Guitar Licks and Tips

Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys was the unsung hero of the band. In my eyes that is. He was not only a talented drummer but a genius of composing.

Dennis Wilson was just as complex a man, a musically gifted one and as charismatic as his brother Brian. Even though today people view the Beach Boys as the god fathers of soft pop surfer hits, cars and girls, they have this other side that is often forgotten. They helped forge the aesthetic psychedelic lifestyle and elevated American visionary musician’s and their cause to main stream culture.

The only difference was that Dennis’s torch burned out long before it should have.

The tragedy of being musically brilliant is not only Brian’s to hold. Due to many factors, he was more then a little mis-understood in the eyes of people long ago. In today’s world, his identity as being a wild man and that he was at constant odds with it, would have been taken into account and we all would have given him more lateral leeway in regards to his actions off the musical stage.

Sadly after 15 years had pasted on their massive Good Vibrations success, he was NSF and more often then not homeless. After being put under arrest once, expelled from the band which he helped found many times, and was also not acknowledged for his brilliant work on all their hits, was sadly taken from us only a short 3 weeks after celebrating his 39th birthday.

Todays poperatzy would sure to of had a field day on this poor soul.

Do any of you have some great positive memories to add to the late great Dennis Wilson. Is there anything else that you would share to the future music aficionados to help celebrate the accomplishes of the under appreciated member of the Beach Boys? Please help untangle the truth and myth of this once great fellow lover of the art of music!

Keep on Jammin’ Dennis, we’re still listening for you

I just got a copy of the band 3’s latest release titled The End is Begun from a buddy at work and I’m loving it! The best way to explain this band is intense.

I can sum their own style as a mixture of progressive rock, metal and sprinkles of classic rock all over the place. So I’m listening to it now I hear influences of Yes, RUSH, Styx, Saga and a bit of the Pretenders. If you like any of these bands then I highly recommend buying this album.

First song on this album is named The World is born a Flame. It has this funky, progressive-rock Greek sound to it, nice. Later it has a huge Styx feel to it. The title track is pure metal. Battle cry has fabulous syncopated rhythms all through it. The 4th one is called All that remains is a song that will stay in your head for a while long after you turn it off. I just came back from feeding and walking the dog so I can attest to the last statement. I don’t want to give all of it away, but I will say the middle parts are impressive.

The last song on the album is called The Last Day and the begging has a huge Klatu sound that brought me back to my early 80’s music scene head space. Oh what beautiful intro! Pay attention to the tabla’s on this one.

3, is from Woodstock, NY. and had 3, get it, 3 original band members. They were Joey Eppard on Guitar/Lead Vocals, Josh Eppard on the Drums and Chris Bittner was the Bass player. From what I gather they were formed in 1994 but did not gain prominence until around 2005. I just can’t believe they weren’t signed earlier!

I hope that you either check out some of their sites or get this one for your collection, it’s worth every penny!

3, Keep on Jammin’

Some of musics favorites came out with new albums last month.

It’s been a while since Lenny Kravitz, K.D. Lang, Sheryl Crow and Jack Johnson came out with new material but from what I can see (and hear) it’s been worth the wait.

Kravitz is back with his much loved Rock style and his album is sure to do well.

To learn more about these new albums and hear a sample of each musicians new songs take a look at this video.

keep on Jammin’ everyone!