You Don't Miss Your Water

Life has a way of sometimes turning upside down. Things change dramatically in the drop of a hat. I picture Rod Stewart during the holidays with all of his ex wives laughing and carrying on. The life of a musician is a double edged sword. It takes a special breed to commit to a musician, so this is for them. I often wonder if we subconsciously choose to derail our relationships for art or if we are all crazy. Personally I think we seek out crazy... Stay tuned it's going to get weird!

Fire On the Mountain

OK, it's been too long, I'm back. Over Christmas I was digging through my Vinyl collection and went to open the cover to the turntable. Sitting there was my favorite album of all time. Marshall Tucker Band Searching for a Rainbow.
Toy Caldwell is simply amazing. Our band used to do a pretty good cover of Can't you see. This is southern Rock at it's finest. People, you haven't lived until you've smoked a big joint, poured a nice cold beer and sat in the sunshine listening to this band.




and now for a song everyone knows.

I was born a Rebel.

I've been down the road less traveled and then hit the ditch. No matter how hard I try, I always seem to find my way back to listening to great songwriters and music that tells a story. Not a popular option in 1985, sure I like Def Leppard and Iron Maiden, Metal was King. I was more into CSNY and the Moody Blues, but most of all Tom Petty.

Well since Mr. Who am us and Charlie Mac decided to post a little Petty and DBT. I plan on going one step further and posting a former member of DBT Jason Isbell playing a Tom Petty cover. Stripped down and put to its simplest form, live from Macon, GA it's a true Rebel. Southern accents was my First Tom Petty album which was bought for me by my older brother for my birthday in 1982. To this day it is one of my most played albums.




And now please welcome Mr. Tom Earl Petty to the stage, 35 years and still going strong, writing incredible songs.

The New Wave of Southern Rock

It's been a while but I'm back. Last Friday night saw the return of Jason Isbell to the Turf Club in St. Paul. He put on the best show I've seen in a while. His cover of Van Morrison's Into the Mystic was incredible. You could tell his voice was a little rough, like too many late nights with smoke and alcohol. Possibly one of the best songwriters to come along in years. As much as I love great lyrics, sometimes you just want to rock and listen to screaming guitars.

Does anyone remember Molly Hatchet? I just remember they had cool album covers when I was little and my older brother would listen to them and some good ol' Skynyrd. Well I am happy to say that Southern Rock is alive and well in of all places Portland, Maine! Crank up your speakers and get ready for Sun Gods in Exile. This home grown video was done on a budget of ZERO dollars and it includes the gratuitus Muscle car and hot girls. Long live Southern Rock!

Hot Atlanta

So I'm finaly back from my trip to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Yep there was a lot of really cool stuff, but for me it was seeing Duane Allman's Les Paul's and 61 Gibson SG. I dropped to my knee's and bowed in the greatness that was Duane Allman.
By a weird twist of fate, I met my wife's God Father who proceeded to tell me the story of how he was at the Filmore East one of the nights they were recording the Live album. He said that the Allman Brothers opened up for Johnny Winter that night.
I still remember the first time I heard that album. Stormy Monday, Whipping Post, You don't Love Me, they all made my spine tingle. Duane's slide playing to this day makes me wonder how this skinny white guy could play the blues like that. Greatest Slide player EVER!!!!!

OK now this all brings me to my point. I have DREAMS and it includes somehow getting my sorry ass in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. So please buy my CD, come see my band and spread the word. Excuse me while I go play my guitar!

Thank You Mr. Dylan

So I heard he recorded a Holliday Album? Seriously? I don't even want to comment on that. I will say, this is most likely my favorite Dylan tune. Everytime I hear this it reminds me of that classic stoner movie Dazed and Confused. High School was pretty much like that for me. Riding in cool muscle cars and getting blazed out of your skull. I really dig the violin in this, plus seeing him do it live is a bonus!

Tripping on a Wednesday

If there is such a thing as the Minneapolis sound I think Husker Du captured it pretty well. Such driving force, a sonic assult on your senses that leaves you dizzy.
I was never all that in to Husker Du when they were playing here in Minneapolis in the 80's, but this version is amazing. I also love the Byrds, especially Sweetheart of the Rodeo. Gram Parsons has such a great voice for country music. His work with the Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers and the Fallen Angels is legendary. I am a little out of my head today making that leap from Bob Mould to Roger McGuinn and Gram Parsons. The next logical step would be Tom Petty, who I think has become the essential American singer songwriter. I feel like playing that whole Kevin Bacon game now. Screw that, let get the music rolling.