Staying Stoked In The Post Stoke Economy

Ok, I am a child of the '70s, maybe even of the '80s. Why do I offer that up front piece of nostalgic date bait? Because I have to not only inform the reader, but also remind myself that I come from a different time. Now, that in and of itself has no value. Let's be clear, I am not the kind of guy who walks around yelling, "Old school, baby! Old school". I for sure see the value of new technology and of new trends in all sorts of things, and not just new music or new music gear.
For example, I recently went on a nostalgic whim and jumped out and bought a late '80s mountain bike. I had been looking at bike builds on Pinterest (huh? Pinterest...told ya'. Im woke y'all) and was all sorts of stoked about all this old iron being brought back to life. So, I jumped on Craigslist and scored a beautiful Mountain Klein. Great shape and all original save the saddle and tires. It is nothing short of breath taking. Also, It was only $200! Back in '89 I could not have even dreamed of owning this bike. Once on my bike rack, I was sending pics to all my buddies and trying to organize an "old iron" bike ride. There were absolutely no takers....at all. None! Yet, I was not to be denied my blaze of old glory. I loaded it up and took it to my next little group ride. Let me tell you that the stoke of owning a Mountain Klein faded pretty quickly my friends. After years of riding modern mountain bikes, I had forgotten how basic first generation mountain bikes were. They were basically expensive road groupos bolted onto stiffer frames, with fatter tires added, and flat bars. The ride was brutal. Harsh and unforgiving, this old iron beauty was anything but glorious by comparison.
So old school is just that in many instances. Old. Plain and simple. And as I sat in my truck pondering the nostalgic wash out I had just experienced, I realized that back in the day it was not the old stuff that got us stoked. It was the new emerging technologies of the day that stoked us. Like when Yamaha came out with the Mono-Shock, or when polyurethene wheel firs started appearing on skateboards. That was the trick stuff. That was the stuff that was "Bitchin' man!
The lesson is not lost on this old dude for sure. Because I'm not some old dude. I am the same wide eyed 13 year old that actually shed a small tear of overwhelming joy when he rollded that 1981 Yamaha YZ 125 off the show room floor. Water cooled man!, F'ing water cooled!! Color me stoked.
So then should I not be as stoked when I see that new Kemper modeling amp or when Fox released a new mountain bike shock? Yes! I should be. I should be 13 years old every time I walk into Guitar Center (humor me here) or a bike shop or skate shop or any shop that has stuff I dig.
Let us not get trapped in the glory of the old. While it is totally bitchin' to plug into a real '65 Blackface, it is also, and it some ways more, cool to plug into a Blackstar Silverline and dial up a Blackface tone from the endless menu of digital models. It is seriously cool.
So my friends young and old. Dont be less stoked today as you were yesterday. Keep a foot in what brought us here for sure. Honor the champions of days gone by but also keep an eye on the champions of tomorrow. For these too will become memories. These too will some day be "old school".
Until next time. Stay stoked my friends. Stay stoked.

On Occasion, Guitars Are Not All That....What?

Ok, well I said it. Yes, it is true for me. From time to time, I am bored to death of the the onslaught of guitar photos and guitar stories I get on my social media feeds. How many Olympic white strats can one man look at? In fact, sometimes I think there are only a dozen or so photos of Olympic white strats on the planet. We just keep sending them to one another as if we just snapped it in our living room and posted it seconds ago. Listen, I am not saying that strats are boring or that Olympic white is not a great color for a strat. I am simply saying that even the most dedicated guitar heroes among us need to branch out a little.

I have included recently in my feeds other points of interest. Of course surfing, of course dirt bikes, of course skateboarding but also recently some art stuff, and poetry stuff as well. I'm just trying to add some variety to my interactions with this world. In turn, I have found that it adds dimensions to my guitar playing that I have not previously experienced.

The art I have started looking at is of various subject matter. I have found that it gets me thinking about what colors and what mindscapes might enter my thoughts as I am playing a particular guitar passage. The poetry I have started reading gets me thinking about writing good lyrics again (as if I have previously written a good lyric).

You have heard me make reference to the musical life and the guitar lifestyle. Honestly, I had not really put as much thought into those phrases as I should have until recently. So, this really can be a musical life. Tying a variety of interests and experiences into our music really does make it a life. A lifestyle if you will.

I try to keep these posts short and to the point. Most often it is to just share or a thought or encourage you to contemplate something along with me. Join me then in this if you will. What other interests can we incorporate into our musical thoughts? Can we find a way to make our interest in bread making or cake decorating improve our guitar playing? I think there may be ways to do so. If we give enough thought to it, we can combine so many of our interests into a cohesive personality or lifestyle. Look for a way to make it fit. Most of all, lets pick our head up and look at something other than the fretboard. Its a big world. And a beautiful one.

All Hail the Flying V!

A poster of your rock idol on your old bedroom wall, an old pair of black Chuck Taylors, a faded black concert T, a bandanna you used to tie around your wrist, classic vinyl stacked in a box in the back of your parents closet.
Icons of the rock and roll spirit. The items and images that connect you to the music and passion that is driven by overdriven amps, power chords and the heaviest of back beats. The power and the glory of rock and roll!
Add to this list the image of a Gibson classic. Born before its time with its brothers the Gibson Explorer and the Moderne, all hail the Flying V!
Marvel at its heaviness. Behold it's greatness and rock...ness! No doubt hewn from the very bones of warriors and demons. Not for the faint of heart. Its very shape indicates that it is a rocket ship to another dimension of distortion and fury. Brave are those who would ride. Bold are those that would try to tame it.
Many have tried, few have survived. Check the coolness with which the man holds this monster of music mania.
In all their youth and angst. Hendrix and the mother f#@%ing Flying V!