Road Trip--Valley of Fire

Our NAMM adventure was actually an excuse for a road trip. First stop, the Valley of Fire just outside Vegas. This is a great little park and well worth the easy diversion off the freeway.
(as always, click on the pics for a larger image).

Here's some of the seven sisters... and some cool rocks...




Deer hang around the visitor's center, affording a great photo op for tourists (me)...


Hiking around the Mouse Tanks area, we took pics of each other... Rod is quite the photographer, and this trip was as much for his photo opportunities as NAMM. I'm sure we will see some great shots from him in the near future.



Here are some views from Rainbow Vista, then Fire Canyon...



And the domes... Silica Dome and White Domes...



Finally, one more rock... you can get great deals midweek, and the rock artifacts spread around the joint are endlessly fascinating...


I also took Rod down the the Double Down Saloon to watch the midget porn, but that's another story... "Shut Up and Drink", indeed...

Jazz, Best of, SLC, 2010

Finally got this collection together. Some examples of jazz performances I recorded in Salt Lake City during 2010. Local players come and go, but there's always great jazz to be found in this city. Too bad one has to dig it out rather than expecting clubs to offer innovative jazz on a regular basis.

To listen or download the tunes, go to my web site.

NAMM 2011 2nd Post

So we went back on Friday, tried to get to NAMM at the opening. Sometimes you have an hour before the madness hits full stride. I was looking for mics for my studio, and had some great conversations with reps from Audix, Shure, and CAD. Here I am at the CAD booth...


And after all my stupid questions, I'm sure the rep felt like this...


Anyway, I'd hoped to take more pics, especially of the bizarre folds who show up: full-on punks, metal heads, over-the-hill rockers, babes of all sorts, but I was overwhelmed. I managed to find some peace and solace at the concerts on the main lobby stage.


Yep, this is the ultimate NAMM madness... tons of gear on stage but the performers are video'd in! We may go back on Sunday for a bit, see if we can get some deals on gear.

Dick Dale Update

A better pic of Dick and Lane from a friend who photoshopped out the NAMM background madness. A fine looking couple. (click for a larger image)

NAMM 2011 1st Post

From the Hard Rock in Vegas to the NAMM show in Anaheim, we had quite the day. OK, I don't know what NAMM stands for except music is in there somewhere, and the convention draws some of the most incredible people in SoCal and beyond (oh, it's supposed to be about the gear, but the people who attend are endlessly fascinating). First are the babes... they remembered me from last year and the year before and wanted me even more.


Ran into Dick Dale again this year. He's still alive after multiple surgeries... he described a litany of internal disarray, but looked pretty good, other than weight loss. Best of all, he has a new babe, Lane, who was of significant help with his recovery. I can imagine!


I'm officially boycotting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame until the King of Surf Guitar is honorably inducted.

Finally, for today, was the return appearance of Jimi Hendrix. What a thrill! Two guitar gods in one day!


Succumbing to exhaustion, we bailed early... to fight the madness another day.

I'm a Roadrunner, Baby

Hanging at the condo in Palm Springs, this huge bird trots by... as big as a crow... very curious...


OK, doesn't look so big in the pic (click on it for a larger size), but it is a large bird. When I chased it, a ridge stuck up from its head, and I knew the kind of bird... a roadrunner! Oh those great old cartoons! Where's Wiley Coyote?

Anyway, couldn't get a pic of the bird on the move, so this pic will have to do for the more distinctive RR appearance:


And, of course, if you really want to get into the roadrunner mythology, check the cartoons on the web, but also this!

Sostice 2010

Another holiday season has passed... This year was a little more exciting... Solstice became more prominent, rather than that day Christians stole from the pagans... Solstice, the darkest day of the year, the noir holiday! We shopped via Amazon, celebrated some family stuff before the Solstice day, had a good party on the traditional eve, and pretty much neglected the 25th itself and all the commercial trappings (you mean it's a religious holiday?). Solstice night itself was celebrated at Jane's, with the pagan fire pit (a smaller party for her than her usual blowout, but welcome just the same).


I was lucky to get a late invite, and lucky to enjoy the company of such a friendly (and well wined) group.



After the fire ritual (mostly smoking cigarettes!), we warmed up over dinner... fondue of several varieties.


The fondue was so good, some thought of novel ways to enjoy it...


And of course desert...


Cleanup is always a chore, especially after copious amounts of grape juice...


Speaking of the grape... some of us do take a great pic when imbibing...


The pagans got it right. And now off we go into the cold, dark days of winter... waiting for the spring renewal. And Cinco de Mayo!