I found some really interesting facts over at “Anna’s Halloween Blog“:

Every year the amount of money spent by consumers on Halloween costumes, decorations and candy rises. Even with the economy the way it is, experts predict spending for this Halloween will leap by double digits. With everything going on in the world right now the fun and youthfulness of Halloween couldn’t have come at a better time. The holiday gives everyone a “pass” for the day to slow down, have fun and be a kid again!

The National Retail Federation projects that this year, $5.77 billion (yes, that’s billion with a “B”) will be spent on the holiday, rising from $5.07 billion in 2007, a 14 percent increase.

This is how it breaks down:

* $2.1 billion on costumes
* $1.77 billion on candy
* $1.58 billion on decorations
* $320 million on cards

The way I look at it, that’s a LOT of money being spent on one evening.

I think I’d rather celebrate Halloween by buying something that will last a lifetime… a New Guitar!

This week, on October 28th, “THIS IS IT” will open in theaters across America.

The movie will offer Michael Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London’s O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June, 2009, the film is drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, and genius as he creates and perfects his final show.

Back on September 8th, I wrote a post about Orianthi Panagaris, the talented guitarist who was scheduled to play with Michael Jackson on his upcoming tour. If you missed that post, you can read it by CLICKING HERE.

CNN recently posted this video of Orianthi sharing her thoughts about the upcoming movie, and the late, great “King of Pop”.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the growing trend of guitar magazines that are converting to rich-format digital publications. If you missed that post, you can read it by CLICKING HERE.

Another publication has joined the ranks of the multimedia age… Guitar Player Magazine, which is known online as GP2.

The September issue features a great review of “10 Budget Solid Body Guitars”. You can read the entire issue by CLICKING HERE.

The August Issue is also online and you can read that one by CLICKING HERE.

While I love the use of technology and the benefits interactive media brings to the guitar reading public, there is something I enjoy about sitting back in my easy chair with my favorite beverage and a guitar magazine.  It’s similar I suppose to our nations love affair with the printed newspaper… even though the days of news print are clearly numbered.  I mean, where do you look for headlines?

So tell me which you prefer… Guitar Magazines or Online Guitar Magazines?

When it comes to acoustic guitar playing, Tommy Emmanuel is recognized as the elite of the elite. Not just in his homeland of Australia, but in the entire world.

Tommy has mesmerized both fellow musicians and audiences alike with a professional career that spans over four decades. Tommy’s flawless guitar skills and voluminous repertoire never fail to amaze and engage his audience.  His flair, unforgettable showmanship and exhaustive world wide touring schedule have created an enviable fan base that continues to grow even larger every year.

Tommy’s “finger style” guitar playing is not what you are used to hearing… or seeing.  He actually uses all ten fingers when he plays, just like a pianist would use playing play the piano!

Guitar legend Chet Atkins honored Tommy Emmanuel with the title of “Certified Guitar Player” for his lifetime contribution to the instrument, a rare honor shared by only three other people in the world (Jerry Reed, Steve Wariner and John Knowles.)

Capturing Tommy Emmanuel’s immense talent is Center Stage, a two CD set and separate DVD release – that was recorded live over 3-nights in 2007 for the PBS television series “Sierra Center Stage.”

Many players who have played guitar their entire lives watch Tommy play with with total wonderment of his ability.

Les Paul: If you were lucky enough to be born with a sense of humor and a be good showman, that’s Tommy Emmanuel.

Stevie Vai: Tommy is not the future of guitar playing because in the future people will not be able to play like him…

You can visit his official site to play sound clips by CLICKING HERE. As you listen to these samples, it’s hard to believe there is only one person playing guitar…

Watch the VIDEO TRAILER of the DVD:

This is a very interesting cartoon.

It is funny because of what it says about Jimi Hendrix… but it is also a serious illustration of the economic times we currently face.

I have way too many friends who have lost their jobs.

I have way too many friends who are in jeopardy of losing their homes, because they have lost their jobs.

I have way too many friends who are losing their self-esteem, because other people (read: hiring managers) are telling them that they are not qualified for the job.

I have way too many friends who are looking for work and hiring managers are too narrow-minded to recognize talent – even when talent is sitting right in front of them.

We are a nation of incredibly artistic people and we need to open our minds to the fact that we are un-employing and under-employing thousands of gifted minds.

What if Jimi Hendrix was not given the opportunity to play guitar on a national stage because he was not “experienced” enough? What a tragedy that would have been… for everyone.

If you are reading this post and you are unemployed, looking for work, frustrated and discouraged… please keep your head high. You did not get to where you are in life by failing. You are where you are because of the amazing accomplishments and the seemingly insurmountable odds you overcame to get there.

Your day will come and your opportunity will come. Stay focused. Keep the faith. Send me an email and I will pray that the higher power we all believe in will provide direction for you.

Thanks for reading and thanks for allowing me to post something slightly off the usual buzz…

We all know that guitars are beautiful to look at. They offer originality, artistic expression and musical excellence, all in one package.

But did you ever think that a guitar could also be a little “strange” to look at? What other instrument offers a player the opportunity to express themselves via concert performance and tone as well as an innovative display of creativity in design?

Here is a fun video that is sure to spark a “what the heck” moment for every guitar player. Which one looks the strangest to you?

By the way… the song is titled “Souvenir” from the Brazilian band “Autoramas“…

I don’t know about you, but “Blues Music” really moves me. I’m talking about slow, bendy, stirring, bluesy blues. I love the way it sounds and I love the way it makes me feel. It’s both electrifying and inspirational.

When it comes to “feeling” the blues… Ronnie Earl is the master.

Ronnie plays music that penetrates your heart. He refers to it as “spiritually uplifting music that heals” and I totally agree. I have all of Ronnie’s CD’s — totaling 249 songs and 23.7 hours on my iPod. Hey…a couple more tunes and I can have a 24-hour Ronnie-Fest!

Here is the opening clip from “Blues Guitar With Soul” the only instructional video Ronnie made. It was originally released on VHS in 1995 and re-released on DVD in 2005.

It’s a timeless recording that worked in 1995 and still works today. Enjoy!

If you are like me, you just can’t get enough guitar.

(To be honest, my problem is not that I can’t get enough guitar… it’s that I can’t get enough time to read all of the guitar stuff I find.)

There seems to be a trend toward the release of “online guitar magazines”. Not guitar web sites (like this one)… but actual 200+ page guitar magazines that used to be available on the news stand and are now available as FREE interactive PDF publications complete with page turning animations, links to related web sites and embedded audio sounds. Pretty cool stuff if you ask me.

The two publications that I am aware of at this time are:

• PREMIER GUITAR
• GUITAR EDGE

Click on the name of the magazine to see the current issue. Be patient… some of the files are big, and they take a minute or two to download, depending on the speed of your computer.

You can sign up for a FREE subscription to each and you will receive an email when the next issue is available.

After posting my review of Joe Bonamassa’s new RAH DVD, someone actually posted the Clapton-Bonamassa session on YouTube. 

So here is a quick follow up post to my original review – sit back and enjoy… NOTE: this may not stay on YouTube for long… if the video disappears before you see it, go buy the DVD!

Please forgive me…

My review copy of Joe Bonamassa’s “Live at Royal Albert Hall” DVD arrived 10 days ago and I have been so addicted to watching it (over and over) that I have not taken the time to sit down and write about it.

There’s a ton of Joe Bonamassa video footage on YouTube (thanks to Joe’s very liberal “video-recording-with-your-digital-camera-is-allowed-at-my-concerts” policy).  Unfortunately, much of it lacks in cinematography and sound quality and will only appeal to die-hard JB fans… like me.

With the release of the “Live at Royal Albert Hall” DVD, we FINALLY have a professional quality, 5.1DTS Sound recording of the Joe Bonamassa concert experience. Believe me when I say… you have never seen anything like this before.

The band members have completely changed since the last DVD (3 years ago) and for this concert there was an added horn section and a 2nd drummer, Anton Fig, who played in perfect sync with Joe’s regular drummer, Bogie Bowles.

The “dual drummer” show was like a concert within a concert.

I could honestly recommend that you buy this DVD for the drum playing alone… but as good as the drum playing is, that’s not the best part.  You simply do not want to miss Joe Bonamassa playing live at the Royal Albert Hall with Eric Clapton and Paul Jones on what was clearly the best night of his entire life.  This show was the realization of his childhood dream.

The DVD starts with an interview with Joe, his parents and his sister.  They share how Joe got started playing the guitar at age four, and why playing the RAH was so important to him.  There is a great deal of “backstage footage” to enjoy of Joe and the band getting ready… and then… the concert begins!

The set-list is mostly from “The Ballad of John Henry” CD with a few additions that Joe plays on his current tour, and a spattering of all time classics — can you say “Mountain Time”?

My highlights from the DVD set:

• Joe begins the concert by playing the opening riff to Django offstage, then walking out to a thunderous ovation.  It gave me chills.
• The 2 drummers, Bogie & Anton, “syncing up” following Joe’s opening solo of Django — the sound will make your heart pound.
• The wicked integration of a Moog Theremin into “The Ballad of John Henry”
• Eric Clapton joining JB for killer rendition of “Further Down the Road” – Dear God, I hope this is not the only time they play together.
• Joe stunning the 4,500 people in attendance with his unaccompanied acoustic guitar solo — it makes my fingers hurt just watching it!
• The guys in the luxury box playing the Pink & Yellow Axes during “So it’s Like That”
• Joe tossing his $500.00 sunglasses into the crowd — Oh, how I wish I had been there to catch them!
• The dozens of shots of 50+ aged guitar lovers in awe of what they were watching.
• Counting all of the guitars Joe used throughout the evening (there were nine!)
• The candid interview on the tour bus where Joe talks about the origin of his songs, his inspiration and his influences.
• The DVD insert. Even though Clapton only played on one song, he was given dressing room #1 at RAH.  I guess that’s what happens after 150+ shows at a venue…

This is must-have DVD for any Joe Bonamassa fan and frankly, any person who plays the guitar and appreciates instrumental mastery at work.  Joe Bonamassa is to the guitar what Liberace was to the Piano. He’s a 6-string maestro.

DISC-1

1.The Road to Royal Albert Hall
2. Django
3. The Ballad Of John Henry
4. So It’s Like That
5. Last Kiss
6. So Many Roads
7. Stop!
8. Introducing Eric Clapton
9. Further On Up The Road
10. High Water Everywhere
11. Sloe Gin
12. Intermission

DISC-2

1. “I first met B.B. King …”
2. Lonesome Road Blues
3. Happier Times
4. Introducing Paul Jones
5. Your Funeral, My Trial
6. Blues Deluxe
7. Story Of A Quarryman
8. The Great Flood
9. Just Got Paid
10. Mountain Time
11. Asking Around For You

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Woke up Dreaming
• The Bus Interview

ORDER “Live from the Royal Albert Hall” by CLICKING HERE