I just recently bought an iPod touch, and I downloaded the wordpress 2 app. I am writing and posting this blog post with that – you know, just to see how it works. Okay, it works. I can stop typing now.
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome The Steve Pederson Progression.
Guitarist Steve Pederson is known for bringing you music that engages the mind, body, heart, and soul. He now invites you to follow the musical progression that develops as he and his compadres create a unique blend of classical, blues, rock, jazz, and inspirational genres. Be sure to get in on the ground level to support this musical project and be a part of the magic as it unfolds!
The first gig will be at the RootsRoom, 5203 N Kimball in Chicago, on Thursday, January 28th. Doors open at 8:30 PM. Among those that will be a part of the progression are Rick Heath (singer/songwriter/guitarist) and LeTroy Jackson (amazing vocalist). See you there!
I’ve never met him. I’ve never seen him in concert. The only recording I own of him is a cassette tape of his greatest hits, which I will admit is not my favorite. Yet I have to say that this guitar legend has impacted my guitar playing more than most guitar players ever will. His name is Les Paul, and he practically invented the electric guitar. He passed away on August 13, 2009 (on the eve of my 10 year wedding anniversary) at the age of 94.
American composer Libby Larsen has called the electric guitar the most important musical instrument in the last 50 years. Think of where popular music would be today if the electric guitar had not been invented.
Les Paul is most notably associated with the iconic symbol that has come to represent rock ‘n’ roll – the Gibson Les Paul electric guitar. Every guitar player has to have one in their collection. In my earlier days, I owned a 1972 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop with mini humbuckers. What an incredible instrument it was. Later on, I would have to sell it to pay for college tuition. Truly a sad day. Now I own a Les Paul copy that I found abandoned in the basement of a house I was renting.
I can think of some references to the Les Paul guitar. There was a commercial a while back where there was a Les Paul connected to (I think) a Volkswagen Beetle. Another commercial about a guy having a dream of becoming a guitar god featured him playing a Les Paul. In his song There’s Only One Way to Rock, rocker Sammy Haggar encourages us to “crank out the drums, crank out the bass, crank out the Les Paul in your face!”
Please enjoy these videos, courtesy of YouTube, and please read more about Les Paul on wikipedia.org.
Well, the headline pretty much says it all. My official blog has been launched! You know what this means, don’t you? This means I am taking responsibility to keep you, the reader, updated on a consistent basis.
I was inspired to relaunch a blog for my site after reading the Industry Insider article on Jonathan Coulton in the August 2009 edition of Electronic Musician magazine.
Wish me luck, or pray for me – and not just for my blog, but for my career as well. Pray that I don’t end up like ol’ Johnny Knoxville here – nearly killing himself doing something stupid!