http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-14358319
SF Air Force Colonel and UK Chapter Commander, Wild Thing 37, leads the WOMAD festival audience in an all-out air guitar extravaganza, breaking the world record along the way. To Jimi Hendrix, no less. We are proud.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
2011 US Air Guitar National Championship
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=2011+us+air+guitar+Chicago+national+championships&aq=f
Videos from the 2011 US Air Guitar National Championship in Chicago. Also, individual video pages on the left, have been updated to reflect current performances.
Videos from the 2011 US Air Guitar National Championship in Chicago. Also, individual video pages on the left, have been updated to reflect current performances.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Nationals update..
from the Chicago Tribune, a photo gallery that is truly awesome:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-110724-airguitar-pictures,0,1484505.photogallery
and now, Nordic Thunder, and Claw must say, the fingers were flying:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/25/us-air-guitar-champion-ju_n_909045.html#s315819
great article from the Gapers-Block, including video:
http://gapersblock.com/transmission/2011/07/25/nordic_thunder_takes_home_the_us_air_guitar_2011_national_title/
From US Air Guitar
http://usairguitar.com/post/8039259560/hometown-hero-nordic-thunder-takes-championship-belt
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-110724-airguitar-pictures,0,1484505.photogallery
and now, Nordic Thunder, and Claw must say, the fingers were flying:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/25/us-air-guitar-champion-ju_n_909045.html#s315819
great article from the Gapers-Block, including video:
http://gapersblock.com/transmission/2011/07/25/nordic_thunder_takes_home_the_us_air_guitar_2011_national_title/
From US Air Guitar
http://usairguitar.com/post/8039259560/hometown-hero-nordic-thunder-takes-championship-belt
Sunday, July 24, 2011
US Air Guitar, in the books...but not over yet!
Tiger Claw reporting from AirForce Headquarters. The Nationals are done, and Nordic Thunder is our US Air Guitar National Champion. The competition was close. Here is the top ten: 1 - Nordic Thunder, 2 - Airistotle, 3 - RomeoDance Cheetah, 4 - Tony Tapatio, 5 - Windhammer, 6 - Tommy Fretless, 7 - Dry Ice, 8 - Airisol, 9 - Lt. Facemelter, 10 - Dreamcatcher.
Congratulations to our other AirForce members for giving their all: Shred Nugent, Cold Steel Renegade, Brock McRock, Mean Melin, Six-String General, and Shred Boy RD. Claw has no doubt everyone had a great time in Chi-Town.
Keep the dream alive. And cheer on Thunder to bring the world gold back to the US. We'll do it all again next year.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Stats Please..
first off, those of you competing in the Dark Horse (Brock, Whalin), it's tomorrow night. July 21. not Friday. Not the night of the national competition. TOMORROW. Check www.usairguitar.com for the official flyer for the Dark Horse.
and for those of you who haven't been keeping track, Claw has been. It's his job. Logistics. His middle name. In fact, you can call him, LogistiClaw. claw likes to think, and is honored to assist, as USAG's companion site for this info. Here is the rundown for the US Air Guitar National Championship, as it went down for the last two months:
5/12 - Chicago Nordic Thunder
5/13 - Denver Dreamcatcher
5/19 - Kansas City Mean Melin (SF AirForce)
5/21 - Austin Vlad DM Waillin
6/8 - Milwaukee Dry Ice
6/9 - Kalamazoo Thundergland
6/10 - Minneapolis Airisol (SF AirForce)
6/11 - Washington Tommy Fretless
6/15 - NY Airistotle
6/16 - Brooklyn Shreddy Mercury
6/17 - Boston McNallica
6/18 - Philadelphia Windhammer
6/24 - SF Shred Nugent (SF AirForce)
6/25 - SF Cold Steel Renegade (SF AirForce)
7/8 - Seattle Lt. Facemelter (SF AirForce)
7/9 - Portland Tony Tapatio
7/14 - Los Angeles Shred Boy R.D. (SF AirForce)
7/15 - San Diego Six-String General (SF AirForce)
As you can see, out of 18, the SF AirForce is represented by 7. Congratulations to all for the undying efforts for air guitar.
and for those of you who haven't been keeping track, Claw has been. It's his job. Logistics. His middle name. In fact, you can call him, LogistiClaw. claw likes to think, and is honored to assist, as USAG's companion site for this info. Here is the rundown for the US Air Guitar National Championship, as it went down for the last two months:
5/12 - Chicago Nordic Thunder
5/13 - Denver Dreamcatcher
5/19 - Kansas City Mean Melin (SF AirForce)
5/21 - Austin Vlad DM Waillin
6/8 - Milwaukee Dry Ice
6/9 - Kalamazoo Thundergland
6/10 - Minneapolis Airisol (SF AirForce)
6/11 - Washington Tommy Fretless
6/15 - NY Airistotle
6/16 - Brooklyn Shreddy Mercury
6/17 - Boston McNallica
6/18 - Philadelphia Windhammer
6/24 - SF Shred Nugent (SF AirForce)
6/25 - SF Cold Steel Renegade (SF AirForce)
7/8 - Seattle Lt. Facemelter (SF AirForce)
7/9 - Portland Tony Tapatio
7/14 - Los Angeles Shred Boy R.D. (SF AirForce)
7/15 - San Diego Six-String General (SF AirForce)
As you can see, out of 18, the SF AirForce is represented by 7. Congratulations to all for the undying efforts for air guitar.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
AirForce United...
Congratulations to all our brothairs and sistairs on their victories. When we couldn't take one region, we took another. We are unstoppable. And that's what sets us apart from all the rest. It's why we are family. It's why we are...AirForce.
Quick changes: in name only. To maintain titles and URL's, we will always be SF AirForce, as a point of origin, and the foundation and headquarters. But it is obvious we have grown outside of our original family. There are many who hail from elsewhere, but who have also competed here in SF. To isolate those from here, those from there who compete here, and those from there, who have yet to compete here, is a disservice and has become irrelevant to the purpose of the family, overall. Since we are all family, and we are all in it together, here, there, and abroad, those from here, will be known from this point forward, as Golden Gate Chapter members, as well as those from there, who have competed here. (I toiled with Pacific for awhile, but that would conflict with Southern CA, so I went with the name used by the oldest HOG Chapter in the US.) Everyone in other chapters have been incorporated into the ranks, as it should be.
Rank Promotions: We've got several promotions within the ranks that should be honored. Shred Nugent has been a Major (one regional) since his San Jose win in 2007, but with his recent victory in SF in 2011, he is now, Lt-Colonel(2+ regionals), and joins his fellow Golden Gate members, Awesome and Cold Steel Renegade. Our SoCal Commander in San Diego, Lt. Facemelter, who was also a Major, with one win in SD a couple years back, has taken Seattle this year, raising him up to the next rank, which means even though he goes by Lt. Facemelter, technically, he is officially Lt-Colonel Facemelter. And...two Sgt-Majors (multiple appearances) who hail from other regions, but are also Golden Gate Chapter members, have finally won their first Regional Championships, raising them from Sgt-Majors to full Majors. Shred Boy RD, out of LA, winning LA; and Six-String General, out of LA, and NY, as well competing in Vegas and SF, multiple times (talk about a nomad), took San Diego. While Claw will continue to not speak on behalf of the family, it is with great honor Claw congratulates these individuals for the success they have brought to their regions, and to the family known as the AirForce.
Nationals: This is what it comes down to, what it's all about. Team AirForce are on their way to Chicago. 7 to be exact. As is 2 others, Southern Chapter Commander Brock McRock, out of Houston, and PacNorWest Chapter Commander, Whalin BigAir, out of Portland, representing us in the Dark Horse, in an effort to compete alongside the rest of the family. BigAir will have a second opportunity, if he takes the Dark Horse, to take it and compete not just alongside the family, but also against his fellow Airpocalypse brethren, Tony Tapatio.
As Claw has said before, it matters not if you have won or not. Claw has yet to win, along with many others. Many in the family have become champions, after becoming family. That is called success. Some are new members, but not all, and those new members are members because they exhibit not just the skills or determination, but because they have the desire to do this. Compete if you will, but to extoll the passion for air guitar, in spite of whatever fear exists in doing so in front of a live crowd, well, that alone makes you worthy. Congratulations to our winners, and our newest members.
And lastly, Claw would like to make a new promise, same as the old promise. In SF, two trophies were created for the two Golden Gate members who scored the highest on both days, whether they won or not. Backstage. Private ceremony. Thanks to US Air Guitar, the AirForce was honored to present each days' actual winner with the subsequent trophies, Airforce or not. It was our destiny. Both days were taken by AirForce members. And so it goes with The Nationals, in Chicago. Claw understands there is an award on the National level. Cool. But as an incentive, if any of the AirForce takes the National title, Claw will have a trophy waiting for you. 2011 US Air Guitar Champion - Chicago, IL " ? ? ?"{
Quick changes: in name only. To maintain titles and URL's, we will always be SF AirForce, as a point of origin, and the foundation and headquarters. But it is obvious we have grown outside of our original family. There are many who hail from elsewhere, but who have also competed here in SF. To isolate those from here, those from there who compete here, and those from there, who have yet to compete here, is a disservice and has become irrelevant to the purpose of the family, overall. Since we are all family, and we are all in it together, here, there, and abroad, those from here, will be known from this point forward, as Golden Gate Chapter members, as well as those from there, who have competed here. (I toiled with Pacific for awhile, but that would conflict with Southern CA, so I went with the name used by the oldest HOG Chapter in the US.) Everyone in other chapters have been incorporated into the ranks, as it should be.
Rank Promotions: We've got several promotions within the ranks that should be honored. Shred Nugent has been a Major (one regional) since his San Jose win in 2007, but with his recent victory in SF in 2011, he is now, Lt-Colonel(2+ regionals), and joins his fellow Golden Gate members, Awesome and Cold Steel Renegade. Our SoCal Commander in San Diego, Lt. Facemelter, who was also a Major, with one win in SD a couple years back, has taken Seattle this year, raising him up to the next rank, which means even though he goes by Lt. Facemelter, technically, he is officially Lt-Colonel Facemelter. And...two Sgt-Majors (multiple appearances) who hail from other regions, but are also Golden Gate Chapter members, have finally won their first Regional Championships, raising them from Sgt-Majors to full Majors. Shred Boy RD, out of LA, winning LA; and Six-String General, out of LA, and NY, as well competing in Vegas and SF, multiple times (talk about a nomad), took San Diego. While Claw will continue to not speak on behalf of the family, it is with great honor Claw congratulates these individuals for the success they have brought to their regions, and to the family known as the AirForce.
Nationals: This is what it comes down to, what it's all about. Team AirForce are on their way to Chicago. 7 to be exact. As is 2 others, Southern Chapter Commander Brock McRock, out of Houston, and PacNorWest Chapter Commander, Whalin BigAir, out of Portland, representing us in the Dark Horse, in an effort to compete alongside the rest of the family. BigAir will have a second opportunity, if he takes the Dark Horse, to take it and compete not just alongside the family, but also against his fellow Airpocalypse brethren, Tony Tapatio.
As Claw has said before, it matters not if you have won or not. Claw has yet to win, along with many others. Many in the family have become champions, after becoming family. That is called success. Some are new members, but not all, and those new members are members because they exhibit not just the skills or determination, but because they have the desire to do this. Compete if you will, but to extoll the passion for air guitar, in spite of whatever fear exists in doing so in front of a live crowd, well, that alone makes you worthy. Congratulations to our winners, and our newest members.
And lastly, Claw would like to make a new promise, same as the old promise. In SF, two trophies were created for the two Golden Gate members who scored the highest on both days, whether they won or not. Backstage. Private ceremony. Thanks to US Air Guitar, the AirForce was honored to present each days' actual winner with the subsequent trophies, Airforce or not. It was our destiny. Both days were taken by AirForce members. And so it goes with The Nationals, in Chicago. Claw understands there is an award on the National level. Cool. But as an incentive, if any of the AirForce takes the National title, Claw will have a trophy waiting for you. 2011 US Air Guitar Champion - Chicago, IL " ? ? ?"{
Friday, July 15, 2011
Live...from Los Angeles...
LA's SF AirForce member, Shred Boy RD rocked, narrowly edging out fellow SF AirForce member, Six-String General, by .1. That's POINT 1. Check out the victory pic #46, plus two pics of both combatants at #44 and #45.
http://www.laweekly.com/slideshow/u-s-air-guitar-championships-key-club-33783720/46/
http://www.laweekly.com/slideshow/u-s-air-guitar-championships-key-club-33783720/46/
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
One More Addition to the blog...
...for they exhibit that which is what the AirForce stands for, and Claw is honored, in spite of his recent indiscretion. It should also be noted, one of the members is our own PacNorWest Chapter Commander, Whalin BigAir. Another member, who won Portland this year, and forced BigAir to make the trip to Chicago for the Dark Horse, but won't be alone, is another member, Tony Tapatio. AIRPOCALYPSE.
Good luck to SF's Shred Nugent and Cold Steel Renegade, Kansas City's Mean Melin, Minneapolis' Airisol, and San Diego's Lt-Colonel Facemelter, along with LA's possible winners, Six-String General and Shred Boy R.D., and Dark Horse hopefuls, Brock McRock, Whalin BigAir, Lost Heartbreaker, and any other family members who make the trek to the Windy City. All of you deserve it, and are winners, no matter what.
Claw is proud of you all. Here's to hoping one of the family makes it to Finland. Live the dream, and keep it alive. But most importantly, keep in touch.
=^..^=
/\
Good luck to SF's Shred Nugent and Cold Steel Renegade, Kansas City's Mean Melin, Minneapolis' Airisol, and San Diego's Lt-Colonel Facemelter, along with LA's possible winners, Six-String General and Shred Boy R.D., and Dark Horse hopefuls, Brock McRock, Whalin BigAir, Lost Heartbreaker, and any other family members who make the trek to the Windy City. All of you deserve it, and are winners, no matter what.
Claw is proud of you all. Here's to hoping one of the family makes it to Finland. Live the dream, and keep it alive. But most importantly, keep in touch.
=^..^=
/\
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
SFAF's Newest Member..
Please welcome, a 4-time regional champion, including this year, competing out of Minneapolis, and representing us as part of the Twin Cities Chapter alongside The Lost Heartbreaker, but even more so, for surviving in 2008, in San Francisco, losing by .1, to our own Hot Lixx Hulahan, who went on to win the National Championship, AND...the World Championship, that year, Claw presents...Lt-Colonel Airisol. 4? Really? Hot Damn. (sorry, Lixx)
Friday, July 1, 2011
Cold Steel Renegade Appreciation Cult
Claw would like to give a shout-out to the Renegade, for having such a supportive crew, to assist in his endeavors, and market his bad-ass self, to which Claw is jealous. We're talking the CSR Appreciation Cult. Check out the latest item available in Renegade's aresenal.
Pretty f/n awesome, if you ask Claw. Time to step up to the plate everyone.
Claw will.
Claw is.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Latest Addition to US Air Guitar Trading Cards
check out the card bio close-up at www.usairguitar.com
#22 Brock Mcrock, out of Houston, Texas. This was one of the SF Air Force's first chapters, the ASouthern Chapter, with Commander Brock McRock. He deserves every bit of this accolade. After conversing over time, and hearing about his extra-curricular activites involving air guitar, I knew right away, he lived and breathed air guitar, thus exemplifying the very essence. Congratulations, my friend. You deserve it.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
SF Regional Air Guitar Championship
We survived another year. One of our best ever, that saw changes to veterans' formats, to a new crew of rookies, and our newest members to the SF AirForce. Welcome to Sgt-Major Six-String General, who should have been on board earlier, but he hails from LA, and has competed in Vegas, and well, is similar to Claw - he beats to the sounds of his own air drums.
Next, we have a slew of new Captains, Black Airish, Mexicutioner, and Sonic Boomer. we're still waiting on responses to Tony Dilemma, Shred boy R.D., and Snake Riffken, who would actually be Sgt-Majors, and newbies Benny, Esquire and Gran Motley Poo.
Ultra super thanks to our own April Air'Neil, aka Christine Zona, for her undying love, passion, and devotion to her art, of bringing out the best of us. She has uploaded a shtload of photos at her Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000032293285 , for your benefit. Claw highly recommends you credit her in the process. Or else. GRRR.
Also, Claw can download and upload videos, but email servers such as yahoo, gmail, hotmail, etc, are limited to a small amount of MB, so if you want or need to download your video from the SF AirForce page on YouTube, you'll need to follow Lt. Facemelter's instructions, which I copied here:
Hey, dude. If people want their own copy of the videos, they can easily download it directly from youtube using a number of free websites out there. http://downloadyoutubevideo.org/ is one of them, but I prefer using a Firefox plugin called "Download Helper". You just need to have Firefox installed and then install the add-on here:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/
There's instructions all over the site and it's pretty simple to do. Allows you to download the original uploaded file in its full quality and all. Way easier than you putting everything on flash drives one at a time. Just a thought if you don't want to go crazy doing it all yourself!
Here is the link to OUR page:
www.youtube.com/sfairforce
spread the word
There are two weekends left, this weekend, in Seattle and Portland, where our own SFAF members Facemelter and Whalin BigAir are competing (Seattle and Portland respectively), and the weekend after that, in LA and San Diego, Facemelter's home turf. Claw and the SFAF wish them the best of luck. The more SFAF we have in Chicago, the better chances we have of taking it. Let's do it troops.
Next, we have a slew of new Captains, Black Airish, Mexicutioner, and Sonic Boomer. we're still waiting on responses to Tony Dilemma, Shred boy R.D., and Snake Riffken, who would actually be Sgt-Majors, and newbies Benny, Esquire and Gran Motley Poo.
Ultra super thanks to our own April Air'Neil, aka Christine Zona, for her undying love, passion, and devotion to her art, of bringing out the best of us. She has uploaded a shtload of photos at her Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000032293285 , for your benefit. Claw highly recommends you credit her in the process. Or else. GRRR.
Also, Claw can download and upload videos, but email servers such as yahoo, gmail, hotmail, etc, are limited to a small amount of MB, so if you want or need to download your video from the SF AirForce page on YouTube, you'll need to follow Lt. Facemelter's instructions, which I copied here:
Hey, dude. If people want their own copy of the videos, they can easily download it directly from youtube using a number of free websites out there. http://downloadyoutubevideo.org/ is one of them, but I prefer using a Firefox plugin called "Download Helper". You just need to have Firefox installed and then install the add-on here:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/
There's instructions all over the site and it's pretty simple to do. Allows you to download the original uploaded file in its full quality and all. Way easier than you putting everything on flash drives one at a time. Just a thought if you don't want to go crazy doing it all yourself!
Here is the link to OUR page:
www.youtube.com/sfairforce
spread the word
There are two weekends left, this weekend, in Seattle and Portland, where our own SFAF members Facemelter and Whalin BigAir are competing (Seattle and Portland respectively), and the weekend after that, in LA and San Diego, Facemelter's home turf. Claw and the SFAF wish them the best of luck. The more SFAF we have in Chicago, the better chances we have of taking it. Let's do it troops.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
and of course, there's Singar..
The SF AirForce's free spirit of the group, Singar, the Goat Demon, represents us well, which is why we love him dearly. On the extreme side, his character may appear controversial, but he means well. And in today's world, so much can be taken out of context, that is not a clear and accurate representation of the man at heart. Dude, I hope there was a lesson in there to be recognized. Chin up, brah. There will be no discharges today, honorable or dishonorable.
Welcome aboard our newest Captains..
Congratulations to our newest additions as Captains in the SF AirForce. You rocked the house with your energy and devotion our art, and are welcomed with open arms.
2011 SFAG pics from Friday
Congratulations to all of the SF AirForce competitors on Friday night. Our own Shred Nugent Nugent won a narrow victory over Dirty Airy, and Our own Judas Priestess made it to the second round, as well. 3 out of 5 AirForce in the second round, is pretty fucking awesome. Saturday will also be spectacular. As the CIC of the SF AirForce, I'm looking for all 5 in the finals, being SFAF. Kick ass.
The phots above are the professional work of our own SFAF correspondent April Air'Neil, Christine Zona. you can also find other works from her vast global portfolio, at www.czona.com . Thanks the April, for all you do for us.
Day One Sf Regionals
Well, the first night is in the books. Of the 5 finalists in the second round, 3 were SF AirForce. I, along with the rest of the officers this evening, couldn't be prouder. The winner of the first round, Shred Nugent, tied Dirty Airy in the second round, but by virtue of the first round victory, the win goes to Shred Nugent.
Our civilian correspondent has already posted photos on FB, and a report on East Bay Express, which you can read here.
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/us-air-guitar-championships-present-men-in-tights/Content?oid=2812488&cb=4510ab08fc78e4e489c6a120be5f1dcf&sort=desc#readerComments
Our civilian correspondent has already posted photos on FB, and a report on East Bay Express, which you can read here.
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/us-air-guitar-championships-present-men-in-tights/Content?oid=2812488&cb=4510ab08fc78e4e489c6a120be5f1dcf&sort=desc#readerComments
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
SF AirForce strikes again...
The Force congratulates our Kansas City Chapter Affiliate Commander for his honoring by US Air Guitar with his own USAG Trading Card #19. Well deserving, especially since he actually conducts his own air guitar events throughout the year, which is why he is in the SFAF in the first place. His undying love and devotion to our great art. Ladies and gentlemen, that's six out of 19 represented. Growing stronger by the day. Thanks for everything you do, Mean "the machine" Melin.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Competition updates
Big, big shoutout to our own Cold Steel Renegade for securing last Tuesday's USAG Champions Trading Card #18. Welcome to the club. That's 5 of us, out of the total 18. Not a bad stat.
Wow. A lot of upsets in the regional air guitar world. Cami Phillippi takes Minneapolis, Tommy Fretless in DC, and Airistotle in NY. This just in: veteran Shreddy Mercury takes Brooklyn.
Tomorrow is Boston, and Phillie on Saturday. Pheww...another 4-day stint. Don't forget folks, it's SF a week from tomorrow, and Saturday.
Advance notice: First place awards have been confirmed for the SF Air Guitar Competition, on both days. The start of a good thing, for the future. The rest is classified. I could tell you, but then our resident, secret, covert, underground, black OPS special forces would have to permanently extract that piece of intel from your memory banks, without damaging any other cells in the process, of course.
SF AirForce press kits going out next week, to all members. I just wanted to make sure I had the most up-to-date intel in the kit. I thought the USAG cards were done for the season. Then, lo and behold, our CSR emerges as #18 to days ago, necessitating a change to the contents.
Another change, or I should say, addition to the ranks. A test for your special forces skills in the communication sector, with a specialization in research and discovery. It is a truly an honor for the SFAF to include this visionary and air guitar fanatic, if those words can even be used in the same sentence. Claw believes so. entirely.
Good luck to all who remain to compete in upcoming battles. Your day will come.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Competition updates
Well, troops, after 5 shows, with another tonight in Kalamazoo, tomorrow in Minneapolis, and Saturday in Washington, the SF AirForce is in the thick of it. Our Midwest connection out of Kansas City, Mean Melin, took the Regional, and will go to Chicago for the finals. Brock suffered a crushing, narrow defeat in Austin, as did Lost Heartbreaker in Milwaukee, to a rookie. It happens. But we're veterans for a reason. Heartbreaker will try again tonight in Kalamazoo, and if that doesn't work, the hometown if Minn. will be difficult for anyone else to thwart our Lost Heartbreaker. Twin Cities will dominate.
Here's a vid from Mean Melin in Kansas City, 2011
http://youtu.be/GgEG7W6r5j4
Here's a consolation compilation of the McRocker
http://youtu.be/0rFOe5nvW6A
We'll drop the Heartbreaker in a couple days, since he's still midway through his 3-city tour. Watch www.usairguitar.com for news and updates. The link can be found on the left sidebar down below.
In other SFAF news:
Speaking of US Air Guitar, they've completed this year's rounds of trading card issuances. All of the Hall-of-Famers have been represented, along with some non-HoF's and non-regional champions, for which TC is deeply honored.
The SF AirForce press kit is moments away from being done, but is still a work-in-progress. An advance version went out to the Heartbreaker to help with motivational and spiritual support, but also, as an aggressive tool backstage, to intimidate all those who oppose us. The SFAF officers headquartered in SF, are meeting (read: partying) on the Saturday a week before our gathering, at which time, copies will be made available. Next week, copies will be sent overnight to all our chapter commanders, for the same purpose: motivation, and intimidation. Sun Tzu: "Battles are won before they are even fought".
And...
The US Air Guitar Competition is unique, not just in the underground phenomenon known as air guitar, but in its ability to pull off this whole affair on a skeleton budget. Claw is impressed. This year drew a tear, as they worked without a sponsor. But that's beside the point. The air guitar competition, as professional as any other organized sports endeavor, not only was there no actual award for first place, on either the regional, national or world championship levels, at all for the last 8 years, we as its competitors had no problem with the established notion that your award is "bragging rights". That alone was enough.The free ride to the national and world championships was icing on the cake.
But enough is enough. Claw recently purchased 5 small 6-inch trophies to commemorate the judges' exclamation that he had the best technical performance of the night, for each year he competed. It's a small token he afforded himself, especially since the judges said so. Ego self-gratification, but also another intimidation tool (grrrr).
As I said, enough is enough. The trophies of old, metal molds atop marble bases, are a thing of the past. Today, they are plastic. But they still look the same. They just weigh less. Due to the materials used, the costs are a fraction of what they once were. My five cost $9 each.
So, since USAG is working without a sponsor this year, Tiger Claw will sponsor the first trophies to be awarded to the SF Regional Air Guitar Champions, for Friday AND Saturday, and the US National Champion, in Chicago. This is a donation on my part.
Also, the first SF AirForce Medal of Honor will be bestowed upon our first recipient at the SF Regional Air Guitar Competition, Friday, June 24, and repeated on Saturday, june 25, so that all can stand witness to the induction. This will be done backstage, so all of us can be present.
This is a good year. No, a great year. A great year for air guitar. And an even greater year for the SF AirForce, and all of its Commanders across the US, and abroad.
To all in SF, Crusher, Gobo, Shred, Priestess, Iroc-Z, Singar, Freeberg, and Dirty Airy, we rock 2 weeks from now. Northeast Commander Ricky Stinkfingers will rock next week, on Wednesday, July 15, in NY. Then it's NorPacWest Commander Whalin BigAir, one third of Airpocalypse, in Portland, on July 9, and our own SoCal Commander in San Diego, on July 15.
The force is strong with us.
Never forget. Always believe.
And remember:
Crush your enemies and see them driven before you.
Here's a vid from Mean Melin in Kansas City, 2011
http://youtu.be/GgEG7W6r5j4
Here's a consolation compilation of the McRocker
http://youtu.be/0rFOe5nvW6A
We'll drop the Heartbreaker in a couple days, since he's still midway through his 3-city tour. Watch www.usairguitar.com for news and updates. The link can be found on the left sidebar down below.
In other SFAF news:
Speaking of US Air Guitar, they've completed this year's rounds of trading card issuances. All of the Hall-of-Famers have been represented, along with some non-HoF's and non-regional champions, for which TC is deeply honored.
The SF AirForce press kit is moments away from being done, but is still a work-in-progress. An advance version went out to the Heartbreaker to help with motivational and spiritual support, but also, as an aggressive tool backstage, to intimidate all those who oppose us. The SFAF officers headquartered in SF, are meeting (read: partying) on the Saturday a week before our gathering, at which time, copies will be made available. Next week, copies will be sent overnight to all our chapter commanders, for the same purpose: motivation, and intimidation. Sun Tzu: "Battles are won before they are even fought".
And...
The US Air Guitar Competition is unique, not just in the underground phenomenon known as air guitar, but in its ability to pull off this whole affair on a skeleton budget. Claw is impressed. This year drew a tear, as they worked without a sponsor. But that's beside the point. The air guitar competition, as professional as any other organized sports endeavor, not only was there no actual award for first place, on either the regional, national or world championship levels, at all for the last 8 years, we as its competitors had no problem with the established notion that your award is "bragging rights". That alone was enough.The free ride to the national and world championships was icing on the cake.
But enough is enough. Claw recently purchased 5 small 6-inch trophies to commemorate the judges' exclamation that he had the best technical performance of the night, for each year he competed. It's a small token he afforded himself, especially since the judges said so. Ego self-gratification, but also another intimidation tool (grrrr).
As I said, enough is enough. The trophies of old, metal molds atop marble bases, are a thing of the past. Today, they are plastic. But they still look the same. They just weigh less. Due to the materials used, the costs are a fraction of what they once were. My five cost $9 each.
So, since USAG is working without a sponsor this year, Tiger Claw will sponsor the first trophies to be awarded to the SF Regional Air Guitar Champions, for Friday AND Saturday, and the US National Champion, in Chicago. This is a donation on my part.
Also, the first SF AirForce Medal of Honor will be bestowed upon our first recipient at the SF Regional Air Guitar Competition, Friday, June 24, and repeated on Saturday, june 25, so that all can stand witness to the induction. This will be done backstage, so all of us can be present.
This is a good year. No, a great year. A great year for air guitar. And an even greater year for the SF AirForce, and all of its Commanders across the US, and abroad.
To all in SF, Crusher, Gobo, Shred, Priestess, Iroc-Z, Singar, Freeberg, and Dirty Airy, we rock 2 weeks from now. Northeast Commander Ricky Stinkfingers will rock next week, on Wednesday, July 15, in NY. Then it's NorPacWest Commander Whalin BigAir, one third of Airpocalypse, in Portland, on July 9, and our own SoCal Commander in San Diego, on July 15.
The force is strong with us.
Never forget. Always believe.
And remember:
Crush your enemies and see them driven before you.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
news and updates...
Thursday, June 2 -
First things first, the past. Claw missed a comedy performance by Awesome, in the Mission, last week. Hopefully, it went well. Is there a video of the performance floating around anywhere? Although not air guitar-related, there's always the possibility of an impromptu air performance. Claw will gladly take that chance. Which necessitates the usual reminder: if anyone's got something coming up, whoever you are, or wherever you hail from, or whatever you're doing, air guitar or not, cuz there always exists the chance of a lick or two of air, drop Claw a line, and the word will be passed on to the rest of the force. And so on. And so on. Like an exploding supernova, before retracting into a super-massive, magnetic black hole, sucking in everything within its vicinity. There's no return from the event horizon. Except Claw's right hand. From the wrist down. Hurdling through time and space. Fingers flailing like there's no tomorrow...sorry, tangent alert.
Secondly, the post on Joe Cocker a week ago, that appeared in the SF Parade section of our Sunday paper, that highlighted a question about him being the first to do air guitar - well, he was definitely a force, but there was also the mention of Bill Reed of the Diamonds in 1957. After seeing the video, which you can see for yourself below, Claw agrees this is most definitely the first exhibition of air guitar in recorded history, but by far not enough to be billed as the Godfather of Air Guitar.
That distinction remains with Joe Cocker, based on his performance of With A Little Help From My Friends, at Woodstock, 1967. Bill Reed was also a bass player, but that's beside the point. Air guitar is air guitar, whether it's electric guitar or bass guitar. The form is the same. Watch the video. It's only 1:54, and the moment in question, is at the :55 second point. It's actually pretty cool, when you witness it for yourselves. Clearly, it was totally improvised by Bill Reed, based on the shrugged-off reaction of the dude standing next to him. Obviously, dude couldn't handle it. Hint of jealousy for the spontaneous, attention-grabbing action that would become air guitar decades later? Claw thinks so.
Here is the defining moment in air guitar history, that firmly cements Joe Cocker as the Godfather of air guitar, from the :30 second point:
Unfortunately, Claw could not locate a video archive of Joe Cocker on Dick Cavitt, explaining what he was doing with his hands when asked by Dick. It IS in the Woodstock movie, though. As mentioned before, Dick asked what he was doing with his hands, and Joe replied, "I always wanted to play the guitar, but never learned." That alone represents probably 80%+ of air guitarists' reason for what we do.
Lastly, we are mid-season into the US Air Guitar Competition. It's busy here at the SF AirForce headquarters. Check the site regularly for the next few weeks. Meanwhile, Claw continually strives to clean up, update, enhance and add to the site. It occurred to Claw while updating the AirForce ranks, that Shred Nugent, a regional winner for the short-lived San Jose competition, and multiple competitor in SF, not to mention an all-around killer mofo, and hailing from his home turf down south. Even though San Jose is considered a separate market in various industries (radio, TV, etc), it is still part of the 9-county metro that makes up the Bay Area. But since San Jose was represented as an official region, outside of SF, Claw believes Shred has earned the distinction of representing, as Commander of the SouthBay Chapter, out of San Jose. Claw has an upgraded credentials badge waiting for our next path crossing. Bjorn, your upgraded credential is in the mail. Upgraded from Major-General to General. Claw wishes everyone the best of luck in their upcoming competitions, and hopes to be upgrading as many of you as possible.
Celebrities continue to exhibit the 5-second air guitar. none of which is available on tape. You have to catch it when it happens. Just the same, everyone does it. LOne could almost say, you're allowed to air guitar, without being mocked, if it is kept under 5-seconds. (Another aspect of the 5-second rule.) Which prompted the Claw to watch, again, the Colbert air guitar tribute. The link is on the site, on the right sidebar. Scroll down. Click on it. And drag the bubble to the 3:50 mark. A 30-second montage of Colbert air guitaring. Not just a fluke performance, or 5-second exhibition, but a bonafide collection . This montage was put together for the sole purpose of honoring air guitar. It's why Colbert was honored as an SF AirForce civilian media correspondent. He got his badge and kit. Sooner or later he will have no choice but to honor us with an appearance...on the Colbert Report. As far as Claw is concerned, much more worthy and attractive than half the books promoted on the show.
Pretty lengthy, but 'tis the season. More to follow in the coming days...
First things first, the past. Claw missed a comedy performance by Awesome, in the Mission, last week. Hopefully, it went well. Is there a video of the performance floating around anywhere? Although not air guitar-related, there's always the possibility of an impromptu air performance. Claw will gladly take that chance. Which necessitates the usual reminder: if anyone's got something coming up, whoever you are, or wherever you hail from, or whatever you're doing, air guitar or not, cuz there always exists the chance of a lick or two of air, drop Claw a line, and the word will be passed on to the rest of the force. And so on. And so on. Like an exploding supernova, before retracting into a super-massive, magnetic black hole, sucking in everything within its vicinity. There's no return from the event horizon. Except Claw's right hand. From the wrist down. Hurdling through time and space. Fingers flailing like there's no tomorrow...sorry, tangent alert.
Secondly, the post on Joe Cocker a week ago, that appeared in the SF Parade section of our Sunday paper, that highlighted a question about him being the first to do air guitar - well, he was definitely a force, but there was also the mention of Bill Reed of the Diamonds in 1957. After seeing the video, which you can see for yourself below, Claw agrees this is most definitely the first exhibition of air guitar in recorded history, but by far not enough to be billed as the Godfather of Air Guitar.
That distinction remains with Joe Cocker, based on his performance of With A Little Help From My Friends, at Woodstock, 1967. Bill Reed was also a bass player, but that's beside the point. Air guitar is air guitar, whether it's electric guitar or bass guitar. The form is the same. Watch the video. It's only 1:54, and the moment in question, is at the :55 second point. It's actually pretty cool, when you witness it for yourselves. Clearly, it was totally improvised by Bill Reed, based on the shrugged-off reaction of the dude standing next to him. Obviously, dude couldn't handle it. Hint of jealousy for the spontaneous, attention-grabbing action that would become air guitar decades later? Claw thinks so.
Here is the defining moment in air guitar history, that firmly cements Joe Cocker as the Godfather of air guitar, from the :30 second point:
Unfortunately, Claw could not locate a video archive of Joe Cocker on Dick Cavitt, explaining what he was doing with his hands when asked by Dick. It IS in the Woodstock movie, though. As mentioned before, Dick asked what he was doing with his hands, and Joe replied, "I always wanted to play the guitar, but never learned." That alone represents probably 80%+ of air guitarists' reason for what we do.
Lastly, we are mid-season into the US Air Guitar Competition. It's busy here at the SF AirForce headquarters. Check the site regularly for the next few weeks. Meanwhile, Claw continually strives to clean up, update, enhance and add to the site. It occurred to Claw while updating the AirForce ranks, that Shred Nugent, a regional winner for the short-lived San Jose competition, and multiple competitor in SF, not to mention an all-around killer mofo, and hailing from his home turf down south. Even though San Jose is considered a separate market in various industries (radio, TV, etc), it is still part of the 9-county metro that makes up the Bay Area. But since San Jose was represented as an official region, outside of SF, Claw believes Shred has earned the distinction of representing, as Commander of the SouthBay Chapter, out of San Jose. Claw has an upgraded credentials badge waiting for our next path crossing. Bjorn, your upgraded credential is in the mail. Upgraded from Major-General to General. Claw wishes everyone the best of luck in their upcoming competitions, and hopes to be upgrading as many of you as possible.
Celebrities continue to exhibit the 5-second air guitar. none of which is available on tape. You have to catch it when it happens. Just the same, everyone does it. LOne could almost say, you're allowed to air guitar, without being mocked, if it is kept under 5-seconds. (Another aspect of the 5-second rule.) Which prompted the Claw to watch, again, the Colbert air guitar tribute. The link is on the site, on the right sidebar. Scroll down. Click on it. And drag the bubble to the 3:50 mark. A 30-second montage of Colbert air guitaring. Not just a fluke performance, or 5-second exhibition, but a bonafide collection . This montage was put together for the sole purpose of honoring air guitar. It's why Colbert was honored as an SF AirForce civilian media correspondent. He got his badge and kit. Sooner or later he will have no choice but to honor us with an appearance...on the Colbert Report. As far as Claw is concerned, much more worthy and attractive than half the books promoted on the show.
Pretty lengthy, but 'tis the season. More to follow in the coming days...
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