Underrated Guitarists

[stripersnipr]

Originally Posted by spence

Well, to be fair I've only seen him once. Could have just been a flat show.

-spence

Interesting combination at the Melody Tent was Robert Cray Band opening for John Hiatt. Cray was the standard always good quality show but nothing earth shattering, and then John Hiatt came out and blew the tent away. I think it was the "Tiki Bar is Open" Tour. Anyone else catch that?

[Flaptail]

Number 64 on that top 100 list, Mick Ronson. Absolutely my favorite, my guitar hero.

Arranging, producing he had the talent to make everyone he worked with look and sound great from Bowie to Dylan and tons of people in between.

He died in 1993 of cancer but if you can find a copy of the tribute concert they held in memeoriam for him buy it. It's a live set with people like Ian Hunter, Roger Daltrey, Def Lepard's lead singer and guitarist, Townsend, Queens drummer Roger Taylor, Bill Wyman in Willy and the Poor Boy's, B.A.D., The Spiders From Mars ( Bowies back up band in the 70's) Procol Harum's lead singer does an outstanding version of Whiter Shade of Pale. Just an awesome cd set.

[OnTheLedge]

Originally Posted by stripersnipr

, and then John Hiatt came out and blew the tent away. I think it was the "Tiki Bar is Open" Tour. Anyone else catch that?

I'm usually a lurker around here because I don't consider myself an expert fisherman, but as a guitar player I'll chime in on this.

A few years ago I saw Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt and a Texas songwriter named Joe Ely at Vets Aud. in Prov. They each played solo acoustic, took turns doing a song of their own and accompanied each other. Hiatt was fabulous! Halfway through the show my wife said, "Who's the guy in the middle? He's a way better guitar player than the other two."

When the "best guitar players" question is asked acoustic players are largely ignored. IMHO it's a hell of a lot easier to crank up the distortion and start bending strings than it is play an acoustic well, that is, to finger pick a melody and bass line together with the RIGHT hand. My additions to the list:

Leo Kotke
David Bromberg
Willie Nelson.....yes, that Willie Nelson. The man can play!

[Rockport24]

Originally Posted by Robert

I'm usually a lurker around here because I don't consider myself an expert fisherman, but as a guitar player I'll chime in on this.

A few years ago I saw Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt and a Texas songwriter named Joe Ely at Vets Aud. in Prov. They each played solo acoustic, took turns doing a song of their own and accompanied each other. Hiatt was fabulous! Halfway through the show my wife said, "Who's the guy in the middle? He's a way better guitar player than the other two."

When the "best guitar players" question is asked acoustic players are largely ignored. IMHO it's a hell of a lot easier to crank up the distortion and start bending strings than it is play an acoustic well, that is, to finger pick a melody and bass line together with the RIGHT hand. My additions to the list:

Leo Kotke
David Bromberg
Willie Nelson.....yes, that Willie Nelson. The man can play!

I totally agree with your comments on acoustic players, acoustic guitar is really the true test of a great guitarist if you ask me because it is just the man and the guitar. That said some of the great rock/blues guitarist could also play a great acoustic, Clapton, Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend among others, all did some amazing acoustic stuff.