Hot Damn.

Ladies and Gentlemen, for your enjoyment, Mr. Phil Baugh:

So you wanna learn to play the guitar?

Continuing along with the 'things we like' category, here's the best $35 you can spend if you or someone you know is trying to learn to play swing guitar. 'Chordination' by Whit Smith of the Hot Club of Cowtown is a new DVD which breaks down the harmonic side of playing over older style swing/fiddle tunes.
Now before I go on, I should mention that this DVD is probably not for beginners -- you'll need to have spent a bit of time thinking about and learning some basic moveable chord shapes and have played enough of these styles of music to see some of the basic re-occurring song forms. A good teacher can help you jump these hurdles.
So, on to the DVD. There's so much here to learn! Every time you watch, you'll pick up something new, some new way of thinking about chords and chord movement within a basic song structure. There's no TAB or chord charts -- you just watch and learn (this is a good thing). If you've ever watched a great guitar player play a tune you know well, and they're playing all these great-sounding moving chords to your one D7 that lasts for 4 bars and want to learn what they're doing, then this is your Rosetta Stone.
Whit's explanation of what he's doing is very clear, very logical and he also comes across as the humble, really funny guy that he is. This DVD is just honest, plain good work. It's available on via the Hot Club of Cowtown website (www.hotclubofcowtown), and needless to say Xmas is coming! (For those of you wondering what to get me since I already own a copy, an 40's Epiphone Triumph would be great (a blond one) -- thanks!)
Alright, I better get to practicing. Got a big gig tonight!
PK

Like Western Swing? Check this out...

What ever did we do before the internet? I guess we spoke directly to each other over coffee, wrote letters longhand and looked for the ubiquitous payphone. When I think back to touring with a band in the late 80's/early 90's I am amazed at the confluence of events that got me from Portland to, say, Albuquerque in the middle of winter and onto the stage of a punk rock club on the right day and at the right time, despite being unable to reach the booking agent via rest stop payphones along the way. That someone was there to meet us as well as direct us to a good parts place so we could patch up the Econoline was just icing on the cake, not to mention a good tip on where to get some great Mexican food (BTW, is that great restaurant in Albuquerque called Garcia's ?? The one with the amazing red sauce? Family joint...)
Anyways, back to my original point. The internets constantly amaze a technophobic Luddite like myself. Like for example, this blog:
http://westernswing78.blogspot.com
This truly amazing piece of work has so much rare, fantastic music (and is designed and run with such reverence and love) that it is truly inspirational (if you like this sort of stuff, like I do). Hundreds of recordings from the golden age of Western Swing by just about every obscure artist you can think of. Back in the day, it would have taken you years to hear/learn a quarter of this stuff. Bless 'em.

The Stolen Sweets with the Hot Club of Cowtown

Howdy All,
Last night the Stolen Sweets (the Portland Playboy's larger ensemble) had the honor and pleasure of playing a gig with perhaps our favorite band around, the Hot Club of Cowtown at the Aladdin Theater in Portland. Special thanks to Carrie Baldwin-Sayre for hauling our collective butts out of the fire.
What a show! We left the arctic chill outside and warmed up nicely, thanks to the Hot Club's greatest-hits filled set. That haven't visited the Rose City for a long time (too long), but the show was a smash hit and the band looked like they were having a ball. I personally enjoyed watching my band mate's jaws drop to the ground about mid-way through each of their tunes.
If you haven't had a chance to check them out, DO.
www.hotclubofcowtown.com is the website.
They have a bunch of CDs out, all of which are great (Xmas is coming, btw), but my favorites are their first Cd 'Swingin' Stampede' and the live disc 'Continental Stomp'.

But the real thrill was heading across town with David to play with Whit and Jake (from the Hot Club of Cowtown) at Whit's Dad's house earlier today! It's a very surreal experience to have a casual jam session with your musical heroes, believe me. What a pleasure, and what a bunch of nice folks as well.

OK... gotta get ready for the weekly Monday Night Swing Dance at the Maiden Bar!
Pete

What we're listening to...

A regular feature of this blog will be a few words every now and again about a recording that we love, or that has influenced us. So, without further ado we begin at the beginning with the legendary Tiffany Transcriptions of Bob wills and His Texas Playboys.

Recorded in San Francisco in 1947, these recordings were made to be used as radio transcriptions - basically musical segments recorded onto long-playing discs which a DJ could spin over the course of an entire program, interjecting often pre-written comments and asides. Radio stations could purchase these recordings from a number of companies.

What's really great about this particular set is that it captures a crackerjack band at the height of it's powers. They were recorded by the Playboys at the end of a long string of ballroom dates, and the songs are honed sharp by night after night of playing, experimenting with the arrangements and allowing the soloists to stretch out and find their way around the tunes.

Of special note are the combustible, gut bucket guitar solos of Junior Barnard who had played off and on with Bob Wills since the late 30's. His Epiphone archtop guitar, with it's two out-of-phase pickups through two separate overdriven amplifiers, sounds like early rock and roll. I've been trying to nail that sound for years!

The Tiffany Transcriptions have directly influenced some of the greatest musicians on the planet including Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Asleep at the Wheel and the Hot Club of Cowtown. they've recently been re-released so yourself a favor and find a copy!

PK

Hello, and welcome...

Welcome to the brand new blog for Pete Krebs and the Radio Hotshots. I'll be updating this every week or so with the latest news, cool links and ramblings from my fertile, if somewhat skewed brain.
Based out of Portland, we are very lucky to be playing around town several nights a week, primarily for dancing. Each Monday finds us at the Maiden (www.themaidenpdx.com, (503)232-5553, 639 SE Morrison St.) from 9-11 with our good friend Sam Henry joining us on drums. It's become a really great swing dance night, and with the Maiden's great food, drinks and atmosphere it's a fun night out (oh, and it's free!)
On most Thursdays from 6-8PM, the boys can be found at Duff's Garage (www.duffsgarage.com, (503)234-2337, 6635 SE 7th), Portland's premier American roots and Rockabilly bar. With plenty of room to dance, great burgers and the coolest vibe in town, you owe it to yourself to stop on in for spell and have a good ol' time.
Our other performances throughout the month are listed at our website, www.petekrebstrio.com. We hope to see you soon!