New Lincoln Brewster album...holy smokes!!!

[bkd_guitarist]

I'm listening to Today Is The Day and, IMHO, it's Lincoln's best work to date. For those of you who are not familiar with Lincoln Brewster, he was a child prodigy who was fronting bar bands by age 13 and grew up to become Steve Perry's guitar player after Perry left Journey. He got into P&W music a number of years ago and is pretty much hailed as the best guitar player in P&W music at the moment. Stylistically you can hear influences of SRV, Clapton, The Edge, and occasionally he indulges a bit of Neil Schon/Satriani-esque shreddage. He has CRAZY chops and fantastic tone.

At any rate, this new album is fantastic...I believe it's his best songwriting, singing, and playing so far. Even if you don't dig the P&W thing, any guitar player should be able to appreciate this from a strictly musical standpoint. And you Lincoln devotees should be thrilled. HIGHLY recommended.

[codyj84]

Thanks for the heads up! Checkin it out on itunes!!! Totally forgot about it.

[chewynodoubt]

I preordered his album and instructional video from the web store and haven't received it yet....

[Wildwind]

I just ordered my video too - but the release date was late last week. I'm sure they'll ship soon.

Lincoln is an incredible player. We do a lot of his songs and swiping his licks and solos has proven to be great fun and a bit challenging even for this old cat! A friend saw him live - still hasn't recovered. If he gets anywhere near Michigan again I plan to get there.

[PianoMan]

I'm really enjoying it as well! Easily his best studio album, and on par with his Live CD. My only solid complaint is that the CD is only 10 songs.

The instructional DVD he just released is good too, though it is more geared to the beginner/intermediate players (with the exception of his walk through 4 of his songs). The next one will get into the more interesting stuff though according to him.

And speaking of seeing him live, I'll be seeing him for the 4th time on Saturday. Can't wait to see him play some of the new stuff!

[Pedro58]

He is undoubtedly good. I heard something from him the other day that sounded like modern-era Jeff Beck. Cool!

[Steve Lowe]

I was just listening to this last night. We've been doing 'Today is the Day' for about a month now. and I'm looking forward to trying a couple of the other tunes as well. He's a great guy, too - got to meet him after a concert at a local church a few months ago.

[powermatt99]

I love the guitar playing but I think a lot of the songs are really cheesy for P&W.

[guitarpkr67]

I love the guitar playing but I think a lot of the songs are really cheesy for P&W.

I agree, but a lot of P&W is cheesy.

[Pietro]

I LOVE everything I've heard from this so far! Lincoln ROCKS!

[therhodeo]

Lots of Eric Johnson in his playing too.

[bkd_guitarist]

Lots of Eric Johnson in his playing too.

I don't hear as much EJ in this album as in his previous releases. Hints of it are still there, but this one seems to have much more of a Clapton influence. He actually sounds a bit like Mayer in spots, though he blows Mayer into the weeds from a chops standpoint.

[JRenn]

I don't hear as much EJ in this album as in his previous releases. Hints of it are still there, but this one seems to have much more of a Clapton influence. He actually sounds a bit like Mayer in spots, though he blows Mayer into the weeds from a chops standpoint.

I'm not sure you've quite heard what Mayer is capable of, my friend. Even so, Mayer spanks Lincoln at songwriting, but let's not turn this into a contest.

Each artist has merit, and Lincoln's production and guitar playing on the new album is great!

[Tbone135]

I can't wait to hear this record. His live disc was excellent.

[bkd_guitarist]

I'm not sure you've quite heard what Mayer is capable of, my friend. Even so, Mayer spanks Lincoln at songwriting, but let's not turn this into a contest.

Hey, no Mayer hate here. I have his albums and have seen him live multiple times. He's excellent. It's just that Lincoln can pull off all the blues/rock/pop stuff that Mayer can, in addition to bringing speed, fluidity, and precision that Mayer does not have.

No argument with you on the songwriting, however.

[banjoze]

I'm going to see him this weekend... can't wait..

[archtopjazz]

Where?

[banjoze]

Kent, WA... it's just across Lake Washington from Seattle...

[mr coffee]

he played at our church here in allentown......
marshall 50 watt half stack..killer tone

[j_m_s]

Straight on!

I love the new album.

Some Mayer inspired stuff on it, definitely. Listen to his version of Salvation is Here and the new song Let your glory shine. awesome!

[Craig Walker]

Great cd

[banjoze]

Just got back from the concert... wow... I'm speechless.. The man can play the strings off the guitar...

Also, attended a 2-hour clinic he hosted just before the show where he basically does Q & A. Interesting tidbits: not a single tone on his last two albums was a mic'ed guitar. It was all POD. He played his POD thru the PA with an amp on stage so he can hear himself and his band can hear him. His current pickups are Dimarzio VV 58s and 61. If I remember correctly, he said he had the 61 in the bridge with the other 2 being the 58s.

[michael.e]

Get that boy a Fractal!!


Hey, I have one for sale! Oh Lincoln, hey Lincoln!!


Emee

[Tbone135]

A whole lot of folks are getting great stage sounds from Pods. I'm one of them too.

[bkd_guitarist]

not a single tone on his last two albums was a mic'ed guitar. It was all POD.

OK, this is just WRONG. Not wrong as in "incorrect," wrong as in "it's completely incomprehensible that he gets such a fantastic tone out of the Pod." I used a Pod XT Live for three years in a P&W setting where we could not use amps. I tweaked the living daylights out of that thing. Sat with it at home editing on my PC for hours, then brought it to the church and tweaked for more hours through the PA. I got some decent tones, but nothing CLOSE to the sick tones he has on this new album and the live album.

I've been playing for over 20 years, a number of them as a full-time pro, so you'd think I know enough to wring a tone I'm happy with out of the Pod. Nope, not so much. Thank God I'm back playing in a loud setting where I can use my Mod50.

Lincoln Brewster is not human.

I will now go set myself on fire.

[Dannc6]

The tones are good, the solos are good.... but I don't want to hear him rip off unbelievable solos over rehashed 90's power ballad chord progessions. I've tried to like the album.... but for me, if the songwriting isn't there, it's an uphill battle. I don't know if he writes these songs, or if someone just chooses songs for him to do but phew.... some of them are so weak. It seems pretty obvious to me on the CD that he's a guitar player first and a songwriter second.

[John Hurtt]

he played at our church here in allentown......
marshall 50 watt half stack..killer tone

Probably just either for some stage volume or for back up. His tone is totally POD driven.

[chewynodoubt]

OK, this is just WRONG. Not wrong as in "incorrect," wrong as in "it's completely incomprehensible that he gets such a fantastic tone out of the Pod." I used a Pod XT Live for three years in a P&W setting where we could not use amps. I tweaked the living daylights out of that thing. Sat with it at home editing on my PC for hours, then brought it to the church and tweaked for more hours through the PA. I got some decent tones, but nothing CLOSE to the sick tones he has on this new album and the live album.

I've been playing for over 20 years, a number of them as a full-time pro, so you'd think I know enough to wring a tone I'm happy with out of the Pod. Nope, not so much. Thank God I'm back playing in a loud setting where I can use my Mod50.

Lincoln Brewster is not human.

I will now go set myself on fire.

I agree, but he does say that he spend lots of studio hours trying to get it right. I would tend to think he means "ALOT" as in days, weeks, even months probably...

[illini]

Ya, he is "Thee" man for getting an amazing guitar tone from a POD. I asked him once why he wasn't using a real amp and he said that when people start telling him his tone sucks then he will change. He used to have his POD settings posted on his web site. All you POD users should check it out and see if they are still there.

[jamiefbolton]

I'm really enjoying it as well! Easily his best studio album, and on par with his Live CD. My only solid complaint is that the CD is only 10 songs.


thats the mark of a good cd....leave em wanting more

[illini]

I just went to Lincoln's site, and yes he has his patches listed. Wish I had a POD, it would be fun to load his tones and see how they sound with my guitar and fingers.

[bkd_guitarist]

Ya, he is "Thee" man for getting an amazing guitar tone from a POD. I asked him once why he wasn't using a real amp and he said that when people start telling him his tone sucks then he will change. He used to have his POD settings posted on his web site. All you POD users should check it out and see if they are still there.

:roll

I'm laughing at the idea of some guy coming up to him after one of his concerts and saying, "Dude...your tone sucks." Just can't see that.

I saw that he had his Pod settings posted...thankfully I'm free from Pod usage at the moment, but I'm sure I'll grab them if I ever go back to using a Pod. Or maybe not, if my Axe-FX fundraising campaign continues to progress...:o

[Craig Walker]

Probably just either for some stage volume or for back up. His tone is totally POD driven.


He says he will use an amp to "move air" on a larger stage, but it's only for the stage mix. FOH is 100% direct [POD].

[Pietro]

My tone on-stage is totally ToneLab SE, and although I'm not LB, I get routine compliments from players who hate modeling even.

And... I can not get ENOUGH of that new album. What a stunner!

[banjoze]

It's interesting that he uses an amp for his stage volume / air movement vs. a stage monitor. Seems like the sound would be truer to what the audience is hearing if he used the stage monitor.. I used to do exactly this with my Tonelab SE. The only issue I had was one of volume (ie. too little), but I think that was a problem with the stage monitor we were using (it was pretty much shot) not the concept overall.

[chewynodoubt]

It's interesting that he uses an amp for his stage volume / air movement vs. a stage monitor. Seems like the sound would be truer to what the audience is hearing if he used the stage monitor.. I used to do exactly this with my Tonelab SE. The only issue I had was one of volume (ie. too little), but I think that was a problem with the stage monitor we were using (it was pretty much shot) not the concept overall.

alot of modern worship stages don't use floor monitors (in ears only) but there is usually an amp or two stowed away in a back room.

[illini]

alot of modern worship stages don't use floor monitors (in ears only) but there is usually an amp or two stowed away in a back room.

I assumed the stage amp was so that he could get feedback since he is going direct and uses in ears.

[PianoMan]

It's interesting that he uses an amp for his stage volume / air movement vs. a stage monitor. Seems like the sound would be truer to what the audience is hearing if he used the stage monitor..

Yes, but he uses in-ears. I had the chance to talk to Lincoln (along with 2 others) for 2 hours on Saturday and he said he uses the in-ears for basic sound, but the amps move air, and give him the bass thump/stage vibration that in-ears can't produce.

[holyears]

Does Line6 know about Lincoln? With those tones, he should be a poster child for the POD.

[Layne-o]

The album is good, he's a super nice guy, and really super accessible. I'd like to see anyone try and hang out with a guy of that similar level of talent and not cop an attitude.

Hats off to him and his success -

[archtopjazz]

Just picked up the CD.
Some great playing and tones:AOK

[Rock Johnson]

His tones are completely tweaked to *his* guitars, *his* playing, and *his* style. I downloaded them and tried a few -- frankly, they sounded like poo. But when HE plays 'em... wooo boy.

[sovtekking]

Yea his patches on the POD don't do too much for me but he can make them sound great. If you want lincoln-esque tone then get an old bassman head and a good OD pedal. Works for me. I get some great tones out of Bassmans and they work very well for lincoln stuff.

[illini]

Yea his patches on the POD don't do too much for me but he can make them sound great. If you want lincoln-esque tone then get an old bassman head and a good OD pedal. Works for me. I get some great tones out of Bassmans and they work very well for lincoln stuff.

This is what he use to play.

[banjoze]

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?p=4860049#post4860049

-Gerald

[PianoMan]

Does Line6 know about Lincoln? With those tones, he should be a poster child for the POD.

They didn't for a long time, but when I talked to Lincoln he mentioned that the Spider Valve half stacks he's using for stage volume were a gift from Line 6 for advertising them for all these years. (God knows how much more business they've gotten as a result of LB plugging them over the years...)

[Bo Faulkner]

I have been using the XT Live on Sundays and have really been very happy with it.. I have used everything from dual amp setups.. Super/Zen rig.. Germino.. Marshll 50 watter.. One Sunday I decided to leave the amp home and use the Churches XT Live and havent looked back. It is just too easy on the back to leave the amps at home and as far as noise/stage volume and what i end up with in FOH the Pod has been superb. As long as the sound guy turns it up it sound great

[sovtekking]

This is what he use to play.

Yeah I know...he says it's his favorite amp but he just can't turn it up...I use a jeckyl and hyde and sometimes a pedalworx tejas (TS9 with some features) and I can cop those tones pretty dang well. I have thought about picking up the POD X3 though just for something to play with and substitute out my pedalboard. Run that through the Prosonic and use the prosonic for leads or boost it with the on-board stomp effects. Seems like a great way to use a POD...no on board models, just use the effects and stomps as presets (like an M13 but just program each songs parts in).

[jb1984]

i'm going to ruffle some feathers.

just my $0.02 - i rarely hear any current music that is as overplayed and cheesy as LBs stuff. i play around at various churches, and asked my MD friend "who the heck that overplaying guitar player was on lincoln brewster's songs".

his answer - lincoln brewster. i threw up in my mouth a little.

sorry guys, i just can't find anything likable about it. good tone, though, fwiw.

[Mike Dresch]

I guarantee, if the song "Everlasting God" didn't have "God" or "Lord" in it, it would have been a big hit. I remember playing that song in the P & W set I did with a band a few months ago and was thinking, this is a really catchy song. I just figured out with your guys help today that it was Lincoln. I had no idea as I don't regularly listen to Christian music. I might have to pick up a copy of it. I will certainly plug my POD xt back in though!

[Craig Walker]

i'm going to ruffle some feathers.

just my $0.02 - i rarely hear any current music that is as overplayed and cheesy as LBs stuff. i play around at various churches, and asked my MD friend "who the heck that overplaying guitar player was on lincoln brewster's songs".

his answer - lincoln brewster. i threw up in my mouth a little.

sorry guys, i just can't find anything likable about it. good tone, though, fwiw.


Well, I'd think you were in a very small minority, but to each his own. I think it's cool someone 'showcases' solos etc [what I assume you mean by overplaying].....in this era of guitar being a background instrument. I find it very cool to have a 'Guitar Hero' in P&W music.


What style playing do you like in modern P&W?

I play in the style when the song calls for it, but he's better than the 1,001 Edge-clones going on.

Again, to each his own.

[bkd_guitarist]

i'm going to ruffle some feathers.

just my $0.02 - i rarely hear any current music that is as overplayed and cheesy as LBs stuff. i play around at various churches, and asked my MD friend "who the heck that overplaying guitar player was on lincoln brewster's songs".

his answer - lincoln brewster. i threw up in my mouth a little.

sorry guys, i just can't find anything likable about it. good tone, though, fwiw.

Different strokes. It's all good. No ruffled feathers here.

[Craig Walker]

I guarantee, if the song "Everlasting God" didn't have "God" or "Lord" in it, it would have been a big hit. I remember playing that song in the P & W set I did with a band a few months ago and was thinking, this is a really catchy song. I just figured out with your guys help today that it was Lincoln. I had no idea as I don't regularly listen to Christian music. I might have to pick up a copy of it. I will certainly plug my POD xt back in though!


Everlasting God is not on the new cd.....it's on his "Best of" called 'Let The Praises Ring'.

[Mike Dresch]

Everlasting God is not on the new cd.....it's on his "Best of" called 'Let The Praises Ring'.

That shows you what I know about him and Christian music in general that I didn't record. I really like what I've heard of him for the most part. He was the talk of this years Life Light festival. Everyone was buzzing about his perfomances.

[Craig Walker]

He's as good, *IMO*, as any secular player.

[jb1984]

i've heard/played maybe five or so of his songs during sunday morning services, and every time a guitar break or solo comes up, just the general feel and ideas make me cringe. i'm not opposed to showcasing guitar in P&W, nor is P&W the only genre i'm involved in. there's certain players in the P&W realm that i gravitate more towards, who do get "spotlighted" here and there that just deliver what I find to be tastier. Shawn Tubbs comes to mind... whoever the player was that did the solo on Matt Redman's "Better Is One Day" off "The Friendship and the Fear", etc.

again, i don't think it's bad to highlight a guitar player with massive talent. i just don't really find what LB does to be very tasteful/appropriate. i love players that move in that direction, that have those sorts of chops, but i've always felt that there's a very good and obvious reason why you don't have players like eric johnson doing solos on pop albums. they live in a specific realm which is conducive to "overplaying" or being "over-the-top" - when i hear LB's recordings, i just wish he'd calm down just a little bit.

[bkd_guitarist]

i've heard/played maybe five or so of his songs during sunday morning services, and every time a guitar break or solo comes up, just the general feel and ideas make me cringe. i'm not opposed to showcasing guitar in P&W, nor is P&W the only genre i'm involved in. there's certain players in the P&W realm that i gravitate more towards, who do get "spotlighted" here and there that just deliver what I find to be tastier. Shawn Tubbs comes to mind... whoever the player was that did the solo on Matt Redman's "Better Is One Day" off "The Friendship and the Fear", etc.

While I don't agree with your opinions on LB, I do agree wholeheartedly on Shawn Tubbs. He is fantastic, and has been one of my favorite players going back to The Violet Burning.

[jb1984]

i'll also leave room to stand corrected, considering i've never seen him live, and am basing my opinions entirely off what i've heard on album.

[Craig Walker]

i've heard/played maybe five or so of his songs during sunday morning services, and every time a guitar break or solo comes up, just the general feel and ideas make me cringe. i'm not opposed to showcasing guitar in P&W, nor is P&W the only genre i'm involved in. there's certain players in the P&W realm that i gravitate more towards, who do get "spotlighted" here and there that just deliver what I find to be tastier. Shawn Tubbs comes to mind... whoever the player was that did the solo on Matt Redman's "Better Is One Day" off "The Friendship and the Fear", etc.

again, i don't think it's bad to highlight a guitar player with massive talent. i just don't really find what LB does to be very tasteful/appropriate. i love players that move in that direction, that have those sorts of chops, but i've always felt that there's a very good and obvious reason why you don't have players like eric johnson doing solos on pop albums. they live in a specific realm which is conducive to "overplaying" or being "over-the-top" - when i hear LB's recordings, i just wish he'd calm down just a little bit.

Excellent post. I get what you're saying and respect your 2 cents. Thanks.

[Craig Walker]

i'll also leave room to stand corrected, considering i've never seen him live, and am basing my opinions entirely off what i've heard on album.

He's toned some of the 'flash' down on the new CD. There's a song called "Power of Your Name" you should check out on iTunes, if you can. Most of CD is still him doing his thing tho.

"Power" is very tasteful, in the vain you speak of. Think you might like it.