Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Free Slide Guitar Lesson

This time Uncle Jimmy fixes it for you to play some open g slide guitar

Free blues guitar lesson

This time Jimmy gives you the shizzle in the stye of Albert King

Free Blues Guitar Lesson

Your fave fat mumbling man is back. This time so show you some licks in the early style of B.B. King.... Enjoy, more to come

Tuesday, 19 June 2012

Hoodoo Man Blues

Been a while since I wrote about any blues, thought I may just talk about albums I like- a bit like a cathartic process. Thought I'd start with one of my favourites- Junior Wells - Hoodoo Man Blues. Recorded in 1965 it is often cited as the first actual blues "album", rather than a collection of singles. Junior Wells was allowed to pick his own sidemen and choose the material, a novelty in those times. The band is a sparse affair featuring Buddy Guy (credited as Friendly Chap) on guitar , Billy Warren on drums and Jack Myers on bass and of course Junior on vocals and harmonica.

Plenty has been said about this album in the past, I doubt I will add anything new. One thing I would say is that it's sparse feel and sound had a big effect on me, I love the way the band back Wells without doing anything large or obvious. Buddy Guy plays with amazing groove and restraint throughout and the rhythm section are snappy, tight and groovy. Maybe if people heard more blues like this, blues would have a broader appeal - it really isn't all about 20 minute guitar solo's. The band really let Junior Wells do his thing.... And for me they made an album few have bettered.. Even the guy who played Huggy Bear in Starsky and Hutch rates this albums opening track "Snatch it Back and Hold it" as his favourite saturday night record...... Case closed (check this clip out, I have fantasies about sounding like this)






Wednesday, 9 May 2012

Trams, Guitars and Automobiles





Here is a service update from The Guitar Spot... During the current tram works we are open for business as usual, you can still park out the front for an hour. When on street parking is lost there will be temporary parking available across the road from the shop. The current tram works are a cause for much confusion, we have been asked several times when we are being demolished, the short answer is we are not, unless Derek gets on the Special Brew again.....

In times of hardship and austerity great art can sometimes be created, inspired by the current situation my small father , Derek has expressed himself through one of the deepest mediums, The Blues -



TRAMLINE BLUES by Derek Wigginton
Spoken or sung as blues, country, rock or rap
( Derek & son James own The Guitar Spot on Chilwell Road )


HAVE YOU HEARD ‘BOUT LINE 2
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY’RE GONNA DO
BRINGIN’ THE TRAM ‘LONG CHILWELL ROAD
BUT WHO THE HELL WANTS IT, WE AIN’T BEEN TOLD

BUSINESS BAD NO PEOPLE ABOUT
AIN’T NO USE TO SCREAM AND SHOUT
‘COS JOCO AND HIS GANG JUST WANT THE KUDOS
THEY DON’T SUFFER NO DOWNTURN AND TRADE LOSS

THEY SAY THIS ALL GONNA BE GOOD FOR THE CITY
BUT FOR CHILWELL ROAD THEY DON’T SHOW NO PITY
WE GOT TO SUFFER FOR THREE LONG YEARS
AT THE END OF IT ALL THERE’LL BE MANY TEARS

SO WE ALL GOTTA TRY AND SURVIVE
WE GOTTA KEEP THIS ROAD ALIVE
THOSE CATS DON’T CARE BACK IN NOTTINGHAM
ALL THEY SAY IS TRAM, TRAM, TRAM

SO PEOPLE OF BEESTON WE NEED YOU TO TRY
TO COME ON DOWN AND JUST SEE WHY
WE’RE ALL INDEPENDENTS ON CHILWELL ROAD
AND WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH OUR HEAVY LOAD

PLEASE COME DOWN AND LOOK AROUND
WE’RE THE INTERESTING END OF BEESTON TOWN
NO CHARITY SHOPS, JUST TRADERS TRYIN’
SO COME ON CATS, JUST KEEP ON BUYIN’





Make of this what you will... Personally I feel he may have been on the Special Brew, er wait that was me.






Wednesday, 2 May 2012

Another ex Jimmy Wiggins Guitar

Really don't want to do this but...... Another of my own guitar children need to be sacrificed in order to pay my Council Tax and other pointless crap. This guitar has been mistaken for many things in the past- I originally thought it was Italian, thus for many years it being referred to as the Italian guitar. It was then put to me that it may be east european, a few years ago it was idetified as being a Hopf Allround.That would make it German!

I got it in 2003 off Colin Staples. It was a repair somone hadn't collected, being as this was somepoint in the mid 70's it was time to renovate and sell it. For some reason (probably drink related) I appeared in Colin's workshop and decided I had to have it. He lent it me for a bit and I bought it. I have gigged it alot, one time I was carried off stage at the Running Horse with it, cos I was so drunk. It was the original Moules and Wiggins guitar. It makes you sound like the 1950's !!. It is also wired out of phase on the middle position a la T- Bone Walker.

So watch me really sob when some fucker (sorry customer) has my pants down and I end up with £100.00....Seriously though folks £250.00 and you can have it............