Hell, brought a tear to my eye. That kind of devotion and passion for the gift. Awesome. I saw it at Jimbo's but couldn't see it. Seems youtube is on the company's shit list. Somebody ought to send that boy a hat with some eye's on the forehead part of the hat so it can look like he's lookin' up while he's whailin' on that ax, but damn. He's got skills for sure...

I'm going to show this to my stoner next door neighbor who dropped out of high school 10 years ago to pursue a career in music. Several years ago, I suggested he get some classical training (while he was at my house telling me what a b*tch I was for having the gall to get a new roof put on because the noise was waking him up in the morning and he was sure that the law didn't allow for noise until 10:30 a.m. Duh, roofers are already halfway through their day and having lunch at 10:30 a.m.) and he didn't seem to think classical training was necessary at all to being a guitarist in a rock band. Now he's living in his mother's dirt floor garage so maybe he should have taken my advice.

liz - There's a reason classical musicians practice scales. I'm a very good folk guitarist and a shitty rock guitarist.

This kid could stand to play a few scales...unfortunately, he plays at top volume so I know exactly what he's playing. His repertoire consists of picking out Figaro, Figaro and various parts of classic rock tunes like Stairway to Heaven (more my era than his). Mostly he likes to get stoned and plays notes that are pleasing to him but not the rest of the neighbors, especially not in the middle of the night. Maybe I should take him some music theory workbooks and tell him there's more to being a musician than picking out bits of music to play. I'd like him to see this video so he can see someone with talent who has worked hard -- two qualities he seems to lack. He's 26 now, and would have been kicked out of my house long ago.

W.O.W.

Yo, Denny,

I'll bet that neither of those kids can play a kazoo worth a shit. ;-)

Take lessons? What for!

Because of my Father, I studied clarinet and sax, (classical and jaz) from 8 to 19 years old. It's good I dropped out because today there is little work for an asthmatic reed man whose chops come out at night, but it gave me a life-long love of good music of any kind.

Sadly today, because they have no training:

Most "musicians" are tone deaf. It totally bugs me to listen to a bass guitarist with one string out by about a quarter tone.

Most have no concept of harmony. If you've got 4 people singing, they should be singing 4 separate parts.

Most drummers have no sense of rhythm. The ultimate was some years ago when a group in the local drinkery was doing "waltz across texas" in 4/4 time.

And finally, singers with a voice like a fire siren. (As they sing, the pitch goes up and down but never stops at the notes,)

Denny, if you like a capella, you might also like the fast food version: The Taco Bell Canon...

http://kasima.org/creations/acappella/media/amazinblue_tacobell.mp3

What I wouldn't do to be able to play like that. When I was just beginning, I didn't have the patience to learn my scales, much less the theory behind it. Fifteen years later, when I have the patience, I don't have the time. Damn, it sure is fun sit around with a few others and jam a tune or two! Thank God for campfires, or I would never get any time in.