I’ll, er, refrain from posting the lyrics to this particular song for reasons which will be obvious to anyone who is a Cee Lo fan, but let’s just say that it is an extremely catchy song. To quote Colbert, it’s a “bone-deep hook”.

So there I am, watching and waiting for Cee Lo to start singing, and what should I see but this:

Hmm, I see Colbert, I see Cee Lo… ENHANCE!

Okay that’s nice and close, but move it to the left. Way left! Look at that.. it’s our very own Avatar logo on Cee Lo’s bass cabinet!

Oh yeah, Cee Lo used our gear on a run of dates that included the Colbert Report, not to mention a little show called Late Night with David Letterman. We are tickled pink that he thought of us. Check out one last screenshot of the Report with our logo visible.

Look hard!

Thanks Cee Lo! Hope to work with you again soon!

These were the questions in my head when I attended the presentation given by Michele Caplinger and Tammy Hurt last night in Avatar’s King Room. I certainly didn’t go in with intent to become a member of NARAS, but I joined, and I want to talk about why I did.

I hadn’t ever really considered how valuable The Recording Academy is to me and my business, considering how much work I do with music business folks. I’m not in touring bands anymore — I get to sleep in a real bed! — but that’s okay because NARAS isn’t just for musicians. Ultimately it is a professional organization and a networking tool for anyone who is involved in the music industry. Just last night at the get together I saw some Atlanta music people with whom I hadn’t had any face time in months and it was a great feeling to be among my friends.

I started thinking about how nice it is to rub elbows with people like me, and I realized that that is really what NARAS is all about. It’s made up of people like me who work in music and are serious about their careers. I’ll let them make their case to you for joining, I’m just excited about why I joined and I want to share.

Tammy Hurt also made a great point about The Grammy awards show. If you’ve ever wondered why one person won and another didn’t and felt that there was some injustice done, then you should really become a voting member and work to change it. There isn’t a shady cabal behind a curtain picking winners at random, the Grammy is a peer award given on the basis of a vote. You too could have a voice!

Decide for yourself, but I’m completely won over and I can’t wait to enjoy my NARAS membership. I hope to see you at the next event!

Anyone who joins the The Recording Academy will be entered into a drawing for a free showcase in the King Room. So, if you join, you could win a free night to rock out and show off your stuff.

Avatar also offers 50% off on backline rental to our rehearsal studio renters!

Come on down and check out the full story on November 4th!

I have been lucky enough to get the befuddled hams that serve as my hands on a number of high end musical instruments in my day, and it is always a cool experience. The exotic woods and attention to detail can inspire a man to consider whether or not he could be in love with an inanimate object. I know that’s weird, and I totally don’t care.

Also when you read guitar reviews, you’ll notice the use of language that is sort of meaningless. Sometimes it can be had to understand what a person means when they say the pickups “sparkle” or the sound is “crispy”. Are they describing a piece of chicken made of diamonds?

“Fit and finish” is a little bit easier to get a handle on, I think. I would define it as the way the thing is assembled, or the care taken to make sure all the joints line up.

I have never seen better fit and finish than on this guitar. It is smooth like you would not believe. Check out the sweet-as-monkey-meat wood binding on this neck, would you?

Man I just want to play the hell out of that thing for hours.

Even on some other guitars that cost the same or more you can feel the pointy ends of frets sometimes, but not on this guitar. It is the jamma-lamma ding-dong for real.

If I had the scratch I would definitely pick one up, but for now I am just trying to sneak into Avatar often enough to get my fix.

Nice work, Taylor. Amazing guitar!

I was a preteen dork when I picked the instrument up, so I had a lot of free time to practice that other people might have spent on, say, hanging out with friends. My meager ability on the instrument bloomed with the self-confidence that comes with growing up, and is intertwined with my self image.

Now that I am a full grown dork, I don’t have as much time to practice obsessively, so I look instead for excuses upon which to blame my rusty playing. That’s where the Taylor 510CE Lefty comes in.

Of course I sound terrible on it, I’m not left handed!

Just take a gander at how great this thing looks, and keep in mind that this is one of the more affordable models.

 

My right-handedness aside, its a great looking instrument. Im jealous of Avatar’s left-handed clients who get to use it. They will be very pleased, I have no doubt.

I had a chance to play a few of them, which will become Taylor Tuesdays here on the site, so check back every Tuesday for a new review!

First up, I got my grubby mitts on the Taylor T5 12-string. As you can see from the photos it’s a pretty impressive looking guitar.

There are even more photos at the Avatar Flickr page too, so don’t be scared to give them a gander.

I tested it using the time-honored 12-string testing method known to all guitarists — playing Led Zeppelin’s “Over the Hills and Far Away” on it — and it performed flawlessly. As will all the Taylor guitars, in my opinion, the playability was incredible. I’m a big fan of their necks, if you can’t tell.

I only wish I could have kept it in my possession for a few days, but the Avatar folks know better than to let me out of the building with high end guitars, I’m sad to say.

Back in the days when I still thought I was a good enough singer to make it on the strength of my own songs, I was toting a Gibson Chet Atkins around because they were buletproof, sounded great, and could be used exactly like an acoustic, but with no monitor feedback.

I think the T5 has taken that idea to the next level and beyond. Too bad I am such a terrible singer or I’d grab one of these and make a go at it again!

It means Jam Cruise!

Probably one of the most-looked-forward-to events of any given year, Jam Cruise has just completed its eighth voyage. I haven’t heard the report from Rear Admiral Chip Smith yet, but I’m betting it went something like this.

It was probably a lot warmer in the tropics than it was here in Atlanta. There were probably a lot more cool bands playing at all times, and there were probably a lot of chicks in bikinis wandering around. Tell me that doesn’t sound like a good time.

Hopefully we’ll get the full report shortly, complete with photos, but having been on the cruise myself I know that everyone involved is already looking forward to next year. I got to hear an impeccable version of Lionel Richie’s “Dancing on the Ceiling” performed by Perpetual Groove when I went.

Keep kicking ass, Jam Cruise!

Well even if you don’t, don’t worry because we have items for sale on Thursday September 17th at Avatar Studios on Ottley Drive for all the way down to FIVE dollars.

Here’s the magic decree from our very own Chip Smith:
“The main goal of this sale is to move ALL of the smaller items in the storage room. Drum Heads, cables etc. The nicer pieces such as amplifiers are for sale but not as big of deal. Items are $5-$25 unless otherwise stated. It’s all listed on the flyer that is attached.”

So if you need drum heads or cables or any musical whatnots that keep you moving from song to song, come by Avatar and take a gander at our wares.

Here’s that flyer with all the meaty details. Come see us!

So, what’s the answer? Orange is the answer.

Now, it’s true that not everyone might have a stockpile of gleaming Orange brand guitar and bass amps lying around like Avatar does. Well, I’m sure Orange will be happy to sell you as many as you can afford.

It’ll be worth it.