When I was a kid, I got an instruction guitar video by Steve Lukather on VHS from a company called Hot Licks.
Included with the guitar lesson on the video were trailers of other instructional videos. That’s where I discovered the guitar wizardry of Albert Lee. He kind of looked like Martin Short to me and he did things on the guitar that I had never seen before. His style of guitar playing was just so clean and fast and good. I must have watched that intro hundreds of times.
After saving up for months (these tapes were about $50 each), I bought Albert’s instructional video. From there, I found out about a bunch of other guitar players and other musicians who ended up being part of the show tonight to celebrate his legendary career and his 70th birthday. This show reminded me that I am much bigger fan of country music than I had ever really thought I was.
The Canyon was completely sold out and the event drew an incredible all-star line-up for a memorable 3 1/2 + hour show.
Some of the participants:
Denny Laine
Peter Asher
Dona
Hot Roux
Biff Babies
Laurence Juber
Jack Shit
John Jorgenson
Jerry Donahue
Emmylou Harris
Rodney Crowell
Desert Rose Band
Jay Dee Maness, Herb Pedersen, Bill Bryson, Steve Duncan and Clem Burke
I once saw Emmylou Harris in concert with Mark Knopfler at the Gibson Amphitheatre (RIP – it’s a flat pile of dirt right now) and she was extraordinary. She was great tonight as well.
Truly incredible guitar work with 2/3 of The Hellecasters (john Jorgenson and Jerry Donohue) and Albert – it was a definite highlight of the show seeing three of my favorite guitar players together. The recordings the Hellecasters have done are some of the best guitar albums in existence.
Laurence Juber He also played a week ago as a guest with the incredible tribute to Paul McCartney and Wings with the Wings Band Playing solo for “Raining In My Heart” and then doing “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was a huge treat. What a great guitar player. And he was really cool after the show last weekend. I hope he keeps playing out around here.
Ramblin’ Jack/ Scarlett Rivera – good times and great violin playing.
The show ended with a rocking version of Country Boy. A great end to a wonderful evening of music.
Partial Set List:
I’m Ready
Two Step Too/ Runaway Train
When Will I Be Loved
Restless
Something you Got
Six Days in New Orleans
Lucy Lucy
Too Much (w/ Clem BUrke on drums)
Long White Cadiallc
Well Alright
Let It Be Me
World Without Lovee
Go Now
Hi How are You/ Devil in Disguise
Tiger By The Tail
Coming Home
Raining In My Hart
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Spellbound
No One Can Make My Sunshine Smile
Leave My Woman
Country Boy
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