Guitarist Frank Simes, pictured with Don on the left, is a seasoned musician who’s been around the block and back when it comes to being able to step in, tune in and blend in with the likes of some of rock and pop’s biggest names.

In this month’s issue of Premier Guitar, he recently teamed up with seven sought-after sidemen to shed some light on the job of playing and performing on the edge of the spotlight.

Update! Part 2 now online (11/12/2010)
Image: C. Clingan

Would you buy a vintage mandolin from a Banana? How about one from a multi-instrumentalist and original member of an American band responsible for generations “Get(ting) Together?”

If you answered yes to either of the above, then read no further and head over to Players Vintage Instruments to place your order.

If you want to be sure where your heading before you click, rest assured it’s to Lowell Levinger, a.k.a. Banana, known for his association with the seminal folk band “The Youngbloods.” The group, fronted by singer/songwriter Jesse Colin Young, scored playlist favorites with “Get Together,” “Sunlight” and “Darkness, Darkness” between 1967-69. If you still don’t recall Banana, play the accompanying video and just look for the hair.

The Kingston Trio has always been cool. For instance, those guys have the most optimistic album title in recording history: “The Kingston Trio – The First 50 Years.” They’ve got their own iPhone app and a Fantasy Camp. They recently dusted off an antique reel-to-reel rehearsal tape “Above the Purple Onion”, gave it a remastering hosedown and plan to send it off in about three weeks. Look for it and more music at the Kingston Trio Store. . . . . . . More Larry luv. Mr. 335 is currently bouncing all over the globe playing a gazillion weeks’ worth of shows at various festivals and venues. The man is an airline frequent-flyer mileage program monster. Thought we saw a stop at the North Pole in his “Round the World in 80 Days Tour” on larrycarlton.com but we could be mistaken . . . . . .

Regular site visitors know Larry Carlton is a card-carrying member in our circle of top second favorite guitarists.

Why is that? 1) go back and listen carefully to your Steely Dan “Royal Scam” album, 2) make every effort to get to a live Larry show and see for yourself how much fun a guy playing guitar can have, and 3) grab his newest album, Take Your Pick, a collaboration with Japan’s premier guitar player Tak Matsumoto. That should answer the question as to why we’re hooked on Mr. 335.

Extra credit: Read more about Larry in the latest Gibson Interview.

Can somebody out there please explain to us why we see artists like John Mayer showing up more often than Steve Hackett in those so-called “All-Time Greatest Guitarists” rankings regurgitated by guitar magazines, instrument manufacturers and pop music critics? We’re a lot closer to solving the ancient riddle of the Sphinx than figuring out that one.

Hackett’s guitar was “instrumental” in solidifying Genesis’ progressive live sound during the early and mid 70′s. After leaving the band in 1977, he has since enjoyed success as a solo artist or as a collaborator, charting his own waters a safe enough distance from the music business “assembly line.”

In March of this year, Steve Hackett was inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the legacy members of Genesis. His newest work, Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth will be released in the U.S. on June 8th.

More about Steve at www.hackettsongs.com

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