Two of my favorite guitarists trading licks at the Hot August Blues festival in Maryland this past weekend.

Gov’t Mule have announced a release date of October 27th for their upcoming album By a Thread. A new track titled “Broke Down on the Brazos” and featuring the guitar work of the one and only Rev. Billy F. Gibbons is playing on the band’s home page.

If you spend any time on the Gear Page forums, you know about the legend of Alexander (”Howard”) Dumble. If you don’t, Dumble has created a series of almost mythical amps used by tone hounds, such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson, Robben Ford, Sonny Landreth, and John Mayer. He’s notoriously reclusive and builds amps only for people he deems worthy. Used Dumble amps go for around $50,000.

Author Jesse Schwarz has written a book about Dumble amps, called a Dumble Book. The book features a Dumble history, photos of Dumble amps, and interviews with Dumble and others. The cost of the book is around $300.

Landslide Records is going to be releasing a Sean Costello retrospective album on September 29. Unfortunately, I didn’t get into Sean Costello’s music until after he passed away tragically last year, so I never had a chance to see him play live. Sean’s early albums were released by Landslide Records, and they are assembling some of the best studio recordings as well as a bunch of unreleased live and studio tracks for this new release. If you’ve never heard Costello’s music, the new record would be a good place to start. I’m really looking forward to the release of the new album, which features the following track list:

1. Take Me Back (Sean Costello) Semco Publishing, BMI 2:21
2. Sail On (John Lee Williamson) Duchess Music/Wabash Music, BMI 4:02
3. Call The Cops (Sean Costello) Semco Publishing, BMI 1:45
4. Lovin’ Machine (O. Merrill/D. Lambert) Rockaway Music, BMI 3:42
5. The Plumber (Paul Linden) Nitelatch Music, BMI
6. Tell Me Baby (Traditional, Arrangement – Sean Costello) 3:07
7. Big Beaver (Bob Wills) Bourne Company, ASCAP 2:49
8. Mellow Chick Swing (John Lee Williamson) Wabash Music, BMI 2:05
9. Walking Blues (Robert Johnson) 3:36
10. Double Trouble (Otis Rush) Conrad Music, BMI 7:31
11. Who’s Been Cheatin’ Who (Sean Costello/Eddie Cleveland) Frozen Inca Music, BMI 2:45
12. All Your Love (I Miss Loving)* (Otis Rush) Conrad Music, BMI 5:35
13. Mojo Boogie (J.B. Lenoir) Conrad Music/Ghana Music, BMI 5:28
14. Motor Head Baby (Mario DeLagarde/John Watson) Ft. Knox/Jowat/Trio Music, BMI 4:37
15. Don’t Be Reckless With My Heart (Sean Costello) Nitelatch Music, BMI 3:07
16. Your Love Is Amazing (Robert Ward) Bug Music/Obo Threptos Music, BMI 3:58
17. I t Takes Time (Otis Rush) Arc Music, BMI 3:30
18. You Don’t Know What Love Is (Fenton Robinson) Eyeball Music, BMI 4:52
19. Feel Like I Ain’t Got A Home (Sean Costello/Paul Linden) Nitelatch Music/Funky Dumplin Music/Funny Bone Music, BMI 2:59
20. She Changed My Mind (Sean Costello/Paul Linden) Nitelatch Music/Funky Dumplin Music/Funny Bone Music, BMI 4:02

Joe Bonamassa recently invited guitarist Ryan McGarvey on stage to play “Further on Up the Road” with him, but McGarvey’s amp failed during the song. Bonamassa kindly unplugs and lets McGarvey have his rig for the duration of the song. McGarvey then proceeded to rip it up.

Rich Murray of The Guitar Channel recently posted a review of Wayne Krantz’s new album Krantz Carlock Lefebvre:

One of the trademarks of Krantz’s live performances is the amount of group improvising that takes place. In a wise move, Krantz decided to bring that strength to the studio for Krantz Carlock Lefebvre, and the results are fantastic.

I first heard about Krantz through his work with the excellent Tal Wilkenfield. Krantz is definitely a unique guitarist and, based on Rich’s review, I’m going to have to check out the new album.

Last week, the Derek Trucks Band performed their song “Down in the Flood” on Good Morning America. Derek Trucks was also interviewed for the show.

Emon at Guitarkadia recently posted a review of It Might Get Loud, the new movie featuring Jimmie Page, The Edge, and Jack White. The movie was released in California and New York last Friday and will be released throughout the rest of the US over the next several months. I’ve been looking forward to the film since I first heard of it several months ago, so I’m looking forward to the September release here in Nashville.

Christopher Liscio, the developer of the excellent learning tool Capo, let me know that he has recently updated the app. I’ve previously reviewed Capo and really liked it. Probably the biggest new feature of the app is the ability to save the slowed music so that you can listen to it on an iPod, thus enabling you to practice away from the computer. You can export an entire song or just a looped portion of a song enabling you to customize your learning experience. A podcast series is available on the Capo Web site; the podcast describes how to use the product as well as basic ear training techniques.

Eric Johnson has recently completed tracking for his next studio album, which includes guest appearances from Sonny Landreth, Jimmie Vaughan, and Steve Miller. The album is now ready to be mixed, and he plans to give tracks to engineers George Massenberg, Gary Paczosa and Andy Johns.

He’s also planning on doing a mini-tour with Alien Love Child in Texas. Shows are currently scheduled in San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston.

(via Rich Murray)