Today we get a behind-the-scenes look at the Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) Episode

This is the first in a series of posts that celebrate a series which brought LIVE MUSIC to the Internet. The concept of the show was ingenious. In 2007 Daryl Hall, the blonde half of Hall & Oates, recognized that the Internet had changed how music is done in the new millennium, and came up with an idea. Labels and radio stations no longer control the music world -- the Internet and social media are also major players.

An idea is born

In order to survive in the current musical envoronment, musical artists need to tour and cultivate a loyal fan base -- there is a degree of tribalism at work. So on the one hand live music has become essential, but on the other hand, a lot of popular music has become more about technology than musicianship.

So Daryl Hall's idea was to use his own home as a venue, have an great back up band made up of his own friends and band-mates, invite some legendary guests to come and play live in a relaxed atmosphere, and film the encounter in high quality. Recognizing the tribal element, he also sought out exceptional young talents for his show. Generally they play the guests music, but also cover songs from Daryl Hall. Thus Daryl Hall's fans are exposed to talented young artists they otherwise might never learn of, and the young artists fans become fans of the show.

He also struck a deal with the Palladia Network (owned by MTV) where, in addition to the Internet, the show is broadcast.

Eliot Lewis from the House Band

Meet Someone from the House Band

I had the opportunity to interview Eliot Lewis who is a multi instrumentalist and the longest-serving member of the highly respected house band on Live from Daryl’s House. On the show he generally handles the keyboard and backup vocal duties, but as a solo artist you are likely to find him on lead guitar.

For thirteen years prior to joining the Hall & Oates band he was a member of the legendary Average White Band, playing bass, guitar, keyboards, and singing.

Before joining the AWB he was a contract songwriter with Sony and later Warner Brothers. As a young man he learned the ropes and did session work with the highly successful producer Dan Hartman (who is known to the public as the bass player and rhythm guitar player for the Edgar Winter Group.)

In the interview he also shared some extraordinary musical adventures he had as a young teenager. His friend's father was in the music industry, and as a tween and teen he was backstage at concerts by stars like Elton John, and even jammed in his friends basement with Peter Frampton at the height of his success.

VIDEO--Billy Gibbons on LFDH and Eliot Lewis gets a chance to play guitar for a change.

From the Interview about Billy Gibbons

Alan Bryson: I'd seen you play bass on the episode with the Doors and I'd seen you play acoustic guitar on an episode, but I wasn't prepared for what I saw on the Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top episode – how cool was that when Billy Gibbons says, “Let me hear a little bit of guitar,” and I see my keyboard guy just rippin' it up! I couldn't believe it, that was great.

Eliot Lewis: After that show I got a lot of respone from people, some asked, “You weren't behind the keyboards, and who is this new guitar player.” There was actually a lot of confusion about that show, until people realized that it was me. If you had been just watching the show, you might be asking, “Who is this guy?”

Alan Bryson: Because the smiling laidback keyboard guy is suddenly in a leather jacket and you're just rippin' it up!

Eliot Lewis: Well that's really more me than anything. Because that's what I do in my career, it's mostly about me being a guitar player. So what happened in that episode was that Billy was bringing in a keyboard player and then it ended up being two keyboard players, each for different things. So Shane, our new musical director guitar player, asked Billy, “You know Eliot is a great guitar player, do you want an extra guitar player?” And Billy said, “Yes, the more the better, because I love big guitars and lots of guitars happening around me.”

It was a pinch-me moment for sure, having him look over and say, “You wanna take a solo on this?” We just mixed it up, and it was a really great moment, because really Jeff Beck and Billy Gibbons were two of my main guitar influences all my life. So doing that was very special.

Alan Bryson: I think you might agree with me on this. There are some people who just embody a quality, and when I think of Billy Gibbons I think of cool – what a cool guy, there's no getting around it is there?

Eliot Lewis: He is, he's so cool, and he was as cool as I was hoping he was going to be. He was a sweetheart, he came in and he literally had gifts for everybody. He had some dice and a bottle of tequila for everybody. He's obviously an incredible wealth of information about blues music, and he and Daryl seemed to connect really well. It was a great experience.

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Thanks for stopping by, and stay tuned for some more great musical surprises.

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Photos are YouTube screen captures with effects by @roused

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