This blog spot is the home to my ramblings. I am a free lance writer. Most of my work goes on Associated Content. Sometimes I write what is on my mind, sometimes I plug some of my writing, and sometimes a combination of the two. So, sit back read, enjoy, and we will see where it goes.
John Mayer must have been watching this Battle of the Bands from the sidelines as no one voted for his version of "After Midnight." It was a tight contest between Eric Clapton and the songwriter J.J. Cale. Mr. Cale edged out Mr. Slowhand 4 to 3.
Celebrating his victory we spin his tunes...
Here they are together Eric and J.J with "After Midnight" and "Call Me the Breeze"….
"Magnolia"
"Cloudy Day"
I hope you enjoyed the battle and I will be back on the 15th with a brand new Battle of the Bands. In between I might blog about something so feel free to come back and visit.
After Midnight and it will be 2019! Happy New Year's everyone. It is time for the first Battle of the Bands of 2019. The song is J.J Cale's "After Midnight." It's a New Year's Party lets go with three versions.
Contender One: Eric Clapton
Contender Two: J.J. Cale
Contender Three: John Mayer Trio
Eric Clapton's rocking 1988 version, the original, or John Mayer's exploration who gets your vote? Vote for the version you like best in the comments. I will count them up and announce a winner before 2020. Hope you have a safe Holiday!
I'm playing catch up trying to catch up and vote in the Battle of the Bands. Work and a sick child is kind of slowing me down in that department. Of course I wanted to celebrate BB King's birthday but I have posted quite a bit about him this year with his passing.
I wanted to post something new on the subject and here it is. Memphis dedicated a street to the late blues great today calling it B.B. King Boulevard. You can read more about that here.
I guess in spirit you could go "Riding With the King"
"King of the Blues" with John Mayer..
"The Thrill is Gone" featuring Tracy Chapman...
On the songs I went with special guests to make it a little different. B.B, King is certainly missed and a his birthday is a great excuse to celebrate his music. I will be back soon with a new post!
Bob Dylan turns 72 today. How do you honor a man who has been covered, written many classic songs, has his own satalite radio show?
Reunite Guns and Roses to play this..
Well that's not going to happen. Make him cringe with Miley Cyrus covering him...
Here is John Mayer covering "Don't Think Twice"
Yes, I am having fun selecting some covers but I want to make sure they are different from other Bob covers I have included in past posts. Plus with artists like John and Miley is shows he is still touching younger generations of musicians and his legacy grows.Below is the man himself singing Happy Brthday and performing "Like A Rolling Stone" with Tom Petty's Heartbreakers...
Here Neil Young covers Blowin in the Wind...
and here is Norah Jones
Happy Birthday Bob Dylan! I hope everyone enjoys the music and I will be back soon with a new post
Today in music history May 15, 1954 the Fender Stratocaster was officially released. One of the most popular guitars ever made and often copied.
Here is a video comparing two 1954 guitars...
Here is Buddy Guy playing a Fender Stratocaster, live in concert (photo copyrighted by me, Mike Spain)
Buddy Guy is probably the musician who should have influenced my liking of the Stratocaster. But this guy is the one wh really turned me onto this guitar...Jeff Beck
This guy probably turned the whole world onto Stratocasters...
Of course there is this guy as well...Eric Clapton. here he is talking guitars..
Here is a look into the man behind Fender, Leo Fender's office...
Okay I don't want to be sexist so here is Bonnie Raitt doing her thing on guitar...
Here is how one is made...
Here is another Strat mand David Gilmour..
okay I have to put Stevie Ray Vaughan on this list as well
From blues, rock to country here is Brad Paisley...
and contemporary here is John Mayer...
The thing about a Fender Stratocaster I could go on and on! Happy Birthday Stratocaster!
Yesterday I shared the 2013 Mountain Jam line up today I will share The 2013 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival line up better known simply as Jazz Fest! I was fortunate to go to this festival once and it was incredible! A blend of multiple styles of music.
The Festival runs April 26 through Sunday May 5 for specific lineups per day please check out their website.
Billy Joel
The biggest names in music play this festival. Also probably a bunch of folks you have never heard before who will blow your mind musically. Billy Joel is one of those biggest names. He recently played the 12.12.12 Concert.
Fleetwood Mac
You may have heard the rumors that Fleetwood Mac has reunited once more for another tour. One of their stops will be JazzFest.
The Dave Matthews Band
Another big nam, The Dave Matthews Band will also play the Fest. They are no strangers to playing festivals and big stages.
Maroon 5
This band has moves like Jagger..
The Black Keys
Another band that is developing quite a following is The Black Keys.
John Mayer
One of the most popular guitar/singers out there John Mayer will also be performing.
Widespread Panic
One of the biggest jam bands out there, Widespread Panic will be playing the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Like my previous post they will also be playing Mountain Jam.
Daryl Hall and John Oates
Do anyone remember these guys? I am sure you do let me find a video to rewind your memory.
Phoenix
B.B. King
The King, a living legend in Blues Music, and incredible entertainer, and a headliner at Jazz Fest. Yes, B.B. King will be there!
Frank Ocean
Earth, Wind, and Fire
A classic old school band here...
Willie Nelson and Family
Willie Nelson is a legend!
Little Big Town
Little Big Town is headed for the Big Easy. Last year they enjoyed a number one hit with this song...
George Benson
Of course there is jazz
It is a wonderful festival with a lot of bands. I will list some more below but cut down on comments and videos due to space.
Jill Scott, Jimmy Cliff, Gypsy Kings, Jeffrey Osborne, Patti Smith, Ben Harper with Charlie Musselwhite..
That last combo deserved a video...
Band of Horses, Gary Clark Jr, Andrew Bird, Maze, Juan Louis Guerra y 440 and Los Lobos
There is still more! The Little Willies, Kem Roy Ayers, Laura Bell Bundy, Dianne Reaves, and the Stanley Clarke/George Duke Project
Charles Bradley, Wayne Shorter Quartet, the legendary Taj Mahal with the Real Thing Tuba Band...I have seen Taj Mahal open for Eric CLapton and at The Wanee Festival...
Calexico, Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, Vashawn Mitchell, Jushua Redman Quertet, Mutemath, and the amazing Ana Popovic...
The Mavericks, Little Joe Y La Familia, Campbell Brothers, Brushy One String of Jamaica, dobro master Jerry Douglas, Daryl Coley, Magary Lord of Bahia-Brazil, Male Debale of Bahia-Brazil, The Del McCoury Band with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band..wow Bluegrass and jazz mixing it up! Doc McKenzie and the Hi Lites, Pokey LaFarge, Salio from the Republic of Georgia, Robert Mirabal, Martha Redbone, Bill Miller, Pura Fe, A Tribe Called Red, Yellow Bird Indian Dancers, Stoney Creek Indian Dancers, Oneida Longhouse Singers and Dancers. Here comes the Funk! Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Pete Fountain, The Nevilles, Rebirth Brass Band, Galactic, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk, Better than Ezra, The Meter Men with Page McConnell, Kermitt Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers, The 35th Anniversary Celebration of "One Mo' Time!" Marc Broussard, Chris Owens, Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys, Papa Grows Funk, and Cowboy Mouth Tab Benoit is someone you should discover..
Anders Osborne, Theresa Andersson, Big Sam's Funky Nation, slide master Sonny Landreth, Jon Cleary, John Boutte, the legendary Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Jeremy Davenport, Deacon John, Davell Crawford, Terence Blanchard, Rockin' Dopsie Jr and The Zydeco Twisters, Henry Butler, Donald Harrison and Bonerama.
One heck of a lineup for one of the best festivals in the world! I am getting festival fever over here!
One of the article I wrote was about upcoming album (CD) releases. You can read the article here. I guess I could have mentioned the upcoming Carrie Underwood album but I didn't.
I focused on Them Crooked Vultures, the CD I am most looking forward too! I will probably buy it on the 17th. It features Dave Grohl, from the Foo Fighters, on drums (what he used to play in Nirvana). It also features legendary Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age on vocals and guitars.
Dave Grohl is busy as his band, The Foo Fighters release their Greatest Hits collection this month.
The popular bands such as Bon Jovi and John Mayer also get mentioned in my article. I also mention the seasonal release by Tori Amos.
