Pump It Up Music & La Vielle Ferme Rose Ventoux

It was 105^o in Lincoln today. That makes the 20^th day of 95^o+ weather we’ve had in a row and the 7^th time we’ve hit the century mark in the last two weeks. It makes it difficult to want to do anything, let alone head off for work on a Monday knowing the temperature’s gonna make Hell look like the North Pole. So to motivate and pump you up for the week, I’ve assembled a collection of my favorite “Pump-Up songs. 

What do I mean by a pump-up song? It’s a song you want to listen to when you’re in the gym and feeling the strain of lifting weights or running on a treadmill or cross trainer. It’s a song that keeps you going when you’re out on a 5 mile run in the heat. It’s a song when you’re traveling cross-country and need a boost to stay awake. And it’s a song when your job sucks and you need something to get you through the drudgery, i.e. I’ve had some really sucking experiences at my job lately and as I listened to my Pandora channels, on two consecutive mornings, AC/DC’s Highway to Hell came on. Ironic? 

These are songs that you crank, that you tap your toes, or feel your body sway to the music. One of my all time favorites is Dire Strait’s Money for Nothing, but all of these will get you going. One caution, be careful if you listen while driving as the next thing you know, you’re 25 over the speed limit and there are flashing blue and red lights in your rearview mirror. Pump it up!

ZZ Top:

Sharp Dressed Man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn2-b_opVTo

Gimme all your lovin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4VFFBCa5Aw

Metallica:

Enter Sandman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPJKuygePHk

Aerosmith:
Sweet Emotion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V87ZNemLyRk

Walk this way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av2dUXjarX4

Scorpions:

Rock you like a hurricane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI2COawqMJQ

AC/DC:

Highway to hell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n_yvrROCtU&feature=related

Back in black: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gComM_ASfuM

Cream:

Sunshine of your love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16h6vLy6n4A&feature=related

Crossroads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=becWr0vc6cA

Van Halen:

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

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

Orianthi:

Highly Strung: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7b-_YcACuQ

Joe Satriani:

Summer Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vp7TmTfVZI&feature=fvst

Satch’s boogie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzQb79IhoRE

Eric Johnson:

SRV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKYKxXc2D4I

Zenland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Txp2FwL9bE4&feature=related

Stevie Ray Vaugh:

Scuttle Buttin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHEVIWpX2XM&feature=related

Crossfire:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsHXd4rQnW0

Led Zepplin:

Whole lotta love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mln0RciE2o0&feature=related

Dire Straits:

Sultans of Swing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jxsnIRpy2E&feature=related

Money for Nothing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlPjxz4LGak

The weather begs the question, “Why does anyone live in Nebraska?” My wife and I have asked that question a lot lately. Maybe it’s time to move to cooler climes. But when it’s this hot, it calls for something refreshing, like a 2011 La Vielle Ferme Rose Ventoux, Rhone Valley ($10.00). It’s produced by the Perrin family of Chateau de Beaucastel fame. It’s a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault. Beautiful strawberry pink color with aromas of strawberries and cherries that follow on the palate. It’s a very rich, balanced wine that refreshes on a hot summer evening (it’s still above 100 as I write this at 7:15 PM). So grab a bottle and hit the floor with some great music. In fact, play it while you’re getting ready for work tomorrow morning. Anything to get you going! Enjoy!

Cheers!

Electric Blues Guitar Mix & a nice summer wine from Trader Joe's

It is stinking hot here in Lincoln. Temperatures are 100+ with the kind of humidity that makes you feel like a self-basting turkey. So, since I did an acoustic guitar mix last week, I think tonight we’ll go electric focusing on some of my all time favorite guitar songs, including a couple from up-and-comers Andrew Winton and Davy Knowles. David Gilmore plays THE most tasteful leads I’ve ever heard. Eric Clapton is peerless at the blues. When I saw Albert Lee doing “I’m going Home” in concert, I was blown away. I’ve chosen some of Jimmy Page’s more bluesy numbers with the exception of Stairway, which if you’re a guitarist and can’t play it, then you’re really not a guitarist. Went with more blues from Jeff Beck and Johnny Winter. Is there a trend here? Hmm, might as well complete the trend with a little Larry Carlton, Robben Ford and Eric Johnson. Enjoy!

David Gilmore/Pink Floyd

Another Brick in the Wall: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZbM_MIz4RM

4.52 Comfortably Numb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ohZFToI-os

Eric Clapton

Crossroads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_aw0Mu0Wus

Sunshine of your love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwDo0JUeKqM

Albert Lee

I’m going home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFpfureaCVs

Woke up this morning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXjxnaH8Yk&feature=related  

Jimmy Page

Since I been loving you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZEwimJ3GZE

Dazed and Confused: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94IE0J6L-FU

Stairway to Heaven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcL---4xQYA&feature=related

Jeff Beck

Drown in my own tears:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reuK2msTzec

Superstitious:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyyhm1D7zlI&feature=related

Johnny winter

Be careful with a fool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tyg5SJDpiQ

Dust my broom: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIpmUroL2D4

Joe Bonamassa

Blues Deluxe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn09Xn9JF5s

Acoustic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRxqYoZiYPU&feature=related

Stevie Ray Vaughn

Crossfire:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsHXd4rQnW0

Superstitious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX-GJ46kiCo&feature=related

Eric Johnson

Cliffs of Dover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15eu7ar5EKM

SRV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sb8WpmDVcM&feature=related

Larry Carlton

Larry’s blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKgniw1Rmho&feature=related

Don’t give up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a23R6DYXWQI

Robben Ford

Start it up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIi0GF6K3yE

Little red rooster: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuAGtJItvHI 

Andrew Winton

Numbers Down: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKnngyCIctA

Pink Palace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THsXXBPERC0&feature=related

Jeff Healy

See the light: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H0gvJPwf90&feature=related

Roadhouse blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acD6Yy_FeDk&feature=related

Davy Knowles

Saving myself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swU5og9-UaE

Come home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgYAScGdd9Y&feature=related

Outside woman blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZXLuY6EIic&feature=related

Ain’t no city: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7PtSsbkGdM&feature=related

 Although I am a wine lover, I ain’t no snob. I try to blog about what tastes good and, of course, is affordable. To really put that to the test I want to review a great summer sipper/quaffer, Dr. Beckermann’s Piesporter Michelsberg…from Trader Joe’s. It’s a steal at $6.00. It’s semi-sweet with a floral nose. Honey, apples, and lemon come through on the palate with a slight bit of fizz. Very nice for sipping on a warm summer evening. And as a dining tip, Piesporter Michelsbergs, Rieslings, and Gewurztraminers go great with spicy food. So, while you’re at Trader Joe’s picking up this wine, don’t forget the stuffed jalapenos!

Cheers!

Stevie Ray Vaughn & Domaine Saint-Amant Grangeneuve

I’ve been out of commission due to business travel and a death in my wife’s family. While in Chicago for the funeral, I saw a sign advertising skiing at Alpine Valley Wisconsin and at the same time a Stevie Ray Vaughn came on the radio. Since he died in a helicopter crash after a concert at Alpine Valley, I thought it only appropriate to do a tribute to him.

Vaughn was a driving musical force for the blues between 1980 and 1990, melding it with rock as no one else had ever done, nor has anyone approached his accomplishments since his death. He drew equally from bluesmen like Albert King, Buddy Guy, and Albert Collins, rock & roll players like Jimi Hendrix, and jazz guitarists like Kenny Burrell and Wes Montgomery, developing a uniquely eclectic and fiery style that sounded like no other guitarist, regardless of genre.

In 1977, Stevie formed the band Triple Threat Revue, featuring bassist W.C. Clark, and vocalist Lou Ann Barton. Barton left the band suddenly in 1979, leaving Stevie to take over the vocals and the group became Double Trouble, the name inspired by the Otis Rush song. Double Trouble initially featured Jack Newhouse on bass and Chris Layton on drums. Then in 1981 Tommy Shannon joined on bass and one of the greatest power trios ever was set.

The pressures of his soaring professional career took its toll and Vaughan and he sank deep into alcoholism and drug addiction to the point that he collapsed and cancelled three weeks of European concert dates in 1986.  He returned to the States and a successful recovery, becoming drug and alcohol free until he died. The band’s last recording, In Step, appeared in June of 1989, peaking at number 33 on the charts, earning a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Recording, and went gold just over six months after its release.

On August 26, 1990, their Alpine Valley gig concluded with an encore jam featuring guitarists Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Stevie, his brother Jimmie Vaughan, and Robert Cray (Sweet Home Chicago). After the concert, Stevie Ray boarded a helicopter bound for Chicago. Minutes after its 12:50 a.m. takeoff, the helicopter crashed, killing Vaughan and four other passengers. He was only 35 years old.

Crossfire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsHXd4rQnW0

The House is a Rockin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9wD-vv1sRU&feature=related

Superstition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX-GJ46kiCo

Mary had a little lamb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nFRi3TSkY8&feature=related

Texas Flood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWLw7nozO_U

Life without you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAv5ZuuSxSI&feature=related

Voodoo Child: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=purPKiG5__A&feature=related

Pride & Joy Acoustic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZkLVinwR4E&feature=related

Guitar Hurricane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oQWVtbKEdw&feature=related

Leave my girl alone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dkq2jdgNCI&feature=related

Sweet Home Chicago, Alpine Valley, 26th August 1990: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7akw6yyWw4&feature=related

Death announcement: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-Ymx3o4aPQ&feature=related

Life by the drop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7ZPMScX9-k&feature=related

Stevie’s music calls for a simple, yet elegant wine, so I suggest a 2009 Domaine Saint-Amant Grangeneuve  (~$15.00) from the southern Rhone. If I had to pick only one extraordinary bottle of wine that really impressed me in the last year, it would be this one. This is a beautifully crafted blend of 60% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 5% Viognier.  It’s suitable for everyday drinking, yet could grace a white linen-covered table. 

The wine is a gorgeous purple with aromas of red raspberries and a touch of pepper. It’s rich and mouth-filling, yet smooth and not overly sweet. This one of the best wines I’ve tasted. So glad I have five more bottles to enjoy with the sophisticated blues of Stevie Ray Vaughn. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Fredrik Strand Halland & Graffigna Centenario Estate Reserve

Tonight I offer further proof of an invasion of blues-playing aliens. I say this because no 12 year old plays like the kid I’m offering up tonight. This one even speaks an alien language. Fredrik Strand Halland is a very talented guitarist from Norway (the planet, not the country). He was born on November 21st 1993 and got his first guitar at the age of 2. He picked up guitar by ear until at the age of 7 then received formal training from his father. He took lessons from his father for several years and in the meantime built up a local following by performing in the local market square. Later he took lessons from some guy named Mads Eriksen, apparently a well know Norwegian (alien) guitarist. While studying with Eriksen he must have heard some stray radio waves emanating from Earth and fell in love with the blues. He’s played a lot of festivals across the galaxy including Dalane, the Notodden Blues Festival, Amal, Hell (yikes!), Bergen, and Sandnes, each of which brought him more recognition. He has appeared numerous times on both the Norwegian planet and his hometown TV and Radio. On Norway he is known as BLUE-FREDRIK, but throughout the galaxy his group is known as The Fredrik Strand Halland Band. Personally, if a 12 year old can play like this, I’m burning my guitar. Enjoy!

12yrs old, Texas Flood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoyqmTHiMNM&feature=related

Mary Had a Little Lamb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjqYOUFPIfk&feature=related

Let me love you baby: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuvO3NszRNk&feature=related

Pride & Joy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1CugpMDwyM&feature=related

Telephone song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cku9XOJwPa4&feature=related

Little Wing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqx7qcRpCzc&feature=related

Purple Haze: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyCioUuLmRo&feature=related

Life is a gamble: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzq6j60FLw4&feature=related

At the Pearl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6WiaiUenak&feature=related

Blues Festival Performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qt9KrHTCv8&feature=related

If you’re a guitarist, you’ll probably want to join me in burning your guitar, so I think we’ll need a good wine for comfort. I suggest a 2008 Graffigna Centenario Estate Reserve ($12.00). This Argentinian Malbec is deep red with violet highlights. Its bouquet is quite complex with ripe dark berries, a touch of black pepper, and a spicy fragrance. On the palate it has well integrated, ripe tannins and a complex finish with hints of coffee, vanilla and toast. Make sure you have a big glass as you’re going to need it as you listen to this kid burn and you watch your guitar go up in flames. But cheer up. After all, he’s an alien. Try to enjoy!

Cheers