Conference napalm::guitar

    I saw a special on TV featuring Miles, describing this project and
    with interviews of some of the artists involved.  It was about a
    month ago and I believe it was on MTV, IRSs The Cutting Edge program.
    
    I could be wrong on the channel, but the program was very interesting.
    
    Greg

    Well, I've been listening to Guitarspeak for about two weeks now
    and its generally a disappointment.  Evidently an atmosphere of "total
    artistic freedom" is not what these guys thrive on.  I was particularly
    looking forward to the cuts by Alvin Lee, Randy California, and Leslie
    West; these are players who forged distinctive voices on guitar earlier
    in their careers.  The stuff they do on Guitarspeak is virtually
    indistinguishable from the mediocre guitar dreck you can hear in your
    average pop-metal band.  It's even hard to tell them apart.  Maybe it
    would help if they threw away half the junk in their effects racks and
    got back to playing.  Some of the other cuts are a little better. 
    Ronnie Montrose's offering could have come right off Joe Satriani's
    latest album (I mean that as a compliment); Ronnie is one of the few
    players around who can really use the technology available today and do
    something worthwhile with it.  Hank Marvin's entry was also a tasty surprise. 

    There are other interesting moments here and there, and the album
    is chock full of lovely state-of-the-art guitar tones, but if I had
    to sum the whole thing up in one word, it would be BLAND.

    Caveat emptor, your mileage may vary
    
    /rick    
    
    

    I agree with Rick about Montrose. Can anybody recommend anything
    else by him?
    
    -Dave

    
    Re: .2
    
    Well, you shouldn't be *too* surprised considering that Alvin, Leslie
    and Randy have all had little to say once their original bands went
    belly-up back in the early seventies.
    
    As for effects, I gotta agree.  I'm sick of overly processed
    instrumental sounds.  Gimme some John Lee Hooker or Muddy Waters
    over some guy with a rack system any day of the week...
    
    

    I liked the Eric Johnson cut (not surprisingly), but the rest of
    it didn't make much of an impression on me after about 5 listens.
    
    Steve Howe's seems extremely self-indulging on several counts.
    
    	db

    Ronnie Montrose has a recent album out, Speed of Sound (I think).
    After hearing him here, I'm tempted to check it out.  I remember
    Ronnie doing a killer instrumental version of "Town Without Pity"
    way back when; it still gets occasional airplay.
    
    /rick

>                                                         I remember
>    Ronnie doing a killer instrumental version of "Town Without Pity"
>    way back when; it still gets occasional airplay.

I remember that I was looking for this record for *years*. I finally found
it about 6 months ago! What a great version of that song!

I also saw Ronnie Montrose about 2 months ago at the Channel - it was
on a Tuesday night, and the place was empty (maybe 200 people). But
the show was great! He did "Town Without Pity" and "Telstar" (a remake
of the old hit that was on his last album), and some old Montrose
material. 

The show was all instrumental. The band consisted of three guitarists, a 
bass player and a drummer, all of whom were outstanding. During most of
the leads, one or both of the other guitarists would play harmony to 
Ronnie's lead - it was amazing to hear!

If you got a chance to see him - do it! You won't be disappointed!

Alan S.

    What album is Town Without Pity on?
    
    MD

    	I believe that Town Without Pity is on the Open Fire album
    released in the mid 70's.
    
    DonH
    

    RE .5
    
    	Hey db,isn't Eric Johnson suppose to have a second solo album
    out soon? 
    
    							Rick
    				(whose "Tones" tape is wearing out)

    So, I bought this new Montrose album. I remember hearing Town
    Without Pity and thinking it was a great rendition of a really
    sickening song, but that was the only thing I'd ever heard by 
    this guy. I am IMPRESSED by the playing on this new album. Lots
    of classic screaming guitar without sounding like a fingertap
    machine. Check it out. Any others you'd recommend?
    
    -Dave

    beware.  Ronnie Montrose has a number of albums out, not all of
    which are in the same vein as the latest one.  For instance, 
    he had a band with Sammy Hagar that was more straight ahead
    rocker oriented; not to say that stuff is bad, just different.
    In a GP interview, Ronnie said this latest album was the first
    one that really came out the way he wanted.    

    /rick

    For those of you that are interested Miles actually put together
    a tour of the UK featuring Pete Haycock,Steve Hunter,Randy
    California,Ted Turner and Andy Powell,Leslie West,Steve Howe,Alvin
    Lee and Robbie Krieger...I went to the gig at Hammersmith which
    was the last date of the tour.
    
    The highspot of the evening was the Wishbone Ash duo who were superb
    and I shall be keeping an eye open for any future dates of the band.
    Pete Haycock was superb,rather Jazzy and not too disimilar from
    early Larry Carlton.
    Leslie West was a noise,Steve Howe dissapointing,Randy California
    entertaining but not offering any of his earlier guitar skills(when
    I spoke to him after the show he was "totally out of it",which possibly
    explains things,Robbie Krieger suprisingly good,Steve Hunter
    interesting and Alvin Lee made me wonder why he has kept such a
    low profile for so long...he was excellent.
    
    The concert was video'd by Granada television.
    
    As for Ronnie Montrose ...I don't know much about his recent work
    but he did play on the Edgar Winter Group's "They only come out
    ay night" after which he left and formed Montrose who produced an
    album called "Montrose","Warner Bros presents Montrose" and a  few
    other albums the titles of which escape me for the moment...
    
    Regards
    Jeff Jansen  P&T  @ F1/10 SBP UK 

    just wondering, did all of these artists bring their own rhythm
    section or was there a "house" band?  I would like to have seen
    Turner and Powell together again.
    
    /rick

    They all used their own band.  They didn't "come in" and do these tunes.
    
    They were basically given a budget to produce a tune and had total
    control over it.  All the tunes were done in different studios with
    different backup musicians, etc.
    
    	db

    re .15
    
    I was asking about the live show

    Live Show
    
    They all used the same rythmn section throughout the show with the
    exception of the last few numbers on which Stewart Copeland played
    drums.I must admit that I hadn't heard of any of the supporting
    musicians before but they were good.
    
    I bought the "No Speak Sampler" the other day and reckon that the
    best offerings on it are by Wishbone Ash and Steve Hunter.
    
    Apparently another tour is being lined up with different players
    so it will be interesting to see who's included on the next one!
    Regards 
    Jeff Jansen

    
    
    I have listened to the Night of the Guitar Live tape a bunch of times. 
    There is some wonderful playing here, if you like '70's blues-based
    guitar work.  Pete Haycock's stuff is jazzy and very well played, the
    Wishbone Ash guys were real strong, Alvin Lee can still burn.  I even
    liked Leslie West.  
    
    There is a jam at the end on All Along the Watchtower where almost
    everyone gets into the act.
    
    
    Kevin