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The adventures of a semi-retired pro guitarist
Last update June 11, 2008 2:30 AM
June 11 , 2008 - Posted "Cinnamon Girl"
May 11 , 2008 - Posted new version " Song for a Dead Friend "
Lowered to C Piano, Guitar (alt Tuning) & Vocal
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February 21, 2008 - Posted " Song for a Dead Friend "
C# Acoustic with secret alt tuning
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December 23, 2007
12 songs back from Sonik Wheel Mastering
Mastered by Bill Jacobs
Long Island, NY
new 128 kbs MP3's posted
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November 10 , 2007 - Posted " Land "
July 4, 2007 - Posted " Lifestyle "
June 10, 2007 - Posted " Get Inside "
May, 2007- Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Stateline Nv,
Toto
Steve Lukather & Loo Wood at soundcheck
April 4, 2007 - Posted " La Lah Land "
March 18, 2007- Sierra Nevada Brewery, Chico, Ca.,
Legendary
session man Les Dudek is a master of the Stratocaster
By WAYNE MULLEN - The Buzz
Article Launched: 03/22/2007 12:00:00 AM PDT
Les Dudek, one of the legends of rock 'n' roll, on Sunday treated a sold-out audience at Sierra Nevada's Big Room to a memorable performance.
For those who have enjoyed the likes of The Allman Brothers Band, Boz Scaggs, Steve Miller Band and Dave Mason, Dudek is a familiar name. He has played and recorded with all of them, as well as recording six albums as a solo artist.
Appearing larger than life, Les strolled out onto the stage dressed all in black, picked up his vintage black Stratocaster and immediately launched in to one of the heart-pounding rock classics which has made him a rock icon over the years.
Dudek is one of the greats and is in a league with the likes of Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Carlos Santana, bending notes and extracting the full potential from his amazing guitar.
In the apt words of Sierra Nevada's Bob Littell, "Now this is rock 'n' roll!"
Accompanied by bass player Dan Walters, drummer Bryan Hawkins from Nashville, and keyboardist Mike Kindred, formally of Vaughn's Triple Threat, Dudek displayed his exceptional guitar virtuosity on "I'm Leavin' My Blues Behind," much to the enjoyment of the packed house.
By the time he launched into "City Magic" from his third album, the dance floor
was filled with adoring fans moving to the deep, rich, clear rhythms Dudek produced
as his fingers flew with lightening speed up and down the frets of the black
Strat.
Keyboardist Mike Kindred then sang "Cold Shot," which he had written
for Vaughn, while Dudek filled in with his unique guitar style.
Dudek followed up with "Lost My Mind in a Whirlwind," and utilizing a finger slide on the Strat, he sang "Take my Money."
Along with his fantastic guitar abilities, Dudek has a great voice, and sounds a lot like his good friend, Gregg Allman.
Next came a number that literally brought the entire audience to their feet, "Ramblin' Man," one of the Allman Brothers' biggest hits and a classic-rock radio staple. Yes, that's Dudek playing guitar on the original, way back in '73. This number even made the Sierra Nevada employees come out and take a look.
Dudek also did "Sacrifice," which he co-wrote during his days with the Steve Miller Band, followed by an awe-inspiring rendition of "Lido Shuffle" from his recordings with Scaggs, surprising everyone with his great vocal range.
Although most of Dudek's play list consisted of tunes from his roots in Southern rock, he included some blues, jazz, and a lot of just good old rock 'n' roll.
For almost two hours, he had his admiring fans jumping, dancing and swaying to beat of his Fender as he demonstrated what an electric guitar can do in the hands of an expert and true professional.
Dudek has recorded with not only the Allman Brothers, Steve Miller Band, Scaggs and Mason, but has also lent his guitar expertise to Stevie Nicks, Cher, Maria Muldaur and many others. He has also provided instrumental music for movies and television shows. His instrumentals have been featured on such programs as "Friends," "Extra," "Wild On" and "Access Hollywood."
to right, Bryan Hawkins (drums) Les Dudek aka The Dude w/a "K", LW and Mike Kindred
Loo & Dan Walters Bass & Vocals
November 15, 2006 - Made my first animated .gif
October 28 - Posted" Saturdays "
September 14 - Posted" Two Wheel Horse "
August 06 - Started a Myspace music profile. add me as a friend.
August 06 - Finnally found my tone
July 06 - Posted" Sometime Tuesday Morning ".
July 06 - Commons Park, Tahoe City, Ca., on beautiful Lake Tahoe...guitarist extrodinare "Johnny A" with Tahoe's own "The Blues Monsters" opening the show. This was the best talent at a free show since the 60's. Bad Ass guitar playin' Blues - Rock - County - Swing - Jazz - Hawaiian - Texas - New York, Wes Montgomery meets Joe Pass & David T. Walker at Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys house to jam get down kinda music...and as smokey as they come.
This guy is an increadibly strong guitarist - composer, and all around nice guy.
Johnny A. & Loo backstage moments before his set. I find Johnny's music very inspirational, listening to him totally reminds me why I learned to play guitar, way back win. He just spent a month opening for Joe Satriani all over Great Britain, his next couple of gigs are Syracuse, NY & Nigata, Japan. Timing is everything, A?
This band doesn't need a 4th person. Johnny's got the guitar parts covered. Best three piece band I've ever seen and I've seen alot of em'.
14 years together really shows. Solid as a rock & tight, now here's a band I could fit in with. After Johnny's set their guitarist Chuck Dunn came over to say hello and reminded me that we knew each other and had mutual friends, it had been a good 10+ years since I had seen him. We had a good laugh about me being their 3rd guitarist...anything could happen.
Chuck and Loo after Johnny A's set.
It's not so hard not bein' in the band...look there's Chuck behind me...it's a small world after all. Waiting for Johhny to play. Before Chuck said hello.
Yeah it's tough....
July 06 - Recording requires drastic measures...I put a Bigsby vibrato on my Les Paul Historic, oh my god, yes I drilled holes in to that flametop 2 of em'. Hey I ain't sellin' it, I'm playing it. This guitar is now very alive...a bit heavier, but very alive.
July 06 - New addition to recording system. A Line 6 Variax 500 Digital Modeling guitar. This has 26 vintage guitars in it and I can build any sound characteristics I desire via the workbench software. This with my POD XT Live (vintage amp simulator) gives me alot of direct recording options...plus this guitar is extremely light, does slide well and I can do unlimited alternate tunings and fantastic acoustic and 12 string guitars. I can't recommend these enough.
June 60- Posted" Mr. Sandman "
May 06 - Posted" James Bond ".
Dancing Alien courtesy of Clifford Schuchart
May 06 - Friday night Reno Nv., The Reno Hilton surfing with the Alien... an evening with Eric Johnson & Joe Satriani. Front row seats right in front of Joe's amps, hangout while Eric finishes his soundcheck, then a pre-show backstage tour and photo shoot with Joe's guitars and equipment, later an after show private meet and greet with Joe. What a nice cool cat.
After Eric's sound check before the show, this feels pretty normal...
Same guitar during the show, oh my god! I'm gonna practice when I get home.
Joe played 2 straight hours then did a 20 min encore, relentless
After the show backstage Joe had a few minuts to spare before going home for the first time in 6 weeks. Very gratious and generous.
Loo, Joe Satriani & Vicki Malignaggi backstage at The Reno Hilton
May 12, 2006 around midnight.
Eric Johnson played 1hr, opening up with "The Wind Cries Mary"...
His Marshall stack sounds just like Hendrix.
May 06 - My new main guitar, a Gibson Custom, Art & Historic "60" Les Paul. For the moment my arsenal is complete...now if I could just find some other musicians to put a band together with... Until then I'll just continue to record songs...
April 06 - Saturday night front row Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, Clear Lake, Ca. An evening with Peter Frampton, 90 min show with a 30 min encore. It was so good to hear electric guitar the way it's supposed to be. What a character, a voice of gold with songs and riffs to match. Aged to perfection.
April 06 - New addition to my guitar collection. 1996 50th Anniversary Fender Telecaster.
96' Telecaster & 04' Custom Strat
March 06 - Finished "Frost".
January 06 - Finished "Press Rewind".
November 05 - Finished "Is There Love In Space".
September 05 - Finished "If I could Fly".
July 05 - Finished "The One You Love".
June 05 - Studio upgrade: ProTools LE 6.9, DIGI 002 Board and a Creation Station Rack Computer with twin Flat Panels.
Have a seat put on the headphones, lay down some tracks, sing some parts...
