K Rock Gets Chromed

I'm all about promotion. Especially when the promotion are for someone that so well deserves the promoting. Hard work, dedication, talent, energy is what Chrome Cabot brings to the table along with a Rock Cuisine. Tonight they got their first interview on K Rock (Newfoundlands classic rock) and it was nothing but a blast listening to it. They bring a deadly ol scoff of classic rock tunes from Sabbath, Halen and Stone temple Pilots along side of their very own songs. The full hour show was deadly, if you haven't yet heard Chrome Cabot or their new album Rock Cuisine than you gotta pick it up in St Johns at HMV or Freds or by the end of the month on Itunes. It will bring your nostalgic love of 70s and 80s rock and hit you straight in the face full force. Congrats boys on your first interview and much more to come.

Bad Ingredients For A Killer Album

Gritty, filthy, angry, but most importantly pure. That's Scott H. Biram in a nutshell. He's a one man band that's taking over the Texas scene by storm. Forcing his brand of country punk music onto the crowns in the wake of the storm he stabs your ear with the twang of the guitar and raw lyrics. There might be dirt under the fingernails of this Texas born guitarist and lyricist but there's realism in his music like no other artist out there today. Before becoming the one man band he is today Scott has been in a straight out punk band called the Thangs and two bluegrass bands called Scott Biram and the Salt Peter Boys and The Bluegrass Drive by. But on his own is where he really shines, doing his own thing what he wants to do and how he wants to do it. It really works for him.
In his new album Bad Ingredients Scott mixes the anger and angst in punk along with the good time drinking and lyricism of country with a hint of blues. A stand out song for me on the album is a bluesy number called Born In Jail, its probably the rawest songs I have heard in a long time killer blues guitar and punch drunk lyrics. If your a fan of The Black Keys than you'll respect the shit out of Scott H. Biram. Clever lyrics is one thing that I love in songs, lyrics like "I can't seem to find you, no matter how hard I try, you always wind up missing, while I always wind up blind" on Wind Up Blind always winds up opening up my ears a little more and listening to each and every word a little closer. All of these songs are sung, played, produced and recorded by Scott himself but not all written. Scott does an amazing rendition of bluegrass legend Bill Monroe's song Memories Of You Sweetheart which is respectively less punkish but sounds amazing with his raw voice and guitar. He also tears the blues guitar up on Lightning Hopkins Have You Ever Loved A Woman, much respect. The whole album is not only worth listening to once but over and over and over again. It's a perfect blend of Contry-Punk-Blues, Bad Ingredients left a good taste in my mouth.

Moby Grape - 8:05 (Mike Douglas Show, 1968)

You can't deny the talent that exploded in the late 60's and well into the 70's. Music was more than just making money or earning a living. They wrote songs that not only meant something but also felt like something. Most of the artists such as Buffelo Springfeild, The Rolling Stones, Beatles, etc went on to World wide fame. Unfortunately not every band went onto fame and fortune. Moby Grape falls under the talented fallen category. Wrapped in a world of drugs and money was just too much for Skip Spence and company. Skip went nuts much like Syd Barrett, the lost soul of Pink Floyd. Its a shame and may we never forget the beauty that is Moby Grape.

Put Some Chrome To Your Dome

After a long anticipation of their new up coming album its finally here. Chrome Cabot have just finished the mastering of their debut album Rock Cuisine. I've been privilege enough to have a pre-release listen to the album, straight out of lead singer Ches Packs hands. Today I laid back on my bed and strapped on my head phones around my ears and soaked in what is a delicious Rock Cuisine. It was so tasty, I devoured every track like it was my last meal. At the end I wanted more. First off I just have to say that lead guitarist Jason Sheppard has got to be one of if not the best heavy metal guitarist in Newfoundland today, he rips through songs like Bottoms Up and Quite Moist with blazing riffs that will make your fingers bleed from just listening to them. From fast riffs to sick solos Jace proved his self on this album as a talent to be reckoned with. But "Snake" isn't the only talent that shines on this album, he is complimented by the steady deep base lines from Dave Pittman, the beginning of Aim To Please you can hear a funk bass line similar to that of Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers pouring out of the speakers. He and Jace makes the perfect combo where one only grows better and heightens the others sound. The heavy drum beat of Robbie Welcher can be found in each and every one of the albums tracks. He brings the power that every heavy metal band that brought to the table. You will have no problem banging your head as Robbie bangs the drums all over this album. Last but absolutely not least of the fab four band members, with charisma and stage presence that rivals that of David Lee Roth himself, is the one and only Ches Pack. With a voice that sounds that of the illegitimate love child of Brian Johnson and Paul Stanley. You can hear the influence of ACDC and Kiss all over this album. Pack brings the voice to the album full of talented musicians. He brings the classic classic rock voice. Today's music has no passion or thought put into it, but Rock Cuisine has passion poured all over it. You can tell these guys love what they are doing and it shows through each and every track. Their lyrics are cleaver and well thought out along with the music that fits nicely over the lyrics. I'm proud to have the first taste of the Rock Cuisine and its not a meal you'll get sick of. So buy this album, blare it all over Newfoundland out through car windows or dorm room doors. Make people hear it if they don't already know and spread the word of Chrome. Like I did, go home, put some Chrome to your dome, play it loud and play it often.

Your Kiss Is Something To Bragg About

There's no secret that Newfoundland is has an abundance of music history. But the difference from 20 years ago and today is that its not just traditional Newfoundland with a mix of country music anymore. Yesterday it was the Harry Hibbs, Dick Nolans, Great Big Seas, just to name a few. Today artists around Newfoundland have taken a more modern twist to their music. Its not a bad thing at all. Bands like Hey Rosetta and The Gramercy Riffs are touring Canada and the States, while astounding listeners all the way from sea to shining sea. Today St. John's is crawling with live acts, you can go any night of the week on george st or water st and catch a live show of some of the best sounding Canadian artists today. Us Newfies have the pleasure and luck to see such bands as The Novaks, Pathalogical Lovers, Navigators, Monday Nights, the list can just go on forever.
But one of the best known and respected artists around St. John's is a character by the name of Mark Bragg. He has done everything from produce and session play for just about everyone around town. Hes also one of the quirkiest songwriters in Newfoundland, sounding much like a mix between Bruce Springsteen, Captain Beefheart and Tom Waits. His music has a true mixture that just about anyone can enjoy. Mark has just released a new album by the name of Your Kiss and I honestly can't say enough good things about this album. It has everything from rocking songs like Your Boys Home to sour sweet ballads such as The Cutter to Texan style fast beat songs like Carl Ray. One of the standout songs has got to be the fun loving sing along song Roll Baby Roll, the catchy rhyming scheme of the lyrics makes ya just want to listen to it again and again. Bragg has a way with lyrics but also with the arrangement of songs which is seen in the song You Be The Boy. I just fell in love with this album as soon as I wraped my headphones around my head and sat back to listen. The horn section is second to none and fits extremely well with the heavy bass lines and drum beat. Well done to Bragg on Making Your Kiss a huge success. I honestly don't think that I'll be listening to anything else this week. The album just takes a hold of you and there is no way of getting sick of songs. Each song has a distinct sound that is different than each other. Theres a wide variety of sound on this album and I would suggest this album to any music lover out there. Bragg is king just as his album cover shows.

The Soul Of Blues

Close your eyes and be taken back to a time when there was no video games, tv, radio, or malls. All there were was wood around you with just your imagination and a heart full of soul. They sang about a life they lived and a life they were about to live. Thats the blues. Heartache and pain were plentiful, but singing about lost loves, little money or drowning your sorrow in hard cheap liquor quenched the thirst of the very life they lived. Theres a big difference, to me, from listening to a man/woman who grew up in a good life than one that had to scratch their way through poverty and sing their way to the top of the ladder. Personally I prefer the latter. The Blues is the latter. From the deep woods of the delta, working on cotton fields as slaves or living on the streets preaching the blues, the life they lived was a hard traveled road. A one that carried on right from the gut through the throat and out the mouth. A true blues performer can get his message across with just simple words, but with such a powerful message that not even the greatest poet could say it any better. Probably because it wasn't just written down from imagination but from real life experiences. To me theres nothing better than having listening to a bluesman sitting outside with his acoustic guitar, striped down and raw, with nothing else only the strum of the guitar and his raw and barely recognizable voice. Its the soul of music, these guys didn't one day decide to create a band because it was cool, or because of the money, or drugs, or women. They simply did it because it was in them to do. They rarely made a living at it besides street performing and only then enough to feed themselves. They sang public domain songs in the cotton fields to get through the day or take their minds off the pain in their hands from picking cotton. They started off with sticks with a single string on them and plucked it pretending to be a national star and not with a gibson les paul or a strat. They worked their way to the top and made it their. even if it was way after their time. At least they got there in time.

Son Seals Burns Up The Stage

I haven't been writing this blog very much lately. I have been busy with work and wasn't extremly inspired by much of anything these days to give a blog on.
I am a huge fan of yard sales, garage sales, church sales, flea markets, etc. You can never be too sure on what treasures you can stumple across at these
joyous events. Me and my wonderful fiance Virginia share this love, me falling towards the music and book sections and she towards the vintage clothing and
everything else sections. A few weeks ago I discovered probably the greatest gem I have ever found at a yard sale. A vintage 80's record player with stand up
speakers and a wonderful sound. With a 50 dollar price tag I could not resist. So just recently I could listen to my vinyl with great clearity and crisp sound
that I was so used to. As soon as I brought it home I started listening to my old blues favorites that Virginia brought me a handfull of from the states. Oh
what a great feeling to have them back and relax to, to just close my eyes again and fade into the twang of a blues note that just keeps lingering on and on.
One album in particular that stood out to be as soon as I droped that needle down on it was Son Seals Live and Burning. I was just blown away at his beautiful
guitar work. What made it even better was how you can hear the crowd in the background just inches away from him feel the blues. They felt the way Seals played
that night and just couldn't be quite over it. From Seals blues licks and AC Reeds Jazz Sax, the two of them trading off and the crowd benifiting from each
back and forth fight to the finish. The only winners were the crowd at Wise Fools Pub in Chicago that night. They got every bit of Seals and his band, from start
to finish he took peoples breath away and left them in wonder of the blues. If your even in the mood to pop on a record, 8track, tape, cd or anything and just be
taken away. To hear blues at its truest form, a musician having fun with the crowd and bantering between sets. Its all about having fun on this live album and
you can hear it through every track and every note that Son Seals plays the blues not because of the profit but because he was born to play the blues, every
inch of his body from his feet stomping to his finders plucking hes all blues and blues is all him. Give Live and Burning a listen with your eyes closed and your
ears open to every lick of the guitar, blow of the horn, beat of the drum and pluck of the base.

Blues Strike The Rock

As you walk downtown St. John's you might be privileged enough to hear a faint sound in between the usual Irish ballads and traditional Newfoundland songs that we grew up listening to and love. If your lucky enough you may be able to hear a sound from the deep south coming out of the Fat Cat. Its the sound of legendary blues musicians Scott Goudie and Denis Parker. The two of them are engulfed in the blues, setting the guitar on fire. They have been playing the blues for years and are world renowned for their talent and reputation in the blues community. They have knocked elbows with greats such as Albert King, Muddy Waters, Bukka White, Skip James, etc. I was extremely fortunate to have discussions with Denis and Scott after meeting them at The Pub where they established as a great watering hole after a performance the both of them had at the Garrick Theater. I only wish I had a better setting for a conversation than at work where when someone wanted a drink I had to rush away and grab what that person wanted, being the bartender obviously it was my job but it made for quick conversations and bits and pieces of experiences they both had. At first meeting Scott he handed me a signed copy of his new album Acoustic Live, hearing that I was a blues enthusiast he was more than happy to give me the album.
Out of any genre of music I have to say the blues strikes me as the purist, truest, calming music there is. It gives fullness to the soul, you can hear a blues song written by someone who is not in it for the money or the fame. He writes it cause its his expression of himself. He takes a guitar or harmonica and plays a song that sounds so simple but no one can play it like he played it cause its his song/soul. That is why the blues is so hard to play, because you can't just strum the chords and sing the song, you really have to feel it and make the audience feel it as well which is sometimes the hardest thing to do. On this album Acoustic Live Scott Goudie makes you feel it, his guitar work is second to none. He has flawless guitar picking on his spanish style guitar work on Santana's El Farol and his own song Renata is simply wonderful, I can hear influences from Santana and Carlos Montoya in the song. His renditions of the late great Robert Johnson song's Preachin' Blues, Love In Vain, and Last Fair Deal are a sure testament to his talent and understanding of true blues purists, not alot of people can take Jonhsons songs and make it their own, The Stones overdid it with Love In Vain in the 60s with Jaggers wine being a little too much, but here Goudie gave proved that he was one of the greatest slide guitarist alive today. Elmose James' Yonders Wall is a showcase to his slide guitar work. You can also hear a tad bit of influence of Leo Kottke and Ry Cooder on songs like Louise (Leo Kottke's version i've been listening to for years and can't get enough of), Blind Willie Mctell's Delhia, and The Rolling Stones No Expectations. Probably the most stunning and favorite song of mine on the album probably because I never heard it before was Tony Joe White's Rainy Night In Georgia which is a mixture of blues and soul, a fine mixture indeed. I can't say enough good things about this album and if your a true blues fan like I am there's no way you can not like this well put together live performances of Scott Goudie's great acoustic work. Hes a treasure to Newfoundland performers and I am happy and privileged to have met the man. So now alongside my Skip James, Rev. Gary Davis, Bukka White, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson and Howlin Wolf albums there now sits Scott Goudie with his head held high.

Saturday Night Shuffle

Bonavista seems to me to be a hideaway town. Nestled in between a row of mountains and the vast ocean we are cut off from the closest town. We love it that way, we love that anyone that comes into Bonavista is not just passing through, they are here for a reason. They are usually travelers that have heard of our history or landscape beauty.
On this particular Saturday night Walkhams Gate Pub was scheduled to play host to 4 extraordinary musicians from St. John's, the hub of Newfoundland music. The four musicians are from 4 different bands and usually don't play together besides the two of them. Kaleb Mahoney is the lead singer and guitarist for The Monday Nights, Elliot Dicks who also plays in The Monday Nights and also a band called The Novaks, Robert Kelly who now plays for a local treasure of a band called The Irish Decendents and Andrew Ledrew who has a great solo career building for himself. These four guys are great musicians of their own but are also great friends of each other. They jam on each others albums and help out when needed which is what I personally think is the best way to make great music. It happened numerous times in the 60's and doesn't really happen enough these days.
Around supper time I looked out the coffee shop window and could easily see a wave of dark clouds crashing in over the mountains that barricades Bonavista from the rest of the world. The temperature dropped and a chill fell over the town that spoke volumes with everyone that walked into Walkhams Gate that night.
The band shows up around 9ish setting up their equipment. It was going to be the first time I have ever heard a four piece band play at the pub and was wondering how good it was going to be considering the size of the place. If it didn't work it could have been disastrous I was thinking, but if it did work it could very well be brilliant. Elliot sets up his lonely snare which later he would make sound like something you would hear in the backwoods of the delta, raw and sheer genius. To make something so simple sound so complicated takes alot of talent. One of the very first things they do as a team is order a round of shots, Sambuca to be exact which I kept flowing that anise liquor well into the night. Beer and rum well wet their whistle all night long and what a whistle it was. They played like a band that played together for years and years. Kaleb and Andrews songwriting was exceptional with songs like Annie and The Wild Goose showed off Kalebs songwriting as being probably one of the best new songwriters in Newfoundland today. It was the perfect night, the people that came to the show were not just there to drink and get drunk, talk during songs about what happen that day or bask in the glow of their Iphone until their faces turn a pinkish red from radiation poisoning. They were there to listen to a great band perform not only their own great songs that they poured their heart into for everyone to criticize, which really can't be a easy thing to do, much respect, but also a gauntlet of covers from The Stray Cats to The Band, Elliot bares a strong resemblance to Levon Helm of The Band so it was that much better, he also looks a lot like Ginger Baker of Cream. Kaleb's voice barreling through Bob Dylan tunes did them more justice than im sure he gives himself credit for. While Andrew shaked and rattled his way through Stray Cats with a rockabilly style that would make any pink Cadillac driver green with envy. The night turned out to be a great time, good people and great music. Those who was fortunate enough to walk into the fog of musical greatness walked away that night with a new sense of respect for musicians and their very own talent.
At the end of the night we went our own ways, made a few handshakes and paid each other our very own respects to what we did. I went on to clean the bar after wasted booze and empty bottles filled the floors and tables. It wasn't as bad as some other nights the cleanup part side. But being in the position that im in its a very good thing. I then walked away with a huge respect for Kaleb, Elliot, Robert and Andrew as talented musicians.

Just BS Cd Release

Bonavista on a Saturday night, there's shed parties, small house parties where you can go and listen to the latest mtv disaster. Not my cup of screech and coke should I say. Theres really nothing like listening to live music and having a few drinks and laughs with a crowd of people dancing a jig right next to ya. Thanks to Steve Abbott, Bob Little and Walkhams Gate Pub we all have a great place to enjoy great Newfoundland talent and music. Many nights I've been on the other side of the bar throwing beer from corner to corner as Steve and Bob belted out the tunes that we love and have grown on us. Every now and then me and Sharon could take a break and lean up against the bar and listen to Either Steve or Bob do what they have done for Bonavista for years, sing everything from traditional Newfoundland music to Steve Earle to Stan Rogers. After all the years of playing the pub Steve and Bob finally released an album of theirs and your favorite songs. Starting with one of my favorite Dubliner songs called Dirty Old Town that was most famously covered by the punk/irish group The Pogues. Ending with their most requested songs Venice Is Sinking. In between is a array of hand  picked by Steve and Bob favorites from Bob Dylans Wagon Wheel to Stan Rogers Fogartys Cove. They also throw in there Walkhams Gate Pub's owner Harv Templemen favorite St Olav's Gate, a Tom Russel staple. The cd has beautiful production all done by Bob Little in his basement. The sound sounds professionally done in one of Canada's best studio. You can drive around town listening to Just BS with your windows down or just sit back and listen to them at home. You can find the album at Walkhams Gate Pub at anytime and this weekend the 18th of June you can come to the official CD release party at Walkhams Gate Pub and listen to Just BS in person. They will be selling cds there while supplies last so come on down and have a jig or two and sing along to Steve and Bob.

The Two Whales Avenue

As a huge fan of bluegrass music I have a keen ear for good old time bluegrass. From Clarence Ashley to Doc Watson to The Stanley Brothers I have listen from the best to the best when it comes to great down home bluegrass. I have stomped my feet to the the fiddle and the banjo many of nights singing along to bluegrass from the 1920's and up. It's hard to find a good bluegrass band in a province that is surrounded by traditional celtic music and what i call lovers of covers, people who don't understand music unless they have listened to it while growing up or they heard it on the radio, something that I pride myself on being not part of. My ears are always open to new music and music that is written by people for people, music from the heart and soul of musicians that lived and are writing directly about their life for people like me. Tonight me and my dear friend Harv took a trip to Port Rexton, a local town outside of Bonavista most famous for their theatrical showings. But tonight a local coffee shop called Two Whales Coffee Shop was hosting a bluegrass band straight from Ontario to play a modest show. As we walked into the place it was a great feeling of walking into someones house, since the coffee shop was actually someones house years ago and renovated into a coffee shop, not much renovation mind you. but it was defiantly warming and hospitable. Me and Harv (owner and operator of Walkhams Gate Pub and Coffee Shop in Bonavista) sat down in the back of the 20 seat kitchen which I was happy to see. It was a great feeling of walking into someones kitchen getting ready for a traditional Newfoundland kitchen party of years ago when friends and family get together to play music well into the night. Tonight was no different. The band was called The Avenues and they will not disappoint us on this night. They were a 3 piece band that ripped through two sets of songs and played not only two cover songs, that I know of , Wild Bill Jones and John Prines' Please Don't Bury Me,  that sounded like it just came off the radio but they also performed original songs that sounded like they were written by bluegrass/country greats. They even had a little bluesy twist onto the songs with the uptempo feel, which I couldn't get enough of being a huge blues fan that I am. After listening to the band that night I came home and slipped on Muddy Waters Country Blues record on vinyl and got taken back to earlier that night. The Avenues were a great band and a great bunch of people that will be playing at various bars and pubs in St Johns this week such as The Rose and Thistle and The Levee. I highly recommend keeping an eye out for them this week and and weekend and catching their show, they will keep you dancing throughout the night and wont disappoint if your a true music fan. Me and Harv walked away happy with what we heard. Thanks Two Whales Coffee Shop for bringing good music to rural Newfoundland that we deserve and hunger for. 

A Pocket Full Of Picks At The Pub

A night full of anticipation and hearing this and that about a performer that I was told was going to blow my socks off, we filled the beer coolers to the gills and made sure no one was gonna be cut off from their favorite liquor. The smell wiffs in from the windows of the fish plant just down over the hill running full blast after the crab fishery has opened. The smell of money surrounds Bonavista like the perfect green fog. Tonight though was the night that I was waiting for a long time, Dave White. a good friend of mine and great musician in his own right, drags out a musician that I've been hearing about ever since I started working at Walkhams Gate Pub, Carl Peters. The night started off slow with only the slot tappers gluing their eyes to the screen wishing for lady luck to be a friend tonight. It was a typical Newfoundland night with fog slowly creeping in off the water and hindering Dave's driving abilities coming out from St.John's. But he arrives and sets up the system to kick off the night. Dave rushes home to take a quick shower while Carl arrives and makes some tweaks to the system before the show starts. Dave shows back up and shows off his acoustic guitar, personally signed by Peters himself, in the flesh. Then Carl pulls out his own signed Dave White acoustic guitar. Then I heard why everyone had nothing but praise for Carl Peters. The echo from his guitar bounced off the walls and got stuck in your ears. Carl and Dave played effortlessly perfect together and sounded if they were playing together for a lifetime. They traded between playing lead guitar and lead vocals. With harmony that only strengthen each others vocal ability they ran through a gauntlet of classic rock songs from Tom Petty, Steve Earle, Tragically Hip, etc even throwing in a few 90s hits that Dave has been performing since his illustrious Maybe Fog days. I was especially impressed with Carl's own interpretation of the Big Bill Broonzy song Before You Accuse Me, made popular by Eric Clapton on his album Unplugged. Carl's interpretation of the song was the perfect mix between blues and acoustic rock. Throughout the night Dave and Carl kept everyone dancing in front of the stage and singing right along with them through each and every song. Not only was I impressed with Carl's playing but also how nice of a guy he was, gracious was not a strong enough word. I kept his energy up with tequila, beer and double espresso shots and him and Dave kept the energy up of the crowd that showed up at the pub that night. It turned out to be a perfect night with everyone leaving feeling drunken and still hyped up from the great music. I now have another favorite performer at the pub alongside Steve and Bob, Chester and Marcus, and Dave White. Now I'll add Carl Peters to the list. If your ever downtown St. John's and you hear Carl Peters is performing tonight at a certain time, run don't walk. You will be pleasantly impressed with the fast fingers and the glowing echo his his guitar as well as the strong bluesy voice of Carl Peters and the silky smooth voice and always full of energy Dave White, the man who eats , sleeps, breaths and bathes in music.

The Energy Of Cocker

I first landed eyes of Joe Cocker on an old episode of Saturday Night Live. He performed a Traffic cover song called Feeling Alright, one of his most popular songs. In the middle of the song he was surprised to see legendary comedian John Belushi join him on stage impersonating him, lip syncing along. Later Joe would say that Belushi did a better Joe Cocker than Joe Cocker. It was a turning point in Joe's career after he was in huge debt to A&M records. He would then embark on a huge world tour. But how can a man with such a gritty, drity, thunderous voice not become looked up to and gazed upon, alcoholism plagued Joe's life for many years. But he battled back and still performs to this day. In this video Joe plays the famous Woodstock festival, he was actually thought to be a roadie when musicians saw him backstage because of his hippie/hobo look. He did not look the part of a fantastic singer but boy did he ever perform. Theres no way you can walk out of a Joe Cocker show and be disappointed. He does do alot of cover songs but he has a nack for making those cover songs his own. Im sure many people thought Feeling Alright or With A Little Help From My Friends or The Letter were Joe Cocker songs. He has covered a humongous array of different bands such as Traffic, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Ray Charles, Leon Russell, Chuck Berry just to name a few. Every performance Joe gives it his all, the energy he releases is second to none. The movements of his body can be looked upon as abnormal but he gets really into the music, so much that the music moves him in ways that no one else can really comprehend. Hes a musician true and true, lived the life more than once and came back to punch it in the face. I am a huge Joe Cocker fan and even today you can see him at a show and lay it all on the line, he still has the voice to move you or stand you still.

The Largest Vinyl Collection In The World

http://vimeo.com/1546186

There is nothing that sounds more perfect to me than dropping that needle on an old dusty wax record. The nicks and pops are just as much part of the music than the guitar or drum. The ups and down are unmatched. Its been an obsession of mine now for years ever since I bought my first ever album, J Giles' Freeze Frame. It steamed from there and right now I have over 3 thousand records in my collection. But my collection looks feeble in front of Paul Mawhimmey's enormous collection. With a collection of over a million records that altogether is worth over 50 million dollars he has collected for many years while working as a salesperson and keeping a keen eye open for the rarest of records. He has been bit by the vinyl bug and has a deep love of music and what music was instead of what it is today, fake and watered down, the same way I am and feel. Unfortunately is trying to sell his collection but can not find anyone that has the same obsession or cares enough for music to part with what he has dedicated his life to. I personally would only treasure such a collection if only I could afford to purchase it. There's only a select few people who still has the same heart that people like Paul still has and listens to music for the soul and passion and not for the almighty dollar and meaningless. I fully agree with Paul when he talks about how vinyl has a much superior sound than cd's. With all the digitalization of music we have lost all richness and soul of what the superior productions of yesteryear mastered. When listening to a vinyl record you can be taken right inside the studio with the band and feel like your actually part of the music. I have a deep respect for Paul from just watching this video and respects his desire for music probably just as much or more than anyone else can. It would be great to interview this musical encyclopedia. Much respect for the man with the same great love for music that I carry around all day everyday.

George Loves His Whiskey

Drinking songs with old time Country go hand in hand, like two peas in a pod, old time Country Musicians wrote drinking songs just as much as Irish Musicians. Some even lived the life of a drunken songster. Breaking the law after a drug infused night of playing at a rowdy honky tonk was an every night occurrence for some. Others escaped johnny law by the skin of their fingers. George Jones are one of those drunken Country musicians that not only sing the life of a drunkard but also lived many years with the bottle in his hand. At one point in his life he was picked up for drinking and driving, not that drinking and driving is such a far fetched arrest but on a lawnmower it was. He was on his way to the liquor store an apparently driving at 2mph was much quicker. But for years he battled the bottle, many times losing and sinking back into the depths of the sea of whiskey. This song Tennessee Whiskey has got to be on the top of my list of favorite George Jones songs, comparing women to alcohol was probably the only way George could compare women, two of his favorite things wraped up into one song. A true musician friend of mine does a beautiful cover of this song, Steve Abbott can do justice to this song, next time you see him play at Walkhams Gate Pub playing his heart out on stage request this song, step back and be amazed. Steve's band with Bob Little Just BS are soon releasing their first album so keep an eye out and pick it up. I listened to the master copy yesterday and was blown away with the quality of production done by Bob himself. Well done bys'.

The Altamont Disaster

It was a massive disaster from the beginning. They should have seen it from afar and put an end to it before it even started. 300 thousand drug induced people flocked to the Altamont raceway in California. The concert was free and was said to be the Woodstock of the west. The main card and most of the violence happen during The Rolling Stones set. Most people connect Altamont with just The Stones while dismissing the others that were on the card as well such as Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and The Flying Burrito Brothers. The Grateful Dead were also set to be on the card but backed out after hearing of the extreme violence that was taking place in the crowd. The concert was filmed for a later Stones documentary titled Gimmie Shelter. The Stones hired The Hells Angels as security which might have been a huge mistake considering their don't give a shit attitude. As soon as one person pushed forward towards the stage there was no problem about pushing back. Which lead to a accidental death to a young man. Three other deaths also happen during the concert, two from a hit and run by a car and the other by drowning in a river bank. Four child births were recorded at the event as well. But the most famous and widely talked about incident was the death of Meredeth Hunter, who was murdered in front of the stage after trying to get on stage. Altamont has gone down in history as the biggest mistake in rock and roll history and is synonymous with rage, anger, death and pain. Sympathy For The Devil is the perfect song for this concert. He seemed to be in the crowd that night with the concert goers. At the end of the video you can see The Hells Angels dragging a lifeless body onto the stage while Mick keeps repeating "get down, get on down" and it still sends chills through the spine of me and I am sure many others.

Gallager's Mandolin Blues

Undeniable talent. Unrelenting force. Underrated musician. Rory Gallager never really got his come up ins. He was a driving force in the 70's blues boom alongside Johnny Winter, BB King, Albert King, Allman Brothers, etc. His talent was respected by a cult following of fans and other well respected fellow musicians such as Keith Richards, Bono, Pete Townsted, Thin Lizzy, as well as many others that caught onto his talent in the early stages of his playing career. His sweat was filled with acid, literally, and so was his voice. He spat out lyrics like he grew up in the deep woods of the delta, a poor black man with nothing but the blues to his name. But in reality he came from a well off family in Ireland and never really knew about hardships and pain but he can portray it in a song through his rough and bluesy voice. Here he plays the blues through a mandolin with the greatest of ease. He wails on it like it was his last song and he needed to tell the crowd listening what he was feeling at the time for one last time. I personally think he does just that and I just love the simpleness in this song. Just Rory with a mandolin, minimal bass and minimal drums. Its not much but says alot.

From The Dirt In The Gutter To The Light Of The Stage

If there was ever a Cinderella story for the blues RL Burnside wrote the book. There has to be hundreds of starting off from nothing and than being recognized for brilliance in the world of the blues, but nothing compares to Burnside's story. He almost never made it and if he didn't it probably wouldn't have mattered. He did what he loved doing all his life and that made for a wonderful life considered by him. Growing up in the backwoods of the delta and playing around great musicians he never really cut an album until later in his life. He was rediscovered by a dj who started mixing his albums at shows and it helped burst him into a whole new level of popularity. RL's music is a whole new sound of riff infused blues that is a close cousin to punk. Its hard and in your face, there's no 5 thousand dollar guitar or 3 grand amps. Just RL and a old beat up guitar and one speaker, its all he needs and he makes it sound like dirty blues, blues that will make your skin crawl and ears listen. RL is a wonderful talent that will be missed in the blues world but its great to see that he wasn't left there in the gutter, that he was found and recognized for his talent.

The Late John Prine Blues

In regards for songwriting, to me you can't get much better than John Prine. His style and flow and usage of metaphors are simply amazing. He flows from line to line so effortlessly. His songs paint a picture with such ease and comfort, I can listen to John Prine for hours at a time and never get sick of his style. One of my all time favorite of Prine's songs has got to be The Late John Garfield Blues. Its a really catch song and the lyrics are so intelligent and just full of John Prine wisdom. This version is especially beautiful since Prine is paired with an angelic voiced girl that plays the violin gorgeously in the middle of the song. Its a sweet icing on the cake of a wonderful song. I first heard The Late John Garfield Blues on one of my favorite albums of all time, John's album Diamonds In The Rough. It is filled with not so popular but my favorite Prine songs such as Sour Grapes, Everybody, The Torch Singer, Billy The Bum, Clocks and Spoons and The Frying Pan. But it also has popular tunes such as Souvenirs, The Great Compromise and a song that was a hit for David Allen Cole called They Oughta Name A Drink After You. It also has a Carter Family cover of Diamonds In The Rough which Prine didn't do alot of. If there was ever a John Prine album to recommend anyone this would definitely be the one. John has a spot in the songwriters hall of fame if there ever was one.

Newfoundland Pride

I am pleasured and proud to be related to Jim Martin. My grandmother was his aunt. Yesterday my aunt gave me an album of Jims called Bay Born B'ye and it was a complete joy to listen to. Exceptional Newfoundland music mixed with a little country twang. The album actually showed off his vocal skills more than the video I just posted, he actually sounds a little much like the Canadian Roy Orbison to me at times, with highs and lows that will knock you to your knees. Jim actually grew up in Conception Bay Newfoundland, born to my great aunt Blanch. At a young age Jim moved to west Toronto Ontario to work as a ironman putting together steel framing for Toronto's skyscrapers. He was first heard by Boot Records president Jury Krytiuk at the Country Music Store, he was singing alongside a few other locals at this Toronto hotbed for up and coming musicians. Jury was blown away by Jims vocal ability and begged him to record an album for his record label. Jim was adamant about the idea but after 5 years he agreed to do so. Jury always said that Jim had a warm, natural voice, and is what sets him above the rest. I'm extremely proud to be related to such a talent as Jim and wish he was still alive today to share musical knowledge with. But even so here is the talent of Jim Martin and his warm, natural voice. Enjoy.