So, what have you been listening to lately?

[uwe]

He's been playing that shape forever, they used to be all Hamers. I guess he likes that shape because he's so tiny. Any larger bass would look like it has legs on him.

Or perhaps because a Republican invented it?  Lil' Jack is kinda vocal about his party leanings, but he never crosses the line to the inane unlike his former Damn Yankees buddy from Deeetroit.

I think Brad Gillis is an unsung American guitar hero. He's a funky shredder, if there is such a thing. Behind all the flash and dive bomb tremolo bar use, his solos are rhythmically ambitious.

Night Ranger are probably regarded by most people as the archetypical white boy Wonder Bread AOR band, but lest we forget: Jack Blades and Brad Gillis learned their chops with this Tower of Power'ish outfit here, which sprang from the debris of what was once Sly & The Family Stone:



And if you want to hear a skillfully Jazz Bass slappin' Jack, just go to 40:55 and 45:06. You also now know where he got his show band choreography dance moves from! 

Now Night Ranger sure aren't the Red Hot Chili Peppers, but I still hear that funk influence in their music not only via Gillis' solos, but also in the way they use starts and stops. Something in Night Ranger's music always made me not just want to bang my head, but also move my butt. They are vastly underrated as a band. Yank musicianship at its finest - yes, you guys can be that hellishly good.

[gearHed289]

I saw that Rubicon clip when it first aired and took note of the bass player. I was shocked to find out years later that that was Jack Blades!

[uwe]

Preconceptions, Tom, preconceptions, you have to liberate your biased horizons, tsk, tsk, tsk ...

[Pilgrim]

We're headed to Red Rocks tonight for a Joe Bonamassa blues concert.

Should be just under 80 at 8:00, about 75 when the show finishes.

 

[uwe]

Have fun and (dutifully) report!

I think Joe overexposes himself with all those releases, he is in danger of becoming the Phil Collins of blues guitar, but the man can play!

[TBird1958]

Have fun and (dutifully) report!

I think Joe overexposes himself with all those releases, he is in danger of becoming the Phil Collins of blues guitar, but the man can play!

For some reason I don't quite "get" him, but Blues and me aren't Kissing Cousins.......

[Pilgrim]

Have fun and (dutifully) report!

I think Joe overexposes himself with all those releases, he is in danger of becoming the Phil Collins of blues guitar, but the man can play!

I wish that I had enjoyed it more.  Bonamassa is a guitar virtuoso, but he's also prone to deciding he's more important than the music and wanking by stretching his solos.  To be fair, he always gave his bass player (Michael Rhodes)and keyboard player (Reese Wynans) highlights as well, but the spotlight is almost always on him. The band was four-piece (guitar/bass/drums/keyboards) with Joe and a female singer whose name I didn't catch.

There were a few tunes where the group got into a groove and I enjoyed it, but very few. He ended the encore with a very good version of Cream's Crossroads, and that really rocked.  The guy can do blues-rock extremely well when he wants to.

If you're already a fan of Bonamassa and like his slightly wanky version of blues, it would be great.  For us, there were occasional moments of goodness, but much of it was more of a spectator event.  Unfortunate there was one row of drunks in front us who insisted on standing, dancing, and hugging on each other, presenting an occasionally impenetrable wall that we couldn't see through.

[Rob]

  Bonamassa is a guitar virtuoso, but he's also prone to deciding he's more important than the music and wanking by stretching his solos.

Well said.

[uwe]

The million Dollar question, Dave (W), of course is: Is it real country?

[Dave W]

I saw that yesterday, very clever mashup.

[Pilgrim]

A couple of old favorites. Texas Panhandle music from Jimmie Dale Gilmore (not Gilmer)

Both the song and the dancer in the background keep playing in my mind.  Very nicely done!

[Dave W]

Jimmie is the lesser known member of the Flatlanders -- Joe Ely and Butch Hancock have been more visible over the years.

[Pilgrim]

Does anyone know what the style of dance in that Gilmore "Mind of its Own" is called?  Looks like something that would have originated in either Texas or the Appalachians.

[Rob]

Clogging

[Pilgrim]

Clogging

Thanks. I knew I had seen it before; that's a bit different than what I had seen, but recognizable. I didn't have a name for it.