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All Slide and Resonator Guitar show coming up on June 6!

 

On Thursday June 6th, the Cinema Bar in Culver City will host an all slide-guitar night featuring four of Los Angeles' most unique and innovative slide players, as well as many incredible resonator guitars. You will see and hear four distinctly different artist techniques and many amazing musical styles, all adapted from legendary players.

 

 

From a one stringed African instrument to the stunning art-deco design of the chrome National Tri-cone guitar, the slide guitar has been one of the most fascinating musical developments of the last century.
Slide or "slack key" guitar is a method of imitating the human voice by using a steel pipe on the strings of a guitar. Rather than hit specified notes as when fretting a guitar, the slide player is free to bend and vibrate notes, resembling a human voice or someone mournfully crying, at other times like screaming demons from the netherworld. Poorer musicians might break the neck off of a bottle and use it to sound the notes.
Resonator guitars were designed and built to facilitate slide playing. These beautiful guitars feature a large metal plate mounted to the top of the guitar to "resonate" the sounds from within. A California invention, National Guitar Company started production in the mid 1920's, boomed through the great depression and lasted well into the 1940's when shortages of metal for the war effort put them out of business. 
Popularized in the 1920's and 30's during a Hawaiian music craze, the real legends started with blues artists like Blind Willie McTell, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Son House, and Robert Johnson. Electrified slide guitar in the fifties brought the sounds of Elmore James and Bo Diddley. The tradition was carried on by sixties rockers Eric Clapton, Duane Allman and Jimmy Page, while purists like Ry Cooder, Bob Brozman and many bluegrass players kept up the acoustic slide scene.
Today many guitar makers have returned to building these instruments, and slide guitar is currently enjoying a resurgence thanks to modern releases from artists like Keb' Mo, The Dixie Chicks, Eric Clapton and Jerry Douglas.
On Thursday June 6th, the Cinema Bar in Culver City will host an all slide-guitar night featuring four of Los Angeles' most unique and innovative slide players, as well as many incredible resonator guitars. You will see and hear four distinctly different artist techniques and many amazing musical styles, all adapted from legendary players.
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Mike Freas is a musical journeyman and historian. A veritable library of ragtime, blues and jazz finger-picking. Mastering guitar styles from the 1920's and 30's blues and jazz has taken Mike on a thirty year journey and he will share with you some joyous rare old songs as well as some of his own "old modern" creations.
Matt Bradford discovered the slide guitar after a hand injury made it difficult to play his beloved guitars. It was a discovery that completely changed his musical world. Delving into the styles of lap steel guitars (played lying down on the lap of the player) Matt digs, wails and slides his way through blues, bluegrass and rock. Blazing runs punctuate his heavy-acoustic sound as he reveals what happens when bluegrass history collides with the blues.
Terry Okey spent a long time learning the historical aspects of the slide guitar, then threw it all away trying to create new emotional sounds from old traditions. In his songs you can hear the old days calling out, but giving way to important new grooves and contemporary lyrics. He will host the night with several vintage guitars and share many fascinating songs and stories.
Jeremiah Sammartino has ventured down many dirt roads and back alleys to discover his slide guitar sound. Logging tens of thousands of miles he has delivered his music as far and wide as it's historical legends. Gracing stages in Los Angeles, Austin, Nashville and all through Europe he has forged a formidable musical show. His style of "electrifying americana" comes from blazing slide-blues rave ups and beautiful acoustic folk songs. Jeremiah recently received an Emmy nomination for writing music for the documentary "Prison Through Tomorrow's Eyes".
The All Slide And Resonator Guitar Show
Thursday, June 6th,   8 pm 
The Cinema Bar
3967 Sepulveda Blvd
Culver City, California   90230
(310) 390-1328

From a one stringed African instrument to the stunning art-deco design of the chrome National Tri-cone guitar, the slide guitar has been one of the most fascinating musical developments of the last century.


Slide or "slack key" guitar is a method of imitating the human voice by using a steel pipe on the strings of a guitar. Rather than hit specified notes as when fretting a guitar, the slide player is free to bend and vibrate notes, resembling a human voice or someone mournfully crying, at other times like screaming demons from the netherworld. Poorer musicians might break the neck off of a bottle and use it to sound the notes.


Resonator guitars were designed and built to facilitate slide playing. These beautiful guitars feature a large metal plate mounted to the top of the guitar to "resonate" the sounds from within. A California invention, National Guitar Company started production in the mid 1920's, boomed through the great depression and lasted well into the 1940's when shortages of metal for the war effort put them out of business. 


Popularized in the 1920's and 30's during a Hawaiian music craze, the real legends started with blues artists like Blind Willie McTell, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Son House, and Robert Johnson. Electrified slide guitar in the fifties brought the sounds of Elmore James and Bo Diddley. The tradition was carried on by sixties rockers Eric Clapton, Duane Allman and Jimmy Page, while purists like Ry Cooder, Bob Brozman and many bluegrass players kept up the acoustic slide scene.


Today many guitar makers have returned to building these instruments, and slide guitar is currently enjoying a resurgence thanks to modern releases from artists like Keb' Mo, The Dixie Chicks, Eric Clapton and Jerry Douglas.

Mike Freas is a musical journeyman and historian. A veritable library of ragtime, blues and jazz finger-picking. Mastering guitar styles from the 1920's and 30's blues and jazz has taken Mike on a thirty year journey and he will share with you some joyous rare old songs as well as some of his own "old modern" creations.
Matt Bradford discovered the slide guitar after a hand injury made it difficult to play his beloved guitars. It was a discovery that completely changed his musical world. Delving into the styles of lap steel guitars (played lying down on the lap of the player) Matt digs, wails and slides his way through blues, bluegrass and rock. Blazing runs punctuate his heavy-acoustic sound as he reveals what happens when bluegrass history collides with the blues.
Terry Okey spent a long time learning the historical aspects of the slide guitar, then threw it all away trying to create new emotional sounds from old traditions. In his songs you can hear the old days calling out, but giving way to important new grooves and contemporary lyrics. He will host the night with several vintage guitars and share many fascinating songs and stories.
Jeremiah Sammartino has ventured down many dirt roads and back alleys to discover his slide guitar sound. Logging tens of thousands of miles he has delivered his music as far and wide as it's historical legends. Gracing stages in Los Angeles, Austin, Nashville and all through Europe he has forged a formidable musical show. His style of "electrifying americana" comes from blazing slide-blues rave ups and beautiful acoustic folk songs. Jeremiah recently received an Emmy nomination for writing music for the documentary "Prison Through Tomorrow's Eyes".

The All Slide And Resonator Guitar Show

Thursday, June 6th,   8 pm 

The Cinema Bar

3967 Sepulveda BlvdCulver City, California   90230

(310) 390-1328

 

 

 

 

Wood body resonator Live at Room 5 :

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks to Parky's Saloon, we had a great time playing!


 


I had a great time at The Resonator Show at Genghis Cohen, thanks to all who came!



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At The Fairfax Farmers Market Ranch Party. Thanks to Marc Christian.

 

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Winner at The Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest!

I won fourth place in Advanced Flat-Picking with my song "I'm Coming Home" at The 51st Topanga Banjo and Fiddle contest, I had a blast and decided to make video of the song, I figure if they liked it you would too! Click below the photo to see me play my winning song: I'm Coming Home!

 

 

 

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Happy Valentine's Day Song!

 

 

 

 

 

Playing live on FM 104 with Ruairi Carrol in Dublin, Ireland!



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A very fun new place for live music in NOHO!

 apple, coconut cream, strawberry rhubarb, banana cream, chocolate carmel pecan, key lime, chocolate cream, pumpkin, cherry, blueberry! 

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Video from Idyllwild gigs on the Fourth Of July Weekend!

 

 

 

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Thanks to Martin Jones and all the folks in Idyllwild. I had a great time at this years Art & Wine Fest!


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Thanks to the folks at The Un-Urban Cafe for a great night of blues and folk!

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Thanks to Arriba's Mexican Food for a great time!

 

 

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Had a great time at the bike fest, special thanks to Brendan & Mary Collier of Hub Cyclery!




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I had a blast playing at the Cinema Bar, thanks to Rod and Scotty McCoy!