31 July - Colorway

THIS WEEK'S COMMUTE

M: The Kinks - Something Else

T: Iggy Pop - Instinct

W: Motorhead - The Best Of

F: Colorway - The Black Sky Sequined

This Friday: F. Alex Johnson is a helluva guitar player, and Colorway was his most recent project here in the Valley. The band's two lineups have been power trios in every sense of the word, with exceptional bass playing and drumming in addition to Al's star turn on the axes out front. On this album, the rhythm section was one I've also had the pleasure of playing with a few times (notably on some tour dates with the Irish pop-rock act Pugwash, but that's for some future Friday). Alex writes powerful, heartfelt songs, and delivers them at a level never less than 100%, whether on disc or live. He and his wonderful better half live in Japan now, and I miss having them around. At least he left some of the music behind. Crank it up.

24 July - Mystics Anonymous

THIS WEEK'S COMMUTE

M: Fine Young Cannibals - The Raw & The Cooked

T: The Bangles - A Different Light

W: Frank Zappa - Hot Rats

F: Mystics Anonymous - Dreaming for Hours

This Friday's drive CD is  Mystics Anonymous - Dreaming for Hours, an album I had the pleasure of playing on. The band is the brainchild of my friend Jeff Steblea, and is a collective of sorts, with Jeff at the center of a continually (r)evolving lineup of other players, all mutual friends here in the Valley. Jeff's songs always include the type of aural surprises that make me smile. You're listening along and mentally anticipating the next note or chord change, and then this other theme leaps out of the clouds and the song laughs at your expectations. Magic.

17 July - New Friday Feature

I'm starting a new thing today. From now on, my Friday driving music will be an artist or band that I'm directly connected with somehow. Following each This Week's Commute list will be a link to their music, and in most cases a little write-up explaining the connection and/or what I like about them so much. Here's the list for this week:

M: Elvis Costello - My Aim is True
T: XTC - Drums and Wires
W: Jeff Beck - You Had it Coming
F: Superkart - 4x4

This Friday: Superkart was a band fronted by my friend Sue Burkhart (say it fast and you'll get it). Every incarnation of this band kicked ass, and included many good friends in each lineup. I worked as Sue's guitar tech on a few occasions, and with five or six guitars and several different tunings, she kept me on my toes. The combination of Sue's and Adrianne's voices never failed to give me chills. I wish they were still around, but I'm glad we're all still in touch. Love to all.

10 July - This Week's Commute

M: The Who - The Who by Numbers

T: The Beatles - Revolver

W: The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers

F: Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy

1 July - This Week's Commute

Wednesday is my Friday this week, so it's a short list this time.

M: The Wallflowers - Bringing Down the Horse

T: Simple Minds - Glittering Prize

W: Fastball - All the Pain Money Can Buy