2010 fadeout...

The Claw says fadeout, because that's what music does. Nothing more fun than a song we're air guitaring to, has a solo at the end, on the fadeout. Ozzy is famous for that, mostly during the Randy Rhoads era, notheless...

2010 was a banner year. Our SF Comp was held at the Fillmore, with killer posters as awesome mementos, especially for this native, born & raised. But as each year passes, the next always holds the hope of surpassing the past. More often than not, it does. But each of you alone, and all of us as a team, must contribute, take part, and make it so, for it to truly happen.

Hope all of you had a successful and cheerful holiday. It's now onto bigger and better things. Keep your spirits up, and your dreams alive. Airness - that final level, should be strived for at all times. Claw leaves you with his rendition of airness he recently posed to a fellow SFAF officer, General, and friend:

AIRNESS - the art of playing music on something that others cannot see, but exists on a different plane, in a parallel universe. The air guitar is made up of pure energy. And like I've said many times, airness is not that which any governing body, be it local, regional, national, or global, describes as the one thing that separates one from the rest, by some means that stand out other than the air guitar. Airness is the final level, when you've transcended to the point the audience thinks and believes you actually know guitar, and know how to play that song on a real guitar, and then are subsequently labeled a sandbagger; when in fact, you don't how to play at all (except for maybe two chords and one scale). That's airness.

Here's to bigger and better things for the year to come.

High-Level Promotion, and deservedly so..

It is with the utmost honor that the SF AirForce can bestow, I hereby appoint the rank of General, to the legend himself, the producer of Air Guitar Nation, countless competitions on all levels, with championships a hair out of reach, but that doesn't matter in the big scheme of things, and the current host of the US Air Guitar tour, Bjorn Turoque.

He will share to the top level with his peer, former World Champion, General Hot Lixx. Of course, you know what that means. Hot Lixx is a General because he won a World Championship; so by being a judge on the tour, which, correct me if I'm wrong, no other World Champion from the US has done, may have earned him a second star. I'll have to contemplate this on the tree of woe. Can I get a witness?!

Congratulations, General Bjorn.

Hot Lixx In Action, for a good cause...

http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/under-the-dome/Students-host-fashion-show-for-AIDS-awareness-108012264.html

This is a link to an SF Examiner story about a fashion show benefit for AIDS, coming up tomorrow night. Whoa. That was quick. If you're in the neighborhood, swing by and pay your respects, pay your dues, pay something, even if it's just paying attention. Hot Lixx, a former air guitar world champion, and a general in our SF AirForce, will be on hand for the event.

Hotel Utah video release

Here it is, troops. The video of Cold Steel Renegade last Saturday at Hotel Utah. Until I figure out how to restore a certain feature on my home computer that will allow me to see certain video sources for youtube, only a small percentage shows up on my screen. When uploading youtube videos, there's always a set of 4, and it appears that if there are not 4 videos to fill the slots, something else is dropped in by youtube. Ignore them. Check out the link on the left, titled, CSR-Hotel Utah. I can see his video in the first block, the other 3, nothing, so I have no idea what's there. Eventually, when I get digital pics to upload, i can link those pics directly to the videos, and cut out the youtube 4-blocks. Like with the Judas Priestess pics. It's why i need photos people.

Anyway, take 5 minutes to watch the CSR-Hotel Utah video. You'll see why US Air Guitar needs to expand from 1-min performances to at least 2 minutes. Five minutes, while being the length of a full song, and could be hard to hold the audience, a mash-up of one-minute spots, into a collage, will keep everyone on board. Especially if you work an equally-enticing choreography to go with it, not to mention keeping it synchronized throughout. CSR did this right.

Some points to watch for: the lady who came up on stage was not part of the program. She was a total gamer, and didn't overstay her welcome. Major kudos. And while a lot of the performance was mostly dancing and preening, in a positive way, since it was totally synchronized, the air guitar I did see, was pretty good, technically speaking. Claw believes if CSR were to enter the soon-to-be-coming Tiger Claw Invitational, where only technical is judged, and costuming and choreography are non-existent, he would be a contender, unlike 90% of most air guitarists. Wouldn't be Claw if I didn't throw down the gauntlet.

Enjoy the video.

Crushing The Jingle Bells...(ouch)

Well, it appears the video cannot be uploaded without actually purchasing it. But, as always, Claw has found a way to get out of it. Lemme tell you bout...

Sorry, the Crue came to mind there. And I'm not even in the bathroom. Can't upload the video, but I can upload the link to the video, if I have a photo to upload, and attach the link to the photo.

Crusher? Hey wake up. You got a digital pic? How about an action shot where you're taking down a bail runner taking flight?

Crusher. The new Dog.

e-yule-tide update

April, you're right. I thought I saw him in there, too. But I have updated info. This production comes compliments of The Crusher. A solo effort and a brilliant production, at that. Props to Crusher. This is worthy of addition to the AirForce database. By the time you see this, it will be added. Question is, where. Use your skills people.

e-yule-tide greetings

check this out. Brought to you by The Crusher. Claw needs more details. The drummer is wearing the same glasses that Awesome wears, so there's some curiosity if this was created by several of our air guitar brethren.

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/XnaI55gsQZWrrw3I?ref=nf

by the way, it's good to see jibjab is still around. Claw was enjoying there stuff 10 years ago back at the turn of the century.

Reality Air Check..

Got new tats earlier today. On one arm, Chinese characters for dragon, tiger & crane, representing 3 of the 5 Shaolin animals. Martial Arts. A discipline one practices 24/7. On the other arm, Chinese characters for honor and respect, representing what we do at work, at home, and all other endeavors, including air guitar. After CSR's enlightening performance tonight, and watching "Iron Eagle" upon returning home, it reaffirms my dedication and devotion to our underground art.

It is for those reasons that are the basis for the foundation of the SF AirForce. I just wanted to say thank you for being a part of something that represents us as a whole. Something to be proud of. And as far as I know, we, the SF AirForce, are the first of its kind. A battalion. A squadron. A force to be reckoned with. Unequaled in any other US market. Or country, for that matter.

We are unique in what we do, no matter how it is perceived by others. Above all else, honor and respect.

TC quotes:

Airness is next to godliness.

The air guitar is mightier than the sword.

Air guitar is not a birthrite; it is defined by one's fingers.

It is not whether you win or lose, but HOW you air guitar.

Veni, vidi, flying V - I came, I saw, I wailed.

To air is human; to wail is devine.

Cold Steel Renegade Raises The Bar..

For the record - as much as Claw pushes the technical aspect, he realizes it is only a part of the total picture that secures a competition win. That bigger picture was proven tonight, in more ways than one.

First, the one minute we're given/allowed for the annual regional air guitar competitions, is completely and utterly insubstantial and a pure lack of any possible time it takes to show any real skills in the field of air guitar.

Second, Cold Steel Renegade, who held the stage for more than 5 minutes; actually, it was more like 10 minutes, pulled off a performance that was not only top-shelf, but had the audience in awe.

His performance showed exactly why he is a champion. US Air Guitar should seriously consider expanding the performance time to 2-5 minutes, at least on a national level. CSR's musical montage spanned a variety of musical genres, and expertly cut'n'spliced between each. Claw knows. Claw worked in radio doing the same production-type scenarios.

Even better, his on-stage choreography was obviously practiced over and over, but when it came time to throw down, his performance was flawless. Tiger Claw was truly impressed, as was everyone else who attended.

But Tiger Claw wouldn't be Tiger Claw if he didn't say, "the recipe could use a tad more air guitar". Yeah, everyone's a critic. Renegade, excellent performance. 5 stars. Why you're not a National Champion is beyond Claw.

We want video. The ranks deserve it.

US Air Guitar Champion sighted..

This just in: Romeo Dance Cheetah, the 2010 US Champion, has been reportedly spotted in town, here in SF. No word yet as to his whereabouts. Other AirForce personnel are hot on his heels. Claw is hoping an appearance by RDC will occur at tomorrow's CSR performance at Hotel Utah. Show starts at 9pm. This is an SF AirForce-sanctioned event, which means, $1.00 off the door admission, and a beer, or whatever else it is you drink. Badges will be available for those who haven't gotten theirs yet. All in good time, people.

Cold Steel Renegade...at it again..

Hosting AND performing at Hotel Utah, 4th & Bryant Sts, in SF. He's first on a bill of four. Show starts at 9pm. Admission is $8.00. Tiger Claw will be there. Other SF AirForce members maybe, maybe not. Many are in the field on special assignment, but being the jedi masters of air guitar that they are, will be there representing the Force.

Stephen Colbert caught on air guitar tape

Stephen Colbert, our late night comedic political journalist, received a 5-year Excellence award. He was so enthralled, he had to show us how he celebrates, in a montage of multiple celebrations over the years, in superior air guitar fashion. Got this link, which is Colbert's site, www.colbertnation.com. It's a 6-minute clip, but the air guitar montage, which lasts 30 seconds, starts at the 3:25 mark.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/363110/october-25-2010/who-s-honoring-me-now----colbert-nation-five-years-of-excellence-award

Enjoy...I did...he'll be hearing from me shortly...maybe we should bestow upon him an honorary membership in the SF AirForce...

What You've Missed So Far..

...but won't in the future.

Shred Nugent rocked in his rock opera, Abigail, two months ago. Not only did he write the music score, he played guitar during the live performance. a true, real, authentic rock opera, in every sense. An old-school b/w film, as a variation on the traditional Salem witch trials, showing on the screen, behind a live band, playing the music score, with Shred on guitar, and actors and actresses performing the opera in front of them. 3-D on a whole new level.

Cold Steel Renegade performed on stage at the recent Japantown Street Festival last month. Friends, family, as well as his "Steel Reserve" unit, as I like to call it. You know, like the national reserve, and a direct reference to Claw's fave beer, Steel Reserve. All I need is their names to add them as Lieutenants to the SF AirForce. Help me out Renegade. He also recently hosted/MC'd a fundraiser for the SF Bicycle Coalition at Cafe Du Nord, a week ago.

If anyone else has upcoming dates, gigs, appearances, exhibitions, performances, etc, lemme know. we'll get the word out.

First And Foremost...Props, Where Props Are Due...

Welcome to SF AirForce, the elite group of air guitar warriors, and never-say-die mercenaries, taking the field of air guitar by storm.

Always remember that the forces of nature are all-powerful, of which one of them is AIR.

Check out the ranks to the left, along with their videos and pictures of past performances (mine are on the right - evens out the page). Ranks are bestowed accordingly, based on wins on all levels, and appearances. But most importantly, ALL ARE ELITE.

Like most sites, this is a work-in-progress, and updated regularly. Submittals from any and all of us will be posted, along with upcoming appearances, exhibitions, performances, etc, from all of us. So be sure and bookmark this page, either under favorites, or right up there on the link bar. Right next to US Air Guitar.

Debut Introduction

Welcome to our new blog spot, SF AirForce, representing the elite air guitarists of the SF Bay Area. Check out all the videos, pictures, etc. Like I said, we are the Jedi masters of air guitar.

But more importantly, I can't think of a better way to debut the site than to drop in an honor bestowed upon me, just 3 days ago.


Profiles of Excellence in the Field of Magnificence
DateFriday, October 15, 2010 at 11:17PM

We present this plaque, via jpeg (go to www.usairguitar.com to see), to those who go above and beyond the call of doody.

Since its inception nearly 7 months ago, we have awarded the bimonthly Profile of Excellence in the Field of Magnificence a total of once. But now, US Air Guitar is doubling its commitment to honoring the country's finest professional air guitarists for demonstrating frank AND beans in BOTH on AND off seasons.

It is with great vengeance and furious anger that we lowly ranks and files bestow the 2010 tax extension deadline's Profile of Excellence in the Field of Magnificence upon TIGER CLAW (Dan LaFever).

In response to this heightiest of high honors, Tiger Claw responds, "The elite air guitar special forces from San Francisco, that seeks, and succeeds in, air guitar domination . . . the Bay Area [and it's surrounding areas, Seattle, Chicago, and the Atlantic Northeast] is home to the world's most dominant air guitarists. From World Champion Hot Lixx Hulahan, to legendary Bjorn Turoque (close enough), to multiple regional winners, Awesome, Cold Steel Renegade, Shred Nugent, and even Ricky StinckyFingers, who relocated to, and heads the NY field office (news to him). We are, the Jedi masters, of air guitar."

Exactly.

Here's another lil' some'a'sum from his greatest hits album, of which there are 233:

From the desk of Tiger Claw . . .

Craziest of all, in 2008 Tiger Claw suffered a stroke. His medical team promised a career in professional air guitar was out of the question. A few weeks later he was shredding in front of a sell out crowd at The Independent. Fevisms #244: In order to suffer a stroke, one must first believe that strokes exist.

Comment3 Comments
Reader Comments (3)

TIGER CLAW is my fuckin' Jesus.
October 16, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterShred Boy R D

Stroke of genius more like
October 16, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterZero Prospects

I have Tiger Claw's Baseball card......and his child inside me.
October 17, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterDirty Airy

I am deeply humbled, and honored...
Thanks everyone...