Thankful

I'm a cologne freak--a fragrance geek. This malady probably started to germinate back in the '60s, when my next-door neighbor--who worked at a department store--brought me a bag of samples from the fragrance counter she managed. As a 7-year-old, I had all of the cool designer colognes of the day at my disposal. I was a mean-smelling second grader! I never lost the passion for good smelling stuff, and have a way over-blown collection of the best scents available on my bathroom counter.

A few weeks ago, I wandered into our local Macy's store and into the cologne department. The sales lady immediately saw me as an easy target (way too much money spent there already), and had a sample of a newer cologne ready for me to test. I instantly loved it for it's unique scent--and it did smell curiously familiar. I was intrigued. Since we are so close to Christmas, I thought it could be a good gift from my family. I kept smelling that cologne sample for the rest of our stroll through the mall.

I got home and went online to find the scent--maybe on Amazon for a cheaper price. A few days later, I was searching for some cologne to wear, and thought I'd peer into the back line of the many fragrance bottles, lined up like toy soldiers. There in the very back was a lonely bottle, not often used, and it looked quite like the cologne I was hunting online. I reached over, pulled it into the light and, behold, it was the very one I was searching for...I already had it!

That says a lot about me: One, I have too many bottles of cologne, two, I have spent way too much money on such fru fru items and, three, I have a terrible memory. But my main thought, as I found the forgotten cologne, was that so much of what we have is taken for granted, and  the things for which we desperately seek may already be in our possession.

I think of Moses and his staff, where God asked him: "What do you have in your hand?" The staff that he already had was then commanded to be thrown to the ground, consecrated, and used to lead his people out of slavery.

I know this Moses story is a far cry from my sorry cologne saga, but the point is: If we spend enough time in prayer, soul searching, and following after God's Word, we may find that what we're looking for is already in our hands, waiting to be dusted off and put into service.

I'm thankful today for the blessings I didn't know I had--there are so many. I will take this reminder  into tomorrow as my family gathers for our Thanksgiving feast. Thank you, God, for Your many unseen blessings--and for my new found cologne!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

10 Guitars That Changed Music Forever

Please allow me another indulgence...

I want to share with you a cool series of videos hosted by Randy Bachman (The Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive). Each video spotlights a particular guitar which has, in some way, played an important part in Rock and Roll. Every gigging guitar player would love to have each of these models in his/her arsenal. Even though the tone differences can be subtle between certain models, it's clear that a few are very distinctive.

Which three of these tones are your faves? I'm missing a Gretch in my collection, and I'm sorry I sold my Gibson Les Paul Special a few years ago. Oh well, I still enjoy the ones living in my studio guitar boat, and they'll NEVER get away!

All the videos are from a playlist and will play in sequence...it's worth your time, git-pickers!

Enjoy,
Jamie

Late Night Guitar Geek

When I write my weekly blog I try not to isolate or, rather, bore any one reader--though it's always a gamble. Today I am probably going to alienate somebody with a guitar geek post.

I'm a huge fan of Premier Guitar magazine (PG). Along with a great print edition, they have an extraordinary web presence, including an ever-flowing stream of gear reviews and rig breakdowns from some of my favorite players. Yesterday, PG sent out an email with six links to rig rundowns for guitar players and bassists of six late-night show bands. I think interviewer Rebecca Dirks and PG hit the ball out of the park on this one!

I am partial to the Conan O'Brien Show and Saturday Night Live because I watch them regularly. I'm also a fan of both Conan's Jimmy Vivino (his guitar gear  passion is contagious) and SNL's Jared Scharff.

I have included the videos to these two rig rundowns I mention below, and a link to all six can be found HERE.

I am a lover and a chaser of killer guitar tone. It's such a subjective journey. But as most of those interviewed in the rig rundowns attest: it's all about getting the job done, every night of the week. In other words: songs first, gear second!