PRINCE TOWN DVD HAS ARRIVED!

Prince Town the DVD is now available! My very first documentary project is in the bag and I couldn't be happier. With over 80-minutes of footage, this DVD features color footage from the '30s, front porch interviews, coverage of the 1965 state basketball championship from WRAY and the IHSAA archives and much more! For those who have ever called Princeton, Indiana, home...this is a must-own DVD!

I spent a good part of the fall down in Princeton, pouring over hours and hours of archival footage, shooting new footage from atop the county courthouse and assimilating it all into this video documentary, based on the research of my Uncle Greg Wright (author of Prince Town and More of Prince Town). Produced in 16:9 widescreen, even the home movies from the 40's and 50's look great. There is the 1955 Fair Centennial Parade, construction of the new Gibson County Bank (1964), pictures and video of the square at Christmastime, footage of the 1992 Heinz plant fire and an extensive look back at the Great Tornado of 1925. Anyone who is interested in a copy of Prince Town the DVD can contact me directly.

Noles Bowl

It's practically an annual tradition, FSU's football team going to a bowl game, but after a few meager seasons in the twilight of Bobby Bowden's career, I no longer take the invitations for granted. Last Sunday, the Noles, now under the leadership of Jimbo Fisher, were invited to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl where they will face South Carolina, led by former Florida head coach Steve Spurrier...a familiar nemesis to be certain.

It looks to be a great game pitting the 19th and 23rd ranked teams in the nation, each runners-up in their conference championship. Spurrier always brings a high-flying offense to the field, and Fisher will place a Charlie Ward-like quarterback at the helm. I'm talking, of course, about the red-shirt sophomore E.J. Manuel who is a dual threat. He went toe-to-toe with Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor in the ACC Championship Game and held his own against the ACC's Player of the Year, posting almost 300 yards of passing offense and 33 points on the board. Not too shabby for a guy that's only started a few games. But he's no stranger to the bright lights of the college bowl season, as he started in last year's Gator Bowl for the Noles and was named game MVP. I'm hopeful he'll be as impressive in this year's Chick-Fil-A Bowl.

During the news conference last Sunday, Jimbo Fisher was successful in convincing the Chick-Fil-A mascot to do the tomahawk chop (see pic below).

In a word...WECKL!

No matter how hard I look, I cannot find anyone more precise, yet more fluid on the drumkit than Dave Weckl. I LOVE this guy's drumming!

Had I discovered Weckl earlier in life, I would be able to say he is the undisputed number one in my book. As it is, I grew up idolizing Neil Peart, so Dave is like number 1-B...but I think even Neil would bow to Weckl's percussive prowess. In fact, he basically does on the Burning for Buddy Tribute DVD. Still, Neil is tops. And if I had to categorize my faves, I'd put him at the top of my rock drummers list and Dave at the top of jazz/fusion drummers. For more on my favorite drummers, see this blog post from April 2009.

Hope you enjoy the short clip, above, of Dave showing off his chops!

This is 8 minutes of pure percussive mayhem!!!

I first took notice of this drummer while listening to Army of Anyone's debut (and only) release. On the hit single "Goodbye," Luzier breaks into a mini-solo during the last minute of the song. His fills mezmerized me. To this day, I cannot duplicate a couple of them.

Anyway, on the above video he starts out with the mini-solo from "Goodbye," then breaks into flurry of pedal and stick fills that will blow your mind! After which, he shows off his chops by playing the rims of his toms, leading back into another flurry of fills...I couldn't tell you what notes, exactly--maybe 64ths?--as he is going too freaking fast. I think he is my new fave!