Bow-wowing to the Inevitable, an Alaska Take on Mitt's Mutt

Pete's Pantheon: Richard Thompson, Incandescence in the Dark

Is there anyone out there who can match Richard Thompson stride for stride as a guitarist, singer and songwriter? Neil? Bruce? Tom?... anyone? Richard seems to have been issued a guitar with notes on it that others can't find or are afraid to play. His bends in the studio version of "Calvary Cross" open holes in reality through which you glimpse an abyss. And he's only deepened as a player since then (compare the playing on his score to Herzog's "Grizzly Man" to his younger but still amazing take on the same material on his "Strict Tempo" recording.) As a prolific songwriter he has created a coherent body of work that ranges from the timeless longing of "Dimming of the Day" the poignant specificity of "Al Bowlly's in Heaven" and the reckless high spirits of "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" Many find his singing an aquired taste. I suggest you acquire it.
Drawn with Sketchbook Pro on iPad

Pete's Pantheon: Roy Buchanan, Telecaster Terror

Roy Buchanan could call forth rasping, spitting demons or singing violins with his trebly Telecaster. He could do things with one hand that other guitarists struggled to approximate with two. He was a guitar ventriloquist who maintained an impassive stone face while his ax did the talking, crying, accusing and confessing. He struggled with booze and his 1988 death in a jail cell was officially ruled a suicide. His legacy: some of the most compelling electric guitar music I have ever heard.

Pete's Pantheon: The Late Rory Gallagher, circa 1977

Some things you never forget. The needle drops onto your brand new copy of Sinner and Saint and practically explodes as Rory's vibrato snakes its way from a deep black groove. You exchange a glance with your brother and you both think "This guy came to play." Whether he was picking a Leadbelly tune on his acoustic guitar or backing up Albert King at Montreux, Rory gave it all, every time. And could he slide? Glad you asked. Yes. If you wondered whether he was real all you had to do was look at his bruised, scarred, beautiful Strat. The finish was played right off it. Chicago to Cork, Cork to Anchorage.

Rendered on the iPad with Sketchbook Pro

Whiskey Jacks Return!

Finished the Manuscript For The Parkinson's "Graphic Novel". Now for the Hard Part (Cross-post from Off& On)

I put on a burst of unparkinson's-like speed yesterday and finished the manuscript of "A Mixed Cursing" That was fun. Now begins the task of finding a way to get it published. There are a number of avenues as the publishing industry writhes and convulses with the changes wrought by that unbottled genie the World Wide Web. "Come into my parlor", said the spider to the fly... I will post news of the progress of the book-to-be as it develops.

In the meantime, this blog will return to its old self, albeit with (I hope) occasional excited notes about the progress of the manuscript to finished form and publication. Below are the three pages of the post-script for your feedback. Critical comments welcome! Bonus points for those who spot the refrences to Albert Einstein and Douglas Adams :) (click on images to enlarge.)