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Archives for 2008

David Byrne and Brian Eno Live at Toronto’s Massey Hall

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David Byrne and Brian Eno played at Toronto’s Massey Hall, on October 30, 2008.

These two music giants were on stage together in their glory for all to see! I greatly admire both of these great players, but together they sounded like they fit together like a rubber glove, according to my old high school friend Carl Wilson!

He is a music critic for the Globe and Mail, Slate and other media outlets in Toronto. If you ever get the opportunity to meet Carl, maybe while taking in a show that he is writing about somewhere, ask him what he thought about a song we did together live called “Peanut Butter”!

His article was the only reference that led me to this show. I think his piece in the Globe and Mail described it rather nicely!

David Byrne (Talking Heads), is just fantastic to listen to, especially live! Life During War Time as well as Psycho Killer on Stop Making Sense, is David at his musical best. I LOVE playing Life During War Time on acoustic guitar for my brother, I mainly play what the keyboardist is doing, maybe that’s why so many guitar players are looking at me strangely when I play this with them.

Brian Eno (Roxie Music) simply needs no introduction. Everything he touches turns to musical gold! What else can you say about the guy! Same Old Scene, from Flesh and Blood is the one masterpiece that needs to played at 11 on your volume control! Thanks Ken, Allan and Tony and lets not forget Tim M., for bringing him to my attention, oh about 30 years ago!

I’ve never seen either one of these guys live, that’s my lose. So who out there has seen these troubadour’s live? Are they worth the price of admission?

Keep on Jammin’




Moog Taurus Pedal

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The Moog Taurus pedal is an analog synthesizer that is played with your feet. It helps fill out the song your playing with that real church pipe organ/deep base register sound. The best example of this sound is when The Police used this pedal at the beginning of Don’t stand so close to me. This ancient, blast for the past, is precisely what your looking for, if you want that little extra something for your sound!

If you’ve ever seen a church organ up close or in pictures, then you may have a better idea of what this instrument looks like. Hey, if you ever went to someone’s home and they had one of those ‘ol cheezy home organs, then you’d have a good idea as well! The Moog Taurus pedal looks exactly like the pedals at the bottom of these organs. You play it with you feet!

The Moog Taurus Pedal has been around for ages. Bands that have or had them in their musical arsenal are bands like RUSH, YES, Pink Floyd, the Police and many other rock, fusion and metal performers from yesterday, right up to the present day scene!

The thing that got me thinking of this was while playing with CounterPoint the other night. Chris Noto, the best bass player that I have ever had the privilege of playing with, brought it up while taking a break. He said his brother has one and that he’d love to get it from him if he could, and believe you me, this guy REALLY knows what he is talking about. The way this guy plays the bass, if he had one of these things, it would sound like he is playing 3 instruments at once! Just imagine what it could do with your sound.

So check out the links on this page and learn for yourself what this could do for your band’s sound.

Keep on Jammin’

Just came back from the Cenotaph in East York

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I just walked in the door from the remembrance day celebrations at the East York Civic Centre. It was a beautiful ceremony that I’m sure touched everyone’s heart! There was at least 2000 people in attendance, really nice to see that kind of respect!

East York Cenotaph

East York Cenotaph

It started off by a parade of all our military forces. In attendance were War Veterans (Air, Army and Navy), legion members, Fire, Ambulance and the Police just to name a few!

We sang O Canada, followed up by some opening remarks. Then came the Last Post. For someone to say that this song is VERY POWERFUL is not saying enough.

Then came the Lament speech, followed by the Hymn:O Valiant Hearts. Then our local Toronto councilor Janet Davis said a few words. Right in the middle of her speech, 4 yellow coloured Harvard very ancient looking airplanes flew over the cenotaph, nice touch boys! If your into airplanes or your Canadian then you’ve seen these things before! I would loved to have seen a Lancaster there, it’s my second favorite Canadian airplane, my favorite in the Avro Arrow. I don’t know why the damn Diefenbaker Government literally, I mean literally dismantled the life and pride of a county! That is why I’ll NEVER VOTE CONSERVATIVE in my life!!!

Now comes the reading of In Flanders Fields. It was written by a Canadian called Dr. John McCrae (1872-1918) from Guelph Ontario. He was a medic in a field hospital who took a break from sowing up some young solders fresh from a battle and then he penned this beautiful Poem.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

It was read perfectly by Rehanna Ali from D.A. Morrison Middle School. Now it was time for the laying of the wreaths, it was moving to say the least. After this, a song was played by some kids on acoustic guitars with an electric soloing throughout it, nice soloing to boot! The Reverend Alex Bissett recited the Litany for World Peace prayer as well the hymn: O God, Our Help in Ages Past was said.

We then sang God Save the Queen! I haven’t sang that one in many years, so it was great to walk down memory lane with so many fellow Canadians of different strips! They then did the Colour Party Retires and Parade Dismissal. Wow, what an event to experience!

Let us hope and pray that we do not have to put any more names down on another Cenotaph.
May they all rest in peace.

Lest We Forget

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Let us REALLY take time out of our busy schedule on November 11th at 11:00 AM, Remembrance Day, to truly reflect on the ones that we lost both physically and mentally to the wars of yesterday and today.

To all of those with us today or to the ones in the past who have given their lives FOR US ALL We Thank you!

Keep on Livin’ in Peace!


Playing Guitar with CounterPoint

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So on Thursday Oct. 30 I was jamming with Counterpoint!

This is the band that was playing in the 2008 Nuance Art Rock festival. This experience was one that I will remember for years to come.

The guys in CounterPoint are looking for a guitar player that will help round out their unique sound. As you’ve read in some of my other posts on this blog and on my Guitar Licks and Tips site, I have been very excited about how these guys approach song writing and how they play, because they achieve that BIG FAT sound that I LOVE.

The guys from CounterPoint

They asked me if I wanted to jam/try out for the guitar player role for these masters of progressive rock, when I saw them that fateful night at the show. I hummed and hawed about this for months it seemed (really it was only a couple of weeks). Then finally one night I said to my wife, what the heck and just threw my hat into the ring! That night I had a lot of trouble sleeping. In the back of my mind I was saying to myself Am I really ready for this?

We then set a date to get together. It was delayed a few times because of this, that and the other thing, but finally we got together.

When we sat down in the rehearsal hall, Rising Star Studios, I was finally relaxed. You couldn’t find a nicer bunch of guys. We sat and talked for a while, they even brought a couple of beers to make the jam more relaxing, nice touch.

I just stuck to my coffee because I had the songs that I went through at home in my old brain box running in overdrive and I didn’t want to mess anything up! As a rule I don’t like to drink when I play guitar, unless it’s at a campfire or just goofing around here and there. While jamming with guys of this caliber, you need to have your head screwed on correctly! As it turned out, these were just your regular kinda guys and I had absolutely nothing to worry about.

Keep on Jammin’

Electric Hendrix Vodka

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There is a new tribute to the greatest guitar player of our time Mr. Jimi Hendrix. The tribute is called Electric Hendrix Vodka. The story now is taking a turn for the worst, just like the unfortunate one that it was named for.

A company, with the help of the House of Hendrix, started to pay homage to the great Jimi, with out thinking about one very important thing … they forgot to tell Experience Hendrix, the company that runs Hendrix’s estate what they were doing. Now, according to a local radio station Q-107, the product is being pulled from shelves due to licensing issues.

I’ve been searching online for a while now and there isn’t a straight forward answer as to what the reason was that brought on this ruling. The only thing I found was something about the family being broken into 2 camps. They seem to be fighting for whatever piece of the pie they can get? One big happy dysfunctional family I guess? If you can shed some more light on this one for us then please bring us into the loop! I for one can’t follow the bouncing ball.

Here is an overview, in point form, of how it started nice, then somewhere along the way it turned ugly

  • 2005 – Craig Dieffenbach begins Electric Hendrix LLC with the blessing and involvement of the Jimi Hendrix family.
    – Owners of Parent Co. Electric Hendrix LLC include Jimi’s brother Leon Hendrix, Joe Hendrix and other friends and family members of Jimi Hendrix.
  • 2006 – (January) Electric Hendrix LLC rescues, moves and begins renovation of the childhood home of Jimi Hendrix. Electric Hendrix LLC also assisted in securing a new marker for the grave of Jimi’s mother, Lucille Hendrix
  • Present – reps for the “Hendrix Experience” the organization that manages the Hendrix estate won a court battle against the makers of Electric Hendrix vodka. One of the company’s owners was Leon Hendrix, Jimi’s brother, and the head of Experience Hendrix is Janie Hendrix, Jimi’s step-sister.
    (from Michael Stone-AudioPros)

So why can’t we just get along? Here’s an idea, lets have a drink!

Keep on Jammin’

Rebel Wheel at Nuance 2008

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Rebel Wheel at this years Nuance 2008 was like the icing on a perfectly made musical cake! Once again, real nice line up there Wilton!

This Ottawa band played with so much feel and expression that night. Their sound was great and their approach to music showed a level of writing that I have not seen in many years. If they keep this up, then this will not be the last that we see/hear from these guys! Watch out for them.

Their on stage presence is that of a bunch of fun loving friends that are just jammin’ in a hall, and you just happen to be there at that point in time! They first gave me the impression of a Bare Naked Lady that meets a Jazz fusion band. I think that the BNL’s are the most entertaining band to see live!After a short period of time, I soon realized that there was much more to them then meets the ears. It honestly looked like Rebel Wheel was having a blast!

The true leader of the band is David Campbell. I loved some of the Steve Howe influences that he used in Tempra, but more on that stuff later! His approach to the guitar is wild! It was enthusiastic and intriguing to watch him jam. Aaron Clark, the drummer of the band and the guy I bought a shot of that black ouzo for, was funny … but he certainly is the back bone of the sound.

Gary Lauzon is the bass player of the band. He also had the best playing stance of anyone that played there that night … he was sitting down in a chair the whole show. Ah, Leon Redbone, I get it! Don’t get me wrong, the man was re-inventing how the direction of bass playing maybe going towards! His technique with his hammer on’s where something to behold. Very neat way to play the bass!

Now last but not least, there is Angie MacIvor. Who wouldn’t want a player like her in your band. Her sax, voice and keys were nice touches everywhere she put them into a tune. Not over powering at times, but intense when you really needed it! She added that Shuffle Demons feel to them, that night, LOVED IT!!!

So I have to give the Rebel Wheel band a 2 thumbs up! Now, go and check out their site for dates in your area and see for yourself … they are worth the drive.

Rebel Wheel, Keep on Jammin’

Wilton Said from Nuance 2008

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Wilton Said is a band that makes you think about what is being said and played. Showing fascinating musical and lyrical form, Wilton Said is unlike any other act that I have ever seen, honestly. He calls his form of music Art Rock, and that maybe the best way to envision the true essence of this great Toronto act.

He was the 3rd act of the night and wow, I just sat back and stopped writing down notes. He is really something to watch on stage. It’s not what you can see and hear, it is everything else that he is projecting to the audience. It’s really freaky … in a VERY GOOD way that is.

Here is a bit of his bio from the Nuance nights program

Wilton Said…

Toronto indie artist Wilton Said… likes to write lyrical topics which explore the places others may find uncomfortable. This can range from the homicidal school shootings in “No Other Way” off of 1999’s release “World up my Ass”, the ode to the oversexed pearl necklace stalker in “All for You” off of 2001’s release “Broken”, through to the public washroom romp in “What I’ve Seen” off of 2004’s ” The Butterfly Plague”. His last release titled “The View” (2006) takes a look at topics that we can all relate to but don’t necessarily want to. The struggle to find an identity so we may fit in as heard in “Pretty”. The lust for control and domination to soothe our own weaknesses in “A Family Affair”.

The struggles with addictions and deceit brought to light in “Merry go Round”. “The Empty Sky” with it’s theme of coming to terms with hopeless situations.

Musically, WILTON SAID…’s style can be referenced back to his experiences of classic art rock
artists such as Kate Bush, Queen, Peter Gabriel, Supertramp, and (older) Genesis.
Other inspired contributions range from A Perfect Circle with their release “13 Steps”, David Bowies release “Heathen” and Radiohead’s “O.K. Computer”.

All have added inspiration to the rich eclectic texture of his music and to his strong baritone vocals.
While Wilton’s past studio and live experiences has had an assortment of musicians backing him up, his
current and most stable line up consists of the textural stylings of Guitarist Chris Reid, the groove and grounded Bass playing of Frank Heisler, and the subtle yet intricate Drumming of Richard Rizzo.

WILTON SAID…, who holds a Degree in Musical Composition from York University, has been performing in the G.T.A. promoting his various CD’s through live shows and interviews. For more information
regarding future shows and events, please visit the website listed below.

http://www.wiltonsaid.com

So there you go! Now, go out and check out this intriguing Toronto artist.

Keep on Jammin’ Wilton Said

The day I called in sick

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Today is the day that I called in sick to work.

All day yesterday I was progressively sneezing and having to blow my nose.

A colleague of mine at work, for privacy reasons I’ll call that person “J”, was watching me from a far and saying “you must be getting the flu?”. And of coarse, in mindset of all men, I said, “Ah, it must be allergies buddy!”. Well here’s to you Dr. “J”, YOU MUST BE A REAL DOCTOR!

I think that I hide being sick at work quite well. In my mind I think most people at work, are concentrating on the health of patients, not paying too much attention to me. I tend to push myself, hoping that I will feel better in a couple of moments from now. Does this happen to you?

It’s like when you feel all drained of any power at work, but when you leave work you start feeling a little bit better? Does this happen to you?

In other blogs that I have, I tend not to dive into how I feel physically, but today is just one of those “Ah, what the heck, it might make me feel better”, moments! So wish me God speed and with a little bit of luck, I’ll be back to my old healthy blogging in now time!

Sing-cerly yours (ah, chewww)

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