Music Minded: The NAMM Show '23: Day 1 Report - John Fogerty, Brandi Carlile and John Taylor

Photo: Bob Steshetz

On April 13, the 2023 edition of The NAMM Show returned to the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California. Last held in June instead of the traditional January dates on the calendar, this year's event was 20 percent larger and had 200 more exhibitors. There were over 3,500 exhibiting brands and 200+ music panels and sessions.

Day 1 got off to a winning start with the Breakfast of Champions session hosted by NAMM President and CEO Joe Lamond. It featured Grammy-winning singer/songwriter/guitarist John Fogerty, who was presented with the Music for Life Award and sat for a Q&A.

Lamond has led the Carlsbad-based not-for-profit association NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) for 20+ years and will be retiring from the position. His replacement is music education advocate John Mlynczak. As a surprise, Lamond's predecessor presented him with a Music for Life Award and Mlynczak teasingly put Lamond in the interviewee chair.

Photo: Bob Steshetz

During Fogerty's brief chat with Lamond, he relayed how serving in the military during the 1960s affected his music. "We got vocal about the war in Vietnam. It was the first time a whole generation was questioning government policy and not told the truth about" why we were there. "That came out in my songwriting, obviously, with 'Fortunate Son,' like a flaming arrow. "I had the viewpoint that sending kids off to die for business" was useless. "I couldn't help myself."

Fogerty was honorably discharged from Army active duty in 1967. Immediately after, he went to a drugstore and bought a small notebook to jot down song titles and other ideas. At NAMM, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer took that binder out and showed it to Lamond and the audience. It was amazing to see. Then he discussed how the tune "Proud Mary" was written. "I knew it was a classic" right away. "I knew I had written a great song," he said. "I thought, 'I hope I can do this again.''

Elsewhere in the discussion, Fogerty recalled the influence of a music teacher as a kid and that even though he was shy, he'd sometimes go over to a piano at school and start playing "Do You Wanna Dance" and suddenly the other students started dancing. "I met two of the guys from Creedence Clearwater Revival in that room later on."

About having perseverance, Fogerty said, "If people say you're no good and that stops you, you probably weren't meant for this job." Fogerty had just started describing how 2020 album Fogerty's Factory recorded with his children came about when a false alarm rang out and the conference room had to be cleared. I could have listened to him talk for hours.

Sheldon Dingwall on April 12/Photo: Bob Steshetz

On the main trade show floor, Sheldon Dingwall, founder of Canada's Dingwall Guitars, did a special presentation of the new limited edition John Taylor signature Rio Dream Bass. Reps from collaborator Rupert Neve Designs, which crafted the onboard preamp, were on hand.

Taylor's assistant described how the orange and green pastel stripes paid subtle tribute to Duran Duran's Rio album design without being "overtly obvious." She also pointed out two small symbols used by the band in the '80s (such an eye) on the guitar's fretboard and headstock that fans will instantly recognize. Each bass guitar is individually numbered and includes a Hipshot Drop D Xtender key, special string pack, spare cream pickguard and custom gig bag.

Currently on tour in Europe, Taylor said that the bass felt "intuitive to me from the moment I picked it up and immediately made me wonder why all bass guitars aren't made like this. It just felt so good."

The musician used another Dingwall model to record Duran Duran's latest album Future Past. Only 83 were made available in cranberry pearl and sold out instantly. Another run is expected in black, vintage white and seafoam colors. dingwallguitars.com

Upstairs, the TEC Tracks Session "Producing and Uncovering the Artist in the Studio" featured producer/engineer Dave Way in conversation with Brandi Carlile. She recalled how country music was perceived in Seattle during the grunge rock explosion.

Photo: George A. Paul

There were humorous anecdotes about being around and producing Tanya Tucker's album While I'm Livin', details on the forthcoming release by Brandy Clark and a new artist she's been working with lately. Snippets of songs were played too.

Carlile revealed her approach as a producer and what role early mentor Rick Rubin played in her career. Also, Carlile touched upon her friendship and playing onstage with Joni Mitchell. The songwriting legend has a rare concert with Carlile scheduled for June at The Gorge near Seattle as part of the latter's annual Echoes Through the Canyon shows.

Here are more sights seen around The NAMM Show on Thursday...