A few months prior... before the site overhaul, many unique circumstances and many many more delays, I went to a concert. That by itself is not all that uncommon as I go to a number of concerts every year and will certainly go to more every year in the future.

So we are a few days post Lollapalooza 2009 now. Unfortunately financial difficulties (a fancy way of saying "lack of money") prevented me from going this year. I scrimped and saved, but unforeseen headaches arose and things fell through... a shame too because it sounds like it was a pretty sweet three days.

When it comes to my influences in my own music and guitar playing, I've got far more than one might expect. Sure I have my core favorite guitarists/musicians to whom I look to the majority of my inspiration, but the number who have inspired me numbers in the hundreds I'm sure, and includes saxophonists, violinists, and even a bagpipe player (no joke). I feel like if there's a great musician out there who's doing something innovative, powerful and emotional... then there's probably something I can appreciate and learn from to enhance my own music.

I wish I could provide this tribute under better circumstances, but unfortunately this one comes with a heavy heart. Earlier this month blues great Koko Taylor passed away at the age of 80. Nominated for a Grammy 8 times for her stellar blues albums, Koko Taylor was and is considered by many to be the indisputable "Queen of the Blues".

I actually wish I had more to say as a tribute to Koko, but to be honest I've just recently really come to appreciate her music. Instead, I thought I'd let Koko speak for herself and share some great clips of the Queen of the Blues in action.

I think it'd be a stretch to say that Jazz is one of the more mainstream genres of music these days... and if that's the case, then lets not even talk about fusion or some of the more experimental jazz varieties. That's really a shame though, because experimental jazz is where music is evolving faster than anywhere else. There are some absolutely amazing artists out there doing things that musically would have been unheard of even a few years ago, while the mainstream stagnates.

It's been a good year for concerts, at least for me. I've seen some of my favorite bands live this past year, and some of truly amazing concert events. I'm going to a few more coming this spring (reviews will be written I'm pretty sure) and recently purchased some tickets for another concert or two and that got me thinking: What makes a concert special enough that I keep going to them?

Music is an interesting art form no matter if we're talking about rock and roll or the works of Mozart. There are underlining threads that tie just about every musical style, genre and artist together at the most basic of levels. The concept of notes melody, harmony and rhythms... not necessarily the same set of notes, divisions, rhythms or types of harmony, but the concepts are always there in all forms of music. Some of these concepts, like the concept of rhythm, come quite naturally as rhythm is all around us all the time and just about anything can be used to create rhythm.

As you may have heard, there's been some information floating around about Nine Inch Nails... well it's been floating around for a few months actually. Supposedly Trent Reznor is planning on celebrating the band's 20th anniversary with a new tour before taking a bit of a break from the famous industrial band... or something like that. Rumor, now since confirmed, suggests that there would be a special guest to open for NIN on this tour, a band that toured with them way back when things first started... Jane's Addiction...

Recently, I was inspired to take a look at a slightly lesser known blues man by the name of Junior Kimbrough. Inspiration came in the form of a one-two punch; the music of a more modern band and an email contribution from a reader. Combine together with some good timing (I just happened to be listening to this "more modern band" when I read said email contribution) and we have inspiration for a small tribute to a somewhat under appreciated blues master.

Sometimes there are one hit wonders and they truly are just that. They had a moment when their songwriting skills peaked, and then unfortunately spent a good part of their career trying to recapture that initial moment. Then there are other "one or two hit wonders" or "Best of bands" (bands where their best of collections are all that are worth listening to) who have been unfortunately given these titles by pop culture, mainstream media, "music historians" and plenty of other people who consider themselves musically enlightened.

A few months prior... before the site overhaul, many unique circumstances and many many more delays, I went to a concert. That by itself is not all that uncommon as I go to a number of concerts every year and will certainly go to more every year in the future.

So we are a few days post Lollapalooza 2009 now. Unfortunately financial difficulties (a fancy way of saying "lack of money") prevented me from going this year. I scrimped and saved, but unforeseen headaches arose and things fell through... a shame too because it sounds like it was a pretty sweet three days.

When it comes to my influences in my own music and guitar playing, I've got far more than one might expect. Sure I have my core favorite guitarists/musicians to whom I look to the majority of my inspiration, but the number who have inspired me numbers in the hundreds I'm sure, and includes saxophonists, violinists, and even a bagpipe player (no joke). I feel like if there's a great musician out there who's doing something innovative, powerful and emotional... then there's probably something I can appreciate and learn from to enhance my own music.

I wish I could provide this tribute under better circumstances, but unfortunately this one comes with a heavy heart. Earlier this month blues great Koko Taylor passed away at the age of 80. Nominated for a Grammy 8 times for her stellar blues albums, Koko Taylor was and is considered by many to be the indisputable "Queen of the Blues".

I actually wish I had more to say as a tribute to Koko, but to be honest I've just recently really come to appreciate her music. Instead, I thought I'd let Koko speak for herself and share some great clips of the Queen of the Blues in action.

I think it'd be a stretch to say that Jazz is one of the more mainstream genres of music these days... and if that's the case, then lets not even talk about fusion or some of the more experimental jazz varieties. That's really a shame though, because experimental jazz is where music is evolving faster than anywhere else. There are some absolutely amazing artists out there doing things that musically would have been unheard of even a few years ago, while the mainstream stagnates.

It's been a good year for concerts, at least for me. I've seen some of my favorite bands live this past year, and some of truly amazing concert events. I'm going to a few more coming this spring (reviews will be written I'm pretty sure) and recently purchased some tickets for another concert or two and that got me thinking: What makes a concert special enough that I keep going to them?

Music is an interesting art form no matter if we're talking about rock and roll or the works of Mozart. There are underlining threads that tie just about every musical style, genre and artist together at the most basic of levels. The concept of notes melody, harmony and rhythms... not necessarily the same set of notes, divisions, rhythms or types of harmony, but the concepts are always there in all forms of music. Some of these concepts, like the concept of rhythm, come quite naturally as rhythm is all around us all the time and just about anything can be used to create rhythm.

As you may have heard, there's been some information floating around about Nine Inch Nails... well it's been floating around for a few months actually. Supposedly Trent Reznor is planning on celebrating the band's 20th anniversary with a new tour before taking a bit of a break from the famous industrial band... or something like that. Rumor, now since confirmed, suggests that there would be a special guest to open for NIN on this tour, a band that toured with them way back when things first started... Jane's Addiction...

Recently, I was inspired to take a look at a slightly lesser known blues man by the name of Junior Kimbrough. Inspiration came in the form of a one-two punch; the music of a more modern band and an email contribution from a reader. Combine together with some good timing (I just happened to be listening to this "more modern band" when I read said email contribution) and we have inspiration for a small tribute to a somewhat under appreciated blues master.

Sometimes there are one hit wonders and they truly are just that. They had a moment when their songwriting skills peaked, and then unfortunately spent a good part of their career trying to recapture that initial moment. Then there are other "one or two hit wonders" or "Best of bands" (bands where their best of collections are all that are worth listening to) who have been unfortunately given these titles by pop culture, mainstream media, "music historians" and plenty of other people who consider themselves musically enlightened.