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.

Someone Yelled Freebird

WTF! So I'm wearing a Skynyrd t-shirt. You really want us to play Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama? Don't get me wrong I love the boys as much as anyone, but how bout I play Junkie or On the Hunt? So from this day forth, I will never wear a Skynyrd shirt playing in a bar again, I will always play a Trucker's Song before playing Freebird or Sweet Home Alabama. Oh and another thing, what's the deal with drunk girls wanting to hear Poison? Does it look like I listen to Poison?
OK rant over. Now if you come see our band, and you are drunk enough to yell Freebird This is what you'll get! God Bless the Drive By Trucker's!!!





And Just because I love this song..

Ragweed Express!

Growing up in a musical family had some pretty cool perks. My Mom's cousin played in a country band in the late 60's and through the 70's. He recorded an album in Nashville call Old Cars and Guitars. He was pretty busy here in the midwest. By the early 80's his oldest son Greg moved to Nashville, toured with Tanya Tucker as her guitar player. After that gig ran it's course he became an engineer with WB and later executive producer, Changed his name to Gregg with two G's and produced albums for Travis Tritt and Tanya Tucker. I haven't seen him in years but after seeing the crap that comes out of Nashville's big studios and labels it doesn't shock me that he wants nothing to do with it. He's been a southern rocker most of his life.
A great band on a label out of Nashville but based in Texas is Cross Canadian Ragweed. I first heard them a few years ago on a trip to Dallas and instantly took a liking to them. Here's their Take on Nashville, God Bless Ragweed. BTW, This December I'll be in IA for two nights to see them again in Iowa City and Des Moines.

Dreaming my life away

There's something about being in that state of not being awake and not quite being asleep. Those night's of being up at 4:00am, a good buzz, the moon shining down on frozen packed snow outside. Rory Gallagher will give you that same feeling. I have never seen a guitarist put raw emotion into his playing like Rory. Sure there are others that play with fiery passion. SRV and Koss come to mind, But Rory is in a league of his own. A true master of the blues and country styles, he never achived the household name recognition that some musicians had. Maybe that's the way he wanted it. When Jimi Hendrix was asked how it felt to be the best guitar player in the world, he replied, "Why don't you ask Rory Gallagher"

So take a listen to Rory and his trusty Strat and drift a million miles away!

Tornado Warning

After visiting my Dad this weekend, I started to think of the places he took me as kid. Right around 1974 I was a shy little six year old, who only knew two things about music. Country and Western! OK so that's a little rip off of another of my favorite movies. Being an impressionable youth my Dad took me to see Freddy Fender at the state fair. It wasn't until years later when I moved out of my metal days that I came back to Freddy and discovered him all over again. He sang with such emotion on this tune. Elvis got NOTHING on him man! I can't imagine a world without Freddy Fender, he left us too soon. At least I can show my kids these video's and share my stories. Now excuse me while I enjoy my Wasted Days and Wasted Nights!



If your toes aren't tapping to this you better check your pulse!

Roger Wilco!

All this talk of Wilco lately made me dig out A.M. and I proceeded to play my favorite song from that album. High School parking lots, riding around with an open 12 pack, Lynyrd Skynyrd cranked on the stereo. The good old days before some people got smart about drinking and driving. I had a buddy who could wallpaper his room with tickets. Yep the good old days. Muscle cars were cheap and we all had them. The smell of 100 octane and burning rubber made us giddy and it didn't matter that we had nothing better to do. My teenage years were a carbon copy of the movie Dazed and Confused. I wish I could go back.....Enjoy a little Passenger Side.

UFO Sighting

Last year about this time, my wife calls me frantic as all hell. Get outside now, I'll pick you up in a second. As we drive up the road near the lake, there are three lights up in thee sky. Maybe 500ft off the ground moving slowly over the houses, they made no sound at all. We followed them for a about three miles up I35, before they split off in three directtions and took off at a high rate of speed.
Seriously freaky stuff. Which brings me to another freak. Michael Schenker, yes that schenker, UFO guitarist and early metal icon. I can definately see where Iron Maiden got some of thier sound. Enjoy some 70's Metal!

Gone But Not Forgotten

Throughout the rock and roll minefield of history, great talent is laid to waste. Plane crashes, drugs, women, the road. They all take their toll. Paul Kossoff, son of British actor David Kossoff was one of the greatest players of the late 60's. Hearing his mournful tone pouring from his assortment of Les Paul's can bring a tear to your eye or fill your head with a dreamscape of swirling color. A true rock tradgedy, Paul died on a flight in 1976 after struggles with his health and drug addiction. By far the biggest influence on my playing, Koss should be remembered.
Angus Young, Gary Rossington and many other's cite Koss as a major influence, go ahead listen for yourself.