Katie’s Beer

Things I did on my summer vacation recovery from surgery - day one.

Today I watched part of Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, held in June 2004. Artists include Eric Clapton, BB King, Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Dan Tyminski, David Hidalgo, James Taylor, Jimmie Vaughn, JJ Cale, Joe Walsh, John McLaughlin, Jonny Lang, Robert Cray, Steve Vai, Vince Gill, ZZ Top and many others. I MUST buy this DVD. I also MUST buy a huge home theatre to watch it in, but that may have to wait a while. Maybe, just maybe, it was the pain meds, but I believe it is the best live concert I’ve ever seen (and not actually been to). Carlos Santana said something very interesting. He said that all guitarists today must somehow come through Eric Clapton and his music. I thought that was a profound statement.

In a wonderful coincidence I just read today the announcement of the next Crossroads benefit. This summer it will be held in Chicago. Oh, so close to me!

Eric Clapton is having a jam session with more than a dozen of his favorite guitar-playing pals, and everyone is invited.

Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, scheduled July 28 in Chicago, will benefit Crossroads Centre, the drug-rehab facility he founded in Antigua a decade ago. Tickets go on sale Saturday.

Scheduled performers include B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Jeff Beck and John Mayer, among others — and Clapton is already excited about spontaneous collaborations.

“Some of it’s mapped and some of it isn’t,” he said Wednesday by phone from Winnipeg, Canada, where he is on tour. “We have to leave a little bit of it to chance.

I have a great idea for Mr. Clapton, though he hasn’t asked for my input. I think that Taylor Hicks would be a great addition to the line up. For those of you who think that Mr. Hicks is just a lounge singer wannabe, there are connections to consider. Taylor Hicks, regarding his latest album, said in a VH1 interview late last fall,

“I opened for Robert Randolph when I was trying to make it [big], and we actually ran into each other not too long ago,” Hicks said. “There is a song on the album that I think he’ll really do well with.”

Although the track list is still being finalized — and Hicks is guarding all the titles closely — he plans to include some songs he’s written over the years. He also plays various instruments throughout the record.

“Interestingly enough, I have a snare credit,” Hicks said, laughing. “Harmonica is my lead instrument, so there will be some harmonica on this album. Guitar, I’m still learning that craft, so I’m going to leave that up to the really good guys.”

Need more proof? Watch this YouTube video ( part one and part two ) of Taylor jamming with Robert Randolph Family Band on June 14, 2006 t the Greek Theater in L.A. before the Black Crowes show.

Yet another connection…Taylor Hicks and John Mayer co-wrote a song together. It was intended to make Taylor’s latest album, but did not make the cut. Taylor has said that he and Mayer have much in common musically and John Mayer posted that comment on his own website.

Anyone care to add their name to this post and I’ll alert Mr. Clapton to the interest in adding Taylor Hicks to the benefit list? Who knows? I got Peter Noone to answer me.

Tags: Music, Taylor Hicks //