Mike Dawes and Eguia Reserva Rioja

Mike Dawes is a 23 year-old English virtuoso guitar player known for composing, arranging and performing multiple parts simultaneously on one instrument. He began his musical adventure at the age of four, when his parents introduced him to The Blues Brothers. In his early childhood he experimented with keyboards before picking up his first electric guitar at age twelve. Mike switched to steel-stringed acoustic guitar in 2008.

His early influences were Michael Hedges, Pierre Bensusan, and John Gomm. From late 2008 to late 2011 Mike performed hundreds of instrumental concerts at venues and festivals throughout the United Kingdom both solo, and with concert harpist Amy Turk. He has performed alongside and shared the bill with a large selection of well-known musicians including Tommy Emmanuel.

He released a unique and technically virtuosic arrangement of “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye that went viral, gaining acclaim from the international music community. The likes of MSN News and Reddit all featured him on the front page of their websites. A headline on the US MSN Browser spawned a huge influx of American fans while Gotye (Walter de Backer) himself publicly praised the arrangement in numerous international publications.

For you guitar hounds, he plays guitars made by Nick Benjamin exclusively. I think you’re going to like him.

Boogie slam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuRBGpEHcnI

Titanium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAg6aphicBA

Somebody I used to know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1bzUaf_gvU

So long Michael: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUA6t9swkVo&feature=related

Boogie Shred: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-hJU-68pFQ&feature=related

Goodbye Pork Pie Hat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZSzmim4brk&feature=related

Celtic tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXLCq1b7-4s

The impossible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYksCAhjthk

Scotch Pancake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5pYjVjBo7E

Lounge Bar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmkvJL38_Jw

The violet and the bee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSkKUlVwtfI

Superstition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAaGdOfTA6c

I suggest a 2007 Eguia Reserva Rioja ($10.00) while you listen to Mike. I often shop wines at Costco and this one caught my eye. Ten dollar Riojas are generally reliable wines, but this one was way more than reliable. The wine is dark purple with a nose of red fruit and spices. The pallet is full of red raspberries, black cherries, and dark plums accented by a bit of oak. The finish is clean and elegant with mild tannins. It certainly didn’t taste like a $10.00 Rioja, but it goes great with the guitar virtuosity of Mike Dawes.

Cheers!

Boyce Avenue No. 2 & Willakenzie Pinot Noir

I reviewed Boyce Avenue last October, but I like their music so much, it calls for an encore. The group’s review is the same as before, but the songs are all new. I know you’re going to like them.

Boyce Avenue is a Puerto Rican-American acoustic rock group consisting of the brothers Alejandro, Daniel, and Fabian Manzano. They’re named after a combination of two streets they lived on as kids. 

They formed in 2004 after Daniel (bass and percussion) moved back to Florida after graduating from Harvard law School. Alejandro (lead vocals and guitar) and Fabian (guitar and vocals) were attending the University of Florida, but dropped out to form the group. Since 2007, they’ve been posting videos of both original and covers of popular songs, many of which have received over 10,000,000 views and have been released as digital EPs by their own independent record label, 3 Peace Records. They have over 700,000 subscribers to their YouTube channel (including me).

They’re firm risk-takers and believing in the strength of their online presence, they booked a solo show in New York in January 2009. It was their first ever performance in the city and surprised label and industry experts who thought it was a huge gamble, because the show was a sellout. Later in the year, the group performed for an estimated 25,000 fans in the Philippines and followed with a successful whirlwind tour of the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

They are, in my opinion, one of the finest acoustic rock groups to hit the scene. Alejandro’s guitar and vocals are amazing and the percussion accompaniment by Daniel and the augmenting guitar of Fabian plus several outstanding guest guitarists, vocalists, and pianist, makes them one of my favorites. Hope you like them as much as I do.

Radioactive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jskyqPEIiG4

Titanium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA_CNajQpJY

Here without you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxWEvV9zYj4

Just the way you are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhFSgnvKqm4

What makes you beautiful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmZArPW3wzc

Broken angel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fB4gAt5Jrw

Use somebody:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMRssA4UoKo

Need you now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjb8OZm3Pjs

With arms wide open: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkVX3ZEElXY

Mirrors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvEZUbzqqyM

Roar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqoHPzqUkZo

When I was your man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8tEcMjV_zE

Jar of hearts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTlUu0a9oWc

Skyscraper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ3r-rXUABI

Mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asKaiRpW0Z4

Half of my heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpTu85fsqCU

Fast Car: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4zCOHFrLVY

Airplanes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d9YmSSg7Pw

We found love/Dynamite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpxGBLAuy74

Superman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw3tYiAFVfg

Drive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfAh3uDXWEo

Breakeven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4rvGGFt7LU

I was out in San Francisco last week and had a 2010 WillaKenzie Estate, Estate Cuvee Pinot Noir ($23.00). It’s ruby red in the glass with a fragrance of strawberry, cherry, and herbs. The wine is light with a palate of juicy cherries, rhubarb, strawberries, and a hint of caramel. The tannins are mild and the wine hangs onto your tongue with remembrances of more strawberry and cherry. Very nice Pinot that perfectly compliments Boyce Avenue.

Cheers!

Robbie McIntosh & Arietta's Quartet

Robbie McIntosh (born October 25, 1957), is an English guitarist who started out as a session guitarist and member of the Pretenders from 1982 to 1987. In 1988, he joined Paul McCartney’s band and was a featured guitarist until 1994. More recently he worked as a sideman with John Mayer as well as touring with his own band, the Robbie McIntosh Band.

He started playing guitar at the age of ten and his early influences were the Beatles, the Stones, the Spencer Davis Group, the Kinks, and Jimi Hendrix. Later, his father’s influence exposed him to Django Reinhardt and other jazz greats. He joined the Pretenders in 1982 and took a short detour in 1985 to play on Roger Daltrey’s sixth solo album, “Under a Raging Moon.”

He was the featured guitarist with McCartney’s band and recorded on his albums from 1989 to 1993. In 2004, he toured with Nora Jones then joined John Mayer’s tours from 2006 through 2010. He is one of the premier slide guitarists and a favorite of mine. I think you’re going to like him.

Best of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkW9Q6lXJ9k

I saw three ships: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31uz8lkLLBY

Demo #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxA1Id09SXY

Stone Cold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf621Zd2rpc

Dueling with Derek Trucks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g2-8lAjubk

Talking guitar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ReEBOTrpwI

Robbie’s bit with Paul McCartney: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BORQTtjscTg

Blues Slide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuSjelpUj9Y

Medley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIft1yp29H4

Biodegradable man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHysjOEkbV4

Off the ground: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eqqKxZ1jXE

Pick up the pieces: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdTTnh4vJlc

Coffee cup with Scott McKeon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJSxgGheVL0

Hang me on the line: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ML1EL8YVT8

I’m in San Francisco this week on a consulting gig and at dinner with the research team, one of the wines we sample was Arietta’s “Quartet”, a superb blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Now, this wine is outside of my usual price range (~$60.00), but I thought since it was such a wonderful wine, I’d review it anyway. Besides, it didn’t cost me a thing.

The wine is deep garnet with aromas of blackberries, mocha, pepper, and coffee. The palate is full of dark fruit, cassis, and chocolate. It’s a very smooth wine with mild tannins and a touch of oak. Very nice, as you’d expect for the price, but then again, if someone else is buying, it’s a great choice.

Cheers!

Dominic Miller & Newton Red Label Cabernet Sauvignon

Dominic Miller is a little known, but fabulous Argentine-born English guitarist who has played on every Sting album and tour since 1990. In fact, he’s co-written many of Sting’s songs, including “Shape of My Heart.”

He was born March 21^st, 1960 and lived in Argentina for the first ten years of his life. His family moved to Wisconsin for two years then settled in London. He comes from a musical family and became a serious guitarist by the age of eleven. He has studied at London’s Guildhall School of Music as well as Boston’s Berklee College of Music.

His influences are diverse ranging from classical guitarist John Williams to Lindsey Buckingham to the late Jerry Garcia. If you didn’t know about him before this blog entry, I recommend you download some of his work with Sting as well as his solo stuff. He’s gem.

Rush hour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8ovO9Feykc

Fragile/Bring on the night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eNYBFIzNEU

Shape of my heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqzFcOWPlWc

Gut Feeling: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyeCkpAJ__0

Air on a G string: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIeao201JIo

Brand new day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mbqeEXvHb4

Ripped nylon riga: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0-dovqisO4

Fields of gold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0-FPLiJiQY

Meeting point: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3eYohCekIA

Adagio in G minor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFpA_UFk3ok

Catalan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYr-93MlO8c

If only: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tFgr4N_-GE

Do you want me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE9YrNMm44s

Lullabye: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d57_GJpSv2Q

Scan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peYGJkbYHfg

I suggest trying the 2010 Newton Red Label Napa County Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.00 at Costco) as you listen to Dominic’s music. The wine is deep purple in the glass with aromas of blackberries and herbs. The palate follows with more blackberry, cassis, a bit of toasted oak (not overpowering) and tannins that don’t suck in your cheeks. My wife and I think this is one of the best cabs we’ve had in a long time. The price varies, as at my local wine shop it was selling for $26.00, so Costco was definitely a find. And paired with Dominic Miller, it makes for a very nice evening by the fire.

Cheers!

Calum Graham & Nautilus Pinot Noir

Been gone for several months due to a classic case of writer’s fatigue. In the past eighteen months I’ve published six new thriller novels containing a total of 468,000 words and since they’re now available as ebooks, I’m starting to get some traction. But just because I’ve been gone doesn’t mean I haven’t been discovering some great new guitarists.

I first became aware of Calum Graham while sifting through video performances of the 2010 Canadian Guitar Festival competition. I believe he was 18 at the time and became the first teenager to ever win. What’s even more amazing to me is that he’d only been playing for five years when he won.  Since then he’s continued to increase his guitar chops exponentially.

Maybe it’s because the winters are so cold, and there’s nothing else to do but stay inside and play the guitar, but Canada seems to be a spawning ground for incredible guitarists and Calum is one of them. He was born in British Columbia in the small town of High River. He grew up in a family that surrounded him with various forms of music that he says had a strong influence on his style. His picking technique and sense of melody are self-taught and not the result of any classical training. One thing is certain. Few people on the planet can play the guitar like him.

Waiting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhFJXgBMlZM

12:34: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB4GRmgUpR8

Phoenix Rising: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqn-7ZkYUYM

It is what it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcrflRwGRyI

The Channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iP5OGXGqmw

Indivisible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D4RwrMyjGQ

3-Way Street: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4aQZeNP57w

1^st Place Canadian Guitar festival: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MadlZwIeD5k

Carol of the Bells: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbblsGRKLOU

Stonebridge visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MNbuwoy3bs

Song for Canada: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4owmSM_46gI

Hey Ya, with Don Ross: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HGmgPGyGm4

Since I’m climbing back in the saddle, I thought I’d pair Calum with one of my favorite wines, a Nautilus Pinot Noir (the 2011 is $22.00 at CostCo). The first thing you notice as you pour it is the bright ruby red color. The second is the nose of cherries, raspberries, and baking spices.  The taste is full of tart, succulent cherry with accents of red raspberry and vanilla. Great wine and a great guitarist.

Cheers!