Musings
Articles and thoughts from the mind of Deke
A Day with the Great Johnny Knight
Had a wonderful day with the great Johnny Knight, his wife, Joanne, and his son Mark. These are some of my favorite people in the world—the nicest ever!
Baz Luhrmann’s ELVIS Movie
Here are my thoughts on this ambitious, expensive-looking movie.
RIP Charles Music in Glendale
Charles Music is going out of business, after many decades. Sad to see this place go, sad to see any music store go out of business. I also see right down the street the classic old “Virgil’s Hardware Home Center” just went out of business, as well.
Junior Barnard’s and Jimmie Widener’s Epiphone Emperors
I never get to do rhythm guitar gigs, so of course I started thinking about what guitar to bring to the Western Swingout in Tehachapi. Then I realized this would be a perfect opportunity to take out my two original Bob Wills guitars. I never take them out to shows, but this seemed like a good excuse.
Stein on Vine and Professional Drum Shop
After doing a bunch of recording sessions the last six months, I realized I hadn’t properly serviced my 1939 Kay upright bass or my late-1950s Gretsch drum kit in more than 35 years.
Eurotrip Postmortem
The travel was a nightmare this last weekend, but the shows were a blast.
All-Star Charlie Feathers Benefit in Memphis, 1988
These photos just surfaced of a benefit for Charlie Feathers with a lineup that still seems impossible. And I was there! Jerry Lee Lewis, Charlie Rich, the Sun Rhythm Section (featuring Sonny Burgess, Paul Burlison, D.J. Fontana, Smoochy Smith, Marcus Van Story, and Stan Kesler), Mack Vickery, Barbara Pittman, Tex Rubinowitz, Dave Travis, Bubba Feathers, and Charlie Feathers hisself!
Day Two in Floyd County
Day two in Floyd County—Aunt Betty, Evelyn and I drove over to where my mom grew up in Willis, Virginia. Her family had a sixty-acre spread that originally had a big farmhouse with lots of outbuildings.
Roe v. Wade
The dog has finally caught the car it has been chasing all these years. After decades of planning to take over the Supreme Court, Republicans have finally got what they vowed to do: they have overturned Roe v. Wade.
The Rare 1958 25L8 Standel Amplifier
Pulled this sucker out to play rhythm guitar with Kyle Eldridge this weekend. I sort of forget what a darn good amp this one is. It’s an odd one, even if you’re all versed up on tube Standel amplifiers.