by Adam St. James
Smooth open position riffs and rich Hammond organ sounds define the laid back approach of one the most well-known purveyors of retro-cool blues on the circuit today: Jimmie Vaughan.
With Do You Get The Blues?, the just-released third solo disc from the former Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist (and founder), Vaughan carries on in a [...]
By Adam St. James
Sammy Hagar has one of the most instantly recognizable voices in rock. His work these past three decades – as lead vocalist for the seminal mid-’70s rock act Montrose, then for 10 years as a solo artist, followed by another 11 fronting Van Halen during that group’s most successful period, and since [...]
by Adam St. James
There is no more successful American rock band than Aerosmith. They are everywhere, and have been for most of the past 30 years – even despite the excesses that resulted in a few members taking a “leave of absence” during the early-’80s. Just Push Play, the band’s most recent release and another [...]
By Adam St. James
Second albums can be a bitch. But Away From the Sun, the sophomore release from 3 Doors Down, shows solid growth from the down-South quintet. That, and a couple of solid hits too, which of course never hurts.After the surprise hit of their first single “Kryptonite,” from their 2000 debut, The Better [...]
[Adam's notes, 2007: I did this interview with Dime a few months before his untimely death in December, 2004. He was a crazy mofo, that's for sure, and he's still sorely missed by those who knew him well.]
Born down in Dallas, raised on the rock ’n’ roll road. That’s an apt description of Damageplan [...]
by Adam St. James
Sophistication. The term describes Robben Ford’s music on a number of levels. The eclectic musician – he regularly touches on blues, jazz, R&B, rock – blends instrumental and lyrical ideas into a package so elegant, yet musically invigorating, it’s hard to say whether it’s more soulfully sweet or rippin’ jazz-bluesy.
Either way, Ford’s [...]
by Adam St. James
Little Feat is a national institution. The band’s slinky, sinuous songs drip with style like Cajun hot sauce bubbling from a freshly boiled crawfish. From the opening strains of their sensational slide-laden jams to the final passages of their deeply rhythmic sonic explorations, Little Feat carries forward many of the best musical [...]
by Adam St. James
Proof that nothing ever stays the same: The leaves are falling off the trees in my yard, and though it’s still 80+ degrees outside, I know the winter winds are comin’ my way soon. More proof: After three previous platinum releases, guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd sings LEAD vocals on almost every track [...]
by Adam St. James
Wherever it is they park rock ’n’ roll tour busses between road trips, that must be where Warren Haynes sleeps, one eye open, ready to hop the next velvet-lined Prevost that dares crank its overworked diesel and fire its yellowed running lights. Haynes is a road-warrior of the highest order, touring with [...]
by Adam St. James
Derek Trucks took the blues world and the guitar universe by storm a few years back as one of the meanest slide guitarists this side of Duane Allman, and that while still in his teens. And Trucks has all the reason in the world to be influenced by the late, great Duane. [...]
by Adam St. James
Jeff Beck wafts in and out of our lives like that enigmatic “Blue Wind” his guitar cried about on his landmark album Wired, way back in ’76. He has sometimes let years pass between releases, largely disappearing from public life into his alter-ego persona, the hot rod auto mechanic from London, before [...]
By Adam St. James
More so than almost any musician in the rock world, Joe Satriani has managed the impossible: maintaining a career based almost entirely on instrumental recordings. When I did this interview, Joe had just released his Engines of Creation CD and was preparing to tour. The disc was definitely a diversion from Satch’s [...]
This is a list of resources and links you might find useful. If the links below don’t seem to work, you need to click the title of this post, where it says “Click Here For Our Resources & Links.”
RockChops.com
BluesLessons.com
JazzGurus.com
LogicalLeadGuitar.com
Click Here to Slow Down The Music You’re Trying to Learn without changing the pitch, with Song [...]
From Ign.com
Marginally more necessary than Revolution X.
by Erik Brudvig
June 29, 2008 – While playing Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, one of Steven Tyler’s lyrics struck me as particularly relevant. The song “Dream On” begins, “Every time that I look in the mirror, all these lines on my face gettin’ clearer.” It’s a line that speaks of [...]
by Adam St. James:
Go ahead and try to keep up, few will ever be able to claim they could. Keep up with what, you ask? Think about this: It’s been more than 50 years since he scored his first hit single, but he’s still out there traveling and performing – at the age of 77 [...]
Existing as a “store within a store” Best Buy musical instrument locations will feature trained musical instrument specialists. In addition to retail sales, Best Buy musical instrument stores will offer group and individual guitar lessons.
“Whether they’re just learning to play, or have been playing for years, customers can trust the knowledge and expertise of our [...]
New album Skin Deep released July 22 …
Guy receives one of his signature polka dot Stratocaster guitars from Fender’s Del Breckenfeld.
Photo by Paul Natkin
Guy’s latest album, Skin Deep, released only days after the Chicago tribute concert.
Image courtesy Zomba Label Group
Veteran blues guitar master Jimmie Vaughan headlined a free tribute concert honoring Chicago blues living legend [...]
Guy to receive first Great Performer of Illinois Award at July 20 event …
Blues great Vaughan to honor blues great Guy.
Photo by Bob Burchess
Veteran blues guitar master Jimmie Vaughan will headline a free tribute concert honoring Chicago blues living legend Buddy Guy in Chicago on July 20. Vaughan’s performance, celebrating Guy’s induction as the first [...]
From Pollstar.com
Tuesday, Jul 8, 2008 8:53AM
Canadian rockers Nickelback are the latest act to sign a long-term deal with promoter Live Nation.
The all encompassing three-tour, three-album deal means the company will handle all aspects of the band’s career, including recording, touring, merchandising, secondary ticketing, endorsements, web site, fan club and broadcast and literary rights.
Nickelback [...]
Pentatonic Triplets
Every guitar student I’ve ever met fits one basic personality profile, and here’s their motto: “I want it all, and I want it RIGHT NOW!”
That attitude works fine with simple endeavors such as, let’s say, learning to play checkers, or boil water. It doesn’t work very well when you’re trying to learn to play [...]
