Pics and Other Cool Stuff

Mike Inez, bassist for Alice in Chains, and me at Winter NAMM 2008. You won’t find a more talented and humble rock star I assure you. He gave my daughter and I free tickets and back stage passes for the October 07’ Velvet Revolver/Alice in Chains concert in Memphis, and he also had plenty of time to chat at NAMM. Thanks to my good friend and customer, Gary Usher of Metal Blade Records for setting it all up. He and Mike grew up together in Los Angeles.

Mike Inez signing a slick for my daughter Christina Marie. She’s becoming quite the rock and roll queen of her high school.

Jeff Carlisi, .38 Special founder, and my daughter, Christina Marie, at Summer NAMM in Nashville. Jeff is the perfect Southern gentleman, and is doing a fabulous job with his "Camp Jams" rock and roll camp, based out of Atlanta, Georgia. So far, he has camps in 16 cities.

Southern rockers, Blackfoot, still rocking after 40 years. Thanks to the guys for being gracious enough to hang out for a while with Christina and I after a late night gig in the Memphis area, and sign a slick for her. They are true ambassadors for original Southern style rock and roll, and they definitely demonstrated it perfectly that night.

CONGRATULATIONS to our great friends, "Saving Abel" and most importantly, lead guitarist, Scott Bartlett, and their brand new Billboard top 200 self titled album. Their YouTube video was the #1 most downloaded music video during May 08. They are now on the road with Finger Eleven and will begin their summer tour with Stone Temple Pilots very soon, culminating with a headline gig at the Memphis Mud Island Amphitheater in downtown Memphis in September 08', for X Fest. Way to go guys, you deserved every bit of what is headed your way.

Soldano 44 Blues City Music Signature Amp at Winter NAMM 2008. A big thank you goes out to Tommy Beard of Fat Tone Pickups here in Memphis, for housing at NAMM for me.

Bill Hudson, lead guitarist with the heavy metal band, “Cellador”, posing at the Fender booth beside a Charvel with a corncob painted on the body. Bill is from Sao Paulo, Brazil, but lives in Omaha, Nebraska, so this turned out great. Check out his Nebraska driving license too.

The Monster Energy drink “Girls” at the Jim Dunlop booth at Winter NAMM 2008. Hey, you can’t go to LA without seeing gorgeous ladies can you?

Gary Usher (International Sales and Distribution) with world famous Metal Blade Records and his Soldano Hot Rod 50+, Space Box, and 2 x 12” cabinet in crème. Look for Gary and new project with his band “Sprayface”, a progressive and very cool Surf band.

Blues City Music would like to send out a big Thank You to Chris D'Abaldo, former rhythm guitarist for the world famous heavy rock band, "Saliva" .

Chris recently used a Blues City Music red Soldano SLO-100 head with the Warren Haynes bright/cut switch, De Martini mid cut scoop, and Depth options coupled with a Soldano 4 x 12" slant front cabinet, as well as an SLO-100 combo with an Eminence/Electro Voice EVM12L "Zakk Wylde" speaker combination while recording tracks for his new band "8 Days to Amsterdam". His entire band and the recording engineers were all surprised that he would forgo his old mainstay, a Mesa-Boogie Triple Rectifier, for this new amp combination, but he ABSOLUTELY LOVED the sustain, note clarity, and of course monster hi gain that this amp provides. A request was also made to allow the use of this Soldano rig for the upcoming tour in support of their soon to be released debut album. Of course, we are glad to comply and can't wait to hear them live.

If you are a huge Incubus fan or enjoy that style music, you will definitely love this new band, so stay tuned for more information on the launch of "8 Days to Amsterdam". We will keep you posted.

Kish Moody, lead guitarist/singer for the hard charging rock and roll band from the great state of Arkansas, "Monoxide Project". Kish and his boys have been recording multiple tracks in LeeWay Studios using my Splawn Quick Rod for all rhythm tracks and my SLO-100 3 option head for the lead tracks. Both were played through respective Splawn and Soldano custom 4 x 12" cabinets. Kish was so moved by both rigs, he ordered a Splawn Quick Rod in dark green plexi and a black 4 x 12" slant cabinet with Eminence Big Blocks for his live rig.

If you love rock and roll in the same vein as Mark Tremonti's "Alter Bridge", you'll love what these guys are doing. Stay tuned for more information and tour dates with Monoxide Project.

Bryan Griffin’s Dual SLO-100 with
effects loop bypass and depth control, paired with a stock SLO-100 with
effects loop bypass and depth control powering a Soldano 4 x 12” cabinet.

Faron Mitchell and his Soldano 5 option SLO-100 and 2 x 12” cabinet in red with a Solid Cables 3’ ELEPH speaker cable. Faron’s band plays Classic Southern Rock and Blues.

Jerry Tarolli and his Soldano Hot Rod 100+ while opening for Tesla at the New York State Fair, in Syracuse, New York.

Eric Sandman’s Soldano SLO-100 and 2 x 12” cabinet in Clapton grey.

This is Travis Posey's cream SLO-100 Warren Haynes optioned head and matching 4 x 12" Soldano slant front cabinets with English made Celestion Vintage 30's

Wesley Novak's Splawn Nitro