Rock gone acoustic & Heron Pinot Noir

Nothing stretches an electric guitarist more than playing a brains-against-the-wall rock tune unplugged. It’s much harder to disguise screw-ups when you’re playing acoustic. So, tonight I thought I’d take a look at some serious rock tunes played by their respective bands in an acoustic format. It amazes me how beautiful some of these songs sound unplugged. Listen to Stevie Winwood playing “Can’t Find My Way Home,” the Eurythmic’s “Here Comes The Rain Again,” or the Scorpion’s “Send Me An Angel” as examples. Others seem more amenable to toe tapping and a nodding one’s head such as “Panama” by Van Halen or catch Joe Perry’s slide work on “Monkey Off My Back.” Very cool. Some very nice guitar work here. Hope you enjoy it.

Eagles

Hotel California: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYf4kqnAWos

Bruce Springsteen

Thunder road: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-hF_QrvfR0

Steve Winwood/Blind Faith

Can’t find my way home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoSn2Y-b6wI

Eric Clapton

Sunshine of your love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osalLZDo_SQ

Bon Jovi

Wanted dead or alive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWVgbTBlH9M

Van Halen

Panama: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0c6naJkYEE

Jethro Tull

Life’s a long song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE8YLPHZImw

Aerosmith

Monkey off my back/Love me two times: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM04A9HZfxA

Brian May (Queen)

39: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqOdu2xjlBA

Kansas

Dust in the wind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQem15Ow6hw

Cheap Trick

Flame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD3xPO5f0ks

Scorpions

Send me an angel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53ZQ8cIE_6Q

Eurythmics

Here comes the rain again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYeIyR2hzdo

Yes

Roundabout: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riE2xHDgODg

The Pretenders

Back on the chain gang: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_UjjQq_ZxI

My favorite reds for summer are Pinot Noirs. They’re light, fruity, and wonderful. So tonight, try a 2011 Heron Pinot Noir ($15.00). Heron winery is out of San Francisco and isn’t a vineyard. Rather, they buy grapes from all over the world to make one fine wine. For a Pinot at this price point, it’s stunning. The wine is bright ruby red and quite complex with aromas of cherries, vanilla, and a touch of pepper. It’s more like a French Burgundy with flavors of red cherries, cranberry, and vanilla and higher acidity than a California Pinot Noir. For $15.00, you can’t beat it. Enjoy it with some very tasty acoustic rock.

Cheers!

Guitar Power Songs v2 & Bota Box Riesling

Power Riffs #2

Tonight I’m continuing the Guitar Power Songs. To recap, the songs were selected by several criteria. First, was there a great hook or guitar part that sticks in your mind like a worm devouring your gray matter? Songs like “Frankenstein,” “Smoke on the Water,” or “Jump,” are representative of this category. Second, did the song have such an impact that it’s been re-recorded or covered numerous times? I can’t even count the acoustic guitar versions of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” that I see on YouTube (the one by Eric Roche is the best). Third, were they just real guitar anthems like “Thunderstruck” or “Cat Scratch Fever?” Fourth is a miscellaneous category. The song defined an era (think “Hotel California,” and ‘Teen Spirit”). And last but not least, fifth, I just plain liked it.

Tonight I’ve got some of my all time favs like Frankenstein, Jump, Smuggler’s Blues (heard on Miami Vice), an all acoustic Hotel California, and one of my favorite guitar riffs, Enter Sandman. Have a rocking Saturday night…after the football game.

Edgar Winter & Rick Derringer

Frankenstein: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1mV_5-bRPo

Rock and roll hoochi koo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdHnGyU1yJQ

Aerosmith:

Walk this way: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx9YrvIZUPg

Nirvana

Smells like Teen Spirit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg

Survivor:

Eye of the tiger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btPJPFnesV4

AC/DC

Thunderstruck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2AC41dglnM

Highway to hell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJQp7Id2ywE

Van Halen

Jump: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlq0lYB3iSM

Panama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-NshzYK9y0

Eagles

Smuggler’s Blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUFFakjZqFA

Hotel California: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYf4kqnAWos

Bon Jovi

Livin on a prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDK9QqIzhwk

It’s my life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx2u5uUu3DE

Deep Purple

Smoke on the Water: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mCK05dgwgU

Ted Nugent

Cat scratch fever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me4pO9cqcmU

Derek & the Dominos

Layla: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTETsS5Lk7M

Metallica

Enter Sandman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD-E-LDc384

One of my favorite wines for anytime drinking is Riesling. With so many songs, you’re going to need a lot of it. So keeping with last night’s theme, I suggest the Riesling from Bota Box (3L/$17.00). It’s an off dry style with flavors of sweet apricots, lemon, and honeyed apples. It’s clean with good acidity and it’s a good sipper or quaffer. Enjoy it with some great guitar classics.

Cheers!