BruceM

Because of THAT guitar, which I now need for some reason. And also because my band, Famous Volcanoes, covers this song. As an aside, I just finished reading the Led Zeppelin biography which was published in 2021. Dave Edmunds was trapped in recording limbo in the 70s after he signed with Zep's Swan Song record label. Seems they were only good at producing LZ records.

My friend Johnny turned me on to this over the weekend Wow! Guitarist Ripley Johnson, also of Moon Duo fame. The following excerpt explaining how he tried to get this sound speaks to me. haha. Recorded primarily at his home in Portland and mixed by Cooper Crain (Bitchin’ Bajas, Cave), the songs on Earth Trip make deft use of space through their lean arrangements, guest Barry Walker’s shimmering pedal steel, open and elongated guitar melodies, and upfront and intimate vocals. Johnson describes the arrangements this way; “I was trying to capture that feeling when you take psychedelics and they just start coming on - maybe objects start buzzing in the edges of your vision, you start seeing slight trails, maybe the characteristics of sound change subtly. But you’re not fully tripping yet. Cooper got the idea right away and his mix really captures that feeling.” Johnson’s lithe guitar playing treads an equally fine line between country and cosmic, melodies blooming into long reverb trails and solos evocative of radiant summer warmth.

I started following Alejandro Escovedo on FB recently, and a search of his name in my music library lead me back to this album. So good!

After watching 20 Feet From Stardom (highly recommended!), I started looking up the performers' music. I listened to Claudia Lennear's album the other day. It's got a great early 70s vibe.

It's always interesting who you might meet/run into over the course of your time in a given locale. Turns out the Twin Cities has a storied and diverse musical scene which stretches back decades. In my current job at the tennis shop, I started working with a guy, Mark, my age, who grew up in Minneapolis and St. Louis Park. He found out that music was one of my great interests and pursuits, so we now talk about music incessantly. Turns out Mark has childhood friends who ended up playing in Prince's band in the early days, and other friends who became notable promoters/producers of various local acts. Mark recently brought in a book written by his friend Owen Husney, titled "Famous People Who've Met Me." It's a very quick and interesting read. It turns out that Mr. Husney, who became a concert and talent promoter, "discovered" Prince, and was instrumental in signing the record deal which lead to the production and release of Prince's first album, For You. I have that album, but I never listened it to it that much because it was never my favorite album of his (I have 20 of his albums). While I was reading the chapters of the book dealing with the recording and production of the album, I played it a couple of times. It really is quite remarkable that an 18 year old kid from Minneapolis was talented enough, and Owen was persuasive enough, that the record company allowed Prince complete creative control of the album. Give it a spin with this in mind: he wrote all the songs, many of them on the fly during the recording process, and also was able to take almost complete creative control of the production process. It's a remarkable feat, and the songs, musicianship and production are even more remarkable to me in that light. Give it a listen if you've got it. I gave a quick look for the album on Youtube, but I don't see that much of Prince's music is available there. Also, coincidentally, one of the drummers in my 4321 All-Stars group (we get together almost every Tuesday at my house to jam in the basement), Michael, is a cousin of Bobby Z, who was also instrumental in the recording of the first album. Bobby Z was also Prince's earliest drummer. Listen to the album again, and check out the book if you can find it. It's really a fun read. There's lots about Prince, but the book is really about Owen Husney, who was the quite the character in his own right.

Glad to hear the guitar made it safely! I delayed shipping it by two weeks so I could play it at practice a couple more times. There's definitely magic in that one. Here's a few more case pics I took a few weeks back.

It's been a wild ride, but it's time to send this one on its journey. As evidenced by this photo, WPS#5 does indeed hold magical powers over all who behold. Farewell, old friend!

And just to prove that Butcher Is Everywhere, here's a classic 4-3-2-1 pose with WPS#5. Who's next?

I suppose I should pick up some more bologna for the party on Saturday, and I'll have to remember to fry it up on Saturday, not the morning after! Guys, WPS#5 has had a two month run at the 4-3-2-1. Where to next? There's a couple of guys making a road trip here from IL for this party. Perhaps one them would hand deliver somewhere along the route home? And of course, I'd be delighted to ship. Who's next?

I needed to work on BOC's Career Of Evil tonight. What better setup than WPS#5 through a Marshall 5 in the living room. This guitar rocks! The 4-3-2-1 is gearing for a jam session on Feb. 24. You local guys need to get over here for your photo op with this fine instrument. You out-of-towners too!

WPS #5 makes a new friend.

There's nothing like the smell of fried bologna in the morning!

The Eagle has landed. WPS5 is nestled safely in the confines of the 4-3-2-1 Club. This party is shaping up nicely!

That would be epic! And, I've heard rumors that there will a large gathering at the 4321 Club on Saturday, November 18. I know a LOT of guitarists that would want to be memorialized in a posing photo with this instrument. Let's make that happen, shall we?

Well, the other guitarist and the drummer are the from the Bangles, as is Derrick, who has played bass for them for awhile.

That would be The Bangles meets The Smithereens meets The Muffs, to be more accurate. "the chick on the right" is one of my heroes, Kim Shattuck, who has multiple albums with her band The Muffs. I've seen them a couple of times in small clubs around town here in Minneapolis (they're from L.A.). She's quite the badass rocker chick on guitar, fronting a 3 piece band. She's noted for her screaming ability, having one the most signature rock screams around. You get slight dose of that in this song, That Awful Man by the Muffs, which has been played numerous times in my basement.

I picked up the Sid n Susie CDs at the library recently. What a great cover band these two put together. Great stuff!

I continue to be amazed at how much you look like me. Freaky! I'm also taken aback at some of the things I appear to be saying. Shocking! Yeah, and I always wonder how I would possibly look like without hair. All 60 year old bald white guys look alike.

I continue to be amazed at how much you look like me. Freaky! I'm also taken aback at some of the things I appear to be saying. Shocking!