Would you look at that - it's #TuneTuesday, folks! 🥳 As always the lovely @Kitty reached deep into their unfathomable tin of prompts and delivered an appropriate theme for today's edition...
As much as a good metal/butt-rock solo can inspire me, I'm a punk at heart. There's nothing like a wall of sloppy, driving, overly distorted guitar to get me going.
To keep up with the mood - let's talk air drumming. There are two big songs that I still air drum to without fail.
First - "In the Frozen" by Dreamcatcher. When that beat drops, I just start wailing on the air drums. Can't help myself - even when I'm driving. https://songwhip.com/dreamcatcher/in-the-frozen
The second - "Ana Ng" from They Might Be Giants. Seriously, give it a listen. The beat rocks out harder than it has any right to. And the live version from Severe Tire Damage is fantastic https://songwhip.com/they-might-be-giants/ana-ng
I've seen Tim Blake playing Theremin with Hawkwind a few times, and there's all sorts of noises going on. I sometimes wonder if he's actually got one or if he's miming in front of a couple of wire coat-hangers that are stuck to a box. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZZO3eRxezc
From the tribute concert to George Harrison, Prince providing a scorching improvised solo on While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
There are a lot of accomplished performers on that stage and they all look dumbfounded at what Prince does. At the end the Purple maestro throws his guitar into the air but i'm not sure it ever came down, instead ascending to guitar heaven.
And here's another one of those all-star cast tribute concerts. This one with John Lee Hooker joined on stage with guests Carlos Santana, Robert Cray, Bonnie Rait & Ry Cooder
#InvoluntaryAirGuitar is this week's #TuneTuesday theme. I'm not a fan of shredding, but a nice long, meandering and somewhat hypnotic guitar solo can sometimes be just the thing. This is just one example.
So, Steely Dan, not a band some like because of associations with anodyne 'yacht rock' but I f***ing love them & they have many great guitar moments.
The solo on the original was by session player Elliott Randall & rated by Led Zep's Jimmy Page as his favourite solo of all time famously giving it a "12 out of 10".
But I'm not giving you the original 😆. Here's a rollicking live version from 1973 with Skunk Baxter on lead.
@HailsandAles has came up with a great theme for @Kitty 's #TuneTuesday , #InvoluntaryAirGuitar a tune that just has you reaching for that invisible Strat and giving it some beans. I was trying really hard not to use something I'd used before but ultimately I couldn't help coming back to this and it's multi key changes and solos. The Wildhearts: My Baby is A Headfuck https://yt.artemislena.eu/watch?v=ef60TTolGGo
Not one of the usual suspects for air guitar, but my girlfriend was driving me home on Sunday evening and this came on.
Her - What are you doing?
Me - Erm... playing guitar on the seatbelt.
Her - Don't you think that's a bit dangerous?
Me - No, you're a good driver
Her - Just don't
Me - OK
Her - (Sigh) And stop playing piano on my leg
Me - It's not a piano it's a harpsichor...Ouch....
I don't have anything to offer for this week's #TuneTuesday, because the #InvoluntaryAirGuitar theme is very much a rock music thing. Not my cup of tea at all.
However, as an aside, it got me thinking about air drumming (if that's a thing), and so I've been enjoying some Clyde Stubblefield this morning.
Here's a bit of high funk that should provoke Involuntary Air Drumming.