Here's a copy of the new article found in the Weekender on Siouxland.net.  If you wanna check out the site, please do so at www.siouxland.net  Hope you enjoy!

THE LATINO EDDIE VAN HALEN?
The Latino Eddie Van Halen?
Ken Valdez brings blazin' guitar and rock trio to music club gig
By JESSE CLAEYS | 11.20.08



Two years ago the life of a musician was starting to look rather bleak to Ken Valdez.

After releasing two records, the first of which was critically acclaimed, the rock and blues guitarist felt like his once promising career had plateaued. His management company failed to deliver on promises, his band was undergoing lineup changes, his inspiration was becoming hard and harder to find.

"It's like I've got some new juice," Valdez said during a telephone interview. "I'm feeling challenged and pushed again. It's nice."

Yes, the man whose band was called "the Latino reincarnation of Van Halen" by a New Mexico newspaper feels like he's back.

"Maybe I'm Eddie [Van Halen]," he said. "But I have the same birthday as David Lee Roth, so maybe I'm more him."

Valdez may be both. His concerts where he's backed by drummer Josh English and bass player Reuben "Sandwich" Rodriguez feature his fiery Eddie-like guitar chops and his front man duties that capture a bit of Roth's energy.

"High energy, rhythm, rock, just letting everyone have a good time and get butts moving. That's what it's all about."

Born to a working class Latino family in Santa Fe, N.M., it wasn't until Valdez was 19 when he first picked up a guitar. A self-taught player, Valdez struggled along as an acoustic singer/songwriter before finding his groove by plugging in and letting loose. Two records later and Valdez the blusey electric guitar player has both a signature guitar and amp, and has worked with everyone in the world of blues and rock from The Black Crowes to Jonny Lang.

"Wayne Perkins by far has been the biggest influence on me. He's my mentor and friend."

Perkins and Valdez have worked with each other over the years. Perkins is one of those musicians you've heard but never known. He played guitar on Bob Marley's first Wailers album, and he toured with Eric Clapton and Lynyrd Skynyrd before joining the Rolling Stones on their "Black and Blue" record.

Valdez said his influences, and being surrounded by strong musicians while performing on stage, have reinvigorated his passion and pushed his playing to new heights. The results can be heard early next year when Valdez releases not one, not two, but possibly three new CDs.

"Three full CDs is unusual, but I have these acoustic songs, these rock songs and some straight blues tunes I want to get out," Valdez said.

This won't be the first time the guitar slinger has shown his diversity to fans. Following the heralded 2004 disc "Every Little Lie," Valdez slowed things down and surprised his fans by releasing a mellow acoustic record. The all acoustic album, "Thoughts & Time," came about after Valdez played lead guitar in Mick Fleetwood's solo project.

"I really don't know how to explain it, but we keep improving," Valdez said of the current trio. "We just stumbled onto something different. With the way we're sounding now and the way things are going on the road with landing new fans and growing our base, things feel like they are on the up and up and I'm excited about the future."

I can't tell you what an amazing weekend I have had.  The news is out and I am proud to share it with you.  Jim West at Bonepicker is designing the new Ken Valdez signature amplifier and it should be finished before the years end.  He and I shared ideas on the new project and believe me when I tell you, I can't wait for the finished product.  What can I tell you about the new version 2 amp?  Well, it's gonna rawk!  I have used my version 1 pretty much religeously the last couple years.  The tones are incredible and with hundreds of shows, many, many sessions, touring and just jamming, I have found the very few areas where I would improve on the amp.  Honestly, I wouldn't call them improvements, just different sounds for different applications. 

The new KV signature will have more headroom.  I have opted to take out the tremelo on the new one to have a more focused sound.  Jim and I have scaled down the size of the head (compared to the version 1) for practical reasons.  If the wattage does not stay the same, it will only go up.  The version 1 is 30 watts or 15 at half power.  This one should be a bit more with the focus being more on the clean tone.  Either way, the breakup on both versions 1 & 2 are stellar!  I will share more details when they come as well as pics!  In the meantime, I wanna thank Jim and Pete at Bonepicker for making the most badass amps around!  Check out their website and their stuff!   www.bonepickerguitaramps.com   Until the next time!

From the Santa Fe New Mexican Aug. 9, 2008

Santa Fe's reigning diva of the night, Chris Calloway, jazz singer and daughter of famous Cotton Club bandleader Cab Calloway, died Thursday.  She was 62.  Chris had been battling breast cancer since 1987....

Although I have been a "professional" musician for 9 years now, I still feel like I'm so new to this game.  I have worked tirelessly at my craft and to earn the respect of my peers.  Chris was legendary and one whose respect I worked just a bit more for.  She had seen and heard it all...I mean, that's Cab's daughter.  So the last few years since I returned to NM we have had a few fantastic conversations and some great musical moments.  The respect I sought was given and her support of my music meant more to me than she or anyone may have known.  She was a true bandleader and performer.  Her timing was flawless and her smile was infectious.  What struck me about her more than anything (including the music) was her outlook on life.  This is a great example:

From The Santa Fe New Mexican August 9, 2008  from an interview May, 2007

"...I found out the cancer returned and that I needed chemo, I just fell in a hump on the floor and it was 'I'm going to die.  I'm going to die,' and a little angel voice said, 'And?'

" 'And?  I have cancer and I have to have chemo and I'm going to die,' and the angel said, 'Oh, little Chris, you're a blessed, beautiful, magnificent manifestation of God.  You're perfect, and of course you're going to die.  Life is a terminal disease.  None of us gets out of this alive, so the question is, my darling, how are you going to live?' "

Thank you Chris for believing in what I do.  Thank you for the insight and knowledge you shared.  Thank you for the smiles, the laughs and the good times. Thank you for the music you made.  Thank you for giving this guy a chance.  You will be missed! 

It's been a few days since we returned to the Land Of Entrapment.  The trek home was one for the record books...let me recap by taking you back to our last show on the tour. 

We hit Varsity Blues in Topeka.  The second we walked in, we truly didn't know what to expect.  The venue was small, but cozy.  We then met Marni and Luke.  Marni owns the joint while Luke slings the beverages.  We hit it off right away.  I must give props to Marni for putting us up in a 5 star hotel with individual rooms.  That didn't suck at all.  Anyhow, we got to the show, plugged in and proceeded to do two 2hr sets.  We did not hold back.  It was our last night, so we wanted to turn it up a notch.  When the show was over, we kicked it for quite awhile with Marni and Luke, our new friends.  The last show was a success and we really can't wait to make it back to our new home in Topeka.  They do have the best bar food in the country, fyi. 

After a long night and rough morning, we left Kansas and made our way to Des Moines.  True, it's a few miles out of our way, but it's all hood.  Michael Bland hooked me and the boys (and our friends Andrea and Jenna) up w/ tix and passes to a show he was playing.  Michael currently drums for Soul Asylum.  Getting the opportunity to hang with Dave Pirner was one I didn't want to pass up.  Plus, meeting Tommy Stinson was pretty much a dream come true...he was EXACTLY like I thought he would be.  Those that know my love for the Replacements know how cool that moment was for me.  Also on the bill was my dear friend Jonny Lang.  Jonny and his band sounded better than ever.  Much to my surprise, Jonny had a new guitarist with him.  Another dear friend and Every Little Lie alum, Sonny Thompson.  Who else was there?  Tab Benoit and his guys.  It was like a giant reunion of sorts.  On a more concentrated scale, it felt like the Minneapolis music scene invaded Iowa.  Check it, the Jonny Lang Band, Soul Asylum, Tommy Stinson (Replacements), Tommy Barbarella, Michael Bland, Sonny T. (Prince's New Power Generation)...royalty baby!  What a memorable last night....until....I got sick at the hotel.

We woke up the next morning about to make our long drive home.  After a great lunch with Andrea and Jenna and getting the van serviced, we made our way.  About half way through I started burning up with a fever, coughing my lungs out and nearly passing out twice.  Good thing Josh and Ruben were driving...they damn dogged it!  Sixteen hours on the road is no joke!  We made it home by 8:15 in the morning.  We got some much needed rest and then hit the jam at El Farol.  That night was also memorable.  We were honored to play with Jono Manson, SF and NY legend/unsung rock n' roll hero.  That was a blast.  The next night we joined my best bud Alex Maryol and his band at the Cowgirl.  We played to a capacity crowd and the energy was feverish.  The music was great and even got old school when Willy Magee and I got extra funky and freestyled...good times!

That leads me to today.  I have officially begun tying up my loose ends as I prepare to move back to the Twin Cities.  There is a sense of melancholy.  However, I do know it is for the best.  As I look back on this tour, what started in chaos ended in bliss and music prevailed.  I am so fortunate to have the friends I do both in and out of the cities.  I can't wait to learn, to play, to create...all in due time...90 Days and counting.  That's it for now.  More later!  Much love to all my musical compadres!