Once again, writer George A. Paul, writer-photographer Robert Kinsler and photographer Bob Steshetz attended the NAMM Show (National Association of Music Merchants), which was held at the Anaheim Convention Center, Jan. 25-28 (not to mention several media events on Jan. 24).
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| Photo credit: Bob Steshetz |
Media Day (Wednesday, Jan. 24) by Robert Kinsler
C.F. Martin & Co. held a special event to showcase a number of new acoustic guitar and ukulele models, building on the company's legendary lineup of instruments.
Regarding the high-profile role of A.I. (artificial intelligence) in 2024, Martin Guitars' Chris Martin, executive chairman, noted: "We do not have any self-playing guitars. But we do have artists who play guitars."
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| Hunter Hayes Photo credit: Bob Steshetz |
Among the models showcased for the first time is the all-new GPCE Inception Maple. Martin noted the development of the guitar also features the fact that the instrument is made of domestic hardwoods (that are easy to regenerate) as opposed to tropical hardwoods from rainforests that are increasingly more rare. Famed country music singer-guitar great Hunter Hayes then performed a song ("Sober") using the Inception guitar (read much more about Hayes via George A. Paul's review of the artist's Jan. 25 performance below).
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| Jay Leonard J at NAMM. Photo credit: Bob Steshetz |
I was particularly impressed by Yamaha's latest versions of their popular Pacifica Guitars (Pacifica Professional and Pacifica Standard Plus electric guitar models). Jay Leonard J (seen in the image on the right) played the great-sounding instrument, which features an alder body, slim C-shape maple neck with compound-radius rosewood or maple fingerboard. It features Reflectone pickups co-developed with Rupert Neve Designs.
Day 1 Report by George A. Paul
On Thursday, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) kicked off Day 1 of The NAMM Show at Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California.
The world’s oldest and largest music trade show draws thousands of music business professionals and others from numerous countries.
This week marks the first time the annual event returned to its traditional calendar spot since 2020. More than 1,600 exhibitors are representing 3,000 brands, with more than 200 educational sessions scheduled. Additionally, there are music industry award shows and dozens of concerts held on various stages inside and outside the ACC as well as the adjacent Marriott and Sheraton stages.
New NAMM President and CEO John Mlynczak - taking over from Joe Lamond, who spent 20 years in the position - presented an “Industry Insights” breakfast time address Thursday which revealed a newly commissioned study on AI innovation; a pledge to continue open communication and collaboration with music industry members; and NAMM NeXT, a summer education/networking summit for the music industry held in Nashville.
“We put on the world’s best products show,” Mlynczak said. “It’s a historic time for our industry” and “an opportunity to grow back stronger…we must work together.” He also reminded people how “NAMM exists to grow this industry.”
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| Mary Spender performing at the 2024 NAMM Show. Photo credit: Bob Steshetz |
Special attention was paid to music influencers. Mlynczak heartily welcomed them to The NAMM Show. Then he brought Reverb.com CEO David Mandelbrot and Elderly Instruments President Lillian Werbin to discuss their successful businesses. Next was English singer/guitarist/music influencer Mary Spender who relayed how she built up her 720,000 YouTube channel subscribers over the years. Learn more about this wonderful artist HERE.
Mlynczak bestowed the 2024 NAMM “Music for Life” award to Mark Ronson. The London native is an esteemed producer, musician and DJ with an Oscar, a Golden Globe, several Grammys and other plaudits to his credit. Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Duran Duran are among those Ronson has worked with.
His 2021 documentary series “Watch the Sound” is still airing on AppleTV+. More recently, Ronson has been nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe for writing a song from the soundtrack to hit film “Barbie” with Andrew Wyatt.
At the Convention Center, Ronson said he was excited to be at NAMM Show for the first time, admitted to being obsessed with music gear and spending much of his teen years in music stores. When Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones became Ronson’s stepfather, visiting fancy studios with “fabulous gear” became the norm. “I loved being around gear and teaching myself how (everything) worked.”
When Mlynczak asked about Ronson’s thought on Artificial Intelligence and its potential effect on the music industry, the artist affirmed his belief in the human power to tell stories like Stevie Wonder and Amy Winehouse have done.
Still, “in the studio, I’ll use any tool available…I have one foot in analog, one foot in digital” sound, Ronson said.
TEC Tracks talks – sessions for recording, live sound and music business professionals – are often insightful. Early Thursday afternoon, “The Art of Mixing” featured mixing engineers Matt Wallace (Faith No More, The Replacements, John Hiatt, Train, Susanna Hoffs) and Mark Everton Gray (The Killers, Katy Perry, Guns ‘N Roses, Joe Bonamassa) with moderator/journalist Steve Baltin.
Wallace said it was “important to be super tuned into what the artist says and read between the lines…people are putting their trust in you.”
He also stated that engineers “have to get out of own egos” and find out “what the artist wants to accomplish.” Gray added “I’m a vessel for the client.”
“It took me two decades to figure out ‘the art of planting seeds’” in the minds of musicians about what you think a song needs,” said Wallace. “It’s like a Jedi Mind Trick. You want to get the best out of the artist.”
Gray, a frequent user of Studio at The Palms in Las Vegas, said, “in the studio, an artist’s creative soul is naked.”
Wallace said he felt engineers should believe in their own instincts. One example cited was his co-production/mixing work on Maroon 5’s multi-platinum 2002 debut album “Songs About Jane.” While the band was away from the studio, Wallace thought some crowd noise would enliven a song and the musicians ended up liking what he did.
Elsewhere, they talked about what happens when engineers need to rescue an album that isn't going well and might not meet a deadline. Wallace also said he tries not to stick with the same genres consecutively because then it’s easy to fall into the pattern of doing things by rote.
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| Hunter Hayes performing at the NAMM Show on Jan. 25, 2024. Photo credit: Robert Kinsler |
During mid-afternoon Fortunately, it wasn’t noisy in that area of the convention center. Hayes prefaced the half-hour set by saying, “I’ve never played in this chaos before.” He tried to get to know some of the audience members by asking where they were from, and whether any musicians were present.
During the mid-afternoon, country singer/guitarist Hunter Hayes did a warm and inviting acoustic performance adjacent to the C.F. Martin & Co. guitars booth.
Hayes, 32, provided some career background – how he’d been writing songs since he was six and signed a recording contract at 19 – and then raved about the Martin “Inception” acoustic guitar and its sustainability (Hayes has worked with the guitar company for a decade).
Opening with the title track to 2019 album “Wild Blue,” he delivered passionate vocals for lyrics about independence and freedom, noting that the entire record touched upon those subjects. Before playing a laid back, John Mayer-esque “Somebody’s Heartbreak” complete with falsetto vocal, the artist explained how he knew it had the makings of being a hit (sure enough, the track went top 10 at country radio in 2012). A jaunty “Missing You,” from last year’s “Red Sky” album, was about nostalgia and California. Hayes talked about the album being inspired by the Topanga Canyon surroundings in L.A. while making it.
After touching upon his Cajun influence as a Louisiana native, Hayes admitted to spending the money received from his initial publishing deal on a Martin guitar he’d long had his eye on. Then, the musician played the upbeat and fun “Storm Warning,” his first top 20 hit on country radio. Finally, Hayes closed with the strident “Sober,” off “Red Sky.” The tune, about “dating in the digital age,” gave the guitarist a chance to jam a bit. He dedicated it to people participating in “Dry January,” a challenge revolving around abstaining from alcohol for a month.
Late Thursday afternoon, 5x Grammy Award-winning producer, engineer, and mixer Chris Lord-Alge (Green Day, Bruce Springsteen, Muse, Cheap Trick, Brian Setzer, P!nk) presented a TEC Tracks Session on “Commanding Your Career.”
The large upstairs convention center room was packed; people even stood against the walls to listen. With a brash and frank talking style, Lord-Alge paced around the floor, and often asked whether attendees had encountered specific problems with past clients.
His dozen “CLA Rules” for being a successful mix engineer included: how to network, communicate professionalism, maintaining rules and defining boundaries, collecting payment, time management, understanding the artist’s vision and more.
Among the notable Lord Alge quotes from the session:
“Whether you’re Harry Styles, Muse or P!nk, you’re gonna pay me.”
“The artist wants to be led – you’re the shepherd…and there to serve the artist.”
At one point, Lord-Alge’s equally successful music engineer brother Tom Lord-Alge appeared at the room entrance and gave him a boisterous shout out – likely typical of New Jersey siblings.
Day 2 Report by Robert Kinsler
On Friday, two highly-anticipated artists made return appearances to the NAMM Show.
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| Alicia Witt with Brian Pruitt at Casio on Friday, Jan. 26. Photo credit: Bob Steshetz |
Early in the day, Casio America, Inc. hosted a performance by singer-songwriter/keyboardist Alicia Witt performing on the company's signature "Harmonious Mustard" PX-S7000 Privia digital piano. Witt impressed me when I caught her at the previous NAMM Show held in April 2023, so I made sure to catch her full set this year. This time around she was joined by percussionist Brian Pruitt whose nuanced playing added additional power to Witt's six-track set.
Witt opened with "Someone To Write Me A Song" off her latest album Witness. A beautiful song, the track showcased Witt's strong talents as a keyboardist, lead vocalist and lyricist. The equally lovely "Chasing Shadows" featured a strong mix of singer-songwriter and melodic stylings. The driving, more rock-flavored "About Me" (featuring a strong jam between Witt and Pruitt to dynamically end the cut), an artful cover of Billy Joel's "She's Always a Woman" and set-ending original "Witness" were among the other highlights of her performance. Learn more about this outstanding artist at her official website HERE.
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| Guitarist Leo Fujii demonstrates the DimensionTripper at Casio. Photo: Robert Kinsler |
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| Lindsey Stirling headlining on the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage. |
Headlining on the Yamaha Grand Plaza Stage was acclaimed violinist-composer-dancer Lindsey Stirling. Backed only by a drummer and keyboardist/guitarist, Stirling's full-length set allowed the artist to perform a wide range of material touching on her singular sound that fused classical, electronica, hip-hop, rock, pop and other styles into a signature sonic brew delivered as she completed intricate choreographed movements with four other dancers. In addition to a moving instrumental cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," she delighted fans with the triumphant "Crystallize," dance-minded "Don't Let This Feeling Fade" and dazzling "Shatter Me," the latter featuring Stirling's virtuoso violin work.
The NAMM Show will return to the Anaheim Convention Center in January 2025. For more information, visit namm.org. Check out the images below for a roundup of a number of great photographs taken by Bob Steshetz at this year's NAMM Show.
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| Garry Gary Beers of INXS with his new G.G.B. bass guitar at The NAMM Show. Information: ggbbasses.com |
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| Cream Guitars made quite a splash with their booth at the NAMM Show. |
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| Singer-songwriter-keyboardist Alicia Witt performing at the Casio booth on Jan. 26. Also pictured with Witt are percussionist Brian Pruitt and her canine pal "Ernest." |
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| Guitar great Henry James playing his "Signature Juliet" guitar at the 2024 NAMM Show. |
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| Bluegrass trio The Chapmans performing with guest banjo great Jens Kruger on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. |
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| Minarik Guitars' "Wizard of Oz" themed guitar was showcased at the company's booth. Information: MinarikGuitars.com |
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| Lindsey Stirling at the NAMM Show. |
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