Backstage Banter

I’m not talking about Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, but many of the “second tier” performers who play the clubs and bars. It is a fact that for years now, many venues expect musicians and bands to play for tips. In the old days, the bar or restaurant would “hire” a band, pay a pre-arranged amount, advertise and accept the responsibility of getting customers in to see the band. Somewhere along the line the venue owners realized that there was a good supply of quality musicians looking for a place to play and could work this angle in getting the musicians to play, basically for free. And, many of us are guilty of perpetuating the cycle by giving in and going along with the program. Is it because music is an intangible? I mean, the bar owner still has to pay for the booze to serve the customers. Why shouldn’t he or she pay for the music that serves the customers and helps keep them happy and buying drinks? I guess there are just too many of us that love what we do and are looking for a chance to play. Sometimes I think it would be better to have been born before the advent of recorded music. Then, if someone wanted to hear music, they had to hire the musicians to create the live music. Of course, if the king didn’t like the music, he might chop off your head.

Who is that guy grinning in the background?

I get a kick out of these guys every time I watch this. They exemplify the passion shared by the pros in the know.

Mike Kinal crafts incredible guitars and basses. Here’s what he has to say about Reunion Blues.

“I bought my first Reunion Blues Bag back in 1988 and decided then that these were the cases for my guitars. The new Continental Series reinforces my opinion – best cases on the planet.”

- Mike Kinal – Kinal Guitars – www.Kinal.com

Just came across this high fashion web site that selected Reunion Blues to help enhance their outfit. – Nice indicator that Reunion Blues is more than just the ultimate protection for your instrument!

Our friends at FenderTalk.com struck up a conversation about the popular RB Continental stress test videos that we thought was going in an interesting direction.

These videos are just as much fun to produce as they are to watch. Stay tuned!

Thanks to guitar lovers like those at the Gibson Les Paul Electric Guitar Blog, the Reunion Blues Vintage Guitars Road Show continues to roll and grow in cyber space.

See it HERE.

See Part 3 at Bananas at Large, San Rafael, CA

Special thanks to Wayne’s Guitar Blog for helping us promote the Reunion Blues Vintage Guitars Road Show in Nashville. Watch for Road Show videos coming soon on this blog, and on PremierGuitar.com.

We are proud to be associated with these good people who are helping spread the word about our popular Reunion Blues Vintage Guitars Road Show.

Click on this image to see Part 4.

If you would like to see his Road Show offered to your area, contact your local authorized Reunion Blues dealer and let them know they can get more detailed information by calling 800-950-1095.

CODY KILBY

Growing up in Cowan, Tennessee, Cody Kilby picked up his dad’s banjo at age 8 and had a Gibson Banjo endorsement by the time he was 11.  He started playing his mom’s guitar at 10, and by 17, he was the National Flatpicking Champion.

He added mandolin and dobro at around age 13, and at 16, recorded Just Me, showing his mastery of each instrument on the recording.  While touring with Sally Jones and the Sidewinders, he caught the ear of Ricky Skaggs, joining Kentucky Thunder in 2001.  Cody’s lightning-fast picking can be heard on a number of projects, including Disney album, O Mickey, Where Art Thou?.  He’s also released a new solo project, Many Roads Traveled, on which he shares his own original compositions.  In rare spare moments, Cody can be found producing and engineering projects for other artists in his home studio.