ANTHIDOTE

In the search for great talents there is a guitar player that stands out for his chops and skill that are so far above the rest it's not even a fair fight.  This is a song that I have been working on for years (and never nail it) and it's one of those that you have to feel in order to negotiate your way through it on the fretboard.  It's merciless but the groove is just great and it forces you to really sweat.  Check it out from beginning to end.  Mario Parmisano on Piano is also great.

Les Paul has passed away.  All guitar players know this name and that is not an exaggeration.  I have been a guitar player for over 25 years and the one and only electric guitar I have ever owned has been the Les Paul 55/77 that my father bought for me when I was a kid.  It weighed a TON on me back then and I learned just about every lick I've ever known on that guitar.   The Les Paul has a great single cut-away shape and curves in all the right places.  Even people who don't play know what a Les Paul looks like.  Hell I think the huge neon guitar sticking out of the Hard Rock Cafe in Vegas is all but a Les Paul.  And Les played live gigs way into his old age.  I read today that he had once invited Penn (from Penn and Teller) to jam with him on bass and Penn said he was scared – I believe it.   To understand the giant that this man was click here and look at the tribute quotes from guitarists worldwide.

I’m in a music mood tonight.  How have I not known about Greg Howe over the past 20 years?!  I stumbled upon him just the other day by accident while on Grooveshark where he was covering La Villa Strangiato and was blown away by this guys chops.  I dug further and discovered someone who plays clean and tasty and can mix speed with just the right notes and knows when to back off.  This guy is sheer talent.  I found this clip of Greg playing the classic “Sunny”.  He definitely has his own sound but if pressed I’d say he is the perfect mix between Hiram Bullock, Frank Gambale, and Drew Zingg.  Check out the YouTube clip and prepare to be impressed.

And if that wasn’t enough click here for some more.

Hands down one of the best live bands for performance and sheer musicianship has got to be Incognito.  J.P. Maunick “Bluey” can effortlessly work up tasty 3 and 4 chord progressions and layer in just the right amount of horn lines to add the density and punch that make their music so good.  Plus, one unique thing about Incognito music is the thought that seems to go into the bass lines.  The bass lines are never just riding the easy path but rather seem to be punctuated with notes that you wouldn’t normally expect.  Just great stuff.  If you want bang for your buck in live performance, make it to one of Incognito’s shows if you’re lucky enough to be in the same place as the band. Click play to hear what I mean.