Local Yoakam

Country artist Dwight Yoakam signs a guitar for charity:



"The public art project will display 10-foot-tall fiberglass guitar sculptures, signed by various artists."

The sculptures are part of the "Guitar Town" project that seeks to establish Austin, TX, as a place for guitar enthusiasts. If it's good enough for Stevie, it's good enough for us.

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Sunbursting

Andrew York, of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, has decided to part ways with the group:



"More than a year ago I began to realize that I craved more time for my personal artistic projects. Simply put, I’m compelled to sail out into unknown waters to let my creativity take me where it needs to go."

On an announcemet posted on the Guitar Foundation of America website, Andy says he had a wonderful experience with the group and considers Bill, Scott, and John his brothers. LAGQ will continue to perform with Matthew Greif, a graduate of USC.

Andy, we wish you the best for the future and congratulate you on a tremendous career thus far! We look forward to hearing your new projects.

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Classical Combat

Economists in Finland have discovered a way to reduce vadalism:



"At least two towns in Finland have discovered that classical music may not soothe young troublemakers -- but does drive them away."

The story reports a reduction in vandalism when classical music is played outside of malls and businesses. I fought the law, and Bach won.

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Rock Star

Queen guitarist Brian May has written a new book:



"May, who abandoned doctoral studies in astronomy to play guitar with `70s rock legends Queen, has returned to his first love as a co-author of the book "Bang! The Complete History of the Universe," which was launched Monday."

May says he seem similarities between the music and astronomy... but if fat bottomed girls make the world go 'round, what made the big bang?

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Glass Music

A Japanese inventor has developed a new, higher-quality CD... made of glass:



"Fukui, 60, noticed that glass was a great receptor of sound and decided to try and create a CD from the material. He spent a decade developing the glass CD together with Mitsugu Ikeda, a technician from a company called Tomie Media Solutions."

MSN News says the transparent CD costs 98,700 yen (about $830). For that price, there had better be some good music on it...

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Country Western Criminal

A Scottish woman has been slapped with a very serious crime:



"She is alleged to have tormented fellow residents over recent months by pumping C&W music late at night and blasting the TV."

Scotsman.com says the woman was charged with the "interim antisocial behaviour order after being repeatedly warned she was making other people's lives a misery." When will they make country music a crime in America?

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This Classic Rocks

This flashy korean guitarist is old news by now, but it's still "funtwo" watch:



(Pachelbel's Canon remixed)

Going Digital

Gibson is now offering a digital guitar:

"This means you can use a guitar amplifier for each string ... or record all six strings individually into a computer ... or send the six-string digital signal to a compatible guitar processor ... giving guitarists the ultimate flexibility for crafting their custom sound."

We don't have any idea how it works, but Gizmag explains all about the Les Paul HD.6X-PRO Digital Guitar...

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Lending a Helping Slowhand

A guitar autographed by Eric Clapton will go on sale to benefit charity:

"The Fender Guitar Custom Shop provided Eric and Lee with a brand-new Eric Clapton 'Blackie' Signature Stratocaster in a hard shell case. Eric Clapton then autographed the guitar on the scratch plate and dated it 2006."

Wheres Eric!, a fan magazine for Clapton, says the fundraiser will benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

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Outstanding Oasis

Brittish rockers Oasis have been selected to recieve an award fo their Outstanding Contribution to Music:

"The band will be presented with the gong in February, previous recipients include The Beatles, U2, Paul Weller, Tom Jones, Sting, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Eurythmics and The Who."

Music Rooms says the band brought "guitar music back to the charts" and inspired bands "like Kasabian and the Arctic Monkeys."

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Searching for Gold

A New Jersey rocker is looking for his missing 1974 Gold Gibson Les Paul:

"He believes the guitar was stolen on October 11 by a relative who may have sold it."

Action News asks that anyone with info contact the Gloucester City Police or Keith Reven at 856-456-7134.

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A Legend's Birthday

Chuck Berry is turning 80:

"When he takes the stage Wednesday night, Berry will sling his guitar with an ease belying his age, and scoot across the stage in his famous one-legged hop, his extended leg kicking off the stage."

According to the Mercury News, his birthday bash will include an intimate dinner with friends and a late night performance at Blueberry Hill, a nightclub he frequents. Go, Johnny, Go!

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New Issue of Urban Guitar

A new issue of Urban Guitar has been posted:



"I'm bored with music between 1955 and 1980. I'm completely bored. I
can't listen to a rock and roll record. I can't do it. I would rather
listen to hogs screwing." - Sting

Including an interview with Marco Oppedisano, music for guitar and electronics, and the week in guitar.

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Music in our Schools

The music programs in NY get a boost:

"The Department of Education received a gift of $1-million worth of new instruments from VH1 and Time Warner Cable Thursday."

Now that's music to our ears.

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Sting's Getting Old...

About 400 years old, that is:

"The rock star has released Songs of the Labyrinth, a new CD of songs by John Dowland, one of the Elizabethan era's most important composers. It's a collection of songs for voice and lute -- a stringed instrument that was popular in the 16th century."

NPR goes on to say that Sting considers Dowland the "the first English singer/songwriter we know of." Who's your King of Pain now?

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The Kids These Days...

Teens rock the house in a recent classical guitar competition:

"Fourteen year old Colin Fullerton started playing guitar over eight year ago. Now he practices at least three hours a day and dreams of being a classical concert guitarist."

We wonder if Colin eats his veggies, too?

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Kitty Litter

A new video by The Great Kat gets mediocre applause in a recent review:

"The music itself is not completely horrible, in fact The Great Kat is an amazing guitar player. Combining aspects of classical music and death metal Kat, a Juilliard graduate, uses guitar and violin to create her unique sound, which could best be described as fast and loud."

However, the review goes on to say that the video (which appears to have a parental warning on the cover) mostly consists of "a scantily clad Kat" prancing around while she shreds. Well, we can always find at least one reason to watch...

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Is that a guitar in your suitcase, or...?

Speaking of traveling with guitars...

"From what I’ve seen most guitar cases out there are actually filled with machine guns, rocket launchers and other assorted weaponry leaving the guitars to fend for themselves. The Stewart Guitar Company is clearly aware of this problem and so have designed a guitar that can fit inside something as small as a briefcase..."

The article doesn't say how well the guitar plays, but anything that will pass through an airport is alright with us.

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