Anybody remember the first Adam And The Antz album, Dirk Wears White Socks? There is a song on there titled "Digital Tenderness", and that springs to mind when I think about the NAMM show this year. From the Gibson booth (with the new Digital Les Paul) through to the Digidesign and Emagic booths, it was all digital tenderness this year. Everyone is embracing the magic of zeros and ones and building amazing technology - stuff we couldn't have dreamed of 10 years ago. I witnessed a singer, singing through a pedalboard mounted at his feet, and listening to a perfect four part harmony of his voice - from a fucking pedal! Jesus, the days of making albums on a four track tape deck are way gone!

It was a blast this year - I spent a long time in the Gibson booth - did some pics with the Digital Les Paul and the new faded tobacco finish Les Paul Standard. I also spoke at length with the guy who is heading up the development team on the digi LP and we spoke about my experiences so far with the guitar. Everyone was really nice and friendly and I got to play a bunch of beautiful instruments. Thanks to everyone at Gibson.

I wandered around with Jon (Clayden, singer with Doheny) and we hit up Tascam, Tech 21, Audio Technica, Bias, Motu, Digidesign, and Mesa Boogie - we really did the rounds. Eventually, it was so full of people, all with a kind of dazed, empty look in their eyes, that we decided it was time to leave. Armed with the obligatory stack of free music magazines, we made our exit and fled into the early evening Anaheim sunset. Blissful insanity!

Doheny also finished recording a song with Guns N Roses producer, Mike Clink this week. It's an acoustic song called "Dust", and the whole vibe recording with Mike was just awesome. He is a man who has seen his fair share of platinum records, and he definitely knows how to get a band to sound good.

Next week, the other band, Camp Freddy, plays a Tsunami Benefit show at The Key Club in Los Angeles on Thursday 27th January. If you live in L.A. you should come and check the show out. Lots of guests, lots of rock 'n' roll and lots of guitars! And it's for a good cause.

That's it from me right now - need to go and stare at the TV for about three days to get over the NAMM madness. It really does take it out of you! Back soon, people.

Peace.

Billy