Guitarist & Idler - The Reverend Double J - News http://jjvicars.com/news.html The Reverend Double J: News Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:08:48 -0800 R.I.P. Huber Sumlin http://jjvicars.com/news.html#119 Hubert Sumlin passed away today in New Jersey. The guitarist for Howlin' Wolf who played on all his classic Chess sides helped define the genre and influenced just about every Blues and Rock guitarist who came after him. His guitar work on SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING, EVIL, SPOONFUL, KILLING FLOOR is required study for every aspiring guitarist. 


Howlin' Wolf SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP34u6rdscs


Hubert Sumlin DVD excerpt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uljcbObxSOQ

]]> http://jjvicars.com/news.html#119 Sun, 04 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800 Guitarist & Idler - The Reverend Double J - News C. Rex "album" Posted http://jjvicars.com/news.html#118 After 10 years C. Rex will finally be heard! The short-lived but very cool Austin, TX group consisted of Todd Moore (vocals, rhythm guitar) and J.J.V. (lead guitar) with brothers Wayne Willems (bass) and Rich Willems (drums). The music could be best described as Southern Rock, Austin style. When I say "Southern Rock" I mean the original uncompromised first draft, freewheeling downhome tuneage, not the current musical rehashing and political reactionary stuff. Todd Moore wrote all the songs (except PARCHMAN'S FARM of course) and the band worked up the arrangements together. Short lived but a lot of fun and from my own discography one of the albums I listen to most.


 


The recordings were done with a small DAT recorder inside Wayne's trailer in Bastrop, TX where we used to rehearse. 11 songs plus 2 *bonus tracks* make for and album affectionately known as THE BASTROP TRAILER TAPES. Download them at http://www.jjvicars.com/music-group-186.html

]]> http://jjvicars.com/news.html#118 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800 Guitarist & Idler - The Reverend Double J - News RIP Doyle Bramhall http://jjvicars.com/news.html#117 Drummer/vocalist/songwriter Doyle Bramhall passed away today. One of the steadiest backbeats ever, a fine vocalist and a songwriter who wrote or co-wrote many of Stevie Ray Vaughan's tunes including his hits. http://www.dfw.com/2011/11/13/537731/reports-doyle-bramhall-sr-dead.html

]]> http://jjvicars.com/news.html#117 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800 Guitarist & Idler - The Reverend Double J - News Setzer Dissed Me Because I'm American??? http://jjvicars.com/news.html#116 Went to Brian Setzer's Rockabilly Riot show at Nakano Sun Plaza last night. First part of the show was a trio later augmented by a fourth piece doing various tunes from the big band and recent solo albums. Then he came out with Slim Jim Phantom and a different bass player to play Stray Cats hits. For the big finale all six guys came out together to storm through some Rockabilly classics. The show was great. The after-show not so great.


Knowing he wouldn't be out for a while we grabbed a bite to eat then headed to the rear exit of the building where other autograph hounds were waiting on either side of the driveway. Setzer came out and signed everybody's stuff, including a Gretsch guitar, except mine. He then headed to the other side of the driveway to the other group and did the same thing (minus the Gretsch). Seemed like he was purposely ignoring me since I was the tallest person in the crowd and had been holding my CD over everyone's heads so he could see it. It was a noisy crowd and I didn't want to add to the chaos. Tired of being ignored even after I called his name a couple times I said, "Hey Brian, don't forget a fellow American!" His manager got a good laugh out of that one but Setzer suddenly looked up at me, dead in the eye, with this guilty puppy-dog look like he just got busted. Immediately he turned away and started sweet talking some Japanese chick in the crowd then left.


What could Brian Setzer possibly have against me personally? I've only met him after shows with the rest of the autograph seekers, Indianapolis '96 and Cincinnati '98. I seriously doubt he remembers me from then despite going google-eyed over my SEXY & 17 double-45. But this time he was desperate to steer clear of me. I can only think of two reasons. One is that there was another tall "round eye" at one or both of the other Tokyo shows who was being a pain in the ass and so he mistook me for that guy.


The other possible reason is not such an innocent mistake. The Japanese throw large sums of money at foreign entertainers/celebrities to do some cheesy shit they don't want folks back home knowing about. Setzer comes to Japan regularly and gets red carpet treatent. The car he rode off in had green plates and a flag on the front; these cars are for politicians, dignitaries and other VIPs. Nope, #2 possible reason is he's kissing yellow ass and doesn't want any honkies to know about it. 'Cause he was eating it up while simultaneously trying to avoid me!


Whatever the reason it was a bullshit thing to do. Thank you Brian Setzer for setting such a fine example of what not to do. I'm happy to say that I take time to talk to everyone who approaches me at my gigs and related appearances (like video previews) and sign every CD. Some people show you what to do by doing the exact opposite.

]]> http://jjvicars.com/news.html#116 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Guitarist & Idler - The Reverend Double J - News MELTDOWN Dance remix http://jjvicars.com/news.html#115 The MELTDOWN Dance remix is now available! Who else but JJV and his cohorts would dare do a Dance remix of a Surf instrumental and feature a lap steel guitar?


http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/prematureevacuation


Featuring Bull Durham on keys and Hugh Ashton on lap steel with Mark "Pookie Bear " Schwarz on bass. Click the link to read all about the rials and tribulations endured during the recording (and mixing) of this bizarre but interesting track. The whip out the credit card and plunk down you 99 cents! Forward the link to your friends!


All money goes to survivors of the March 11th, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku, Japan. Not "all profits", ALL MONEY!

]]> http://jjvicars.com/news.html#115 Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Guitarist & Idler - The Reverend Double J - News Premature Evacuation MELTDOWN http://jjvicars.com/news.html#114 The for-charity single MELTDOWN is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/prematureevacuatio All proceeds from this 99 cent download, as well as any and all future releases under the name Premature Evacuation, go directly to the relief effort in northeastern Japan. The damage from the March 11th tsunami has been described by U.S. Navy personnel as "worse than Iraq". Download the single to help out. There's also a Dance remix on the way.

]]> http://jjvicars.com/news.html#114 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Guitarist & Idler - The Reverend Double J - News Streaming From The Cow http://jjvicars.com/news.html#113 This Friday the 22nd Premature Evacuation will once again rock the Pink Cow to its core. Everybody's crazy about that band name so I guess I'm stuck with it. The show starts at 7:00 and we go on around 9:30. If you can't be in Tokyo you can watch the live webcast at http://www.livestream.com/thepinkcowcam Here's the times converted for you;


 


CA 5:30 am


TX 7:30 am


OH 8:30 am


 


Too early? Nah! What else were you gonna do before work? Some pile drivin' Rock 'n' Roll will wake you up good! If you're watching the webcast log onto Facebook and leave your comments. If you're there in person stay off your laptop/iPhone/what-have-you and enjoy the show. You'll be too busy drinking and dancing and carrying on to play with gadgets!

]]> http://jjvicars.com/news.html#113 Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Guitarist & Idler - The Reverend Double J - News Facebook Updates http://jjvicars.com/news.html#112 As many of you know, lots of Americans in Japan have been reporting online via Facebook and Twitter the real news of events here to contrast the doomsday sensationalism of the U.S. and other media. For those of you who may have missed a few, or are not on Facebook at all, here's a collection of some of the more colorful updates. These are what I call "post news", poking a little fun after the fact. Some of these are mine and some I stole from friends. Enjoy! --J.J.V.   http://www.facebook.com/jjvicars


 


 Panicked co-workers were unable to stem the flow of adjectives spewing from the stricken journalist.

Rumors of my irradiation have been greatly exaggerated.


I ain't scared of no radiation, I've eaten at Taco Bell.

Americans have more to fear from high fructose corn syrup than any other "contamination".

The U.S. Ebassy's official report. Basically, stay a good 50 miles from the plant. Duh! You think I was planning a picnic?

The evacuation recommendations are for a 50 mile radius of the nuke plant. Not only is it for your own safety, but get the fuck outta the way so the professionals can do their job!

News flash-The British Foreign office has urged all UK nationals to leave the UK if possible because its crap there, cigarettes are too expensive and theres nothing good on the tele!

Working on a Link Wray style instrumental called MELTDOWN. Bull Durham's gonna put some smokin' keys on it!

The conspiracy theorists are just as bad as the media, spreading doomsday scenarios. They're eliciting fear and panic and doing absolutely nothing to solve the problem. Also tired of the anti-nuke shit. Save that debate for AFTER this is over. Now is not the time. Neither group seems to give a fuck about the tsunami survivors up north.

Tsunami survivors up north are having a helluva time. Cold as hell and snowing on top of everything else. A 70 year old woman in a wheelchair was washed out to sea, then washed back up still in her wheel chair (true story). Images of LITTLE BRITAIN's Lou & Andy dance through my head.

Elvis was just over at my place yesterday. We smoked a joint and pressed the red HAARP button, just before he hopped into his spaceship and fucked off. Bastard didn't even offer me a ride.

Still no word on Godzilla.


 ###

]]> http://jjvicars.com/news.html#112 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Guitarist & Idler - The Reverend Double J - News Earthquake News & Helpful Links http://jjvicars.com/news.html#111 The 8.9 quake occurred off the coast of Sendai where the tsunami hit. The northeastern part of Japan sustained the serious damage that's been seen on the news. The quake itself was felt as far as Beijing, China but no real damage. The trains shut down in Tokyo leaving a lot of people stranded in a city where it takes at least an hour to get anywhere. Usually takes me an hour and a half. Some folks in some outlying parts of Tokyo are without power but for the most part things are relatively cool here. The worst in Tokyo is on the east side in Chiba prefecture. The nuclear reactor you may have heard about is in Fukushima where they were still getting aftershocks every 20 minutes well into the night.


 A website has been set up to help find the dead and missing. For anybody in Japan or with people in Japan here are the links:


 http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=ja (Japanese)


http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en (English)


 And here's the Wikipedia page on the quake:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Sendai_earthquake_and_tsunami


 


For those of you on Facebook I'm keeping my Wall updated with relevant information. if you are outside of Japan and need to call someone to see if they're OK send me the number. Phone lines aren't working too good right now but I'll do what I can. Those of you on the U.S. West Coast stay tuned to the news, you got some heavy waves coming your way and they ain't for surfing!


 

]]> http://jjvicars.com/news.html#111 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0800 Guitarist & Idler - The Reverend Double J - News Re-released LONGHAIRED LEFTOVERS Now In Stock http://jjvicars.com/news.html#110 The re-release of LONGHAIRED LEFTOVERS is now in stock at CD Baby. Visit http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jjvicars4 to listen and buy. The CD includes a disc-only bonus track, a Rock 'n' Roll rendition of "1987" by Jeremy Gloff who plays piano on TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE and SEVEN DAYS A WEEK which he co-wrote and features Mark Schwarz on bass & backing vocals, who designed the jacket.]]> http://jjvicars.com/news.html#110 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800 Guitarist & Idler - The Reverend Double J - News