Guitars, tips and great music discussions
Who says us Canucks are just good for beer and hockey alone!
You remember watching Rockstar last summer? You know the television show where they were trying to find a lead singer for Super Nova (aka Rockstar Super Nova)? Well, for the second year in a row a Canadian won the international competition. Keep on Jammin’ Luke Rossi!
I was on my morning break at the hospital, when I came across the nurse who I love talking about guitar playing and bands with in the Intensive Care Ward. She came up to me with this excited and enthusiastic look on her face.
She was bursting with her experience of this great band that she saw this past weekend. The band is called Wolfmother. They are an Australian trio that has a huge sound and the endurance of a 6 year old kid on stage. She says their obvious influences are Zeppelin, and Sabbath, and they have lyrics that are out of this world.
I just Googled them and found their site. I am currently listening to the audio part of their site, and I can’t help but also notice the influence of RUSH on a tune called “Women”. It brings me back to the bands Caressive Steel album days of Working Man, boy what a sound they have.
She told me that it was their last show in North America. They did a 3 hour show that kept going like the old “ever ready bunny”! At the end of the show they just started smashing everything they owned on stage. She thinks that if they smash everything into literal tiny pieces then they wouldn’t have to bring it all home with them, makes sense to me.
They spun the crowd into a frenzy like after having a wild episode of doing the wild thing then just lying there in a daze and thinking to yourself, what just happened?
So check out this band’s site, and maybe grab their album so they can afford to ship their equipment home with them next time, ok?
Keep on Jammin’
The girl in the picture is named Kim Phuc. This picture is the one that has haunted my childhood memories.
The first time I saw it on TV, I was with my parents and I was stopped dead in my tracks. I recall asking them what these kids were running from and they told me that during the Vietnam war the V.N.A.F. (Vietnamese National Air Force) accidentally bombed a village called “Trang Bang” which was 25 miles west of the capital city of Saigon, with Napalm.
I couldn’t get it out of my mind then, and it still conjures up those same emotions even when viewing it after all these years.
I have just found out that she lived literally down the street that we live on, about 3 blocks away. She even gave birth to her 2 children at the hospital that we both work at. I never in my wildest dreams, thought that I would one day have even the smallest connection with this person.
Kim Phuc also has a great non-profit Foundation for children who are victims of war. She has a great Canadian connection and now identity that makes me proud to be Canadian.
This event, that unfolded right in front of our eyes, is one that I can remember where I was when I first was first exposed to it, how about you?
Keep on Jammin’
This is a Video of what happened to her on that horrific day.
Don’t know about you but, I have always wanted to hear for myself if all this hype was true but I didn’t have the technical abilities to play this backwards on anything that I have owned in the past or present, I have wanted to hear this for a long, long time now.
So what do you think about this one?
Keep on Jammin’
I just visited a great site called Hitflip Uk where residents of the UK can swap media related products with other members of the HitFlip site.
Want to exchange games, music CDs, DVDs, books and audiobooks that you don’t use anymore for similar items that you can use? Just sign up for a Hitflip account and start listing the items you’d like to swap.
Of course if I set up an account on HitFlip I’d be busy looking for great music cds and music related DVDs. We have a great collection already, but hey, we could always use more.
Check out the HitFlip UK Blog to learn a bit more about this company that recently changed it’s name from Swopex. There’s also a great demo of how the site works and plenty of FAQ’s to get you started and answer any questions you might have on the main site.
Gotcha thinkin’ you dancing fool!!!
BTW,are there 2 bass players in this, or is it just an illusion from the short exposure to disco tunes during my formative musical years? See, my brother Tim always told me that this shit would rot my brain even if exposed in short bursts! Always listen to your brother, always!
Keep on ah …
It is just too funny to watch someone put Keith Richards in his place! He is just too funny, I love how he just pisses Keith off so much that you think it may end up with blows being thrown! Chuck Berry is the only guy in the world that could actually put Keith in his proper pecking order of guitar players. Enjoy, I did.
Keep on Jammin’
Does any guitar player out there have a favorite guitar solo? Well I certainly do, it’s the one from the Rolling Stones, “Heart Breaker”, from their 1973, “Goats Head Soup” album.
This master guitar solo is played by a fellow not a full member of the group but player in the band, named Mick Taylor. This kaleidoscope of a mental voyage into another world of colorful and emotional notes, is the only lead that I have refused to figure out because some times things are made not to be reproduced but to be enjoyed and just put you in a certain mind set. I know that this sounds so unlike me but, somehow this solo just gets to me like no other.
When I listen to it, it just stops me in my tracks and I have to give Mick Taylor my complete and undivided attention. I just can’t think of any other way to describe it. I respect it like no other. It honestly freaks me out how the boys just blend off into the background and let him have full and total control of a song at that point. I still to this day don’t know how he pulled this one off being in a band with such head strong musicians!
He just squeezes and milks the hell out of his guitar and flies to such lofty heights then effortlessly soars down to earth and swoops up your emotions and takes them off to another dimension that we are afraid, but yet happy to just be brought there for such a short period of time! Then back to reality with the boys blowing the doors off the joint and do what they do best, straight forward Rock & Roll. No, I haven’t just had a huge flash back to the summer of love right in front of you, honestly!
This is a song that I will not figure out on principle. I had to give it a shot one time when I was with a student, who was my boss one time at Mr. Case in Toronto.
CTSWholesalers has recently launched a website where you can purchase Wholesale Sunglasses. Retailers of sunglasses might be interested in having a look at the many designs and styles available for purchase at CTSWholesalers.
Perhaps you’re an individual who’s looking to sell products, perhaps at flea markets, festivals or fairs? Or perhaps you already have an established business but you’re looking for give away promotional items, or additional items to sell in your retail or chain store or kiosk? Since pretty much everyone needs sunglasses, and often wants to look stylish purchasing wholesale designer replica sunglasses might be the right kind of item for you to look into.
CTSWholesalers offers a wide assortment of styles of replica designer sunglasses. You can find everything from cattier, sportswear and surfwear sunglass styles in metal and plastic design.
The look alike sunglasses have been inspired by famous designer brands but do not carry fake names that are similar to the original designer brand name. These are perfectly legal sunglasses similar to designer brands because they have been inspired by their popular styles.
Along with replica designer sunglasses you can also purchase wholesale sunglass accessories, sunglass clip-ons, as well as sunglass displays and repair kits. Whole sale sunglasses are prices from $10 and up per dozen pair. That sounds like a very good price to me.
The following is a press release by CTSWholesalers:
CTSWholesalers Launch Website for Wholesale Sunglass Buyers
CTS Wholesale Sunglasses today launched a web site dedicated to helping sunglass retailers who sell designer replica sunglasses.CTS Wholesale Sunglasses today announced the launch of their new site at online sunglass store for selling at high traffic areas.
The retail sunglass industry has high operating margins and the dealers can make a nice profit buying the sunglasses in wholesale and then selling these at retail counters or stalls in malls and fairs. “Sunglasses that typically cost $15 a dozen can be easily sold for about $8 per pair, earning a very high profit per sale,” reported Kirk Bachelder while announcing the site.
Our sunglasses do not carry any brand names and are 100% safe for the dealers to sell
The site contains information about a large variety of replica sunglass designs that are inspired by leading brands. “We do not sell fake sunglasses and do not recommend that the retailers sell them”, cautioned Kirk. “Our sunglasses do not carry any brand names and are 100% safe for the dealers to sell,” he added.The site will also carry special offers like a starter pack with an assorted collection of 36 pairs of latest and popular designs and a rack to hold 24 pairs, at a low $99. A newbie retailer can test the waters and explore the market with this low investment package before jumping in with larger stocks.
The helpful customer service and blazing fast shipping ensures that the dealers get their shipments before the time most of the other wholesalers have even dispatched the goods.
The retail sunglass industry is very popular with entrepreneurs because of the high margins. People prefer to buy cheap ‘compare to’ or replica sunglasses that look like the eyewear from the leading brands but cost much lesser. They do not feel the pinch if these sunglasses are lost or broken. They can also try different looks easily to match the season and the mood.
About CTS Wholesalers:
CTS Wholesalers offers tips and guidance to the sunglass retailers about the best ways to maximize the profits in marketing their wares at the malls, stores, exhibitions and flea markets. Visit the site at www.CTSwholesalers.com.Contact Information:
Kirk Bachelder – Member
CTS Wholesalers
3525 Brady Ct. N.E.
Salem, OR 97303Phone: 503.364.3486
Fax: 503.589.4121
Glenn Gould (25 September 1932 – 4 October 1982)
The best Canadian premier Pianist of all time is Glenn Gould, period! End of all explanations and discussions.
If I had the chance to witness 2 musical acts of the last millennium it would be that of Glenn Gould playing anything and Canada’s own Max Webster. Honestly, I feel like I was gypped by this musical exclusion. (Maybe I shouldn’t have used that word because it is a reference to the negative aspects of “gypsies”, did you know that? Sorry, all of you gypsies of the world. I just thought that people should know the origins of some words.) Ok class, now on to the subject at hand.
I am proud and honored to announce that I live just outside his neighbourhood. He lived at 32 Southwood Drive in Toronto, Ontario. Main St. turns into Southwood Dr., and it’s south of Danforth Ave very close to where we currently own a home. He lived out his life in an apartment at 110 St Clair Ave. W, near Avenue Road. Across the road, on the north-west corner of Avenue Road and St. Clair, is the Glenn Gould Park. We used to live in that area too when we were apartment dwellers. This is another small park that has recently been named in honour of the internationally famous pianist.
This giant was a tortured genius. In 1957, he was the first musician to play in the former USSR after WWII. And you thought someone else was the first to play there, ha!
He was a Presbyterian of Scottish extraction. Gould made his debut as an organist, not as a pianist, at the Eaton Auditorium, Toronto, on December 12, 1945, not yet 13 years of age. Later on in his life he said that this was his favorite and best acoustic quality venue in which to play in, in Toronto. People were said to be greatly impressed and astonished by Gould, the child, who could play with such brilliant technique and interpretive ability. On May 8, 1946, Gould performed, for the first time, as piano soloist with the Toronto Conservatory Orchestra at Massey Hall in Toronto.
In the fall of 1977, the U.S. Government sent two ships, Voyager 1 and 2, into outer space. A variety of messages were placed on board these earthly space craft that were capable of communicating the existence of intelligent creatures living on our planet. Among these was included a short prelude by Johann Sebastian Bach, as performed by Glenn Gould.
He became a frail hypochondriac who lived in a solitary nocturnal existence. For fear of injuring his hands, he refused to shake hands, even with conductors after a show. Gould was obsessed with the Canadian Arctic and dreamed of spending an entire winter above the Arctic Circle. He also had a unique obsession with his piano chair and animals. He was aware of this unique obsession of Buffalo NY from Torontonians.
He was also said to be witty and fun-loving. I had met a person who was working at CBC as a camera man and he told me that he never ever spoke to him but, saw him on a regular basis at CBC. He remembers all the eccentric traits that he was said to have. Glenn Gould also suffered stage fright. He would sit very low in his chair, humming and singing as he played.
Not that I’m comparing myself to him but, when I play difficult pieces, I too hum and sing certain phrases of a piece that I am playing. He was known for his nocturnal living habits but I am not. By doing all of his work at the CBC recording studios at night, this allowed him unheard of access to all aspects of recording technology.
He decided in 1964, a year before my birth, at the age of 32 to quit doing all live concerts. His final performance was in Los Angeles, in 1964, what a drag on my part. So why do you think he did this? This is why he quit playing live.
My favorite documentary that he produced was called “The idea of North“. You get an idea of what is like at the 7:08th minute of this video. This was really out there for the times but in today’s environment it is just plain BRILLIANT! This is a must to see.
My favorite documentary about him is called “32 short stories of Glenn Gould”. This is another must to see if you can catch it on CBC. Strangely, this documentary strangely captures the feeling of being Canadian.
Two days after his 50th birthday he suffers a massive stroke. He was rushed to Toronto General Hospital where he died a week later on Oct. 4, 1982. The world was stunned by Gould’s sudden death. All the more shocking due to the fact that he, almost neurotic, went to great lengths to avoid getting sick.
I just wish that more people had the opportunity to have seen him live.