TomPierron.Com

This is ridiculous, isn’t it?
But I thought about it as Runnin’ on Empty came on the
radio – I think this is the best live song ever recorded, eh?
When it hits that F#m on the slide, or the pedal steel.
Doesn’t that pedal steel sing throughout the song?
Then I think of Mountain Jam – a tribute to Donavon’s
There Is A Mountain by the Allman Brothers. You reading
this now can get the CD. When I got it – it was on Eat A Peach.
One day we were all in a room with Timmy Formica’s cousins -
he had taped the double album and cut in the drum solo to make
it a one listen song – what a feat! Now, on the CD, that’s what it is.
On “side two” is Duane’s slide guitar – and that, ladies and gentlemen,
is what guitar playing in Heaven sounds like.
The best live slide guitar is Live at the Fillmore. Mountain Jam was
recorded there, but released on Eat a Peach.
Is there a better slide solo than that in Stormy Monday?
Then there’s Stand Back on Eat a Peach.
Then there’s the rest of the Live at the Fillmore.
More slide is The White Stripes. I first saw them on Craig
Kilborn. The drummer played like – if you had a sister, and taught
her drums for a week – there would be that drummer.
Then they had The White Stripes on Conan O’Brien for a whole
week. I was still non plussed, as I hardly saw any of it.
Then I saw them play on an awards show. Boy did that slide
player kick ass!!
I say this, because tonight (Dec 1) they played on Jon Stewart’s
show. His sister drummer sounded like your sister who has been
playing for a year now.
But, I’m saying, picking your favorite song is like picking your
favorite movie (just about).
Or like picking your favorite Beatles song (I like to say it’s usually
the last song you heard!)
Or like the movie – once you surf on the TV there, you HAVE to
watch.
There are my favorite things, like, the drums in Born to be Wild -
in that break – it’s so simple – snare cymbals snare cymbals snare!
But, oh, so good.
You know what I mean?
I just wanted to vent tonight.
Do you get my drift?
Okay, I sobered up and took the dog for a walk.
I recall while riding in the car – one of the best songs ever is
Boston’s Long Time.
Although the subject matter seems bitter sweet, like Runnin’
on Empty – the guitar soloing is wonderously singing.
Long Time has that good feeling – after the opening chord
vollying, I always hit the steering wheel anticipating the pulsating
bass of the beginning of song’s body. And those held chords
suspended.
Power.
That song is a celebration of life.
The first time I thought I understood what a musician was doing
was as Sally was bringing the tea downstairs – I listened to the
drummer “falling over” the drums at the end of Devil’s Bite.
It’s sort of like the end of Slut (Something/Anything) when Todd
says, “Whew!”
Or like near the end of the guitar solo in I Think You Know (The
Todd album) – where the notes fall off into emotion.
Strong stuff.
Or how about the closing guitar solo on The Last Ride (from the
same album). When you think about Rundgren or David Gilmore,
a blues guitarist is not the first thing that comes to mind – but they
play some of the best blues stuff I’ve ever heard. Think about it:
listen to the solos in those “pop” tunes Money and Time.
That’s blues, my friend!
Whew!

I hope this can be my last input on this situation (though
books are written about it!) I was driving home tonight and
White Room came on. There’s another one. The feedback
while they’re holding those chords. And then, after the very
last one – the closing guitar solo starts. That part used to
always give me chills (I think I’ve overpsyched myself out
about the whole thing)
It’s sort of like the guitar part in Whole Lotta Love. My girl
friend’s daughter said “I love that guitar!” (who doesn’t)
Jimmy Page says it’s one of the only riffs he’d worked out
beforehand – otherwise, he improvises – as did Frank
Zappa – and I like to do that too. It’s nice having stuff
written and worked out – but there’s nothing like improvising.
The thing about recording is – you can always do it over.
And when those magic moments DO happen – you’ve got
it on tape!
Or how about the guitar solo in Aqualung? A Gibson SG
singing – and on some notes – the feedback threatening
to take over – oh, so tasty!