One of the most overlooked pieces of equipment a musicians uses is his cables. Spend all that you want on a guitar and amp, the tone will only be as good as the signal connecting them. Choosing cable can be a bit perplexing. Most music retailer and websites will have tons of options. Adding to this conundrum is pricing. A 10 foot guitar cable can retail for anywhere from $5 dollars to $125. Read the rest of this entry »

D’Addario is thrilled to announce the signing of Grammy-winning and Billboard-charting bassist, Victor Wooten. Victor Wooten, a five-time Grammy winner, formed the super-groups Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and later SMV with Stanley Clark and Marcus Miller. In addition to his Grammy-nominated solo recordings and tours, Wooten has won every major award given to a bass guitarist including being voted Bassist of the Year in Bass Player Magazine’s readers poll three times and the only person to win it more than once. In 2011, Rolling Stone Magazine voted him one of the Top Ten Bassists of all time. In 2000, he formed his acclaimed Bass/Nature Camp in response to musicians wanting to learn his unique style and elusive techniques. This eventually expanded into Victor Wooten’s Center for Music and Nature. Read the rest of this entry »

D’Addario is proud to announce Planet Waves’ American Stage cables were named winners of Winter NAMM’s Best in Show “Gotta Stock It” Category; Best in Show Awards are part of a NAMM University educational program featuring six panelists who represent single-store operations, small- to mid-sized chains and one of the industry’s top trade magazines.

Recipient of the “Gotta Stock It” category, Planet Waves’ American Stage cables have been designed and manufactured in the U.S. This special cable features Planet Waves’ exclusive In=Out technology for optimum signal transparency, 180-degree solder joints for superior conductivity and strength, and the exclusively patented Geo-Tip design for improved fit in all jacks. Read the rest of this entry »

Ken Selcer’s Don’t Forget About Me resonates with the freshness of a summer breeze, the sparkle of a cold spring well, and the deepening hues of tomorrow’s perfect sunset. Like the beauties of nature, its sounds will gently beckon the listener back again and again.

The singer, songwriter, and guitarist plays folk, rock, country, and blues to create his own unique amalgam of roots music on this 15 track album. Selcer’s third CD, Don’t Forget About Me spotlights 13 original compositions, two of which are reprised with differing arrangements. Read the rest of this entry »

Evans Drumheads and PureSound Percussion are excited to announce the signing of John Wicks, drummer of soul/indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums. John Wicks is a performing, touring, writing, and founding member of Fitz & The Tantrums (Dangerbird Records), based in Los Angeles. He is also a busy studio session drummer who has recently played live and/or recorded with Bruno Mars (Elektra) #1, Cee Lo Green (Elektra), B.o.B. (Atlantic), Meshell Ndegeocello, Chocolate Genius Inc. (One Little Indian Records), Burt Bacharach, Jessie Baylin (Verve Records), Money Mark (Brushfire/Universal), Cory Chisel (Columbia) Heather Porcaro, Diana DeGarmo (American Idol), and many more. Read the rest of this entry »

BET will celebrate the life and accomplishments of Grammy-award winner and legendary talent Whitney Houston with a special lineup of programming beginning Sunday, February 12 . “We are all simply heartbroken by the sudden passing of Whitney Houston. She was among the greatest artists of our time. She was an icon, trailblazer, international phenomenon—an incomparable talent that will forever be missed. Our prayers and condolences go out to her daughter, mother and her entire family. We will always love her,” said Debra L. Lee , Chairman and CEO of BET Networks. Read the rest of this entry »

On Monday, February 13th at 9:30 PM/7c, VH1 will premiere the “VH1 News Special -”Whitney Houston: Death of a Diva,” hosted by Janell Snowden and featuring the latest updates on events surrounding her death as well as reactions from attendees at her mentor music mogul Clive Davis’s annual pre-Grammy Awards party last night as well as tributes from officials, artists and music executives and fans.

VH1′s new “100 Greatest Women In Music” five-night countdown special premiering on Monday, February 13th at 10 PM/9c will also acknowledge the tremendous loss and salute Houston’s legacy and wide-ranging influence. “100 Greatest Women In Music” will honor female artists who have thrived in the music industry from 1990 to present day, pop, R & B, rap, country and rock. Read the rest of this entry »

24 hours after she was seen leaving a L.A. nightspot disheveled. Whitney Houston has passed away. The once shining star of the pop and R&B world had success not only with music but also films at the top of her career.

Lt. Mark Rosen, of the Bevery Hills Police Department said. The Beverly Hills Police Department responded to an emergency call at the Beverly Hills Hotel Saturday, Members of hotel staff and fire department officials attempted to revive a person on the fourth floor, who has since been confirmed to be Houston. Read the rest of this entry »

Better lit than 1972’s Ladies & Gentlemen The Rolling Stones, that DVD filmed over four nights in Texas during 1972’s “Exile on Main Street” tour, this “Some Girls Live” is from a Fort Worth, Texas from July 18, 1978. The two projects – with 6 years between them – provide a Texas-twosome of Stones performances that make for good analysis…as well as the general good old time we expect from Mick & the boys.

“All Down the Line” is a nice enough kick-off, a slowed-down “Honky Tonk Women” exquisite for the musicianship and nice mix in the headphones, though one wonders if Mick Jagger’s pantomimes will survive the centuries as future historians look back into these time capsules. Perhaps I spoke too soon here as the nasty and vindictive side of Mick has him beaming with malevolence on the very next track. Read the rest of this entry »

That Guitar from “Back Then” You Always Wanted! Every player dreams about the guitar or bass that lit the original fire to become a musician: a used Stratocaster like the one Hendrix played, or a used Les Paul like Jimmy Page’s, even a used Rickenbacker, just like the one John Lennon played. They’re all still out there! And you still want one, but where can you find it? Read the rest of this entry »

Yes, that’s Van Halen. Not to be confused with the Van Hagar version of the band that clogged the 90′s with prom themes and mediocrity but the real deal.: The full-throttle, David Lee Roth led sonic explosion that fans have been waiting for since 1984. For the first time in 28 years (save a couple of throwaway tracks on a compilation) Eddie and Alex Van Halen have managed to get along with Roth long enough to produce a staggering return to form. It is a throwback to their classic sound and swagger and a welcome respite from a lot of generic pop tarts and emo bands currently on the airwaves. But is it any good? Departed vocalist Sammy Hagar, in his autobiography, painted Eddie Van Halen as a cash-strapped drunk who could barely stand, never mind play. So is this just a calculated cash-grab by the brothers VH or simply a bunch of old friends re-discovering their love of basic, balls-to-the-wall heavy rock? Let’s check the Scorecard: Read the rest of this entry »

How many critics are going to clue in on the misnomer in the title, the Rolling Stones owning the trademark “Greatest Rock Band in the World” by eminent domain, if not hard fact. Indeed, it is hard to argue with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and their longevity…staggering income, and timeless popularity as not the heirs to the throne, but those who had created it. Despite the “massive” popularity discussed in this documentary (listen to the “Flash Gordon” segment, and the quip against the critics), this critic remains steadfast that Queen is a great band for its specific niche, but the fans of Jimi Hendrix, Lennon & McCartney, Janis Joplin, The Doors and a variety of other major, major stars have a solid argument that, though Queen is a mighty force, it can hardly be considered the “greatest” rock & roll band in the world. To go down that avenue is to ignore the legacy of Freddie Mercury…it is a bit insulting to his memory, in my opinion… Read the rest of this entry »

Following the recent announcement of a 19-date tour to commemorate the 40th anniversary of ‘Thick As A Brick,’ on April 2nd (April 3rd in North America) Ian Anderson will release a sequel to the original album.

In 1972, Ian Anderson wrote and recorded the Jethro Tull Progressive Rock classic album ‘Thick As A Brick.’ The lyrics were credited at the time to the fictitious child character, Gerald Bostock , whose parents supposedly lied about his age.  The record instantly became a number one Billboard Chart album and enjoyed considerable success in many countries of the world. Read the rest of this entry »

Shred Les Paul Studio If you’re seeking a full-bore Les Paul primed for the rock excesses of the 21st century, the new Shred Les Paul Studio with Floyd Rose™ from Gibson USA is the way to go. This guitar has all the ingredients that have helped to make the Les Paul a legendary rock axe since the 1950s—including the classic mahogany and maple body construction, glued-in mahogany neck, and dual humbucking pickups—enhanced with the versatility of a genuine Floyd Rose™ vibrato bridge. To make it all the more appealing for the demanding guitarist on a tight budget, the entire package is wrapped up into the Les Paul Studio format, making the Shred Les Paul Studio with Floyd Rose™ the latest in a long line of guitars that have been consistent favorites since their introduction in 1983. Blending genuine Gibson Les Paul quality and construction with trimmed-down, no-nonsense styling, the Studio range offers unbeatable value, and provides the perfect home for the powerful new Shred Les Paul Studio with Floyd Rose™. Read the rest of this entry »

The Seymour Duncan Custom Shop has teamed up with blues-rock virtuoso Joe Bonamassa to produce the Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set. This immaculately crafted and calibrated dual-humbucker set accurately replicates the P.A.F. pickups in Joe’s beloved 1959 sunburst Les Paul. Their rich, dynamic, and nuanced voice will appeal to all tone connoisseurs who cherish the passion and power of the original humbucker. Read the rest of this entry »

Moog Music has announced that it has won an Outstanding Technical Achievement award from the TEC (Technical Excellence & Creativity) Foundation in recognition of its Slim Phatty analog synthesizer, launched in 2011. Mike Adams, CEO/President; Cyril Lance, Chief Engineer and Steve Dunnington, Product Development Specialist of Moog Music were all on hand to accept the award during a special recognition ceremony held at the 2012 NAMM show in Anaheim, CA on Friday evening. Read the rest of this entry »