CBGB's on Christmas day,1982 yessssssssss

Even before I started working there. Happy Holidays!

Just because I could listen to the guitars on this all day...

Two of my students! I have to show them off....

Webb (guitar) and Lucie (drums) playing at the Willie Mae Rock camp show last weekend. Sophie from Care Bears on Fire on bass. Yes! All ages 15-16.

John McGeoch - favorite guitarist series

John McGeoch (1955-2004) was the post-punk Scottish guitarist who played with Siouxsie and the Banshees, Magazine, Visage, The Armory Show, and Public Image Ltd. I'm inspired by his abstract guitar style, picking, and flare harmonies.

This comment by Siouxie about John McGeoch has forever changed the way I play guitar:

"John McGeoch was my favourite guitarist of all time. He was into sound in an almost abstract way. I loved the fact that I could say, "I want this to sound like a horse falling off a cliff", and he would know exactly what I meant. He was easily, without a shadow of a doubt, the most creative guitarist the Banshees ever had."

This 6-part series is really more like a radio show. This is the first part.

With Siouxie. He played guitar on the Banshees albums "Kaleidoscope (1980), "Juju" (1981), and "A Kiss in the Dreamhouse" (1982)

Because Larissa Strickland needs more notice

Laughing Hyenas again.

Laughing Hyenas

Laughing Hyenas. Larissa Strickland on guitar, awesome sound. I saw this band so many times when I was a teen in the midwest and really wish I had paid more attention. Thats my lesson for today, appreciate everything while you can.

Favorite guitarist series

East Bay Ray. I love this early picture I just found.

Carol Kaye

Friend her on Facebook and see the fabulous lessons she posts daily (HERE). She is a role model teacher and one of the greatest bassists ever.

A Taste of Honey - watch that BASS hand...

R&B/Disco band "A Taste of Honey" (1971-82) from Los Angeles were Janice Marie Johnson (bass) and Hazel Payne (guitar), as well as Perry Kibble (keys) and Donald Johnson (drums). As any bassist knows, its not so easy to sing and play at the same time - especially over disco rhythms and riffs.

I saw this on VH1 Classics about 15 years ago and have been searching for a video of it ever since. Her bass hand and style really blew me away. I remember sitting on a couch at a friend's apartment on Bowery and seeing this, both of us saying "whoa" at the same time. And I never forgot it after all these years. Thanks to the internet, I was able to find out that it was "A Taste of Honey" and here it is.

The 5, 6, 7, 8's...

Saw them play at Mercury Lounge on Saturday 11-12-11, poised, perfect, gorgeous, and better than ever...

Not the best video I found on youtube...but you get the idea.

http://www.the5678s.net/

Favorite Guitarists series

I don't want this song to end. Link Wray is 1st of my "Favorite Guitarist series". No particular order, you just can't number things that way.

This version of Hidden Charms may be the reason I decided to stop playing 3 chords and become a better guitarist. I first got a hold of this when I was 19.

Mary Ford's Guitar

Is this a real Mary Ford signature guitar? If anyone deserved her own guitar, it's Mary Ford.

Ivy and The Cramps

Since I'm getting all emotional today about my favorite musicians, inspiring women, nostalgia, and the things that "saved" my life, here's one more fun clip. Great guitarist Ivy.