''"GUITAR GODS: Mr. Fastfinger (Guitar Shred Show)''

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Friday, August 26 2005 @ 18:01:51 BST

"Guitar Shred Show: The Way of the Exploding Solo - Mr. Fastfingers reveals the arts & secrets of electric guitar to all."

The Guitar Shred Show officially opened on August 8, 2005 and word spread so fast of the amazing "Mr. Fastfinger" that the web-site, GuitarShredShow.Com, has received 10,000-15,000 hits per DAY by guitarists hungry for knowledge. The site, the ultimate on-line guitar school, is so impressive that links to the school popped up immediately on forums like Vai.Com on August 9 - just one day after it's opening!

EYE CANDY: Anna J (photos by Joe McGuire)

7 photos...

Doppler, Inc. - ''Nu Instrumental''

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music 
Date: Tuesday, March 22 2005 @ 13:24:06 GMT

Doug Doppler, former student of Joe Satriani (and personally picked by Joe to take over his teaching duties), formed a band in 2002 named simply Doppler, Inc. Their debut CD, "Nu Instrumental", features the amazing line-up of Doug Doppler (lead guitar), Steve Sarina (rhythm guitar), Uriah Duffy (bass), and Atma Anur (drums), with special guest appearances from Stu Hamm (bass), Billy Sheehan (bass), and Brad Gillis (guitar).

They waste no time leaping into the instrumental rock fray with the opening track, "Fat Lip" - an intense, driving song that features all manner of cool sound FX, whammy pedal guitar antics, crunching rhythms, and more. This song really throws down the gauntlet and sets the pace for the entire 11 song CD.

''GUITAR GODS: Doug Doppler''

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Monday, March 28 2005 @ 15:01:30 BST

 
Doug Doppler: Remember that name. The man who personally took over Joe Satriani's guitar instruction studio, who performed at the Bill Graham Memorial for 250,000 people, and has graced the stage at G3, has a new band, Doppler, Inc., and a new CD, "Nu Instrumental" (Favored Nations), and is poised to have a major impact on the rock music scene.

Doug - who also works with DiMarzio Pickups and Line-6, and is a visiting instructor at the world-renowned GIT - is a guitarist of profound ability & sensitivity. His new CD, which is reviewed HERE, not only demonstrates Doug's obvious abilities as a guitarist, but as a songwriter with the unique ability to fuse disparate styles into a exciting, polished, and soulful sound.

Plans for a tour and live DVD are under way, and you can get more info about Doppler, Inc. at Doug's web-site.

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

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''GUITAR GODS: Don ''Boone'' Hicks''

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean
originally published at Tinfoil Music
Date: Monday, May 09 2005 @ 14:21:55 BST

The guitar solo is making a comeback in the rock music world. During the dark days, however, a few brave souls carried the torch of high-level rock guitar performance...most notably Zach Wylde (Ozzy) and a handful of others not in the mainstream of radio rock. But others carried the torch, also. Players who thrived in local markets playing kick-ass rock-n-roll with plenty of attitude and plenty of screaming guitar solos; players like Don "Boone" Hicks of the band Devil Stomp.

Devil Stomp have been performing throughout the southern US for a couple of years, with gigs from Cincinnati to Atlanta. The bands current line-up is a simple power trio with Sam Rhodus on drums, Joey Cain on bass and Don handling vocals & guitar. Their music is a a driving brand of blues-based rock bound to draw comparisons to AIC, Black Label Society, and others, but their approach is fresh and powerful.

Don's playing is clean and strong and gutsy. His rhythmic approach is aggressive and his solos will, to quote Mr. Nugent, "...blow the balls off a charging rhino at 60 paces...".
You can get loads of information about Devil Stomp at their web-site, so go there now!
I had a chance to speak to Don recently - check it out!

''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!