I was feeling blue, under the weather, and was actually financially broke, when I convinced my husband Dan to slip off at the last minute to see legendary guitarist Dick Dale at The Blue Moon Saloon in Lafayette La. on Tuesday night. It was mind bending to see Dick Dale channel Johnny Cash channeling Dick Dale...weird sensation! Dick had on hand his custom amps made with old school tube technology. NOTHING else sounds like them. He is one of the rare performers that makes the audience feel that he feels privileged to be up on stage for them. He plays the guitar in the regular way then plays the harmonics on the strings - which always sets a different aura to guitar work, in my opinion. I have seen very few guitarists that know how to play harmonics and do it so it is incorporated seamlessly within the set. One of whom is Sonny Landreth, the other is Robin Trower. BUT!!!! Dick Dale probably invented it. He worked extensively with Leo Fender on creating the perfect amps for the electric guitar and was the first to perfect the electric guitar sound, especially the Surf music from the 1950's. He played it all, the old surf rock, the sounds of Hendrix which showcased his influence on Jimmy in an astonishing way. I felt Dick Dale's style rare its head up out of Jimmy's music. There he was again, Dick Dale, channeling Jimmy Hendrix, Jimmy Hendrix channeling Dick Dale! It appeared seamless. The drummer showcased a West Coast style of drumming that was heard in the rock in the 60's very well. The bassist, Sam Bolle, was astonishing. (I got to talk to him later that night at Somewhere Else Lounge after the show at a goodbye party thrown by CC Adcock.) After the show, I went and got autographs, had a photo taken and I asked him if he had ever worked with Les Paul, and he discussed that with me. He said he and Les were friends. He said, " Les Paul invented the electric guitar. I invented electric guitar music." Then he told a cute story about his t shirts. after I asked him if he had a fan club. He said they are called the "Dickheads." He had t shirts made up and all of them sold. Dan and I slipped off to Somewhere Else Lounge to attend the going away party for the band that C.C. Adcock was working with from London, England named The Scoundrels. It was astonishingly good. We stayed out there until 1:00 am and drove back to Ponchatoula. It was not too bad until around 4:00 Wednesday when I had to crash from exhaustion. It was a wonderful evening. I am very glad that I went.
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