I know he is amazing now... but check out this video of Derek Trucks opening for the Allman Brothers at age 13!  He was amazing way back then.  He looks so comfortable up on that big stage playing with the pros.  And so real.  He was feeling it back then, and still is.  Grab the kids and check this out... great stuff!

Whew!  I felt like I was on fire Friday night!  Our special guest, Houserocker Danny Gouchnour rocked Frankies with us, big time.  There were definitely moments of musical magic happening.  To quote the Grateful Dead "The music played the band".  This seems to be happening more and more lately. I feel like I'm getting out of the way and letting the music pour right through. Its such an amazing feeling, and so freeing. I'm loving it. Danny is a great player, very …

I'm looking forward to trading riffs with Danny Gochnour from  and the Houserockers this Friday.  He'll be our special guest, playing with us all night at our favorite spot in Squirrel Hill, Frankie and Georgie's this Friday, May 4th, 9pm.  Here's a nice shot of Danny playing with Bruce Springsteen when the Boss was in Pittsburgh...

Why go out to see live music?  Why not stay home and plug into the ipod?  Or watch tv?  Live music is interactive.  Its an experience.  It's not all about sitting back and being entertained.  Its a group experience.  There's an energy exchange.  You can FEEL it.  At least I can, whether performing or being part of the audience.  Music is vibration.  Just like the atoms in our bodies vibrate.  Music has rhythm.  Like our hearts, …

Once it started around 2pm, the music never stopped... until 2am or so.  What a beautiful spring day we had a pUNKapalooza.  And everyone was so friendly.  People were dancing, grooving, or just happily listening to a jamming band at Moondogs, and before the set was over, the music would kick in at Starlite, 115 feet away.  It was a 60 second walk from one venue to the other, but it always took me longer, so many friendly faces were lingering in the sunshine sharing happy greetings.  The Patti Spadaro Band set was lots of fun and quite rocking (as usual :)  The energy was definitely flowing.  Later, I sat in with Juggling Suns.  Its so good trading rolling riffs with Mark Diomede!  theCAUSE topped off the evening with a hot closing set .  Although I was pretty sleepy the following day, I could still feel the good vibes pulsing through me all day long. 

Hi everyone, Happy 2012! A new year means new beginnings, right? I've decided to step up my blog for 2012. I read in a book yesterday by Tama Kieves: "This is the ride of your life". Yep, this is it. Right now. I see myself zooming along on a bicycle through the beautiful countryside, using my own energy to propell me forward. Enjoying the ride, and stopping to smell the roses. Endulging in their beauty. And somedays slowing down to explore the dark places. That's OK too. But the dark places …

Another successful Blues Go Pink!! Thanks to all who came out to support this great cause... funding mammograms and cancer screenings for uninsured Western PA women. Several talented ladies joined in with the Patti Spadaro Band, including Jill Simmons, Marcy Brown, and Cheryl Rinovato. The day was filled with Pittsburgh blues divas singing and playing their hearts out, including Jill West and Blues Attack, Ms Freddye and Blue Faze, and Nancy McKeen's Blues Machine.

I had a grand ol' time with the Pittsburgh Blues Women at the Pittsburgh Blues Festival July 22nd. We played just after Kelly Richey, and had a wonderfully enthusiastic crowd. Jill Simmons, Freddye Stover, Marcy Brown, Andrea Pearl, Cheryl Rinavato, Shari Richards and myself led a powerhouse band with dueling guitar solos, 4 part harmonies, and sweet & soulful melodies.  We were scheduled to play earlier in the day, but instead we huddled in the center of the stage during a massive thunderstorm as audience members dashed to their cars.  As luck would have it, the weather cleared, the crowds returned and we had a terrific set. 

The Art Case was pulsing with feel good energy Fri Night.  I played most of the evening with Jim Donovan and Tertium Quid Percussion Ensemble, letting loose with experimental, improvisational organic grooves.   I was definitely flying by the seat of my pants, having no idea where the music would lead or what was next. Great fun! The musical synergy was flowing. And, there was so much heart and soul on the stage and in the audience. I'm happy to be a part of it.

Great crowd at Cefalos for the Patti Spadaro Band with Women on Top show. First Women on Top (Cherylann Hawk, Jill Simmons, Andrea Pearl and Patti) played an opening acoustic set with beautiful 3 & 4 part harmonies. These ladies singing together sends chills up my spine! Then, they all joined in with the Patti Spadaro Band for two big jammy, rocking sets. Derrick Edwards also joined the band on percussion.  Gotta do this again sometime!!