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have found there is nothing Hugh and his crew can ’ t do . If it has strings , they can and will repair , maintain and treat it as their own with a sincere desire of love for the instruments . Located in Orange County , many touring musicians stop in for repairs and maintenance when on the road . Many others send their instrument to Hugh and the crew for treatment and repair . It is a very friendly environment and the love they have for their craft and the instruments is always present in the shop .
Now the day is over and it ’ s time for food . I met up with my friend Morgan and on the way to a NAMM food spot , I walked by Janet Robin at a booth , ( I don ’ t remember which booth , sorry ) and had to stop and talk . ( www . janetrobin . com ) ( www . facebook . com / janetrobinmusic ) I introduced myself and shared my respect and admiration for her song at Randy Rhoads Remembered . I shared a story of my own as a student of Randy Rhoads . I was like a goofy kid all over again as we shared stories . It was a highlight of my NAMM experience .
Now one of the things I have always tried to do during the NAMM experience is check out the Hilton and Marriot lobby ’ s for music that I don ’ t know about . All during NAMM they have artists playing outside and inside both of these hotels . Many times over the years I have caught a great band / artist that I didn ’ t know about . ( Like that one year in the Hilton Lobby late at night when Stevie Wonder came up and did the magic he does with the band that was playing . That is a memory for life .)
So I went to the Marriot and sure enough a great band had just started . The Curly Wolf ( www . curlywolfmusic . com ) ( www . facebook . com / thecurlywolf ) “ Diesel fuel , burning tires , and Fernet-Branca … that would be the aroma coming out of your speakers if you could smell the music . The Curly Wolf delivers a hard charging alt-country rock sound that comes from a variety of musical and cultural influences . Cash , Hank , Waylon , Rancid , The Misfits , Queens of The Stone Age , Trucks , Choppers , Vans ; these are the common threads that brought these boys together to create an aggressive new music alternative to today ’ s standard country music . Their new album , " Calling Your Bluff " is out now on iTunes .” I was pleasantly blown away by this band and I stayed for their entire set . I kept moving and grooving during the set as did the entire crowd . The music was exactly as their bio describes . Rootsy , Alternative Country rock that paid homage to all their influences but remained original . They owned that stage . I would have been doing some country swing dancing but being that I had been walking around now for 2 and half days , I just kept to tapping my feet . I have to check this band out again sooner than later .
When they were done I went to the Hilton . The band GrooveSession ( www . groovesessionmusic . com ) ( www . facebook . com / GrooveSession ) had just started and I was stoked ! “ GrooveSession is a trio on the rise ! Recognized for unique songwriting and powerful live performance , GrooveSession is a true throwback and good old fashioned rock band uniting fans with a funky flare and positive message . Mind , body , and sound , GrooveSession brings a multi-genre blend of rock n ’ roll that they call “ movin ' groovin ' music .” A renaissance , a rebirth , an encompassed innovative flowering new sound on their quest to end the jammin ' famine . Touring and playing over 1,333 dates while opening for and playing with many of today ' s greatest bands and musicians , there is something very special happening when GrooveSession performs . These guys love it all and you never know what you will get , but rest assured it ’ s going to be dynamic and musical . Tuned to 432Hz , this band is about the Earth ’ s natural vibration and healing properties that positive music and intention bring to life ! Magical , professional , and musical with the ability to make fire with music !” Last year at NAMM my brother Chris and I jammed with bass player Ronnie Sanchez at the Cigar Box Guitars booth ( www . cigarboxguitars . com ). A mutual friend had introduced us to Ronnie right before and we jammed . Spontaneous , adventurous improvising away we went , playing some greasy spoon grove blooze ! It was pure joy and we all got high off it . I got turned on to GrooveSession at that time . So to catch them at NAMM , in the Hilton lobby was pure heaven for me . Their set was magical , spiritual and transcended the realm of the material world . This is a band that is truly impossible to describe in words . You have to Experience them . They are an Experience . They get off playing ; the audience gets off on them playing . It is that rare thing that happens with live music when the audience is taken to another level of existence , as the band is doing the same .
After that , it was time to call it a night . There may have been something out there that could top that experience , but I was more than content to get home and rest . Being that the downpour of rain had stopped , it was like nature was in agreement .
Saturday was a bright sunny day ! Got my usual ice coffee with a shot , and met up with Renee . We looked over our notes for the day and headed to our first stop .
Pete Thorn ( www . peterthorn . com ) ( www . facebook . com / guitarnerd ) “ While prolific guitar sideman Pete Thorn may refer to himself as a “ guitar nerd ”, his resume proves he ’ s anything but . His effortless , dynamic playing have landed
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