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Hey, I just took delivery of "The Black Strat" written by Phil Taylor, and it's absolutely incredible. This lavishly illustrated book chronicles the history of David Gilmour's signature guitar in the many versions and forms it's taken over the years. The book is satisfyingly technical with great photos and details of the modifications (and there have been a ton!) and tweaks that make this guitar nothing like it was when originally purchased at Manny's in New York way back when. It also goes a long way to explain how Gilmour has hewn such wonderful and unique tone throughout his career. Phil Taylor has been David Gilmour's guitar technician forever and a major presence in Gilmour's solo and Pink Floyd careers. Some of the receipts and order forms that are pictured in the book are really interesting, and much of Taylor's correspondence with vendors are eye-opening to say the least. There are also GREAT close-up photos of pick-up replacements, shielding and insulation, and myriad little details that are just fascinating. Which is not to say that The Black Strat is a technical manual, because it most certainly isn't! Any fan of Pink Floyd will love it because the book never gets bogged down in hardware. In fact, more than anything, The Black Strat is a picture book, with "expanded" captions!!! Gilmour's other guitars get plenty of attention, too, as Taylor's very matter of fact descriptions and reminiscences make a totally compelling history of one the most original and creative musicians ever. I ordered my copy off the Pink Floyd "Brain Damage" site in the UK, and received my book from England in about a week. Anyway, I'm loving it, and I highly recommend it.
Back in the early 80's, all my friends and I were totally into Steve Forbert. It was always difficult to put finger on precisely what made him so great: kind of a rocked out folkie from Mississippi, but he was really from everywhere and his songs projected a universality that was really engaging and easy to connect with. We knew all the songs word for word, and his lyrics were always clever, "Life is strange, but compared to what?" Stevie's arrangements and rhythms were unique and perfect for the time. I know he had a couple of singles that got airplay, the last of which may have been something like "Every Time You Walk Into The Room" was the last one I remember. Anyway, as vinyl gave way to CD, I lost touch with Steve Forbert but I always noticed he was out there recording and touring. This past weekend I was at Amoeba and picked up a couple of CDs, "Strange Names and New Sensations" and "Rocking Horse Head." The songs on "Strange Places" are hitting me all over again. I'm from New Jersey, and grew up in Denville which is, right next to Rockaway, down the road from Whippany and Parsippany, all featured in "Strange Names (Northern New Jersey's Got Em). And when Stevie sings about "Middle Age" and the changes in attitude, perspective and reality that come with it, he's right on the mark. "Baghdad Dream" encapsulates the mess in Iraq with appropriate sarcasm and disdain. And there's a really sweet reprise of "Romeo's Tune" that reflects the time and mileage that have passed since the 80's, but it's just as real as ever. "Simply Spaulding Grey" takes some shots at mass media and pop culture, but if you don't listen TOO carefully, it's just a sweet, sweet song! It feels great to be reconnected with one of my favorite artists ever, and one can't help but wonder why Steve Forbert never made it really big. But at the same time, I think that he's been able to continue to make music on his own terms for the past 30 years. Check out "What It Is, Is A Dream" sometime, and it just might bring tears to your eyes. Glad I found you again, Stevie. Thanks for the memories, and thanks for all the exciting new material that still works for me and others like me.
I went to the Echoplex the other night for the Irving show (which was fantastic!) and I was completely blown away by the opening act, the Gore Gore Girls. Like some whacked-out post-apocalyptic vision of Nancy Sinatra as lethal fem-bots in their vinyl minidresses, these girls create quite a spectacle! HOWEVER, once they start playing, any hint of artifice is shattered as they throw some serious riffs and harmonies straight at you. Perfectly balancing their bad-girl snarls with rock-solid musicianship (the Gore Gore's are all up and down the necks of those beautiful hollowbody Gretsch guitars), they had the crowd locked in for their entire set. Great backline support from drum and bass, crashing, ringing chords from Amy, (I think) the lead singer, and wild Neil Young-y, Keith Richards-y, and dare I say Duane Eddy-y lead lines all delivered with JUST the right verve and attitude made this a very, very memorable experience. Keep an eye out for the Girls, and go see them.
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I'm glad you Got the Gore! I've been a fan for donkey's years. Those ladies are fabulous.
here's a photo of AMY GORE with Matt from the Royal Pendletons at the 2006 Ponderosa Stomp record fair... as you can see, she's got great taste in record collecting....
Hey Anna Log, thanks for posting the picture of Amy. Their show was awesome, and I'm definitely a fan. And by the way, I enjoy your posts very much, and your photos are absolutely fantastic!
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steve forbert is one of the greatest, but most under-rated geniuses of all time. i've been a fan since the first moment i heard him.
i have some theories on why steve has never made it to the superstar bob dylan status i think he deserves:
instead, he just keeps working. his out put is prolific and great. his voice is so evocative... it just might touch way too many heart strings in this cold cold world