Articles:

• Guest Blog #4: Mick Polich "Guitar Influences" Interview by Dave Powell! - O.k., I'll take a break now, but I needed to get this latest post in from my buddy Dave Powell of Omaha. Dave and I got back almost 30 years, and he was kind enough to come up with an idea to interview me on certain influences I've had musically, concentrating on some of our shared guitar influences. Yep, it's Codgerville Memory Lane, but if y'all are willing to go down that path, then we'll keep the light on and the door open! So, o.k. Brother Dave, take it away and ask some questions........
• Jambands, Family Reunions, and the 4th Of July - Wow -ANOTHER installment so soon? Yep, and many thanks to editor/Muse creator Jodi Krangle for letting me post like a madman here at this point! Well, bowing to good-natured, but a relentless flow of gentle, yet forceful pressure (how's that for passive-aggressiveness?) from my in-laws, I look at our recent annual family reunion trip to Storm Lake, IA., with the spotlight on a few celebrated local music heroes and a time-honored small-town tradition....   
• Guest Blog #3 - Keith Siegfried! - Wow, the "Guest Blogs" have been lining up something fierce - this install, we have our good buddy from Atlanta, singer/bassist/guitarist/sip n' picker Keith Siegfried (who's also been known to throw a pretty mean across-the-field ball to first for the out....). Keith will be logging in as our old neighborhood band, the Bridge Brothers, prepare for the annual KreiFest gig come fall - probably my favorite gig to play back in the Atlanta days. So, we welcome the first of a few blogs from good ol' "Mr. Keef"....
• A Wedding, A Small Town, and New Old Friends - We head up to the hamlet of Green Bay,WS., for this installment -population a little over 102,000 ( double that on game day for the Green Bay Packers). We look at, in a short space, the interwoven lives of a wedding and old friends in a small town that happens to hold a heralded NFL football franchise....
• Indie Record Shops: An Appreciation And Reflection - Indie record shops - well, Johnny, we hardly knew ye: some are still holding on to a fanatic client base, while others get schlepped out to sea. Some thoughts, and a personal, downhome reflection....
• FM Radio Is Dead - Long Live FM Radio! - What the hell happen to FM radio? It is alive and well - with a new suit, and matching tie and spats!! A short look at where the spirit of 'underground-anything-goes' music programming lives today....
• Blue Collar Guest Blog #2 -DON MYERS!!!! - Well kids, the hits just keep a comin' - ANOTHER guest blog hot on the heels of last months' blog: this time, the illustrious Mr. Don Myers, singer/songwriter/musician par excellence from the ol' home town of Des Moines, Ia., contributes his views on the 'dumbing down' of society and the arts (a well-heeded warning for uninformed, and a reminder to us all to keep on keepin' on with self - education!). A laurel and hardy handshake to Mr. Myers for guesting on this column!!
• Blue Collar's Guest Blog Numero Uno - Wade Krieg! - Well, anything can happen here at the ol' "Blue Collar" column site - I've approach some good friends to submit some thoughts, rants, commentary as such for their own column shot, so her goes: Mr. Wade Krieg, singer/songwriter/log-time par excellence Des Moines,Ia. area musician, giving us his three cents worth on the art of guitar solos, and why they're still valid! Thank you, Wade, and MAAAAANN, guhguhg net to ya, pardner!!!(Don't ask -o.k., well, ask - it's 'insider jibberish'....) 
• Blue Collar Salutes Teachers! - With the one-year anniversary of writing for the Muse's Muse, Mick adds another column for the month of May saluting the art of teaching, especially music instructors. Remember, teachers surround us in our lives everyday - we just need to keep our ears and eyes open for the lessons! 
• Blue Collar's CD Reviews, Volume #1 - Hey kids, time for CD reviews!! And as we all know, opinions on music are like, er, well, you know what they're like - everybody has one!! 
• The Funk - Filled Soul Of Jazz Organ Trios and Hammond B -3 Players!! - Grits n' gravy, hip-shakin' - just some of the terms described for the music that involves the Hammond B -3! Mick cites some personal experiences and thoughts, as well as a great story from our ol' friend, Mr. Don Archer.....
• Blue Collar's Sneaky Little Tips For Ghee-tar And Bass, Vol. #1 - Looking for a few quick tips to head down another avenue with your guitar and bass playing? In this first installment, Mick pawns off what pithy knowledge he's learned over 30 years in regards to guitar and bass playing tips.....
• Blue Collar's Hot Rod Tube Amp Mods, Volume #1!!!! - Here's an overview of some areas (simple and a wee more complex) to get a little more pop outta your tube amps. DISCLAIMER (and you'll see it again and again in the article): EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LETHAL VOLTAGES!! CAUTION!!! If you don't feel comfortable with any of the information to proceed on your own, DON'T! Consult you friendly, neighborhood amp tech for advice, info, and service!
• Blue Collar Survival #345 - I'm Gumby, Dammit !!!! - Hey kids, let's put out an EP/CD!!! Mick explores what's-happening-now in the initial stages of putting out some music to the market for the umpteenth time, and dealing with combining art and business AGAIN!!
• Buddy Miles - a Blue Collar Tribute - A brief tribute to an old-school soul/rocker, Mr. Buddy Miles!
• "Hail, Hail, New Orleans!!"-A Short Blue Collar Appreciation - New Orleans as the epicenter for the beginnings of rock and roll? Mick explores some points to that statement in this installment....
• Blue Collar's Motivation - What moves us to do what we do by singing, playing an instrument, or trying to create a gig in the music business? It's a tip of the iceberg subject, but Mick takes a whack at it in this installment......
• No Depression magazine - a Blue Collar tribute - A little salute to a 13 year run by a magazine that exposed deserving artists in the alt country/ roots movement in music - No Depression magazine ends it's print run and will continue on-line with the publication of it's last issue....
• Blue Collar's "Lost Highway" - Journeys And Arrivals - We hear of the musical 'superstars' daily - but what about the other tiers of making music not only as a living, but a journey? Mick takes a look in this installment.....
• "Hey man, we're getting the band back together!" - a Blue Collar Observation - This installment, we look at the growth behind the re-emergence of 'classic rock' bands, rock and roll music camps, and if 'getting the band back together' is a good thing at ANY level... Ladies and gentlemen, Jake and Elwood!
• Blue Collar Digs Into Music! - Ever listen to a song, and like the arrangement but can't stand the lyrics? Or find the lyrics incredible, but hate the singer's voice? Then, you wonder,"Well, should I like this music at ALL?" Hey people, it's o.k. to pick and choose - that's what we're talkin' about this installment!
• Blue Collar Tech #101: Some Little Bits And Pieces O' Guitar Repair Stuff - As promised, a short break from the soapbox to throw a few helpful bits of info regarding guitar and bass repair your way. First in a series!!
• The Suburbs - Musical Friend Or Foe? - Happy New Year to you, True Believers!! To kick off 2008, we 'll explore a few points on that somewhat American phenomenon of suburban life - can urban sprawl help artists and musicians?
• Zawinul - a tribute - Jazz great Joe Zawinul passed away on September 11 of this year,2007. Mick takes a time out to pay a brief tribute to the genius of jazz, fusion, and world music....
• Musical Depth from the Blue Collar Rockin' Perspective! - How deep do you want to explore music? Mick looks at expanding our artistic universe in this brief installment....
• Blue Collar Tone!! - What is tone? Can we possibly discuss the implementation of it in one article? Oh, heavens, no, kids, but we'll have fun tryin'!!
• Hush Yo' Mouth! Blue Collar presents - This installment, Mick starts at the tip of the iceberg for the dodgey topic of censorship: what could be be wrong, what could be right, and why it's nothing new to argue about because we've always had it!!
• Blue Collar Rockin' Presents - Nope, not a Tom Waits song dissertation, but a look in the social and cultural ramifications of what Saturday nights mean, and have meant, in our 5-day workweek society.
• Blue Collar #9: Ethnic Music - Hey, let me hear your balalaikas ringing out! In this column, Mick looks at ethnic music, and how all of our musical heritages are more closely linked than we realize!
• Blue Collar#8 - Gigs That Mean Something - What's in a gig for you? What do you need to make it worthwhile? Mick explores the topic on making every gig count, as well as going 'back in the day' for some of his own memorable gigs. 
• Blue Collar #7.5 -Grind Me A Bass Pound, Pappy!!! - Bass players got the power!!! This article is an intro to playing the bass, and its role in modern music (too much to cover in one measly space, so more to come down the road!).
• Blue Collar #7: Amps - Crank It Or Go Sit In The Corner! - Finally getting to the 'tech' valley, Mick gets the ground floor sweeped with an intro to amps - the other half of Rock Glory!!!
• Blue Collar #6 - What are we all trying to recapture in our musical journey? This column, Mick looks back on two time periods that shaped his vision of getting "back to where you once belonged, Loretta"!
• Blue Collar #5: Duo Arranging/D.Y.I. in Product Creation - Mick finishes up from last month on arranging music for duos, then slams head on into the good ol' D.I.Y. Movement, and some thoughts on making it work for YOU!!!
• Blue Collar Rockin' #4 - CONFIDENCE!! - Lacking in what the French call, um, er,that 'certain something'? Mick looks at confidence: how to get it, what to do with it, do you buy it a suit, take it to dinner, etc....
• Blue Collar Rockin' #3-LISTENING!!! - Hey,you - are you listening? Mick looks at the topic of listening as a musician and offers some hopefully helpful hints on how to improve your 'listening' habits for all your musical endeavors!
• Blue Collar Rockin'#2 - Mick explores when we do our 'best work' as musicians. Can it happen more than once? Find out!
• Blue Collar Rockin'! - The opening shot in a new series from studio dude/amp tech/music retail vet/ music instructor/songwriter/bar band performer Mick Polich. 
• Music Ed #101, Or Thoughts There Of! - To get 2008 off to a rant n' rave start, Mick looks at a continuation of last column's article with some thoughts on musical education, technology, and why one great rock show can change the world ( at least your own...)

COMING SOON!