''Electric Goddess'' - Debra DeSalvo

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
 Date: Friday, April 23 2004 @ 17:46:07 BST

The name of Debra DeSalvo's new album is "Electric Goddess", which sort of throws the gauntlet down, if you ask me. Lucky for us, win, lose, or draw, it's a GREAT show! But then, whaddya expect from a record that opens with a song titled "Demon in the Sack"?

''GUITAR GODS: Debra Devi''

 - David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Tuesday, August 23 2005 @ 14:32:35 BST


 

The Village Voice calls her "hard-edged" and describes her music as "blues punk"; the New York Post calls her a "Notable guitarist"; WomenRock says of Deb, "...rock star quality and staying power. Debra is Liz Phair and Sheryl Crow uncensored and unpolished..."; Scrawl Magazine says, "...the unmistakable combustion engine at the center of it all is the guitar playing of Debra Devi...".

Her music has been featured in the movie "Stripped: Exposing the Business of Baring It All" (Vanguard Cinema - 2003) and on both VH1 & CMT (2 songs in Driven-Tim McGraw episode) and will soon be heard on the TV show "Getting Off" (2 songs in award-winning feature film about AIDS starring Christine Harnos; Showtime airdate: Sept. 21, 2005).

She has performed in the New York area at various clubs (including the legendary CBGS and Arlene's Grocery), her guitar lessons have been featured in Guitar, Guitar School, Guitar World, and Guitar.Com, she's released 2 solo CDs (read reviews of her debut "Electric Goddess" and her 2005 release "Hoboken Demo" here at Tinfoil Music), and is now poised to take her place among the rock elite.

Debra Devi is an immense talent. Her songcraft is exceptional, her lyrics biting, her guitar playing gutsy & unique, her performances over the top. If you haven't heard her, go visit her web-site NOW and check out the sound-clips. You'll be happy you did!
I had a chance to speak with Deb recently - check it out!

"Vivid Dominion" by Gregory

The new album by Gregory, "Vivid Dominion", has been released (12-21-12).

All thumbs up - get it fast while you still can!!

http://gregoryfrancis.bandcamp.com/

Dave Weiner - ''Shove the Sun Aside''

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Tuesday, March 22 2005 @ 13:34:18 GMT

Most people who have heard the name "Dave Weiner" know him as the guy with enough talent and balls to stand on the stage next to Steve Vai in Vai's touring band, The Breed. What they may not know is that Dave, until Favored Nations signed him, is a DIY artist with a new & wondrous CD, "Shove the Sun Aside".

''GUITAR GODS: Dave Weiner''

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music 
Date: Thursday, April 07 2005 @ 02:51:47 BST

It's no wonder Dave Weiner landed one of the best gigs on earth: playing guitar in Steve Vai's touring band. He started playing guitar at 10; by 13 he was recording with his band; by 15 he was releasing his 2nd full-length album; by 16 he was teaching guitar! After grabbing a practical degree, he moved to Hollywood to attend GIT, and a year later - September 1999 - the hard work pad off and he found himself playing guitar for his new boss, Steve Vai.

The gig, of course (which has included several world tours, a few G3 tours, Clapton's Crossroads Festival, the Grammys, and more), has led to massive exposure for Weiner, who launched his official - DAVEWEINER.COM - site in 2000...where you can get gobs of info, audio clips, video clips, tabs, and more.

Now, hot off the Favored Nations presses, comes Dave's debut solo CD, "Shove the Sun Aside" (see review HERE, an amazing work that spotlights not just his incredible chops, but his gift for great melodies and funky grooves.

I had a chance to speak to Dave recently - check it out!

''GUITAR GODS: Mark Akin''

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music 
Date: Thursday, June 22 2006 @ 14:16:26 BST

Mark Akin. If you've heard the name, it was probably as the man behind the guitar wizardry of the popular TV show "Dragon Ball-Z". If you're a guitar nut, you might know that he did a few clinics with guitar legend (and Guitar Gods interviewee) Jennifer Batten. But there is SOOOO much more to this guy!

His bio opens, "Guitarist – Bassist – Synthesist – Anime Soundtrack Artist- Mark is a Multi-Platinum soundtrack recording artist for the insanely popular Anime series Dragonball Z with syndication on Cartoon Network. He's also shared musical credits with Dream Theater, Bootsy Collins, Buckethead, Sum 41, and Saliva to name a few. His style is diverse, ranging from hard rock to electronic soundtrack vibes, to all out metal mayhem...". 

What it doesn't say is that he also teaches privately, hops around the globe with Tone Tubby, Dean Guitars, Frezel Amps, Seymour Duncan pick-ups, Emma Electronics, & others, runs the soundtrack company Megawatt Music, is guitarist for the prog-metal band The Shadow Syndicate, has released a solo CD of electronica, touring clinician, and much more! You can also visit Mark on-line at MARK-AKIN.COM! 

I had the opportunity to speak with Mark recently - check it out! 

"Artists at the Edge: Natasha Vita-More (2)"

- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Thursday, 07 September 2006 07:26  

 

 
Last month we took a look at part one of the Natasha Vita-More interview. Now, we'll conclude with part 2. Enjoy!

11) You've had a keen interest in the nexus of science, art, & culture for quite some time. Can you say a few words about the function of your organization & web-site Transhumanist Arts & Culture?

"Artists at the Edge: Natasha Vita-More"

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
first published at Tinfoil Music
Friday, 11 August 2006 08:30

For those who already know of Natasha Vita-More, no introduction is needed. For those unfamiliar with her, suffice it to say she is a HUGE thinker not just in the world of technology, but in the world of ideas. Her scope goes far beyond one or two focus groups and covers art, technology, fashion, science, politics, sex, religion...from primitive past to brilliant & kaleidoscopic future.

Natasha sculpts her body and her mind with old-fashioned work and new-fangled technologies, and gazes into the future with dazzling clarity. She is award-winning artist, actress, author, speaker, television show host. She holds a BFA from University of Memphis, MS from University of Houston (Future Studies), and is a Ph.D. candidate at University of Plymouth. She holds certificates from the AMFA as nutritionist & personal trainer, from Blackstone School of Law in paralegal studies, HTML writers Guild in animation. She was president of the Extopy Institute from 2000-2006 (ExI officially "closed it's doors" earlier this year), is founder & director of Transhumanist Arts & Culture, honorary vice-chair of the WTA, & sits on the council of advisors for the Alcor Foundation. She has delivered speeches to hundreds of thousands at various conferences around the world, been interviewed by newspapers like the New York Times & Village Voice and magazines as diverse as Wired, US News & World Report, and Harper's Bazaar. She has appeared in television & film for over 20 years and her artwork has been exhibited from coast to coast in the US as well as Europe and Japan, and her bio is featured from the Who's Who to Kurzweil AI.


In short, she is a brilliant artist and futurist. In the expanding world of transhumanism, extropianism, and art, she is a legend. She has been married to the equally brilliant strtegic futurist Dr. Max More since 1996, and though she was born mid-way through the last century, she looks like an Olympic athlete half her age.


I had the chance to speak to Natasha recently (note: this interview took place in the spring of 2006), so here is the first of a 2-part series. Hang on - it's a wild ride.....

''GUITAR GODS: Randy Ellefson''

-- David Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Tuesday, March 22 2005 @ 02:25:56 GMT

Instrumental rock guitarist Randy Ellesfon has a flowing, almost lyrical style of playing that places song above chops. That said, Rand has plenty of chops for the die-hard shred fan! With a Bachelors of Music in classical guitar (Magna Cum Laude), a couple of tasty endorsement deals (Peavy & Alvarez), and a new CD, "The Firebard", Randy is on a mission to spread the Gospel of Guitar.

"The Firebard", which was released in late 2004 in Guitarosity Records, is a nod to Randy's bout with tendonitis, which took away his playing for 5 years. Ultimately, Randy conquored it and is currently in rehearsals with his new band for a series of performances.

He is also a prolific teacher, with monthly columns at Guitar-Guitar and guest columns at IBreatheMusic, Guitar-9, and other top guitar-centric sites.

Check out the review of "The Firebard" and be sure to visit his web-site for up-to-date information, mp3s, tabs, articles, videos, and other cool stuff!

I had a chance to speak with Randy recently. Check it out!

David "Skinny Devil" McLean on WKYT

"....the top YMCA led guitar program in the country and the national model for other YMCAs..." (and did he mention only one of 3 guitar programs ever sponsored by Gibson?).