Whatever Vince Gill’s last bad habit may be, it certainly isn’t indolence. He puts hummingbirds to shame.
On the eve of the Feb. 12 release of his epic new album, Down To My Last Bad Habit, Vince journeyed to Los Angeles to be inducted into the Guitar Center’s historic RockWalk by one of his guitar gods, the Eagles’ Joe Walsh.
Guitar Center’s RockWalk is dedicated to honoring those artists who have made a significant impact and lasting contribution to the growth and evolution of music. As the newest RockWalk inductee, Gill’s handprints will reside on Hollywood Boulevard alongside equally accomplished musicians and innovators such as Eric Clapton, George Martin, Jimmy Page, Iron Maiden, Carlos Santana, Johnny Cash, Van Halen, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Korn, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, Run-D.M.C., Queen, Linkin Park and many others.
It’s a pretty impressive little piece of real estate out front,” said Walsh, eyeing the star-studded pavement. “And today’s going to take it up a notch.” Vince acknowledged Walsh among his many musical exemplars and mused on their importance to him. “I felt like the point of any of it was to have an open mind,” he said, “and be willing to learn something from anybody.”
After leaving his handprints for other pickers to try on for size, it was back to Nashville to perform at Country Radio Seminar and follow it with a day-of-release show at the fabled Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Lower Broadway. The show will stream live at 6:00 p. m. central time on Gill’s Facebook page.
Reviews of Down To My Last Bad Habit have been rapturous. Rolling Stone extolled the album’s “exquisite guitar work and soulful vulnerability.” USA Today agreed, calling it “soulful yet sophisticated, emotionally raw yet gleaming with studio polish.” The Boot ventured even farther, declaring that the album is “quite possibly his most perfect project—from a vocal and instrumental perspective—that he has recorded in his career.” Forbes, Nash Country Weekly, The Boston Globe, Tulsa World and Nashville Scene all added their voices to the hallelujah chorus.
Vince has also teamed with the Guitar Center chain of instrument and gear stores to conduct a nationwide search for previously undiscovered guitarists of merit. It’s called Guitar Center OnStage With Vince Gill.
Once the entries are in, Vince will pick five finalists who will then compete in Los Angeles for the grand prize. That prize includes the opening slot on one of Vince’s U. S. shows during his upcoming tour, $10,000 in cash, a single produced by Justin Niebank (who’s also produced Vince, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift and Sheryl Crow), a meeting with Universal Music Group talent scouts and assorted other musical goodies.
Beginning Feb.17, Gill will reunite with Lyle Lovett for a 13-city tour of acoustic shows. For a full list of tour dates, news, images and more, visit www.VinceGill.com
