Guthrie Govan - New Band, New Album, New Tours, New Guitar and New Amp!
June 2, 2011
Sensational rock-fusion guitar virtuoso Guthrie Govan is making major waves in the guitar community this year with the formation of a super power trio called The Aristocrats which has just finished recording a studio album, appearance on the cover of Guitar Player magazine's July issue with a major feature article/interview, embarking on world tours with the new supergroup, playing his third and most unique Suhr Signature Model guitar, and using Suhr and CAA amplifiers for both the studio and the road. The 'Guthrie Era' has indeed arrived in full force and Suhr Guitars is excited and proud to be part of making it all happen.
First, here's the lowdown on The Aristocrats:
featuring Guthrie Govan, Bryan Beller & Marco Minnemann
Featuring three of the most accomplished virtuosos in the world in the genre of rock-fusion instrumental music, The Aristocrats was formed shortly after January, 2011 after rock guitar sensation Guthrie Govan (Asia, Erotic Cakes, Dizzee Rascal), drum phenom Marco Minnemann (Adrian Belew, Necrophagist, UKZ), and bassist extraordinaire Bryan Beller (Steve Vai, Dethklok, Mike Keanelly) got together to do an impromptu Bass Bash event during NAMM. The three musicians hit it off so well in terms of musical interplay and chemistry that they immediately said after the show that they need to do this again. That talk evolved into making a debut album and the new fledgling supergroup went into the studio in Chicago in late-April to record the album which will be released in the summer of 2011.
The music of The Aristocrats can be viewed as a melting pot of virtuosic guitar instrumental music reminiscent of "G3" artists like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, etc.; the legendary 70's jazz-rock fusion music of seminal bands like the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever, and Weather Report; the complex progressive rock of Frank Zappa, King Crimson, The Dixie Dregs, and UK; and the rock improvisational spirit of Cream, the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Jeff Beck. Alternately raw, sophisticated, intense, intricate, soulful, eclectic, lyrical and supremely musical, The Aristocrats sets a new standard for excellence in adventurous rock-fusion music that retains the energy of rock while exploring the outer limits of fusion that encompasses jazz, progressive, metal, blues, and even modern electronica-techno with a stunningly cohesive ensemble sound.
See it and hear it all from this incredible new band that takes the power trio concept to a whole new level. If you are musically eclectic and have always wondered what it'd be like if a band of virtuoso musicians can fuse disparate musical styles and genres into one wholly integrated sound and style, The Aristocrats is the band you've been waiting for. The music of The Aristocrats is also where complex musical compositions and myriad tonal soundscapes meet challenging improvisations and creative spontaneity. The Aristocrats is about taking rock-fusion into a new realm of uncharted musical territories. Come see and hear music that is simply unprecedented...
Come see this incredible new band in action.
These are the tour dates for 2011:
U.S. WEST COAST
June 18 Sat, 6PM
Wild West Guitars / Voodoo Lounge in Riverside, CA (More info »)
June 19 Sun 6PM
Alva's Showroom in San Pedro, CA (60 seats only) (More info »)
June 21 Tue 9:30PM and 11:30PM (two sets)
The Baked Potato in Studio City, CA (More info »)
June 22 Wed 9:30PM and 11:30PM (two sets)
The Baked Potato in Studio City, CA (More info »)
June 24 Fri 8PM and 10PM (two sets)
Biscuits & Blues' Union Room in San Francisco, CA (More info »)
FAR EAST ASIA
July 18 ~ July 23
Two concerts and various clinics in Seoul, Korea
July 19 & 20 Tue & Wed 8PM
Hongik University V-Hall in Seoul, Korea
July 25 ~ Aug 2
Seven shows in Sendai, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kochi
The Aristocrats - Japan Tour 2011 (More info »)
Supporting disaster relief from 3/11 Earthquake/Tsunami
Jul 26 & 27 Tue & Wed
enn 2nd / Sendai with local opening acts (More info »)
Special disaster relief/support day 1 & 2
Doors open at 6:30PM, show time 7PM both nights
6,500yen for advance purchase, 7,000yen for show day purchase
Jul 28 Thu
Club Goodman / Tokyo (More info »)
Doors open at 6:30PM, show time 7:30PM
7,500yen for advance purchase, 8,000yen for show day purchase
Jul 29 Fri
Thumb’s Up / Yokohama (More info »)
Doors open at 6:30PM, show time 7:30PM
7,000yen for advance purchase, 7,500yen for show day purchase
Jul 30 Sat
Bottom Line / Nagoya (More info »)
Doors open at 6:00PM, show time 7:00PM
7,000yen for advance purchase, 7,500yen for show day purchase
Aug 1 Mon
BIGCAT / Osaka (More info »)
Doors open at 6:30PM, show time 7:30PM
7,000yen for advance purchase, 7,500yen for show day purchase
Aug 2 Tue
Caravan Sary / Kochi (More info »)
Doors open at 7:00PM, show time 7:30PM
7,000yen for advance purchase, 7,500yen for show day purchase
U.S. / CANADA NORTHEAST
- Dates, venues and showtimes to be announced
Sep 24 Sat
Southeastern Guitar and Amp Show in Raleigh, NC - confirmed
Sep 26 Mon
Washington DC - process of booking
Sep 27 Tue
Guthrie clinic at The Music Zoo, New York - confirmed
Sep 28 Wed
New York - confirmed
Sep 29 Thu
Boston (Berklee Performance Center) - confirmed
Sep 30 Fri
Clinics at Berklee College of Music - confirmed
Oct 2 - Sun
Burlington, VT - confirmed
Oct 4 Tue
Montreal, Canada - confirmed
Oct 6 Thu
Toronto, Canada - confirmed
Oct 7 Fri
Toronto, Canada - confirmed
Oct 8 Sat or 9 Sun
Chicago, Illinois - booked
This US/Canada tour will cover Sep 24 ~ Oct 9. More detailed info of venues and showtimes to come over the next few weeks. Stay tuned!
Throughout these tours, Guthrie will be playing his beloved new Signature guitar now known as the Guthrie Govan Antique Modern through the Badger 30 head through a Suhr 2x12 cabinet. Guthrie used the Badger 30 head and a CAA PT100 head for The Aristocrats debut album recording sessions as well. Hear Guthrie's "All-Suhr" tone on the upcoming album and on these tours. You will not want to miss this - it is history in the making!
