NAMM is always one of my favorite weekends. It is a time to celebrate music, rock/metal, and the merchandise. It is a great time to be a music fan. Besides the convention, another entity that captures my soul is the concerts. First one to check out is Metal Allegiance at the House of Blues in Anaheim, but the next one that metalheads flock to is at the Observatory in Santa Ana for the NAMM Guitar Fest. This is a show where the best of the best in guitarists showcase their talent to the NAMM crowd. Last year, I did not really feel that well because my heart was not fully into it. This time around, the blood was flowing through my veins like a river of fire. This year, John 5 headlined along with Marty Friedman, Nita Strauss, and Springfield/Kennison. This mecca of guitar legends was what was needed for Rabit and me after our first day at NAMM.
Nikki Stringfield and Patrick Kennison got the evening started for the NAMM Guitar Fest. Promoting their debut EP, Ghost Notes (released the day of the show), the husband-wife duo performed an epic acoustic show. It's awesome to see the Iron Maidens shred master strip down musically, baring her soul with conviction. Kennison is the Ying to Stingfield's Yang with his smokey country rock inspired riffs. The Heaven Below frontman was rough but harmonious with his voice as well. Backed with a sound machine that played the bass & drum licks for each song, they wowed us with tunes like "Where the Demons Lie," "Lunacy," "See Me Die Again," and Iron Maiden's "Aces High." Haunting, simple yet Majestic, everyone at the Observatory felt something special. The horizon looks bright for Springfield and Kennison.
Keeping the night rolling at full steam ahead was Nita Strauss. It is always amazing to see the shredding goddess do her thing when not on the road with Alice Cooper. Armed with her signature Ibanezs', Strauss and her gang got down & dirty with the Santa Ana crowd, starting with "Summer Storm." Each member of the band had an intrigal part that made their night a monstrous success. Rhythm guitarist Johnny D Young was a secret weapon, keeping the metallic sound flowing naturally. Katt Scarlett gave the riffs a classical/rock feel on the keyboards. Strauss' husband, drummer Josh Villalta, was a wrecking machine behind the kit. When Strauss went into "The Wolf You Feed," "Digital Bullets," "Dead Inside," and "Victorious," vocalist Kasey Karlsen stepped out from the shadows and ate us alive with her ferocious & melodic voice. Along with "Our Most Desperate Hour," "Mariana Trench," "Alegria," and "Quest," the night was scorched thanks to the maestro solos. Though her Rams lost the playoffs, Strauss won the hearts of the metal faithful in Santa Ana.
Another guitar god to follow Strauss was the mighty Marty Friedman. This performance would be very different from what was originally to be, for his band was stuck in Japan due to a ridiculous glitch with the Department of US Immigration. Instead of cancelling his night, Friedman soldiered on with backing tracks from his catalog and mustarded a top-notch spectacle of a show. The 62-year-old guitar ninja was swift and just with his Jackson X series. Friedman's style is a stellar fusion of neoclassical, thrash, and progressive metal where the West meets the East. With his platform boots and sleeveless flannel, this was an evening where Friedman was determined to give it his all solo wise. From "Amai Goe" to "Illumination," "Tearful Confessional," "Undertow," and "For a Friend," each tune had a unique quality that resonated with the artist and crowd in different ways. Whether it was sorrow or energetic, it was special. Though the night did not go the way he planned, he gave us his best because that is who Marty Friedman is...the best!
Saving the best for last is a headliner who needs no special intro for he is already special, John 5. The horror-inspired virtuoso, armed with his signature Fender Telecasters, has been keeping busy since officially joining Mötley Crüe. When it comes to NAMM however, this is his time to shine. The great thing about John 5 is that while he is primarily a metal musician, he is a versatile musician who can play pop, rockabilly, country, and straight up rock. There was one point where he brought his banjo for a little fiddle. With his drummer riding high on his kit, the fans were treated to a great array of tunes that included John’s original material and a few covers. As always, John 5 brought his stage screens that showed clips of horror & action flicks, with each clip complimenting his music. From “Six Hundred” to “Que Pasa,” “Crank It,” “Howdy,” “LA Express,” “I Am John 5,” “How High the Moon,” “Strung Out,” “First Victim,” “Black Grass,” “The Ghost,” “Cactus Flower,” and “Season,” John 5 brought us all to cloud 9. Of his covers, he performed his best with Queen’s “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and a medley of guitar classics that honors the falling and still standing guitar heroes. Just like how he smiled over his lit up Telecaster, we all left that night with a sinister smile.
If there was a time needed for guitar heroes to shine, it was that night at the Observatory. I will admit, after walking around NAMM all day, Rabit and I were wiped. However, as soon as I heard the first licks coming from Springfield and Kennison’s acoustics, it put me in the mood. The whole night was exciting. Only wish that Friedman’s band had not been held up in Japan. Other than that, it was a rocking evening. To John 5, Marty Friedman, Nita Strauss, and Springfield/Kennison, I salute you. Horns up!!!
Photos by Matt 'Rabit' Martinez
