The show wrapped up today, and while this summer show has become smaller, it was still a great opportunity to network with folks who are fast becoming friends. I made my regular trip brought in by Q Lighting and Burris Amplifiers, with the opportunity to showcase these wonderful amps.
The Friday night show gave me the opportunity to open for John Sebastian and Jimmy Vivino (Conan O'Brien), as well as sitting in with them for a tune. Doing a great job on bass for me was Steve Goodie, who owns and operates Pitch Perfect Recording, where I am currently recording my projects. Steve also MC's the Sunday Night Writers' Nights Studio and the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Other BA endorsers performing were Audrey Auld and Will Kimbrough. I always enjoy attending the seminars at NAMM, most notably the ones given by George Hines of George's Music. I've had the pleasure in the past of conducting Blues In The Schools sessions for him, as well as performing at George's Springing The Blues Festival in Jacksonville for several years.
It was great to hang out with my friends and colleagues, the owners of the company that I now teach online guitar lessons for, Watch & Learn, Inc. Bert Casey and Geoff Hohwald made the trip, so scoping out some new opportunites with them was nice.
Taylor Guitars has been great to me as far as keeping my axes up and running. It was a treat to go to lunch with Artist Relations Director, Bob Borbonus, along with legendary Nashville picker Doyle Dykes, and Dillon from the Nashville based Dillon Dixon Band. I also attended a seminar on seeking endorsements by Bob, as well as artist relations guys from Mapex, Yamaha, and Martin Guitars. It was a great trip, but now back to the regular job playing, writing, and recording more music. Until next time. Roger
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Looking For Summer 2010
May has been a welcome month for all of us weather-wise, and it's hard to believe that it's almost over. It has been a busy month for me. Some cool gigs such as Darwin's, Sam Huff''s BBQ1, Scooter's Pub, and Wednesdays in Woodfuff Park in Atlanta, which are nice close to home gigs. The Smoke on The Lake Festival in Acworth, GA turned out well for it's furst annual event.
An excursion to attend the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, and a performance at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville were some great highlights.
A brief Ohio tour took me to The Lounge in Cincinnati, The Sport Zone in Coshocton, OH, and The Brews Too in Granville, OH for a fundraiser for the Columbus Blues Alliance. That tour was rounded off by a wonderful visit with Jorma Kaukonen and his wife Vanessa at their Fur Peace Ranch in Pomeroy, OH. There I was able to observe the group guitar lessons while participating a little in the operation. Meeting and making friends with the students there was also extra special. I hope to get back there again soon.
The online guitar lessons I am currently giving are also keeping me very busy in a good way. If you haven't checked them out yet, you can do that by going to www.tinyurl.com/hurricanewilsonguitar.
This writing over the Memorial Day Weekend has me in Greenville, SC at Chief's, a place I have been performing at for 20 years. A couple of solo shows at a couple of RV parks in both Carolinas will top off the weekend.
June will be fairly busy with some home and away gigs, along with attending the Summer NAMM in Nashville representing Q Lighting and Burris Amps. I hope your Memorial Day is a pleasant one. Please catch me on the road or at home to say hello.
Roger
An excursion to attend the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, and a performance at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville were some great highlights.
A brief Ohio tour took me to The Lounge in Cincinnati, The Sport Zone in Coshocton, OH, and The Brews Too in Granville, OH for a fundraiser for the Columbus Blues Alliance. That tour was rounded off by a wonderful visit with Jorma Kaukonen and his wife Vanessa at their Fur Peace Ranch in Pomeroy, OH. There I was able to observe the group guitar lessons while participating a little in the operation. Meeting and making friends with the students there was also extra special. I hope to get back there again soon.
The online guitar lessons I am currently giving are also keeping me very busy in a good way. If you haven't checked them out yet, you can do that by going to www.tinyurl.com/hurricanewilsonguitar.
This writing over the Memorial Day Weekend has me in Greenville, SC at Chief's, a place I have been performing at for 20 years. A couple of solo shows at a couple of RV parks in both Carolinas will top off the weekend.
June will be fairly busy with some home and away gigs, along with attending the Summer NAMM in Nashville representing Q Lighting and Burris Amps. I hope your Memorial Day is a pleasant one. Please catch me on the road or at home to say hello.
Roger
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Haven't posted much lately but thought I'd try to catch up. There's a lot of great
things happening in my world this year. Since I joined up with an
international music publishing and video company, I just recorded my 20th
online guitar instruction video. I'm writing about 1 or 2 lessons a week
which has really brought everything around full circle, since teaching was
what I did right out of high school in 72 for 15 years, in addiiton to
broadcasting and touring. I've met many new friends all over the world
through this latest endeavor, and it is a wonderful experience. Although I
am still going out on some tours, this opportunity has made it possible to
look at a lot lower number of orange barrels. Also, I don't have to see as
many orange signs that say End Roadwork, which is just a blatant lie anyway.
This week I will fly to Memphis to attend the Blues Awards, and then return
home to play the Smoke On The Lake Festival.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108899799142425 I do hope to catch up
with some zellers there. Then on Sunday, I'll be heading to Nashville to
play the Bluebird Cafe. Several festivals across the U.S.and Canada, and
more at home than usual are booked this year, so that's a comforting
thought. In July, I'll be touring New England and will shoot a DVD produced
by Paul Benjamin in Rockland, Maine. My "Pennsylvania Railroad Band", Harry
Werner and Scott Stump will join me on bass and drums for that project. The
many solo dates at RV resorts across the U.S. have been like a breath of
fresh air, and are still coming in. Later in December, Willie "Big Eyes"
Smith and I will be heading out on our third duo tour. We're already filling
in dates for that, so any venues interested in jumping in on that, please
let me know. We had some great sold out shows on the last tour. I've been
been recording every gig for the last 6 months, so there will be some live
projects surfacing here and there. I'm also hoping everyone out there
affected by the natural and ecological disasters currently looming over us
will recover unscathed.
Roger
Care to take guitar lessons? Click below.
presented by Watch & Learn
http://tinyurl.com/hurricanewilsonguitar
Roger "Hurricane" Wilson
Bluestorm Records
P O Box 1212
Kennesaw, GA 30156
E-mail: roger@hurricanewilson.com
Web Site: www.hurricanewilson.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/rogerhurricane
www.myspace.com/rogerhurricanewilsontheacousticside
www.myspace.com/rogerwilsonguitarstudioest1973
www.myspace.com/bluestormrecords
www.myspace.com/rogerhurricanewilson1000trails
www.roger-hurricane-wilson.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/rogerhurricanewilson
things happening in my world this year. Since I joined up with an
international music publishing and video company, I just recorded my 20th
online guitar instruction video. I'm writing about 1 or 2 lessons a week
which has really brought everything around full circle, since teaching was
what I did right out of high school in 72 for 15 years, in addiiton to
broadcasting and touring. I've met many new friends all over the world
through this latest endeavor, and it is a wonderful experience. Although I
am still going out on some tours, this opportunity has made it possible to
look at a lot lower number of orange barrels. Also, I don't have to see as
many orange signs that say End Roadwork, which is just a blatant lie anyway.
This week I will fly to Memphis to attend the Blues Awards, and then return
home to play the Smoke On The Lake Festival.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108899799142425 I do hope to catch up
with some zellers there. Then on Sunday, I'll be heading to Nashville to
play the Bluebird Cafe. Several festivals across the U.S.and Canada, and
more at home than usual are booked this year, so that's a comforting
thought. In July, I'll be touring New England and will shoot a DVD produced
by Paul Benjamin in Rockland, Maine. My "Pennsylvania Railroad Band", Harry
Werner and Scott Stump will join me on bass and drums for that project. The
many solo dates at RV resorts across the U.S. have been like a breath of
fresh air, and are still coming in. Later in December, Willie "Big Eyes"
Smith and I will be heading out on our third duo tour. We're already filling
in dates for that, so any venues interested in jumping in on that, please
let me know. We had some great sold out shows on the last tour. I've been
been recording every gig for the last 6 months, so there will be some live
projects surfacing here and there. I'm also hoping everyone out there
affected by the natural and ecological disasters currently looming over us
will recover unscathed.
Roger
Care to take guitar lessons? Click below.
presented by Watch & Learn
http://tinyurl.com/hurricanewilsonguitar
Roger "Hurricane" Wilson
Bluestorm Records
P O Box 1212
Kennesaw, GA 30156
E-mail: roger@hurricanewilson.com
Web Site: www.hurricanewilson.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/rogerhurricane
www.myspace.com/rogerhurricanewilsontheacousticside
www.myspace.com/rogerwilsonguitarstudioest1973
www.myspace.com/bluestormrecords
www.myspace.com/rogerhurricanewilson1000trails
www.roger-hurricane-wilson.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/rogerhurricanewilson
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Year 2010
Now 2010 is well underway and so many great things seem to be in store. After celebrating a quiet New Year's Eve at home, I made my way early on New Year's Day down to Montgomery for the annual service at Hank Williams' grave. Hank passed away on new Year's Day in 1953, and after 57 years, his music and legacy are still as strong as ever. My good friend, Jay Johnson, brought an entourage from Cleveland, Ohio on a tour bus labeling themselves, The Honky Tonk Hank Tour. Playing a set with Gary Gentry, songwriter of "The Ride", and talking to Charles Carr, while 17 at the time, was driving Hank to his next booking the night he passed away, were truly highlights. It seemed like a shame to have that day end. It would just be great to be able to freeze time now and then.
January 4 and 5 are always special days, since 4 is my wife's Jolie's birthday, and 5 is my Mom's birthday. Jolie and I went to dinner on her birthday, we had dinner with Mom to celebrate her 92nd on hers. She now lives in a wonderful assisted living home and is doing great. January 7 usually has me reflecting on the anniversary of my first guitar lesson in 1963 that Mom took me to. I was only 9 at the time, and I guess the only reason I remember that date is that my muisc teacher wrote it down in the front of ny first book. January 9 & 10 usually have me thinking of my Dad, who would have been 81 on 9, and his mother's (my grandmother) birthday on 10. My band worked one night on 9 at Scooter's Pub in Kennesaw, GA. After months on the road, it is nice to spend some time at home and have a cool place to play with great people in attendance.
A new and exciting venture for me is that of teaching online guitar lessons for a Georgia Company called Watch & Learn. From all of the music experience I've had from teaching and performing, as well as many years of broadcast experience, this is an opportunity that brings everything together for me. It allows me to teach guitar styles that I love to folks that have an interest in those styles. Unlike the early days of private guitar lessons at a limited location, this now makes the material accessible to people all over the world. You can check out what I'm doing at http://tinyurl.com/hurricanewilsonguitar
If you have a problem with that link, send me an email to roger@hurricanewilson.com, and we'll get it to you.
On January 13, I flew to Orange County, CA. to attend the NAMM (National Association of Musical Merchandisers) Show. It is a massive trade show where the whole music industry comes together for 4 days via manufacturers, retailers, musicans, and industry professionals alike. It is a wonderful and exausting time to network with folks you associate with long distance, but in person for a little while. Highlights for me were hanging with my friends at Taylor Guitars, National Guitars, Olympus Audio, and other companies that I work with. Some seminars with folks such as Quincy Jones, Yoko Ono, and other industry notables set the pace, along with folks I hung with such as Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna and acoustic blues artist, Doug McCleod. It will take a number of days to digest all of the information I had gathered, but some great friendships were made. At this writing, I will shortly head to the airport for the trip back to Atlanta, and then in 2 days, will shoot another online guitar lesson, and then head directly to Memphis, TN to judge the International Blues Competition. I'll write about that then. If you would like to correspond, be sure to visit www.hurricanewilson.com.
January 4 and 5 are always special days, since 4 is my wife's Jolie's birthday, and 5 is my Mom's birthday. Jolie and I went to dinner on her birthday, we had dinner with Mom to celebrate her 92nd on hers. She now lives in a wonderful assisted living home and is doing great. January 7 usually has me reflecting on the anniversary of my first guitar lesson in 1963 that Mom took me to. I was only 9 at the time, and I guess the only reason I remember that date is that my muisc teacher wrote it down in the front of ny first book. January 9 & 10 usually have me thinking of my Dad, who would have been 81 on 9, and his mother's (my grandmother) birthday on 10. My band worked one night on 9 at Scooter's Pub in Kennesaw, GA. After months on the road, it is nice to spend some time at home and have a cool place to play with great people in attendance.
A new and exciting venture for me is that of teaching online guitar lessons for a Georgia Company called Watch & Learn. From all of the music experience I've had from teaching and performing, as well as many years of broadcast experience, this is an opportunity that brings everything together for me. It allows me to teach guitar styles that I love to folks that have an interest in those styles. Unlike the early days of private guitar lessons at a limited location, this now makes the material accessible to people all over the world. You can check out what I'm doing at http://tinyurl.com/hurricanewilsonguitar
If you have a problem with that link, send me an email to roger@hurricanewilson.com, and we'll get it to you.
On January 13, I flew to Orange County, CA. to attend the NAMM (National Association of Musical Merchandisers) Show. It is a massive trade show where the whole music industry comes together for 4 days via manufacturers, retailers, musicans, and industry professionals alike. It is a wonderful and exausting time to network with folks you associate with long distance, but in person for a little while. Highlights for me were hanging with my friends at Taylor Guitars, National Guitars, Olympus Audio, and other companies that I work with. Some seminars with folks such as Quincy Jones, Yoko Ono, and other industry notables set the pace, along with folks I hung with such as Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna and acoustic blues artist, Doug McCleod. It will take a number of days to digest all of the information I had gathered, but some great friendships were made. At this writing, I will shortly head to the airport for the trip back to Atlanta, and then in 2 days, will shoot another online guitar lesson, and then head directly to Memphis, TN to judge the International Blues Competition. I'll write about that then. If you would like to correspond, be sure to visit www.hurricanewilson.com.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Northeast & New England
The month of June was a wet one in the Northeast. It seems there is always too much rain or not enough in any area anywhere. Drouts & floods are what we hear about. After performing solo at Kclinger's tavern in hanover. PA on June 11, I had a nice listening audience at The Little Coffeehouse in Camp Hill, PA. The folks that showed up for the performance in Hershey on June 13 were very responsive and a joy to play for. Heading to a resort to perform in Lancaster, PA was very nice, especially being able to park the rolloing motel room right on the river for 3 days. Then playing at my regular stop at the Relax Inn in Chambersburg, PA., it was out to South Jersey for a solo performance there on Friday night. This was the weekend for the annual Knife and Tomahawk Throwing Championship Tournament in NJ. I had to catch a flight from Philadelphia to Kansas City early on Saturday morning to perform with the band, Levee Town at the Parkville, MO. Riverjam, so I missed the blade flying festivities. Unfortunately, I was told that rain put a damper on much of the weekend in NJ. I was right back in NJ a day later. Seems like I was commuting between PA. and NJ several times and trying to avoid Philadelphia traffic most of the time, but still finding myself wrapped up in it. The end of June had me performing between PA., and NJ, and in E. Stroudsburg, PA for a fun time with the band at the Timothy lake North Preserve. At this writing, I am in Boothbay, Maine doing a few solo acoustic perfromances, and prearing for the North Atlantic Blues Festival Pub crawl on Saturday, July 11. Til next time!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
The Road Continues
After hanging out for a couple of enjoyable and relaxing days on Lake Gaston in North Carolina, it was time to head north once again on Tuesday, June 9. I had a couple of days, so I wanted to try to see some sites. After deciding to make the trek along Virginia's Skyline Drive, I headed that way. When I arrived about 6PM, there was still a few hours of daylight left, so I ventured in. The view was somewhat hazy, but the sun shown beautifully and I think I got some great shots, which will be posted later. At dark, I headed down to Harrisonburg, VA. to get some dinner, buy some supplies, and spend the night. This, of course, is done at the world's largest retailer, which is referred to as The Million Dollar Refrigerator. We'll leave it at that.
In the morning on Wednesday, after breakfast and doing a bank errand, it was back up the mountain. This day was very hazy, but the drive was still enjoyable. I took a lunch break at one of the wonderful views off the drive. Late that afternoon, I headed to a regular travel stop of mine to grab a nap, fill the water tanks, and head into Hanover, PA., where the next gig is. When I arrived at Kclinger's Tavern I was pleasantly surprised that the legendary Nighthawks are performing. This group has been on the road playing the Blues for 40 + years. The highlight for me this night was to sit in and do 3 songs with the band. I was getting kind of restless with a couple of days of, which is normal, so sitting in with a band of this caliber was just what the doctor ordered. At this writing, I am getting ready to set up for tonight's solo gig in the beer garden at Kclinger's. If it becomes the rain garden, which it might, we'll check now for the alternate indoor location. Stay tuned. Next stop is St' John's Coffee for a solo show on Friday.
In the morning on Wednesday, after breakfast and doing a bank errand, it was back up the mountain. This day was very hazy, but the drive was still enjoyable. I took a lunch break at one of the wonderful views off the drive. Late that afternoon, I headed to a regular travel stop of mine to grab a nap, fill the water tanks, and head into Hanover, PA., where the next gig is. When I arrived at Kclinger's Tavern I was pleasantly surprised that the legendary Nighthawks are performing. This group has been on the road playing the Blues for 40 + years. The highlight for me this night was to sit in and do 3 songs with the band. I was getting kind of restless with a couple of days of, which is normal, so sitting in with a band of this caliber was just what the doctor ordered. At this writing, I am getting ready to set up for tonight's solo gig in the beer garden at Kclinger's. If it becomes the rain garden, which it might, we'll check now for the alternate indoor location. Stay tuned. Next stop is St' John's Coffee for a solo show on Friday.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)