Younger/Peer/Older/Gone--#3A of 4, second half to come!

I'm going back...back, back, back, back, back...backwards through the list, that is!

Jamerson, Pastorius, Wonder, and Tyner. Some of you are wondering if I've betrayed my home base, namely guitar-based music. Well, fret no more. I'm going to give you some peers today that are rocking the House of Guitar kasbah like there's no tomorrow...

These bands all feature guitarists that are around my neck of the woods. I have greatly enjoyed hanging with, learing from, and hopefully giving some goodness back to these fine folks you're about to meet. I also love celebrating the Great Unknown when it comes to artists I love, and hopefully, you will grow to love a few of, if not all of, these great bands and musicians. Without further ado, and in no order other than numerical...

1. James Biehn/Soapbox Prophets-Was the first, and perhaps only, true personal guitar mentor I ever took on. I fell in love with his playing during his tenure with a band call Hyde Park- more on them to come later, but it was a glorious musical experience to behold. They were truly the Jazz is Dead for my generation and locale.

Since the Park ended several years ago, Biehn has gone onto an outstanding, hard-swinging quartet called the Soapbox Prophets. and occaisionally leads a local conglomerate known as Southbound, a musical tribute to Duane-era Allman Brothers joy.

Besides being a great instructor, and now college teacher, I've had the pleasure of watching his peronal life bloom with marriage and fatherhood. All told, he is one musician who truly "deserves" to make it- as much as I hate that term, it's apropos to the man and his soulfulness and talent.

GEAR: Through an Ibanez S-series, to a Cort CL-1500, to a PRS RW-neck McCarty, to a Highway 1 Strat, to his current beauty, a '61 Gibson SG re-issue, he has maintained a beautiful tone through Traynor, Fender, and now, I believe, Marshall amps; regardless of gear, he has continually refined the beauty of his artistry.

2. Andy Anderson/SNAFU- Everytime I talk to frontman deluxe Andy Anderson, I find something about him that either mirrors my own feelings, or might as well have been my thought- we appear to be cosmic brothers of another mother!

SNAFU is a power trio that blends the hard swing of Zeppelin, with a tastefully sophisticated pop sense learned at the corner of Queen and Elton. A highly-talented vocalist, songwriter, gutiarist, keyboardist, arranger, producer... Anderson's got it all, and it's all good! Driven as an artist, but not obsessively, Andy is quite the inspiration to observe when you need that shot to the heart. He is fearless on stage, and I've witnessed many a moment that would have become trainwrecks in the hands of lesser men seem effortless to him and his band. He is, what my wife would call, an ambassador of joy in how he carries himself, and that electricity is only amplified when he hits the stage. A definite must see, and another man and musician who could truly make waves if given the opportunity. Like Biehn, there are many in the world who could truly use this special kind of magic.

GEAR: Think Clapton through Brian May's rig, and you are right about on the mark! Currently using a Clapton signature Strat, with a Brian May tribute sitting in the rack, through a modern Vox amp. His tone is always dialed right, bright, and a whole lotta fun to listen to. For keyboards, he typically rocks a Korg Triton.

3... ah, don't get greedy now! I'll return the end of this week to shed the light a few more (more than 2 means a few) wonderful contemporaries of mine from the homeland. Until then, click on those links, check out those killer bands, and maybe find something new to love!

Peace,
Deacon