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Contact ralph@adlantic.com

Friday The 13th 1-13-23.mp4 from SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo.

If your a Jeff Beck fan, you'll like this video. I used WHERE WERE YOU a classic instrumental. I loved Beck.
There was nobody who played like him. Nobody. I saw him play live with Stevie Ray Vaughan the Centrum in
Worcester, MA. There really was no other guitar player who did the things he did on the electric.
This footage is dark because I shot it late in the day on Friday The 13th, 2023. Still, there's a few
good barrel rides in this edit. The dark skies also help set the mood of the week.
REST IN PEACE Jeff. You were something special.


THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF WAY OUT OF HERE.mp4
from SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo.

The first swell of 2023. I shot this on Saturday January 7th, 2023. It was small, waist to chest high, but super clean.
Max Fatello, Brian Johnson, Johnny Reynolds, Eric Palmer, and Kevin Grondin are the surfers.
The music is me doodling on my Stratocaster and singing ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER.
My good friend Tony Berardini always liked this version. Honestly? The recording is pretty low budge sounding,
and it's as raw as it gets. But, it's real, and it's all me.

January 15th, 2023 The RUN is 7 out of 7 Weeks.
Waist high or better at least once a week.
There were overhead waves on January 13th and head high
on the 14th, 2023

THE RECORD FOR THE MOST CONSECUTIVE WEEKS IN A ROW FOR WAIST HIGH OR BETTER. August 8th, 2021 was 53 WEEKS! TOPPING THE 43 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS SET IN 2009!		 Send your SURF Pics to me directly to: ralph@adlantic.com.
Need photos by 10 AM on Saturdays. Seriously.
By 10AM. Make sure they are 1300 to 1555 pixels wide.
If you have more than 10 pics please use wetransfer.com it's free up to 2 gig. Please DO NOT send me over 10 pics without first contacting and communicating with me.
Thank you.

Click on Archives link to see all the past Blogs and pics.

JEFF BECK PASSED AWAY AT 78
JOHNNY A PLAYS & PAYS TRIBUTE TO BECK. WILDCARD PLAYOFFS BEGIN.
REMEMBERING DR. KING.


Johnny A and Jeff Beck

This one is a classic. That's two very good friends splitting the peak at ASS BEACH. Bobby Morgan going right and Markey J going left. Back when ASS Beach was devoid of asses.
Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.

The JOHNNY A TRIO (All instrumental-electric guitar. No vocals)
BLUES, BEATLES, and BEYOND
Tupelo Music Hall
Derry, NH
January 13th, 20234

by Ralph G. Fatello



On January 10th, 2023 Jeff Beck the most creative and innovative guitarist on the planet passed away. Needless to say, it was a complete and total shock in the guitar world. And that world is way bigger than you think. For me personally? I was floored by the news. But I have to say, the first person I thought about was Johnny A. Why? Because, not only did Johnny know and actually play on stage with Beck, he is in my honest opinion, the closest living guitar player who reminds me of Beck. In fact, I know I wrote that exact sentiment in a past review I did of Johnny.

Johnny A is the closest living guitarist today who echoes shades of Jeff Beck. Now I know that’s a bold statement. But unless you’ve heard and seen Johnny play, you need to reserve judgment until you see him and hear him for yourself. Look, there will never be another Jeff Beck. There was nobody like him. But, hearing Johnny play and watching his finger picking style and volume control as well as the way he bends and pulls on the strings? Well? You just have to go and see him play live. Then decide if I’m on point or not.   

I suppose I need to back up a few decades here. I’ve known Johnny and seen him play since his days in The STREETS. When I say I know him, I mean we played in the same rooms back in the day. The RAT, The Paradise, The Channel etc etc. So I am very familiar with who he is, and what he sounds like. Back when he first started his ME AND MY GUITARS, our fellow friend and guitar extraordinaire Elliot Easton told me “Ralph you need to go see him. He’s unbelievable.” Well Elliott was right. He was just that. So I turned several of my friends onto Johnny, and his unique show of playing live, by recording multiple guitar tracks in front of a live audience. I saw several of his solo shows and each time I was blown away.

And then one day he had a new show. Johnny A to Beatles. Only this time he had a live band.

As much as I loved hearing Johnny play his guitars alone, I wondered what he would sound like playing with fellow musicians again. It had been a while since I seen him play with other players. Well, I went and saw the Johnny A To Beatles show and was once again blown away by it. First and foremost, I’m a huge Beatles fan. Like Johnny, the Beatles were, and always will be, my favorite band. So to hear Johnny’s unique style and technique of playing Beatles songs with no vocals? Well that was a fresh and innovative way of hearing music from the best band in the world. And Johnny and his band pulled it off with style.



This new version of his band The JOHNNY A Trio had basically the same lineup, Dean Cassell on bass and Marty Richards on drums. The only person missing was Greg Tawa on rhythm guitar. As much as I love Greg’s playing, Johnny is more than capable of holding down the fort with him being the only guitar player. Johnny is that good on the guitar.

But this night? Three days after Beck’s passing? It had all the markings of something special.

I was with my longtime friend/surfer Ken Linseman (yes the same NHL hockey star) who happens to love and know good and great guitar players. I had been telling Kenny about Johnny the last few years. And for whatever reasons, we just never connected on a show until last night. I think with the passing of Beck and Kenny remembering how much I loved Johnny’s playing and my comparing him to Beck was all that he needed to hear. We were both looking forward to this show. Honestly? We both NEEDED to go to this show. Kenny had just seen Beck two months ago. In fact, he has seen Beck a total of 6 times.

We were both stinging from the loss.

We walked into the Tupelo Music Hall and just as we did, we heard WHERE WEREYOU playing over the house PA. I looked at Kenny and we both just nodded. That song was one of our favorite Beck tunes. Hearing that song just set the mood for the night. And as the song ended I heard Johnny’s guitar in the dark. And damn didn’t his guitar sound like an extension of Beck’s playing. I literally sat down, as Johnny and the band went into their opening song. HERE COMES THE SUN. The crowd roared as I looked over at Kenny and smiled. Time to buckle up.

The band went right into  ALL MY LOVING and then hit the opening chords to HARD DAYS NIGHT. Leave it to Johnny to work in that distinct opening Chord again in the bridge. Very cool my friend. Very cool. They worked their way into HIDE YOUR LOVE AWAY and ACT NATURALLY. Then must to my Beatles delight, they played two of my all time favorite Beatles songs, first THINGS WE SAID TODAY (with a unique spin on the strumming intro) and then quite possibly my FAVORITE Beatles song of all WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS. And boy did Johnny make his guitar cry.



Chills on some of those Clapton like bends.

I had already seen enough to call this show a resounding success.
Johnny took a few short mini breaks in between sets chatting with the audience. FYI it was a great crowd. Every seat was filled with fans. He spoke about his time with Beck and about the fact that he loved Beck since the Yardbirds and then brought up the fact that he got to play in the Yardbirds for a few years. Imagine that? He played with Beck and he played in The Yardbirds. I mean come on people, who do you know who can make that claim? Nobody I know. Only Johnny A.

The next set was the Blues set, and man didn’t he channel Beck himself. I’m telling you people, Johnny can play the Blues as good as anyone. And I’ve seen and played with a lot of great blues players in my time. Johnny is one of the best. And the thing about great blues players is they improvise and arrange the song structure outside of the box. ROCK ME BABY and CROSSROADS never sounded so good. And they did killer versions of KING BEE  and LOVE POTION NUMBER 9.  The band was so solid and tight during the blues set.  Dean Cassell is a monster on the bass, and he along with one of the best drummers in the business, Marty Richards did a solid job of holding down the rhythm section. This trio could rock the blues.

They ended the show with some of Johnny’s original tunes OH YEAH and TWO WHEEL HORSE and LIKE A SUNSET. Proving that his own songs could easily stand up alongside some of the classics. The crowd loved them and called them back for an encore. And I was so stoked when they came out and played CAN’T FIND MY WAY HOME by Blind Faith. Kenny loved that song and I could tell he was completely into it. They did an extended version of the song that I fell in love with when he played it as a solo artist. The Johnny A Trio rocked the house.

Johnny told me later “The show wasn’t perfect, but it was definitely fun and spirited.”

I thought about that. Nobody has a perfect show. Not the Beatles, Not Beck. Nobody. But watching The JOHNNY A Trio last night, took a little bit of the edge off of losing Jeff Beck. And while the world will never be the same without Beck, it’s nice to know, that there’s someone like JOHNNY A still playing and creating sounds and melodies on the electric guitar that leave you feeling good at the end of the night. There’s still that “feel good” feeling.

As we walked out of the club, Johnny had Beck’s SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW playing over the PA. I looked around, and there were more than just my eyes that were watering. Sigh.

BELOW IS FROM MY FACEBOOK POST ON 1-11-23



This is a photo of me taken at The CHANNEL in Boston in 1990 by Michael Baytoff. I'm a guitar player. I've been playing since 1963. I'm not a great player the likes of Johnny A, Elliott Easton, Billy Loosigian, Rich Gilbert, Rich Bartlett, Bill Pierce, Ty Tabor, my brother Johnny, or a number of others here on FB. But I am a player. I took it pretty seriously back in the day. And I still play today. In fact, I played for hours last night, after hearing about Jeff Beck's untimely passing.

The reason why so many guitar players have been commenting on Jeff Beck, is because, we were all in awe of his playing. To know something about the guitar, and the sounds and emotions, that one can evoke from this incredible instrument, is to know and acknowledge the greatness of what Jeff Beck could do on an electric guitar. Those of you who know me best, know that I am a huge Hendrix fan. He was/is my favorite guitarist. But those same friends, also know, that I put Beck on a whole other level. I used to say that his finger technique, and the sounds he got out of his guitar, came from another universe. They were not of this earth.

Those beautiful tones were from some other place.

So for many of us who play the guitar, this loss hits pretty hard.
The thought of those fingers not moving anymore, or the emotion from his heart and mind, being silenced forever is truly heartbreaking. I know that he had legions of fans out there. Fans who never picked up a guitar, but just love the sounds of the electric guitar. You too know, that this loss is significant.

The world will never be the same without Jeff Beck.

For those of us who were there from the beginning with Beck playing in the Yardbirds to the recent shows he played, we should consider ourselves not only lucky, to have been able to witness his greatness, but to be truly blessed, to hear and watch, one of the all time greats.

I really hope there is a place beyond this world where these masterful players have gone to. Hendrix, SRV, Garcia, Harrison, and now Beck. Because, I'd sure like to see them play again.

Thank you Jeff, for making me take note of those incredibly melodic and imaginative sounds that you created. My life and our world, was truly enriched because of you. Rest In Peace.

"SURFING & GUITAR SOLOS HEALS ALL WOUNDS"

LOOK WHO IS RECEIVING THE FAITH IN THE FUTURE AWARD AT THE HAMPTON AREA CHAMBER AWARDS.

THE NEW 2023 RPOTW CALENDARS ARE AVAILABLE!

Featuring pics from every month from last year's Blog.
Email me directly at ralph@adlantic.com or pick one up
at CINNAMON RAINBOWS in North Hampton, NH

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SUPER WOMAN KIM GRONDIN!



THE WILD CARD PLAYOFFS HAVE BEEN GREAT!


TONIGHT TOM BRADY WILL FACE THE DALLAS COWBOYS!



And I for one, hope he wins. Hey he gave us 20 years of Glory.
I'm still a fan of the GOAT. And I always will be.

SAY IT AIN'T SO JOE. In the Name Of Secret Documents.
Joe you can't slam the other guy for hiding secret documents at Mar-a- Lago and then turn around and do the EXACT same thing? OK it's time people. We NEED a NEW ENERGETIC AND HONEST INDIVIDUAL, TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY. Trump and Biden are ONE AND DONE. We need someone new. Someone young, White, Black, Hispanic, or Asian. Male or female, to come and SAVE THIS COUNTRY FROM THESE OLD FOOLS. These two old clowns need to ride off into the sunset. Giddy up Joe. Giddy up. Donnie's waiting for you.



The current circus leader needs to be replaced in 2024.



A documentary that has been 58 years in the making.
Coming Summer of 2023


Say what? George Santos is now claiming that he was the one who captured KSM? Ha! Seriously? Why is he still allowed to hold his seat? The Speaker of the house Kevin McCarthy needs to get this POS out of Congress. This guy is what is wrong with today's GOP. It's a mess. Talk about a lying sack of you know what. George Santos? What a joke. Even Khaliddy see that.



And so my friends, please take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths of 3,000 innocent civilians by KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed). *Note to self -must pick up a case of MEIN KAMPF books by George Santos at Home Depot this week.



REST IN PEACE Jeff Beck 1944-2023
REST IN PEACE Lisa Marie Presley 2-1-68 1-12-23
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kim Grondin January 13th, 2023!
Please keep local surfer Mike Keefe in your thoughts and prayers in the next few months. Keep fighting Mike!
Please keep local Surfer/Musician Pete Kowalski in your thoughts and prayers. SURFING HEALS ALL WOUNDS!
Please Keep local surfer Bill M. in your thoughts and prayers.
Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 18 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo from any of the weeks on RPOTW.

Remember my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.

Ralph



Everybody loves seeing the old pics of surfing. Especially here in Northern New England. If you have any old pics please send them off to me via email or social media. My email is ralph@adlantic.com

YESTERDAY SURFER CROW AT THE RIVER October 2004.
A cool photo of one of the True LOCAL LEGENDS. Surfer Crow of Ogunquit Maine. There will never be another individual like Crow. He still surfs and always will, but during his hey day he stood head and shoulders above his peers. Photo by Jerry Law

*Click on the photo above to see a larger image

 

 

I kept a daily Blog on my CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY surf campaign, when I surfed every single day for 365 consecutive days. Click on the Banner above to read entries of my daily journey. There's some really interesting and true experiences
that happened during that year. Some of which are to this day, unexplainable. Some are just mind blowing. But all true.

I started on July 26th, 2010 and ended on July 26th, 2011.

Some rainy Sunday, pour yourself a cup and go through the journal. Pay close attention to the month of May in 2011. Read that month and let me know what you think of that. Be forewarned it will change you forever.

 


All photos taken this week unless otherwise noted.

Today- THE FRIDAY THE 13TH SWELL. January 13th, 2023
Photos by RALPH



(Above) The dark black clouds rolled in and boy did it ever look ominous.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Click on the ad above to see the Menu and other
important info on their Somerville restaurant and all the
other AMERICAN FLATBREAD locations.

 



(Above) Before the dark clouds. Pine Trees looked almost friendly.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

The Haffenreffer family have been helping seacoast families
with their holistic health and optimal wellness for decades.

(Above) Speaking of friendly. Perry and Cam fist pump before the session.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) The waves were fun on Friday January 13, 2023.
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

 

Best EAST COAST Coverage on the Internet.


Click on the ad above to find out more about
more about local surf artist Stan Chew's art



Clark Little's new book
Click on the ad for more info.



(Above) Max and Kody heading out. Be sure to watch the video at the top
of this page. Both of these guys get some insane barrels.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) This was anything but bad luck on Friday the 13th.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

 

 

The SURFER'S JOURNAL is in a league all of their own.

DIPG THE CURE STARTS NOW
To learn more about Evan and his journey click here  https://thecurestartsnow.org/sup.../view-heroes/evan-austin/

(Above) Matt Colby's tight turning radius on Friday the 13th.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Click on the ad above to find out more about owner
and creator Ryan Jackson and NH2o's cool selection
of surf related products.



(Above) Cam MacLeod mid pump. Friday the 13th.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

 



(Above) There were serious hollow sections on Friday the 13th.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



If you love the Beatles and you love the guitar
click on this ad above for an amazing instrumental
band playing all of your favorite Beatles songs with
the coolest arrangements. Johnny A is one of the
best guitar players on the planet.

Peter Stokes is one of the BEST guitar techs in
all of North America. He's the BEST guitar tech
in New England.


Produced by David Robinson of the CARS.
Visit our Facebook page



(Above) Looking into the dark deep pit. Friday the 13th.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) The later it got. The darker it got. Friday the 13th.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

 



Produced by David Robinson of the CARS.
Visit our Facebook page



Produced by Steve Sadler.
Visit our Facebook page



The VINNY Band was around from 1976 to 1984




July 30th, 1979 headlining the Paradise Club
In Boston, MA






(Above) Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
Joe Carter, Brian Nevins, and Nick Lavecchia
   



(Above) Jesse Gould and Matt Colby end of session on Friday the 13th.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Mackey V's VFG (Video Frame Grab) from the video at the top
of the page. Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



The art of Donna Baldassari




Hannah Vokey is one of my favorite surf artists.



(Above) This was actually Max's last wave of the night before it got too dark.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

 

Today- The JOHNNY A Trio January 13th, 2023
Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, NH
Photos by RALPH

(Above) In my honest opinion. Johnny A is one ofthe BEST guitar players of the Planet. And I would compare him to sounding (at times) like Jeff Beck.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




Visit Jimmy Dunn's website to find out where and
when he will be performing.

(Above)The Johnny A Trio at The Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, NH.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Johnny A at The Tupelo Music Hall in Derry, NH.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



I love Erica's whimsical Gull art. So cool and unique.



ONLY THE DURHAM STORE IS OPEN.
Due to the massive fire back in August the
Hampton store is closed. We will let you all
know when SECRET SPOT is back in
operation on the seacoast.
Thank you.
Jon Gozzo and family.



(Above) The Johnny A Trio put on one hell of a show.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

 

(Above) Johnny A can play the shit out of his guitars.
Friday January 13, 2023. Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

 

Today- HAWAIIAN OHANA SURF PICS
January, 2023 Photos by Lenny Nichols



(Above) Kainalu Nichols smooth cutback. Oahu, Hawaii.
January, 2023. Photo c/o Lenny Nichols
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Kainalu Nichols jamming cutback. Oahu, Hawaii.
January, 2023. Photo c/o Lenny Nichols
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

 

 



   


(Above) Kainalu Nichols looks right at home here. Oahu, Hawaii.
January, 2023. Photo c/o Lenny Nichols
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

 

(Above) Love this pic of Kainalu Nichols in Oahu, Hawaii.
January, 2023. Photo c/o Lenny Nichols
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

 

Click on this image to visit Driftwood Photography

"GIVE YOUR BUSINESS A KICK IN THE ADS"
Since 1985.

Everybody has a story to tell



(Above) Julia Nichols sweet blue-green rebound. Oahu, Hawaii.
January, 2023. Photo c/o Lenny Nichols
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Julia Nichols . Oahu, Hawaii.
January, 2023. Photo c/o Lenny Nichols
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

 

(Above) Mother of two Julia Nichols on a dreamy blue green wave.
Oahu, Hawaii. January, 2023. Photo c/o Lenny Nichols
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Man that looks so damn good. Oahu, Hawaii.
January, 2023. Photo c/o Lenny Nichols
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


(Above) Seek and ye shall find. Oahu, Hawaii.
January, 2023. Photo c/o Lenny Nichols
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above)There's no sunset like the sunsets of Oahu, Hawaii.
January, 2023. Photo c/o Lenny Nichols
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

 


 

Send your SURF Pics to me directly to: ralph@adlantic.com.
Need photos by 10 AM on Saturdays. Seriously.
By 10AM. Make sure they are 1300 to 1555 pixels wide.
If you have more than 10 pics please use wetransfer.com it's free up to 2 gig. Please DO NOT send me over 10 pics without first contacting and communicating with me.
Thank you.

Click on Archives link to see all the past Blogs and pics.

My friend Rick McAvoy from Maine is the creator
behind this unique Surf Company

 



(Above) This is a pic of 63 yr old Derek Leavy on 1-14-23.
Photo by Steve Gaffney
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) This is what you would call a BOMB. January 14th, 2023.
Photo by Don Balch
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



He's more than just a good photographer

 


(Above) All Rise: The 10th Street District Court Of Surf is Now in Session. The Honorable Judge RALPH presiding. Case # 709 BLATANT DROP IN OF THE WEEK. Click the image above to see the outcome of this Surf Crime and the verdict that was rendered.
Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the outcome






This is what happens if you are found GUILTY. You become invisible.


Click on this image above to buy this book
and more cool KING'S X merchandise and music
 



I'm seeing waves for 4 days here starting Sunday 1-15-23



Monday 1-16-23 is my pick of the week.



 

JANUARY 15th, 2023

"Just read the caption on this Insta post. Pretty funny and pretty accurate."



I don't think so. Photo by Surfing KW



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Click here to read Shaun Tomson's first book.