If you’re a guitarist, SoCal can be a tough place to live. Sure we’ve got the sunshine, the warm winters, the beautiful sunsets; but try keeping your pride and joy in top playing condition out here. It’s, like, work and stuff!
So, “What’s the big deal,” you ask? Well, that “dry heat” that our region of the country is famous for? It’s murder on acoustic guitars. Humidity is a key ingredient in keeping your axe in top shape, and it’s a commodity that these environs are damned short of.
See, when it dries up outside (as it has today), the pulpy part of the wood in your guitar contracts. Since guitars are made primarily of wood and glue, contracting wood pulp can make all kinds of exciting things happen. Bridges can pop off unexpectedly, bracings can come loose, and the wood itself can crack if you let it go too long. Even with only mild dryness, the tone of your instrument can suffer as the top will sink, altering the acoustic response of the instrument.
And I’d got my prized Gibson J-45 just sitting in the parlor. Drying up like fig. Damned criminal, I tell you.
Here’s something to listen to while you wrestle with Christmas lights, or traffic, or disobedient children. Make a game of it — see if you can point out all the mistakes. I even open with one, to make it easier for you.
At any rate, this was my go at an “Add-a-Track” event (for lack of a better term) that recently went down at one of my favorite guitar Web sites: Wholenote.com. It works like this: Someone submits a backing track (bass, drums, keyboards, marimba… whatever) and then everyone takes turns playing guitar over it. While I generally think that five solid minutes of noodling is… annoying… this was mellow enough that I thought I’d take a shot.
Larry Carlton, eat your heart out!
On second thought… please don’t take my lunch money, Mr. Carlton.
Anyhoo… enjoy! Or not! Press PLAY to decide…
Oh… it’s worth mentioning that the backing track (entitled, “Bluetude”) was originally written and arranged by Scott Lerner.
So, just to verify that any Todd is three-quarters “odd,” I present our latest household diversion: Drinking with Giada (also known as the Giada De Laurentis drinking game).
Back-story, you inquire? Fine.
2007 has been a year that has seen the missus and I clock more time in the exercise room than ever before: weights, treadmill, crunches, sweating… trying to stop sweating. We’d go absolutely mad without some sort of opiate to dull the pain and monotony of, you know… like, working.
Enter the Food Network!
While doggedly working to burn the calories we’ve consumed throughout the day, we watch “celebrity chefs” make all sorts of delicious-looking (and absolutely counter-productive) delicacies. Hey, it works for us.
Anway, one of our favorite shows is “Everyday Italian” with Giada De Laurentis, the perky, pearly-toothed, high-forheaded (and curiously hot) granddaughter of Italian filmmaking legend Dino De Laurentis. She makes good stuff. And now you can participate in the fun with the unofficial companion drinking game. Here’s the dirt…
Summer may “unofficially” end today, but the mercury tells a different story. It’s damned hot! This photo was taken at 5pm, and we still haven’t dipped below triple-digits.
Mr. P’s new thing is to keep The Missus company while she works on the computer. He doesn’t take messages, but, ever the fountain of knowledge, he claims to be well versed in keyboard shortcuts and an expert with the mouse.
Welcome to drewswerds: The online journal and travelogue of a sometimes sharp, usually flat, blues-loving, guitar playing, baseball obsessed, Southern Californian corporate muckity-muck in training. No name tag necessary. Booze and canapé can be found in the back. Just head for the crusty musician types, holding up the bar and telling bawdy (and completely untrue) stories about their glorious pasts...
If you’re a guitarist, SoCal can be a tough place to live. Sure we’ve got the sunshine, the warm winters, the beautiful sunsets; but try keeping your pride and joy in top playing condition out here. It’s, like, work and stuff!
So, just to verify that any Todd is three-quarters “odd,” I present our latest household diversion: Drinking with Giada (also known as the Giada De Laurentis drinking game).
