Shelby Lynne doesn’t want to talk. Not about gear, not about songs, not about the why, when, and how. She just wants you to listen and draw your own conclusions. But my first pass through her new, aptly titled album, Revelation Road, left me with a million questions!

Carolyn Wonderland’s new Bismeaux Records release, Peace Meal, ranks high in the never-ending quest for the perfect road trip soundtrack. In fact, I spent a couple of hours on Northern California’s windy mountain roads grooving to her rich, bluesy voice and driving (pun intended) blues-rock arrangements of classic and new material. I can’t decide whether I like her raspy, lush-toned vocals or soulful and skillful guitar playing better, but luckily I don’t have to choose!

The other day I was talking to Paul Riario, Guitar World’s gear editor. The subject came around to why women don’t buy more gear. My reply to Riario was, “You’re right. I would buy a new pair of shoes before I picked up a new guitar accessory.”

I went to Guitar Center to buy some audio cables the other day. They were special ones with banana plug ends. I had the spec written down on a piece of paper, and I was a little nervous going into the GC audio department never having purchased this type of cable before.