I can’t believe this is almost 10 years old….Enjoy! – AR
Archives for May 2010
Critical Info for Youtube Musicians Who Perform Cover Songs
UPDATE: It’s now 2022, but I wrote this in 2010. Crazy. A lot has changed since then. Feel free to ask questions in the comment section! – AR
[Read more…] about Critical Info for Youtube Musicians Who Perform Cover SongsGuitar Spotlight: Smokin’ Joe Robinson
Guitar Spotlight: Smokin ‘ Joe Robinson
Joe Robinson is one of the shining young talents on the music scene today. He won top prize on “Australia’s got Talent” at age 14, has toured internationally and is currently honing his songwriting and vocal skills with top songwriters and producers in Nashville.
I first met Joe during my first visit to CAAS 2008 in Nashvlle. I only heard him play one tune and found myself at the dinner table with him an his Mom. His playing knocked me out, so I figured I’d come over and say hi.
What struck me about Joe immediately was that he was such a nice, humble kid. For someone who had won top prize on “Australia’s Got Talent” he had every reason in the world to not act humble. Yet, the true artist and musician in him shone forth in his great attitude. Joe is always eager to learn, always seeking to improve, and always appreciative of what life has offered him.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU-0cCRbNCQ]
Wow. Cool dude.
What struck me second was his insane level of talent and dedication to music and guitar. Joe, Michael Fix, Boonchob, Masa Sumide and I all played in 2009 at the Bangkok Guitar celebration where Tommy Emmanuel headlined. I got to spend some more time with Joe there and got to check out his playing on a deeper level.
Joe may not know this, but as he played his set – Tommy , Michael and I listened and just loved what he was doing. Tommy even said “this kid is not leaving any notes for the rest of us old guys!!!”
By the way here’s the tune that got that reaction – an original of Joe’s entitled “It Ain’t Easy”. Well put!
Not only does Joe posses terrific playing, performing and personal skills but he is a great guitar composer. HIs songs have a real musical “hook” and a ferocious groove. He has a very “jazzy” direction to his music.
Here’s a more funky jazz direction on his tune “Daddy Longlicks”:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxabxU6cx-w]
Many guitarists meander and create songs out of what their fingers do. Joe’s fingers obey what his ears and musical mind dictate, which is the proper order of things!!! As well, his songs display a keen sense of form, everything lines up, everything makes sense.
Joe is already an accomplished fingerstyle guitar player but plays GREAT electric too, and is currently in a songwriting and expanding mode. Once again – my hat is off to him for taking the necessary time out from the road to develop new skills.
Listen to Joe cover a Jeff Beck tune “Cause We Ended as Lovers”. This is a MUST listen.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW_ftud2s-8]
Watch out for Joe Robinson – he’s destined to be one of the guitar heavyweight champions!!! Bravo Joe, I can’t wait to hear what you’ll be up to next.
Spring 2010 Tour Highlights, Miracles and Averted Catastrophes
Hey Gang!
I am back in good ol’ NYC and feeling so satisfied and thankful for the incredible European solo guitar tour Feb 27 – Apr 27, 2010. Special thanks to all the friends and fans who came together to make every gig a screaming success!!!
Looking back, here are the “News Headlines” of this unforgattable tour.
The Backpack Incident
Touring alone ain’t easy – so I am on the lookout for a traveling partner / soundman assistant type person. Let me know if you or someone you know may be interested. Traveling alone it is easy to make a mistake – just like this…
On March 5 I had a gig in Eschweiller, Germany. As I was about to step out of the train, the door was broken and would not open. I had to get out and get to the gig…and other riders said “you need to use the other door”.
No problem. I grabbed 2 guitars and my suitcase and ran off the train. Uh oh….where’s my backpack with my laptop, passport, paper train tix AND plane tix, guitar pedals, 2 ipods, 2 cell phones…it’s still on the train heading to Aachen! D’oh!
Just imagine. Your life is on this train as it’s pulling out (different town, but same feeling):
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfttAxrE1T8]
Hallelujah! A young student found it and called me within 15 minutes. Had it been a major city like Brussels I probably could kiss the backpack goodbye. Problem solved…needless to say this young fella got free CDs, DVDs and lifetime admission to any of my concerts…
Roll Over Amadeus! Concert at the Vienna Mozart Haus
As I wrote in a previous blog post, it was a thrill to play in the house in Vienna where Mozart lived. It is there that he and Haydn met. At first I felt apologetic to ol’ Amadeus as I busted out the human beatbox on Herbie Hanckock’s CHAMELEON, and then realized – he would have liked it.
I felt his smile in the room. Thanks Wolfgang!
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpPPXiG5xbw]
Oxford Jazz Festival and Big Bang Max
Well, a lot of guys say they’ll give you the shirts off their backs. Actually Max – owner of Big Bang in Oxford London tore his shirt in half for me in the middle of a concert so I could wipe sweat from the bald head o’ mine.
That’s a dedicated fan!!!! Yeah Max!!!
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es68nTTvHag]
https://www.twitter.com/BigBangMax
I got to hang there for 2 sold out concerts and 2 late night jazz Jams. Can’t wait to go back for the frighteningly tasty bangers & mash next time!
https://www.thebigbangrestaurants.co.uk/
THE VOLCANO
Yes, I was 3 hours outside London and had a plane ticket all set for London to Berlin on April 16 and then this cute little volcano happened, creating a historic air travel deadlock worse than Sept 11. Luckily I moved quickly to buy a train ticket and made it outta there!
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ct3nNiNmhc]
Travel started at 3:30 am after the last UK gig and didn’t stop until 8pm. 17 hours of trains more crowded than NYC subways at rush hour – and straight to soundcheck and the gig in Magdeburg, Germany. The audience and vibes were so great that the gig was one of the best on the tour. Yes, I slept late the next day.
SUPERNATURAL Festival – Belgrade, Serbia
Wow. This gig was a milestone…this festival is called the “Woodstock of Serbia” – no less than 3000 people in the crowd, a killer sound system and a non stop party. PA speakers were 3 stories high….beatbox and percussion were awesome through this rig.
https://www.supernaturalfest.com/eng_index.php
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwomWHv0Iik]
That’s the tour in an itty bitty nutshell. Thank you for viewing, listening, reading.
Keep swingin’
Adam