By Nick Friese
We got a late start again yesterday because both Ken and I were dealing with business calls, emails, and publishing matters in our suite at the Four Seasons Travel Lodge of Anaheim.
But we did make it out of the room around 11:30am and headed over to the show. As we were pulling into the parking lot closest to the Conference Center, we were stopped by the local authorities and then with one flash of our super powered press badge, we were waived in.
Once inside the cavernous expo hall, I walked in whatever direction the currents of the crowd pulled
me. And luckily enough they pulled me right over to the Marshall booth where low and behold Jim Marshall and Kerry King were hanging out and signing autographs. Two people could not look more opposite. But they were big time crowd pleasers and the meet and greet line went on as far as I could see
And this was the start of a day filled with stars, stars, and more stars with guitars.
After spending some time at the Marshall booth we headed over to Graph Tech for Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s performance with Hubert Sumlin and Bryan Lee. He was 
promoting his new DVD Ten Days Out: Blues from The Backroads with his ensemble cast. And the crowds were lined up for a sighting of KWS.
He was supposed to start at 12:30 and made a late entrance around 1:00ish. Hey we can cut him slack because he’s a star and has the right to make us wait. By this time the crowd had swelled so much that people were filling up the exhibitors booths surrounding Graph Tech.
Guthrie Govan from the Cornford booth was one of those exhibitors who were none-the-merrier about the crowd in front of his booth. He was worried about his one or more of his axes getting the chop from one of the KWS loyalists. So as the charitable chaps that we are, we played traffic cop to help save his six stringed kids.
As he does in his DVD, Kenny Wayne allowed Bryan Lee and Hubert Sumlin take the front and play and sign as he hung back and played side man and came in with a lead or two but he remained very respectful of his mentors who were seated net to him.
Scott Henderson and Guthrie Govan continued their conversation in the Cornford booth, while the KWS
set was going on, about what one can only imagine – starting their own G2 tour? One could only hope.
I took a look at my watch and it said hey get yourself and your 80lb backpack, notebook and camera over to Peavey for Joe Satriani's press conference for his new JSX Mini Colossal amp. I got there and was quickly escorted into the inner sanctum.
(Note: Full audio from the press conference and demo will be available soon - please check back)
Soooo, it was only about 130 degrees in the Peavey glass encased sauna (Press Room) where the event was scheduled. The funny thing was all of the attendees outside had their noses pressed to the glass watching us as we slowly cooked inside. Now that’s a real spectator sport!
The net, net Joe didn’t play the new amp and left it up to the Peavey project manager to run the amp demo - a good player, but no Joe. Oh well we can’t win them all.
But we continued to bump into more guitar greats throughout the day with the likes of Warren Haynes, Dick Dale, John 5, Kerry King, Greg Koch, Pat Bergeson, Guthrie Trapp, Neil Schon, Skunk Baxter, producer Eddie Kramer, just to name a few.
Towards the end of the day I went back into the Fender Frontline Stage to see Greg Koch and his trio perform. Yet another room that contained balmy desert temperatures – great for performers! In between tunes Greg Koch told us, in a way that only he can, that his next tune was sponsored by Right Guard - insert Greg sniffing armpit here. You have to love him he’s a guy’s guy!
The GK Trio burned through their set as expected. It was a complete display of guitar wizardry by Greg Koch and his band. I am simply amazed at how effortless his playing is and how big and great his tone is – not to mention the way he plays so tastefully. He’s one that has monster chops and never over uses them. Way to go!
So Greg tells us that he has a special guest coming out to the stage, one who used to be in law enforcement, hmmmmm…And yes out walks Andy Summers to play with the Koch band.
Andy is yet another humble guitar God who proceeds to tell us how nerve racking it is to play at a
NAMM show. He had a right to be a bit nervous coming on after a burning set by Greg. But he pulled out a very funky, cool jazz number (name unknown) and burned it up on his new “Andy Summers Telecaster,” an exact replica of his relic from the police days. Admittedly Summers couldn’t tell the difference between this new axe and the original upon first sight.
He continued to praise Fender throughout his set for it’s brilliant work on the new guitar, I mean old, new guitar. And we at GJD continue to praise them for such an excellent booth that is filled with stars with guitars.
One unfortunate incident that we failed to cover was Eddie Van Halen’s appearance and demo at the Fender booth late last night. In an unconfirmed report we were told that his demo occurred late in the day (a coincidence?) and he was completely blotto’d during the appearance. I think Eddie hasn't read Larry Dobrow's "An Open Letter to EVH" just yet.
Well it’s just another day in Disneyland!
Stay tuned!
eddie van halen on youtube saw it right when it came on he must be on something wish he'd leave the cigarettes alone man he sux on guitar without effects listen
Posted by: william cook | January 22, 2007 at 05:27 AM
eddie van halen on youtube saw it right when it came on he must be on something wish he'd leave the cigarettes alone man he sux on guitar without effects listen
Posted by: william cook | January 22, 2007 at 05:27 AM
Guthrie govan we hope to see you in Argentina!!!!South América).Here it´s so difficult to buy your material so all that we can do is to get it by internet. But we wish see you playing here!!!.
Posted by: emiliano | August 12, 2008 at 09:27 PM