Showing posts with label Guitar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Guitar. Show all posts
Monday, November 24, 2008
Neil Young Archives
The long fabled archives may finally be ready. $432 bucks for Blue Ray!! I am a fan, but not that big of a fan.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Theft!
Evan's car was broken into overnight. His stereo was taken and there's a bit of damage to the rear passenger door and window. Also an acoustic guitar was taken out of the trunk - the one Uncle John had a long time ago - sorry about that J. The car was parked on the street which is probably a mistake but its been parked there often with no incident. I guess we played those odds too long.
Not much to do at this point except call the police and have the car repaired.The back passenger window was broken in. Once inside all doors can be unlocked and there is a trunk release just inside front driver door. It is ironic the very day I wax poetic about the neighbors not getting vandalized, we get hit instead.
I blame it on fake hurricane Eduordo. We got nothing here - except a serious allergy headache. If maybe some serious rain had blown in our car might've been left alone.
I told Evan to try Homer's strategy by claiming there was a Picasso in the back seat too.
Not much to do at this point except call the police and have the car repaired.The back passenger window was broken in. Once inside all doors can be unlocked and there is a trunk release just inside front driver door. It is ironic the very day I wax poetic about the neighbors not getting vandalized, we get hit instead.
I blame it on fake hurricane Eduordo. We got nothing here - except a serious allergy headache. If maybe some serious rain had blown in our car might've been left alone.
I told Evan to try Homer's strategy by claiming there was a Picasso in the back seat too.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Rush Concert
The band Rush was here in Austin and Tory, Justin (one of Tory's buddies), Evan, and I were in the crowd for the show. Tory and Justin were in the lower floor seating, and Evan and I were in the upper arena seating, but I was pleased with our view.
Rush put on a good show. Somehow these three guys have managed to avoid getting frozen in time over the past 30 years of playing together. I can imagine that having to play "Spirit Of Radio" or "Tom Sawyer" every show for, well, ever might get stale. But I believe the very talented trio manages to keep their music fresh because they love the music, they love performing it, they aren't afraid to try anything new, and they keep moving forward by composing new music.
I have to admit that when Rush launched into some of their newer songs of the most recent "Snakes and Arrows" most of the crowd had blank faces. Tory told me he wasn't exactly taken with the new music on the cd, but hearing it live was much better. I like the songs and material, but didn't find it memorable ( a bit like a Simon Cowell might say ).
Rush did not stay away from their old hits tho. They launched the show with "Limelight", a great start, and dropped in "Freewill", "Red Barchetta", "Tom Sawyer" through out. Those are the titles I remember. I am not a devoted fan of theirs and don't carry around a Rush rolodex in my head. The guy sitting next to me was sending text messages of the set list out on his cell phone all night.
A very impressive presentation of a light show, videos, pyrotechnics, and terrific musicianship made for an enjoyable night. I will admit that I slipped in some ear plugs midway through the show and didn't miss a note. Thankfully they helped me avoid that Popsicle headache that often accompany a night after a concert. I was able to sleep without any ear ringing at all.
Rush put on a good show. Somehow these three guys have managed to avoid getting frozen in time over the past 30 years of playing together. I can imagine that having to play "Spirit Of Radio" or "Tom Sawyer" every show for, well, ever might get stale. But I believe the very talented trio manages to keep their music fresh because they love the music, they love performing it, they aren't afraid to try anything new, and they keep moving forward by composing new music.
I have to admit that when Rush launched into some of their newer songs of the most recent "Snakes and Arrows" most of the crowd had blank faces. Tory told me he wasn't exactly taken with the new music on the cd, but hearing it live was much better. I like the songs and material, but didn't find it memorable ( a bit like a Simon Cowell might say ).
Rush did not stay away from their old hits tho. They launched the show with "Limelight", a great start, and dropped in "Freewill", "Red Barchetta", "Tom Sawyer" through out. Those are the titles I remember. I am not a devoted fan of theirs and don't carry around a Rush rolodex in my head. The guy sitting next to me was sending text messages of the set list out on his cell phone all night.
A very impressive presentation of a light show, videos, pyrotechnics, and terrific musicianship made for an enjoyable night. I will admit that I slipped in some ear plugs midway through the show and didn't miss a note. Thankfully they helped me avoid that Popsicle headache that often accompany a night after a concert. I was able to sleep without any ear ringing at all.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Laurence Juber Plays Austin
The great Laurence Juber played a very nice show here last Friday night, Nov 2. I looked forward to this concert after acquiring several of his CDs over the years. Juber is an exceptional acoustic guitarist. The sounds he gets out of one guitar are impressive. And he is working hard too - every finger and arm muscle is being used - and yet he made it all look very easy. Sometimes sitting, or standing, finger picking or flat picking. A crisp clean sound, very few squeaks, and nice clear melodies. LJ does whatever is necessary to get the most out of his guitar, whacking the instrument for percussion, often slapping the strings, popping harmonics, bending strings, and little tinkly picking. Nice, enjoyable, professional.
I arrived just as he began the first song. After a birthday dinner for Samantha at Chuy's, I had to fill up the car, get to an ATM for cash, drive to the site, park and get in all in about 30 minutes, and barely made it.
I had made a list of the pieces played but they got thrown away by my wife who thought they were trash. Notables though were Layla (even the piano part at the end), Every Breath You Take, Pink Panther, Wonderful World, the Beatles' Rain and While My Guitar Gently Weeps, If I Only Had A Brain, of the songs he has arranged. Lots of his own compositions.
He played two sets of at least an hour with a 30 minute break to sign cd's and chat with the audience in the lobby. He signed a young boy's guitar and even played it a bit for him.
Juber clearly enjoys what he's doing. At one point he asks the audience if they're having a good time. After enthusiastic applause, he says, "well that's good because I'd be doing this anyway."
I arrived just as he began the first song. After a birthday dinner for Samantha at Chuy's, I had to fill up the car, get to an ATM for cash, drive to the site, park and get in all in about 30 minutes, and barely made it.
I had made a list of the pieces played but they got thrown away by my wife who thought they were trash. Notables though were Layla (even the piano part at the end), Every Breath You Take, Pink Panther, Wonderful World, the Beatles' Rain and While My Guitar Gently Weeps, If I Only Had A Brain, of the songs he has arranged. Lots of his own compositions.
He played two sets of at least an hour with a 30 minute break to sign cd's and chat with the audience in the lobby. He signed a young boy's guitar and even played it a bit for him.
Juber clearly enjoys what he's doing. At one point he asks the audience if they're having a good time. After enthusiastic applause, he says, "well that's good because I'd be doing this anyway."
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