Black Country Communion - LIVE over Europe DVD

I sent out a tweet last night that said: “Think Joe Bonamassa is just a blues guitarist? Think Rock-n-Roll!”

Black Country Communion, the English-American rock supergroup featuring the talents of bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze, Black Sabbath), blues rock guitarist/vocalist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin), and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) will release their first live concert DVD on 10/10/11 and I just received my review copy last week.

I must say that listening to “Song of Yesterday” is a like religious experience.

For a limited time you can download the audio FREE at the BCC website.

For those who can’t wait, I have embedded the YouTube video that was posted with the live audio overdub. This is not the video from the DVD, but it is the actual audio.

The 2-DVD live set was filmed with 14 HD cameras and 5.1 surround sound during the band’s debut tour in the summer of 2011. Over three nights, playing to packed venues in the German cities of Hamburg, Munich and Berlin, the 18-song set list (17 originals and 1 cover) hits on both of BCC’s albums – 2010’s debut and 2011’s sophomore release 2, whichThe Sunday Mercury praised, “This is classic rock goes large, an album that lives up to its heritage. It may not be bettered this year.” Live Over Europe highlights include the songs “Black Country,” “One Last Soul,” “Save Me,” “Man In The Middle,” “Cold,” and “Song of Yesterday.” Bonus features include an exclusive 28-page collector’s booklet and DVD with a 20-minute “behind the scenes” featurette and photo collection.

“We saw that this live act could be an awesome force of nature to behold; one that promised legendary performances like those of our heroes of Classic Rock. The plan was to get them out there for the entire world to hear. Records allow a certain musical finesse, but live performance promises so much in the very transient nature of a gig; chances are taken, boundaries are crossed and the most exciting performances explode. Two studio albums built a repertoire big enough for a full concert which allowed us to unleash the monster for the rest of the world to see and feel.”
- Producer Kevin Shirley

BCC recently completed their debut tour, visiting a select number of cities in North America and Europe. On June 10, the band played to a near sold-out crowd in Anaheim, CA where The Orange County Register exclaimed, “The four members of BCC truly recast the heavy rock of the ’60s and ’70s and yank it into the 21st century as well as anyone in recent memory.” At the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, The Birmingham Mail called their performance “rip-roaring” and “breath-taking.”

So many guitar heroes use this pick – Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, John Petrucci and countless others. Many famous metal guitar players also use Jazz III’s. These guys could play using any pick they want, yet they all play the Jazz III.

I started using the Jazz III about 2 years ago and while my “pick jar” has a variety of shapes, sizes and thicknesses, I find myself looking for the Jazz III every time.
-Joe Bonamassa

In this video, Joe Bonamassa shares his story behind the Jazz III, how he arrived at his signature pick, and the freedom it add to his playing.

It’s time for another edition of “Sunday Afternoon Blues“, a regular blog posting that I started a few weeks ago.

This one is from YouTube user “Jerimah02740” and is well worth a listen – all the way to the end.

Jeremiah has several tasteful licks and phrasing combinations throughout. Enjoy!

Duesenberg Guitars - German Tradition Ad

Some guitar ads are all about the guitar. Duesenberg guitar ads incorporate other memorable images… like this one.

Never heard of Duesenberg guitars? Ever heard of Joe Walsh? Billy Gibbons? Elvis Costello? Vince Gill? Keb’ Mo’? Tom Petty? Bob Dylan? Kenny Loggins? John Mayer? Ronnie Wood? They are all “artists and friends” of the Duesenberg brand.

Duesenberg instruments combine the guitar-design and character of the golden-era of the 50’s and 60’s with modern attributes. They provide superb playability and functionality combined with a sound that is somewhat familiar but distinct enough to stand out of the crowd of copies and mass fabricated products.

The distinct look of Duesenberg guitars manifests itself in the Art Deco design of the headstock, pickguard and hardware while most body designs are based on old Jazz guitar shapes that were produced in Germany and the US in the 1940’s, mainly by German immigrants. You can check out their official web site by clicking HERE.

“Duesenberg Guitars: Where German guitar building tradition meets classic Art Deco styles with a focus on modern, innovative details.“

And yes… their ads are pretty cool too.

11,236 songs…
Not sure what to listen to, so I scroll to Joe Satriani, “Premonition” from the “Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards” album and click on “iTunes GENIUS”.

Check out the top 10 on that playlist:

1.) Fatdaddy, Eric Johnson, Up Close
2.) You Never Know, Jeff Beck, Live at Ronnie Scott’s
3.) Holding On, Gary Moore, Bad For you Baby
4.) Time, David Gilmour, Live in Gdansk
5.) Boot it Up, Peter Frampton, Fingerprints
6.) Bridge of Sighs, Robin Trower, This Was now ’74-’98
7.) Lookin’ Out The Window, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Soul to Soul
8.) Hideaway, John Mayall, 70th Birthday Concert
9.) Rambling On My Mind, Eric Clapton, Just one Night
10.) Woman Across the River, The Allman Brothers, Hittin the Note

That was good stuff!

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

TheGuitarBuzz.com is a guitar blog, but it would be totally inappropriate for me to let this day pass without making a statement about Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, and the genius behind the iPod, iMac, iPod Nano, iTouch and what I believe to be the single greatest technology invention in my lifetime…the iPad.

I admit…in addition to being a guitar nut…I am a computer nerd…and an Apple fanatic, addict and evangelist…rolled into one.

Steve Jobs embodied the spirit of American innovation and entrepreneurship and to me he will always be the consummate example of creativity and passion. His dreams became our reality. His ideas and his products changed the course of portable computing and music distribution.

At last count, I have eleven Apple products in my home and I very well may go and buy number twelve tomorrow…simply to honor the man himself. If you do not have an Apple product in your house today, it’s only a matter of time before you will.

RIP, Steve Jobs.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
-Steve Jobs

UPDATE: 10/6/11 – Make it twelve… I put a deposit on an iPhone 4s this afternoon.

Last week I posted some breaking news about Eric Clapton’s upcoming Fender Signature Amps.

This week, more (official) information is available!

In a historic collaboration, Fender introduces its first artist signature amplifiers—EC Series amps bearing the name of legendary guitarist Eric Clapton. Built to the exacting specifications of Clapton himself, the three amps—the EC Twinolux™, EC Tremolux™ and EC Vibro-Champ®—are fascinating variations on their original ’50s-era ancestors (the ’57 Twin™, ’57 Deluxe™ and ’57 Champ®, respectively), and are our answer to his call for special models with distinctive features.
- From the Official Fender Web Site

CLICK HERE to visit the official Fender site to read more about these amps!!

Johnny Winter - Roots

Last week, Johnny Winter released his latest album titled Roots, honoring the players that have helped shape Winter’s own guitar style…both past and present.

Among the 11 tracks that together represent a veritable history of the Blues, are songs by the genre’s elder statesmen including a version of Robert Johnson’s 1936 recording “Dust My Broom.” Winter pays respect to the greats who came to prominence in the late 1940s and ’50s including Elmore James “Done Somebody Wrong,” Bobby “Blue” Bland’s “Further On Up The Road” and Chuck Berry’s first hit single, “Maybellene.” Also featured is “Come Back Baby,” written by Walter Davis and made popular by Ray Charles, Jimmy Reed’s 1961 hit, “Bright Lights, Big City,” and Muddy Waters’ version of “Got My Mojo Working.” Brother Edgar guests on “Honky Tonk,” the one instrumental featured on Roots. Rounding out the collection are Little Walter’s “Last Night,” Larry Williams’ “Short Fat Fannie” and T-Bone Walker’s “T-Bone Shuffle.” This special project was directed by famed guitarist Paul Nelson who’s role is as both producer and performer on this recording.

The new album feature a who’s-who list of blues rockers to create a must-have compilation.

Guest artists include: Sonny Landreth, Derek Trucks, Edgar Winter, Warren Haynes, Susan Tedeschi, Jimmy Vivino, John Popper, Vince Gill, John Medeski, and Paul Nelson.

The track listing for Roots is:

1. T-Bone Shuffle (featuring Sonny Landreth)
2. Further On Up The Road (featuring Jimmy Vivino)
3. Done Somebody Wrong (featuring Warren Haynes)
4. Got My Mojo Workin’
5. Last Night (featuring John Popper)
6. Maybellene (featuring Vince Gill)
7. Bright Lights, Big City (featuring Susan Tedeschi)
8. Honky Tonk (featuring Edgar Winter on sax)
9. Dust My Broom (featuring Derek Trucks)
10. Short Fat Fannie (featuring Paul Nelson)
11. Come Back Baby (featuring John Medeski)

Listen to sample clips HERE:

Here is the latest addition to the “Sunday Afternoon Blues” category.

Be sure to catch from 1:58 forward… LOL Hilarious!

You can watch ALL of the “Sunday Afternoon Blues” videos by CLICKING HERE: