Grace Potter and the Nocturnals – Chicago HOB

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyAEilG7TpM

This was a bit of a surprise. I didn’t realize not only does the band play ultra-cool gear but they are into it. Benny and Scott are card-carrying Gearheads and Grace was as cool as can be.

Rush – United Center, Chicago

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DCtt7uGtw8

Definitely a bucket list day here. We arrived early enough to see the band soundcheck through a few tunes to about 20 people. The big surprise was that he still brings out the white Gibson.

Joe Bonamassa – Adler Theater, Davenport

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMyVy7KqCWQ

This one deserves a place for the sheer fact that Joe let me check out his ’59 Burst.

Eric Johnson – Pabst Theater, Milwaukee

www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4uYxO4rcd8

We meet up with EJ in Milwaukee and from the moment he said hi, he couldn’t of been nicer. Even after a trying soundcheck he took the time to walk us through every part of his mostly simple–but specific–rig. It sounded just as good as you would imagine.

Walter Becker and Jon Herington – Riverside Theater, Milwaukee

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRG3VhUMhIg

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhboYQHDRI4

Another surprise. Who knew that Becker took that much gear out on the road? The techs were amazing and about a week after this shoot they emailed me and said everything in this video had been replaced with different gear. Good to know that Mr. Becker purchases everything and supports small builders and companies.

Honorable Mentions: Robert Randolph, Billy Gibbons, Umphrey’s McGee, Keith Urban, Mr. Big (Billy Sheehan and Paul Gilbert), Yngwie Malmsteen 

“Are you going to be in Chicago next month? I want to introduce you to Eric.”

It was the summer of 2007, I just finished grad school and was preparing for a move to Connecticut when I found myself hanging out with Hubert Sumlin after an afternoon guitar workshop. Along with Bob Margolin, Hubert had flown in that day to give an informal clinic/performance that had everyone in the room hanging on every note and every story about Muddy and Wolf.

Anyone who had the fortune to be around Hubert described him the same way. “It’s like hanging out with your ultra-cool grandpa.” From the moment I met Hubert it was like we had known each other for years. There were two stories from that day that sticks out in my mind about how generous, warm, and exceptional of a person he was.

After the aforementioned clinic, it was common for the artists to hang around and sign autographs, take pictures and meet with all the students. As I was helping to pack things up, I noticed a young student–maybe 13–who was telling Hubert how excited he was to see him at the upcoming Crossroads Festival that was taking place in Chicago the next month.

“You going to Eric’s show?” asked Hubert

“Yeah, it will be my first real concert,” said the student

“Here is my cell number. When you get there, give me a call and I will introduce you to everyone,” responded Hubert

Yes, a genuine guitar legend gave a young kid, who he had never met before, his cell number just to make that kid’s experience that much better. I don’t know for sure if they hooked up or not, but just watching that happen blew my mind.

Once the clinic was over, Hubert and I drove Margolin to O’Hare (he had an engagement in Pittsburgh the next day) and then I took Hubert to his hotel. Since it was just an overnight trip for Hubert, he had only packed his guitar and a medium-sized duffle bag. He asked me I could help him with his bag since he was just an old man–his words, not mine–and of course I agreed.

After we checked in, we went to his room and as soon as I placed the bag on his extra bed, he told me to sit down. He wanted to show me something.

“It’s somewhere in here,” he said as he opened his bag.

My eyes opened wide once I got a look inside the bag. Other than maybe a change of clothes, the bag was overstuffed with what seemed like hundreds of pictures.

“I want to give you some of these pictures. There was one that reminded me of you,” said Hubert as he was shuffling through a visual history of modern blues. As he passed me photos of him and Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Eric Clapton, B.B. King and virtually every other well-known bluesman I couldn’t help but wonder what he could possibly be looking for that even gave him any passing resemblance of me.

After we spent about an hour looking through photos and Hubert telling me the stories behind them, I figured it was time for me to go. He had a 4am pickup and I had to get back to the workshop.

“Leave me your address, I will send it to ya when I find it,” said Hubert.

“Sure, absolutely,” I said. And then it happened.

“Are you going to be in Chicago next month? I want to introduce you to Eric.”

At that moment, every second I had spent with my hands wrapped around a guitar struggling to squeeze out anything that even remotely sounded like music had come full circle. I also considered what my wife would say when I called her and said I was quitting my job and staying in Chicago for a month to meet one of my guitar heroes.

Of course, against my not-so-better judgement, I thanked Hubert profusely. He gave me a hug, thanked me for everything and off I went. The following summer our paths crossed again in Connecticut and although I am sure Hubert didn’t remember me he made everyone feel like a relative that you haven’t seen in a while.

Although I can’t say I spent time trying to pick off lick from those old Wolf albums, I know every phrase Hubert played. They have been handed down through nearly every guitar player who plays over a 12-bar with any authenticity.

Thanks Hubert. You will be missed.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyAEilG7TpM

On a recent episode, Maron brought on Carlos Mencia to discuss the accusations that some of his material was stolen from other performers. Of course, this has been covered here, here, and here so I don’t really need to rehash the whole story.

After listening to this episode and hearing how Mencia is viewed by other comics after these incidents, it made me wonder what would happen if musicians thought this same way.

Almost every musician, in any style, is taught to imitate their heroes and influences (either directly or indirectly) as they are developing on their instrument. In jazz circles, it is outright encouraged to lift solos, riffs and licks directly from other musicians. Could you imagine if Sonny Stitt or Miles Davis was ostracized from the bebop community of the early thirties because they played too many Bird licks?

I am all for creating original works, but as a musician you can’t count on how the audience is interpreting your music and sound. In high school a lot of my friends said I sounded like Clapton (I wish), but I just never heard it and I listened to Clapton a lot during that time.

What is it about different types of art that makes imitation more accepted? I can’t say I know for sure, but it makes me want to go back and cop some Clapton licks (again).

Anyways, just some thoughts about art and theft on a Thursday night.

Here I am backstage with Warren Haynes at the Park West in Chicago. Check out my feature in the current issue of Premier Guitar and look for a video lesson/interview soon.

Recently, my wife and I found out we will be expecting our second child in November. All the excitement and preparation has begun and we are currently working on our man-to-man defensive skills.

On the PG front, it seems like the train never stops. Our June issue, with my feature on Warren Haynes, should be online next week and I will make sure to post a link here as well. Warren has been one of my favorite guitar players for a long time and it was really great to get a chance to talk to him about his new album, vintage guitars, and developing your sound. Speaking of Warren, I am headed to Chicago on Monday to shoot a video interview with him to go along with the article. I know, my job sucks.

Another recent highlight was a trip that some of my colleagues and I made to Chicago to pay homage to the greatest Canadian power trio around, Rush. We met up with Scott, Alex’s tech, and he gave us a great tour of Alex’s rig and we even got to watch soundcheck. Hearing “Spirit of Radio” to you and 25 of your closest friends is a bucket list-type experience. Cross that one off.

As it finally starts to feel like summer, well at least it did yesterday, I am really looking forward to seeing some live music and hanging out with the Mrs. and the boy. I also have some gigage coming up this summer and for those of you interested in that, you can follow me on Twitter or FB to keep up.

One last thing, if you haven’t checked out GuitarSquid. Do it. Now.

If you made it this far, congrats. Here is that Rush Rig Rundown

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DCtt7uGtw8

Everything up except for the bass.

And yes, this is a REAL ’59 Les Paul

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMyVy7KqCWQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSxT8L4N4ss

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqQO0PQXhpY