Top 10 Favorite Bands/Artists and a song from each...(Part 1)

My 10 favorite bands/artists is probably not an easy list to make but eh, I will give it a shot! I've got so many influences from all around the world of music. Here goes...In NO particular order, my favorite bands/artists and my favorite songs from them are....

1. Hootie and the Blowfish - not Darius Rucker's reincarnated country crap either...the REAL DEAL. When he was authentic. When the songs meant something and singing and playing was about having a great time with friends and entertaining people with meaningful songs and great lyrics.

Favorite Song: Not Even The Trees

2. Lynyrd Skynyrd - One of the first bands that I can remember listening to in the living room with my father. I vividly remember thumbing through a huge stack of vinyl records just to wish I could have been alive back then.

Favorite Song : Mr Banker

3. Our Lady Peace - The perfect mix of incredible musicianship, melody, and songwriting. Not even going to lie...I was late to this party but once I started listening, I couldn't get enough! I really LOVE the early records but even the newer stuff has the same characteristics of OLP that made them awesome.

Favorite Song : 4am

4. John Mayer - Yes, I'm one of those people. How can you not be? He is one of those musical/lyrical geniuses that is so beyond anyone else that he seems( and often is) extremely quirky. Incredible songwriter. Incredible guitar player.

Favorite Song : 3x5

5. Dave Matthews Band - I am also "one of those" people...When I was in middle school and high school it was the "cool thing" to like Dave Matthews Band, mainly because it was just different and fun. I, like many other musicians, listened because of the amazing musicianship behind the songs. Quirky? YES. Genius? YES. A lot of my playing style comes from trying to emulate his songs. Neat little fact...I named my son after the GREAT Carter Beauford...so fun to watch!

Favorite Song : Repunzel

6. Gov't Mule - What can I say? Just an unbelievable band with southern rock/jazz roots. Music for musicians. Warren Haynes has the most incredible tone of any guitar player in the world.

Favorite Song : Thorazine Shuffle

7. The Beatles - I got nothin...You know why they made my list. Because they started it all. The harmonies, the songwriting, the evolution of a band...they had it all.

Favorite Song : Penny Lane

8. Better Than Ezra : Mid 90's rock is perfect to me...I could list a million different groups that embodied everything that I love in music from this era, but Better Than Ezra is top of that list for me. Melodic vocals, rocking guitar licks, groove, and lyrics. I truly believe that ROCK MUSIC died at the end of the 90's. When POPular music was ROCK,  the world was a better place...How we went from good songwriting and skilled musicians to Justin - friggen - Bieber is beyond me...It's a tragedy.

Favorite Song :  Desperately Wanting

9. U2 - Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr have that thing that makes music so awesome. Separate, they are "ok" at best on their instruments...Together, they have and will continue to rule the world.

Favorite Song : Where the Streets Have No Names

10. Steve Earle - The song "Snake Oil" from the Copperhead Road album is the single reason that I learned to play the guitar. Steve Earle is my overall favorite songwriter. I don't know what it is really other than the fact that he is just REAL. He has struggled with addiction and you can feel the pain in his voice and read it in the lyrics.

Favorite Song : Billy Austin

There are SO MANY more...maybe a second list is coming in the future...probably will. Click the links and enjoy some great tunes!!!

-Josh