At this rate, it's a two-fer

After such a long drought, I'm kinda FLOORED TO BE IN THIS SITUATION ,BU

Solo CD update

Well, after a long weekend of recording all the instruments are done. It's down to singing a few things and it goes back to Anchorage to mix and master.

Hmmm, like any long project it's a little different than what I'd started. I like it more. Mostly lap-steel acoustic songs, some other stuff that you've heard at solo gigs lately. So far I'm really happy, and excited that this is almost finished.

Going to see Little Feat on Friday!

Enough about the economy and the election. I've got a night off, and so I'm going to see Little Feat this Friday. Cool....

Dollar got the blues

Gatemouth Brown said it best.....

Time to try again...

Some of you may remember that I ran for President of the US in 2004, using a bar called Studio 68 in Anchorage, Alaska as my campaign headquarters. Seeing as I got something like 12 write in votes, and looking at the mess we're in it is clearly time to revisit my write in candidacy. Typically, we're doing this at the last minute. But, if you need someone to vote for and you're confused? I'm you man.

My platform is an unstable one. Veggie burgers in every pot. Renaming the letter 'W' from the english language to sound like what it really sounds like. Re-thinking congressional service to a lottery ticket. Granting Wal-Mart least favored nation status. Really practical stuff like that. See? I've got ideas here people. And I'm a better Sax player than Bill Clinton, have more hair than Hillary, I can out-shoot Sarah, out-talk Barrack, and I'm taller than McCain. Perfect for the job.

And if I win, Southern Culture on the Skids is gonna play the Inaugural Ball, and you're all invited. We're drinking Bud out of the bottle (long necks, of course because they sound better on the lap steel- go to youtube for the evidence there), firing up the grill and closing all the streets. And after the party the real work starts.

Send the bums back home and support the arts all with one vote. A bold political master, no?

Here's some sticker art to get you going....










And, since education is an issue, here's something to keep in mind about this candidate....

The ultimate solo gig

OK, ABSOLUTELY NO BLUES CONTENT. Read on, if you're a purist....


I have no idea who this is, but it's a one-man band doing a great cover of AC/DC. And to make it even better, he's doing my all time favorite "I've been drinking and I'm singing along with the music in the pub even if I don't know the freekin words" song....



OK, back to the blues....

More pictures from Stomness

Dave Amos took these from the back of the Stromness Hotel. An actual set of pictures of the whole band at once!

Tony and Sue's Orkney Photos!

Tony and Sue sent me a link to some photos in Myspace. Tony Winfield, as you may know, is a great photographer! Check them out on Myspace here:

http://www.myspace.com/bluesxx

or on the web here:

www.bluespics.co.uk

So, to business- These photos are linked in from Myspace, so my apologies if the display is slow. Sometimes those myspace photo albums are slow to load. Check out the suit on Dino! Man, sharpest dressed bass player around.....

More Sacred Steel Videos...

Had some some time to kill today, so I spent some of it looking around youtube. Here's my favorite find of the day, a video of the Campbell Brothers laying in Church, Sacred Steel style. Nothing much to say, other than sit back, and try and stay seated through the whole thing....

Lap Steel lessons

A bunch of you have been asking about this....

I've started recording some lap steel guitar lessons that I'll post on YouTube (finally, eh, Paul?) Stay tuned, I'll link them here. Mostly the basics of how to tune and

The Orkney Blues festival (Special Thanks and Mentions)

What a great weekend....

Had a great time hanging out and listening to Blue Rooster, the Bad Liars, Bad Taste, BWB, Last Train, Stevie Hay and the Rayvons and Keith Christmas. Even with all the gigging there was plenty of time to hang out, a minimum of gear to move and all hassle-free.

My thanks to Graham, John and the guys from Blue Rooster, the guys from BWB and the Bad Liars, all of whom loaned us gear, and managed to move most of it as well.

And Steve, Walter, Caroline and the other organizers, you all did a superb job, everything ran like clockwork.

So, as always, I love going to Orkney. It's like going home for me, something in the landscape and the relaxed attitude of the Orkadians. The weather was outstanding and the music great too. I'm ready to go back any time.

Thanks again, all! See you soon....

Back from Orkney

Off to grab a little sleep, it was a late night followed by an early ferry and a long drive. All worth it!

Pictures and videos to follow. In the mean time, a million thanks to Walter, Steve, John and Graham(s), Robert, Mike, Caroline, Maureen, Adrian and all the other folks that made it such a great weekend, loaned us gear and made that festival the great time it was.

Crash first, post later. Lots to write about, including Blue Rooster, Bad Liars, BWB, Stevie Hay....

Globalization, a little too far.....

Strange to see these two names on the same sign.....

Globalization, a little too far.....

Strange to see these two names on the same sign.....

And another...

And another video download, this time it is a quick take on Walking Blues, with some improvised lyrics.

Sackcloth and Ashes

Well, I tried out my new Flip Video recorder this weekend at the Bond. It's pretty cool, small and easy to run, audio isn't too bad either. So, here's a clip I've extracted of 'Sackcloth and Ashes', one of the songs from the new CD. I put it out on youtube for grins, take a listen and see what you think!

Some travel photos

Hey, it's the travel season. Here's some travel photos.....

Orkney Blues Festival!!!

Well, it's just a couple of weeks till Orkney. It's always like going home for me, there so much about Orkney that reminds me of rural Alaska.

The band has been working up a whole bunch of new songs that I've written over the last six months. For those of you that haven't seen my band since the big re-shuffle earlier in the year, it's a kicking trio that plays all the hard-edged country blues really, really well. And that's saying something, because it's an odd hybrid of old-school country and hill country blues with a rock-n-roll attitude. Remember that Glenn Highway Blues cd of mine? We're screaming into that pocket and tapping into a major river of attitude. Bring comfortable shoes, you'll likely need them if there's space to dance.

Well, ok, there's still a big obvious influence of Chicago and Texas blues, etc. We've got 3 shows to play and I'd bet my draft card that they'll all be dramatically different.

Here's the website:

http://orkneyblues.co.uk/

See y'all real soon. If you're not making the trip, well, shame on you.

Moorings bar last night

What a great gig....

Alan Cynic sounded like he was having a tough night. I thought it was cool. First time I've heard him, I dug it.

Dave Arcari positively tore the room apart