The NAMM show 2008 de-brief
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Well, I'm back from the NAMM show in Anaheim, and it was a blast! For those of you who have never attended a NAMM show, it's INSANE. The doors open at 10:00am and close at 6:00pm, and there are three floors in the Anaheim Convention Center that are covered in the latest music gear, software, services, equipment — you name it. It's an invitation-only trade show, and it's CRAZINESS, and I was guest of the guitar company that endorses me, Minarik Guitars, so I was really enthusiastic to attend. I'm a gear-head anyway  !I knocked myself out looking at everything, trying out new gear, talking to all sorts of creative new vendors, and making new friends. I'm very proud to say that after the weekend, I have a couple of new endorsement deals in the works, and I'll announce them when all the details are finalized. Some NAMM highlights included: - Playing with Sheena Metal's Beer Bong at a Minarik Guitar sponsored show at Fender's, a club that's named after — yup, you guessed it — the guitar, whose maker is from the Fullerton/ Anaheim area. I play th character of "Ivana Rock" in that band, which is a satirical 80's theatrical rock project, and I play keyboards. It's a HOOT!! THANKS to Minarik Guitars — Marc, Nicole, and Bill — for attending and having us at the showcase! - At Fender's, I met up with my talented buddy Raymond Hayden, who is also a fellow artist on Maurice The Fish Records, and it was terrific to see him, as he lives up in the Seattle area. So THAT was cool! I had a ton of runny |
he probably didn't care too much. I also hung out with my pal Amy and her (and now my) buddy Dan, which was nice,
as Amy lives in Arizona but was in own for work — she's a professional sound person. I drank a LOT of Guiness, which
is HELL on the waistline but a lot of fun in the moment, and Fender's was a great time all around.
- I was asked to play and sing at the DeMars Guitars booth, and that was a treat! Dan DeMars makes some GREAT
hand-crafted guitars that sound like a MILLION bucks, and all the guys at the booth were so much fun, especially Dan
and Gino, a fellow Italiano who reminded me a TON of a much younger version of my grandpa Louie, rest his soul. Dan
and Gino us out to dinner two nights, and we had great fun at Buca Di Beppo and a place called Azteca, which is the
ONLY Elvis-themed mexican restaurant in Cali. Their food was outstanding, by the way, and the collection of Elvis
memorabilia was out of control.
- Our hotel was just outside of Disneyland, and every night at 9:25, the Disney fireworks show would blast off. We
were directly under the fireworks, as it turned out, so we were treated to 20 minutes of GORGEOUS fireworks every
night. For those who have never been to Disneyland, they shoot off fireworks nightly, as part of their parade and exit
show.
...that's mostly the highlights. Like I said, I'll let you guys know when the endorsements are finalized, as they are
TREMENDOUS pieces of equipment that I really believe in. I don't believe in taking on an endorsement deal unless I
actually USE the gear I'm endorsing
. That's all the news that's fit to print for now — now I have to go answer some e-mail. So I'll talk to you guys later
! 
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