And now for something completely different...

http://vimeo.com/69876112?utm_source=email&utm_medium=clip-transcode_complet
 
For anyone who might be interested...or not.  Here's a new video featuring one of my old friends, Richard Leo Johnson.  If you're not acquainted with Richards music (he has quite the cult following) it's sort of like Leo Kotke on acid...and peyote...and cocoa leaves...and pepto bismol.  He's really a unique and interesting guitarist.  This video was done with the collaboration of his record label and Martin guitars.  He's the real deal although I'm not quite sure what the deal is.  But I love him anyways.  Don't feel bad ifn ya caint make it all the way to the end;-)

His "regular" stuff is very complex and intricate...most pieces last at least 5 minutes and some even longer (way longer).  While very musical and rhythmically engaging (Richard, like Tommy Emmanuel uses "all" the guitar) they tend to be well over the head of the average listener.  Many folks come away thinking he's just improvising everything.  But these are all very defined pieces.  It boggles my mind sometimes that he can replay them exactly as before and yet he does.  I'm not sure what else he has on YouTube or such but I'll try to find something that exemplifies most of his stuff and post.  I played acoustic piano on his first album and let me tell you it was a challenge...but a very satisfying one.  Richard and Jane used to live here in LR and just a stones throw from me and we used to have many good times together.  Haven't seen him in years now but I miss him.  He's a genuinely smart and funny guy and a brilliant talent.  Almost too brilliant.
 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FBrJjfXgFY
 
Here's one of his more accessible pieces.

He is definitely an entertaining guy to listen to … but then again, I was a huge fan of the X-Files back in the late 90’s.  The alien guitar (I think the body is just flipped to give the alien head shape) with the LED dots is really wild looking but screams the 1990’s (when the aesthetic was popular).
 
Is that an Ebow twist tied to the strings?  I am assuming that that is not part of the theremin.
 
In any event, I don’t get stoned any more so I probably would not put it on for casual listening but the tones are very cool and would definitely work in a movie soundtrack … or in the break-down of a tune done live (i.e., in a Zeppelinesque arrangement).   

Yup...I was quite tickled by the ebow and the the twist tie.  That's Richard.

> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FBrJjfXgFY
> Here's one of his more accessible pieces.
 
Yes. That is nice stuff. He can play for sure. Nothing wrong I guess in going a little Martian to expand oneself.