the "Treasure"

We listened to our "treasures" with an intensity that is rare today. You would play an album back-to-back, over and over, studying the sleeve and every word of the liner notes. Although I am far from being a technophobe—I am a computer scientist by trade, after all—music simply held a higher status then, and the quality felt like it was on a completely different level. One has to wonder: who will be guarding a Taylor Swift album like a sacred treasure forty years from now?

The Sound of California

Coming back to the album "Rough Night in Jericho": my investment certainly paid off! The record radiates an immense amount of charm; the sound immediately transports you to the warmth of the Californian sun (even if the band was from Georgia). The guitars, the vocals, the songwriting—it all feels like a single, cohesive piece of art. As a rule, records become masterpieces when they don’t feel "glued together," but rather flow naturally.

I have a dim memory of that Musikexpress review mentioning a nine-album contract, so convinced was the record label of the band’s potential. Unfortunately, that never came to fruition; I believe they only released three albums in total. I lost track of them after that—without the internet, gathering information was a challenge.

For me, this record remains a perennial highlight. I still put it on from time to time. The photos show my original vinyl from 1988; years later, I tracked down the CD on eBay just so I could import the tracks into my digital library.

A Note on the Band: For those unfamiliar, Dreams So Real (the band behind Rough Night in Jericho) remains one of the great "what ifs" of the Athens, Georgia scene. Produced by Bill Berry of R.E.M., they captured that melodic, jangle-pop power that defined an era, even if the nine-album prophecy didn't quite come true.

Rough Night in Jericho (YouTube)

See the album here and the rest of my weekly album recommendations on Album Whale.