Dallas International Guitar Festival @ Market Hall

Photos by Duane Clawson, words by Scott

Attending the Dallas International Guitar Festival was definitely a first for me. I honestly did not know what to expect but I had a pretty good idea. Walking the indoor streets of Market Hall with my newly acquired contributor and photographer, Duane Clawson, it was clear to see that if you like, love, or even hate guitars, this was the place to be. From guitars that resemble the State of Texas, brand new out of the box axes, and the rarest of the rare that cost upwards of $40,000, you can easily get lost in all the strings and pickups. It's events like these that make me regret that I never took up the guitar, even though I have loved the electric guitar for years and years; thanks Ace Frehley, you and the Les Paul have hypnotized me for years. But even without an ax in my hand, I still appreciate everybody else who shares their magnificence with everybody else.

As you may have known, I try to gear this site to live music, which was no exception here. From low-key Q & A sessions (including Paul Reed Smith unveiling new amps), acoustic showcases, up-and-coming artists, and seasoned veterans, there was an eclectic hodgepodge of talent within, and outside, the Market Hall walls. Of course, the seasoned veterans drew the largest crowds at the three-day event. On Friday, we got to see the legendary Rick Derringer perform on the outdoor stage to a modest but excited crowd that appreciated his vast but classic guitar sound. Somewhat cheesy at times, his performance was pretty scripted but he still knows how to work a crowd. From there, we also caught Mike Rhyner and Petty Theft (a Tom Petty tribute band), Johnny Hiland (only caught two songs but he really put on a show), Soviet (local garage rock band), and a jam session including Bugs Henderson, Jimmy Wallace, and Jack Pearson. I was pretty impressed with the jam session and Soviet's performance and I wish I got to catch more shows over the weekend. Overall, was a pretty good experience and hope to catch it again next year. Photos from Friday are below:

Circa 69