Backstage Banter

So as you probably know there is an awful lot of hullabaloo on the webbernet and elsewhere these days about the long-awaited, much-anticipated,  ridiculously-delayed release of Chinese Democracy, the not-so-new Album from Guns & Roses or NU GNR or The Axl Rose Solo Band or whatever you prefer to call them.  Most of the reviews that I’ve read have been positive and I like what little I’ve heard so far.  Axl’s voice sounds good (well sounds like Axl anyway), the riffs groove and the songs rock. There’s a touch of an industrial sound here and there and the lead guitars, while stinging and soaring in their own right, are much different from Slash’s bluesy burning which I miss.  Other than that some of the material could almost be Use Your Illusion era Guns with Axl attempting his best Freddie Mercury ala November Rain.  I’m sure it will sell by the boatload and I’ll probably find it in my Christmas stocking! One certainty is that the live show, with Reunion Blues endorser Richard Fortus (also of Psychedelic Furs fame) laying it down on rhythm guitar amid the musical maelstrom of Axl, Dizzy, Richie, Bumblefoot, Frank, Chris, Tommy and possibly even Buckethead???, will be a spectacle worth beholding.  www.myspace.com/gunsnroses

Richie Rockin

On a less grand scale but no less important, I’d also like to briefly mention another new release by yet another Reunion Blues endorser, a local boy and personal friend Josh Ramos.  The CD is called The Dream and it’s a collaboration between Josh and Hugo Valenti. Some of you may remember Josh from his time in The Storm which featured former members of Journey and Santana including Gregg Rolie, Steve Smith and Ross Valory and also the SoCal based hard rock outfit Hardline.  Hugo started out fronting Valentine which later became Open Skyz but might be best known for fronting Evolution, the pre-eminent East Coast Journey tribute act.  So as you might have guessed buy now, The Dream bears a strong resemblance to Journey in many aspects, but all in a positive way.  It’s the best collection of Journey songs from a band not named Journey that you’ll ever hear. The songwriting and arrangements on this album are rock solid and memorable and Hugo is a terrific singer with great range and passion. But the highlight of this cd is Josh’s playing. He really rips it up all over the disc with ferocity, feeling and an innate sense of melody not many possess.  The Dream is being released primarily in Europe so it might be a bit hard to find but for fans of outstanding melodic rock guitar playing it’s well worth seeking out. www.myspace.com/ramoshugo

Josh Jammin

Brett’s Music Bag: You’ve also got to check out The Answer www.myspace.com/theanswerrock. These bad boys from Northern Ireland are really bringing it hard the wayyy old school way. I’ve had their initial release Rise for close to a couple of years now after hearing about them in Classic Rock Magazine.  Anyone who caught them on The Late Show with David Letterman recently knows exactly what I’m talking about. The singer Cormac Neeson reminds me of a heavier, more aggressive Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes and the guitarist Paul Mahon is pure Gibson/Marshall hard rock glory.  Catch The Answer  live in concert opening for AC/DC on their Black Ice world tour. Never toolate indeed…    

The Answer Rocks

 Speaking of AC/DC, kudos to the Brothers Young & Co.  whose Black Ice recently went #1 in 29 countries, shifting 1.5 million units in the first two weeks of release in the US alone and over 5 million copies sold worldwide so far. Brings a tear to a crusty old rocker’s eye. Good on ya mates! www.myspace.com/acdc

I’m a sucker for old musical instruments, regardless of what they are. My weakness is funky upright pianos and off-the-wall guitars. Check out the cool finds at the first ever Vintage Guitars Road Show by clicking here. Vintage Guitars Road Show – Part 1 Bananas Music Do you have a cool guitar you want to share with us? Love to see it. Bring it on!

Remember the Swing craze of the mid 90’s? In an era of grunge rock, it was a rare offering and adoption from a sub-culture of a sub-culture. (Say that two times fast!)

In ‘98, I was working for NAMM (International Music Products Association) and put in charge of hiring the bands for the convention. We were incredibly lucky to be able to book a new jazz swing group by the name of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, along with the King of Country Swing, Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel. Of course, everyone knows about Asleep at the Wheel, and I had heard of these Voodoo Daddy cats but hadn’t seen their live show. I guess I didn’t know what I was in for!

Voodoo Daddy opened the set followed by Asleep at the Wheel and then both groups performed together for an incredible finale! When was the last time you’ve seen that? The crowd was knocked out and there was a sense of music history in the air.

That was 10 years ago. It never happened again and probably never will, simply based on the chances of both bands being available at the same time for the same venue. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to witness what, to me, was an unforgettable night.

To commemorate, we chased these guys down on the road and asked them to autograph a couple of our premium bags; one for sax and the other for acoustic guitar… and now, we’re giving them away! Both bags are made with full grain leather and feature the dual-density foam interior and luggage-grade hardware that has made Reunion Blues famous.

You can sign up here for this Voodoo Daddy random drawing. If you want to go for the Asleep at the Wheel bag, sign up here.  If you’re a fan, or just like free stuff, this giveaway is for you.

Thank you Scotty from Voodoo Daddy and Ray from Asleep at the Wheel for making this happen.

You guys swing.

JM!