Andy James's NAMM Report

It was my first time back in America since I was 8 years old and a visit to L.A was in mind for the famous Namm show 2007 in Anaheim, California. There was a lot of expectation from my point of view , as I had been told so much about this event I thought I’d see it for myself.

The first day we arrived at Namm we had to sort out registration. The security at the venue (Anaheim Convention Centre) was very tight and you had to prove down to the last nats hair who you were. I already had tickets sorted as a distributor, but no photo I’d. So after hanging around a while, I was informed I would need photo I’d in the form of a passport/driving license. Luckily the hotel was only 5 minutes walk away, so that wasn’t too bad. I finally returned to pick up my tickets at the front desk and all was O.K.

Now we are entering the actual show and it’s huge. There is everything at this show. Not only guitars and amps, but woodwind instruments, pianos, keyboards, lighting rigs, drum shops. Even a stand dedicated to purchasing gaffer tape and gloves and nothing else.

One of the first stops we made was to the Peavey stand. Surprisingly enough, there were not as many demo performances as you might think at an event like this. Compared to the noise of the London Guitar show or even Birmingham Music Live, Namm seemed a lot quieter in comparison (still some terrible licks floating about in the ether though, you can’t escape that). At the Peavey stand there were performances noted on the board from the likes of Marc Rizzo (soul fly) and Alessandro Benvenuti. I had met Marc at the Birmingham show 06 and we had a chat, exchanged cd’s, that kind of thing. He’s is a really cool guy and in my opinion, one of the scariest pickers I’ve ever seen. Awesome player. Alessandro is a great player that I’ve met previously through his forum on his website www.alessandrobenvenuti.com. He is a more fusion based player and has had the pleasure of sharing a stage with Greg Howe. In the audience of his performance later that day was Prashant Aswani, former student of Greg Howe and fusion artist in his own right. Unfortunately he was not down to play anywhere at the show (as far as I know).

For the first day, they were the only 2 performances that we saw. The rest of the time was just wandering about looking at every guitar and amp manufacturer’s stand seeing what was about. Rob Balducci and Guthrie Govan were also at the Cornford stand. We had a brief chat with Guthrie who seemed more concerned with when Cornford would let him go so he could get pissed in the Hollywood Hills (his words). We never got to talk to Rob, but I got a picture.

The next day was far more a celebrity day. The first day, as well as checking performances throughout the show, we also found out signing times and celebrity guest spots. First off we came across a huge cue at the Carvin Stand. I wonder who this could be? Yeah you guessed it – Mr. Vai made an appearance for Carvin.

Everybody was waiting patiently for his appearance; I had secured a place at the top of the Yamaha stand above the crowd as to get a good shot. Finally Vai appeared from what seemed out of nowhere and waved to everybody in true rockstar fashion. No sooner had he got there, he suddenly dashed off in the direction of the toilet. Can you imagine how weird that would be to be standing there going for a piss and Steve Vai rolls up next to you. What would you say while trying to avoid to pissing yourself uncontrollably (probably nothing!)?

Anyway, he returned and carried out the signing. We got a few pictures of that. The next stop was the Peavey stand as Joe Satriani had a press conference. We were waiting inside the Peavey booth where all the performances for Peavey took place and also the press conference. Soon after we had entered to try and get a good spot, a guy came in and asked all non press to leave. I thought I could get away with looking like press just with my dodgy looking digital home camera next to all the huge lenses. They weren’t having it, so we had to witness Joe entering and that’s about it. Later we got some cool shots of Satch witnessing a 9 year old kid serenade him with that surfing classic Always with me, always with you. Hench that’s why he’s is clapping in the photo’s.

There were other people we saw on the way to these signings such as Chris Broderick (Jag Panzer), Herman Li and Sam Totman (Dragonforce)and Rudy Sarzo. As we were waiting for the next signing (Paul Gilbert, oh yes!!) we bumped into Mark Tremonti from Alter Bridge. He was waiting outside the PRS stand 15 mins before his signing so we took the opportunity to get a few snaps (don’t know who that dodgy bird with him is though! Only joking, that’s my girlfriend). Also Kerry King was signing over at the Marshall stand. Ritchie Kotzen was over at the Coffin Case stand having a few pictures taken and just generally being a rockstar (hang on, Ritchie’s after somebody else’s wife again!!). The time had come for Paul Gilbert’s signing and he came out with the guys from Dragonforce dressed in a tracksuit. Paul Gilbert is always such a nice guy and was very welcoming to his fans queing for his signature and photo.

After that we headed off to the Dean Guitar stand where there were signings by Rusty Cooley and Michael Angelo Batio. It was really good to meet Rusty, this guy has one of the most frighteningly fast techniques going and a really cool guy with it. We got a good photo together. He makes me look huge!!!. The other bizarre thing was that as we got talking he had actually heard of me which kind of blew me away that someone like that, in America, had heard of me. The wonders of the internet these days. I also took some really cool photos of Rusty’ new signature Dean. It’s a beast and looks and plays really well. Also Michael Angelo was signing. We took a great photo of his quadruple neck dean.

Other signings that day consisted of Tony Macalpine, Bunny Brunnel, Dave Mustaine and Allan Holdsworth. We were so tired after that day. We went for dinner and then to the PRS party where there were performances form Mark Tremonti and Myles Kennedy from Alter Bridge, Bernie Marsden and Paul Reed Smith himself. It was a good night. The next day was much like the first. Just looking to see what else we had not seen. This would be our last day for photo’s so we headed over to more signings. That day there were signing’s by Dream Theater’s Mike Portnoy, Joe Satriani, Paul Grey (slipknot) and several more.

Performances were staged by Gary Hoey and Doug Wimbish, neither of which we managed to see as we were knackered from queing and the Jet Lag was kicking in big style. Other performances that we missed were Yngwie Malmsteen at the Fender stand and Greg Howe at Tone Merchants. Guthrie was also due to play there as well, but not knowing where we were very well, trying to find this place may have proved to have been difficult.

That night was one of the highlights of the whole trip. We had sat down to have dinner in the Marriot, which is just right outside the convention centre, to the announcement that Johnny Highland was to perform a set in the hotel lobby. I quickly gulped my food down and got a good spot for what was the performance (guitar wise) of the whole trip. Johnny’s mixture of styles made for a truly exciting set from one of guitars rising stars. Also that night was one of the most entertaining things I have ever seen. Johnny Rabb and the amazing ten finger orchestra. Ten finger orchestra is one guy who plays four instruments at once. Bass, guitar, vocals and drums. Teamed with Johnny Rabb who was voted fastest drummer in 2000. This was an experimental, jungle music treat and introduction to a style of music I wasn’t aware existed!

The next day was our flight home with some good memories of the last few days. I one day hope to return to this event with guitar in hand to do some playing of my own in the future. Watch this space!!!!!