Posted November 15, 2011 at 2:43 pm | One comment
It’s been five years since the release of Nils Lofgren’s last studio album featuring his own songs, but now he is back and has something to say! An effort that’s been in the works since the culmination of Springsteen’s Working on a Dream Tour in November of 2009, Lofgren’s new album Old School covers a variety of topics including desperation, self doubt, true love, departed friends and holding on to your dreams while the world goes mad. I had the pleasure to speak with Nils about his new release and the importance of being true to yourself as an artist.
Posted in: Interviews, Rock Interviews
Posted November 9, 2011 at 10:36 am | No comments
Dickey Betts, founding member of the Allman Brothers Band and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will take his Great Southern Band to Sarasota, FL this November 12th and 13th to headline the Dan Toler ALS Support Benefit Festival. Being held at Herschberger Ranch in Sarasota, the benefit will raise funds for Toler’s ongoing battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), widely known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Posted in: Country News, Guitar News, Rock News
Posted November 7, 2011 at 10:45 am | 2 comments
Pawn shops have long had negative associations as quick-money depots that sell items of little value. While any business can have a dark side, pawn shops don’t have to be disreputable. They can be a great place to find high-value items like women’s and men’s rings, antiques, and other items, and buyers can capitalize on deals that might not be found elsewhere. The fact of the matter is that times are tough for many people, and pawn shops can be a go-to source for those who might not have the funds to purchase new merchandise, such as the budding musician who is looking to purchase his/her first guitar. Here are some suggestions for getting the best deal possible when shopping for a guitar at a pawn shop.
Posted in: Guitar News, Guitars and Gear
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 29, 2011 at 10:34 am | 3 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 25, 2011 at 6:13 am | 14 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 14, 2011 at 7:39 am | No comments
Having never been to Ram’s Head Live and having never seen either The Antlers or Explosions in the Sky in a live setting, I was in strong anticipation of the evening ahead. Assuming Ram’s Head Live was Baltimore’s equivalent of D.C.’s 9:30 Club, I couldn’t have been more off the mark. The venue is situated in what can only be described as an intense colony of nightlife surrounded by brightly lit clubs and restaurants with neon and glitz everywhere you turn. After wading through a sea of eager partiers and not before my ID was checked three times, I headed into the somewhat hidden Ram’s Head Live, where The Antlers had begun their set.
Posted in: Concert Reviews, Reviews
Posted October 14, 2011 at 7:26 am | No comments
For a 50th anniversary tour and to celebrate their new release of Breathe Out, Breathe In, the iconic ‘60s rock band The Zombies are playing a lengthy tour with fellow UK sensations Strawbs (in their Acoustic Strawbs incarnation and lineup), with both bands meeting and exceeding expectations across the board.
Posted in: Concert Reviews, Reviews
