Another Post

I used to be a regular blogger, what happened to me? The summer weather has me spending less time online and more time outdoors. I've also been heavy into karate again (I have about half an hour until my next lesson), and I've just been neglecting my blog. I'm torn between keeping this or only using my tumblog. These posts feed right into there, but those don't feed into here.

I'll keep this for now, but I'm not sure how much longer.

Anyway, I've been writing a lot of songs lately, which is great! I'm excited to get to work on them. I've also been transcribing a boatload of Beatles songs for my lessons, and because they're amazing. The songs are beyond perfect. My next influential post may have to be about them.

I'm going to New York on Thursday. I'm very excited to return to my semi-adopted home. I haven't been since May. I'm overdue for a visit. I swear I could write albums worth of music about New York. I may do that. Write ex-number of songs about the City. I already have one. It's over there on the right. I have a better version that I should post soon.

This has been kind of scattered. I think I'm gonna go now.

Five of Ten: Mick Jagger/Keith Richards/The Rolling Stones

The second you see this, you know what comes next. It's arguably the most recognizable band logo of all time.













Keith Richards is the most unlikely guitar hero. Maybe that's why I love him so much. He doesn't play flashy solos, he probably couldn't tell you the modes in a major key, nor does he do anything really esoteric.

That's what makes him so awesome, and that's why I was drawn to him and the Rolling Stones. The music the Rolling Stones created (the songs he and Mick pegged) is pure rock 'n' roll (with the exception of their brief/somewhat disastrous disco phase) with a heavy undertone of blues. The Stones started off as a blues band. They also had a few hits before Satisfaction took over the world.

Enough about their history. There are countless books that have it.

I owe this one to my mom. She was a child of the British Invasion, and loved the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. She got 40 Licks for Christmas one year, and that was my first adventure into possibly the biggest musical influence in my life. I played (and still do play) those CDs for hours. I remember sitting in my bedroom trying to master the solo in Sympathy For The Devil. My friend taught me Brown Sugar when I was 15 and to this day it's my favorite song to play--in or out of Open G tuning.

Let's go back to Keith. I have a 1952 Butterscotch Blonde Fender Telecaster Reissue mainly because of Keith. He played them. I wanted one. Bad. I was in Sam Ash in New York City in April of 2006, tentatively on a mission for a new guitar. And it was definitely going to be a Telecaster. I walked into the main room, and I didn't see anything I liked. So I walked through the door on the right, and right in front of me was a beautiful Telecaster. There was no name on it. I picked it up, and plugged into a Fender amp, strummed an E chord, and knew instantly I had to have it.

My dad came in shortly after, and I said to him, 'I'm not leaving the store without this guitar.'

He laughed, and said, 'Well, happy birthday.' I think I was shocked that he bought me that guitar. He knew I was serious, though--about that guitar and playing guitar in general. I had been playing a Silvertone strat for over two years. I felt like I really earned that guitar. I remember the feeling of pure elation as I walked down the streets of Manhattan carrying my Telecaster in its beautiful tweed case. I felt like a real guitar player that day.

To this day, I often find myself coming up with riffs that Keith himself could have concocted up. Some people say he's lazy. I don't care. He's written some of the greatest guitar hooks ever. Jumpin' Jack Flash, Satisfaction, Honkey Tonk Women, and Gimme Shelter to name a few. Wild Horses is one of my favorite ballad-y songs ever.

I recently purchased a Fulltone OCD, and I discovered that I can pretty much match the sound of any Stones song (with distortion, that is). I had a big grin on my face for the rest of the night after I discovered that.

When people used to ask me who I wanted to sound like, I always responded with, 'Keith Richards and Eric Clapton combined.' I wanted the solos of Eric and the feel and rhythm of Keith. I'm still working on combining the two.

I saw the Stones in January of 2006. I probably had the worst seats in the house, but I didn't really care. I heard all my favorite songs live, and witnessed Mick Jagger in his full-on lunatic stage mode. It was fantastic.

Speaking of Mick Jagger. I really haven't talked much about him.

In another life, Micky Mick and I were married. I'm convinced haha! He is the world's greatest entertainer. The man does not stop for a second on stage. On the Steel Wheels tour, he would run up to four miles a night! His stage presence and sense of performance are second to none. He just keeps going and going and going. I used to blast the Stones and run around my house in a Mick-like fashion. I would also strap on a guitar and play along with what I could. Back then I preferred being Mick to Keith when it came to pretend-performance. I could have more fun with it because I wasn't plugged in.



I can't write this post and not mention what Keith calls "The Ancient Form of Weaving." The Stones have had a few lead players. Brian Jones, who was killed in his pool. Mick Taylor, who was with them when they recorded arguably their best albums (Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile On Main Street). And my personal favorite, Ronnie Wood. Keith and Ronnie are the "Weavers." Listen to Beast Of Burden, and you'll know what I mean. The two of 'em flow so effortlessly in and out of each other's playing. If they weren't both married, I'd say they might be a couple themselves. Anytime you see a picture of them, they look like a happy couple.



Charlie Watts, the backbone and the provider of the backbeat, is a human metronome. Like Keith, he's not flashy, but he never misses a beat. I wish I had more to say on Charlie. He's a fighter. I'll leave it at that.



As for Bill Wyman, I really have nothing to say. I don't think leaving the band was a good move on his part, but hey, to each his own. I've also heard from many Rolling Stones fans that it's just not the same without him--live, that is.

Here's something I find a little funny. My senior year, I had a class on Bob Dylan (yes, it was wicked cool). During the first class, my teacher played us two covers of Dylan songs. He doubted that anyone would know who was singing. Well, I knew. I guessed correctly, I should say. The first song didn't take me too long to get--it was Sheryl Crow. Other kids guessed right, too. The second one, however, was not so easy to the rest of the class. They were all like, 'Who IS this?' I sat there, focusing very hard on the CD player, and said, 'Keith. Richards.' My teacher laughed and said "very good!" He was somewhat shocked that I had gotten it right. I was quite impressed with myself, as was the rest of the class.

Anyway. Lately I've been working on some "blues-fusion," mainly Robben Ford songs. While I do enjoy playing that style, I'm not aspiring to have a career in that realm. I'll take what I can from those songs and incorporate it back into straight rock, giving my music (mainly the guitar solos) a bit of a different touch.

Robben Ford, you may be wicked good, but you ain't got nothin' on the Rolling Stones in my book.

He's Done It Again

Roger Federer won his 15th Grand Slam tournament by beating Andy Roddick in another epic match at Wimbledon. The final set lasted thirty games, which is a record. The whole match broke a record (more games than any other match). Andy put up a phenomenal fight, but Roger slowly broke him down physically, mentally, and probably emotionally. If you watched the match, you probably noticed that Roger was not anywhere nearly as sweaty or tired-looking as Andy was.

I became infatuated with Roger some time ago. Having always been a mild tennis fan, I became a much bigger fan in the past few years mainly due to Roger (and the Williams sisters, especially Serena). I used to play, and I might have to start playing again soon.

The best part of this? I finally get my hat!

Unintentional Hiatus

Wow, I have been neglecting my blog lately. I have no reason, either. I've been busy doing other things, most of which could have easily been replaced with blogging. Ah well, I'm here now.

I didn't get the memo that June is now the rainy season in the Northeast. It's only been sunny for approximately two days all month. It's been pretty depressing.

Other than the rain, everything's pretty rockin'. I've recorded a few songs, take a listen if you want to:

Keep On With The Climb

White Boy Blues

(Sidenote: I'm going to record a new solo on White Boy Blues. I don't care for it, and I can do better. I might even get some full band recordings on here. It's in the works.)

I've been working on a lot of other songs, too. They should be up in the near future so be on the look out! I'm always open to feedback/advice.

Everything else in my life right now is swell. I just need to practice a bit more, sleep a bit more (I should be in bed now...Oops), and run some more (if the sun ever comes out! I hate treadmills). Oh yeah, and go to the beach. I've been once, and it was in May. I didn't think I'd get much time to go, but this is a bit much. I couldn't wait to get back to my coast after being landlocked in the Midwest for a few days, and I don't even think I've been to the beach once since coming back. Sad. Oh well, I have hope that July will bring sunnier days!

I'll write more when I have more to say. I thought I had more to say, but I guess I don't!

That being said, I'm gonna go.

Until next time (which will be soon!), watch this. It's become one of my favorite live songs ever:

Summer So Far

Sorry it's been a while. I've been meaning to write. I sit at my laptop every now and then with my blog open, and try to write something, but it all felt too forced. So now that I've taken care of business (done my errands), I'm just gonna click away on my keys to my heart's content.

My summer so far has been fantastic. I play music probably five nights a week on average with my band, see my friends on a daily basis, do karate, work/get paid, take guitar lessons, write songs as much as possible (more on that later), and it's only June 16th! If have another two and a half months of this, I will be a very happy camper. I haven't been to any concerts yet, but I've got a few good ones coming up.

While I haven't been to any shows, I did have one of the best times ever last week. I flew to Nebraska to see my friend Natalia. I hadn't seen her since January when she flew to Boston to surprise Julia for her birthday. To recap the whole trip would take too much effort. I'll just say that I had an absolute blast and can't wait to go back. Can't. Wait. I returned home on Friday. I was so sad when I had to leave. I'm not sad to be back home, I'm just sad that Natalia, Annie, Kelley Bruce Robinson, Andy, Teddy, LaDuke, and everyone else I know/met are not here with me.

Anyway. My next trip will be Boston for the 4th of July, followed by New York City at some point during the summer. Both will be wicked fun. My cousin Dale will be here in 16 days, and that's always a good time.

Overall, I was right--my summer rocks. It's been a steady stream of awesome. What more could you ask for? The best part is that it's not even done yet. :)