New bike

Now I'm not a cyclist by any stretch of the imagination, but when a taxfree cycle scheme was introduced at work, I thought the purchase of a new bike might inspire me to continue the steady weight loss that has been going on in my body for some months. I took delivery of the bike, helmet and assorted accessories last Saturday and last night took it for an inaugural spin around the village, as my wife, the kids, the dog, the neighbours, the neighbours' wives, the neighbours' kids, the neighbours' dogs and assorted local residents watched in either shock, awe or apathy. I had a bit of trouble getting to grips with the gears - how do you know which gear of the 24 available you need at any one time? Half way round the village the chain came off, but I hadn't forgotten how to fix that. I got very very hot and, depite the gel seat cover that I put on the seat, my nether regions soon went numb. In general, though, it was a good experience - I have some extra pain over and above my normal back pain, but I'm not sure if that is because of riding the bike. I'll take it steady and will aim to increase the length of time that I'm able to ride before I collapse into a sweaty breathless heap in the gutter somewhere.

Big G play at Woodstock Anniversary Festival - with a new singer

For the past couple of years some friends of mine have had a small party every summer. This year the event happens to coincide with the 40th anniversary of another small event - Woodstock. Robin Williamson of the Incredible String Band and Barry Melton (The Fish) of Country Joe & The Fish were both at the original Woodstock, and Big G are going to be sharing the billing with them and others at this year's event - called Solstock.

We've had a few wobbles about if we were going to get there and which of us was going to be there. For now, though, we're sorted and it'll be our first gig with our new singer and blues harp player Andy Atkinson (and our second gig ever - shades of CS&N at Woodstock '69?) I've known Andy for a few years now and we've played together at various charity gigs and buskers over that time. When we decided we could do with a singer, Andy saw the ad but didn't respond. When things got a little stressed when it looked like we weren't going to get to Solstock, Andy stepped up - not just for Solstock, but for as far as this journey takes us. Andy has played in several localbands including Mojo Hand, Witchkraft, Mississippi Sheiks to mention a few.

There'll be recordings, videos and pictures of the whole thing, and we're busy rehearsing to get tight and then to get loose - just like elastic!

Pederson Guitars

There are some fabulous guitars here, with some fantastic finishes, but I also really like the natural look of this Presentation Elect Guitar


Here

Boat Paddle Ukuleles

I like the look and sound of these ukes.

Boat Paddle Ukuleles

Local guitar player Marc Playle interview

Marc used to play guitar in north east band Minnikin - I've shared a couple of bills with them and they are very very good. Marc deserves success, as do the band.

Marc Playle (English)

Nice Cigar Box Guitars

Photographer Dan Chusid (see below) has just bought these 2 Cigar Box Guitars. I like the reverse pointy headstock on the top one, though the soundholes look a little crude. Dan says the guitars are really hard to tune but will look good hanging on the wall. He's right, they will!

A Gem of an amp

I love the look of this amp - but why call it after a lettuce - wet and soggy? or crisp and crunchy?

GuitarSite.com  Mack Amps launches Gem Guitar Amp

The Gem produces rich, Class A, boutique tone and features configurable gain stages and new power switching technology — all in a tiny (8" x 5-½" x 4"), 4 lb package that's small enough to stow in a carry-on bag. Mack's unique power switching feature changes its single EL84's output from a loud 4 watts to 0.4 watts — without affecting its tone. High-gain rock sounds can be achieved at whisper quiet volume. A 6AC10 NOS triple-triode preamp tube (preamp tubes are typically dual-triodes) provides the flexibility to produce preamp or power tube distortion or both.

Excellent photography - gigs and more

Dan Chusid takes great pictures of bands and much much more. He's given me permission to post a few here. If you like what you see, go take a look at more - and tell him I sent you.

CD Review - George Harrison - Let It Roll

(Disclosure: I got this CD for free)

There are 3 or 4 people who I would say influenced me to take up playing the guitar. George Harrison was one of them - the first LP record that I was bought was "With The Beatles" and I've wanted to be George ever since. This week sees the release of this remastered compilation "Let It Roll", which brings together 19 tracks from George's solo career.

From the first track "Got My Mind Set On You" I'm reminded of how good a songwriter George was - he might have been overlooked in The Beatles despite writing some sublime songs, but this song and many others here show that George had a great ear for songs and arrangements that would be good to listen to. And from this first track, all of the way through the collection, there is George's slide guitar - something else that inspired me and which was overlooked in The Beatles. The sound here, remastered, is very crisp and very "modern" - maybe they should release this track as a single.

I'm not going to write about every song here - they're all great - but other highlights for me include "Give Me Love" - more slide and a good bass line add to this song's many attractions.

"My Sweet Lord" is here too of course, sounding great through the headphones with all kinds of stuff in the mix that I hadn't heard before - autoharp? When I was in March Hare in 1972/73 we covered this song and segued it into Edwin Hawkins' "Oh Happy Day" but our version sounded nothing like this!

There are 3 tracks here from the Concert For Bangladesh live album. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" isn't the best version of this song but it features George's long time friend Eric Clapton on guitar. Other tracks from that album are: "Something" - a stunning song in anybody's world, I suggest; and "Here Comes The Sun" perfectly executed and a version that puts to shame the thousands of versions sung at parties and get-togethers - mine included, of course!

"Any Road" reminds me of the Grateful Dead's "So Many Roads" in sentiment, if not in musical arrangement - an uplifting song which I really like.

"All Those Years Ago", which got to Number 2 in the Billboard 100 US charts, is George's tribute to his murdered Beatle friend John Lennon; it is very uptempo and lively - a celebration of John's life rather than a mawkish memorial and features the remaining Beatles on vocals and drums.

"Marwa Blues" is an instrumental that I hadn't heard before - it features George's slide guitar, of course, and is a beautiful piece of music, one I'll listen to over and over again.

"What Is Life" again shows George's ear for a great pop song - a catchy hook, great arrangements and a chorus that I just have to sing along with.

"When We Was Fab" takes a wry look at the days of The Beatles and sounds very Beatlesque too - great stuff!

It is obvious from many of these tracks that George had a major part to play in the Travelling Wilburys too - he put them together to record one song "Handle With Care" as a b-side to a single, but they ended up recording the whole first album in 2 weeks and went on to have great success - many of the tracks here have the same style, sound and arrangment techniques as those that the Wilbury's recorded.

This collection has reminded me how much I love George Harrison's music, how much influence he has had on my own musical style (harmonies, slide guitar & more) and how important a songwriter and performer he was in his own right. Do yourself a favour - even if you don't know who The Beatles were, if you like good music, give this album a chance.

I like it so much that, even though I got this advance copy for free, I'm going to buy the retail version to get the in-depth booklet and pictures that come with the package. I hope you'll do the same.

There's an e-card here and a good video interview (EPK Video) with Harrison's widow, Olivia, on the Let It Roll microsite here and you can buy the album here, as well as at iTunes where there is an unreleased bonus track.

Here's some links to some of the songs from the album:

Got My Mind Set On You
My Sweet Lord
While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Complete tracklisting:
1. Got My Mind Set On You
2. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
3. The Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)
4. My Sweet Lord
5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Live)
6. All Things Must Pass
7. Any Road
8. This Is Love
9. All Those Years Ago
10. Marwa Blues
11. What Is Life
12. Rising Sun
13. When We Was Fab
14. Something (Live)
15. Blow Away
16. Cheer Down
17. Here Comes The Sun (Live)
18. I Don't Want To Do It
19. Isn't It A Pity

Father's Day

It's Father's Day - my Father's dead
I wonder what he'd say
About the way things have turned out
On this my Father's Day

I've got three kids, a steady job
Married more than 30 years
No longer just a long haired yob
Grown up, with all those cares

I still remember things he said
I thought they sounded trite,
But now I'm older, wiser, maybe,
He was mostly right

He let me see the way things work
He taught me right from wrong
To search for knowledge in a book,
For beauty in a song

He used to spend a lot of time
Showing ways of dealing
With tasks I hate but have to do:
Do them "with good feeling"

A man of rigid principles,
Stood by them to his cost,
I know he used to hide the way
He felt for things he'd lost

I wish he'd had the chance to see
My children as they've grown
I've done my best, not always right,
But still I hope I've shown

That I've tried to pass on in my turn
What I've learned along the way
To my three sons who make me proud
On this, my Father's Day

Copyright Gary Grainger 2006

Primitive Art - Music and more

Jerry in Heaven by Charlie Dyer




The Excellent Karma of Huddie Ledbetter by Johnny Ace


Lots more great primitive art here

Bib Front Shirt

For some bizarre reason that may need psycho-analysing later, I've always wanted one of these shirts since I was a kid (probably all of the Western movies we watched at home). My problem had always been where to find one - now the problem (apart from affording one) is what level of "Bibness" would I go for?

(Lots of great stuff here - more hats than you'd ever need, badges - "We don't need do stinking badges!" - boots and more)


Authentic Six Button Bib Front Shirt

Stereo Acoustic Guitar

Designed by Paul Kinny with 2 soundholes that face towards the player, not any audience. You can get lost in the sound.



check the video (but put your headphones on first):

Stereo Acoustic Guitar from Loz Blain on Vimeo.

Bento Box Blues Guitar

Mmmm! Nice enough to eat!

via

Guitar Hero Scarf

via

New George Harrison album

When my brother and I were younger (much younger) we'd pretend to be The Beatles. I'd just got "With The Beatles" and we'd take turns being John, Paul, George & Ringo. When one of us was Ringo we'd use knitting needles on biscuit tins and on the cushions of the sofa. For bass or guitars we used, of course, the traditional tennis rackets (though I'm not sure where they came from - we never played tennis!) And yes, I always wanted to be George. It is safe to say I wouldn't be playing guitar if it wasn't for George. A couple of months ago I passed the time on a train journey by reading George's book "I, Me, Mine" - a wonderful insight into his life and songs.

So here is a fantastic album that is coming out this month, featuring remastered and live tracks from George's solo career. I'm hoping for a review copy.

You can order it here.

There's 2 tracks to stream: Isn't It A Pity and While My Guitar Gently Weeps

To be released June 16, the new title will feature digitally remastered tracks in deluxe packaging, including an extensive booklet featuring previously unseen and rare photos. The collection will also be available for download from all major digital service providers.

Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison is the first release that will span his entire solo recording career, including the #1 Billboard Pop singles “My Sweet Lord,” “Isn’t It A Pity,” “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth),” and “Got My Mind Set On You." The new title will also feature live recordings of three Harrison-penned Beatles songs, “Something,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and “Here Comes The Sun” from his 1971 all-star Concert For Bangladesh benefit at Madison Square Garden. The complete track list will soon be announced.

Free Patterson Hood track

Download a really good free track from Patterson Hood's new album "Murdering Oscar" here.

Press release:
Patterson Hood will release Murdering Oscar (and other love songs) on June 23, 2009 on Ruth St. Records./Thirty Tigers. The second solo record from the leader of the Drive-By Truckers has been 15 years in the making. The album was produced by Hood and long-time DBT producer David Barbe (Sugar). Most of his DBT band mates join him on the album as well as Don Chambers, Will Johnson and Scott Danbom from Centro-matic/South San Gabriel. This is also the first time Hood's father David Hood, famed Muscle Shoals bass player, joins him on a record.

The album was recorded at Chase Park Transduction Studios in Athens, GA and will also be released on 180 gram vinyl. The vinyl release will include three exclusive bonus tracks. An a cappella version of "Range War" will also be available exclusively with iTunes. "Pollyanna" and "Pride of the Yankees" are available to preview on his Myspace page: www.myspace.com/pattersonhood.

Bombshell Guitars - don't drop them!

So simple, but so elegant. Want! Want! Want!

Bombshell Guitars

Saint Guitar Company

Very nice guitars - great timbers, great looking finishes and just a little out of my price range!
Saint Guitar Company - What's In Stock

Guitar Record Unbroken

Guitar enthusiasts miss the beat on record

"Hundreds of guitar enthusiasts gathered in downtown Toronto on
Saturday night to try to break the world record for the largest guitar
ensemble.

They strummed Neil Young's Helpless in unison. But the
so-called "Great Canadian Tune" performance fell about 200 players
short of the previous Guinness world record."

Well, me and my mates would have flown over to help them out if they'd have paid for the flights!

Grateful Dead Cupcakes

If I ate cakes anymore, these'd be some cakes I'd eat!


Adjix

The Complete Ukulele Guide to the Moustaches of the World

You know I just had to put this here. Do I want it? Of course!

 | Xylocopa




This Complete Guide features complete coverage of the 25 major
moustache groups, enabling you to instantly identify any moustache you
spot without even putting down your ukulele. 

John Cipollina's Guitar Rig

I've always liked John Cipollina - I recently got a CD by Copperhead and it is great. I like his tone, his playing, everything. He used a thumbpick and metal fingerpicks as well as this crazy rig.

Much more info about him here.





As lead guitarist for Quicksilver Messenger Service, John Cipollina helped create the psychedelic sound that was a hallmark of San Francisco music scene in the 1960s. The group's long instrument jams, in which Cipollina played a central role, were legendary, both on stage and on record. Some of John's legendary equipment is on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. To create his distinctive guitar sound, Cipollina developed this one-of-a-kind amplifier stack. All of his guitars, including the one here, were wired with two pickups, one for bass and one for treble. The bass pickup fed into the two Standel bass amps on the bottom of the stack. Each Standel was equipped with two 15-inch speakers. The treble pickups fed the two Fender amps-a Fender Twin Reverb with two 12-inch speakers and a Fender Dual Showman- that drove the six Wurlitzer horns. "I like the rapid punch of solid-state for the bottom, and the rodent-gnawing distortion of the tubes on top," Cipollina said. Cipollina used a custom foot-switched system to select reverb, tremolo, Astro Echoplex (the unit mounted on the right of the Twin Reverb), Standel Modulux (on the left of the twin reverb) or the horns. Truck running lights indicated which effect was being used. Cipollina also employed a Gibson Maestro Fuzz and Vox wah-wah and volume pedals.

Blues Harmonica on Electric Guitar?

Electro Harmonix

I'm not sure if it really does sound like a blues harp, but very interesting use of a great set of pedals.

via Boing Boing

Steampunk Guitar Amp

Nathan's New Amp | The Steampunk Workshop

This started out as an old radio and a Crate guitar combo - follow the build. Lovely!

Aycliffe Gets Ahead

 

This piece "In Our Image" by Joseph Hillier has been put into place less than a mile away from me. Quite impressive.

BBC News Story

The Northern Echo

African Oil Can Guitar

via: The J-Walk Blog

African Oil Can Guitar - a canny guitar, a great sound - oil have one of them, I'd be a fuel not to Shell out for one, it would lower my BP!

Rod Clements Guitar Gallery

Rod Clements, of Lindisfarne and many other bands, has a nice collection of guitars. He's playing at a folk club in Hartlepool soon, must try and get there.


Rod Clements

Full Moon Lightnin'

This looks like a good movie - there's a trailer here and a free song to download here

Full Moon Lightnin : The Movie

Sedgefield Guitar Show

I've just been to Sedgefield Guitar Show at The Racecourse. There weren't too many people there this afternoon, but there were some lovely guitars, as well as excellent show prices on leads, stands, knobs and switches. I managed to come away without spending any money at all, though I did play 3 guitars that I would dearly love to have brought home with me (one in particular).

This 1930s Kalamazoo was surprisingly playable and had a lovely warm tone to it. It sounded good for strumming as well as fingerpicking. If I had it, I certainly wouldn't want to drill holes in it for electrics, it would have to be miked up. I would certainly be happy to own it, though! John, the owner of the Kalamazoo and the lapsteel below, has many nice guitars, which he buys and sells just as a hobby.

The guitar I really really would have loved to bring home is the Recording King lapsteel. I've been tinkering with my Tanglewood acoustic lately, trying it out for lapsteel, but this Recording King from the late 30s is just in another realm. Played through a small valve amp it had "that" classic lap steel sound - I just needed a touch of reverb and some tremelo and I'd have been in heaven - the pickup has been rewound by Wizard pickups and it was so warm and inviting, I could have played it all day. Recording King were made by Montgomery Wrad and later evolved into Gretsch lapsteels. Luckily for me (I guess), even though it was reasonably priced, I had no money to buy it, though there'd have been room for haggling, I guess. Unluckily for me, John, the owner, lives in Durham City and I work in Durham City, and I have his card - so it'll be niggling at me for ages!




The other guitar I enjoyed playing was this Alembic style guitar built by Martin Dixon of Otley, near Leeds. I was attracted to it, of course, because Garcia and Phil Lesh used Alembic instruments, but this was a good guitar in its own right - easy to play and a good variety of sounds from the Kent Armstrong pickups and the pickup switching system. Nice inlay too. Martin runs "build your own guitar" courses, and they're very reasonably priced - I've added this to my "list of things to do when I win the Lottery!" Martin gave me a promotional CD which I'll investigate more closely. I'd like to have got to the show a little earlier and stayed longer, but they'll be back in September. Maybe if I start saving, I can get that Recording King! (If not, Recording King still make lap steels today)

Penny Black last night

Frank Marley

Andy Roderick

Katie Coleman

Emma

Barbara Helen

David and I accompanied Phil to this new Open mic night - we opened up with a 20 minute spot and after some great solo spots from all of the guests, we finished the night off. Not many people in, but Angie & John are very busy trying to promote music all around the Teesside area.

Durham County Guitar Fair

Sedgefield racecourse tomorrow, 10:00am - 4:30pm

I don't have any money to buy anything, but this isn't too far away from me. I'll have a look around, take some pictures.

Guitar Fairs Mojo Guitar Fair & Shows

Cutting Edge Guitar

ikea hacker: This guitar has got the chops

We just call them "planks" around here!

More info here

(Thanks Sam!)

Crook Town Rocks

This is a fundraiser for BishopFM and features 4 rock bands playing original material. I'll be there.

Tri Triumph at otTrington

(Sorry!)
We had another great night at The Otterington Shorthorn on Friday - we were supported by Bill Oxbrough and he played a good mixed set of songs - there's a song of his "Proximity" that I really like and wouldn't mind singing. We played straight through rather than take a break as we didn't want to lose the audience, many of whom were there as much for the real ales on offer as part of the Beer Festival as they were for the music. We kept things lively and kept the audience happy too. A return booking is confirmed before Christmas.
Photos by filmar photography.

North East Beat

I've got this copy of this short running North East magazine not too far away from me, and a couple more issues too - it features Little Feat, coincidentally. I'm going to go to this exhibition at The Discovery Museum in Newcastle.

Gig for Tri

Tonight Tri are playing at The Otterington Shorthorn, South Otterington near Northallerton. It is our 4th appearance there and is the start of the Beer Festival. Should be a good night.

Little Feat Pix - Sage, May '09

Beartone Guitars - very interesting!

Beartone

Excellent Rock Photography

Joshua Silk Music Photography - New York City

Arminski Art

Excellent CD, Poster and flyer artwork


Mark Arminski