Eric Clapton was awesome. This is a concert that I really never thought I would get a chance to see, and it was amazing. My favorite Eric Clapton is Blues Clapton, and this concert was 100% blues.

Sadly, when I purchased the tickets they had a different seating plan showing on Ticketmaster than the actual one they used. In the plan they show it looked like we were on the 6th row to the left of the stage. In actual fact we were in the 36th row. I know, sucks. Still, it was amazing to be at the show and I would have paid what I did again any day.

Robert Cray was Clapton’s opening act. He came on at about 7:30 and played for 30 minutes. He has a cool style and an amazing voice. I thought he was really good. By 8:30 Clapton was playing. He stuck to the blues this time and every song turned into an extended solo for every member of the band. He played songs including Keys to the Highway, Got to get Better in a Little While, Tell the Truth, Motherless Children, and Little Queen of Spades. At roughly 10pm the band left the stage but soon came back for an encore. For their encore they whipped out Crossroads and Little Wing. Oh yeah, and there was an acoustic set in the middle of the show. I loved hearing Running on Faith live.

On top of the amazing musicians, the sound setup was pristine. I have no complaints. It sounded just like it would if you had the DVD playing on your home stereo system. Whoever did the sound setup should give themselves a pat on the back. I was impressed.

I think the 14,999 other people at the Saddledome will agree with me that it was one of the best concerts they have ever seen. Anyone who likes Clapton would have been in heaven. I know I said I would try to get photos, but it was much too dark and nothing seemed to turn out on my digital camera.

I was reading the Guitar Squad blog and came across a post on a new blues prodigy, Jimmy Bowskill. I can remember not a few years ago Kenny Wayne Shepherd was the blues kid everyone was talking about. It seems as thought Jimmy Bowskill at the ripe age of 16 might be the next KWS, and possibly the next SRV. For a 16 year old he has a very good handle on the guitar and a great sense of rhythm, which is important when playing the blues.

The self taught blues guitarist was nominated for the Juno Blues Album of the Year in 2005 and Favorite Blues Artist in both 2004 and 2005. If you visit his site at www.jimmybowskil.com there a few audio tracks you can listen to as well as 3 video clips. Jimmy Bowskill will be a guy to watch over the next few years.

The Roadhouse is the finest blues you’ve never heard. The site hosts a weekly one hour blues podcast featuring unknown or unsigned artists. Podcasts also include a featured artist each week, sometimes with an interview. The site has been going strong for over a year now and they are currently up to cast #55. I’m not sure if all 55 are still online, but any you can get are worth a listen. Its some great music and a great listen for any blues fan. I’m not a real podcast kind of guy, but this one is great. I hope they keep up the great work.

Check it out at http://www.roadhousepodcast.com/

I know it’s a little late, but here’s my overview of February’s Guitar World. I was a little skeptical when I saw the cover. What is Jimmy page doing with Jack White? I was really hoping they werent doing some kind of colaboration. When I read the article I realized it was just a discussion about their blues influences. The article really focuses on the pioneering of blues by Charley Patton, Son House, and Robert Johnson, and how those artists influenced Page and White. I few pages later it is followed by a five page article on John Bonham, the drummer from Led Zeppelin.

5 Song Transcriptions

1. Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven
2. White Stripes - Blue Rochid
3. Coheed and Cambria - The Suffering
4. Korn - Twisted Transistor
5. Deep Purple - Lazy

The Cover Story: The Art of Playing the Devil’s Music

Jimmy Page and Jack White talk about their musical roots and their blues influences.

Guitar World Honors the Drummer Behind Led Zeppelin’s Rise and Fall

A look into the life of one of rock’s greatest drummers, John Bonham.

Stair Master

The Ultimate Guide to Playing the Ultimate Classic Rock Guitar Song, Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven
Jimmy Brown goes through each part of Stairway to Heaven with us and shows us each parth. This article is accompanied by a video lesson on the CD.

Continue reading Guitar World: February 2006