The Guitar Colonel - Guitar Reviews and Rock Interviews

Australian guitarist Adam Miller is set to release his latest album, Unify, on August 7, 2020. Recorded in Los Angeles in December of 2019, Unify features prominent LA musicians with bassist Joel Gottschalk and drummer Justin Glasco. Composed entirely by Miller, these songs are born from the adventure of settling not only into a new city, but a new country, drawing from both the incredible highs and the seemingly mundane. The album is equally influenced by the current Los Angeles jazz scene and the Australian pub rock scene of Miller's hometown, Newcastle. The album title comes at a time when positivity is greatly needed. Miller says, “Because the album was written in the uncertainty of moving and big life changes, all my working titles ended up with negative connotations. And there really is a great joy and optimism to this album; so instead of naming it about things falling apart, I named it for everything coming together – Unify – which is really how I feel about my music right now.” After almost a decade of constant international touring, Miller decided to make the move to Los Angeles in January 2019. Being asked to perform at one of Mason Stoops' infamous GuiTaco nights shortly after with Charlie Hunter, Adam Levy, Ariel Posen, and others led to many press and touring opportunities, plus the introduction to drummer/producer Justin Glasco. Glasco continued Miller’s introduction to the LA musician’s scene, watching heroes perform morning cafe gigs, and jamming in East LA garages. "Their pursuit of music just floored me," Miller gushes. "There are so many great musicians who are still open to learning, collaborating, and expanding their horizons. I couldn't help but be highly motivated by the enthusiasm and work ethic everyone had.” Miller then enlisted Glasco and Gottschalk to play the small clubs and bars of LA, giving the trio a chance to explore new material in front of audiences. Miller also toured extensively across the USA, allowing him to further develop the melodic and structural elements of the new compositions. A mid-year tour back to Australia injected the songs with the raw intensity required to cut it in Aussie pubs to rowdy audiences. This coupled with the refined influence of LA saw Miller's two musical worlds integrating for a cohesive album, serving as Miller's Los Angeles debut. Unify showcases Miller's electric guitar playing, while two tracks ("Shipping" and "Citrus") were performed on an acoustic archtop. This is very much a trio record, with the bands' live interaction only being occasionally supplemented with acoustic guitar rhythm and creative effect pedal based soundscapes. The album has a melodic focus with a subtle harmonic complexity driven by a groove and attitude. With a unique approach to the guitar, Adam Miller's music is groovy and approachable, whilst having a melodic sophistication that only comes from years of cross genre hopping. His inclusion of complex rhythms and dissonant haunting phrases, combined with breathtaking riffs and melodies are his signature. His jazz influenced style with finger-picking mastery creates a improvisation filled live performance that is beautifully unpredictable. This has seen him share stages with Les Paul, Tommy Emmanuel, Matt Schofield, Russell Morris, Charlie Hunter, Adam Levy, Ariel Posen, Tony McManus, Ben Gillies (Silverchair), and the list continues.... Miller has had a relentless international touring schedule the past few years which has seen him perform in the USA, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Japan, & Australia. Australian Fingerstyle Guitar Champion (2002), Miller has played an array of International Festivals including the Montreal Jazz Festival Canada, Woodstock Guitar Festival USA, Guitar Masters Wroclaw Poland, Lancaster Music Festival UK, Karel Music Expo Italy, The NAMM Show USA, Artisan Guitar Show USA, Holy Grail Guitar Show Germany, Musikmesse Germany, Australian Blues Festival, A Day On The Green, Jazz In The Vines, Melbourne Guitar Festival, Adelaide International Guitar Festival, & Newcastle Jazz Festival. He also travelled to Afghanistan twice to perform for the Australian & Allied Forces. Miller has had feature articles in The Fretboard Journal, Guitar Player, Acoustic Guitar, Premier Guitar, Acoustic UK, Australian Guitar, and Australian Musician. In 2013 his album "Delayed" named Top 10 Albums of 2012 by US Acoustic Guitar Magazine. He was also named on of the top 25 Future Legends in Australian Guitar Magazine. In 2010 Miller was named "Guitarist Deserving Wider Recognition" by US based magazine, Guitar International. Having 10 independent releases to his name, many that have gone on to international acclaim, Miller is also signed to USA video tuition Label 'TrueFire', and has lectured in Jazz and Contemporary Guitar at the University Of Newcastle, Australia.

Geoff Achison is a blues-roots artist from Australia best known for his guitar playing and songwriting. Geoff began his apprenticeship with legendary Australian bluesman 'Dutch' Tilders establishing himself as a fine lead guitarist before striking out with his own. He released his debut album in the early 90s and began touring throughout the USA, UK & Europe. Geoff's music has been compared favourably to major artists such as Eric Clapton, JJ Cale and the Allman Brothers Band having a solid foundation in the blues whilst embracing a variety of music styles. He has won awards for his guitar playing, songwriting and live performances and was honoured in 2011 as official Patron Of the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society. Geoff Achison was born on Phillip Island, the third of five siblings, and raised in the Victorian country town of Malmsbury. His parents were music lovers and when Geoff famously discovered a forgotten old guitar beneath the stairwell, his trumpet-playing father enthusiastically found him a guitar teacher. His first gigs were with his father's dance band where he displayed promise enough to attract the attention of local jazz musician Alan Watson. Through his new mentor he was exposed to jazz and improvisation. At Watson's suggestion Geoff temporarily switched to bass-guitar which provided him with a greater understanding of the rhythm section. After gaining valuable experience as a bassist Geoff developed a keen interest in American blues which re-kindled his interest in studying six-stringed guitar. In rural isolation, he was mostly unaware of the electronic effects employed by some guitarists and devised some of his own techniques to emulate the sounds of echo/delay, tremolo and wah-wah pedals which added to his unique playing style. In 1987 Geoff made the move to Melbourne and soon established himself on the scene playing lead guitar for popular Australian blues performer 'Dutch' Tilders. In time Geoff began to work on his own music releasing his debut album 'Big Machine' in 1994. He represented Melbourne at the 'International Blues Challenge' in Memphis TN winning the coveted 'Albert King Award' in 1995. Encouraged, he set his sights on the world market and successfully established international touring routes in the USA and UK. To overcome the difficulties of bringing a band from Australia, Geoff began hiring local musicians to form a backing group when required. On his first extended overseas trip, Geoff received a beautiful new acoustic guitar from the famous Gibson guitar company and recorded his third album ‘Gettin’ Evil’ with a US version of his ‘Souldiggers’ band. Upon his return to Melbourne, Geoff was able to recruit an all-star group which featured some of Australia's most celebrated musicians. With Mal Logan on keys, Roger McLachlan on bass and Gerry Pantazis on drums, Geoff was finally able to realise his musical vision with The Souldiggers and built the group's reputation with exciting and spontaneous live performances. As a song-writer, Geoff explores a myriad of themes from love & loss to politics & philosophy and often with his wry sense of humour shining through. Vocally, Geoff has been compared favourably to the gruff voiced Joe Cocker, Warren Haynes and Paul Weller. An extraordinary guitarist who plays quite unlike anyone else, Geoff has been a driving force on the Australian blues/roots scene inspiring and influencing many of his younger compatriots.

Back before Panda and the Colonel had a decent camera, studio or anything really semi-pro, a young man called Josh Smith was willing to sit on our couch for a chat. Josh was on tour here at the time. Remember tours ;) We've added a few outtakes before the interview, with Josh burning up an original 1957 Strat and 1954 Telecaster. Sit back and enjoy a blues master. Best viewed on smaller screens. Blues rock guitar virtuoso, singer-songwriter and producer, Josh Smith, is hailed the world over as a master guitarist with raw talent and power to spare. Blending his signature mix of blues, rock and jazz into dynamic original songs, Smith is known for his incendiary live performances, whether at the Grammy Awards or the Kennedy Center Honors with Mick Jagger, Raphael Saadiq and others. “Anyone who has witnessed one of Josh Smith’s live performances comes away in awe of the man’s ability to fuse jazz, blues, and country into one neat package—with a technical ability that has to be seen to be believed.” Music Radar Josh has been named the 16th best living blues guitar player in the world by Guitar World Magazine. Born in 1979, Josh started playing guitar at age six. Praised as a blues prodigy by the time he was 12 years old, he began playing at professional blues jams in South Florida, sitting in with such greats as Jimmy Thackery, Tinsley Ellis, Kenny Neal, Lucky Peterson, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Johnny “Clyde” Copeland, Double Trouble, Joanna Connor and Kim Simmonds, among others. Jimmy Thackery said of the 14-year-old, “Josh is three heartbreaks away from being a true blues guitar genius.” That insight from Jimmy Thackery proved true as Josh began releasing CDs at age 14. His first national tour with his power trio, Josh Smith and the Frost, featured Josh as bandleader, vocalist as well as guitarist. The legendary producer Jim Gaines (Santana, SRV, Luther Allison, Steve Miller, Jimmy Thackery) produced Josh’s third CD, Too Damn Cold and Woman. By 1998, he had completed four national tours with his band. Josh was then asked to support the great B.B. King on a number of shows. Opening for B.B. King was just the beginning for this in-demand artist and lead guitarist for artists such as Taylor Hicks, Ricky Fante (Virgin Records), Raphael Saadiq, actress Taryn Manning, Universal Music Group hip-hop artists Benny Cassette and Tara Ellis, and more. He has the distinction of inducting Neil Diamond into the Kennedy Center Honors with Raphael Saadiq’s band and honoring Solomon Burke at the Grammys with Mick Jagger. Within a year of moving to L.A. in 2002, Josh was retained by Virgin recording artist Ricky Fante and performed nationally and internationally with Ricky for the next two years. In 2006, Josh recorded his fifth CD, Deep Roots and continued to play with a variety of artists such as actress Taryn Manning, Universal Music hip-hop artists Benny Cassette and Tara Ellis, to name a few. In 2007, Josh was hired by 2006 American Idol winner Taylor Hicks to be his lead guitarist. They completed two national tours before Josh was hired as lead guitarist by Grammy Award winner Raphael Saadiq. Josh continues to tour with Saadiq. In 2009, Josh released his 6th studio CD, Inception and in 2010 he was signed to Crosscut Records based in Germany. Crosscut re-released Josh’s breakout album, Deep Roots as I’m Gonna Be Ready. In 2013, Josh’s CD Don’t Give Up On Me was also released in Germany, followed by Over Your Head in 2014. In 2016, Josh’s jazz album, Still was released to critical acclaim as was Burn To Grow in 2018. Along with touring the world, recording and performing with renowned artists such as Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson, Andy Timmons, Kirk Fletcher and others, Smith is also a producer and owns Flat V Studios in Los Angeles. He has produced artists Reese Wynans (Joe Bonamassa), Artur Menezes (winner of the Eric Clapton 2019 Crossroads Festival) Seth Rosenbloom, Jamey Arent and many more. “Josh is one of my favorite musicians on the planet. His musical depth and guitar playing transcend the boundaries of the blues genre into a genre of his own. I am proud to always share a stage with him and even prouder to call him my friend. --Joe Bonamassa Josh’s latest and 11th album, Live At The Spud, was released January 8, 2020 on Flat V Music, and features Smith and his power trio recorded live over two nights at the legendary Baked Potato in Los Angeles. The new album features Smith on guitar and vocals, Gary Novak on drums and Trevor Carlton on bass. The goal was to present an unedited look at a normal night at the Baked Potato. Compelling, improvisational and explosive. Josh is currently touring worldwide in support of the live album. Josh gladly endorses Morgan Amps, Vemuram Pedals, Eminence Speakers Josh lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son.

Back in February 2019 Davey Lane stopped into our studio for some chit chat. A charming young gent indeedy. Sit back and enjoy as we take a trip back in time with one of Australia's greatest musical talents. David Daniel "Davey" Lane (born 31 January 1981) is an Australian musician. He is a solo artist and lead guitarist of You Am I (since 1999).[1][2] He was also lead singer-guitarist of The Pictures (from 2000) and member of Australian supergroup, The Wrights.[1] Biography As a teenager Davey Lane transcribed the guitar parts for Australian alternative rock group, You Am I's, website.[3] He provided lead guitar as a session musician for the group's founding mainstay Tim Rogers on his debut solo album, What Rhymes with Cars and Girls, which was released in March 1999. To promote the album, Rogers formed The Twin Set as his backing band, with Lane: were Jen Anderson on violin; Ian Kitney on drums; and Stuart Speed on upright bass. When You Am I reconvened in July that year, Lane joined as a second guitarist for the band.[2][4][5] Lane's first recorded work with You Am I is their live album, ...Saturday Night, 'Round Ten, which was issued in September 1999.[4][6] It had been recorded at the Casa del Resaca Warehouse in Richmond, in July.[4][6] His first studio album with the group, Dress Me Slowly, appeared in April 2001.[4][7] Australian music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll, felt that Lane's addition was "an important change" as it gave the group "extra guitar bite both on stage and in the studio".[4] Also in 2001 Lane formed a side-project, the alternative rock group, The Pictures, with Leigh White on bass guitar and Brett Wolfenden on drums.[8] Their debut single, "You'll See", appeared on the Illustrious Artists label that same year.[8] They followed with a four-track debut extended play, I Dealt a Rollercoaster, in 2002.[9] Fist2Face's reviewer describes their work as the "sound of the modern world colliding with blood, sweat and wood to create timeless, melodic rock music. High on total energy yet grounded by killer hooks and playing".[10] Craig Mathieson of The Sydney Morning Herald noted their style "alternated between impassioned Neil Young workouts and Who-like eruptions".[11] In January 2004 Lane was nominated as Best Lead Guitarist at the inaugural Jack Awards.[12] In October that year Nic Cester of Jet organised a charity project, The Wrights, to raise money for Australian musician, Stevie Wright.[13][14] The supergroup recorded a cover version of Wright's signature song, "Evie", which was an 11-minute hit single from 1974.[13] Lane provided rhythm guitar for Part 1 of "Evie", titled "Let Your Hair Hang Down" and lead guitar for Part 3, "I'm Losing You".[15] On 29 January 2005 Lane performed "Evie" with The Wrights at Waveaid in relief of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, presented at the Sydney Cricket Ground.[16] "Evie" by The Wrights was issued in February 2005, which peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[14][17] Since 2005 Lane has periodically played in Jimmy Barnes' backing band for touring and live recording.[18] In June 2005 The Pictures' debut album, Pieces of Eight, appeared.[3][4][5] Mathieson felt that its "best moments, such as the melancholic 'All My Ties' and opener 'Stupid Me', forsake the usual bravado of first albums for a more reflective tone".[11] In 2007 he joined Crowded House for their tour in Europe and Australia, temporarily replacing Liam Finn on miscellaneous guitar, keyboard and backup vocal duties. Late in 2008 Lane's groups each released an album: both You Am I's Dilettantes (September) and The Pictures' Kicking Indifference (November).[19] On 6 September 2013, Lane issued his debut solo extended play, The Good Borne of Bad Tymes, which was supported by a national tour in September and October.[20] The Herald's Jade Lazarevic described its "five tracks are a departure from Lane’s retro rock roots, with synths influenced by '70s groups such as the Gary Numan-fronted Tubeway Army and German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk working their way into the sound and even a 'space rock jam' track".[20] Joined The Stems in November 2017 and toured Europe April/May 2018 for the 30th anniversary of The Stems debt album "At First Sight Violets Are Blue". In 2018 he formed a group to back the legendary Todd Rundgren for an Australian tour. According to Lane, they have also collaborated in the studio on upcoming releases. Since 2016 he has also performed periodically as touring guitarist for Robyn Hitchcock.

Back in Apriil 2019 Jerry Cortez from 'Tower of Power' dropped in for a chat. Jerry is one of the nicest people in music I've ever met. We've taken this interview and remastered it for 2020 Covid19 lockdown. Jerry Cortez has released five EP's called GuitarVer 1,2,3,4 and 5, and a single just released called Roses. All of the EP's and single are released by a record company called Evo Sound, and are available at Amazon, Apple Music, Spotify, etc. This year Jerry also has an album release called 'One And The Same' plus a Christmas CD coming out later in 2020 entitled 'On Christmas Day'. Tower of Power is an American R&B-based horn section and band, originating in Oakland, California, that has been performing since 1968.[1] There have been a number of lead vocalists, the most well-known being Lenny Williams, who fronted the band between early 1973 and late 1974, the period of their greatest commercial success. They have had eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100;[2] their highest-charting songs include "You're Still a Young Man", "So Very Hard to Go", "What Is Hip?", and "Don't Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)".[3][4] In the summer of 1968, tenor saxophonist/vocalist Emilio Castillo met Stephen "Doc" Kupka, who played baritone sax. Castillo had played in several bands, but Castillo's father told his son to "hire that guy" after a home audition.[5] Within months the group, then known as The Motowns, began playing various gigs around Oakland and Berkeley, their soul sound relating to both minority and rebellious listeners.[3][6] Castillo wanted to play Bill Graham's Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, but he realized he would never get in with a name like The Motowns.[6] The band agreed on Tower of Power and the name stuck.[7] By 1970, the now renamed Tower of Power—now including trumpet/arranger Greg Adams, first trumpet Mic Gillette, first saxophone Skip Mesquite, Francis "Rocco" Prestia on bass, Willie Fulton on guitar, and drummer David Garibaldi—signed a recording contract with Bill Graham's San Francisco Records and released their first album, East Bay Grease. Rufus Miller performed most of the lead vocals on this debut album.[3] The group was first introduced to the San Francisco Bay area by radio station KSAN, which played a variety of artists such as Cold Blood, Eric Mercury and Marvin Gaye. Augmented by percussionist/conga/bongo player Brent Byars, Tower of Power was released from their San Francisco label contract and moved to Warner Bros. Records. Rick Stevens replaced Rufus Miller as lead singer on 1972's Bump City, which gave the band their first national exposure.[8] This album included the hit single "You're Still a Young Man", which peaked at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was Stevens' pinnacle vocal performance before leaving the band.[4] Emilio Castillo, who co-wrote the tune with Stephen Kupka, told Songfacts that the song was based on a true story about him and a former girlfriend who was six years his senior.[9] Tower of Power, released in the spring of 1973, was the third album for the band. It featured soul singer Lenny Williams on lead vocals and Lenny Pickett on lead tenor saxophone. Bruce Conte replaced guitarist Willie Fulton and keyboardist Chester Thompson also joined the band during the recording of the album. The album spawned their most-successful single "So Very Hard to Go". Although the single peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100,[4] it landed in the Top 10 on the surveys of many West Coast Top 40 radio stations, hitting #1 on many of them. The album also charted two other singles on the Billboard Hot 100, "This Time It's Real" and "What Is Hip?"[3] 1974's Back to Oakland spawned another hit, "Don't Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream)", that reached #26 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Time Will Tell", which charted at #69.[4] The funk-jazz classic instrumental "Squib Cakes" also came from this album.[10] On Urban Renewal (1974), the band moved more toward funk than soul; however, they continued recording ballads as well. Williams left the band in late 1974, and was replaced as vocalist by Hubert Tubbs. Though the band remained popular, their days of chart radio airplay declined. During the late 1970s they briefly tried recording disco-sounding material[3]. On January 12, 2017, long-time drummer David Garibaldi and bassist Marc Van Wageningen were hit by a train as they walked across tracks before a performance in Oakland.[2] They both survived the accident. According to their manager, Jeremy Westby, they were both “responsive and being treated at a local hospital”.[2] They fully recovered and returned to the active lineup later that year.

A few years back we sat down with Australian master guitarist and rock lord, Mr Jimi Hocking. You can check out Jimi at jimihocking.bandcamp.com #rocklegend #screamingjets #jimihocking #gibsonguitars #ozrock #fenderguitars James Kevin Hocking (born 7 June 1963) otherwise known as Jimi the Human is an Australian musician. He has been a member of hard rock groups, The Angels (1988) and The Screaming Jets (1994–97, 2010–present). As a solo artist he has fronted various backing bands playing hard rock, electric and acoustic blues by providing lead guitar, vocals, mandolin and keyboards.[1] In 2005 he won the Solo/Duo category at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Biography James Kevin Hocking,[2] was born on 7 June 1963 and grew up in Melbourne. His father, Kevin Hocking, was a pianist, musical director and composer who worked in TV and theatre; while his mother was a singer.[3] Kevin taught his son to play piano who showed little interest in it.[3][4] After Hocking was given an acoustic guitar as a Christmas present, he became a self-taught guitarist.[4][5] He later worked in amateur theatre.[5] Hocking started performing in groups in Melbourne in 1983.[6] In the following year he formed The Astroboys alongside Peter German (ex-Phantom Band) on bass guitar and vocals, Glen Miles, and Christian Muehlke on drums.[7][8] He composed and performed the theme for ABC-TV telemovie, Emerging in 1985;[5][8] and provided guitar session work for the network's series, The D-Generation, in the next year.[5] When performing in cafes Hocking would change his description on the "Who's Playing Board", he related "I started to add silly titles (like) Jimi the Singer, Jimi the Muso ... Eventually I wrote Jimi the Human, a joke about playing any style".[3] Early in 1986 Hocking, on lead vocals and lead guitar, and German formed The Aströs as a hard rock group with Greg Pedley (ex-Phantom Band) on drums.[7][9] Hocking also worked on TV series Fame and Misfortune during that year.[8] Also in 1986 The Aströs released a self-titled four-track extended play on Robot Records.[7][9][10] It had been recorded live-in-the-studio at Working Class Studios in May.[10] In the next year Hocking, German and Pedley performed as The Housewarmers,[8] however by August The Aströs had reconvened and they toured nationally.[5] They were described by The Canberra Times as a "hard rocking Melbourne band, [which] are ready to rocket on to the Australian music scene".[5] In May 1988 The Angels' lead guitarist, Bob Spencer, broke his wrist after an on stage collision with front man, Doc Neeson.[3][11] The group asked Hocking to temporarily replace Spencer for the remainder of the group's Live Line Tour of Australia.[11][12] Hocking provided lead guitar and backing vocals.[11][12] He later recalled "I was called up as the result of some session work I had recently done ... It was originally to fill in for one night and the tour would be cancelled ... The gig went so well, that the band offered me the guitar spot for the rest of the tour, so overnight I found myself on a major rock tour".[3] In the following year he formed Jimi the Human and Spectre 7, another hard rock group, with former bandmate Muehlke on drums (ex-Honeythieves); they were joined by Josie Jason (ca. 1962–2011)[13] on rhythm guitar and vocals (ex-Butterfly, Final Outcome, Dirty Rats, Mars Needs Women); and Didi Kies on bass guitar (ex-Adventure, Honeythieves).[7][8] The group signed with Avenue Records which was distributed by EMI.[7][8] They released their debut album, No Turning Back, in March 1990, which was produced by Peter Blyton (Lime Spiders, The Radiators, Painters and Dockers).[7][8] It provided two singles, "Quicksand" and "Edge of Insanity".[7] Jason left to form her own band,[7] while Jimi the Human and Spectre 7 sold an album, The Official Bootleg in 1991, at gigs and via mail orders.[8] The group's next album, Living in Luxury, appeared in 1993 on the Primitive Records label.[7][8] Later that year he relocated to Sydney.[6] In January of the following year Hocking joined The Screaming Jets replacing founder, Richard Lara.[14][15] He appeared on two of their studio albums, The Screaming Jets (August 1995) and World Gone Crazy (October 1997), but had left in May 1997.[7][14][15] While a member of that band Hocking also issued an acoustic solo album, The Ultimate Bootleg, in August 1996 on Feral Records and Blah Blah Blah Records.[7][8] After leaving the group he returned to Melbourne, as a solo artist he fronted Jimi Hocking and The Human Condition. They recorded his next album, The Great B-Grade Remake, which appeared in late 1997 on Blah Blah Blah.[7][8]