Posted October 31, 2011 at 12:22 pm | No comments
As a lifelong Rush fan and a nascent (“wanna-be”) drummer, it was with no small level of excitement that I popped in the new Neil Peart instructional DVD, Taking Center Stage. With a track listing comprised of Rush’s 2010/2011 “Time Machine” tour set list, which featured the entire Moving Pictures album, this release is a fulfillment of many Rush fans’ long-held wishes, as it offers a chance to see what Peart is actually doing on many classic Rush songs.
Posted in: DVD Reviews, Guitar News, Instruction News, Metal News, Metal Reviews, Reviews, Rock Reviews
Posted October 31, 2011 at 12:11 pm | One comment
My first instructional DVD with Rob Wallis and Paul Siegel of Hudson Music was called A Work in Progress, and the subject was composing drum parts and recording them. It was based around the making of Rush’s Test For Echo album in 1995.
Paul, Rob, and I enjoyed working together, and I felt it was a true collaboration, like the one I have with my bandmates, Alex and Geddy. In preparing for the shoot, the three of us exchanged dozens of notes and conversations, and while we were filming, we would get together between shots and discuss topics for discussion in the next one. Because it was filmed in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, in May, 1996, we had some nice outdoor settings for the parts where I was talking to the camera, and that made for a more “scenic” program.
Posted in: DVD Reviews, Reviews
Posted October 31, 2011 at 10:45 am | No comments
Australian guitarist Joe Matera has had an exciting year so far in 2011, which has already seen multiple releases from the tasteful guitar player. According to a press release, he appeared on UK metal legends Atomkraft’s new release, Cold Sweat, to which he contributed a ripping solo to their aggressive cover of Thin Lizzy’s “Cold Sweat,” and has also released a solo instrumental single, entitled “Face Off.” Both releases showcase his energetic, yet melodic six-string action and have brought his music to a larger international audience.
Posted in: Guitar News, Instrumental News, Rock News
Posted October 29, 2011 at 10:34 am | 2 comments
One of the hits on Steve Vai’s album Real Illusions was the tune “Building the Church.”
What immediately grabbed our attention and blew everyone away was the insane intro lick that Steve also repeats later in the song. He moves it around, making a completely new section of the composition.
Posted in: Guitar Lessons, Rock Guitar Lessons
Posted October 28, 2011 at 10:29 am | 2 comments
Hailing from Boston, Gerry Beaudoin first took up the guitar at the age of 10 and has since evolved into one of the finest jazz guitarists and music arrangers in the country. He is the recipient of the 1992 National Association of Independent Record Producers award for best jazz recording, 1994 Cadence Magazine Editor’s Choice Award for his CD Sentimental Christmas, as well as a submission for a 1998 Grammy nomination.
Posted in: Blues Interviews, Interviews, Jazz Interviews
Posted October 27, 2011 at 3:29 pm | No comments
C. F. Martin & Co. has a long history of building high quality artist model acoustic guitars, and they are continuing the tradition with the new D-28M The Mamas and The Papas Custom Artist Edition. The D-28M pays homage to the songwriting, musicianship and vocal harmony of The Mamas and The Papas and is inspired by the vintage Martin D-28 that backed up their many Top 40 hits, like “Monday, Monday” and “California Dreamin’.” To keep it a very special release, Martin is only making one hundred. High resolution photos are available below.
Posted in: Acoustic News, Guitar News, Industry News
Posted October 25, 2011 at 6:13 am | 13 comments
Though the venue doors opened at 7:00pm and show time would not be until 8:00pm, gaining entrance into the Warner Theater was proving to be quite the challenge. The ornate grand foyer of the former movie palace was a cacophony of various languages, demonstrating the band’s large international following.
Posted in: Concert Reviews, Reviews
Posted October 24, 2011 at 12:59 pm | 5 comments
Alice Cooper is back with his wicked rock unleashed again on his new release, Welcome 2 My Nightmare. Cooper vamps with producer, Bob Ezrin, who produced the original 1975 Welcome To My Nightmarealbum, and the coupling of spirits works its magic once more on the new Nightmare II. Alice also called on a fellow Michigan guitar legend, Dick Wagner, who collaborated on the original album, to work his six-string magic. And let’s not forget the monster axe master Steve “The Deacon” Hunter who, along with Wagner, still cranks out some of the best surly rock you’ll ever hear.
Posted in: Reviews, Rock Reviews
Posted October 24, 2011 at 12:06 pm | No comments
Many new guitar players purchase an acoustic guitar or have one given to them as a gift, not knowing a thing about the ingredients that must go into the craftsmanship in order to produce that tone they heard when they first fell in love with the acoustic guitar and dreamed of becoming a great player.
Posted in: Building and Repair, Guitar Lessons, Reviews
Posted October 24, 2011 at 10:55 am | No comments
Greg Howe is an amazing guitar virtuoso who has become one of the most in-demand performers, clinicians, guitar teacher, studio and touring musicians on the scene today. Howe has performed with musicians such as Michael Jackson, Enrique Iglesias, N’Sync, Victor Wooten, Dennis Chambers, Stu Hamm among many others. In this interview we talk about Howe’s music, jazz influences in his music, his touring with different pop stars as well as Howe’s thoughts on Allan Holdsworth, success and teaching individuality.
Posted in: Instrumental Interviews, Interviews, Jazz Interviews, Rock Interviews
Do you love the guitar and all things guitar related? 