Guitar Showcase
 

 
 

I used to love the look of the Fender Telecaster, now I just admire it because of the history behind the guitar. Originally called the Broadcaster in 1950, Leo Fender renamed it to Telecaster, due to copyright infringement with a guitar manufactures  that would later be owned by The Fender Company. This guitar is versatile instrument is suited for rock, blues, country and jazz. To me, the telecaster seems like an edgier version of a Stratocaster. Anyone that's played electric guitar for long enough, can pick out a Telecaster, just by the distinct sound vs a Strat or a Les Paul for example. That's not a bad thing, being unique yet flexible goes a long way with a musician I would imagine. I do like the sound of a Tele, even though I've never even held a real one in my hands, I would like to play one.  The only reason I'll say that I'll never own one, is because I don't like the looks of them as much as I used to. The next two guitars I'll post here will not only look good, but will be popular for their sound as well.
 

  

This is a year for Kathy and me to see live music shows. Bryan Adams a couple of weeks ago, Chris de Burgh in a couple of weeks, and Rock of Ages on Broadway in June. I'm excited about them all, and Bryan Adams was a pleasant surprise. Chris de Burgh is the guy Kathy and I went to see the night we announced our engagement, so we're jazzed to see him again. Rock of Ages on Broadway. I mean come on. A musical set in the 1980's with tunes by all the big hair bands. And we're seeing it in The Big Apple just 2 weeks before the movie comes out. Let the fist pumping begin.

Update: Kathy saw that Vicki Lawrence will be doing a one woman show at the Casino Bluenose Room and picked up tickets, remember "The Nights The Lights Went Out In Georgia", "Mama's Family", and "The Carol Burnett Show"? When I went online to check out where we were sitting, I saw that Colin James is coming to the Casino on New Years Eve, so I picked up tickets and we're going to see him as well.)

But man oh man, I finally, finally get to see John Mellencamp live.

I've been a John Mellencamp fan since he was known as Johnny Cougar, and I've always wanted to see him live. I won't say I'm his biggest fan, but I do have sixteen of his albums. R.O.C.K. in the USA was the first song I could play on electric guitar.Some people have said that he was better when he was younger, and now he's doesn't remember what made him famous.  I think he does, ...I know he does.  It doesn't take much searching if you're a fan to know that Mr. Mellencamp just doesn't give a shit about being a rock star anymore. The man is 60 years old, and unlike some others, (Mick Jagger I'm looking at you) he knows that the women stopped throwing panties on the stage years ago.  He's been there, done that, and is now doing what he wants to do. Others have wondered why he is playing the Dartmouth Sportsplex of all places. While it's true that he could pull in enough to fill the Metro Centre in a half bowl configuration (as was done for Alice Cooper, Melissa Etheridge, to name just a couple), I don't think the venue would fit the vibe JM is trying to put out with this tour.

I recently bought his latest CD "No Better Than This" which this tour is promoting. I knew what the album was about, and how it was recorded. It was recorded with one microphone connected to a 55 year old tape recorder. Now I imagine it was a very high quality microphone and a 'bitchin' recording device back in the day, but still in the days of high tech studio digital magic, this was a ballsy move. No mixing tracks, no overdubs, just a band around a microphone making music. The same microphone that recorded the drums, was recording Mellencamp's voice at the same time. Five tracks were recorded at Sun Records where Elvis recorded his earlier work.

While I was trapped in my car for an eight hour drive to Quebec, I popped this CD in at around hour 4. I'd been listening to some pretty heavy guitar music for a long time, and needed to clear my aural palate. When the CD came to the end of the final track, I was so swept back in time, that I had to play it all over again. The music isn't really different, it's just music in a pure form. It's not rock, it's not country, it is music about life. Simple chord progressions with an easy beat, but it's still music with heart, and as usual for John Mellencamp, it's all for the working stiff.

 

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