The Guitar Channel

The Aristocrats US Tour Dates plus DVD Shoot

The Aristocrats (Guthrie Govan - guitar, Bryan Beller - bass, Marco Minnemann - drums) have announced the following US tour dates for 2012. The Alva's shows in June will be filmed for a live DVD (!). See The Aristocrats' tour page for more ticketing info.

Fri. 5/18  Nashville, TN - The Rutledge
Sat. 5/19  Louisville, KY - ZaZoo's
Mon. 5/21  Indianapolis, IN - Birdy's
Tues. 5/22  Cleveland, OH - The Tavern (Beachland Ballroom)
Wed. 5/23  Columbus, OH - Rumba Café
Thurs. 5/24  Charleston, WV - The Sound Factory
Fri. 5/25  Charlotte, NC - The Double Door Inn
Sat. 6/2  San Pedro, CA - Alva's Showroom (DVD Shoot)
Sun. 6/3  San Pedro, CA - Alva's Showroom (DVD Shoot)

 

Video: The Bombastic Meatbats - Lobster Legs

The Bombastic Meatbats performing "Lobster Legs" at a recent Baked Potato gig. With Chad Smith on drums, Jeff Kollman on guitar, Ed Roth on Keys, and Kevin Chown on bass.

Current Listening

I've been listening to a TON of great new music lately. Here's what I've had in heavy rotation...

The Michael Landau Group - Organic Instrumentals

Landau's first all-instrumental album since his 1990 debut Tales From The Bulge absolutely RULES. Great writing and production, killer playing, amazing tones. Line-up includes Gary Novak, Andy Hess, Jimmy Haslip, Larry Goldings, Vinnie Colaiuta, and others.

Polcat

Way-cool jazz fusion project with Chris Poland on guitar, Frank Catalano on sax, Sean O'Bryan Smith on bass, and Jim Gifford on drums. Awesome grooves and playing. Poland is a great fit.

Chad Wackerman - Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations

Wackerman's latest features Allan Holdsworh on guitar, Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Jim Cox on keys - the same band Wackerman utilized for his 1991 solo debut Forty Reasons. Lots of group improv on this one. Holdsworth is amazing as usual.

Gary Husband - Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2

Excellent modern fusion album; a more-than-worthy follow-up to 2010's Volume 1. Amazing guest list includes Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Wayne Krantz, Alex Machacek, Jimmy Herring, Mike Stern, Robin Trower, Ray Russell and Jan Hammer.

Ed DeGenaro - Holiday In Madras

Deep fusion with a strong Indian influence. Ed drops some amazing Shawn Lane-like runs as well. Personnel includes Ric Fierabracci and Marco Minnemann among others.

Steve Weingart & Renee Jones - Dialogue

This one's been out a while but I've been digging into it more lately. Super high-quality electric jazz album with great writing and playing. Features the always-tasty Mike Miller on guitar. Steve Lukather also guests on one track.

Tribal Tech - X

One of the greatest fusion bands ever is back with their first new album in 12 years. Features a good balance of group improv and composition. Scott Henderson's current, more blues-oriented approach gives the band a different flavor than it had in the old days.

Wayne Krantz - Howie 61

This won't be released until mid-April but I had the honor of writing the press release for it so I've been digging the tracks for awhile. Krantz, once again, strikes out in a new direction here with fresh take on composition and production. Line-up includes Vinnie Colaiuta, Tal Wilkenfeld, Keith Carlock, Pino Palladino, David Binney, John Patitucci, Anton Fig and many others.

Videos: Mike Keneally sitting in with The Aristocrats

Two clips of Mike Keneally sitting in with the Aristocrats at WesFest 7 last night.

Legendary guitarist 'Eric Johnson' announces July UK tour

For immediate release, London, England -

Eric Johnson, the celebrated American electric guitarist, hailed by Joe Bonamassa as “one of the greatest guitar players of all time”, will embark on his first ever UK tour at the Holmfirth Picturedrome on Friday 5th July. The 5-date tour will showcase material from his current album “Up Close”, and from his rich back catalogue.

Planet Rock will start at ticket pre-sale on Wednesday 7th March, followed by a ticket pre-sale from Ents24 on Thursday 8th March.  Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday 9^th March via the 24 hour box office: 0844 478 0898, www.thegigcartel.com.

Johnson is also a respected acoustic, lap steel, resonator and an accomplished pianist and vocalist. He’s best known for his diverse array of music genres evidenced by many different styles incorporated in his studio and live performances, including rock, blues, jazz, fusion, folk, New Age and country music. 

Guitar Player magazine called Johnson "one of the most respected guitarists on the planet". His critically acclaimed, platinum-selling 1990 recording Ah Via Musicom produced the single Cliffs of Dover, for which he won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Cliffs of Dover also appeared in Guitar Hero 3 – Legends of Rock.  In 1996 he joined forces with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai for the original and legendary G3 tour that garnered a worldwide audience with the platinum selling CD and DVD release.

Johnson is best known for playing stock Fender Stratocasters and Gibson ES-335 electric guitars through a triple amp setup that consists of vintage Fender and Marshall amplifiers. He plays vintage Stratocasters, including his ‘Fender Signature Stratocaster’ model, which is one of the best selling instruments in the Fender catalogue.

Eric Johnson July 2012 UK Tour:

Holmfirth Picturedrome (Friday 6 July)
Glasgow O2 ABC (Saturday 7 July)
The Sage Gateshead (Sunday 8 July)
Bath Komedia (Monday 9 July)
London Leicester Square Theatre (Tuesday 10 July)

Read the official web release and download hi res photos, click here.

Scott Henderson Tour Dates

Scott Henderson will be playing the following dates in South America and Europe with drummer Alan Hertz, and bassist Travis Carlton.

SOUTH AMERICA

March 15 Santiago - Chile
March 17 Buenos Aires - Argentina
March 18 Rosario - Argentina
March 19 Neuquen - Argentina
March 20 Clinic at EMBA Music School - Argentina
March 21 Venado Tuerto - Argentina
March 23 Paranas - Argentina

EUROPE

May 19 Goteborg (Sverige) NEFERTITI JAZZKLUBB
May 20 Stockholm (Sverige) FASCHING JAZZKLUBB
May 21 Prague (Czech Rep) LUCERNA MUSIC BAR
May 22 Ostrava (Czech Rep) KLUB PARNIK
May 23 Dresden (Germany) TANTE JU
May 24 Bilbao (Spain) SALA BBK
May 25 Torino (Italy) LAPSUS
May 26 Santeny (France)
May 27 Caserta (Italy) BLACK CAT
May 28 Brescia (Italy) JAZZ ON LIVE
May 29 Rome (Italy) BIG MAMA
May 30 Rome (Italy) BIG MAMA
June 01 Lviv (Ukraine) ALFA JAZZ FESTIVAL

Michael Landau Interview for Abstract Logix

Abstract Logix has a great new interview up with Michael Landau. Landau discusses his new album Organic Instrumentals, and more.

 

Abstract Logix: Michael Landau - Organic Interview