My 1st Encounter with Brian Setzer himself at Aqua Caliente casino

You're right lad... just getting jealous, honestly!!!
It wasnt' me but my jealousy and envy!! Congrats, Tavo, honestly!

Nobody is saying that no one else deserves to meet Brian. I think we're just saying that if you put it to a vote around here as to who should be in the front of the line to have a personal audience with their musical hero, I think the vast majority of HDVDLers would put Tavo at the front of that line.

I stand by my opinion that, around here, I can't think of anyone more deserving of his moment with Setzer than Tavo. Especially after reading his story. From the selflessness of not bringing up the Nocturne pedals, to putting his Gretsch buddies' questions before his own, he displayed plenty of class that speaks volumes to the content of his character.

Anyone who says they're more deserving than Tavo eliminates themselves from the discussion for the sheer selfishness of such a statement. Unfortunately, the timing and placement of your comments seems unfortunate me, even if you did cover your comments with "no offense." (In the English-speaking world, Jon, people almost always say "no offense" when they're at their most offensive.)

I admire your collection, and especially the way you share your information on your impressive blog, Jon. However, those of us who hoard Setzer collectibles don't automatically have a leg up on those who are more frugal with their money, have families to feed, but still love the music.

It's also about how you conduct yourself as part of a community of fans. Tavo has spent years fostering goodwill among fans and other players, building friendships with so many people in the various communities of enthusiasts. Without Tavo stepping up to continue moderator duties, this forum would probably no longer exist. He has been generous with his time, his wisdom, and his talent. Many of us who aren't quite close enough with Tavo to be able to call him a friend are still Tavo fans. I think that's where we're coming from when we offer up our supportive comments.

Now there are people on this forum who I might consider equally worthy around here, for many of the same qualities Tavo displays, but most of them have met Brian several times already. Some, I think Brian genuinely considers friends as well as fans. Certainly, I am thrilled for them as well.

It's a silly argument anyway. You can't honestly quantify who is more deserving. The bottom line is history will show that Brian Setzer is the one who asked to meet Tavo. It doesn't get any cooler than that!

I hope you get your moment with Brian someday, Jon. And I hope you are as humble and gracious as Tavo when you do.

iViva Pascual!-a-billy



Since I started this missive, I see a couple of other posts already. I get that you get it, Jon. I'm still gonna submit the post. After all, I get paid by the word!

Rickabilly wrote:

(In the English-speaking world, Jon, people almost always say "no offense" when they're at their most offensive.)

Really? Good to know. Which term would be better if i don`t want to be offensive?

At the end every fan deserve to meet his favorite artist some day.
But the story of Tavo is special to all of us. Because of his gentle character, his great pedal work, his knowledge and helpfulness for guitar sound problems, his work on HVL, etc..
My guitar sound changed in the last 24 month and Tavo (the cool guy who lives 5700mls far away from me) has a lot to do with this.
I`m become 46 next month and one thing i know for sure.
Jealousy don´t bring me forward it stops me. No time left for this.

Jon: you deserve it as well, your archive is amazing,
but this is now Tavo`s moment.
Sorry...but no offense...

Brett, I think "no offense" should be an appropriate way to try and avoid misunderstandings, but here in the US, where a lack of manners is becoming all too commonplace, a lot of people just want to be blunt and get away with it rather than choosing their words more carefully.

"No disrespect" is another one people misuse to be disrespectful and get away with it, when it ought to be used as it was intended. It's like using emoticons to soften an otherwise harsh statment.

Example of it being used incorrectly: "Rickabilly, no offense, but you're kind of being an a-hole right now."

LOL-a-billy

I've never met Slim Jim, dammit.

Congrats, Tavo! I would have loved to be in your shoes for that night! ...save for the part where he asked me to play him something. I am not sure what I would have done there. haha.

there was no prior thought in my mind that there would even be a guitar in the room let alone such a
comment from Setzer so it was out of the blue. When he had them get his guitars n bring em in, I thought
maybe he was gonna sit there strummin but he handed it straight to me and pulled a pick out of his
pocket for me and goes "play something" while all those folks are watching. I hacked up the riff
in the song "trouble train" and quickly switched to a jazzy thing I always play on a new guitar, but
it was a bate n switch moment moving to questions about trestle bracing on the guitars.

can you imagine how agonizing it would be IF I had been told prior to meeting him "setzer always makes people
play something for him if he hands you a guitar".. I would have just not touched the guitar.

tvthewiredturtle wrote:

there was no prior thought in my mind that there would even be a guitar in the room let alone such a
comment from Setzer so it was out of the blue. When he had them get his guitars n bring em in, I thought
maybe he was gonna sit there strummin but he handed it straight to me and pulled a pick out of his
pocket for me and goes "play something" while all those folks are watching. I hacked up the riff
in the song "trouble train" and quickly switched to a jazzy thing I always play on a new guitar, but
it was a bate n switch moment moving to questions about trestle bracing on the guitars.

can you imagine how agonizing it would be IF I had been told prior to meeting him "setzer always makes people
play something for him if he hands you a guitar".. I would have just not touched the guitar.

Great stuff, Tavo. This is waay cool.

What an amazing thing to have Brian invite you backstage to meet him, and then have him hand you one of his guitars and say "play something".

Congratulations on a very special moment.

tvthewiredturtle wrote:

there was no prior thought in my mind that there would even be a guitar in the room let alone such a
comment from Setzer so it was out of the blue. When he had them get his guitars n bring em in, I thought
maybe he was gonna sit there strummin but he handed it straight to me and pulled a pick out of his
pocket for me and goes "play something" while all those folks are watching. I hacked up the riff
in the song "trouble train" and quickly switched to a jazzy thing I always play on a new guitar, but
it was a bate n switch moment moving to questions about trestle bracing on the guitars.

can you imagine how agonizing it would be IF I had been told prior to meeting him "setzer always makes people
play something for him if he hands you a guitar".. I would have just not touched the guitar.

You could have been funny and just replied that you don't know how to play guitar.

Twenty Flight Rick wrote:

tvthewiredturtle wrote:

there was no prior thought in my mind that there would even be a guitar in the room let alone such a
comment from Setzer so it was out of the blue. When he had them get his guitars n bring em in, I thought
maybe he was gonna sit there strummin but he handed it straight to me and pulled a pick out of his
pocket for me and goes "play something" while all those folks are watching. I hacked up the riff
in the song "trouble train" and quickly switched to a jazzy thing I always play on a new guitar, but
it was a bate n switch moment moving to questions about trestle bracing on the guitars.

can you imagine how agonizing it would be IF I had been told prior to meeting him "setzer always makes people
play something for him if he hands you a guitar".. I would have just not touched the guitar.

You could have been funny and just replied that you don't know how to play guitar.

He has my first album, no getting around it..although compared to him I DONT know how to play for sure!

Very cool, Tavo. I figure we must be around the same age, if you first found the Stray Cats in the 9th Grade. I think I was in the 9th or 10th grade when Built for Speed came out in the US.

Next time, can you ask him about the mystery amp under the Sun Records t-shirt? I KNOWS that's gotta be the secret sound!

Tele295 wrote:

Very cool, Tavo. I figure we must be around the same age, if you first found the Stray Cats in the 9th Grade. I think I was in the 9th or 10th grade when Built for Speed came out in the US.

Next time, can you ask him about the mystery amp under the Sun Records t-shirt? I KNOWS that's gotta be the secret sound!

haha you remember that, it seemed so suspicious and its just a space echo road case!

btw.. old man syndrome is taking over I guess;
my very first stray cats albums were the self titled and gonna ball, handed to me with
the blasters self titled so it was '81 and I was in 10th grade as I was playing the elvis
and chuck berry stuff in 9th grade.. sheeze I need to get this straight..

So you BOUGHT the story about the "empty road case"? Yeah, right! I think it's a Butts Ecco-Fonic with unobtanium speakers............

You had those cool friends with access to the imports. I think I bought the Built For Speed cassette at a local Licorice Pizza. Remember those? I didn't get hip to the Blasters until "Streets of Fire" came out, and then I dug through the back catalog. Our small town was nowheresville, but my Dad had all those original Sun and Chess Records for me!

Slim Jon Phantom wrote:

Hey!!
I've been following Tavo's story and I am really happy for him.
However, and PLEASE, dont take me wrong. Most of the comments were "nobody else deserved to meet Brian like you"

Sorry, but F#$K ME!! I've been a Brian for over 20 years (I am speaking my mind, but I think that some of you would agree), with a wonderful collection (even despite the collection).... so, does it mean that the rest of fans dont deserve to meet Brian??

As I said, no offense to Tavo nor anybody else, but... just try to understand what I mean

Dude, you just can't help yourself can you? I know you said no offense, but come on. It's not like Tavo said "I deserve this, the rest of you can bow down before me". Geez, No wonder Tavo wasn't sure to share or not. There's always one apple in every barrel.

Next time mate, when you have a physical though where your first statement is going to be "no offense", do us a favour and don't post.

Not having a go, just trying to make you aware....alright, I'm having a go

That was awesome Tavo. congratulations

What a great experience, thank you for sharing