20 Aug 2010

I Found You" by Brian Ray - @brianrayguitar - Official Song of the #140Conf Road Trip

Driving 8 days through 11 States through the Midwest during the #140Conf Road Trip means lots of road time and great music.

From his newly released "This Way Up" album, Brian Ray's "I Found You," is the official song of the #140Conf Roadtrip.  As of this posting, Brian is wrapping up an extensive European and U.S. tour as a member of  Paul McCartney's band.

Cruising in a Buick Enclave with and capturing #140KodakMoments (GM/Buick & Kodak are among our sponsors) along the way, I hope that the words and vibe of "I Found You," will be the catalyst for finding new voices, sharing great stories of social change, and connecting with new communities along the way.

Jeff Pulver, Mo Krochmal,  and I look forward to meeting and finding YOU at one of our upcoming TweetUps!

 

11 Aug 2010

Review: Brian Ray Breaks Through with #ThisWayUpAlbum - @brianrayguitar

Brian Ray is an artful master at writing, creating, and producing timeless music, not only for himself, but for others. 

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Having followed his music for the last year, and watching him as part of Paul McCartney's touring band, it's important to buy This Way Up,  not only because of its great work, but equally because it's very much a work of musical history. Woven into the fabric of this collection represents 40+ years of collaborating with musical masters that are listed in Brian's Wikipedia profile.

Check out his site, and follow him on twitter - @brianrayguitar, and his Google profile.  Once you do this,  you can start connecting the dots of someone who's been part of rock and popular music, culture, and history. 

While the variety of artists and musical styles that he as worked with may vary, you can gain a unique insight into Brian's extraordinary talent through the medium of photography. You'll often see him holding and referring to his iconic Gibson Les Paul Jr.   Of all the instruments, amps, pedals, gizmos and gadgets he may have in his tool chest, the basics of the Les Paul Jr. clues you into a sense of style and something memorable that is gives Brian Ray his musical voice. 

Brian Ray's This Way Up brings forth that sense of familiarity; one that is very deeply embedded from Brian's legacy and his unique and rock'n DNA.    

Give This Way Up a listen on headphones to hear the superior production.  Try it again on your home stereo system.  Then, get on a highway and listen in your car.  During each listening environment, try the following:  Follow only the drums.  Play again and only follow the bass guitar.  Repeat on certain songs and listen to the mastery of the piano and organ.  One more time and pay special attention to the rhythm and lead riffs.  And finally tune into Brian's voice.   

It's important to not only listen to, but study Brian Ray's music. When you do, you'll wind up saying to yourself - "I've heard this before...." 

The reason you've "heard this before," is because in many cases, Brian has been the under current sound, tone, and vibe, supporting or writing for many musical greats.  

This Way Up is, if you will, up-lifting, and appropriately named.

Highly Recommended.  Alan recommends you crank it up a bit.

28 Jul 2010

@KLRN @PBS Shout out for @PaulMcCartney White House In Performance - Interview with @katrinakehoe

Tonight's PBS is broadcasting the "In Performance At The White House," featuring Paul McCartney and his amazing band. It will be broadcast on PBS affiliates around the U.S. and in my own local market where I live in San Antonio on KLRN.

Last month, I was able to take part in KLRN's Blazing Gavels Auction by playing the role of being a social broadcaster, where members of the social media community could help raise local and national awareness for a wonderful station like PBS.

As KLRN's Director of Public Relations, Katrina Kehoe, points out, KRLN brings wonderful national programming and keeps things very local as well. And with music, the arts, and culture being very much a part of our local cultural, the social web is giving local viewers a voice and a way to take part in and support KLRN.

Two of McCartney's band members, Brian Ray and Rusty Anderson, have given guitar clinics at Richard Turner's Redbone Guitar Boutique, which is in itself is a becoming a cultural mecca for guitar players and musicians from around the world who visit and shop in our city. Richard also has the longest lasting Beatles only radio show on San Antonio College Radio Station, KSYM - 90.1. Next year, Richard will celebrate being with his show for 25 years. And this week, McCartney band member, Brian Ray, just did a pre-release of an awesome album, "This Way Up," which I've been rocking out on since Monday.

Thank you KLRN; you Katrina; and thank you Richard for providing our community with all you do. And thank you Sir Paul for enriching our lives with the wonderful music and you've brought us through the Beatles, your solo work and your current band.  

Tune in. Turn it up really loud.

Watch it tonight - 8:00 PM (rebroadcast again at 9:30 PM) CST. Check your local listings in your PBS affiliate market.

3 Jul 2010

Redbone's Greg Norris iPad Shout Out to @brianrayguitar RE: Two New Singles on July 6 #ThisWayUpAlbum

This video was shot on an iPhone4, supported by using Keynote for the iPad to send this message through the ether.

My buddy and bass guitar teacher / player extraordinaire at Redbone Guitar Boutique, Greg Norris, is also a huge fan of Brian Ray & the crew and will be headed to see the band perform in Denver on July 16.

If you Tweet Up Brian, please be sure to use #ThisWayUpAlbum in your tweets to show your support of the new release of his two singles on Tuesday, July 6.

Thanks!

3 Jul 2010

Iconic Rocker, Brian Ray, - @brianrayguitar - Releases Solo Singles from Upcoming Album #ThisWayUpAlbum; Ray Balances Touring the World with @paulmccartney and Making a Bold Musical Statement with Wild Guitars and Big Hooks.

There’s a huge fireworks show that’s about to explode big time.

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Award winning songwriter, singer and musician Brian Ray, best known as the ultimate sideman guitarist and bassist for Paul McCartney, takes a step out front in the spotlight and releases two songs from his upcoming solo album This Way Up. 

Brian has been a songwriter and in-demand recording and touring musician for acts like Etta James, Smokey Robinson, Rod Stewart, Kelly Clarkson, and Chris Cornell to name a few, but for nearly a decade Brian Ray has been touring the world’s most iconic venues and stadiums with Paul McCartney.  

Brian’s a terrific rock and roller who engages with his fans on Twitter and Facebook.  He also writes from the heart and posts great back stage content and insights on his blog from when he is on the road.

And speaking of being on the road, Brian's recently done 2 nights in Mexico City, played at the White House for The President and First Family, the Isle of Wright Festival, Hard Rock Calling and many other way cool venues during the current Up and Coming Tour.

On Tuesday, July 6, The Icon Music Group will be releasing world-wide the Brian Ray advance solo singles “I Found You” and “Happy Ending” wherever digital music is sold.  The album is slated for release later this summer. “I Found You” was written by Brian Ray and Oliver Leiber (son of Jerry Leiber of Leiber & Stoller). “It’s a rambunctious song, an expression from the best part of me, looking in every possible place for the love and peace we all want…and finding it right before my eyes, where I least expected it!”

You can read the details here in the press release from his Icon Music Grouphere.  

Brian Ray’s advance solo singles will be available Tuesday, July 6th, at iTunesAmazon.comBrianRay.com, and wherever digital downloads are sold.

Highly Recommended.

Turn it up LOUD.

 

 

 

19 May 2010

#Breaking - @PaulMcCartney rehearsal video from UK #UpAndComingTour

19 May 2010

Redbone Guitar Boutique Invites Friends & Fans to Drop By and Join in With Paul McCartney on Ustream | Thursday May 20 - 11 AM CST - #paulmccartneylive

Richard Turner, owner of Redbone Guitar Boutique cordially invites all customers, friends and fans of the store in the San Antonio / South Texas area to join in with a live Ustream broadcast, where Paul McCartney will holding a live chat with fans from all over the world.  Be sure to use #paulmccartneylive if you are tweeting it up.

Redbone is at 4343 McCollough, San Antonio, 78212.

If you can't join us in person, log on to Paul's Ustream channel www.ustream.tv/paulmccartney.

Try to arrive about 10:45 AM if you can.

See you on there!

23 Jan 2010

"I Want to Go Home" By @paulmccartney - This is a beautiful song; have a listen

This is just a very beautiful song.

Take a break, have a watch and a listen.

Enjoy

4 Nov 2009

Paul McCartney and his amazing band video- live at CitiFied - sneak preview of his new album / DVD

Having had the opportunity to see @PaulMcCartney in Dallas and his amazing band which includes @brianrayguitar was an experience I will never forget.

Here's something I just found on the McCartney site from his CitiField performance.  You can order direct from Sir Paul here or on Amazon.

27 Oct 2009

I just pre-ordered Amazon.com: Good Evening New York City [2 CD/1 DVD Combo]: #PaulMcCartney

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November 17, Paul McCartney releases his combo CD/DVD set of his performance at CitiField. I was at the concert in Dallas, and all I can say is that it was an event I will never forget. Here was my review from an earlier post.

Worth following: rayguitar">@brianrayguitar. Brian is Paul's rhythm and bass player (when Paul is on piano) and has a new CD coming out soon - This Way Up.

Contributors

Alan Weinkrantz