Every time I hear Tommy Emmanuel play, my first thought is, “what a showoff”. Of course, I mean this in the very best way, because one must have the goods first, right, before any off can be shown. Or something to that effect.
Emmanuel’s picking is about pure joy in excellence, and you can see it on his face as he shreds an acoustic like no one can. And lest one think his style is all about speed and hot licks over substance, his spacious explorations have to be experienced. Tommy’s balladry and atmospheric excursions balance his ballistic bombast perfectly.
Tommy Emmanuel – Daytripper/Lady Madonna (by The Beatles) – YouTube.
One of these days, if I’m lucky, I’d love to sit down with the man at one of his guitar clinics and see how well I hold up to the pressure. I’d be doomed from the start, of course, but I’d be laughing all the way to the crash and burn.
