Hard Work?

I have been working on a project recently that is taking much longer than I imagined. I will tell you more later because its really not "my project", its for all of us, and I need your help.

It got me thinking. I am unemployed for the first time EVER and admit, I love having free time to write, listen to music and then combine my passions and write about music. Its a bit tough not having an income and watching the savings dwindle away, but jobs are scarce.

Very few people have their dream job, but I did have the fun of meeting Joe Heuer this summer, you may know him better as The Rock and Roll Guru. He's managed to put his love of writing and music to work quite well.

As I cruise around the blogosphere reading your blogs I see so much talent, so many brilliant music critics and writers. Its inspiring. I hope when I am ready some of you will write something for my "project".

I am not trying to be mysterious, its just that I want it to be ready before I unveil it, even though its been a work in progress for a long, long time.

Thanks for reading my blog. I am by no means a great writer like some of you guys because, honestly, I hate reviewing music unless I LOVE it. I have a hard time saying "this stinks" but many of you have mastered the art of critiquing!~

Bonnaroo on Fuse - BRUCE

...here i am flipping chanels on a Sat. night and what do I see but Mr. Springsteen playing guitar SHIRTLESS (this is a first, he usually doesn't do that). Unfortunately that shot did not last long. I'd just like to point out that he's turning 60 next month, so if any of you are feeling old, don't. We are as young as we feel and act. So keep rockin (and eating right, exercising and not smoking or drinking excessively).

Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, Queensryche, Chickenfoot

I'll tell ya what's a real bummer - when one of your favorite bands is opening for a popular band and tickets sell out before you get a chance to buy one. Of course this is great for Davy, but it sucks for me.

They are playing near me the day before and after my birthday and both shows are sold out except for bad seats in the bleachers in the back. Ugh.

On the other hand, I can go see Robert Cray that same weekend very close to where I live. I just need some good LIVE guitar to sustain me. General admission plus you have to buy dinner if you want good seats...sounds perfect. My friends around here keep asking what I want to do to celebrate, but going to see music like this with people that don't appreciate or enjoy it is awful, I rather go alone!

Songfacts Quiz

How many of you look at Songfacts? I do from time to time and just took this quiz over there. If you take it let me know how you do.

I was a bit disappointed with my score:

Final Score: 15
There are holes in your knowledge, but you have a lot of potential.

U2 360 Tour

Well the tour has been underway for almost a month now, slowly making their way across Europe and heading towards .... me! I can't wait for Oct. 25th. This monstrosity of a stage will be interesting to see in person.

Happy Birthday Mick!

I've always liked Mick, there's just something about his cockiness and flamboyancy that makes me smile. From what I understand he's also a brilliant businessman and a devoted father. So I with him a happy 66th and many more to come.

As for the music of the Rolling Stones, they lost me after Tattoo You in '81 but really their best work (imo) was the late 60's - early 70's.

Stevie Ray Vaughan Quote

Stevie Ray died on August 27, 1990. Its hard to believe its been almost 20 years. I was thinking about him today and found a great quote (below) and also ran across a site I had never seen before. Its called Celebrity Rock Guitars and is worth a look, lots of great information and photos.

I've said that playing the blues is like having to be black twice. Stevie Ray Vaughan missed on both counts, but I never noticed.
~B. B. King

Happy Birthday to Carlos Santana

I almost missed his birthday but luckily several other bloggers wrote about i. I just got done watching this video over at Rock and Roll Blog (a great blog to visit).

This is Santana performing at Woodstock and its INSANE how great it is. Carols shreds and Michael Shrieve (who is a baby in this - only 19!) gives one of the best drum solos I've ever seen. No kidding. Plus you gotta love the audience :) for once they show naked guys instead of naked women. I like that for a change.

Freddie Mercury

I flipped on the tube in time to catch the last 30 minutes of a documentary on Freddie Mercury.  It showed the last video he ever recorded, and I don't remember ever having seen it before.  He was very thin and I imagine he was in pain.  I prefer to remember the vibrant, flamboyant man on stage with the remarkable vocals.

His death came as a shock to many only because it came so quickly after he publically announed he had AIDS (less than 24 hours).  There had been rumors for years but he cherished his privacy.  After he died he was criticized by the AIDS community, they said he should have come out sooner it could have brought awareness and funds.  I disagree.  He deserves to keep his health his own business.  Besides, after hid death there was a HUGE tribute concert to Freddie that raised millions of pounds/dollars for AIDS Awareness.


I don't think celebrities owe the media anything.  I respect his right to keep quiet and protect his family from being hounded to death by reporters. 

My frien, Starr, over at "Here Comes A Storm in the Form of a Girl" is raising funds for her annual trek in an AIDS walk.  I didn't even tell her I was going to link to her, but since I can't donate much this year I thought I'd point it out to you in case you wanted to opportunity to sponsor Starr as she walks for an important cause!!!

To donate visit her site or go HERE .

3 Generations of Guitar Virtuosos?

Mad Hatter made a comment on the recent post about the new rock doc called "It Might Get Loud".

He suggested that perhaps Jimmy Page, The Edge and Jack White were not necessarily the best three choices to represent "three generations of electric guitar virtuosos".

So my question for you is: Which three would you choose for this film?


BTW, if you haven't checked out Hatter's blog you should. He reviews a lot of interesting music, some popular some obscure. I love his grading scale:

Key To Music Grades
A - You will never be whole without it
B - Highly recommended
C - Flawed, but still pretty good
D - It's your money, not mine
F - Why couldn't this have been burned in Fahrenheit 451?