News From Vintage Guitar

Pixies Commemorative "Doolittle" CD/Tour

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Extending the 20th anniversary celebration of the release of its classic 1989 album Doolittle, the Pixies are about to kick off the second leg of its U.S. "Doolittle Tour," performing the groundbreaking album in its entirety. At all of these shows, fans will have the opportunity to commemorate the evening by taking that night's performance home with them. Beginning at next week's September 7 kick-off at Tower Theatre in Philadelphia, fans can purchase a CD of that night's show about 10-minutes after the Pixies finish their encore. The CD can be purchased at the venue, or can be pre-ordered at www.doolittlelive.com; fans can choose to either pick the CD up at their local Pixies show, or have it sent to them. And for those who can't make it to any of the 16 shows on this leg, the CDs for all of the shows will be available through www.doolittlelive.com Abbey Road Live Events will be recording every Pixies show from the September 7 show all the way through the end of the tour in San Diego, CA on September 26. The shows will be offered as limited edition, high quality CD sets - each CD set having two discs in it, and each CD set being individually numbered. The two-CD sets will be mixed and mastered every night - resulting in full, multi-track mixes, not board mixes. The CDs are strictly limited edition - only 1,000 will be made per night for each show. "It's a great pleasure to be working with the Pixies once again," says Zach Bair, head of Abbey Road Live Events in the Americas. "We're excited to be able to offer these limited edition products so that the Pixies' fans can take something home that's really memorable and special."

Dropkick Murphys Announce December Tour Dates

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Dropkick Murphys have announced December tour dates in Australia and New Zealand as part of the No Sleep Til...Festival 2010. Touring in support of their Live On Lansdowne, Boston MA CD/DVD (Born & Bred Records/ILG), which captures the intensity and camaraderie of 2009's sold-out St. Patrick's Day week hometown shows in Boston, Dropkick Murphys will join Megadeth, NOFX, Parkway Drive, Gwar, Frenzal Rhomb and more at each festival date. For more, go to dropkickmurphys.com.

Bruce Springsteen's The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge of Town Story To Be Released Nov 16

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Columbia Records will release Bruce Springsteen's The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story on Nov 16. The Deluxe Package comprises over six hours of film and more than two hours of audio across 3 CDs and 3 DVDs. The media contents are packaged within an 80-page notebook containing facsimiles from Springsteen's original notebooks from the recording sessions, which include alternate lyrics, song ideas, recording details, and personal notes in addition to a new essay by Springsteen and never-before-seen photographs. Containing a wealth of previously unreleased material, The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story offers an unprecedented look into Springsteen's creative process during a defining moment in his career. 'The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story' will additionally be released as a 3CD/3 Blu Ray disc set. The set will be available as 'The Promise,' an edition which consists of only the unheard complete songs on two CDs or four LPs, along with lyrics and the new essay by Springsteen. "'Darkness' was my 'samurai' record," Springsteen says, "stripped to the frame and ready to rumble...But the music that got left behind was substantial." For the first time, fans will have access to two discs containing a total of 21 previously-unreleased songs from the 'Darkness' recording sessions, songs that, as Springsteen writes, "perhaps could have/should have been released after 'Born To Run' and before the collection of songs that 'Darkness on the Edge of Town' became." Highlights include the extraordinary rock version of "Racing in the Street," the never-before-released original recordings of "Because the Night," "Fire," and "Rendezvous," the supreme pop opus "Someday (We'll Be Together)," the hilarious "Ain't Good Enough for You," the superb soul-based vocal performance on "The Brokenhearted," the utterly haunting "Breakaway," and the fully orchestrated masterpiece and title song "The Promise." All 21 songs have been mixed by Springsteen's long-time collaborator Bob Clearmountain. According to long-time manager/producer Jon Landau, "There isn't a weak card in this deck. 'The Promise' is simply a great listening experience." The Deluxe Package also features The Promise: The Making of 'Darkness on the Edge of Town', a documentary directed by Grammy- and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny. The ninety-minute film combines never-before-seen footage of Springsteen and the E Street Band shot between 1976 and 1978--including home rehearsals and studio sessions--with new interviews with Springsteen, E Street Band members, manager Jon Landau, former-manager Mike Appel, and others closely involved in the making of the record. Advanced word on the documentary is so strong that it was invited to debut at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival on September 14 and will make its television debut on HBO on October 7. Learn more at brucespringsteen.net

Dillon Campbell's New E.P. Save Yourself Set For Release

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Dillon Campbell, son of the legendary musician Glen Campbell announced that he will be releasing a 4-song E.P. entitled Save Yourself Silver Zipper Records. Save Yourself, actually a sampler of tracks from Campbell's forthcoming release, will be available digitally at all major online retailers and physically at live dates only. While there is no firm release date for Campbell's sophomore full length, Journals for the Brokenhearted, his E.P. features a spectrum of tracks that are diverse as they are different. From ragtime to indie rock, Campbell isn't a musician to play it safe or even straight-ahead. While lyrically dark, Save Yourself is sonically somewhere between the rough and ready Dinosaur Jr. and the shiny glimmer of Paul Williams. Campbell plans to perform live dates in Southern California.

Vox Launches Hand-Wired Series

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Vox Amplification has announced an entirely new lineup of hand-wired AC15 and AC30 amplifiers. Created for the amp enthusiast, the Hand-Wired Series includes innovations to satisfy the versatility a modern player needs. Included are four combo models, plus a head and matching extension cabinet. The ultimate take on the Vox classics, these amplifiers make use of high quality components, an all-tube design, hand-wired turret board construction, and over 50 years of Vox AC15 and AC30 refinements. Finished in fawn-colored vinyl reminiscent of the 1960s AC amplifiers, the birch-ply cabinets feature solid, tight bracing and a natural high frequency diffuser. Matched Ruby Tubes are used throughout for an extended dynamic range. All models provide three 12AX7/ECC83 preamp tubes. The AC30 models are equipped with an EL84 quartet in the power stage and a GZ34 rectifier. Inside the AC15 models, a duet of EL84 tubes drive the power stage, while an EZ81 is used for the rectifier. The 12" speaker choices include the Celestion GM12 Greenback or Celestion AlNiCo Blue. The models in the Vox Hand-Wired Series utilize the traditional Vox two-channel design, offering a Normal and a Top-Boost channel, with High and Low inputs provided for each. A number of important features have been added to allow modern versatility. The Normal channel is equipped with a Bright switch for added brilliance. The Hot/Cool switch (also accessible via the included VFS1 footswitch) allows the Top-Boost channel to achieve even more gain. In true "old-school" fashion, the MV/BYPASS completely bypasses the Master Volume section. Finally, the Output Power (OP) switch will cut the amp's output power in half, making it easier to balance the need for gain against a range of listening levels. A custom-fit dust cover is included with every model. Learn more at voxamps.com.

Experience Hendrix Tour Returns This Fall

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Experience Hendrix, the concert tour that has wowed audiences revisiting the music and inspiration of Jimi Hendrix featuring an all-star line up of music greats will be re-launched within a single calendar year. The Experience Hendrix tour crisscrossed the country this past March for a string of sold-out concerts and will return with a new set of U.S. and -- for the first time -- Canadian dates this October and November. Featured artists performing music associated with the legacy of Jimi Hendrix include some of the best known and highly regarded names in contemporary rock and blues including Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Susan Tedeschi, Robert Randolph, Jonny Lang, Steve Vai, Los Lobos' David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas, Eric Johnson, Ernie Isley, Living Colour, Chris Layton of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble and The Slide Brothers a/k/a Chuck and Darick Campbell of Sacred Steel. Fender Musical Instruments Corp. is the tour's lead sponsor as was the case with last spring's Experience Hendrix tour. Participating sponsors also include Dunlop Effects Pedals, Marshall Amplifiers and Mapex Drums. In terms of format, the tour offers multiple opportunities for performers and audiences to witness unique collaborations such as Steve Vai performing with Living Colour, as well as the tour's artists performing their favorite Hendrix signature songs including "Little Wing," "Fire," "Purple Haze," "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)," "Crosstown Traffic" and many others. As has been the case with previous Experience Hendrix outings, special guests are expected to sit in at many of the dates, making the concerts all that much more memorable for both new and veteran Hendrix fans. Past special guests have included Paul Rodgers, Joe Satriani, Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Robby Krieger and others. The tour's presence has been made known on national TV with Robert Randolph performing classic Hendrix on the Late Night With Conan O'brien Show and Jonny Lang doing the same on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Anchoring the tour is Billy Cox, the legendary bassist whose relationship with Jim Hendrix and his music dates back to the early 1960s when the two met while serving in the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division. The two bonded over their love of music and would later work together backing R&B acts on the "chitlin' circuit." They reunited when Cox was recruited to be part of the Jimi Hendrix Band of Gypsys as well as the ultimate iteration of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, performing at such landmark festivals as Woodstock and the Isle of Wight. Cox, who has been part of all previous Experience Hendrix tours, notes, "It's always a great thrill and honor for me to play Jimi's music for audiences now just as it was in the 1960s. The Experience Hendrix tours have shown how timeless this music really is and is just wonderful that we've continued to get an infusion of new, very enthusiastic artists to participate and are able to offer the most wide-ranging Jimi Hendrix-related repertoire possible." Larry Rodgers of the Arizona Republic echoed Cox's thoughts in his rave review of one of this year's earlier Experience Hendrix shows, "It was encouraging to see fans of all ages, from teens to baby boomers who witnessed Hendrix's career launch firsthand, in the Mesa crowd. The show and that crowd made it clear that Hendrix's magical music will never die." Kenny Wayne Shepherd, a veteran of several Experience Hendrix tours remarked, "Jimi Hendrix's music has really inspired me to push the limits of my own music. He didn't observe any boundaries musically. He was an amazing player and a tremendous showman so I incorporated some of his showmanship in what I do." As far as having been part of the Experience Hendrix touring phenomenon, Shepherd noted, "It touches you on the inside and gets you fired up." The Experience Hendrix Tour is presented by Experience Hendrix, LLC, the Hendrix family-owned company founded by James A. "Al" Hendrix, Jimi's father, entrusted with preserving and protecting the legacy of Jimi Hendrix. Earlier this year, Sony Music Entertainment's Legacy Division and Experience Hendrix entered into a worldwide catalog licensing venture to make all of Jimi's extraordinary music, including classic albums, never before heard archive recordings, and filmed concerts available through all forms of media. The initial release from the alliance was Valleys of Neptune bringing Jimi Hendrix back to the upper reaches of album charts throughout the world. This fall's Experience Hendrix tour dates will be followed by a second wave of Hendrix releases through Legacy including the 4 CD + 1 DVD anthology set West Coast Seattle Boy plus other key catalog titles. Launching in Pittsburgh on October 26, the tour will play nineteen markets over the course of three weeks including Montreal, Toronto, New York, Boston, Atlantic City, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and other eastern and mid-western locales.

Soulfly Slates Winter Tour

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

SOULFLY, lead by metal titan Max Cavalera, has announced a string of winter tour dates that will bring the band to eleven cities beginning in November. This is Soulfly's first tour since the release of the seventh album, Omen, which features appearances by famed guests like Dillinger Escape Plan's Greg Puciato and Prong's Tommy Victor. Alternative Press said "longtime fans of Cavalera's brand of primitive crunch will love Omen..." while Revolver said Omen is "harder, angrier and catchier than its predecessors."

Slash Rocks with "Slash FM"

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Multi-platinum-selling guitar hero Slash is synonymous with rock n' roll, and now the monster musician is affixing his signature top hat, shades to the digital airwaves with the launch of his own A.P.E. Radio station, "Slash FM." The channel announcement comes on West Hollywood's official "Slash Day"-Thursday, August 26th-which will honor the legendary guitarist and L.A. icon at the third annual Sunset Strip Music Festival. Throughout its limited-time run, beginning with its debut on Thursday, September 2nd, "Slash FM" will broadcast a wealth of exciting content, including selected playlists of some of the guitar god's favorite songs, such as tracks by AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, The Beatles, Soundgarden and Metallica. Of course, songs from Guns N' Roses and Slash's solo work will also be aired, and punctuated with behind-the-scenes stories told by Slash himself. The August 26th tribute event at the House of Blues Sunset Strip will include speeches from Slash's close friends, a presentation from the City of West Hollywood, and live music performances celebrating Slash and his contributions to the legacy of the city's rich music scene. Immediately following the Sunset Strip Music Festival, Slash will embark on a North American tour. Slash's A.P.E. station will be distributed across Clear Channel Radio's "iheartradio" network, which includes hundreds of local radio websites; the popular iheartradio mobile app, which has been downloaded by nearly 9 million people; widgets; and slashonline.com.

Queensryche Signs to Roadrunner

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Queensryche has signed a multi-album worldwide deal with Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Records. The band's label debut -their twelfth studio album overall- is tentatively scheduled for a Spring 2011 release. Singer and founder Geoff Tate remains the creative nucleus of the band, which continues to make relevant, against-the-grain hard rock that entices fans, both new and diehard. Queensryche have been - and unquestionably remain- one of the most respected and innovative names in forward-thinking hard rock throughout the course of their nearly 30-year history. Since their inception over 25 years ago, Queensryche have sold over 20 million albums worldwide and have performed in over 22 countries. "We are very happy to be signing with Road Runner/Loud and Proud. This is the rock label and a place where they are as excited about our music as we and our fans are," Tate said. "We are excited to welcome Queensryche to the label" stated Loud & Proud President Tom Lipsky. "They have earned global acclaim for their distinctive approach to music and we are confident of a successful partnership with them." Queenryche's 1988-issued album Operation: Mindcrime is universally respected as a classic concept release about rock, revenge and redemption. The album elicited comparisons to The Who's Tommy and Pink Floyd's The Wall and is ultimately regarded as one of the most important and essential hard rock records in the genre's expansive canon. 1990's follow-up, Empire, yielded a #1 single, the Grammy-nominated ballad "Silent Lucidity," which the band performed at the 1992 Grammy Awards accompanied by a supporting orchestra. In 2006, the band released Operation: Mindcrime II, a scorching sequel to their original. The band then hit the road performing both albums Operation: Mindcrime and Operation: Mindcrime II back-to-back in their entirety in an incredible theatrical presentation throughout the year. The final performance was recorded at The Moore Theatre in Seattle that October and the Mindcrime at the Mooredouble CD/DVD release debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Music DVD Chart and eventually reached Gold status. Visit http://www.queensryche.com/ for more information.

Alfred Music Publishing Expands Basic Guitar Series

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Alfred Music Publishing is expanding its guitar method series, Alfred's Basic Guitar, with a brand-new book for students and musicians to write their own music: Alfred's Basic Guitar Music Writing Book. Alfred's Basic Guitar Music Writing Book is the perfect tool to enhance a lesson or for writing your own music. Featuring 46 pages of full 9" X 12" manuscript, this book is specially designed for guitar players, including blank guitar chords, fingerboard diagrams, and a 12-fret fingerboard chart. Recognized for over 50 years as the best-paced and most comprehensive guitar method available, Alfred's Basic Guitar Method has introduced over 5 million beginners to the joy of playing guitar. Through this series, students at any level of musicianship will learn to play the guitar and read music in the musical styles of blues, country, folk, jazz, pop, rock, and more. With Alfred's Basic Guitar Music Writing Book, they can now write their own guitar music in full musical notation, using the skills they learn from the books. Learn more at alfred.com.

Lick Library Launches Learn to Play Rory Gallagher DVD

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Lick Library's selection of guitar tuition DVDs wouldn't be complete without including the legendary Rory Gallagher. Described by Jimi Hendrix as the best guitarist in the world, Rory Gallagher is cited by many modern guitarists including Slash, The Edge and Joe Bonamassa as an inspiration in their formative years. Rory was an Irish Blues / Rock guitarist, famed for his talent, dedication to his craft and his legendary marathon performances. Learn to Play Rory Gallagher - is over two hours of outstanding guitar tuition by acclaimed guitar teacher Mike Casswell. This double DVD set breaks down five classic Rory Gallagher tracks into easy to learn sections which let you learn every riff and solo note for note. Tracks included on these guitar tuition DVDs are Do You Read Me, Secret Agent, Moonchild, Tattoo Lady and Shadow Play. Mike shares cool little tricks with you as he advises you on how to get the best touch and tone to achieve an out of phase sound similar to Rory Gallagher. Techniques covered include power chords, bending, harmonics, distortion, and how to get the same sound with different hand positions - choose the one most comfortable for you. Guitar tutor, Mike Casswell, is a world renowned player with an extensive musical history having toured with many of the greatest, played on TV ads, jingles and film soundtracks and worked on theatre productions including We Will Rock You. He is a versatile player with a wide range of influences including Rory Gallagher himself and clear easy manner as he teaches you these fabulous tracks. Log on and learn at www.licklibrary.com.

The Loar Intros Two New Archtops

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Loar is set to release of two new archtop guitars with hand-carved tops. Based on the LH-600 and LH-650 guitars and modeled after historic 1920s designs, the LH-300 and 350 are built with solid spruce tops, maple back and sides, mahogany neck with bound rosewood fretboard and an ebony bridge. With a 1-3/4" nut width and a 24-3/4" scale length, these guitars stay true to their classic design origins. The LH-350 has a Florentine cutaway and a floating humbucker for amplified playing. Both guitars will be offered in a vintage sunburst finish. For more, visit theloar.com.

VG Readies 2011 Price Guide, Calls for Photos

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Vintage Guitar, Inc., publishers of Vintage Guitar mag, is in the final stages of production for The Official Vintage Guitar Price Guide 2011, and is seeking photos to supplement the book. If you have photos of your guitars, amps, basses, effects, mandos, ukes, pedal steel, or lapsteel guitar, and you're willing to send us a photo, please send it to doug@vintageguitar.com. Anyone who sends a usable shot (minimum 1-meg file/1280x960) will be eligible to receive one of five 2011 Guides the magazine is setting aside for this effort, even if your photo doesn't appear. There's no money or photo credit involved (sorry!), but there IS a chance for your piece to be immortalized in print!

Dobro Master Jerry Douglas Presents "Southern Filibuster: A Tribute to Tut Taylor"

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Simply put, there isn't a Dobro player alive who doesn't owe Tut Taylor. Taylor is a towering figure in the world of acoustic music, championed for his flat-picking mastery by generations of fellow musicians and connoisseurs of rural American music. Prolific and versatile, Taylor's licks have graced recordings by hundreds of country and bluegrass artists including Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Norman Blake, Clarence White, Porter Wagoner, Vassar Clements and Leon Russell, and his solo albums have been studied by countless admirers, some of whom playfully refer to him as King Tut. One of those lifelong devotees is Jerry Douglas, perhaps the most celebrated Dobro player in the world for more than 30 years. "Tut's tenacious playing style, his phrasing and his way of making simple things interesting," as Douglas puts it, have had a seismic impact on Douglas over the years, and their 1994 co-production The Great Dobro Sessions won a GRAMMY Award for "Bluegrass Album of the Year." But now, with the release of Southern Filibuster: A Tribute to Tut Taylor (E1 Music: July 13, 2010), Douglas takes his esteem for the Dobro doyen to another level entirely. For this labor of love, Douglas assembled 14 of the world's greatest Dobro players to interpret compositions penned by Taylor. He also enlisted Nashville's finest backing musicians for the recording including Ronnie McCoury (mandolin), Jason Carter (fiddle), Tim O'Brien (mandolin), Russ Barenberg (guitar), Barry Bales (bass), Fred Carpenter (fiddle), Stuart Duncan (fiddle), Chris Jones (guitar), Mike Compton (mandolin), Dennis Crouch (bass), Bryan Sutton (guitar), and Mike Bub (bass). All of the proceeds from Southern Filibuster go directly to Taylor. And even best of all, they didn't tell Taylor about the project until it was a wrap, giving him one of the nicest surprises of his 86 years. "Jerry knocked me for a loop," says Taylor, "and I'm still knocked for a loop. I couldn't believe it. I haven't been in the limelight over the course of my life. I never really did this as a professional; I do it for fun. When I would hear a Dobro player play my tunes on the radio, I would be floored. So when Jerry told me, 'We've gotten 14 Dobro players together to make a CD of 14 of your tunes,' I couldn't believe it. I never thought anyone would do something like that for me. I felt very humble and very thankful." Taylor's own regard for Douglas is no less strong than the younger man's is for him. "Jerry is heavily into the music," he says. "All Dobro players love the instrument, but he was the one to grab it and take it someplace else, way someplace else." For Douglas, Southern Filibuster serves as both a years-later sequel to The Great Dobro Sessions and a necessary marker of the state of the instrument today. "Since The Great Dobro Sessions, we've lost three of our original 10 in that flock," he says. "I thought, why shouldn't we celebrate this instrument, the Dobro, that we love so much? With this in mind, I went through a mental list of who was viable, available and having an impression on the lay of the land these days as far as Dobro prowess goes. Rob Ickes, Mike Auldridge and Randy Kohrs immediately came to mind. From there it was easy to assemble the list of a veritable who's-who of the Dobro world: Curtis Burch, Phil Leadbetter, Andy Hall, Cindy Cashdollar, Ferrell Stowe, Ivan Rosenberg, Orville Johnson, Michael Witcher, Megan Lovell and Billy Cardine all came aboard. I knew they had all been impacted by Tut's trail of tunes." The fourteenth spot went, of course, to Douglas himself. "Tut was one of my early influences when I was learning Dobro," says Cindy Cashdollar, whose playing has graced recordings by Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and others. "He had a different sound. I admired his quirkiness." "Tut is the pantheon of Dobro players," adds Orville Johnson. "His technique is a lost thing, and we all appreciate his writing. His seminal record Friar Tut that came out on Rounder in 1972 is such a touchstone of Dobro playing. There are certain legendary albums you come across when learning this instrument, and Friar Tut is certainly one of them." Indeed, Taylor and Douglas have lived very different lives, and their careers have taken very different paths. Born in November 1923 in a small town in Georgia, Taylor took up the banjo and mandolin before he discovered the Dobro at 14 and taught himself to play the instrument, a form of resonator guitar invented by John Dopyera in the 1920s. Developing his own distinctive flat-picking style, Taylor quickly gained favor in the country and bluegrass world, and by the 1970s he'd become a fixture in Nashville, the most in-demand Dobro player on the scene. Despite all of his credits, though, Taylor never became a star. He was revered by fellow pickers and aficionados of acoustic music - not only for his musicianship but also his songwriting and production - but his name was virtually unknown to the general public. More people may even know Taylor as the proprietor of two of Nashville's favorite instrument shops than for his musical prowess: In 1970, Taylor opened GTR and then, after selling his share, went on to open the Old Time Pickin' Parlor. The shop doubled as a performance space and instrument workshop, turning out handmade pieces for the likes of Elvis Presley, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and others. Douglas, on the other hand, became something of a household name. Born in Ohio in 1956, he began playing at age eight and had turned professional by his teens. A busy session musician, he worked with a wide array of traditional and progressive acoustic musicians, among them Ricky Skaggs, David Grisman, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Béla Fleck and Ray Charles - at last count he had reportedly played on more than 1600 albums. Since 1998, Douglas has also been a member of the highly acclaimed Alison Krauss and Union Station. His massive list of awards includes a dozen Grammys, three "Country Music Association Musician of the Year" awards, an NEA National Heritage Fellowship, and he was named the "2008 Artist-In-Residence" by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Douglas' prominence in the music industry places him in a perfect position to curate and direct Southern Filibuster, which includes new workings of classic Taylor tunes. Among the tracks featured on the tribute set is Johnson's rendition of Taylor's "Ghost Picker." Says Johnson, "Tut can write simple things that are really catchy, which is a gift for a songwriter. I see his writing in three areas: things that are bluegrassy, tunes that are very infused with blues, and moody tunes, sometimes in a minor key. 'Ghost Picker' is a mood piece." Cashdollar took on Taylor's "Little Green Pill," which, she says, "I have been performing for a long time but had never recorded." And for his contribution, Billy Cardine, the youngest Dobro player on the album, chose "Swampwater," a Taylor composition that Taylor himself had never recorded. "Tut showed me this song when I was over at his house one time," says Cardine. "I wanted to pick a song that we could document. His whole catalog is somewhere around 70 songs." "Tut was wondering who was paying attention to him," adds Cardine. "His whole vocabulary is from a different era and it almost seems impossible for anyone today to sound like this guy. There is something about his playing that's deceptive. But as I got older and started thinking about life, I could hear Tut's presence in everything. He is always in the moment when he touches the strings. It gives you a feeling that you can't get any other way. The way he speaks music, there is a power to it, as great as any legendary musician." "Tut was very humbled when we told him about the project," Douglas says. "He didn't think anyone was really that interested in his Dobro career. This affirms we are. And it astounds me that the songs these Dobro players picked maintain Tut's original essence, although they each added their own individual twists to create brand new songs. To me, this gives the songs new life that will be even further interpreted by the players of the future." For all of the praise Douglas tosses at Taylor, however, the veteran is quick to return the compliment. "The contribution of Jerry Douglas to the movement of the Dobro is humungous," Taylor says. "There were many Dobro players. Then here comes Jerry, laying down some bluegrass stuff, just playing well. Then, he began to branch out, singlehandedly bringing the instrument to where it is today. I'm mighty proud to have him as my friend."

Anthrax To Join Slayer and Megadeth on Jagermeister Music Tour

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Following seven shows as part of "The Big Four" European festival dates with Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth, Anthrax will join Slayer and Megadeth on the Jagermeister Fall Music Tour set to kick off September 24 at Superpages in Dallas, TX. The 20-date concert trek will mark the first U.S. tour Anthrax has done since vocalist Joey Belladonna rejoined the band earlier this year, and the first time the three bands have shared an American stage since the classic 1991 "Clash of the Titans" tour. Tickets are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com (http://knoxvilletickets.com/ for the Knoxville date). For this tour, Anthrax has teamed up with Artist Arena to offer fans the ultimate Anthrax VIP Package, which consists of a Meet & Greet pass to meet Anthrax, an autographed commemorative poster, a commemorative tour laminate, and an exclusive VIP-only Anthrax T-shirt. For more details, and to get your Anthrax VIP Package, log onto http://bit.ly/anthraxvip - Usermane: anthrax - Password: tickets Media showered praise on the Belladonna-fronted Anthrax for the European "Big Four" festivals: "It's been almost two decades since [Belladonna] initially parted with Anthrax, but he proved to be in raw, primal and fine form," one European journalist wrote, while another noted, "Anthrax made their presence known with a raucous roar...you would never have known that they weren't the headliners." "It's great to see so many people getting excited about us being together again," said Belladonna. "Even with just one day of rehearsal before the show in Poland, we played really well and really jelled together on stage. We had a great time in Europe, and are looking forward to seeing our U.S. fans this fall." "Everything has been going so great, just like we hoped it would," said guitarist Scott Ian. "We wanted Joey to say yes to coming back to the band, we hoped all would go well, and everything couldn't be going any better." For the Jagermeister Fall Music Tour, fans can expect an Anthrax set packed with some of their all-time favorite songs - "Caught In The Mosh," "AntiSocial, "Madhouse," and "Indians," are just a few that the band knows HAVE to be played. "There are a lot of songs to fit into 50 minutes," laughed drummer Charlie Benante, "so we'll probably change up the set list a little from night to night, and we might debut a new song from our upcoming album as well." Since returning from the European tour, the members of Anthrax have begun writing and rehearsing for their new album which is expected out in early 2011. "We've got an unusual luxury of hindsight," Ian explained. "We finished an album more than a year ago, we've lived with those 12 songs since then, and we can look back on them and see what we really love and what we can make even better, especially with Joey back in the fold. On these U.S. dates, we'll have a portable rig with us so we can work on the songs during any down time, and get everything to the point where we'll be ready to get into the studio as soon as possible." Added Benante, "There are five or six songs from a year ago that we don't want to change, we love them the way they are, other than having Joey making them his own with his vocals. Then there's another five or six that we may want to rework, and then there are a bunch of other tunes that are still in the early stages, that we want to finish." With worldwide sales in excess of 10-million, Anthrax is about to celebrate its 29th year as a band. Over its career, Anthrax has received multiple Gold and Platinum albums, multiple Grammy nominations, and a host of other accolades from the press, industry and fans. Belladonna, an essential part of Anthrax's lineup from 1985 to 1992, sang on some of the band's most popular albums including Spreading the Disease, Among the Living and Persistence of Time. He had reunited with original members of Anthrax for the 2005 - 2007 "Among the Living Tour," but is now permanently back in the fold. "We're super excited that Slayer and Megadeth asked us to be part of this tour," said Ian, "especially coming off of the European shows. To tour with both of them again in the U.S. is an unbelievable high, and we can't wait. This is why we love being in a band: it's not work, it's 'let's go out and have some fun with our friends.'"

Robert Randolph: On TV, On Tour

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Robert Randolph & The Family Band will bring their sound to "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" the night of September 7. Currently on a headlining tour in support of their new album We Walk This Road, which is produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett, Robert & the Family Band will join Zac Brown Band in mid September, return to headlining in October, and then join the Experience Hendrix Tour in November where he will officially debut The Slide Brothers, an all-star guitar ensemble of Randolph and fellow Sacred Steel guitar legends. Throughout the recording of We Walk This Road, Randolph and Burnett worked closely together as archivists, discovering songs-decade by decade-from the 20th century American music canon. The songs they uncovered, ranging from blues and rock to field recordings and gospel, serve as the inspiration for the 11 songs on We Walk This Road. Recorded at the Village Recorders and Electro Magnetic Studio, the album includes "If I Had My Way" (featuring Ben Harper), "Salvation" (featuring Leon Russell), and reinterpretations of Prince's "Walk Don't Walk," Bob Dylan's "Shot Of Love," (featuring Jim Keltner, who played drums on the original version) and John Lennon's "I Don't Wanna Be A Soldier Mama" (featuring Doyle Bramhall II).

Allman Brothers Band Announce Additional Fall Tour Dates

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The Allman Brothers Band has confirmed additional cities for their fall tour. The dates include eight shows beginning November 11 and their first performance at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. The Philadelphia concert will mark the band's first shows since Gregg Allman's successful liver transplant in June. The iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band - Allman (vocals and keyboards), Butch Trucks (drums and tympani), Jaimoe (drums), Warren Haynes (vocals, lead and slide guitar), Derek Trucks (slide and lead guitar), Oteil Burbridge (bass) and Marc Quinones (congas and percussion) - will perform lengthy "evening with" sets each night. The group had been forced to cancel a June 26 appearance at Eric Clapton's "Crossroads" festival, as a liver became available for Allman, who is continuing to recover. Tickets for the additional four shows go on sale in September. For all the latest, visit allmanbrothersband.com.

Axes & Axles Exhibit Opening in September

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Axes & Axles: The Art of Building Cars and Guitars, Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Fender Telecaster, an exhibition to acknowledge the synergy between guitars (axes) and cars (axles), will be on view at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum from September 4 through June 30, 2011. This exhibit will feature a vast collection of rare photographs, rock memorabilia and personal cars and guitars from rock icons such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Michael Anthony, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Billy F Gibbons and many more. As part of the 60th Anniversary of the Fender Telecaster guitar, the exhibit will also illustrate the history of Fender and celebrate one of the most famous guitars ever built, the Telecaster. "Guitars and cars have a great deal in common: both are means of expression, both generated fanatical fans and both offer a stairway to freedom," said Museum Director Tony Thacker. "This new exhibit will showcase the amazing connection of guitars and hot rod building. It's going to make visitors want to rock!" Musicians exhibiting cars and guitars include: • Michael Anthony • Jeff Beck • Eric Clapton • Billy F Gibbons • Kenny Wayne Shepherd • Brian Setzer • Jimmie Vaughan A variety of educational programs will be presented in conjunction with the exhibition including guitar demonstrations and a panel discussion with hot rod builders and musicians. For more, visit museum.nhra.com.

Players Join for Acoustic Tour

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Three of the most popular, talented, innovative and musically rich guitar players and composers in contemporary music will bring their acoustic guitars together to perform and interact on stages across America this October and in January, 2011, when Eric Johnson, Andy McKee, and Peppino D'Agostino meet on the Guitar Masters tour. The 21-date/two-leg run of theaters, colleges, and clubs will feature sets by each capped with a finale where all three collaborate to offer an engaging and enlightening aural feast of acoustic six-string mastery and melodic brilliance. The trek is sure to be an unforgettable musical experience for concertgoers that unites guitar virtuosos not just known for their awesome skills and technique but a mutual gift for song composition and melody and drawing out the full musicality of the solo acoustic guitar to near-orchestral dimensions. Creative sparks, one-time only stunning improvisations and mutual inspiration are sure to abound as they come together at the end of every show to offer a value-added concert bill that appeals to fans of many musical styles as well as guitar aficionados. For dates and more, go to razorandtie.com.

Tony Joe White Slates U.S. Tour

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Songwriter Tony Joe White will hit the road this fall in support of his raw and unvarnished new album, 'The Shine' (Sept 28/Swamp Records). The tour will showcase the new album's stripped-down sound, which beautifully lays bare White's rich, nuanced baritone, and distinctive brand of swampy southern soul. Dates kick off September 24, with a performance at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville, TN. Over the past five decades, Tony Joe White a.k.a. the Swamp Fox, has scored several major hits, and seen some immortal artists turn his compositions into signature songs--from Elvis Presley's version of "Polk Salad Annie" to Ray Charles' take on "Rainy Night In Georgia." Tony Joe has also written for Tina Turner, Joe Cocker, Kenny Chesney, Hank Williams Jr. and Dusty Springfield to name but a few. Learn more at tonyjoewhite.com.

Taylor Guitars Announces Road Show Dates

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Taylor Guitars has announced that the company will once again bring its fan-favorite Road Show to guitar lovers across the country this fall at over 100 in-store locations in North America. Now in its fourth year, the award-winning Road Show brings enthusiasts, Taylor clinicians and experts straight from the company's factory in El Cajon, California together for a lively in-store gathering. At each event, Taylor's Road Show team shares insights on the company's guitar-making process and demonstrates how body shapes and woods affect tone. After the demonstration, players are invited to take part in the "Petting Zoo": an opportunity to pick up and play a variety of different models, as well as rare and custom Build to Order models. Admission to each Road Show is free. The 2010 Fall Road Show schedule will kick off in early September with multiple dates along the West Coast with shows in Oregon and Washington, through the Midwest in Missouri and Nebraska, to be followed by dates in Canada and along the East Coast. Each Road Show attendee will receive a complimentary digital subscription to Premier Guitar magazine and, while supplies last, TaylorWare gear and Elixir strings. Attendees will have the chance to enter to win the grand prize, an opportunity to build their own custom guitar through Taylor's Build to Order program. In 2009, Taylor brought the Road Show to over 170 locations in the United States and Canada, and held over 30 events throughout Europe and Japan. The Taylor Guitars Road Show was awarded the 2008 Supplier Excellence Award from Music Inc. magazine in the category of Events for putting "the excitement of the company's factory tours into retail dealers across the country." For more information on Road Show dates and locations, please visit the official Taylor Guitars Road Show calendar at taylorguitars.com.