Gary Owen's Blog

It seems the "Winter Of Discontent" is doing it's best to hang on like a vice grip. This didn't stop Mette and I from meandering to nine different states within a week- and though it seemed as if it was warming up- the weather keeps falling back into February mode. I guess the best way to deal with it is just that: deal with it. Let's hear another bright and sunny tune. Maybe it will inspire Mother Nature to allow Spring to come in full blast. Sing it Simon, Crosby and Nash............ Here Comes The Sun (Simon, Crosby & Nash)

Well, what do you know? Nearly ten years after Mike Caro and I recorded the backing track for this Dennis A. Pickens recording, it seems it was finally released on the promised Rick Nelson tribute album as it was intended.  "Anytime" was written by Nelson and included on the 1971 Stone Canyon Band LP "Rudy The Fifth" (reached #204....ouch). Dennis A. Pickens is a musician who hails from the deep south- and around 2004-05- contacted Mike Caro (Submarine Studios, Staten Island, NY) about producing an online recording of this Nelson tune. Mike asked me to help with the session and arrangement which isn't too far off from the 1971 rendition. Fellow Blue Meanie John Thomas plays drums, I am on guitars and Mike does everything else plus backing vocals. He plays a killer keyboard solo which I helped arrange (I am proud of that). I also threw in a few extra riffs here and there and added the big major chord at the very end. Mike Caro is easily the most talented and ...

Lots of music this week. Between trekking up to Smallwood, New York for a benefit show (two miles from the original Woodstock site), rehearsing and meandering about the region, my blogging has become- for the moment, de-blogged. With that in mind, let's fill the void by listening to this cool, rare, late period, sung-by-Robbie-Krieger Doors track from their last LP "Full Circle" (1972): Four Billion Souls - The Doors (1972)

Recently, I have been getting back into the wonders of Rickenbacker guitars. 12-string, of course. Great stuff! What a sound- and thanks to one George Harrison (OHNOTHIMAGEN)- the world is a better place for his endorsement of said instruments. In 1964, Hari Jorgeson introduced the second 12-string Rickenbacker to the world via the Beatles recordings "Can't Buy Me Love" and "You Can't Do That" . After seeing this guitar in the film "A Hard Day's Night" , Roger McGuinn of The Byrds went out and bought himself one- and so was born- the jingle jangle sound of Folk-Rock. I love it. In my day, I have owned two Ricks. First was a 370-12 in black which I sold to a friend while working on Wall Street. I used the cash as a down payment on the instrument I have owned since: a 1988 fireglo Roger McGuinn Limited Edition 12-string (#374 of 1,000). This rare guitar features a fast action neck and active compressor (which reminds me, I must change the...

We learn something new every day, don't we? For many years, I never took the matter seriously but humidifying a guitar is an extremely crucial part of it's care. This especially applies to acoustic instruments during Winter months. I have always tried to do it as often as I could remember but had no clue I was only doing half of what was required. The long, skinny rubbery humidifiers named "Dampit" come with a shaped plastic piece which is supposed to cover the sound hole on an acoustic. It features a gauge which measures the amount of humidity the guitar has- and as it decreases-  the gauge indicates it's time for a refill. I never bothered to use them- and a result- some of my guitars now have checks in the finish or need neck resets. Ugh. What irritates me is that for years I have been getting 50,117 different suggestions on when and how I should be humidifying my instruments. Well, visiting my favorite guitar shop, Mandolin Brothers, the repairman sat me d...

Some of my favorite gigs have been performed in backyards, living rooms or even high atop the Swiss Alps (yes, I have done this). That coziness which comes with setting up in someone's household usually leaves me with a euphoric feeling of satisfaction. Just prop me up in the corner near an electrical outlet and out of everyone's way and let me strum. For me, this makes for a wonderful evening- especially if it's amongst a fun, receptive audience. Another fun time is around an outdoor fireplace during the Autumn months. This is my favorite time of year. Hence the title of my first CD. These shows usual take place far away from New York City, although, I have been known to find a few here at home. Outdoor Summer gigs can be a lot of fun- but if it's really humid- then setting me up away from sunlight with a strong electric fan or in the air conditioned house is preferred. Naturally, Winter gigs are held indoors but I have done some crazy nights in Pennsylvania where th...

Another groovy weekend of gigging. The highlight being Saturday night at Killmeyers. Lots of familiar, happy faces on hand to sing along to the tunes. Wound up losing track of time (again) and went later than usual. Good. It was worth it.