Guitar Licks and Tips

Well as I talked about winning tickets to see this guy at the Danforth Music Hall on my other blog, my critique about his show gives it a 1 1/2 thumbs up! Seeing Amos Lee on his latest tour, Last day at the Lodge, is worth it.

I came to the conclusion 1/2 way through Amos’s show that this guy really covers his musical bases quite nicely! Motown, Funk, Blues, Jazz, Folk and Southern rock, to a lesser degree, is all there to let the listener soak it all up.
On a side note, I would find it very interesting if he added a bit of a middle eastern flavor to his style. I think he could pull something like this off in a very unique way. I am just throwing that one out there.

His Motown sound was fabulous when he used it! His keyboardist, which was a major contributer to this sound, knew his place in the band. He was very eloquent in his approach to playing this by sliding in and out of a tune very tastefully and in the back ground.

Amos’s sprinkling of his falsetto voice was not over used at all I found. This just added some musical colour to the songs he plays. His guitar playing was very good but not all that technical. I’m almost 100 % sure that he uses a B-Bender on his Fender telecaster.

The one tune that he did, “Won’t let me down”, had this Flight of the Conchords feel to it, honestly. I closed my eyes for a second and pictured the leader singer of the Flight of the Conchords, singing it and it was very believable. I brought this train of thought up to my wife during the show and she couldn’t see though. Musicians always seem to have this different view of how they intemperate music I think.

My favorite song of the show was “Sweet Pea”! It is a short tune that he through in there for the hell of it. I just love that old school big band/jazz feel that his chord progressions nudged us towards. Leon Redborn must of had some sort of influence on this guy at one time throughout his informative days. I think I’ll figure this one out and try it live just for the fun of it sometime.

So I would not mind seeing this guy live if he comes into town next. If anything, he will broaden your musical appreciation for all the different genres that are out there … but not the more contemporary, in your face ones that don’t quite cut it with me.

Keep on Jammin’

Happy Canada to all of my loyal readers of both this blog and Guitar licks, we’re 141 years young!

Here in Canada we celebrate the 141st anniversary of our Confederation. We also mark and celebrate the founding of the Canadian state 400 years ago; from Champlain to today.

I got up today a little later then normal and had to take our dog Midnight out and heard what sounded like a drum band marching down the street. I soon realized that it was the East York Canada Day Parade. It’s one of those events that happen in your neighbourhood (this is how we spell it in Canada), that you’ve always wanted to go but you either forgot or didn’t have time for. Not knowing how long it would last, I said why not and walked at a brisk pace towards the parade.

By the time we got there the damn thing was over and the crowd was walking towards us! Boy was I a little bit pissed, but there is always next year!

Keep on Jammin’ Canada!

Yes it’s one of my favorite sounds of the year again in Toronto. The event I talk about is the “Sounds of the Danforth”.

This is a musical event held every year in my neighborhood that is truly unique to this part of North America. It is a celebration of Greek music at it’s finest. It straddles traditional and non-traditional Greek music. It brings to light a certain aspect of music that has been with us and influences us for centuries and we don’t even acknowledge it!

The rhythm’s are exotic, the progressions are intriguing and the beat is tantalizing! I understand that most people are not really drawn to this style but being a musician, it’s great to have a influence like this to throw in a live performance to really get the crowds attention. It’s also fun to see people belly dance, it’s a riot!

As a side note: if you’ve ever seen the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, there is a part in it that shows the band waving to a crowd and it’s video taken at the 2002 event!

So if your in town from June 25 - 26, go check it out and bring your appetite with you! OPA!!!

Keep on Jammin’

So do you want $10,000.00, then go find Roger Waters inflatable Pig.

That is the reward that he is giving to the one(s) who find his lost pet.

The terrible and tragic event happened when he was playing at a show in Indio California called the “Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival“.

God that must have been a blast to have seen with you own eyes! Just imagine some drunk trying to explain this one to his/her best buddy the next day!

Keep on Jammin’ (and good luck on that reward)

We got the e-tickets and have just printed them out on our new printer/fax. We’re really hyped about this trip!

We haven’t gone a holiday in years and this is a dual vacation/work event so we’ll take it anyway we can.

We have to fly there and it will take around 5 1/2 hours. The only thing is that I’m, ah … how can I say this, I have a phobia of flying.

I did not have this until I had an experience on a flight from a head office in Winnipeg back to Toronto one day a few years ago.

On the night of the flight, the weather in Winnipeg was raining along with thunder and lightening. Going over Lake superior the flight was very bouncy. Even the flight attendants seemed a little spooked. When approaching Toronto’s Pearson airport, the lightning intensified. The pilot informed us of which runway where going to approach and I knew which direction we were going to land. It was the only runway running North/South.

As we were descending, we went into some clouds and for a few brief moments we could see a few hundred feet in any direction. Then out of the blue, on the left side of the plane we all saw a plane descending about 100 feet away then the clouds came back and so everyone was screaming! We finally landed safely and when everyone disembarked it seemed like everybody on the flight went directly outside and had a smoke, I mean the whole plane did, even the flight attendants!

So wish us a better flight this time and I’ll give you an update when we return! I have flown since, but yeah I get nervous now. Wish me luck!

Keep on Jammin’ (and safe flying)