Guitars, tips and great music discussions
I hope that all of you out there are having fun during this holiday season and don’t drink and drive cause it ain’t worth it!
So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) and to everyone reading this blog!
Keep on Jammin’ in the New Year
I just heard through Facebook that the Toronto Progressive rock gods called Counterpoint are finally in the studio! These guys are so good that it is scary. I’m not privy to what these guys are up to lately, musically that is, but I’m sure that it will be worth the wait.
The first time I experienced Counterpoint was the highly successful Nuance Art/Rock show way back in 2008. That show still gives me goose bumps! Then I saw them at Timothy’s Pub in Etobicoke. That was followed up by another Nuance show on the Danforth.
They are doing them work at 2E Studio in Toronto. I can’t find anything about this studio as of yet but I’m sure that I will find them sometime.
I’ll keep you all in the musical loop as it comes available!
Keep on Jammin’
Cat Stevens is going back out on the road after 30 long years of obscurity! I wonder what kind of groups will be following him? Ah, I know that was a bad one! I just love the man’s songs.
Scottie, Myro is what we called him amongst other names, was the one who taught me some of his songs. They were simple to play but much more fun to listen to. I always thought that both of us would get a chance to see this legendary folk guitarist/song writer perform together. Myro if your reading this post, if I win the lottery we’re there brother!
Singer-songwriter Yusuf Islam, known as Cat Stevens in the 1970s, takes the stage in Dublin on Sunday, the first performance of his first full tour since 1976.
Born Steven Demetre Georgiou in London, the folk legend disappeared from the music scene after he converted to Islam in 1977 at the height of his popularity.
He began making sporadic stage appearances in recent years. In 2006, he recorded a new album, An Other Cup, following it with Roadsinger this year.
Now 61, Islam is going back on the road with his Guess I’ll Take My Time tour.
He told the Irish Times that he hopes his old fans will turn out for these concerts.
“A lot of people might have thought — because of the way that my image per se had changed throughout the media — that my actual persona would change as well. But, in fact, you never really stop being yourself, you know,” he said.
Islam opens in Dublin’s O2 Arena on Nov. 15. Then he’s at Birmingham’s NIA the following Monday, Nov. 23, Liverpool’s Echo Arena on Dec. 5 and London’s Royal Albert Hall on Dec. 8.
No dates have been confirmed for appearances in Canada, the U.S. or other countries. CBC News
Keep on Jammin’ Yusuf Islam
I found this video of this kid, (a Korean kid named Sungha Jung) playing acoustic guitar.
I know, we see video’s of kidz playing weird and wonderful things all the time but every once in a while there is one that sticks out. This kid is definitely a stand out!
I love how mature and developed his playing skills are here. He just has that touch! The sound quality is fabulous but the video is choppy. At first I thought it didn’t add up? You know … Milli Vanilli. Then after viewing the video a few times I realized this kid was the real McCoy!
Hats off to the little guy and hopefully we can all observe this progression into a fabulous guitar player!
Keep on Jammin’
The Rickenbacker 331LS is a beautiful looking semi-hollow body guitar.
They produced this model in 6 & 12 string guitars and bass ones as well. With all the lighting effects on this puppy it’s no wonder they called it the “Lightshow Guitar”. It was only in production from 1970 – 1972 so you can see that this is not only a collector’s piece but a very rare bird indeed!
The latest price for a guitar of this ilk was $15,000.00 (US). Originally it cost around $599.00 (US).
The top of the guitar was created out of some semi opaque material. I guess it may look like a super ,full sized pick guard. The manufacturer placed lights (automotive style bayonet mounted bulbs) underneath the cover of it that lit up and changed colours. It definitely reminded me of some right out of psychedelic, progressive rock era. Only something like this could have come out way back in the early 1970’s. Spacemen and women, shields up!
It also came with this weird little silver box that you had to plug the guitar through. It is a fuse basically but I haven’t found out any more details on it.
The colours they used were Red, yellow or green and blue. When the player played certain notes a particular colour would light up! When a bass note was played the blue light would shine. If the guitarist played any mid-range note the yellow or green came on and when treble notes were hit Red lights appeared!
I’ve only played a Rickenbacker once in my life and it was an ok guitar to play, maybe the intonation was off a bit. Anyone out there that has or had a Rickenbacker out there? Better yet, if someone has this vintage guitar in their collection, is it still working?
Here are a few related items that you might be interested in checking out:
Keep on Jammin’
For all you die hard guitarist’s out there, here is something that may or may not have entered into your mind at least once. The guitar coffin is an idea from the people at Crazy Coffins in the UK. I just came across this thing, really. It’s not like I’m actively looking for this kinda stuff!
I really don’t know what to think about this … coffin thing?
Keep on Jammin’
Get the Funk Out from Extreme is a wonderful piece of guitar work by Nuno Bettencourt (Canadian Guitarist). I’ve loved listening to this song from the first time I heard it and have enjoyed experiencing it many times after that at volume 11 on my stereo at home or in the car!
I re-discovered this beauty while researching some other ways in which to play one of their other songs, Hole Hearted.
Nuno Bettencourt, instructs the viewer perfectly on how to play this one the way he does in the video I’ve included below. I’ve tried his method and it works great until he starts doing all those crazy pull offs and tap on’s that most guitarist use. Honestly, I was never really drawn to this form of playing.
Don’t get me wrong. This doesn’t mean that I don’t love hearing this type of playing! It truly gets my blood boiling in a fantastic and enthusiastic way. I kinda wish that I tried it when I was younger but …
So if you’re one of those who are of this guitar ilk, then you’ll flip over this one! Enjoy.
Keep on Jammin’
I first ran into Craig when he was doing a solo gig way back in Oct. 2007 at the Arlington Hotel’s Capron’s Cavern, in Paris Ontario. The occasion was a good friends 50th birthday party. Some how my buddies wife got a hold of him and he played there that night for the event. I brought along my guitar and they wanted me to play a couple of songs, so why not get up and play!
Anyway, playing that night Craig and I did a few tunes together and it was just the perfect little gig! We both connected flawlessly and it was brilliant. I know Craig, I’m still trying to get that night’s video that was taken!
In all honesty Craig, I was drawn to your Vox Tonelab LE system! I did a couple of small set’s throughout the night to give the man a break.
This modern rocker’s bio is neat to read! His style is straight forward and he doesn’t disappoint! To get a good idea of his musical format, his interview at the NOW lounge is a nice example of the guitarist background and where he is going.
So I just want to bring Peeler into your musical experience for those unlucky ones who have not been exposed to playing. So come on out to see this guys show at Casey’s, 123 Front St W, in Toronto Aug. 21-22 to see what I mean! I know I’ll be there! I’ll be the guy with the oversize BIC lighter waving in the air.
Keep on Jammin’ Peeler!
I recently received a belated birthday present from a volunteer at our hospital.
She came up to me in my work area and told me to close my eyes and hold out my hand. I thought it was a joke and I thought it would be nice to be at the butt end of one for a change, so I did what I was told. She then dropped what seemed to feel like a piece of cardboard in my hand and excitedly opened my eyes! What I found was what looked like a match pack, but the wording on it said Match Pik?
At that time, everyone around me was looking at me including Connie and they were all smiling. I thought wow, a pack of matches, how nice?! She then said “Happy Birthday Chris!”. I followed up with “Oh, you shouldn’t have!”.
Upon further examination of this bright red pack of matches that I just accepted as a birthday gift, I saw the words “Jim Dunlop USA” near the bottom of it. At this point I was thinking to myself “What the hell is this?”.
Looking back at Connie, she was laughing at this point and said “Open it!” When I did, I found six .88 mm grey guitar picks inside! What a fabulous gift! I’ve never seen anything quite like this before so I gave her a little hug and we all had a laugh at my expense.
Keep on Jammin’
My wife and I went to the 21st Annual Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival and we just fell in love with this event! Imagine, 2 km of closed street with 50, yes you read that correctly, 50 bands playing on street! They were at just about every other corner. Each band that night played 3 sets from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. They all staggered their performances so as not to drown out each other.
It really was a magical night! We quickly found some parking, walked along the boardwalk and got to the beginning of the street fest faster then I thought we would.
We were first greeted by the sounds of a jazz fusion band with this fabulous violinist graciously blasting out solo with all he had! Then came the smell of the Beaches Festival, the FOOD! Note: if you plan to attend next years event, GO HUNGRY. Too many types of food to mention in this post.
The atmosphere was really electrifying. The relaxing buzz, that seemed to be coming from everywhere, was quite family friendly. Kidz, dogs and everything in between where out there last night. There weren’t all that many people walking around at first, but that certainly changed 2 hours later.
The styles were very diverse. We first witnessed a fusion band, then a Dixie land band, followed by Salsa/flamenco guitar players, a BIG BAND (all were really tight) then a blues band. The organizers were trying to highlight Big Band’s, Swing, Dixieland, Smooth, Post-Bop, Afro-Cuban, Fusion, Funk, R&B and Soul sounds. Wow, is to put it lightly.
This video captures the sounds of this band correctly. The Visual well …
At the end of the night the band we both found the most intriguing was a band called Project Phoenix. We were so impressed that we bought one of their CD’s titled Milestone. Go and listen to the song called “Jump for it” on their site. It was the last song they played last night and it was purely brilliant!
So if you love any of the styles that the Beaches Jazz Festival provides us at their event, then this is a must see for next year! See ya then!
Beaches Jazz Festival, Keep on Jammin’