Way back at the end of 2000, Matt issued his "Top 10 Guitarists" challenge. Of course, everyone had more then 10, so we did two lists. Tied at #11 on my list were Don Barnes and Jeff Carlisi of .38 Special. As I write this, about one hour after attending their latest concert, they just may move up the list! (Don't worry, boss........you were #9, so they didn't bump you!) .38 Special has always been one of my favorite bands. I remember working three weeks straight teaching myself the chords to "Hold On Loosely."

The band played the annual Spiritfest held at the Liberty Memorial in downtown Kansas City. The concert began at approximately 10:00 p.m. and the band opened, appropriately enough, with "Rockin' Into the Night!" Diminutive front man Donnie Van Zandt, who handles a microphone stand better then anyone this side of Steven Tyler, kept the audience in the show with his antics. The band played many of their hits and even did a great medley of songs they wrote for movies (among them "Paradise" from Revenge of the Nerds II and "Teacher, Teacher" from Teachers). A top moment was Donnie's song, "Rebel to Rebel," a touching tribute to his late brother, Lynyrd Skynyrd leader Ronnie. There must have been some major jam sessions in Jacksonville when the Van Zandt brothers were growing up. The whole damn family has talent. Younger brother Johnnie now fronts Skynyrd and does an admirable job.

With the crowd singing along and dancing to every tune, it was obvious the band was having as much fun as the fans. They closed with an extended version of "Caught Up in You," with Barnes' guitar solo so intense my son just beamed at me and said, a la Adam Sandler, "He's good!" As in previous tours, the band encored with one of my son's favorite songs, "Hold on Loosely." They followed it up with a two-song medley consisting of "Living in the USA" and "Traveling Man." To top off the evening, I got guitar picks from both Barnes and Carlisi. I'm hoping if I put them under my pillow and pray enough I'll be able to channel their power! The band is on an extensive tour this summer. If you've seen them before, see them again. If you haven't..........what in the hell are you waiting for?

CD REVIEW   by Terence Nuzum

Imperial Teen: On Right off the bat, Imperial Teen's latest doesn't exactly give the impression that they are expanding their sound. Instead, they are breaking down their sound even more. Their early albums were indie-pop gems that had a 3-minute pop asthetic, but were highlighted by extended guitar atmospherics. Their surf twang and 60s-by-way-of-the 80s sound is intact, but it seems that their plan all along was to devolve completely into a retro band. Yeah, what I'm getting at is they sound way too much like The Kinks. The first couple of tracks, "Ivanka", "Baby", "Sugar", "Million $ Man", and "Captain", all live up to the retro title but by "Mr & Mrs" they sound like a Belle & Sebastian clone (that's not a good thing, by the way). Guitarists Roddy and Will share vocals on this one, which, of course, doesn't really gel. Sure, Roddy has a whiny Corgan/Marc Bolan voice, but Will Schartz sounds like Staurt Murdoch on sedatives. But all in all, it is a decent listen, for a couple of days anyway. An OK album with way too much filler. It will be good for parties, the car, and impressing the indie-chick who works at your local record store, but that's about all it's good for in a nutshell. It's a shame that Imperial Teen has become a cheesy pick-up line.