Funky Brass played at the Hemisfair Park in San Antonio, sponsored by a local radio station. I don't have any shots of me playing, but I snapped these shots of the crowd from the stage just as we finished playing. This is the biggest crowd I've ever performed in front of, even though they weren't really there to hear me (or the band) - they were there to party! And ring in 2007!
A quick shot of part of the San Antonio River Walk just before sundown...Christmas lights are still up...
Van Wilks at the annual Armadillo Christmas Bazaar... along with Josh!
(click images to enlarge)
Snapped this pic of Darin and Trish Murphy of the K-Tel Hit Machine, during thier ELO Tribute at Antone's...
Photo of me on my Gretsch backing up local Christian singer Addison Hayes at an outdoor music fest @ Auditorium Shores. That's Chad on bass and Pauly on the congas.
I snapped this shot of my friend Pauly playing drums with Monte Montgomery at Nutty Brown Cafe...
Here I am playing some mostly instrumental music at the One World Theater (outdoors), opening for the Kansas show (!) that went on later inside. I'm really digging my new "lil' gent" Gretsch; it's the most amazing guitar!
...performing with Funky Brass the very next week at the same club, Merkaba Grill... (that's Bryan on guitar next to me)
...one of Gracie's favorite places to chill out...
(as always, click photo to enlarge)
This was my last day of a brief trip to California. Here's me in front of the Beach Boys Historical Marker in Hawthorne, CA, the 'birthplace' of the Beach Boys. It marks the site fairly close to where the Wilson family home (3701 West 119th Street) once stood, where Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson spent their high school years, a few blocks away from Hawthorne High School chum Al Jardine. The part of the neighborhood where the Wilsons lived no longer exists; those houses were razed in the 80s, and Highway 105 goes through there today.
Beach Boys Historical Landmark
These are a few of the beautiful canals in Venice, CA - what a sight. Amazing to think these folks get to see this in their 'backyard' every day (or should I say instead of their backyards!)
And here's a pic of me at dinner with friends Nancy and John at a great italian place in Venice (Via Veneto)...
While visiting California, I got to see one of my favorite bands in person for the first time - Venice! They were playing at the Canyon Club in Augora Hills (north of L.A.). What a show!
Venice (from Venice, CA) are Michael, Mark, Pat and Kip Lennon. Pat and Kip are brothers, and first cousins to Mark and Michael, who are also brothers. The blend of family is unlike any other. (It's no wonder their sound would appeal to me, since two of my favorite other vocal groups of all time, the Beach Boys and the Four Freshmen, were also comprised mostly of brothers & cousins!)
This was truly an amazing show, one I will remember for a long time. Very dynamic and they played almost all my favorites! Michael had some very tasty leads on his Les Pauls and his vintage Guild Starfire, and Pat chimed in with some great tasty leads of his own! As to be expected, Kip and Marky had some incredible vocal leads. Since Venice almost never make it to Texas, It was truly incredible to see them here in California!
I'm a proud "papa" of a new guitar! Here's a photo of me with my Lil' Gent, which can be thought of as a smaller edition of the Gretsch Country Gentleman (the offical name for this model is a Gretsch Country Classic Junior, or a G6122JR). 
I am the 2nd owner of this guitar, which was made in 2003 and originally purchased new in late 2005. Gretsch no longer makes this model. If I look like the cat that just ate the canary in this photo, it's because this is the best guitar I've ever owned. It plays so well and stays in tune better than any guitar I've ever played. The sound is so creamy and rich, and the tonal possibilites are plentiful and easy to switch between. I am one happy camper!
