Hamilton Guitar Association: November 2012

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Chris Cowsill feature set

This weeks HGA meeting, Nov.26, featuring CHRIS COWSILL

Graduate of Mohawk Music, music teacher , band front man and one time cruise musician, Chris plays an eclectic mix of soul full melodies. I really like his seventies singer / songwriter tunes and of course, his Robert Johnson stuff, but I'm a real sucker for those old blues numbers.

This link to "gravity" is an excellent example of Chris's lead guitar skill, rhythm groove and vocal ability.

Gonna be scads of fun,
see you Monday,

Mark

Saturday, November 10, 2012

HGA Nov.12 featuring Darcy Wickham

This week's Hamilton Guitar Assoc. meeting at The Pheasant Plucker, 20 Augusta st. Hamilton, show starts at 8:00. Featuring the exceptional, multi style guitar picking of, musician, teacher, song writer.and friend of the HGA, Darcy Wickham.

Click for a vid of Darcy doing, "Malahat Highway"

S.O.F.G.A.

Southern Ontario Fingerstyle Guitar Association

Some five years ago, I typed finger style guitar into a search engine because that was the type of playing I wanted to explore. Mostly because I was tired of replacing all my lost guitar picks. What I found was the SOFGA, a club dedicated to this guitar style and encourageing new people to learn by providing a non competative performance environment. They met right here in Hamilton, I knew that this was something I had to check out.

What I found was a community of people enjoying each other's music, company and friendship. And the amazing music! Cutting edge acoustic, celtic, old blues , entire bands seems to leap from guitars held by one person. No fake effects or back tape. Each meeting, one great player after the next would play. Then, one of them would take some time to show you thier style.

This is where I found my guitar teacher and mentors and some realley good friends. Though I was just a beginner, these people seemed to have a genuine desire to hear my music. This encouragement was pivital, at a time when the rest of the world just wanted me to forget the whole guitar thing .

Some five years later, when it comes to music, I still don't have it all together most of the time, but I've come a long way, mostly thanks to SOFGA.

Now , it's called the Hamilton Guitar Association but the goal and spirit are the same. That's why I'm happy to slug all the gear up the stairs at the Pheasent Plucker every other week, set up the mics and board, then, watch it all unfold.

Mark V