Congratulations AirForce Regional Champions

Minor changes to the site. No longer separated by chapters. Now by rank. Now, without further ado... The AirForce salutes the following AirForce members for their success in winning their US Air Guitar Regional Competitions. Tony Tapatio - Portland - a repeat win from the year before, moving up from Major to Lt. Colonel. Um - Seattle - our newest member to the AirForce, coming in as a Major, with the Seattle win. Mean Melin - Kansas City - what did you expect? Lt. Facemelter - San Diego - hometown advantage, no fair, up to Lt. Colonel, with another regional win. Six-String General - Los Angeles - also now a Lt. Colonel, with more than one regional win. Flying Finn - Minneapolis - Major props, not just for the regional win, but also, the awesome posters. Tommy Fretless - Wash, DC - taking the lead, for the rest of us to follow (baahaahaa). Van Dammage - Chicago - according to AirForce protocol, the DarkHorse is considered a regional, because you compete in the Nationals. Well done, troops.

2012 Air Guitar post-season

Greetings, troops. It was way cool to finally meet most of the troops in our AirForce, through the Tiger Claw West Coast Air Guitar Tour, ending at the Nationals in Denver. Claw didn’t have a chance to do any filming (too busy drinking, are you not surprised?). Claw also has no clue how to upload a video from YouTube, to the AirForce site. But there are alternatives. One is links. The other, is refreshing your bios on the left side of the AirForce site. The site will automatically add current videos, since both Blogger and YouTube are owned by Google. Some things just take care of themselves. Take a second to check out the ranks to the left. Promotions are in order for several of our officers, in addition to the last update, after Portland and Seattle. Promotions after SD, LA & SF, Six-String General (LA) is now a Lt. Colonel, after taking LA. In addition to Flying Finn moving up from Sgt-Major to Major, with a first-time regional win, is Van Dammage (Chicago, winning the Dark Horse in Boulder, CO). Yes, the Dark Horse counts. If a Dark Horse win entitles you to compete in the Nationals, alongside other regional winners, Claw will allow it. AirForce is proud to add Mormon Rockwell, as a new Captain. His dedication to air guitar was only overshadowed by his undying efforts to document the SoCal leg of the TC tour, which was accompanied by his Houston cohort and AirForce member, Brock McRock, and LA AirForce member, Shred Boy R.D. Special thanks to Boy R.D. for opening up his home and allowing the three of us to spread out on the floor, leaving only a few square feet for his son to continue with his Lego, on his quest to become the premier architect of his generation. Claw knows everyone regularly checks out the USAG site for more information. www.usairguitar.com. There are also a ton of videos up on www.youtube.com and www.vimeo.com, as well as other video and streaming sites. Congratulations to Airistotle for a kick-ass performance, and taking the National title. If the TC WC AG tour blog doesn’t end up on the USAG site, it will be posted here. Many times, the best stories happen off-stage, but in the case of Claw, it’s actually outside the venue, and on the road. I think you’ll enjoy it. 2012 was over-the-top, but only to be topped by 2013. Bring it on. Take a look to your left, and scroll down. We’ve amassed quite an impressive set of ranks here. Claw believes we are unmatched when it comes to global standings. We are elite. You are elite. Fuckin’ A.

Promotions in the Ranks..

The season isn't even over, and we got promotions in the ranks. Tony Tapatio, the 2011 Portland defending champion, took the 2012 Portland Regional, and jumps from Major to Lt. Colonel. Mean Melin, our MidWest (KC) Chapter Commander, took KC again. Tommy Fretless, our Mid-Atlantic (VA) Chapter Commander, took DC again, and is now a Lt. Colonel. Flying Finn is now a Major, taking Minneapolis this year. With San Diego, LA, and SF, still yet to be determined, the AirForce is strong.

And well represented, in Denver. Claw will even be there, but not competing. Claw's role is one of motivation and support nowadays. But also a force to be reckoned with, if y'all choose to attempt to party alongside. Try and keep up. There is no respect for lightweights.

Welcome Aboard..

...to the first couple of air guitar, Cleo Plectra and Van Dammage, the newest members of the Chi-Town Chapter of AirForce Command. Check the site. You're in the ranks. Unfortunately, when Blogger got bought by Google, and limited the video uploads to YouTube only, since YouTube is also owned by Google, everything went downhill from there. Now, Blogger has been redesigned. As soon as I figure it out, you guys will have your spot, alongside all the others. Google - kiss my fucking ass.

2012 Down and Dirty

The sleeping giant of the underworld, known as air guitar, has awoken, and is hungry like no tomorrow. The dates have been announced, however preliminary. There may be additional dates added, but SF is one day this year, there is no Houston, and the Nationals are scheduled for Denver, in spite of no regional at that location. It may still be added. But those that are scheduled, make plans, and get your ass in gear. Friday June 15 Portland Saturday June 16 Seattle Wednesday June 20 Boston Thursday June 21 New York Friday June 22 Philadelphia Friday June 22 Kansas City (first time for two on one date) Saturday June 23 Washington, DC Friday June 29 Chicago Saturday June 30 Minneapolis Thursday July 12 San Diego Friday July 13 Los Angeles Saturday July 14 San Francisco Nationals Saturday July 21 Denver Only 12 regions this year, down from 17. Some of youz will have a distance to drive. Mark your calendars. Dates subject to change, added, and deleted. Given the locations, all have AirForce representation. Elite air force in effect. More to follow.

Cold Steel in Times Square

Thanks to Southern Chapter Commander Brock McRock for catching this little diddy in New York's Times Square, featuring 3-time SF Regional Champion, Cold Steel Renegade.

The Fro, converting the enemy, for good...

This just in: The Fro, along with an army of air guitarists, dominates the Taliban, carrying our message across the globe. Half of this army just happens to be AirForce. BOOYAH.

Millie Wah Wah Keeee

Happy Holidays from the AirForce.

Red Fang Onslaught

October 25, 2011. Portland AirForce elite, Tony Tapatio, dominated the Red Fang Air Guitar Battle to rise to the top. As it should be. If you're going to stage a battle, expect at least one elite special force member to show up, air guitar axe in hand, to be swung, with vengeance, taking out everyone else in its path. Check out this over-the-top, excellently-represented performance that shows why Tony is elite.

tiger claw holiday snippet

Hey everyone, Claw was at a vendor holiday party, and the band saw me airing to them. during a break, air guitar was explained, as well the real guitar background, as a way of respect that we have for both. They also got the TC USAG trading card. During the second set, the band called out to Claw to join them for an impromptu cameo performance to J.J. Cale's The Breeze, made famous by Skynyrd. The video was taken by a work associate on his iPhone, so please excuse the grittiness on the visual. Also, it's only one minute, but hey, when we go onstage, all we get is a minute, as well.

Now if you look closely, the singer/guitarist is playing rhythm, and Claw was hearing Skynyrd in his head, so leads were being dropped in, up until the solo, where Claw was trying to match the singer's leads.

Enjoy.

Happy Holidays from SFAF HQ

Greetings from atop SF's Nob Hill, home of...The Claw, Commander-In-Chief of the SF AirForce, the world-wide elite air guitar special forces squadron. What you see above, is the ice skating rink in the downtown financial district of SF. Claw works right across the street, in the landmark Ferry Building. This is Claw's donation to the cause. You'll be proud to know, all the other signs along the wall, are paid for by sponsors. But Claw saw an open spot, and an opportunity to further our cause, at minimal expense, took our artwork to Kinko's to enlarge and laminate, and posted it to the wall, without anyone noticing. Why pay someone to promote you or your cause, if you can do it yourself, for a fraction of the cost.

Happy Holidays everyone.

(Coming shortly, which just happened tonight at a vendor's Christmas party, where the band saw Claw air guitaring to their music, at which time they asked Claw to join them onstage (in the corner) for The Breeze (they quoted J.J. Cale, since he was the original artist, even though Skynyrd made it famous), and Claw obliged. A co-worker got a minute of tape, for the benefit of us all.)

Hot Lixx in Rio - Live 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd2AdfM6bKY&feature=youtu.be

now this is something we need to incite, back here in the states...

Cold Steel @ El Rio

SF AirForce 3-time SF Regional Champion, in action, yet again. This time, at El Rio's, in the Mission. This guy has the club scene dialed in. check it out.

Conquest For Death..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=lT8AbQnk6dI

Conquest For Death had a killer show tonight, courtesy of former US Air Guitar world champion and SFAF general, Hot Lixx Hulahan, at the Knockout, in SF's Mission District, kicking off a world tour, starting in Brazil, tonight.

http://www.conquestfordeath.com/

It also was a reunion of the elite of the elite special forces. Two 3-time regional SF champions Awesome and Cold Steel Renegade, veteran air guitarist and even more a veteran of the metal club scene, Gobo, going back as far back as Claw himself, and joined by Tony Dilemma, we controlled the pits up front. Hot Lixx held down the stage, Gobo, thrashed in the pits, Claw held the line, and Awesome and CSR not only had our backs, but backed us up when things got a tad out of hand. My God, it was like the old times in the 80's. Thrashing, moshing, holding the line, protecting those behind us. How'd Claw do, guys? Damn, that was fun. Like riding a bike. Judas Priestess, you are dinged for not being there. LOL

Stay tuned for a video of CSR from a recent show. Hope all is well with our brothairs and sistairs. Please forward to Tony Dilemma and Nordic Thunder, as their emails are not on file yet. Thanks, from the Claw.

Free Air Guitars..

This great pic comes compliments of original Golden Gate Chapter SF AirForce member, fellow compatriate, and good friend, Judas Priestess. The picture speaks a thousand words. Makes Claw wonder just how used these air guitars are, that they would be given away for free. After all, Claw's hundreds of air guitars are pretty much priceless.

Cafe Du Renegade...

Thanks to Lt. Colonel Cold Steel Renegade for appearing and representing the under-appreciated art of air guitar, once again, outside the parameters of competition, and keeping the faith alive. Thanks are also in order to Shred Theodore Logan, Esq., for making his presence known, in a show of support and solidarity. Hangin with Logan tonight reinforced Claw's recognition of his passion and dedication for the art, and the AirForce is stronger with his inclusion.

The video is dark, yes, and you can blame the house for that, since they didn't bother to turn on the additional lights that highlight the normal acts the rock the stage. No respect, I tell ya. The music was a cool eclectic mix - pop, rap, rock. Claw almost ran up during the final Eagles solo from Dirty Laundry.



The initial post went out locally, but this is going out to all, simply as a reminder that we are worldwide, and if anyone has tape to offer, to send out to the masses, feel free to pass it along for inclusion on our site.

AirForce is in the house. The alcohol-burning funny cars of air guitar.

AirForce welcomes its newest member..

He won his first regional championship in 2006, again in 2008, and yet again in 2010. The pattern of 'even' years was broken, when he won, yet again, in 2011. All in the same region. What makes 2011 differ from the others, is not just the fact it was an odd year, but that he went on to win the National Championship, in the same town. This year.

As with many of our brothairs and sistairs, including Claw, injuries are not enough to deter us from our calling. This is common with sports and entertainment performers, that is based in passion for the art, and injuries that are worked through, in the process. Knee slides are more than just skin, and blood, shed, and bled. And this champion has had his share of skeletal/muscular damage done in the process, and persevered. You gotta love testosterone.

To be AirForce, requires even more. Not just wins on a regional, or national level, or even the world stage. Otherwise, everyone would be a part of the Force. No. Wins mean nothing. It was never about wins. Hell, half of the Force have no wins. Even Claw. It's about love and passion for what we do. And this guy exudes this passion, ha, in spite of his wins. (Not to mention the fact that the invitation comes only from the Claw. LOL)

I give you...Nordic Thunder. US Air Guitar trading card #6. Claw is no stranger to negative press. As are many others. But after reading and seeing all the posts between Colonel Nordic Thunder, and all the others he graciously opened his home to, scattered across his floors, raiding the fridge, desecrating the bathroom, and basically, turning his home into a fraternity house, because that's what we are, a fraternity/sorority, that is a love and passion even Claw would be hesitant to do. Just don't step on my cat. Combined with a multitude of props from everyone across the air guitar spectrum, it was determined Thunder deserved a place in the AirForce. Even better, he will represent a region not previously represented. Commander of the Chi-Town Chapter.

Please join Claw in welcoming Nordic Thunder into the family. Air guitar special forces. We are elite.

Claw project preview

Here is a sample of what's to come. The Tiger Claw Air Guitar Tech online tutorial. Three levels. Twelve speed sessions. Air guitar instruction. How to use actual guitar moves to improve and master air guitar. Without the struggle of playing by ear. Enjoy.

The Tiger Claw Air Guitar Technical Institute

The season is officially over, but that doesn't mean it has to end. For all you competitors out there, looking for an edge, help in certain areas where you are weak, or new to the game, welcome to the Tiger Claw Air Guitar Technical Institute. An online tutorial made up of speed sessions under 3 minutes, covering the basics (chords and scales), techniques, to enhance your performance, and genre-specific moves to expand your repertoire in the song choice department.

Remember: you may have the coolest costume, or the fanciest dance moves, but if you can't even play the guitar, to the tune of the song playing, it's not air guitar. And you WILL get dinged in the technical judging aspect. At least learn a few chops, and not embarrass yourself.

The TCAGTI is coming soon. After all is complete, one session per week. Of course, a DVD will be available in 2012, if you want the whole collection in one shot.

Stay tuned.

Also in the works for 2012, the Tiger Claw Air Guitar Invitational. A competition based solely on technical expertise. Most likely at a club too small for fancy dance moves, and costuming will cost you a point. Oh, did Claw mention cash prizes? He just did.

Stay tuned.