Lets face it, air travel in the 21st century can be a total nightmare. Airlines change their rules every other day, add fees every way they can, and make it almost impossible to travel with your own gear. It’s really frustrating! There’s only so much you can do about it, but here are a few tips that can make your life a little less stressful.  

Having an elite status on one of the sky groups (which means flying a lot on the same airline) makes a huge difference, and the higher your status, the better you’ll travel. You’re not going to pay extra for baggage, so that can save you some money, and you are also allowed more weight per bag. My pedalboard weighs 54 pounds—four pounds over the limit—and if I didn’t have an elite status, I would have to pay up to $200 in overweight fees in each direction!

Elite status also allows you to board the plane first, which gives you a better chance of finding a place to put your guitar. Boarding late often means you have to check your guitar in with baggage, which sucks...

On March 22nd and 23rd the Carl Verheyen Band will play the Iridium in NYC. It’s more than just another stop on an east coast run—this room has a special place in my heart. It was here I saw Les Paul play about ten years ago and got to meet a living legend. He had a permanent residency at the club on Monday nights, right up until he passed away a few years ago.

The John Abercrombie Trio gave a stunning performance last Friday at San Francisco’s stately Herbst Theater, as part of SF Jazz’s 2012 season. Joined by Hammond organ virtuoso Gary Versace, and legendary drummer and longtime Abercrombie collaborator Adam Nussbaum, the inimitable guitarist delivered a set that included new pieces from an upcoming ECM album, along with material from his previous releases.