For those of you in the Nashville area, its just a week until August 19-21 when Creation Audio Labs and Pedaltrain sponsor the third annual Nashville Amp Expo. It will be held at the Hyatt Place Hotel in Brentwood, off of Old Hickory Blvd.

Each person pays only $5 per day to visit the exhibitors who are set-up in hotel rooms lining several floors. There are no volume limits since the hotel will be taken over by tone freaks (not a place for the late-summer vacation traveler who is seeking peace and quiet)!

Along with exhibits are seminars and concerts to attend. My old friend, former band-mate and fusion guitarist extraordinaire, Denny Jiosa, will be performing on Sunday night the 21st.

The cool thing is meeting all of the makers of great guitar and studio gear, along with a plethora of accessories, and having the opportunity to ask delving questions about the designs, build processes, company philosophies and tone–straight to the owners and designers. This year I will be helping my buddy Kevin Shaw as he is exhibiting the great Shaw Audio handmade tube amps that I love and use.

I will be there for the whole show, so please come by and say hello. You never know who you’ll see there hanging out in the hallways. And by the way, everyone is on an equal footing at the Expo, as opposed to the NAMM shows in Anaheim and Nashville, which are all about the retailers. This event is about the player and the product producer meeting one-on-one to talk tone. You can purchase and take home some new gear, too!

Below is a demo that I made for Kevin of the new Shaw JCM 20 amp. Its a tune I wrote and performed called “Shaw-Shanked,” demonstrating the great classic Marshall-esque tones emanating from the brand-new amp. You have got to come by and check out this plus more of Kevin’s amps next weekend at the Nashville Amp Expo.

I have taken a bit of a rest this summer. With the beginning of June commencing the hiatus, Brenda and I took a radical turn from a seven-year career trajectory. We made the decision at the end of May to embark on a radical adventure–one that many would call foolish. Mom always said, “Don’t end something unless you have something to immediately take it’s place.” Well mom, this time I went with my gut and totally disobeyed your teaching.

I left my position as a worship leader and decided to hit “reset” on my career, life direction and the resultant future. This time I am leaving it completely up to God to redirect my steps. You see, I am very good at making my own way. I have a street-fighter hunger to dominate my circumstances so that things will go my way. I’ve been hungry enough at times to lean-in hard to get what I want–to do whatever it takes to get what I have my “tractor beam” desire set upon. The trouble is, with that mindset I usually meet with failure as my plans take a nose-dive and spiral out of control. Don’t we all have the propensity to be lord of our own lives?

This time I want to be a complete fool and let God choose the direction for me!

What the world calls wise (calculating risks, cautious forward movement, get what you can while you can) doesn’t ring true to me. I am tired of going for what I want and am willing to say, “God, surprise me!” If I sound like my life before May, 2011 was just a selfish journey, then I have not clearly communicated. God has been in most of what I have accomplished, even though I’ve made mistakes. What I mean to say is: I am tired of trying to figure everything out; I am throwing it all up in the air and, like Christ-following faith-walkers of the past, am willing to see what God has in store.

I don’t believe that my creative endeavors of the past will be affected, although if God wants to make changes, I’m cool with it. All I know right now is that there are songs and books to write, music to make, a family to love and support, and most importantly, a Lord to trust, follow and worship. Beyond that, the sky’s the limit.

Surprise me, God!

I grew up in a home where approval was abundant–probably because both of my parents were raised in fractured homes where divorce carved a permanent scar in both of their hearts. Therefore, they knew the importance of encouragement, and I’m grateful for it. But just because we heard encouragement while growing up doesn’t mean we don’t need it anymore as adults.

The Bible speaks of encouraging words as gold and silver: Proverbs 25:11 states, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. (NASB)” I believe we have the power to bless other people with encouraging words or curse with negative ones. One blessing that came to me in my early years helped to steer me forward into a music career.

It was Columbus, Ohio in 1980 or 1981, where I came in contact with a brilliant trombonist, and arranger named Stan Morse. He had played in several world-renowned big bands and had worked in television before he became the arranger for American Entertainment Productions. One day in rehearsal he leaned over and whispered in my ear, “You’ve got what it takes; your gonna make it in music!” Those words gave me the courage to endure in the ensuing years when, at times, I felt like getting off of the rough and tumble road of professional music.

I recently heard Rock and Roll Hall of Fame musician Chris Hillman, from the Byrds and other assorted folk-rock and country outfits, talk of the importance of encouraging words in his own life. He was in LA in the late 60s and had just finished a show at one of southern California’s premier country music performance venues. As his band was taking a break from their set, a tall, bear-of-a-shadow enveloped him from behind, and a large hand appeared on his right shoulder. Looking backward toward the source, Hillman was surprised to see his childhood TV hero, Tex Ritter, whom he had never met, looming over him. Tex said something like, “Keep it up young man, you’re gonna make it in this business!” Those life-giving words helped drive Hillman forward as an architect of the country rock sound that flooded California and the world in years to come.

I don’t know why some people refuse to encourage others. Maybe because they don’t want to seem vulnerable or “soft.” Maybe because they never knew encouragement themselves. I believe it is my duty to help others if it is in my power to do so. The Bible states in James 4:17, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them (NIV).” I believe it is important that we, especially as Christians, give encouragement and mentoring when the opportunity arises. We will probably never know the blessing we deposit in the hearts of people when we are obedient to the opportunity.

Be a mentor to someone. There maybe a person out there today–and it maybe your own child–who needs your stamp of approval.

Is it just me or do you see the stupidity in this tax-free weekend mumbo-jumbo? Every time I go online to order something, I get it tax-free anyway, many times with free shipping. I shop Amazon.com often because I’m obligated. Last Christmas I signed-up for the “Prime” membership which enables me to get items with the special “Prime” designation including free two-day delivery. I intended to take full advantage of the free trial, but as most folks do, I blew it and forgot to cancel before they charged me almost $100. Did I save money? Only if I use this “Prime” thing and nothing else until this year’s Christmas.

I watched a 2007 Apple Computer documentary a few nights ago. Interviewed were several people camping outside an Apple store for as long as five days, anticipating the release of the first iPhone. What is it that makes people think they are getting an advantage when they lose five days of work waiting in some crazy line with a slew of other maniacs for a stupid cell phone?

The same goes for Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. I tried to join-in the festivities one year but came away with only a few DVDs and a headache. Standing in a line wrapped around Best Buy at three o’clock in the morning is costly for me–very, very expensive–especially for my body.

Brenda told me she heard a rumor that Congress is trying to make online shopping stores like Amazon pay retroactively for all of the gazillions of dollars in unpaid sales tax. I say fine. In fact, I will be glad to make a trade with Uncle Sam and the IRS: If they are willing to discontinue income tax in trade for a consumer tax on purchased items, I’d be ecstatic! I bet we’d close the gap on the deficit in short order!

But no, things don’t go as easy as that. So the State of Tennessee ostensibly gives us a tax-free weekend (limited to certain products, mind you) at the end of summer to help families with back-to-school expenses and to stimulate the economy. I know the real reason is for the government to convince us that we can’t live without their generosity.

I’ll just continue to make my orders online and wait a few days for the big brown truck to squeal it’s brakes at the curb in front of my house. From computer to curb with no taxes–every day of the year–now that’s shopping!

How can anyone resist a song for the common man? Not like Springsteen’s characters, with young girls holding on tightly to studly motorcycle riders–hair blowing in the wind–tearing down Thunder Road. What I mean is a song written for regular, non-motor-scootin’ males like me…who have problems, too much weight around the middle, and who are over 40 (or over 50, in my case!). Fountains of Wayne is a band for the common man, and they write the greatest 3 1/2 minute odes to lonely losers of this world. Their records are filled with stories of the lovelorn, sentimental, stuck-in-childhood geek, still living in his parent’s basement.

If that description didn’t offend you, stick around and Fountains of Wayne will hit a nerve. I think they write these songs so convincingly because they see the characters in themselves. The band’s name–taken from a now-defunct garden center somewhere in the Northeast–suggests the absurdity that many of their songs convey. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young. A quick listen to any of their CDs will reveal a mastery of the guitar-layered anthem, supporting a fine but “Wierd Al-like” lead vocal. Hidden in the background playing bass is probably the most famous silent partner in any band: Adam Schlesinger. Collingwood and Schlesinger are the band’s songwriters, but Adam Schlesinger has written for several movie projects, including the title song for “That Thing You Do.” He also wrote the theme song for 2007’s “Music and Lyrics.” Many of their songs make a cameo in TV shows and commercials. Not bad for a bunch of guys who would blend into any amusement park–kids and wives in tow.

The song “Stacy’s Mom” is probably the most recognizable in their repertoire, but it would be an insult to judge their range by just that one hit. They are masterful with melodies and craftsmen at turning a phrase. When you listen to both 2005’s “Welcome Interstate Managers” and the 2007 “Traffic and Weather” CDs, it seems as if one is led through a cinematic carnival ride, replete with charming characters, idiots, romance, clowns and sadness. I am so impressed with their ability to set new scenes with each song, using various musical styles, brilliant arrangements and artful instrumentation.

Just yesterday, Fountains of Wayne released a new project called, “Sky Full of Holes.” Instead of jangly guitars and 80s synthesizers dominating the sound-scape, acoustic guitars take a front seat in this set. The wry character studies are still present, and the dopy dreamers still grace the stage throughout. I just bought the CD, so I am becoming familiar with the songs. The great thing is that AmazonMP3 has the album available for download for just $3.99. I’m sure that deal will go away in a hurry.

For the average guy, this band has a knack for uncovering the bottled-up emotions that many of us bury and ignore as we get older. Unlike Springsteen, I can get lost in lost in a crowd like the Fountains of Wayne guys. I prefer it that way.