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You are here: Home / Archives for Entertainment

Toto – the early stuff I mean

September 8, 2007 by Chris

As you are more then well aware I am a huge lover of Prog Rock or you could even say challenging music to play!

Prog Rock is better known as Progressive Rock. Examples of this is YES (the four-part “Close to the Edge” or “The Gates of Delirium” from the Relayer Album), RUSH six-part “Hemispheres”, Klattu, early Genesis, Jethro Tull or Saga. If you think that just listening to this style is enjoyable then you you should try playing it live!

Of coarse there are always bands that I strongly feel that should have placed in there but have not for some reason or another. The one band that comes to mind is Toto, SOME of their earlier stuff that is.

albumcovers-toto1978.jpgTheir first album Toto, is the greatest one that they have put out and the only vinyl one of theirs that I have ever bought. As a matter of fact, I just bought CD version on-line a couple of minutes ago. This album really brings back memories of the my early years of playing rock guitar/music.

I had just been let go by Phylis and I was a little bit bummed out to say the least. I had just found out only last year by the keyboardist Tony, still a great friend to this day, that my parents were quite worried about my playing with them on the road in bars. I think they believed that I might be influenced by the rock & roll life style that accompanied being on the road at such a tender age of 15.

Anyways, during this period I was desperately trying to get out of my funk and at the time was desperately looking for another musical genre to put under my belt. This band had it all.

They were challenging to play live, a bit jazzy and a little bit of pop to round it out. Yes I did say pop. My great wife Tricia has always thought of me as a player who was a rocker at heart but for some reason loved pop music. She always has that look on her face when I play some great rock tunes only to be followed by some popish sounding stuff.

I fell in love with Child’s Anthem as well as Girl Goodbye because they have that Prog Rock like progressions to them.

I found I’ll Supply The Love, Georgy Porgy and You Are The Flower to have this Earth Wind and Fire feel to it. “Taking it back” has influences of Gino Vannelli’s Brother to Brother album, I also happen to know the brother of the drummer on this particular album.

So I hope that this post helps you better understand my childhood influences that I had growing up and the styles that has helped my playing of today.

Keep on Jammin’




Filed Under: Entertainment, Great Bands, Music, My experiences, Playing Styles, Songs to play, The early Years, Video Tagged With: Gino Vannelli Brother to Brother, guitar, jammin, jazz, Jethro Tull, keyboard, Klattu, Live, Prog Rock, Progressive Rock, RUSH, Saga, Toto the band, YES

The Bassist

September 6, 2007 by Chris

The Rick Wakeman concert that I saw a couple of weeks ago left me in a state of music appreciation overload. The level of musicianship at the show was in a realm that only a very talented few ever get to venture into or near.

They were so tight that it just made R. Jackson’s and my head just shake thinking to ourselves that this just can’t be happening right in front of our eyes and ears. When they played a staccato’ed note and then stopped for 2 or more seconds, the whole hall went eerily quiet. Now that’s scary! These guys have a kindred spirit/musical ability all rapped up into one.

Mr. Rick Wakeman was his usual stellar self but his supporting cast took a while to bring it up to his level. The only stand out in both of our eyes was ‘Pearly’ Lee Pomeroy the bass player and when he got going it turned out to be a night to remember!

His regular gig is with this band called Tar Babies.Their site is a MUST to check out in it’s entirety, but don’t let the Tom foolery misguide you. He comes across on stage of the perfect band mate. Always smiling and with positive energy to burn!

leepomeroy.jpg The one thing that caught my eye maybe half way through the show was that he was a left handed bass player and here’s the kicker, he had it strung upside down. He places the thick strings that normally go at the top of the neck on the bottom part.

Now to put it in a way that non musicians can understand, just envision this for one second, imagine using your keyboard turned upside down and having to type that way. It’s almost like walking backwards, you could do it, but when it comes to running it’s a whole new ball game.

So to give the nod to the best player in the band besides Rick Wakeman, Mr Jackson and I would have to give it to the guy above … really you had to be there!

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Concerts, Entertainment, Guitars, Music, Musicians, Playing Styles Tagged With: band, bass player, concert, gig, guitar, guitar player, inverted bass, keyboard, Lee Pomeroy, Music, musical, musician, Musicians, Pearly Lee Pomeroy, play, Rick Wakeman, Rick Wakeman concert, Rick Wakeman s bass player, strings, Tar Babies

The ice-cream truck – the ice-cream truck

September 5, 2007 by Chris

Ahh, the sounds of summer. Isn’t it nice to have that beautiful feeling and sound in the air? You should see the kids around here once they hear the ice cream truck coming they just run to the sidewalk all excited.

But, how come they don’t look like this in my neighborhood?

Keep on Jammin’


Filed Under: Entertainment, Recreation Tagged With: homer simpson, Ice cream, ice cream truck

Canada’s own John ‘JD’ Roberts

August 31, 2007 by Chris

Now I grew up watching this guy when he was one of the first Video jockeys in Canada. He talked about and interviewed many of the days greatest bands of our time. He was always soft spoken and very intellectual in my eyes.

Now a days, he is a anchor person at CNN. When I see him in his new refined roll for the American cable company CNN, I still get a chuckle and wonder what reaction people would get if they saw one of his blasts from the past interviews? Well, here goes!

This next flick is of JD, as we know him, with a member of the Canadian 80’s band FM. The member of the band is the always entertaining mandolin player, Nash the Slash!

If you recognize John Roberts and watch him on CNN, I honestly want to know what your initial response is to this video. I realize that it may make you do a double take but I hope it makes you think!

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Canadian, Culture, Entertainment, History, Music, Video Tagged With: band, Canada, Canadian, CNN, FM, interview, JD Roberts, John JD Roberts, MuchMusic, Nash the Slash, play, reporter, The Band, Toronto, Video, Vjay

Glenn Gould’s secret lover

August 27, 2007 by Chris

Thank God for that little area beneath the current newspaper that holds the previous days editions!

I was shopping with my wife this past Sunday and I was stopped in my tracks by the front page news caption ” The Secret Life of Glenn Gould”. I just had to have a copy of this article about my favorite Canadian Pianist of all time.

As to the title of the article, many autobiographies tried to tackle this topic, but it was mostly pure speculation. Mr. Gould was such a private person that most fans knew nothing about him besides his being the most refreshing interpreter of Bach’s pieces. “He was the James Dean of classical music,” said Tim Page, Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic of the Washington Post and a friend of Gould’s. “He made Bach swing.” Some consider him perhaps the greatest piano virtuoso of the 20th century!

corneliafoss.JPG For most of his life, there were rumors he was either asexual or gay. Now with this revelation in hand, the idea can be put to rest once and for all.

In 1967, Glenn Gould carried on an affair for five years with a married women named Cornelia Foss. She, 25, and her husband, 34, Lukas Foss, were great friends and admirers of his work. Glenn and the Foss’ first met in LA one night in 1957, and later on Lukas found work as a conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in 1963. Both Glenn and the Foss’ couldn’t have been happier.

lucasfoss.jpg With Gould calling them all the time, Lucas became suspicious of them. In 1966 Cornelia says that Glenn asked for her hand in marriage. Then in 1967, she put her kids in the family station wagon and moved from Buffalo to Toronto to be closer to him.

glenngould.jpg Everything was going fine until she noticed some unsettling behaviour with him two weeks after she left Lucas. She must have been saying to herself what have I got myself, and more importantly, my children into?

After many years with Mr. Gould she returned to Lucas in 1972. Gould never really got over her some close friends would say.

After the tragic passing of Mr. Gould on Oct. 4, 1982, friends found notes in his St. Claire Apt. stating …

“I am deeply in love with a certain beautiful girl. I asked her to marry me, but she turned me down but I still love her more than anything in the world and every minute I can spend with her is pure heaven … “

gouldspiano.jpg

I can only imagine the facial expression on the one who came across the earth shattering confession!

Glenn Gould R.I.P.

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Canadian, Culture, Entertainment, Glenn Gould, History, Musicians Tagged With: Cornelia Foss, Glenn Gould, Glenn Goulds lover, the secret life of Glenn Gould

The Mosport peace concert July 1970

August 21, 2007 by Chris

While reading the Toronto Star the other day, I found a great piece of music history that never was.

lennon_ono.jpg It was to be organized by John Lennon and whats her name. This event was to be part of their peace campaign, shortly after John left the Beatles. It was to have been a star studded event North of Toronto Ontario.

Unfortunately for us the US government got involved with it. I still to this day have no idea why the US Government was so concerned with John Lennon in the first place? If he was such an eyesore to them then why didn’t they just ignore him. You know like what I say about Micheal Jackson all the time, ” If you just ignore this freak, he will eventually just go away”. Just like the school or village idiot?

But even common sense has to prevail once in a while. Although the Ontario government at the time tried to put the ca bash to this one, the courts stepped in and said that it was ok to proceed.

When was it to have taken place, Aug. 7-9, 1970. I bet it would have been a blast!

John Lennon R.I.P.

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Canadian, Concerts, Culture, Entertainment, Great Bands, History, Music, Musicians Tagged With: Beatles, Canada, John Lennon, Mosport Peace concert, Music, Ontario, Toronto, Toronto Star, US government surveillance of John Lennon

Rick Wakeman’s band is terribly talented

August 20, 2007 by Chris

Oh my GOD!!! The show left me literally in a state of incomunicato.

Not just because of R. Jackson’s generous gift of buying a ticket for me (which I WILL remember for the rest of my life!), but due to the pure talent of Rick Wakeman and his band mates.

The tour is called Rick Wakeman’s Grumpy Old Picture Show.

The caped keyboard crusader was at his all time best!

When they started to play the first song I thought that these guys were just a rinkie dinkie band of whoever that he put together at the last minute. A funny thing happened later on though, they started to morph into this MEGA BAND right before my very eyes!

The band consisted of Rick Wakeman and the English Rock Ensemble.

I only wish that you all were there to enjoy it as much as we did. Thanx again R. Jackson for the memories!

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Concerts, Entertainment, Great Bands, Music, Musicians, Recreation, Video Tagged With: band, concert, Danforth Music Hall, enjoyed, excellent, gift, guitar, keyboard, live music, Music, Rick Wakeman, Rick Wakeman and the English Rock Ensemble, Rick Wakemans Grumpy Old Picture Show, rock, sing, ticket, tour, vocals, YES

To the guy who practises random acts of kindness

August 16, 2007 by Chris

I hereby announce the winner of this years “Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” award is R. JACKSON the proud owner of Prestige Glass International!

Ok everyone … please calm down and take your computer seats!

It wasn’t hard to come to this decision. You see … Earlier this month I was ill and we thought it might have been a heart problem that had plagued me a few years ago. You might have heard about this on my wife’s blog You are in my World Now. During the short period of time that I was ill, I’m better now, I found out that one of the greatest keyboardist in Rock history, no it’s not Robert even though he is an accomplished keyboardist in his own right, Rick Wakeman, is playing a concert this Sunday at the Danforth Music Hall here in Toronto.

The prices for these tickets were quite pricey and at the moment I couldn’t afford them. The concert might even be sold out by now too.

Now this is where Robert comes in. He was searching for information about the Rick Wakeman concert and he came across the post on my wife’s blog that discussed how much I wanted to go to the concert. He read it and then replied:

I just realized that Chris is ill, by looking at this site a little closer. The spare ticket to Rick Wakeman is yours for free.

Now that is the reason why he is this years recipient! The man went way out of his way to provide me with music that will sooth my ill heart!

At the beginning of this post I mentioned that Robert has a company called Prestige Glass International. Well I took a moment to visit his company site and his company makes some very cool stuff that you should check out.

My favorite pieces are under “Canadiana” Inukshuks (in-ook-shook) and Vases & Bowls. The Vases & Bowls remind me of some of the ones that my relatives make in Ireland.

I don’t think that I told you about my family roots, but we are from Waterford Ireland. Yes, the place that makes the world famous Waterford Crystal. As luck would have it, I still have 2 cousins that do the glass blowing and cutting at the plant. Too bad they weren’t there when we were doing the tour of the factory a few years ago.

Since my cousins weren’t at the Waterford factory when we visited we did a tour of the plant with the regular tourists. While watching some guys do their work on their benches I kept asking the the tour guide some detailed questions about cutting and the tools they used. After a while he kept wondering why I had many questions I told them that I was a goldsmith and diamond setter. I also said that during the tour we saw some pictures of our cousins through out the plant. He then laughed and said “Oh ya, they did say some of their cousins were going to show up some time.”

At this point we were nearing the end of the tour and he said why don’t we hang out and talk to the boys on the floor, and that’s what we did. After being introduced to them the tour guide told them who we were and they said “Do you want to take a crack at it?” and I said “Why not!”

So cheers to this years recipient! Maybe he’ll let me take a crack at glass blowing behind his bench.

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Concerts, Culture, Entertainment, Home and Lifestyle, Music, Musicians, Recreation Tagged With: birthday gifts, blog, business gifts, Canadian, Canadiana, concert, concert ticket, corporate gifts, craft, free ticket, gift ideas, glass, glass blowing, glass bowls, glass vase, golf, hand crafted, Inukshuks, keyboard, Music, Prestige Glass International, random acts of kindness, Rick Wakeman, Rick Wakeman concert, The Danforth Music Hall, ticket, Toronto, tour, wedding gifts, YES

A beautiful little dittie

August 6, 2007 by Chris

This is a little dittie that I came across on JT Music and it is something that I just had to share with you all!

It’s Little Wing played by SRV and the video is a combination of great blues players and also shows the making of what seems to be Fender guitars.

SRV R.I.P.

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Music, Musicians, Video Tagged With: fender, fender guitars, guitar, jimi hendricks, Little Wing, making fender guitars, Music, play, SRV, stevie ray Vaughn, Video

Tremolo Bars

August 2, 2007 by Chris

Has anyone ever wondered what the tremolo setup in their guitars look like, but was too afraid to take it apart. I’ve never had a guitar with a tremolo bar but my buddy did and one day he decided to show me.

My buddy in Brantford was a collector of guitars. He was rather talented, but was more into collecting them, then playing them. Nice hobby if you can afford it. I was very fortunate one evening to see a “59 Fender Strat” that he had picked up for his collection.

One night I was invited to bring my HiWatt and Gibson RD to his house with a couple of buddies to jam. I had come in, set up my amp and he gave me a beer. The boys always looked forward to jammin’ with me because I was one of the few guitar players who liked to challenge myself with different playing techniques. Most of the time they just watched and asked questions. That always drives me crazy! Then my buddy went over and brought out a guitar case and placed it in front of me.

When he opened the case, I felt my body shaking inside. It felt like someone had just opened up the “Ark of the Covenant” and was looking at the “10 Commandments” written by God and given to Moses on the mountain, inside!

I had never seen this legendary 59 Strat let alone had the ability to play it.

I just looked at it for a while and then he said “why don’t you plug it in?” I then picked it up and studied it intensely. After 10 minutes of viewing every angle and part of this mythical beast, I plugged it in and played for around 2 hours straight.

After I stopped playing I asked him “What does the Whammy (Tremolo) Bar system look like?”. He drew a quick picture on a pack of smokes and then asked me if I wanted to see this one’s? The guy who he had bought it from then took it from me and started to take off the back to expose the inner workings of it. It looked something like this:

fender-trem-as.jpg

Now to give you a better understanding how it works, I have a video for you.

So if you have one of these on your axe, you now have a better idea of how it works and how to roughly adjust it. I strongly recommend that you take the back cover off it and just take a look around just for an educational experience.

Remember by taking the cover off the back of your guitar to take a look, you won’t blow it up! This will make you more aware of your overall guitar and make you feel more comfortable with it. Knowledge is power and besides, it makes you look like you know what your talking about.

Take pictures and save them. Later on this may become a life saver if you do start adjusting it. This will allow you to see what it looked like before you started. Actually, take pictures of every stage of it. There is nothing worse then having a couple of screws left over when you think your done! It happens to the best of us!

Keep on Jammin’

Filed Under: Electronics, Guitar Equipment, Guitar Maintenance, Guitars, My experiences, Technology, Video Tagged With: 59 Fender Strat, adjust, amp, Brantford, diagram, fender, fender whammy bars, guitar, Guitar Maintenance, guitar player, guitar whammy bars, guitars, Hiwatt, how to, maintenance, picture, play, playing, tremolo, tremolo bars, tremolo setup, Video, whammy, Whammy bars

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