Happy 80th Birthday Willie Nelson!

All the best goes out to Willie Nelson who turns a young 80 today! Willie is simply a hero and everybodies favorite gran-paw. He also seems to be a favorite suspect of Texas law officials who think this is all no laughing matter! The joke is on them! Ever hear of Farm aid??????? Furthermore, selfless and thoughtful as ever, Willie was going Celebrate his birthday at the Backyard and Bee Cave but now the proceeds will benefit West VFD.

Willie Nelson and the Family Old Farts and Jackass Tour 2013 info! You MUST see Willie!

Willie - Still is still moving to me

Norah provides her sentiments to Willie!


KEEF!


The Rev. Billy F. Gibbons



Sheryl Crow - Willie makes 80 look beautiful!

Jeff Beck - Crossroads 2013

Always inspiring............ Jeff Beck can play guitar while beating Chuck Norris to the ground and still not miss a note.

Steely Dan Announces North American Tour!

On the lighter side of things we receive some cracking news that Walter Becker and Donald Fagen will hit the road for 2013. The Steely Dan tour is rather hectic as they have schedule more the four dozen concerts but for some odd reason there aren't any listed south of the Mason-Dixon line. Why is that? Not my problem. So far the band line-up consists of 8 brilliant musicians: The Bipolar Allstars (featuring Keith Carlock on drums, Freddie Washington on bass, Jim Beard on keyboards, Jon Herington on guitar), along with the Borderline Brats.

Concert goers should expect the same virtuosity of previous albums and tours. The tour is called - Mood Swings - 8 miles to pancake day tour will kick off July 19, 2013 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Sure would be nice to see the stars of Jersey Shores there but I doubt any of the Jersey Shore crew will be present as July is a great time to work on that salon tan to get that perfect hue of orange going on.........

Mood Swings: 8 Miles To Pancake Day Tour Dates
 
19-Jul              Atlantic City, NJ            Revel Ovation Hall
20-Jul              Canandaigua, NY          Constellation Brands - Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
21-Jul              Toronto, ON                  Molson Canadian Amphitheatre
23-Jul              Cleveland, OH               Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
24-Jul              Kettering, OH                Fraze Pavilion
26-Jul              Louisville, KY                Louisville Palace Theatre
27-Jul              Detroit, MI                    Fox Theatre
28-Jul              Milwaukee, WI              Riverside Theatre
30-Jul              Fort Wayne, IN             Embassy Theatre
1-Aug              Highland Park, IL          Ravinia Festival
2-Aug              Highland Park, IL          Ravinia Festival
3-Aug              Indianapolis, IN             Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
5-Aug              St. Louis, MO               Peabody Opera House
6-Aug              Omaha, NE                  Orpheum Theater
8-Aug              Denver, CO                   Red Rocks Amphitheatre
10-Aug            Salt Lake City, UT         Red Butte Garden
11-Aug            Boise, ID                       Idaho Botanical Garden
13-Aug            Portland, OR                 McMenamins Edgefield
15-Aug            Redmond, WA              Concerts at Marymoor
17-Aug            San Francisco, CA        Americas Cup Pavilion
18-Aug            Reno, NV                      Reno Events Center
20-Aug            Santa Barbara, CA        The Santa Barbara Bowl
21-Aug            San Diego, CA              Humphrey's
23-Aug            Las Vegas, NV             The Pearl
24-Aug            Los Angeles, CA           Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE
25-Aug            Los Angeles, CA           Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE
28-Aug            Austin, TX                     Bass Concert Hall
30-Aug            Houston, TX                  Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
31-Aug            Grand Prairie, TX           Verizon Theatre
3-Sep              Kansas City, MO          The Midland Theatre
4-Sep              Tulsa, OK                     Brady Theater
6-Sep              Memphis, TN                Mud Island Amphitheatre
7-Sep              Atlanta, GA                  Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
8-Sep              St. Augustine, FL         St. Augustine Amphitheatre
11-Sep            Orlando, FL                  Hard Rock Live
12-Sep            Boca Raton, FL            Mizner Park Amphitheatre
14-Sep            Clearwater, FL              Ruth Eckerd Hall
15-Sep            Charleston, SC             North Charleston Performing Arts Center
17-Sep            Charlotte, NC               Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre
18-Sep            Raleigh, NC                 Red Hat Amphitheatre
20-Sep            Bristow, VA                 Jiffy Lube Live
21-Sep            Philadelphia, PA           Mann Center for the Performing Arts
24-Sep            Boston, MA                 Wang Theatre
25-Sep            Boston, MA                 Wang Theatre
27-Sep            Bethlehem, PA            Sands Event Center
28-Sep            Mashantucket, CT       Foxwoods Resort Casino

Link to Steely Dan.

More Love for Levon - It's been a year..........

I have got to see this movie when it comes out. The movie will premier on the anniversary of Levon's passing - April 18, 2012 at Cinema Village in NYC. Be prepared when you see "I ain't in it for my health," because you will laugh and you will cry.

Levon's list of achievements and life story is vast. Besides being a musician, Levon filmography included at least 16 movies. The void left and the vortex of his passing shook the music community to the core and only time will heal the remnants of our broken hearts.

Please run the rabbit holes and check out Levon. What? Not your cup of tea? So what? One day your butt will be planted in soil so STFU and learn something! Now check this stuff out but don't forget to play your favorite instrument with your friends and play every note like it's your last because someday it will be your last!

Levon Helm's site link

Link to Levon Helm and the dirt farmers CD

Electric Dirt Farmer CD!

And finally, a very nice interview from PBS:

Sad News! Chi Cheng (Deftones bassist) has passed away!

Ethan Miller/Getty images

Chi Cheng passed away on April 13, 2013, at the age of 42. The bassist for the Deftones was involved in a serious car accident in San Jose, California in 2008. The accident left him in a coma. Chi was taken to the hospital because his heart suddenly stopped.

Many rallied to raise money to help support through the Love for Chi organization. We all hoped that one day Chi would wake up and once again play but sadly this news highlights the reality we all face. A larger than life character with extreme exuberance. Chi can be heard on early Deftones recordings which sometimes was classified as NU Metal.

RIP Chi!

Fano Guitars

I've had the opportunity to wrap my hands around a few Fano guitars recently. Nice units that remind of some of Fender's pawn shop guitars but only if the pawn shop guitars were built in the custom shop with the best parts! The design is great, some are knock off of guitars we already know but with a Fano spin on the manufacturing process while other designs seems like they weren't designed but rather they are inevitable. To me that speaks volumes on the ergonomics, appearance and tone of the instrument. Still, the worst part is deciding which one is for you! I especially like the distressed appearance because too many wannabe guitarists spend countless hours drooling over the finish of an instrument that might just well play like crap. Those with poncy propensities will certainly be dismayed by the Fano. Good, no time for limey posers.

Check these out. Shut up and play your guitar..............

Current dealer link.

Crossroads Guitar Festival Kicks Off Tonight!

Eric Clapton's fourth Crossroads festival kicks off tonight in New York City's Madison Square gardens. The much anticipated event proceeds will benefit the Crossroads Centre of Antigua, a treatment center and education center founded by Eric Clapton for chemically dependant people.

This event is one of my favorite's. Just wondering if Bill Murry will show up!?

The two night event will feature Eric's most admired and respected peers.
Albert Lee
Allan Holdsworth
Allman Brothers Band
Andy Fairweather Low
B.B. King
Blake Mills
Booker T
Buddy Guy
Citizen Cope
Dave Biller
Doyle Bramhall II
Earl Klugh
Eric Clapton
Gary Clark Jr.
Jeff Beck
Jimmie Vaughan
John Mayer
John Scofield
Jonny Lang
Keb Mo
Keith Urban
Kurt Rosenwinkle
Los Lobos
Matt "Guitar" Murphy
Robbie Robertson
Robert Cray
Robert Randolph
Sonny Landreth
Steve Cropper
Taj Mahal
Vince Gill

Update! Add Keith Richards to the mix. Keef came on during Eric's set to accompany on Crossroads, Little Queen of Spades. Saturday was a total success. Eric doesn't fail to give the crowd more than their monies worth. The last hour of the show featured Eric and his band in an hour long set that featured Richards, Robertson, and Andy Fairweather Low jamming Crossroads, Got to get better in a little while, In the sunshine of your love. The finale saw the stage fill with the who's who of the guitar world taking turns trading riffs while giving the audience a kick pants!

I could prattle on but you know there will be a DVD available soon. Buy Claptons new album "Old Sock," and then when the DVD comes out, buy that too! Then invite your friends over with their instruments, party and jam then sit back and watch the show as ya'll enjoy some BBQ!