How's this for an unexpected cover?? I never really listened to Veruca Salt in their heyday, but now I'm addicted to them. Those ladies ROCK!! Give 'em another listen...those high, floating harmonies and that mid-range guitar KRUNCH! Awesome. In tribute, here's a song I just could not get out of my head...so I threw together a quick cover with me doing all of the singing (with a little vocal fixing, of course).

Victrola (VerucaSalt Cover)

Just some fun and funky groove practice through my Fender Reverb Deluxe reissue--over an AWESOME jam track produced by Quist. Look him up on YouTube, because this jam track smokes!

Funky Fender

To welcome Tom Adams back to SC, I recorded this slow, building blues burner...and I bought us a round of virtual bourbons. ;) Tom leans into that Tele bite for the opening solo pass, a second pass and then a howling ride home. I went neck pickup for a throatier tone you can hear at 1:00 mark and 2:25. To hear more of Tom's Tele mastery, do yourself a favor and check him out on his page... @user-342548892

...And Bourbon for the Teles (with Tom Adams)

Emily wrote the lyrics and recorded the powerful vocals, including those kickass harmonies. In fact, I loved the "Get Up" section so much, I moved a taste of it to the top of the song to establish it as a hook, along with the tapped guitar. I guarantee that when she originally posted these vocals she was NOT expecting tapped guitars ;) To check out more of Emily's vocals go here...
https://soundcloud.com/freevocals

Fight (Ft Emily Coy Vocals)

Shout out to Emily Coy for this amazing vocal track. I just love the way she stacks her harmonies, and delivers her vocals so rhythmically and soulfully. I cut up the drum samples and recorded the rest...including  playing the B3 parts. I'm no Jamie Rhind, but it was fun to add some 70s texture to it ;). Playing lead guitar that weaves through Emily's vocals was truly a joy. Thanks again, Emily!

Do You Need a Doctor? (Ft. Emily Coy Vocals)

Emily Coy is an absolute powerhouse! She wrote the lyrics, and recorded all of those amazing layered vocal harmonies. I wrote and recorded everything else (the drums are built out of midi loops I adapted. And I did reshuffle and retime Emily's parts a bit to create this song structure). Weaving guitar lines around Emily's vocals is truly a joy.

Behind the Same Door (ft Emily Coy Vocals)

Paul put this revved up open collab out there under the title "Rock a Car"...well I took it for a reckless joyride.  I was using it to get those ripping, rockin' runs under my fingers. Yes, I may have hit the guardrails a few times with Paul's badass muscle car. But it was a helluva ride! ;0

Stolen Car (Paploviante "Rock a Car" Collab)

Driving by a cupcake shop after hours, I witnessed a horde of rats devouring a stack of cupcakes left out in their trash. I said, "Cupcake Rats...that sounds like a pop punk band!" And, with an assist on lyrics from my brah Roger Vaughn...on the vocals from an incredible StudioPros vocalist...and on the mix from our buddy Peter Pope...a delightfully silly confection was born. I'm playing all instruments, and cut the drum loops.
LYRICS
Cupcake Rats, masters of the night
A sticky-sweet blight on polite society
Cupcake Rats

In the alley, they're on a mission
Sugar-starved rats near Cupcake Kitchen
In the moonlight, a shinny vision
Castaway cakes some bum has pissed in
Scurry, scurry, in a hurry
A seedy feeding frenzy, furry ball of fury
Chocolate icing, so enticing
A gutter buttercream dream in food porn lighting

When we're sleeping, rats are feasting
Cupcake Rats, masters of the night
A sticky-sweet blight on polite society
Yeah, that's right, Cupcake Rats
I know you saw that rodentia, didntcha?
Cupcake Rats!!

The air is grimy, slimy smells
Putrid sewer steam, swirled with sea salted caramel
Loaded pistols, assorted sprinkles
Slashing, gnashing teeth--all intermingled
Teaming vermin are a-squirming
Mangled angel food cake, squeaky rat sermons
Be sympathetic, it's pathetic
Most of those rats are Type II diabetic
CHORUS
GUITAR SOLO
CHORUS

Cupcake Rats (Silly Lyrics in Description)

Blues with a rockin' crunch. Vocals provided by Gabrielle of StudioPros.

DUST STORM
There ain't been no rain in days
I'm choking in a dust storm
No rain in days
Only tumbleweeds knocking on my door
Ain't been no rain in days

There ain't been no showers
Ain't a damp stream
Dirt slips through my fingers
Liked my dried up dreams
There ain't been no mist
Ain't a drop of dew
My soul has turned to dust 
Since there ain't been no you
(CHORUS)
There ain't been no sky
Ain't no blue in sight
Haze has smothered the sun
And strangled out the light
There ain't been no crops
Ain't a crust of bread
I'm starving, starving, starving 
Since you left me for dead
Now I feel, all I feel, now I feel
So dry inside
(GUITAR SOLO/CHORUSx2)

Dust Storm

That's right, I have a new axe...a Schecter. I never even considered one before. But, I saw great reviews(and it cost 1/3 the price my Les Paul) so I picked one up. I wrote this epic instrumental to give it a test drive. I cut the drum loops (and gave them that big 80s feel), used my LPs for the rhythm guitars, played bass, layered harmonies of the Schecter's sweet, singing tone for the chorus and let 'er rip on some lead and Floyd Rose dive bombs. Such a fun guitar to play!

Dawn of a New Blade

Gradual build to a rocking finish. Vocals provided by Michelle of StudioPros. 

Freight Train of Pain

It's a little bit country. It's a lot rock & roll. Vocals provided by Chris of StudioPros.

Endless Forest

Awaiting vocal collaboration/lyrics.  I've yet to add lead guitar & fills. 

Blow (Lyrics/Vocals Anyone?)

Prince's "Darling Nikki" reworked as a blues song. I originally recorded this as a fun twist on the song to entertain a friend of mine who is a huge Prince fan. Sadly, now there's a reason for this to be a blues song. 

Darling Nikki (Blues Cover)

While Tom is actually a new friend to me, he sure feels like an old one. I'm so pleased he uploading this open collab, because it gave me a chance to pretend I'm sitting across the room from him listening to that fat tone & those tasty licks in person! That's me at 1:14 and again 3:36. If you're listening in headphones, enjoy the subtle bit of panning fun on the entrances. 

My Old Friend (Open Collab with Tom Adams)

The reason I haven’t been posting new stuff recently is my shoulder is torn up (hence the title) and playing is rather painful. Soon, I’ll have surgery, but I wanted to get at least 1 more song up on SC before I have to put the guitars away for a while. SC legend Tom Adams graciously accepted my invitation to join in the mayhem. Many, many thanks, Tom. It really means a lot. SONG NOTES...I wrote and recorded the jam track, and take the first solo (at 0:23) and third solo (at 2:36). Tom brings a wall of monster tone and aggressive chops on both the second solo (at 1:30) and big finish starting at 3:45. If you enjoy it, I truly appreciate the likes, comments and shares. And, even more importantly, I encourage you to do the same for Tom! 

Torn(Collab with TOM ADAMS--SEE DESCRIPTION!)

Jamie posted this super-slinky groove (called "I Told You So")and was cool enough to let me download it and take a rip over it. It was a great opportunity to test out a new auto-wah sound. Hope ya'll like it, and if ya haven't checked out Jamie's stuff...where have you been? I think Jamie's played on almost every awesome track on Soundclound!! 
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind

Wah - Zzzzup?(Jamie Rhind, Feat. Mike Polcari Guitar)

Fan tribute. Please don't sue me, Mr. Gilligan.

Heisenberg

Today's my 51st birthday, so I'm considering this track as birthday present from Ms King. She created this beautiful cover of the Chris Stapleton song, starting with those unmistakable Ms King vocals, and she asked me to add in the lead guitar/fills. Hopefully our collab on this cover sounds as smooth as that very famous whiskey from my home state...

Tennessee Whiskey (Ms King, Ft Mike Polcari Guitar)

Tom posted this awesome open collab in the style of Freddie King for July Fourth and...yes, I'm a little late to the party. Or maybe I stayed at the July Fourth party a little too long.  Tom takes the first solo, and I dive in at around :57, Tom picks it up again at 1:56, back to me at 2:53 and we trade off a few licks to closer down. 
All ya'll know Tom's a badass, and I did my best to keep up with him, but it ain't easy. ;) If you're not familiar with Tom's fretboard handiwork...check him out here... https://soundcloud.com/better-with-the-blues

Freddie's Fireworks (Tom Adams Open Collab)

Hitting the open road with lots of horses under the hood and a friend ridin' shotgun...now that's a good time. And I'm thrilled to have SC legend Tom Adams sharing the wheel on this highway-ready jam track I recorded to welcome him back. Tom kicks it off with that ferocious tone and biting chops, and I take the wheel at 1:37 through the stripped down section. Tom floors it again at 2:45 and I take us home starting at 3:51. We appreciate your likes, comments and shares...and if you haven't checked out all of Tom's stuff hear it here... https://soundcloud.com/user-342548892

Ridin' Shotgun (Collab with Tom Adams--see notes)

Keit had this gut-bustin open collab on his page, and was HOPING for a vocalist to fill in the gaps...well, he got me instead. Keit kicks it off with his aggressive tone and then we go back and forth...with my part panned slightly right to separate us a little. By the way, no, the Strats in the picture are not ours...and did ya'll know Strat headstocks did that neat trick? Nifty.

Strat Attack(Collab w Keiton)

SC legend, Tom Adams, graciously agreed to join me on another jam track I recorded--after he had enjoyed a few bourbons. I'm playing bass, the two clean rhythm tracks split wide and I take the first and third passes for lead...Tom's distinctive tone cuts through on the second and fourth solo passes. (If you haven't listened to Tom in phones, check it out...he uses a panning effect that's particularly cool in headphones) Finally, truth be told...I ripped the name and image for this track from a festival in Milwaukee. And it sounds like a ton of fun! Free advertising plug for them.

Bacon, Bourbon & Blues(Collab with Tom Adams)

Just saw Tom put up this Sunday Jam open collab, and how could I resist a chance to trade some licks with the slow blues master. I laid down one quick take before I go watch another Super Bowl without my beloved 'Skins...and with the Patriots. Yet again. You'll probably be able to tell BUT... Tom leads us off and I take the 2nd, 4th and 6th passes with a couple of fills in the last bits before the end.

Super Bowl Sunday Blues (Open Collab with Tom Adams)

As I was recording a funk track for Rich and me, it started to sound like the soundtrack for a late 60s/early 70s-era car chase movie. Once we realized that, we were ALL IN. Out came the wah pedal, and Rich even cut a fun video for the song, pulling from several old school car chase movies...including BULLITT!  You can check it out here...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H5JWrg4YJk

Chasing Hell (ft Rich Howell on Sax) SEE DESCRIPTION FOR VIDEO!

I love me some Zep, and I love this riff from How Many More Times. So, I recorded a jam track using it as the basis for the groove...and invited my good friend (well, EVERYONE's good friend) Tom Adams to jam with me. I play the the main riff and take the first and third passes, Tom goes second and takes us home. Check out more of Tom's stuff here https://soundcloud.com/user-342548892     AND, if you haven't seen Zep perform this song to a stunned group of Danish teens check it out here...  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE-JQzj2aEA
Are you still reading? Well, I feel bad for cropping John Paul Jones out of this photo. He's a great musician, but he wouldn't fit. Sorry, JPJ.

HowManyMoreTimesJam(with Tom Adams)

Keit posted this raw, raunchy and rockin' blues collab a while ago and I finally had a chance to crank up the Marshall and join in. He leads us off, I jump in (panned slightly right to separate us) and we trade off as we go--with him taking us home. If you wanna hear more of Keiton, he has some killer tracks here... https://soundcloud.com/keitblues

MyThoughtsWillNotStop (Keiton Collab)

I always like when Tom dials in his "mean" tone, so I created this attitude-packed jam track for us to rip over. I kick it off, Tom joins in around the 1 minute mark, I briefly take over the reins at about the 2 minute mark, and Tom snatches them back at around the 2:30 mark. If you haven't already hear all of Tom's stuff (find that hard to believe, but hey...)it's all right here... https://soundcloud.com/user-342548892

Mean(Collab with Tom Adams)

I love how SC brings folks together from all around the world. I've had the opportunity to collab with new friends everywhere from TX (wazzup Tom?) to Germany (proud to officially be called a "Lunatic" with Hendrik and Jorg) to Holland (cheers, Marco!)to Spain (the incomparable Ms King)...to Japan (trading blues licks with Keit)...and hopefully more in the near future.

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