Just a quick plug for a few bands I've recently heard

Check out these cool artists:

The Wonder Years

Connie Lim

And the Rock Chick outta the bunch Laura Wilde!

Slayer Guitarist Jeff Hanneman Dead at 49

Sad news today from the thrash metal world.  Founding member of Slayer Jeff Hanneman died from liver failure that was related to an existing illness (flesh eating disease).

There was a time quite a few years ago that I was really into thrash and Slayer was at the top of my list. Jeff was like all great rhythm guitarists, rock solid and the anchor for the band.

Heaven's thrash band has a great new member, say hi to Dimebag for us.  Rest In Peace.

ZZ Top: Texas Treasure, Pure Rock n' Roll Gold

Another legendary act from Texas!  I LOVE ZZ Top!  This band has been a HUGE influence on me for a very long time.  Their look is original and the attitude is pure Texas, but the music, the music is LEGENDARY!  This band is rock solid, good old Texas blues rock.  They're the only band I know of that have ever had livestock on stage during a show.  The beards, the babes, the guitars and cars.  There has never been nor will there ever be another band quite like this Texas trio.  And they back all of this up with groovy, funky, bluesy, in your face rock n' roll.  They have been together as a band with original members for over 40 years.  Jimi Hendrix called Billy F. Gibbons "My favorite guitar player".  What a compliment from the legendary axeslinger! What other band can say that?  So sit back, grab a cold Lone Star or Shiner Bock, crank up the stereo and enjoy a little bit of Texas.

Solid New Rock out of the UK: A New Tomorrow

I just watched the new video from UK newcomers A New Tomorrow.  The song is "Brighter Than The Sun" and the vid is slickly produced, and highlights the restrained energy of the band.  They have just the right blend of edginess and melodic groove.  Check'em out, I hope you like them.

Website:  A New Tomorrow

Twitter: A New Tomorrow on Twitter

The Star Spangled Banner, Perhaps the Most Important Song in American History

I posted this a few days ago, but the video link was jacked up.

We all know this song (or we should), We've heard it performed by singers from opera, jazz, R & B, country, orchestral, praise, and instrumental.  We've heard Whitney do it, Huey Lewis, Beyonce, freakin' Rosanne, and Jimi Hendrix.  Francis Scott Key penned it during the war of 1812, In 2012 the awesome patriotic rock band Madison Rising did it true justice.  Check it out!

The Band that Changed My Life!

In 1978 I was a prepubescent 12 1/2 year old.  I was a card carrying member of the K.C. & The Sunshine Band fan club.  Then one day my older brother brought home THIS!  

From the opening wail of 'Runnin' With the Devil' to the cool shuffle of 'Ice Cream Man', I knew every lyric and nuance of every song within weeks.  I honestly think that I could go 10 or more years without hearing this record (which I would NEVER do), and still remember those lyrics.  They're THAT burned into my brain.  And in the following years, Van Halen churned out an album a year all the way through 1984.  I intend to cover each and every one of them on this blog sometime in the future, so stay tuned.  In the meantime, I found this clip of Eddie performing 'Eruption' in 1978.  Enjoy!

RIP Ritchie Havens

Singer Ritchie Havens passed away at the age of 72. I can't claim to be a diehard fan but he was the first on stage at Woodstock. He performed "Freedom", the video of his performance is mesmerizing. He had a very unique way of using his thumb on his fretting hand to play some chords. RIP Mr. Havens.

The Legendary Led Zeppelin

My step brothers exposed me to Led Zeppelin at a young age.  How can any sane person NOT dig this?

Charley Pride on Hee-Haw

The family watched Hee-Haw every week. This clip is from June of 1969. Charley Pride is another great talent that my late Mom exposed me to. Thanks Mom.

There was an old wooden Indian at a gas station in Marble Falls, Texas.  We would stop there to see the rattlesnakes they had on display and that wooden Indian too!

Enjoy!

The Late Great SRV!

My NUMBER ONE favorite guitarist of ALL TIME!  I dig SRV so much, I've got the tattoo.  Stevie died WAY before his time.  He will be forever missed.

Tech issues on new blog.

Links disappeared while viewing on mobile, trying to figure it out.

Eric Tessmer Band

ETB is a very hard working band out of Austin. I've been a fan for a few years and been to a show or two. Eric is an extremely talented guitarist with an equally talented rhythm section. Check 'em out.

http://www.erictessmerband.com/

Winchester Rebel: Best Band You've Never Heard Of

Winchester Rebel. These guys started following my Twitter account out of the blue. I figured the least I could do is give them a listen. I was blown away. Great musicianship combined with thoughtful song writing and solid vocals.

http://youtu.be/ffRKGxUFlSQ

Winchester Rebel is available on iTunes & Amazon.

I love this tune. It is the theme song for Shameless. The Luck You Got by The High Strung.

The King

Let's kick it off with the King! The one and only Elvis Presley performs Hound Dog very shortly before his death.  I remember my Mom had a whole bunch of Elvis records and as a very young child my brother and I would listen to them for hours on end.  We also watched any and all Elvis movies on TV.  Long live the King!