Guitars and Life

I got a Vox Lil Looper for Christmas - thank to Mrs F as ever. I've only had one session with it but great fun so far. I like that it has effects on the unit and that you can therefore get a bass sound from a guitar as it has an octaver type effect. I've built up some chords and bass with which I can then solo over the top of. Great fun. Not sure I'll incorporate it ever into live performances but will be using it at home definitely.

Sad news indeed.  A legend - such an incredible voice... What else could I pick but one of the greatest covers ever ...

It's been a bit traditional on the blog here to post a review of the year over the years I've been talking to myself you good folks on here. So 2014? Gig of the year .  Not done that many these days as I'm more cash strapped than I used to be and with my son living away from home I don't go with him to gigs like I used to.  Anyway from those I did see it would have to be Show Of Hands at Tunbridge Wells .  Super stuff, great playing and singing and the sound was excellent throughout.  Close second were Bellowhead. CD of the year.   Now here was a year with a few big names releasing... but sadly I thought Elbow, Coldplay and esp U2 all missed the mark a degree (Elbow) or several (Coldplay) or totally (U2).  But there were so many great things out.  Blair Dunlop, Bellowhead, Uriah Heep... etc. Hmm... So I'm going to award three this year. 1. Rock - Uriah Heep The Outsider .  Just a thunderously brilliant album as though losing Trevor Bolde...

Anyone who has a long memory will know that I've waxed lyrically about the great Sam Carter on this here blog from time to time in the past. Now ... he has teamed up with Jim Moray to form a new folk rock band called False Lights.   Their first release is Salvor which is just flipping brilliant.  And you can listen to it all now (plugin compatibility allowing etc.) on Soundcloud...  just click and love it!

Bernard Cornwell - The Empty Throne. The next instalment in the Lord Uhtred saga.  I've always really enjoyed Bernard's books, great historical research and then placing great fictional characters with great stories into real life historical events.  This saga now on the eight instalment.  We've followed Uhtred from his forcible exit from his family home of Bamburgh Castle as a child, through his time as a slave to his unusual alliance as a pagan with the most pious King Alfred helping Wessex to eject marauding Danes from it's borders and helping Alfred in his quest for a united England.  In this one Alfred is dead, Uhtred himself is recovering from the near fatal wound he received at the end of the last book The Pagan Lord.  He is grievously ill and with his failing strength others manoeuvre around him to try to ensure the crown of Mercia is grabbed by enemies.  Of course Uhtred whilst ill is not to be ignored and he soon is politically dealing to reinst...