Howdy friends,

It's been a while since I've sent a personal letter to the
newsletter, and there's a good reason for that -- I've been busy as
heck! 2004 started off with a bang as I returned to Australia for
a "down under" tour. The tour was a smashing success!! Thanks to
promoters Sarah Gordon and Ross Atwell, who were able to get me
spots on the national ABC radio and an article in the Melbourne
Sunday paper, which brought lots of people out of the small towns to
our shows in Melbourne. I used members of the excellent "Starliners"
band including Peter Baylor on guitar, Andrew Lindsay on drums, and
Mike St. Claire-Miller on bass. We even had time to do some
recordings at the legendary Preston Studios down there, and maybe
those tapes will see the light of day! Highlights of this Australian
tour included eating kangaroo steak (flavorful, but a bit gamey),
taking a boat cruise in Sydney harbor, and playing at a turn-of-the-
century prison in Brisbane! Thanks again to everybody in Australia
who helped with the tour (Benny for the loan of the Telecaster,
Graeme for the Australian '60s surf 45's, the gals from Hi-Ball
Burlesque, Lori Lee Cash for the Boggo Jail show, Jon Flynn for the
fartbags, and of course Ross and Sarah for booking the tour!)!!!

Immediately after returning from Australia, it was time for the
FIRST ANNUAL DEKE'S GUITAR GEEK FESTIVAL, which was held on Jan. 18
at the Doll Hut in Anaheim, CA. This fest was timed with the Vintage
Guitar Show and the NAMM (giant music trade show) Show, which were
both happening that same weekend down in Orange County. The Doll Hut
was absolutely PACKED for a night of guitar geekness!

Beginning the night was GARY LAMBERT, who most folks know from his
guitar work on the Glen Glenn records back in the '50s ("Everybody's
Movin,""One Cup of Coffee," etc.), but Gary is an amazing Chet
Atkins/Merle Travis style fingerpicker! He wowed everybody with his
versatility and blew minds with his tone using a Bigsby doubleneck
guitar through an original Ray Butts Echosonic amplifier!

Next up was one of the geekiest things I've ever been involved in,
but it was great fun! It was a tribute band to THE VENTURES, called
(what else) VENTURESMANIA! Featuring myself, Sugarballs, Pete Curry
from Los Straitjackets, and Garrett Immel from the Ghastly Ones, we
plowed through a dozen of the Ventures coolest mid-sixties
instrumentals including "Besame Mucho," "Walk Don't
Run '64," "Journey to the Stars," etc., all using authentic
Ventures-model Mosrite guitars! We even had "Rockin' JellyBean" MC
the show to evoke the "LIVE IN JAPAN 1965" recording! It was a gas!

After the giant white Fender Showmans were cleared off the stage, it
was time for none other than JEREMY "JW" WAKEFIELD and "TK" SMITH to
salute Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant! These guys, as you all know,
have played with folks like Asleep at the Wheel, Wayne Hancock, the
Lucky Stars, and Big Sandy, and they are currently playing in an
excellent group called the Bonebrake Syncopators. They did an
amazing set of Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant tunes that just tore
everybody up! Highlights included TK Smith playing "Stratosphere
Boogie" on an original Stratosphere Twin doubleneck guitar and
Jeremy Wakefield playing the heck out of "China Boy!"

Just when the crowd couldn't handle any more, BRIAN LONBECK took the
stage and proceeded to blow everybody's hat in the creek! Brian did
a tribute to the late great Joe Maphis and played almost the
entire "Fire on the Strings" album including "Flyin' Fingers," "Fire
on the Strings," "Katy Warren Breakdown," and "Randy Lynn Rag!" Then
he proceeded to up the ante, playing a few numbers like "Blast Off"
and finishing out the night with "Rockin' Gypsy" and "Early
American!" People were blown away by this guy! You had to see it to
believe it!

The night was capped off with a set by myself and the ECCOFONICS. We
attempted to do our "guitar geek" set with tunes like "El
Cumbanchero" but we paled considerably next to the previous acts!
Seeing that only desperate measures would do, we finished out the
night with a star-studded finale of "Merle's Boogie Woogie"
featuring six guys on three doublenecks! This absolutely tore the
house down! All in all it was an incredibly successful night and
we're already planning for the 2nd Annual Guitar Geek Festival next
year around the same time. If anybody is interested in ordering the
large-size letterpress heavy cardboard SHOWPOSTER for the event,
please see the merchandise section of the web site! They're going
fast, and guaranteed in a few years will be selling for $30 or $40
on eBay. Right now, they're only $7 plus postage!!!

And now, even though it's 65 degrees today in sunny Southern
California, I'm winterizing the van, buying snow chains and
installing antifreeze, because we're headed out to the frozen
Midwest for our next tour! We'll be gone Feb. 3rd through the 21st
touring through Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska,
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Colorado! Pray for us man!!!!!
We'll need it out there! And whatever you do, do NOT refer to this
as the "Buddy Holly tour!"

We have a very special opening act coming with us on this tour. He
hails from Chicago and his name is MC BOOTYSLAPPA. He is the
first "rockabilly hip-hop rapper." In case you're confused, let me
explain. I saw this guy do his act and I was amazed at what he was
doing. He is truly doing something NEW and FRESH and I thought that
he deserved to be seen by more people. MC BOOTYSLAPPA does a very
filthy triple-X kind of rap act, with traditional hip-hop beats --
but with a twist. He uses many rockabilly samples (such as the
opening guitar crash on "Flyin' Saucers Rock 'n' Roll," Roy Orbison
going "oooohh," etc.) along with lyrics all about the rockabilly
scene, rockabilly girls, etc. It has to be seen to be believed!

Now, I'm sure this is another one of my efforts that will be loved
by half the audience and completely despised by the other half. But
just try to keep an open mind and enjoy the wackiness that is MC
BOOTYSLAPPA, and don't forget to buy his album "Back, by popular
be-damn!" at the merchandise stand. AND don't forget, if your ears
are sensitive, you might want to come AFTER his set, or go down to
the 7-11 and read magazines while he's on!!! They don't call him MC
BOOTYSLAPPA for nothing!

We hope to see you out there on the road! Thanks again,

Your pal,
Deke

TOUR DATES
(visit http://www.dekedickerson.com/ for up-to-the-minute additions)