I know, I know, I’ve already detailed not just my 10 favorite guitarists, but also the numbers 11-20. But there’s a bunch more guitarists I enjoy, and it would be wrong to ignore them. So for this week — and maybe the next, depending on how well I keep this thing rolling — I’m going to profile more guitarists that totally rock and stuff.

Brian May (Queen)

Maybe one of the most underrated guitarists of all-time, Brian May is one of those guys that’s easy to forget because he plays in such a tasteful and perfect way. But if you really pay attention, you realize he is some kind of monster on the six string.

Though Freddie Mercury is the face of Queen, May is the sound. Like Clapton, he never plays a wrong note. Like Page, he can turn up the overdrive and rock like nobody’s business. But most importantly, he may have been the most tasteful of the classic hard rock guitarists. You can’t beat “Bohemian Rhapsody” and the 1-2 punch of “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions” when it comes to guitar solo craftsmanship.

In addition to his playing skills, May is quite the handyman when it comes to guitars. He handmade his classic Red Special, and has since created his own guitar company to reproduce it in several snappy finishes.

With his tasteful playing and technical expertise, it’s no surprise that May knows exactly what guitar to pull out for whatever sound he needs. Just check the clip below of the Elvis-inspired “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” where he starts on acoustic, graduates to a Fender Tele for a ripping 50s-style solo, than brings out the Red Special to close out the song with an especially rocking finish. Not even tongue-in-cheek pop songs can escape the wrath of one Brian May.

Queen – “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”

Further viewing: “Tie Your Mother Down,” “Fat Bottom Girls,” “Stone Cold Crazy”

1 Comment

Early spring is the traditional time to bottle that wine that’s been sitting around in barrels or carboys for the past 17 or 18 months. In my case, bottling was a matter of necessity. There was no room left in my small quarter-basement. Between carboys of 2007 and 2008 wine, cases and cases of empty wine bottles and partial cases of finished wine from the previous four years, as well as years of more typical basement accumulation, the basement had become a pretty scary place. When my furnace broke down last month, I figured out how to fix it myself rather than go through the humiliation of sending a repair man down the steps to my cluttered dungeon.

So Saturday and Sunday became the perfect day to bottle. Nasty weather outside. Basketball games on the tube close to my dining room bottling area. A lot of the clutter could be resolved by simply transfering the wine from the carboys to the empty bottles. Not all that simple really, because all of the recycled bottles had to be delabeled and sterilized first.

I started setting up the system I’ve used the past few years Friday night. A big tub full of water with a cup of TSP was set up outside for soaking those stubborn wine labels off. I can get about 26 bottles submerged in the tub, the number I need to bottle the contents of a 5-gallon carboy. Saturday morning, I scrubbed the loosened labels off the bottles, rinsed them with a hose and then brought them in to run them at high heat in my Bosch dishwasher. While the dishwasher was cycling, I put another 26 bottles in the TSP vat. I already had a pot of boiling water going to sterilize the corks by the time the dishwasher was done. I brought a carboy of cabernet sauvignon up from the cellar, pulled off the cap and tipped it over onto my sterilized spring water dispenser. The wine had been racked several times over the past year and the oak chips I use for mellowing and flavoring had been removed, so there was very little sediment. Using the little faucet at the bottom of the dispenser, I filled the bottles, one by one while watching North Carolina annihilate Gonzaga one day and Oklahoma the next. Tiger Wood’s comeback in the Arnold Palmer Invitational turned out to be a lot more exciting. When the 26 bottles were filled, I inserted a cork and sent it home with my two-hand corker.

I kept the process up and had eight cases done by Sunday evening: two cases of cabernet, four cases of a cab-merlot blend and two cases of syrah. I got a few sips of wine during the process, but, frustratingly, all of the carboys yielded exactly 26 bottles. I was hoping for a reward of a glass of each new wine as I went.  They all were tasty, particularly the syrah, my first ever production of that grape. I opened a bottle of an Australian syrah to desensitize my aching back. Better to wait on new wine. They’ll all be far better after several months in the bottle. Something to look forward to.

No Comments

Some of you may already know this, but pistachios have been put on the no-eat list because of … wait for it … salmonella fears!

Apparently, some ground white pepper has too.

When will it all end? And how? This is ridiculous!

I’ve decided to start eating raw cookie dough (minus the nuts, of course, they’re too dangerous) because if I’m gonna get salmonella from anything, it might as well be something worth eating in the first place. Admittedly, I’m usually not too hesitant to eat it and other products containing raw eggs anyway.

Funny, right now I’m craving some of Ben & Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio ice cream. It’s so good, so creamy, so pistachio-ey. Always we want what we can’t have.

No Comments

Get to know Penny

Penny, a young Domestic Short Hair mix cat, is ready for a new home.

The laid-back cat has a sweet disposition and, after a little warming up, will provide plenty of head-butts, purrs, and lap time to her new owners, say officials at Wenatchee Valley Humane Society.

For more information, click here.

No Comments

I’m well beyond that point in the spring where I can’t wait for fresh fruits and vegetables. I’m having such a hard time waiting, in fact, that I willingly bought a little carton of hothouse cherry tomatoes. And I bought frozen corn recently. And a regular green pepper.

So, in Seattle on Saturday, when I went to The Kingfish Cafe before going to a show, I was intrigued by a side dish that accompanied my catfish and crab cakes at the Southern food restaurant. I couldn’t get enough of it. It was a creamy bean and corn dish, well spiced and delicious. Goes to show you how much I know about Southern cooking, turns out that the dish was succotash. And I thought succotash was just an exclamation. I’d never had the food before, let alone seen it. No matter, it was good. So were the huge, baked sweet potatoes that were more like boats for sweet honey butter.

Anyway, since the majority of the ingredients could be had from the frozen or canned section of the grocery store and my pantry I figured I’d attempt to make something similar for dinner last night. It turned out great. I think this will quickly become a mainstay in my kitchen. It’s tasty, especially with the bacon grease, which I keep on hand in my freezer.

Succotash

1 tablespoon bacon grease

1 green pepper, diced

1 cup frozen corn

1/2 cup diced ham

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium red onion, diced (or 1 bunch scallions, chopped)

2 15-ounce cans white beans (cannellini, great northern, Lima, navy beans, whatever)

1 cup chicken broth

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon celery salt

Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add bacon grease. When melted, add green pepper, corn, ham, garlic and onion. Saute until green pepper and onion are softened, about 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and continue cooking over medium heat until mixture thickens slightly.

2 medium tomatoes, diced (optional)

No Comments

One of the world’s political and business icons, Phil Donahue, recently noted during Hannity’s America on the Fox News channel for the umpteenth time that capitalism is based on greed.  Don’t you just love it when people escalate the rhetoric without any notion of due diligence?  Adam Smith when he talked about the invisible hand was not referring in any way to those who might care to blatantly or even accidentally engage in behaviors that are questionable at the very least and unlawful at worst.

Perhaps in the world of Mr. Donahue, sleight of hand is his invisible hand.  Anyone with a workable brain and the least bit of common sense would be able to discern that capitalism is not based on some level of sorcery or magic.  There is not enough ink here to explain the true notion of markets.  Neither is there enough ink to properly explain how and why certain elements within our society are neglectful of the basic tenets of truth, honesty & fair play.

Our history is littered with the good deeds of men who were ready, willing and able to risk all to succeed in ways that benefited the overall success of our country.  We still have this breed of honest and upstanding entrepreneur who chooses to work hard and in a diligent manner.  Sweat, in and of itself, is no guarantee that success will follow.  Those most notable provided ideas, effort, a bit of luck and a relentless streak helped them make things work.  Some would love to remember Edison, Firestone, Ford, Sloan, Lear, Carnegie, Rockefeller, etc. as men who gained great wealth and fame through success.

The beauty of each of these stories was that each of these men had an idea and belief in themselves that was contrary to failure.  People like Phil Donahue have really contributed little in terms of making our country a more viable and stronger leader in the world economy.  Hopefully those of you who consider yourselves open-minded and without prejudice will look carefully into the lives of FDR and others who threatened the very foundations of our country.  If you  choose that part of the equation then what you get is what you deserve.

No Comments

The headline says it all. Girl Scout cookies have finally arrived here in the Wenatchee area. I was lucky enough to procure some late on Friday before a trip to Seattle. The idea was that if we were to be stuck on the pass we would have provisions in the form of thin mints. We didn’t get stuck, but we did taste the cookies. They would have made excellent stuck-on-the-pass provisions.

The timing of Girl Scout cookies to NCW couldn’t be better. It’s spring break and the kids have the perfect opportunity to spend extra time — their entire vacations if they wish — hawking their sweet goods in front of grocery stores. According to a press release that I got my hands on (technically, I just viewed it as it was an e-mailed press release, no hands-on there), the cookies will be sold through April 12. I’m not sure they’ll last that long.

Again this year, according to the release, Girl Scouts are helping you donate cookies to military men and women serving overseas. You buy the cookies and the girls deliver them to the soldiers. Six years ago, I bought a box of Thin Mints while waiting at the bus transfer station in Seattle while I was on my way to class. I misunderstood the young cookie salesgirl and, after paying, stuffed my box in my backpack. She gave me a funny look. I didn’t figure out why until I was on the bus and read the Girl Scouts’ huge sign. I was supposed to donate the cookies to a soldier. I felt really guilty and decided that I’d donate a box the next time I was at the transfer station. The Girl Scouts didn’t return, and I still feel guilty. However, truth be told, my guilt didn’t make the cookies taste any less delicious.

No Comments

If there’s one band I can’t stand, it’s Bon Jovi. The bad lyrics, oversinging, and complete and utter lack of taste and style (Really guys, you want to wear cowboy hats? You know you’re from Jersey, right?) are just a few of their many faults. Seriously, the motto I coined for my old band was “We sound like Bon Jovi … if Bon Jovi didn’t suck.”

So, of course the Jov would be covering classic songs. This weekend I’ve come across two separate YouTube videos of Bon Jovi ruining songs that rank among the greatest of all-time. And since I had to watch them, so do you. Lucky for yourself, I included the good versions after the jump. But still … blech.

Bon Jovi failing epically at “Hallelujah” and “Here Comes the Sun” 

(more…)

1 Comment

You should see my NCAA Tournament bracket. It went straight to hell in a hurry. After picking 14 of the 16 games right on the first day, and 15 of 16 games right on the second day, I have just one team in the Final Four correct (UConn), and neither of the championship teams correct.

The only one I’m really kicking myself about is North Carolina. Ty Lawson’s injured toe scared me to death. I thought he’d be at about 70 percent in the tournament, but gut it out because it’s March Madness. Clearly, I was wrong. Or maybe the Tar Heels let everyone think the speedy point guard was more hurt than he really was.

Anyway, he’s clearly fine, and Carolina’s going to win everything. They demolished Gonzaga, and then benefited from an Oklahoma team that couldn’t throw the ball in the sand from on top of a camel. If there never was a toe injury, I definitely would have picked Carolina to advance to the Final Four, at least, and probably to beat Pitt and get to the championship game.

They’re gonna beat Villanova, and will play UConn in a title game for the ages. To be honest, I don’t know who’s going to win that one. I could really see it going either way. To be honest, I really don’t care. I’ll be off work, and will finally get a chance to really watch one of these games.

* Here’s an odd note. Bemidji State University, in Minnesota, is the George Mason of college hockey. The tiny school upset No. 1 Notre Dame and Cornell to get to the Frozen Four for the first time ever. The local connection: Wenatchee Wild assistant coach Ryan McKelvie is a former assistant for the Beavers. Current Wild players Duncan McKellar and Mathieu Dugas will attend Bemidji State next year.

No Comments

(For Monday through Sunday, March 30 to April 5)

First, the bad news. This week, many of our favorite lunch spots — along with parks, libraries, museums, stores, downtown sidewalks and public restrooms — will be crammed with bratty kids whooping it up for spring break (March 30 to April 3). It’s part of the great cycle of life, right?  Be prepared to overhear dozens of cell phone conversations that begin with that favorite ‘tweener phrase: “Oh. My. God.”

But the good news is that kids need entertainment, so the movie theaters have scheduled matinees every day. For you 9-to-5ivers, this means diddly. But for those of you who can sneak away, this means one or two more shots at matinee prices. (Not to mention that the Vue Dale Drive-In is now open on weekends — double features! — so cram eight people into your Pinto and drive the whole carload in for $18. Sweet.)

Other affordable fun this week includes:

√  No Public Scratchin’ or Jokes About Balls  (Tuesday, March 31) — This is serious business, so wipe that grin off your face. If you love baseball, the Wenatchee AppleSox guys have the job for you. They’re holding a job fair to find flunkies, er, Park Associates, to do everything from greeting fans to selling programs to serving food to managing the ballpark. Interviewing runs from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel, 1225 N. Wenatchee Ave. Bring a resumé, but keep in mind that no one really cares that you can burp The Star-Spangled Banner.

√ From “Slumdog” to “Yo, Dog!” (Tuesday, March 31) —  Even the most poverty-stricken actors in Slumdog Millionaire, the Academy Awards’ best picture for 2008, are now struttin’ around in Maui Jim shades and sportin’ accessory chihuahuas. Doesn’t matter. This terrific movie, out today on DVD, shows us India’s grittier side through a compelling story of love and ambition. Great quick-cut editing along with dynamite music. You’ll love it.

√ We May Be Fools, But At Least We’re April Fools (Wednesday, April 1) —  Only 13 years ago, Taco Bell pulled off a huge marketing coup by announcing it had bought the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. And, wow, only 11 years ago, Burger King ran full-page ads heralding the Left-Handed Whopper. Now’s your chance to make history with an April Fool’s Day joke of your own. How about calling up your Mom to say you’re pregnant? (OK, you’re 63, but it still could be funny. OK, you’re male. Back to the drawing board.)

√ Testing Our Self-Control? Gimme Dat (Thursday, April 2) — Lea Zoltowski, a Montana State University professor, reportedly will test our instincts and self-control with her interactive, large-scale ceramic sculptures. One of the key pieces is a giant chocolate fountain, so she may be on to something. The show’s reception starts at 5 p.m. at the Robert Graves Gallery, in Sexton Hall on the WVC campus. The free exhibit runs through May 7.

√  Maybe, Just Maybe, First Friday is Taking Shape (Friday, April 3) — All the talk about a First Friday art/books/music/food walk in downtown Wenatchee could be coming true. ♦ At 5:30 p.m. Read It Again Books, 11 Palouse St., will feature author Bruce Foxworthy, who’ll sign and read from his book “Making Do and Hanging On: Growing Up in Apple Country in the Great Depression.” ♦ The Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center, 127 S. Mission, extends its hours (till 7 p.m.) and offers free admission to the Regional High School Art Show. ♦ The new Two Rivers Gallery, 102 N. Columbia St., will also extend its hours (till 8 p.m.) and offer light refreshments to viewers of its members’ show. ♦ At 7 p.m., local crooners and strummers crank-up for an evening of open mic entertainment at Caffe Mela, 17 N. Wenatchee Ave. All these events are free.

2 Comments