Posts Tagged ‘guitarist’

SLASH set to be honored with the Les Paul Award at the 30th annual NAMM TEC Awards

Posted: December 4, 2014 in Guitarist, music, Music News, NAMM, Songwriter
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We are getting closer and closer to that special time of year…. NO, not the holidays! I am talking about the annual Winter NAMM Convention, otherwise known as the Disneyland for musicians.  Music Junkie Press will be covering the convention and we look forward to bringing you live coverage of new products, artist appearances, music news as well as coverage of the TEC Awards show.

This year will be the 30th NAMM TEC Awards and it will be an amazing one. Legendary musician /songwriter/guitarist, SLASH will be honored with the Les Paul Award. “The Les Paul Award named for the revolutionary inventor and esteemed musician, honors individuals or institutions that have set the highest standards of excellence in the creative application of audio and music technology. Instituted in 1991, the honor has been granted to luminaries including Pete Townshend, Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Todd Rundgren, and Peter Gabriel.”

SLASH has not only achieved success with album sales over 100 million copies, won a Grammy Award, seven nominations and we can’t forget the recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. His infamous solos from Guns n Roses songs were the inspiration to many young guitar players as they aspired to be as great a guitarist. His work in Velvet Revolver brought on a whole new group of fans and then his solo work with Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, has once again brought him to the forefront of rock n roll. Most recently, with his recent release of World On Fire he has truly set the world on fire with and grabbed everyone’s attention. Check out coverage of their recent performance at the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco here.

The TEC Awards will also feature comedian Sinbad as the host and the event will be held on Saturday, January 24th and we will make sure to bring you a recap of the night.

~ Marisol

The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 9200 members from around the world. The NAMM Foundation works to advance active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs. For more information about The NAMM Foundation, please visitwww.nammfoundation.org, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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Chris Broderick announces departure from Megadeth

Posted: November 26, 2014 in Band, Guitarist, Metal, Music News
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One of the coolest guitarists in metal, Chris Broderick has announced his departure from Megadeth. Chris posted the following statement on his website:

Due to artistic and musical differences, it is with great reluctance that I announce my departure from Megadeth to pursue my own musical direction. I want all of you to know how much I appreciate the amount that you the fans have accepted and respected me as a member of Megadeth for the last seven years, but it is time for me to move on. I wish Dave and everyone in Megadeth all the best. I am working on a few things of my own and hope that when they come out, you will all dig it.

Until then,
Chris. \m/

* * * * * * *

We wish all the best to Chris in his future endeavors and we can’t wait to hear what he has in store for all of us.  I am hoping we get to see him once again at the upcoming NAMM convention in January. I will leave you with some photos from our Rockin Ryan of Chris when Megadeth performed at Aftershock 2013.

Stay tuned and stay metal!

Marisol

Chris Broderick Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chris_Broderick

Snakebite will set sail and perform on this year’s Kiss Kruise!

Posted: September 23, 2014 in '80s Rock, Concerts, Entertainment, Guitarist, Instrumental, Interview, Jazz, music, NAMM, New Music, New Release, Progressive, rock
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Earlier this year we brought you an interview with the amazingly talented Brev Sullivan (Rock of Ages). In case you missed it, make sure to check it out here. Interview with Brev Sullivan.  Brev has been quite busy, with the release of his contemporary jazz guitar CD, Brand New Day (available on iTunes here) and performing with his bands. His band, Snakebite are about to set sail next month for the 4th KISS KRUISE which will sail to the Great Stirrup Cay on October 31st to November 4, 2014.   The headliners of the cruise feature Kiss, Cheap Trick, Robin Zander’s, and Pat Travers. Snakebite will be performing on the Soundcheck Stage and will deliver some old school Original Heavy Vinyl Rock definitely proving that Rock n Roll is alive and thriving!

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Snakebite are also set to release their new CD, Feel the Bite in early October. Just in time for you to be singing along with them on the Kiss Kruise! Make sure to visit their social media sites and stay up to date on their latest news.  Make sure to also pick up Brev’s CD, Brand New Day on Itunes or CDBaby.

Brev Sullivan at NAMM 2014

Brev Sullivan at NAMM 2014

 

Snakebite features:

  • Tim Brown (McBrain Damage): lead vox
  • Brev Sullivan (Rock of Ages): guitars, vox
  • Patrick Johansson (Yngwie/WASP/Lynch Mob): drums
  • Crystalline Entity (Brubaker Artist): bass, background vox

Get ready for their new CD Feel the Bite and if you are in the Ft. Lauderdale area, don’t miss their show this Saturday on September 27th at Cheers, Food and Spirits. Visit their Facebook page for more details: https://www.facebook.com/Snakebiterockband.

~ Marisol

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Michael Lee Firkins announces new tour dates

Posted: September 23, 2014 in Band, Blues, Concerts, Guitarist, music, rock, San Francisco, Singer, Tour
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One of our highlights from the Jason Becker Not Dead Yet 3 was the great performance by Michael Lee Firkins.  It was amazing as always to watch and Michael is captivating on guitar. He brought the perfect fusion of blues and rock to life at the venue and everyone was enjoying it. Michael has announced a string of tour dates for October and November. Check out the dates below and see if he will be coming to a venue near you:

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To get you ready, check out the photos by our Rockin Ryan of Michael’s performance at the Jason Becker Not Dead Yet 3.  When Michael plays, you are drawn to him as he stuns the crowd with his slide playing, singing and fueling the crowd with funky rockin blues. The notes and tones he brings out truly highlight the extreme talent as a guitar player.

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I would highly recommend you picking up his latest album, Yep which was released last October. You can pick it up on iTunes here.  Make sure to visit his social media sites and stay up to date on the latest news. I will leave you with a couple videos from the Jason Becker Not Dead Yet 3 set.

~ Enjoy, Marisol

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Ray Goren displays such a maturity with his spectacular songwriting on his new EP Save My Soul

Posted: September 23, 2014 in Blues, Entertainment, Feed your Soul, music, New Music, New Release, rock, Singer, Songwriter
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Ray Goren

Ray Goren may be only 14 but you would have never guessed with the talent and maturity that he displays in his new EP, Save My Soul. This is one talented young man who has everyone taking notice. His new EP which features 5 emotionally driven songs that will take you on a musical journey of loss, love, hope and so much more. His ability to create a connection with the listener through his songs at such a young age, has me excited for what the future holds for him.

The EP was produced by Justin Glasco and John Sosin and  shows the maturity and songwriting of a master craftsman. Like his previous EP “LA Sessions” (produced by Eddie Kramer), Goren played guitar parts and other instruments while his producers added additional instrumentation and Chaun Horton added drums.

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One of my favorite tracks is the inspirational and moving song, Rise Together. It will grab your attention and awaken your senses. The bluesy title track of Save My Soul has such a smooth groove to it and I love the swirling bluesy guitars. Ray’s vocals are inviting and soulful, carrying so much depth and passion for a young man. Quite exceptional from start to finish.  Check out the lyric video for Save My Soul here:

Now head on over to iTunes and pick up the new EP. Make sure to visit his social media sites and stay up to date on the latest news. We will see if we can bring you an interview with this musical prodigy.

~ Marisol

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Richie Kotzen awakens your every sense with his performance at Jason Becker Not Dead Yet 3 Festival.

Posted: September 4, 2014 in Blues, Concerts, Feed your Soul, Guitarist, music, rock, San Francisco, Singer, Songwriter, Tour, Video
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Last Saturday, we had an amazing time covering the Jason Becker Not Dead Yet 3 Festival at the Great American Music Hall. It was a night full of spectacular music and Richie Kotzen headlined the event after some stellar sets by  Michael Lee Firkins  Spiralarms and Ben Woods.

The event which is put together by Dave Lopez and is a benefit with proceeds going towards medical supplies for Jason as well as his future care. It was a magical night where many great musicians came to honor the amazing fighting spirit of Jason as he battles ALS. Jason was in attendance with his family and friends as we all enjoyed a fantastic night of amazing music.

Richie completely rocked the place and his energy on stage is unstoppable. His passion and emotion came through strongly with each note and word. Richie has one of the most powerful voices out and when he sings, his voice just travels through your body, awakening every sense, inviting you to move and then touches your heart.  It was quite an emotional night for all of us as we all wish the best for Jason in his battle with ALS and you could just feel the intense love for that man in the room from all the musicians. Richie shared the story of when he worked with Jason on his first album and it was great to hear what an impact Jason has made on everyone.

The performance by Richie was simply spot on and spectacular on all levels. Mike Bennett who performed earlier in the night with Ben Woods just killed it on the drums and Dylan Wilson on bass was an energetic wildman! It was one set that I wished would go on all night! Check out the photos of the set by our Rockin Ryan:

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Richie set off to start a tour in Spain this month and will return to US for headlining shows in November. In addition, he has just released The Essential Richie Kotzen on Loud & Proud Records and is  a MUST HAVE! We will be bringing you a full album review. For now, check out his newly released video for War Paint here:

Make sure to visit his social media sites and stay up to date on the latest news. We will leave you with several videos of Richie’s performance on Saturday.

~ Marisol

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Michael Lee Firkins brings the rockin blues to life at the Jason Becker Not Dead Yet 3 Festival

Posted: September 4, 2014 in Band, Blues, Concerts, Guitarist, music, rock, San Francisco, Singer
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Another great highlight from the Jason Becker Not Dead Yet 3 Festival was the great set by Michael Lee Firkins featuring Courtney DeAugustine on drums and Dave Rapa on bass. It was amazing as always to watch them perform and Michael is captivating to watch on guitar. He brought the perfect fusion of blues and rock to life at the venue and everyone was enjoying it. I was so glad to see Courtney on drums, we had the chance to catch her perform earlier this year at the Bonzo Bash and she is spectacular with her energetic precision drumming. Dave on bass makes it look so easy as he is knocking out bass lines and always with an infectious smile on his face.

In addition, we were treated to legendary Steve Hunter joining in on a couple songs! What a stellar night for music! When Michael plays, you are drawn to him as he stuns the crowd with his slide playing, singing and fueling the crowd with funky rockin blues. The notes and tones he brings out truly highlight the extreme talent as a guitar player. Check out the photos from the set by our Rockin Ryan:

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I would highly recommend you picking up his latest album, Yep which was released last October. You can pick it up on iTunes here. You can also catch Michael Lee Firkins perform at the SoFA Street Fair in San Jose on September 14. Visit the Facebook Event page for more details. Make sure to visit his social media sites and stay up to date on the latest news. You don’t want to miss them if they are coming to play at a venue near you! I will leave you with a couple videos from the set as well.

~ Enjoy, Marisol

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Ben Woods delivered a spectacular flamenco set at Jason Becker’s Not Dead Yet 3

Posted: September 3, 2014 in Guitarist, Metal, music, New Music, New Release
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Last Saturday when we headed out to the Jason Becker’s Not Dead Yet 3 Festival at the Great American Music Hall, I knew it was going to be a night filled with awesome music. But it was even more amazing as each set was spectacular and so different from the next. The night opened with Ben Woods and he treated us to some of the most beautiful music infused with his flamenco style. It was intense as his guitar played bled out such emotion with each note.

With his special guests of Mike Bennett (Richie Kotzen) and Salar Nader on percussions and the talented flamenco dancer, Arleen Hurtado, the atmopshere grew into a magical space that allowed the music to carry you away and take you deep into the rich culture of flamenco. Watching Ben on the guitar is jaw dropping as his hands frenetically take control over the guitar and the most beautiful notes exude, yet he makes it look so easy. It is dizzying if you try to keep your eyes on his finger work and his talent left me breathless.  Check out the photos by our Rockin Ryan of his set here:

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Ben currently has his CD Flametal out and it is stellar. He fuses flamenco with metal and the result is a spectacular musical gem. You can pick up Flametal which was released earlier this year on iTunes here. A couple of my faves on the CD are Por Arriba, 1849, Forbidden Zone and honestly I could sit here and name each song! Take a listen to Por Arriba here:

 

Check out some videos of Ben’s performance from Saturday night:

Make sure to visit his social media sites and stay up to date on his latest news.

~ Marisol

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The Grammy Museum and American Express announce An Evening With Dave Mason

Posted: August 20, 2014 in Bands, Concerts, Entertainment, Guitarist, Los Angeles, music, New Music, New Release, Pledge Music, Singer, Songwriter, Tour
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Dave Mason

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and TRAFFIC co-founding member–will make a special appearance at The GRAMMY Museum® in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, September 16. Presented by American Express®, “An Evening With Dave Mason” will feature MASON discussing his musical journey which spans over 37 years encompassing producing, performing, songwriting and being considered one of rock’s great guitar players, along with a brief acoustic performance. Tickets are on sale now at www.AXS.com, charge by phone at 888-9AXS-TIX or 888-929-7849.

GRAMMY Museum’s Clive Davis Theater will play host to 200 lucky fans as they join MASON and host Scott Goldman, Vice President of The GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares, to discussMASON’s songwriting process, beginnings in the band TRAFFIC, acclaimed solo career, current touring project “Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam,” his latest release, FUTURE’S PAST (released May 13, 2014) and much more.

Dave is touring the U.S. with his new project billed as “DAVE MASON’S TRAFFIC JAM.”  Dates are currently listed as:

DATE CITY VENUE
Sat 8/23 Modesto, CA X-Fest (Downtown)
Fri 8/29 Charles Town, WV Hollywood Casino – The Event Center
Wed 9/17 Malibu, CA Smothers Theatre
Thu 9/18 Santa Clarita, CA Santa Clarita PAC – College of the Canyons
Sat 9/20 Long Beach, CA Richard & Karen Carpenter PAC
Sun 9/21 El Cajon, CA Sycuan Casino
Wed 9/24 Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA Sunset Center Theater
Fri 9/26 Vacaville, CA Theatre Deville
Sat 9/27 Napa, CA Uptown Theatre
Tue 9/30 Livermore, CA Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center
Wed 10/1 Saratoga, CA Carriage House Theatre, Montalvo Arts Center
Thu 10/2 Saratoga, CA Carriage House Theatre, Montalvo Arts Center
Fri 10/3 Grass Valley, CA The Center for the Arts
Sat 10/4 Stateline, NV Harrah’s Tahoe South Shore Room
Sat 10/11 Laughlin, NV Harrah’s Laughlin – Fiesta Room
Tue 10/14 Green Valley, AZ West Social Center
Thu 10/16 Flagstaff, AZ Orpheum Theater
Sat 10/18 Taos, NM KTaos Solar Center
Wed 10/22 Austin, TX One World Theatre
Thu 10/23 Dallas, TX Granada Theater
Fri 10/24 San Antonio, TX Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Wed 10/29 The Woodlands, TX Dosey Doe
Thu 10/30 The Woodlands, TX Dosey Doe
Sat 11/1 Bartlett, TN Bartlett Performing Arts & Conf. Center
Mon 11/3 Madisonville, TN Hiwassee College Auditorium
Wed 11/5 Chattanooga, TN UTC Fine Arts Center
Thu 11/6 Jackson, TN Ned R. McWherter West Tennessee Cultural Arts Center
Fri 11/7 Frankfort, KY Grand Theatre-Frankfort
Sat 11/8 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel
Sun 11/9 Knoxville, TN Bijou Theatre
Thu 11/13 Durham, NC Carolina Theatre
Fri 11/14 Charlotte, NC Bluementhal Performing Arts Center
Sat 11/15 High Point, NC High Point Theatre
Tue 11/18 Gainesville, FL Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Wed 11/19 West Palm Beach, FL Raymond F. Kravis Center/Dreyfoos Hall
Thu 11/20 Fort Pierce, FL Sunrise Theatre
Fri 11/21 Fort Lauderdale, FL Amaturo Theater
Fri 11/28 Harrisburg, PA Whitaker Center – Sunoco Performance Theater
Sat 11/29 Collingswood, NJ Scottish Rite Auditorium
Sun 11/30 Annapolis, MD Ram’s Head

 

Make sure to visit his social media sites so you can stay up to date on the latest news.

~ Marisol

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Prepare to be blown away by John 5’s new album, Careful With That Axe

Posted: August 19, 2014 in Guitarist, music, New Music, New Release, rock
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John 5 has always amazed me with his stellar guitar playing. It was no surprise that he was featured on our 12 Days of Guitarists last year. John 5 has had quite an extensive guitar career, from playing with David Lee Roth, Marilyn Manson, and others. In addition to playing with Rob Zombie, he has continued to have quite a successful solo career. He is an amazing guitarist that shreds when he plays. He is a guitar virtuoso who can play you anything from bluegrass to flamenco, instrumental to country, and metal to rock and anything else in between.

John has just released his new album, Careful With That Axe and it will blow your mind. 10 fierce tracks highlighting the excellent shredding of John as well as his versatility in style. Amid his kick ass rock shreds, he treats you to some country twang with Jerry’s Breakdown and Jiffy Jam. Flight of the Vulcan Kelly is intense and really has you spinning in a whirlwind of guitar bliss.

The spanish influenced El Cucuay is one of my favorites and reminds me of my love for his song, Noche Acosador from his previous album, God Told Me To. Another sensational highlight is the machine gun stylings of This Is My Rifle. Check out a behind the scenes recording of This Is My Rifle:

The album was released on August 12th and you can pick it up on Amazon MP3 here  or iTunes here. Whether you are a guitar player or just appreciate great musical talents this album is a must have to your collection. I hope you already own, God Told Me To. As I mentioned, it has one of my most favorite songs of all time, “Noche Acosador” which literally gives me chills when I listen to it. His guitar delivers seduction and intensity with every note. Check it out here:

 

That song just creates pure bliss for me!  It seems John 5 has no limitations on his playing as he really plays guitar across the board; no genres, no boundaries. Just Kick ass Guitar playing that will enliven all your senses. Make sure to head over to Itunes and pick up his tunes, but be warned; he is truly ear porn and addictive!

Also if you happen to be in the LA area, you can catch John 5 performing with Rick Springfield as well as a host of other special guests for a benefit concert to help their guitar tech, Ruben Velasco who is battling stage 4 cancer. More details can be found here: http://john-5.com/main/2014/08/17/john-5-to-join-rick-springfield-for-rock-for-ruben-benefit-concert-august-20/

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~ Enjoy, Marisol

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