Welcome back to all of you on Santa's naughty list.
Twisted Sister- Oh Come All Ye Faithful - https://youtu.be/YV-SpT69IZ8
Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?
Ever seen a pedal steel guitar? If you've ever listened to country music then you'll have heard one for sure. I love the way they sound, maybe like a smooth guitar crying, but they are insanely complex. Two necks usually with ten strings each, eight pedals, and four levers. Here's a neat video detailing how it all works. Bucky Baxter from Steve Earle's band uses one here to great effect in this clip from 1986. The reason I'm mentioning these guitars is that I heard one on the new Pink Floyd release and it's awesome. They've released the 50th Anniversary version of Wish You Were Here and included in the extra tracks is this absolute gem...
Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (Pedal Steel Instrumental Mix) - https://youtu.be/bRdM6B2Uoto
Here's something a lot more recent with some great pedal steel work. Interestingly enough, Bucky Baxter again!
Kacey Musgraves - It Is What It Is - https://youtu.be/X08mboeFqLw
And I do appreciate you being 'round...
A few weeks ago, one of my best mates dropped me a message to see if I had time to go to the guitar shop with him. I mean, do I need an excuse? He's been playing for a little while now and wanted to look for his first electric guitar. We had tons of fun playing Les Pauls, Strats, a Tele and a Gretsch hollowbody as well. It was great to go in on a weekday and have the opportunity to be left alone to see what felt and sounded right. In the end my mate ended up with a beautiful 2017 Les Paul Traditional. Through a clean amp and on the neck pickup it really sings.
This got me thinking about getting my first electric guitar at Northern Music in Porirua. A guitar which I still have. I'm not sure I had much choice on the day other than the colour of the guitar. But I walked away with a red guitar, three chords and the truth and never looked back. Thanks Mum. Not long after that my slightly bemused Dad looked on as I trialled overdrive and distortion pedals in Melbourne. That little yellow box, also still in my possession, was so much fun. I'm very fortunate that both of my parents have always encouraged my love of guitars and music, even when it got loud!
Over the years I've been fortunate enough to be in a position to either help people choose guitars or to loan them something so that they can see how it feels and sounds. Guitar shops can feel overwhelming as can buying something second hand from a stranger. I was once asked why I wanted to spend a whole day helping someone else rather than being at home. I'm still recovering from that episode. Onwards...
The Screaming Jets - Helping Hand (live) - https://youtu.be/m2XkRmeGe4Q
Don't panic...
Recently I was watching a rather good TV series called Screw. It stars Jamie-Lee O'Donnell who some of you will remember from Derry Girls. To watch the second series, I needed to sign up to another streaming service but, the Scotsman in me noted that there was a seven day free trial. After finishing that series, and lamenting the fact that there is no third season, something caught my eye. This streaming service also includes Dad's Army in its catalogue. I watched a few episodes and it really perked me up. It's humour that is not loud, angry, vulgar or demeaning. There's so much of this that I haven't seen before and it really is very funny.
I'm nothing special, in fact I'm a bit of a bore...
It's almost Christmas and that means different things to us all. I'm super excited that I'll get to see Angus and Em on the 24th and then spend some time with some of my closest friends and dogs on Christmas Day. I've done massive family Christmases, which were a lot of fun, and also spent a few by myself, which I didn't like at all. So, however you choose to spend the day, if you celebrate or not, I hope it's ok. There's a lot of good in the world and for me Christmas is a day to reflect on that. Thank you to everyone who reads this, comments, interacts, or simply smiles and shakes their head at my neverending desire to share good music with you all.
ABBA - Thank You For The Music (live) - https://youtu.be/qzfSjzgbAuQ
Rock on everyone,
The Woozle
"Once upon a time was a backbeat
Once upon a time all the chords came to life
And the angels had guitars even before they had wings
If you hold on to a chorus you can get through the night..."
Once upon a time all the chords came to life
And the angels had guitars even before they had wings
If you hold on to a chorus you can get through the night..."
Jim Steinman, Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through, 1981.
