Rock music has way too many incredibly memorable guitar riffs to limit a best of list to just one hundred, but the 100 riffs that guitarist Alex Chadwick of The Chicago Music Exchange came up with for the above video performance ain't half bad, and it is a nice informal overview of the history of rock n' roll. Sure it's a subjective selection that includes a lot of mega hits of the genre, and no doubt every rock fan could come up with their own unique list of a hundred best guitar riffs. But I like what Alex has done: from his playing to his choices of riffs, and from how he segues from song to song, to how he plays it on his 1958 Fender Strat all in chronological order. Below is that list of songs and artists in order with the artist names that are blue highlighted linking back to the Amoeba Online Store. where you can find their respective music (CDs, LPs, DVDs) including (in near all cases) the song played by Alex.

2 "Folsom Prison Blues" Johnny Cash
3 "Words of Love"  Buddy Holly
4 "Johnny B Goode"  Chuck Berry
5 "Rumble"  Link Wray

In a short amount of time, Ty Segall has provided us with so much musical goodness in the recorded form that it’s hard to believe he’ll be releasing two (well, two-and-a-half-ish) albums this year. He’ll release a mini album on In the Red in June under Ty Segall Band, recorded with his touring band, which includes Charlie Moothart guitar (“He’s a complete shredder and dominator, he taught me everything I know about playing guitar,” Segall says), Mikal Cronin on bass and Emily Epstein on drums. The record will be mixed in Berkeley’s Fantasy Studios — where Creedence Clearwater Revival recorded, Segall points out — and recorded with Eric Bauer, who has recorded with Segall several times, including his most recent studio album, 2011’s Goodbye Bread.

A regular full-length also is due on Drag City under his own name in the fall. On top of all that, he’s releasing a collaboration LP with White Fence on Drag City in April, which he’s currently touring behind. Ty Segall and White Fence appear together March 3 at the Troubador.

I took some time to speak to Ty, who’s S.F.-based but was born in Laguna Beach, about his upcoming tours, release schedule, and how many songs he’s recorded.


PST: Last year, around the time Goodbye Bread was released, you said you wanted the next album to sound like Satan in Space, Hawkwind meets Sabbath and that sorta thing. Is that the direction the new material has ended up taking?

Last night's Amoebapalooza Hollywood, which was accurately billed as "one night only annual celebration of musical mayhem" with acts including Byrdsol Taylor II, Prince Kajutu, The Hounds of Hell, Idol Eyez, Tease, Ghouls Night Out, Destination Unknown, Myklehar, and Vum, was first and foremost just a really good fun gathering of co-workers & friends for conversation, laughs, and of course music. Held at the well chosen venue, The Dragonfly on Santa Monica (about six blocks from Amoeba at 6400 Sunset), Amoebapalooza Hollywood Version 2011 showcased an impressive array of bands, all assembled just for the night and each comprised of Amoeba staffers exclusively, displaying such a caliber of talent that several should seriously consider expanding the lifespan of bands beyond last night's Amoebapalooza one-off performance.

Note that over the next few days you can expect many more detailed postings on this Amoebapalooza event (with lots of photos and video clips) on Amoeba.com including here on the Amoeblog since there were lots of photographers and videographers capturing the event all night long. With an emphasis on fun and music a total of a dozen acts, each allocated 15 minutes to perform - and all sharing the same drum kit, systematically made their way on and off stage throughout the music packed night.  The live music kicked off following an introduction from Jason Boggs who, with his equally entertaining co-host "Jesus Cat Superstar," provided witty between set banter all night. Jason also became a last minute addition to the musical lineup during the evening when, in one of his numerous drag costume changes of the night, he busted out a hilarious rendition of the theme song from Bye Bye Birdie.  Opening band Bikini Whale (pictured above just as they broke out the glitter) did a truly inspired set, that got everyone charged up and dancing, in which they effortlessly channeled the B52's and simultaneously set the tone for a non-stop night of really tight musicianship that included T.Rextasy's head-nodding, rockin' set of Marc Bolan & company's music, and Topographic Lotion's channeling of Yes, Fragile era that sounded exactly like the original prog rock band's recordings. Adding to their authenticity they even had, as the perfect ontage backdrop, a huge banner of Roger Dean like Yes cover art.  Impressive! For more news and photos on the Amoebapalooza Hollywood check back here over the coming days for more reports.