So there I was, your humble narrator, trying out for Guitar Center's King of the Blues competition, known in its former years as Guitarmaggedon. You may remember I tried out a year ago and lost the first round. This year was different though, it was made for blues players and not just shredders so I had a shot. The problem was the people I was competing with in this first round were Texas blues men. I mean there was one that ran a blues jam every night at a local club who played like SRV.There was another who runs a school for guitar players who has been playing for over 40 years. There was another who played super fast like Yngwie. Then there was another who had all the SRV licks down and even played the same track that I did. So I was not confident at all. Then when I got up on stage and played disaster started striking. First my hands started clenching and I was not shredding like I had practiced. Then right when I got to the part I practiced super speed I dropped my pick. My face and hands became very sweaty. I remembered that sweat as being from the diuretics that are in my blood pressure medicine. Luckily I was able to play with my fingers as I bent down and grabbed the pick while I was playing. I actually made a good recovery. Then towards the end I did my signature play on the wah pedal and played the guitar behind my head and I actually ended it on perfect time. When I got off stage I was sure I had lost. Then when they announced the 2 winners I was one of them! I couldn't believe it. I guess because I had points in other criteria besides technicality that put me over the top. The old guy who runs the guitar school was the other winner. I got invited to play at a blues jam that night at the Roadhouse so I decided to go. I got up on stage and started sweating again. I also had to keep on catching my pick as it kept on jumping out of my hand. But I played much better that night. One of the guys I beat who runs the jam said "now I understand why you won". So my playing was much better at the jam. Wait till next Tuesday night. I am going to practice holding on to my pick and then they'll see...

Thought of the Day
"And the winner is ... Brian Bass"
"I don't believe it."