Validation...It's always nice...to hear this...

[Rickenjangle]

So, many of you don't know me as well as my Facebook friends do, but I've been doing triple duty this past year (and double duty before that for 5+ years) with, currently, 3 bands...

I've got my own band, a 4-5 piece band that plays, generally, classic rock, blues, and upbeat originals. I get to play lead/rhythm guitar and sing most of the songs in that one...and I get accolades, which is nice. Then, there is my duo, which is part of the band, and we play everywhere and (truth be told) make 2-3 times as much money per month (sadly, most of which goes back into the economy in the form of more guitars for yours truly).

But it's the 3rd band that I love to play in - it makes very little dough (in fact, we often spend our meager fee on drinks, but for us it's a musical night out and a good bit o' fun). We do strictly 60s/70's covers of mostly AM radio fodder - think Grass Roots/Atlanta Rhythm Section/etc. Well, last night we did Brother Louie - and I was wah-wah-ing my fool head off and egged on by the crowd took and unprecedented 2x16 bars worth of solos. Those people sho 'nuff do be luvin' de wah-wah! Dayumm!

So in this group I'm the lead guitarist, non-bandleader, background singer. And I love that I don't have to "drive that bus" like I do in my other band.

Anyway, we get finished with our set, and one person who I've known for years came up to me and said "I never told you this before, but you are a fantastic guitarist." Living in Rochester NY, I've always felt overshadowed by a lot of truly amazing players...so it's nice to be validated like that.

Oh - for the gearheads, I was playing my butterscotch/blackguard Tele and my beat-up Gibson SG...that SG plays just like buttah! Fender Blues jr. and a small pedalboard. No fuss, no muss. Bad Horsie Wah.

[phantomman]

That you're here on this forum and have put up with my bullshit for so long reveals a lot about your character, RJ.

RAWK ON!

[TT100]

It's always good to hear you play well. I can't do the fast stuff so many other guys can but think my own thing sounds "not bad."

Compliments are affirmation that I should stick with it and develop what I can do further.

RJ, that's a lot of playing time. I'm pretty sure you got it going on!

[Rickenjangle]

RJ, that's a lot of playing time...

You're not kidding... I have 2-3 gigs a week, nearly every week - plus once-a-month commitment with my church's worship team.

[Doc W]

..and you are also an intelligent and level-headed contributor to this forum.

[ch willie]

Wish I lived in the area so I could jam with you, RJ. I like the stuff you guys play. So much fun to play.

Congrats on getting what was probably well-deserved praise.

I've played in bands with guys who were Steve Vai while I was barely Keef, and I've had people come up to me and say, man they sound so generic, and you're playing some great stuff. That happened several times, and each time, I was glad that I moved the listeners, but those other guitarists had it clearly over me with playing.

But you know, Johnny, sometimes insanely fast and "perfect" guitarists are the most sterile musicians on the planet. I'd 10x rather hear Dave Davies fumble around than to hear a virtuoso. Rock and roll lives in the gut. Nothing wrong with becoming a greatly skilled guitarist, but rock and roll allows guitarists like me and you to shine.

[TT100]

Dave Davies! On a Tele. +1

[Frat Rettle]

Well done matey.
Take care, stay well.

[ch willie]

Dave Davies! On a Tele. +1

Exactly!

[jeru]

..and you are also an intelligent and level-headed contributor to this forum. :

Intelligent AND level headed? Clearly you have no business posting on the internet.

More seriously, thanks for sharing. It's great to be validated, often doesn't happen
to as often as it should to the good folks. Also, really great that you have a number
of gigging groups in which you play differing roles.

Rock on brother RJ.

[Rickenjangle]

Thanks for the kind words, fellas.

Fact is - I've never been the speediest of the speed merchants out there - and some of the local guys who are my peers have some chordal knowledge and ability to translate that into compelling lead lines that is way beyond me - a pair of good examples that some of you know are Telebob (or Telenator as he is now called) who seemingly effortlessly creates really cool lines...and Chuck (OSA), who combines the perfect licks at just the right time with a Hunter S. Thompson gonzo sensibility and a cheese-eating grin...

I think what I bring to the table is a sensitivity to what the song needs and a go-for-broke attitude when it comes to soloing. Both of which are key to letting the music flow through oneself instead of just playing rote scales. It's not for the faint of heart though - I find myself teetering on the edge of a long (embarrassing) fall if I don't "stick the landing."

[Offshore Angler]

Thanks for the kind words, fellas.

Fact is - I've never been the speediest of the speed merchants out there - and some of the local guys who are my peers have some chordal knowledge and ability to translate that into compelling lead lines that is way beyond me - a pair of good examples that some of you know are Telebob (or Telenator as he is now called) who seemingly effortlessly creates really cool lines...and Chuck (OSA), who combines the perfect licks at just the right time with a Hunter S. Thompson gonzo sensibility and a cheese-eating grin...

I think what I bring to the table is a sensitivity to what the song needs and a go-for-broke attitude when it comes to soloing. Both of which are key to letting the music flow through oneself instead of just playing rote scales. It's not for the faint of heart though - I find myself teetering on the edge of a long (embarrassing) fall if I don't "stick the landing."

I do like cheeze! Into Yancy's Fancy bacon cheddar lately.

Johnny, Whattaya say we throw us a TFF Northeast Jam? I can supply a band. I'd like to think of it as the first annual TFFM^3, or TFF Mikey Memorial Musicfest.

[gibsonjunkie]

I do like cheeze! Into Yancy's Fancy bacon cheddar lately.

Johnny, Whattaya say we throw us a TFF Northeast Jam? I can supply a band. I'd like to think of it as the first annual TFFM^3, or TFF Mikey Memorial Musicfest.

I would go (assuming the date works)! If you want to have a GREAT time - attend a Rochester Jam.

[Rickenjangle]

I do like cheeze! Into Yancy's Fancy bacon cheddar lately.

Johnny, Whattaya say we throw us a TFF Northeast Jam? I can supply a band. I'd like to think of it as the first annual TFFM^3, or TFF Mikey Memorial Musicfest.

I'll PM you my localendar for the next few months...we def. need to do it before the serious snow falls.

Some of my band's guys would likely be willing to give their counterparts in your band a break as well. No shortage of guys we know between the two of us.


JB

[gibsonjunkie]

I have a major conflict the last couple weekends of November and the first weekend of December. Not that I play that much, but I love hanging out with you guys! It would be great to honor Mikey, too...