James Taylor Free Guitar Lesson # 3

Famed singer songwriter is offering his fans free guitar lessons – how cool is that?

James Taylor (picture James Taylor)

James Taylor is offering to teach the world how to play his unique finger picking guitar style. Free. On YouTube.

The project started in October and he just posted Lesson 3 called Second Wheel. Continue reading

Chimes of Freedom all Bob Dylan all the time

What’s not to like about a 4-CD 76-song tribute to Bob Dylan and Amnesty International for $20

Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan is a lot of Bob Dylan songs for only $20 sung by artists famous and not-so-famous. The project will raise money for Amnesty International.

Amnesty International are fighting for human rights and freedom around the world. They deserve our $20 and more for defending people from oppression.

It’s the 50th Anniversary of Amnesty International, Bob Dylan’s 50th anniversary of recording. The project seems like a winner.  Continue reading

iStrobosoft guitar tuner app review

Peterson iPhone and iPad apps are accurate and low cost strobe instrument tuners

iStrobosoft iPhone app

Peterson has two apps for the iPhone and iPad that give the musician strobe tuning accuracy for about $10.  The iPad app is being discounted to $9.99 until January 31st, 2012.

I wanted to see just how accurate the iPhone Peterson would be. I was not disappointed, although the under $20 Snark SN-1 clip on tuner was almost as accurate.

Last night I was practicing guitar while the news was on. It was handy to refresh my tuning without looking for a tuner. I’m not sure if musicians will risk damaging their iPhones in a studio or stage environment to use the iStrobosoft app. The practicality of the iStrobosoft tuner for those uses is up to each person to decide.

Peterson Strobe Tuners have been the pinnacle of stringed instrument tuners for decades and known for accuracy and high cost.  Continue reading

VoiceLive Play and VoiceLive Play GTX announced

TC Helicon introduces downsized VoiceLive stomp boxes with harmony and effects for singers and guitar playing vocalists

VoiceLive Play - harmony and vocal effects at 1/3rd the price

TC Helicon has just announced at NAMM 2012 the latest version of the VoiceLive family – VoiceLive Play and VoiceLive Play GTX.

Both give vocalists harmony and vocal effects from the top-drawer VoiceLive family. The GTX model also has guitar effects and amp emulations so you don’t need a Marshall to get that sound. Continue reading

One day internet blackout works but it’s not over yet

Massive blackout of internet sites on Jan 18 influences lawmakers

The media stories have Hollywood corporate fat cats reeling from Wednesday’s shutdown or blackout of more than 12,000 websites like Wikipedia, Reddit and Wired. NJN Network did its small part by wearing black all day.
Continue reading

Harlan Pepper on the move

Performance at Seniors Home showcases alt country appeal with Kitchen Rag and Wine

It takes guts to video your gig playing in the lobby of a seniors home. It’s a tough room but Harlan Pepper turns a few smiles and gets them dancing in the aisles.

Since graduating from high school almost three years ago, Harlan Pepper have honed their chops with a fresh mix of alt country, folk and rock.
Continue reading

Bob Dylan performs Blind Willie McTell at Critics Choice

In honor of Martin Scorsese Dylan actually sounds like an old blues man

This video may not play in all regions. It will also not play on iPhone or iPad. VH1 is controlling who can see the video.

A recent Bob Dylan performance of Blind Willie McTell with Mark Knopfler follows the break.
Continue reading

Building a stand for K+H O 300 monitors

Horizontal active monitors present a challenge solved with K+H bracket and The Stand from Blue Sky

Blue Sky's The Stand with K+H O 300 mounting bracket (Figure 1)

The heavy and horizontal Klein + Hummel O 300 monitors need a sturdy monitor stand. At 30 lbs each and costing $5,000 a pair, you don’t want them dropping to the floor from 3 feet up.

This article is the second in a two part about speaker stands and the K+H O 300. The first part provides details on Blue Sky’s The Stand.

When I got the monitors in 2009, Studio Economik suggested the Sound Anchors STUDADJR for monitor stands at $800 a pair.

I didn’t get a cheaper solution than Sound Anchors but I did get one that looks better and has more flexibility in speaker location.  Continue reading

Bonnie Raitt and her father John Raitt on Letterman

An amazing, spine-tingling duet on Letterman


Researching Bonnie Raitt set to launch first new CD in 7 years, I came across a video that brings a tear to the eye.

Broadway great John Raitt sang a few duets with his daughter, blues musician Bonnie Raitt. They both have great pipes.
Continue reading

Bonnie Raitt set to launch first new CD in 7 years

Slipstream will feature Raitt’s bluesy singing and hot slide guitar coming April 2012

Bonnie Raitt Slipstream (photo Redwing Records)

After taking a 7 year break for personal reasons, Bonnie Raitt is roaring out of the gate with a new record, new record label and a national tour during 2012.

Raitt has had a long career in rock and blues with highlights like the award winning Nick of Time and rock classics like “Something to Talk About”, and the ballad “I Can’t Make You Love Me”.

On the new CD, Raitt covers two Bob Dylan songs Million Miles and Standing in the DoorwayContinue reading