British guitarist reacts to Leo Kottke's ODDBALL technique and playing!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Tonight I'm taking a look at Leo Kottke's slide playing, and then his performance of Oddball!
Original video - • Leo Kottke - Six Strin...
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I was Leo's road manager for about 3.5 years back in the mid-70s and probably saw 350+ performances. In all this time, I've learned how to play probably more than 50 of his tunes (and also forgotten many!). "Oddball", by far, is the most technically difficult Leo tune that I've ever attempted. I can play it note-for-note somewhat cleanly, at about 75% speed (with Amazing Slowdowner). The other day, I tried to follow along at just 90% speed...it kicked my butt! I was constantly playing catch-up. When I talked to him last year, I told him I'd just learned "Oddball" and he was delighted. He hadn't run into too many people that could play it because the left-hand workout is pretty intense. In fact, he also said that he couldn't play it anymore due to the pressure on his left little finger. I eventually activated my carpal tunnel issues because I practiced close to 6-8 hours a day during the learning process. It took me about a week to get the notes down and now 1.5 years to get to 75% speed! Leo has been my guitar hero since I was 17 back in 1970.
All of us Kottke-ites are insanely jealous of your extensive exposure to his music and "Oddball" charm. I've been a fan for exactly 50 years this month when a friend played "My Feet Are Smiling" at a 1973 Halloween party. No one had heard of him except this friend, but I was the first to ask him, "So who's the other guitarist?" This appears to be a common experience amongst first-time listeners over these 50 years. Have you heard it as well?
@@jefferyroy2566 Mostly, I read it in reviews when the reviewer hadn't seen him before and was blown away by the performance. Also, it wasn't my intention to make you insanely jealous! To this day, I can't believe how lucky I was with that whole experience. It's also very strange to see him now that we are both so much older. We're certainly not the young "kids" who toured together so many years ago!
@@wchphoto My jealously was purposely exaggerated, but is not limited to hearing Leo play live for me in a non-performance setting. I want to see how his mind works as he interacts with people, his music, his dinner, anything to provide some insight into his abilities as a raconteur. Without ever having the pleasure of seeing him live, the legend of his stories has me deeply curious about the kind of artist who titles a busy guitar piece "Vaseline Machine Gun," which sounds straight out of a William Burroughs novel. Seems like the kind of guy who would be fun to hang with in whatever setting works.
@@wchphoto "Insanely" was an international exaggeration to amplify my wish to know the man behind all those great stories and weird quips. Most professional musicians I've known had their share of stories, but none were backed up by the prodigious talent displayed by such a self-effacing person like Leo.
@@jefferyroy2566 Yeah, sorry. That part of my comment was meant to be tongue-in-cheek, a poor attempt at humor! But, you're right about Leo. Nobody can tell a story like he can. Just when you'd think he was meandering and had lost his train of thought, he'd reel you in with the punchline and your jaw would drop! I never got tired of that!
I saw Leo first as a college freshman at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio in 1971 or 1972. It was a small campus bar and I believe it was a two dollar cover charge. His flight was altered because of weather. A few locals and students entertained us while we waited. Finally, around midnight, Leo rushes in. There were only about a dozen of us left waiting. His guitar was flying to somewhere else so he borrowed a local Joni Mitchell wannabe’s guitar and proceeded to blow us away for the next hour and a half. Totally worth the wait and the two bucks!
Me too. I saw Leo at South Dakota State University as part of the Harding Lectures. I had a free pass to all of those venues as my Dad was a Professor at SDSU. No one else in the family was interested, so I had free reign. I was a senior in High School in 1972 when I saw Leo. I also saw George Carlin, Dan Rather, Julian Bond. I am sure I saw more, but can not remember. I do remember that Julian Bond's first sentence was:' I like the abbreviation of SDSU, it reminds of SDS, students for a Democratic Society'. I was surprised that some applauded, as conservative South Dakota was not known as a hot bed for radical and socialist change. Dan Rather in 1971 was an interesting talk as well. Rather was great at leading an idea.
Wow- great story! 👍😉
It's cool that all of us were introduce to Leo's music at college: I was introduced to Kottke's playing by a classmate when I was a freshman also, but in 1968 at Monmouth College in NJ (now Monmouth U). He totally shook up the guitar world and I've been listening to him for all the decades since then. Never gets boring, does it?
@@lars277 sounds like a good time, other than Bond and Dan Rather...
I ran sound for Leo in '99. His virtuosity on the Guitar is only HALF of his LIVE appeal. He is a Fantastic story teller/comedian. A very dry wit. Just an all-round entertainer.
I ran FOH for him around the same time at a festival gig and have to completely agree.
I saw him around 2007, it seemed like he forgot he was giving a concert in between songs. It felt like he was having a conversation with a friend, all while making the most incredible sound on his guitar. Then he'd go, oh shoot I'm supposed to be playing a song now, let me do that.
@@Wilbur3 Yep, that's Leo alright. I enjoyed the banter between songs as much as the Music.
Dan Hicks (of Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks fame) was the same way. Always a funny little story. Donovan, too. Leo is graced with otherworldly talent, and it's a blessing to hear his playing. I wonder how many guitar players simply put the instrument down after seeing and hearing him play like he does!
That is so cool! 👍🌞
Leo does so much on guitar, I was convinced he had a backup player when I first listened to "6 & 12 String Guitar." An awesome album to acquire IMHO.
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That's when he was at his technical peak. Great album. I also love "One Guitar No Vocals" -- a very beautiful album.
Agreed: When I was exposed to Leo as a freshman in college, in 1968, I was also convinced that I was hearing at least 2, & sometimes 3, players at once. Later, I saw him perform live and it was a mind-bending experience. He was, by the way, preceded by Leon Redbone...who I expected to be a bore, but was also tremendous! It's cute to see Leo smiling while he was absolutely ripping the guitar in his early videos...as if to say, "Damn, I'm good". But, if that was the case, one can't fault him because he was (and is) that good! Nice to see Leo still going strong 50 years later. His playing is not as fast or agressive as in 1968. But his playing and timing is still spot on, and he's funny as hell with his story-telling that he intersperses with his playing. As someone else said, he is certainly a national treasure. If you haven't done so, check out the videos from UVM, the only 4 year degree program in fingerstyle guitar. Here's a link to one of the graduates...whom you might think is a mass murderer, then will blow you away with the precision of his playing: FIL...YOU SHOULD REVIEW THIS VIDEO: th-cam.com/video/8tFN902wH0g/w-d-xo.html
I was hooked after Time Step. He’s so great live. Really funny guy
He's literally a one man band. "Julie's house" its hard to believe one person is doing all that. AND singing!
This guy has such a broad range of taste and observation knowledge is sort of the Will Rogers of guitar critics.You kind of wish he would just trash some player but he never does.It really is "all good" broadening the taste of younger newer players as well as old folks like me
Thanks!
William Carson you said *Will Rogers & I know ZACTLY who you mean. Ever wrap yo ears round WOODY GUTHRIE?? Arlo's dad (Alice's Restaurant the ALBUM SIDE.)* Your *"old folks like me."* Indeed. 67 here. Landed here 45+/-min ago. Barely heard a discouraging werd and the SKIES ARE NOT CLOUDY TODAY. *"Old People Know Stuff."* .....From a magnificent Kevin Costner film some years back. *11.28.2019 0623*
Well he's analyzing the guitar greats and not lil wayne haha
I am not a musician and can count all the live music I've ever listened to on the fingers of both hands. I've heard Leo Kottke, Ravi Shankar and Carlos Montoya live. The night I spent watching Kottke on the stage was one of the most memorable of my life.
Cool!
@@wingsofpegasus Story about that night. I had just gotten married and it was the first concert I took my wife to. We get there and there is a chair and a guitar. She says she was expecting an orchestra. "Just wait", I said. She got it.
YEP -- I SAW HIM IN 74 IN A TINY PLACE IN STILLWATER OK - PAID $10 -- NOT ONLY WAS HE FUNNY AS HELL -- HE PLAYED THE HECK OUT OF THOSE GUITARS - LOVE TO SEE HIM AGAIN
The musical styles of the live performances you've attended mimic some of my own musical likes over the years. See the links in the comment that I made to this video. I'm sure you will enjoy them, including those of Sabicas, a flamenco guitarist contemporary with Montoya..
Leo's playing blows me away! He's also really kind and personable. I've seen him live three or four times. A really wonderful artist!
Without a doubt my guitar god as a young teenager. We used to go see him in the back of a guitar shop in Los Angeles. You were either in the Kottke or Fahey camp back then.
Or both ;-)
Just seeing this imagery and loving it!
Steve McCart, wasn’t Fahey the one who championed Leo back in the day. John Fahey definitely a great player.
went to a McLaughlin/ DeMeola/DeLucia concert once and Leo was playing first set supporting the trio, when the Trio came on McLauchlin said " I really hope we can do as well as Leo did." enough said.
When I saw The Trio, Steve Morse was the opening act, and they all jammed together at the end.
I'm not religious or anything, but Leo Kottke is truly one of the gifted ones touched by a higher power. When one of my friends played the 6 & 12 String Guitar album for me about 50 years ago, I couldn't believe what I was hearing!
Jabberwocky was my home away from home
Man, Leo Kottke, Ry Cooder, Pat Simmons, and the other acoustic guys you have shown, I mean they're almost magicians with the acoustic guitar!
The crossroads came to them eh?!
;-)
and then Dylan went electric and pissed everybody off
Have you reviewed Ry Cooder? He has to be worth your attention Fil!
Yeah!
George Lynch deserves a second or even a third review.@@wingsofpegasus
One reason we so greatly appreciate musicians like Leo Kottke
is that they do things we can't imagine ourselves doing the same way --- or at all.
And they make it seem easy, which adds to the wonder we experience.
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Have been a fan of Leo Kottke for a long time. His work on 12 string is also amazing! Thanks Fil!
Cool!
If you've ever listened to Leo in concert (I seen him multiple times) he tells stories between songs to give his hands a chance to recover. Some of the stories are really funny.
Yeah I haven't seen him live, but seen him talking during a set. He's a funny guy!
The between-song rambling is nearly as entertaining as the guitar playing! Amazing player.
The stories are crazy insane good
His concerts are the best! You get amazing music and hilarious spoken word for the price of one ticket.
Correction, ALL of the stories are really funny. LOL
Phil! Got no idea how such a young dude as yourself is aware of all these wonderfully gifted but not all that well known musicians but keep it comin brother! Leo Kottke is the stuff!
James he is just an out and out fan of any kind of good music, and seems to know every damn thing there is to know. A great guy.
You're right, Leo started having hand injuries back in the 1980s. This happened in large part because he had always used metal fingerpicks and a thumb pick, like a 5-string banjo player would use. A famous classical guitarist (I can't recall his name!) steered Kottke to the classical right-hand position, and to playing with nails rather than fingerpicks. It was around this same time that Leo "finally" studied music theory. (My dad owns a trunk full of old _Guitar Player_ magazines. This is where I find this obscure guitar info. Thanks, Dad.)
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Great story, but! My old man also had the old guitar player mags. I looked though all of them from the late 70s to the mid 80s. Greg stuff!
@Stephen Lee A bit late on this, but yes, when he started having tendon issues with the right hand he began studying classical guitar techniques and hand positioning - if you look at clips of him before and after you can see the difference. There's also a good reason why classical guitarists always set their foot on a stool, as it helps angle the guitar at a position that minimizes stress on the hand and wrist and makes it easier to work the fretboard to the fullest extent, taking into account that classical guitarists don't curl their thumb over the neck to make certain notes, as is common in other forms of guitar playing. I used to get lazy when I practiced by not bothering with the footstool, and it would take no time at all before I'd start feeling the stress in the wrist of my playing hand.
So happy to see the respect and admiration of Leo Kottke, he's such a wonderful musician, singer and very amusing storyteller. Very humble fellow.
His best album, by FAR, is
a shout toward noon...
It is a masterpiece of music theory... I dont think its been equaled in the genre.
Absolutely Spectacular.
I was blown away by Leo, c 1972 @ Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin. A master! He is still one of the live performances that immediately come to mind when I reminisce. Who’s the best? Idk, that’s why I listen to Fil… but Leo’s in my top. 🥰
Lol, it was 76, I had to look it up. Geez, I’m old! 😁 However, there are some good things that come with age…
For me, and I've listened to all of them lord knows how many times, it's probably My Father's Face. Guitar Music, Burnt Lips, Try and Stop Me, and Chewing Pine are way up there. And Shout is also very strong.
Wow Fil, I just gotta say that this video is amazing! I absolutely love watching your channel! Keep up the good work!
Leo's playing is amazing, and it is pretty much impossible to make your guitar sound as good as that.
P.S. I am first! :]
Thanks!
He's definitely got serious skill and I wonder if he and Tommy Emmanuel ever played together.
He played with Chet Atkins and many other legends.
@@andrew_owens7680 , theres video on YT of Leo playing with Doc Watson as well.
Leo was a protege and student of the late fingerstyle master John Fahey -- who is a magical guitarist but a tragic figure. He started the Takoma label and gave many artists their first opportunities -- including Kottke. Leo Kottke impressed Fahey and they worked together several times.
Fahey later became homeless and pawned his guitars. But he made a few comebacks. Never became super famous but renowned guitarists sought him out. Kottke plays in the Fahey tradition has always been great and respectable of Blind Joe Death aka John Fahey.
Never heard of him? Fahey in 2003 was ranked 35th in the Rolling Stone "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." Not too bad.
John Fahey - "Poor Boys Long Way From Home" video (coming up on 889,000 views) is a good sample to start. Live in Germany, and "Desperate Man Blues" married up to a great silent Edison b&w movie reel. These are the songs that inspired Leo Kottke who has brought the Fahey style into the 21st Century.
Some posters have said Fahey played tracked but he didn't have that kind of technology when he was around. Nor did he ever have that kind of money to buy any of that equipment later in his career. I have seen John play live many times -- no one else was on stage, and little to any other electronic equipment was on stage to manipulate or enhance. Fahey's playing was everything you heard. A man alone on stage. Just like Leo Kottke today. No flash, just a guitar player one with his instrument and soul. Fahey also had an incredibly soft touch on the strings and was magical. His interviews are also educational for any guitarist.
I also think there are albums where Fahey plays with Kottke. Good job as usual WOP. Keep it up. Good presentation. Thorough.
Thanks for the info!
Everything I’ve read has indicated that he developed his style after listening to blues musicians and met John Fahrenheit later when he was trying to find a label.
Thank you so much John LaStrada...something new for me to check out!🎼🖤
@@gxtmfa Yes, leo wasn't I would say, influenced by John's playing so much as he was influenced by the american guitar culture that John fostered and wished to cultivate. John always said leo was way out of his league technically haha. I love both guys such legends.
Once again Fil, you are on top of players with consummate technique and peerless right and left hand coordination! Check out Leo's cover of Duane Allman's 'Little Martha", which was inspired by Jimi Hendrix in a dream! A sublime combination of 'alternate' melody which makes the informed listener harken to Duane's original.
Thanks!
Leo is responsible for the burning, breaking, and destruction of thousands of guitars owned by players who attempted to play at his level of skill.
🤣
I saw Leo 5 years ago at a small community outdoor pavilion in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. They usually book family events like 50’s cover bands and the local symphony. That one year they got Leo. The community subsidizes the performances. So the tickets were $5. I couldn’t believe it, Leo Kotke live for 5 bucks. And he still plays Oddball in his set.
Wow awesome!
Doug Robertson j
When I was 22 years old living in Minneapolis I ventured down to a folk house called the Scholar Cafe. Every Friday and Saturday night they would have this guitarist featured. His name of Leo Kottke. I remember not only going there time after time but taking my friends and relatives to hear him. I was just blown away by his playing and his humorous stage presence. In all these years, he has hardly changed a bit. I would not see him again until I took my wife to a performance when he played in NH a few years back. Still wonderful. Still magical. He's still going.
I likewise first saw Leo at the Scholar. Then couple of times at St. Cloud State and San Diego. Last saw him couple of years ago in Honolulu. Could watch/lidten to him for hours.
@@stevenhobbs2183 Did you live in St. Cloud? My brother lived there for over 50 years. I lived in San Diego for 10 years back in the 80s.
I saw Leo in Chattanooga, TN at the Sandbar restaurant/bar in 1995. During one of the songs a waitress came around and was in a normal volume voice saying, "Can I get you another beer, honey?" to a customer right in front of him... Leo stopped show and waited for their conversation to end before saying "Shhhh...." in to the microphone to a round of laughter. The guy is so funny.
I’ve seen Leo perform dozens of times over the years. He was one of the original gang at Tacoma Records founded by John Fahey. Along with Minnesota’s Peter Lang, Rick Ruskin and the Segovia of Surf, Toulouse Engelhardt they were all masters of both six and twelve string guitar. His best advice for people who want to play the 12 string guitar. “Don’t “.
I saw him once in Charlotte, NC in '98 I think it was. Great performance.
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Sorry Jeff J but I'm not taking his advice. My advice to anybody wanting to take up the 12 string acoustic is find the most expensive and the most gorgeous hand made 12 string you can and buy it. Just picking one chord will give you hours of pleasure and people will be impressed. That's what I did anyway.
King Robert ... yep. And have the action lowered as low as it can possibly be, without any fret rattle. If the bridge bone is shaved too much the strings will buzz, but fear not. An aluminium shim or two cut from a can the length and width of the bone slot will bring the action back above the buzz. Enjoy!...
Leo in the '60's, '70's was inimitable and had astonishing power that started the whole virtuoso-guitarist thing. Check out live album, 'My Feet are Smiling.'
Yeah, had to lose the finger picks, tone it down. Was lucky enough to see him blow the roof off Monterey Convention Center about '77 and then back-to-back shows in a small club in SLO about '92. Same night, two different sets, two different sets of free-association stories.
He even played Bill Graham's Winterland(!)
I knew this day would come when Brother Fil would land me in the floor. I believe Leo to probably be the most talented player to ever pick up the axe! He IS GENIUS! Off the scale as a player! Let me jump in here....I laughed too. This man cannot be explained. I heard alot of him long ago & his skill defys logic! Great comments. Thank you Brother Fil! !
No problem!
I had the great pleasure of seeing Leo in concert, he is a force of nature and a nice bloke also!
Cool!
Leo is such an amazing talent. When people talk of guitar greats like Hendrix, Van Halen, Vai, etc. I always think, yes they’re certainly great players. But when you see people play like this with such mastery of technique, chords, melody, bass line all together...you just can’t argue it. I’m not sure the other guys could pull this off. Sometimes just a simple acoustic guitar says more than enough.
Most certainly, yeah !
👏👏👏🔥 🤗🤗
I hear people today playing all this finger tapping, percussive and harmonic playing. It's great to hear a true master PLAYING the guitar. Blowing through counterpoint and so many other techniques you don't hear today. Love Leo, saw in recently at Daryl's house in NY.
Yes, circus guitar act of Tommy Emmanuel is just that. Clown.
Playing with a slide is a deviation from the true playing of the guitar as tapping and the other methods you mentioned . Probably the stupidest comment about guitar playing . I love his playing, but it all gets very old and is the same.
@@NeverTalkToCops1
Tommy Emmanuel is the best acoustic guitarist out there. Jealousy is so unattractive.
The amazing thing about Leo's playing is that his incidentals are deliberate.
1:16 "June Bug." The intro is such a perfect sound description of a beetle hurrying around, tumbling down over a precipice, and carrying on.
❤I first saw Leo as a college freshman in 1975 and immediately fell in love with his playing, his singing and his hilarious stories. I’ve seen him 9 or 10 time in total, most recently being last fall. Still amazing even if he’s slowed down and simplified his playing a bit. Stories are still hysterical!
Yeah man. Leo's almost impossible to recreate. When he turns over to his 12 string...well this was an appetizer for the main course in his shows. Thanks Fil.
No problem!
As a long time Leo Kottke fan I appreciate your analysis of his playing, however I wished that you displayed some of artistry on the twelve string. Before Leo came along (and I may be wrong on this) they weren't many guitarist that played twelve string as a solo instrument. His twelve string playing is what grabbed my attention.
I suggest that you do another video on his mastery on the twelve string because it's just incredible as his six string playing.
Thanks!
He just played in our area a few days ago! One of my client's and her husband went to see him, we were just talking about him today!!👍👌 Great choice!!
Cool!
Don't get to hear Leo on a six string that often.
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Another great video. Cool sliding the timing is awesome really appreciate your breakdowns
Agreed.
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You should start playing your own songs, and let us critique you. We want you to progress bro. 👍🏻👍🏻
He already has his own songs. Its just that they're from years ago, but I think Fil still has his rock hard abs and huge biceps and forearms.
Ace :3 he’d get a lot better if we did bro
YEah.
Thanks! Yeah I'll be doing an acoustic version of a track this month, I'd love to get back to writing and recording my stuff but time prevents me at the moment unfortunately. My plan is to raise enough financial support to be able to do music full time, that way rather than teaching all day I can be making music! ☺
Yes,the fans reviewing your songs would be awesome.
Another excellent choice, Fil❗ 😉. TYSM❗ I loved this one ❗
Thanks!
I've had the great good fortune to see Leo Kottke a couple of times when he toured Australia, once when he made up a trio of Joe Pass, himself, and Paco Pena. After the performance I went backstage to try and get his autograph, and when I approached him with an LP to sign he was surprised, saying, "I thought everyone was coming back here to see Paco or Joe"- talk about humble! Of course he was as nice as pie and happily signed the album for me. I treasure it still, just as I do his music and playing.
Did he play with pass? That would have been interesting No picks allowed
Joe Pass is great as well. I saw him with the Count Basie Big Band several years ago.
i spent about 2 years being obsessed with one Leo Kottke album
if i ever got another one id probably still be trying to figuring it out
lel.
Which one? 6 and 12 String Guitar? Greenhouse? Circle Round the Sun? Myh Feet Are Smiling?
He has so many great ones.
6 and 12 string guitar, still got it!!!
no turn table though, i just look at it now and i hear every note
its burned into my brain
ursafan40
My Feet Are Smiling. Crazy good record. They are all good.
Haha yep!
Leo Kottke signed my guitar when I went to one of his concerts as a kid.
Thanks for posting Fil. Always enjoy watching and listening to L.K. Very unique.
No problem!
Richie Blackmore lists Leo, along with John Renbourn as favorites. Richie's no slouch on guitar. I've seen Leo a dozen times or more, he used to play a show around Thanksgiving every year. Great story teller.
Cool!
Very unique ! Many people are commenting on Leo playing 12 string . I would love to see and hear that and your analysis . Thanks Fil!
Thanks!
Fil, you never cease to amaze; so young, yet *_so_* appreciative of multiple genres. Bravo! A friend of mine introduced me to Kottke's performances in the 1980's, as well as a totally under-appreciated Canadian guitarist/singer/songwriter named Bruce Cockburn (pronounced "Coburn"). Cockburn went on to relative fame and excellent album sales, like Kottke. Saw them both on the same bill in Jacksonville, FL back in the '80's! Basically sat for 3 hours in a dumbfounded rapture at the genius I was honored to witness that night. I own 2 of Cockburn's early works; "Humans" and "Dancing In The Dragon's Jaws" - you might want to check him out as well. I notice on this clip Leo's acute wrist angle on the right hand: he *_did_* change his technique out of necessity later on. I seem to remember an article in the '80s where he mentioned his wrist position was that way from using long fingerpicks all the time. Took him a good while to adapt to using fingernails, instead. Great video!
Thanks!
Leo Kottke is the reason I bought my first 12 string guitar way back in 1970. It was an old Italian Eko and sounded like (in his own words) geese farts on a muggy day! Bruce Cockburn arrived a little later while I was in NZ 1976 or 78 not sure with his (debut?) album Joy Will Find a Way. I played Burn Baby Burn at a hippy festival after the toilets had burnt down the night before. Saw Bruce in Germany many many years later paying solo. I never saw Leo...still on my bucket list. He disappeared into obscurity in the 90's due to the punk rock explosion. But I'm happy to see he is still playing.
Ah yes, Bruce Cockburn is a magnificent guitarist & songwriter especially when he's pissed off about some social ills of which there is a plethora of such in this day & age. I have met Bruce at knife shows of all places. He collects them & we had a nice chat when he stopped at my table.
Great analysis and picking it apart! His style just so unique. Love that slide on the little finger😆 Happy you featured Leo🙌
Famous 4 finger pick on open tuning. Half of Minneapolis residents learned this pick 35 years ago. Leo was really a folk legend. He made this style very popular. My brother in law is still very experienced with Leo’s style. No finger picks, just finger tips. Really great on 12 string. Many albums and Leo is a truly great guy. I remember that he invented (composed) most of his music because he was basically the first with the style. That’s how he gets the dissonant chords with his tunings.
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Never seen you smile so much, Fil, as in the first two minutes of this video. Says it all...
I have a suggestion. I don't know if this is the place to do that, but being an American I've never gotten to see much by Mike Oldfield even though I love his music and watched some of his videos, I was wondering if maybe you'd do an analysis of Mike's playing. I know his playing is a bit unique so maybe you could fill us in on his style of playing. Thanks, Fil. Great channel. Great work on this videos.
Thanks!
Leo Kottke is a national treasure.
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Ditto that!!!
Confounded Bridge He lives here in Eugene and used to have an annual Christmas concert where he played with friends.
Yup!
'Leo Kottke is a national treasure' He's arguably one of the world greatest treasures.
My buddy and I were fans and at one concert, when Leo would strike the first few notes of a song we loved, we'd nudge each other, "Hey! It's so-and-so!" "All right!" Or, "I love this song!" Someone behind us said, loud enough for us to hear, "Those guys must be huge fans." Oops, a bit embarrassing to be called out like that, but, he wasn't wrong!
Here is Leo Kottke playing Last Steam Engine Train (before he damaged his right hand): th-cam.com/video/gQ-r8b2-tO8/w-d-xo.html
Well done! I've been a fan of Kottke's since the 70's. Saw him live once in a private home whose owners sponsored small intimate concerts. I love his six string playing, but never a fan of the 12 string. Favorites?...."Vaseline Machine Gun" and "Pamiela Brown".
first for technique, second for his dry wit.
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Used to be a radio station "KEZX" in Seattle bout 35yrs ago that played all kinds of alternative music and musicians! Got an ear for Leo K way back then! Never seen him play though ti now! Love it!
If you hear him play on vinyl you can tell his picking and fretting is all over the place. Kottke is a little known bluegrass player that is probably one of *the* best around. Listen the first time I saw a classical guitar player on PBS it was like watching a combination of guitar and piano. That's why I say there's more to playing guitar than barre chords and pentatonics which most never get past. I'd like to see even EVH attempt any of this type of stuff.
Yeah it's certainly not his style!
@@wingsofpegasus And you have work harder on acoustic because it doesn't have the sustain the electric has is what I'm saying.
Thanks for checking Leo out. I've seen him live several times and he never disappoints.
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Loves Leo’s playing! That’s a technique that I don’t see everyday. Thanks for sharing his special talent!
I had the opportunity to see Leo live a few years ago. I expected a fingerpicking monster, and yes, he was all that, but what threw me for a loop was how incredibly nuanced everything sounded. That "tasty" aspect of his playing doesn't always come across when recorded. You suggested it in your analysis (bends/vibrato etc on the melody, while keeping the rhythm going with the other fingers). His live shows are incredibly funny. He intersperses his playing with these hilarious monologues.
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ALL PEOPLE WHO SAY "FIRST" SHUT UP AND COMMENT ON THE AMAZING QUALITY OF THIS VIDEO PORFAVOR. FIL UPLOADS THESE DAILY VIDEOS AND WORKS HIS PUFFY HAIR OFF TO MAKE THESE VIDEOS SO PLEASE!!
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seen leo live many times going back to the 70's
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Amazing player. Would love to see you do Jose Feliciano.
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His other talent is telling the funniest damn stories during his concerts, some stories have a running dialogue throughout the show. Ive seen him ~6 times over 30yrs, always amazing. Genuinely nice fellow as well.
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Leo's left hand and right thumb should be donated to the Smithsonian.
Not now though.
I saw him about ten years ago and he was great.
Thanks teach... He's a great guitarist..
I love ole' time blues...
On my all finger playing technique . i too stress both hands because of my technique... Like a 100 meter race I'm putting. Down a very physical ability.
His ability is amazing.. Thanks teach...
Those jazz chord shapes mixed in with his lead jam and his base line... He's a true master...
Chord vibrato ... Constantly moving.. Singing chords... Beautiful..
I believe that Leo has said that he had to start telling stories (and believe me, he can leave you on the floor; he could just do stand up if you married Steven Wright and Seinfeld) because otherwise it would just be him, hunched over the guitar, drooling. Not a pretty sight. When I first saw him, yea these long years ago, he seemed drunk. But you cannot play like that and be that drunk. He was just.....awkward. He's pretty much become comfortable in his own skin and simply a joy to see.
YES FIL!!! GREAT video my brother. Love Leo!!
Agreed man.
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Wow I've never heard of this guy until today. What a talent. I was watching his performance with my jaw on the floor. Thanks Fil
I saw him here in hawaii and started crying within the first minute..
.isnt it amazing when music deeply emotionally reaches into you and pulls your innards outward and your guts spill to the floor and you feel pure joy as Komodo Dragons gobble up your intestines as lunch. ....God im gross
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Please check out Jerry Reed "struttin" hes the coach from waterboy... alot of people dont realise the guy was a master on guitar. Thank you for this great and Insightful review
LEO KOTTKE, it's been like...FOREVER! Didn't listen yet but ..."YOUUU..... 'Yu're GOOD U"! -DeNiro in the kinder days.
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The first, slower section of the medley is "Available Space", which is a tune written by Ry Cooder, and then the pace picks up with "JuneBug", which makes me visualize a beetle flipped over on its' back, legs flailing away as it tries to right itself. There's a live version of JuneBug on one of Leo"s old vinyl records on Capitol (a double LP "best of" compilation, one side live) which is even faster than the performance here and sounds like it's being played on a metal-bodied National resophonic, with fingerpicks!
There are a number of great players who are rather unique, but Kottke is *completely* unique. There is a kind of Swiss clockwork aspect to how both hands are working, but as you say the sudden bends of notes and chords, and odd wide vibrato or string noises gives different flavors of emotion.
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Saw Leo back in the early 70s. He is such an amazing player. Plays a lot of 12 string but he has at least one album where he played every song is played on a Gibson J-45. The album is simply called Guitar Music I probably have 9-10 of his albums and they are all good. His style is called American Primitive and another some what similar player of this style is John Fahey.
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I discovered Leo in 1972 and he became the object of my guitar playing efforts for the next year. There were no music or tabs for his music at the time so I set about trying to learn his songs totally by ear. After about 3 months, I had mastered a reasonably close version of The Fisherman. I played the grooves off his early albums and saw him in concert twice. What a guy.
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I first saw Leo Kotke back in the 70s on an old program called "Don Kirshners Rock Concert" anybody out there remember that one? I remember at the time watching it, and knowing that this was completely outside the wheelhouse of my rock and roll teenage mind. At the same time I knew that this was as good as it gets. In my late 20s I picked up a free promotional copy of Leo Kotke . My mind finally caught up to this amazing musician. This is not kids music. Fantastic video and analysis Fil.
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Fil, please check out the Elvin Bishop Band, and Fooled Around And Fell in love. (guitar player and Bishop's vocals)
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Telluride bluegrass festival 1998. 9am Sunday morning. Pouring rain. I was asleep in the backseat of my friends Ford SUV when he woke me up. “Cmon man lets go Leo Kottke is playing at 10” I said, “who?” “Just get up, eat a banana and LETs GO!!” We smoked a bowl, left the ladies at the campsite and ran up to the main stage and were treated to an amazing show. That’s the story of my first time seeing Leo Kottke live.
That’s some insane technical playing with some sweet slide vibrato! Another good vid, keep it up bro! 👍🏻
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I love Leo Kotke’s 6and 12 string guitar album soooo much. He is original & great!
I also had the great pleasure of seeing Leo twice, although I saw him earlier in his career just before and after his first album was released. Yes, his oddball picking technique was incredibly effective, and watching him perform one was amazed at his abilities, nonetheless his wonderful personality. Yet that technique cost him latter when he developed serious tendon problems in his right forearm and he had to change his picking style. He remains a great guitarist and his perseverance and dedication saw him through a major change in technique. A great guy and an inspiration to all musicians.
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Also a very nice guy. I was working for Chrysalis as a lowly temp PR guy ~ '81 Probably my fav client.
I called his agent once, she forwarded my questions to him, and she got back to me with the answers. Takes care of his fans well. 1990s.
My heart bleeds to see an Olson guitar played with a brass pipe and a clip-in pickup. Be careful with that beauty, Leo!
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olson guitar an brass pipe?...coolness upon you....thanks for the 411
Brass pipe? What do you mean? Also, is your issue with the clip-in pickup that it can cause damage?
He’s been using the same Sunrise pickup for years... it adds to his tone. An Olson ought to be played just like any other brand...
An Olson is a brand I am familiar with. Kottke knows what he is doing.
I think I was in either 11th or 12th grade around 92 when my English teacher turned on a little Leo Kottke and I was just learning to play the guitar at the time. Hearing it at the time it seemed impossible to play all of those notes with only ten fingers. Decades later when I finally saw him live I thought "where there it is, he's truly doing that all by himself!" I've actually figured out some of his easier songs and they're such a joy to play. It's nice being able to just grab shots off of youtube if I feel like getting into some of these tougher songs.
I work more on finger articulation and chord changes than anything else because of stuff like this. I get nowhere near but this is both intimidating and inspiring.
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WTF? This Dude is an alien!!!! Awesome!!! God, where have the great players gone? Buried under RAP records I guess. Dam shame. Thanks Fil, never heard of this guy but I'm a definite fan now! Reminds me of Tommy Emanuel. I'm sure Tommy KNOWS who he is!!!
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Reminds me of Hans Theesink,a blues guitarist,I saw on the Mustique blues festival
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Check out "Nils Lofgren and Friends" TH-cam documentary. (Jeff Baxter is one of the friends). Nils is quite the acoustic guitar wizard. Enjoyed Leo K. too! KUTGW.
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Thank you for a fine appreciation and analysis of Leo Kottke's playing. Not only is he madly accomplished, but he's so distinctive - less than a bar and you know it's Leo.
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I live in the state of Minnesota...USA...Home of lots of lakes, fish, and badass musicians.....Some were born here ...with names you may have heard...Bob Zimmerman...P Nelson.....Anyway...Leo has been local for years now....I've seen him twice...years ago.....both intimate settings....The looks on my face matched Fil's both times I saw him....the grin....the WTF look?....the amazement.....the grin....the WTF? look....the amazement.....the grin....the grin....the WTF? look.....Cept I sorta shrugged my shoulders at regular intervals and said....."How...the....???".....and...."What the....??"...It's gotta be the tuning....yah...you betcha....it's the tuning...don'-cha-know....yah, you betcha,....he's not so fancy pants...it's just the tuning....HA....(and maybe some other stuff....he does with his fingers....)
I took several things away from the Mister Leo shows I saw....
1. He is an alien from some galaxy far, far away from here and he was sent to make me feel like I should burn all my guitars because I'm not anywhere near up to any standard of right/left hand digital competence.
2. I hate him....(see #1...the last part...)
3. I am in awe.....what he does isn't possible....he just ...no...what?...it can't be done....but...no...he just did it...but it isn't possible.....UNLESS.....he's an alien.....shhh....don't let him know we know...let him keep playing otherworldly stuff....I have a SNARK so I think I can figure out his tunings....heh....
4. He was wearing great socks....multi-colored stripes....he mentioned them....of course.....like...he said....."Nice socks.".....
5. I guess I will always play like me because I'll never play like Leo ....but...that....thing....how the...hmmm...like thumb thump, bump like this?...nooo...ok...how bout this...shoot...maybe....it walks....well, I'll be damned...hey....that's 3+ measures....that's almost like....the WHOLE SONG......Yeah, Maaan!!!...I caan....like .....tooootally play ....like....virtuoso....Mister Leo..... just like I can Black Sabbath.....IRONMAN...... MAN!!!....yeah...it's....WICKED.....WHAT??.....ohhhh....shit.......like you wanted the whole song man?....like....whoa...That is sooooo uncool to challenge me for more than the first dozen notes I have nailed man.....
Amazing how he mixes up what his thumb's doing to avoid getting into repetitive travis-picking patterns, but still keeps that rhythmic drive. Quite a juggling act!
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@@wingsofpegasus Leo always amazes me. I've seen him many times & he even played on & signed my custom acoustic/electric guitar made by 2 dudes from Orlando FL known as The Guitar Factory. You are so spot on in your assessment of his technique. It's almost superhuman how he can get his hands to work in such opposing ways yet remain in concert to the composition. Just flawless! Tommy Emmanuel is another whose brain can think 5 different ways at the same time. Absolute Genius players!! Leo is a great story teller as well & it's an added treat to his live concerts. Thanks for posting this. I was a friend of Stevie Ray Vaughan & gave him a cassette of Leo Kottke & the next thing I know is Stevie is playing 12 string on MTV Unplugged! I'd love to see your reaction to Ritchie Blackmore. He is fiery on both electric & acoustic with Blackmore's Night. He is my favorite player of all time. Brilliant! If you have covered him then do please let me know. Cheers!
Hey Bro!!! React the Kottke's videos playing with 12 strings acoustic Guitar And with Slide...
Saludos since México... Jeje
First thing I thought when I saw the title was 'is it "Peckerwood"?' No, but you should check that one out as well. He plays the Woody Woodpecker theme backwards as a sort of exercise. :)
Haha, I saw that!
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I just watched a compilation of chiken picking guitar players and while they're all good (there must be hundreds of them) they are indistinguishable from each other. I can listen to Leo's playing and just KNOW it's him. Also, I don't know any other players who play 12-string better than him.
In terms of playing technique, Leo does one thing that helps produce his distinctive sound. Many figerpicking guitarists drop a pinky finger on the face of the guitar to anchor their picking hand in place, which is an aid to accuracy. Leo doesn't do that. His only anchor is the point where his right forearm contacts the sharp angle of the guitar. Because his picking hand is so free, he is able to produce a more rhythmic sound. I've heard many, many Kottke performances and just as many folks covering his stuff. The biggest difference between the original and the covers is how much syncopation he gets with that free forearm. Some folks do an excellent job of covering his tunes. Nobody delivers a more urgently syncopated sound.
Amen, have seen him many times myself since 1970 when I first heard him. He also has a talent for playing chords with fingerpicking style blended in with them simultaneously. We have also to put a word in for John Fahey, from whom Kottke acquired his style and he credits him with his biggest influence on style AND career. To the extent that he doubts he'd have had one without him.
It depends what you're measuring him up against. No classical guitarist worth the name would anchor his pinky on the face of the guitar, it would fly in the face of all the technique they're taught and limit their playing.
I love Leo, own just about every album he's put out, and have taken enormous pleasure in seeing him live. But with that said, I think a lot of people lose perspective when it comes to getting involved in pissing contests over who's 'the best'. For sheer technical ability it's nigh on impossible to go past the great flamenco players like Paco Pena and Paco De Lucia, or great classical exponents like Segovia, Julian Bream or John Williams. Some great jazz guitarists also come to mind. John Williams is widely considered the most technically accomplished classical guitarist of all, even though, like jascha heifetz on the violin, many find his mastery sterile simply because he's so good that he makes even the near impossible seem effortless. Leo Kottke on the other hand found his own way to a technique that worked for him, then had to change it because of the damage it was doing. John Williams was like a latter day Mozart in that he was a child prodigy raised and perfectly trained to the guitar by a musical father - people often describe his technical ability on the fret-board as 'the left hand of God'. If there's been a better player technically then Williams I've yet to see it, and I've seen many many classical and flamenco guitarists through the years. To me they're at the absolute pinnacle of guitar mastery simply because they have to be - theirs is not the lot of some lead guitarist in a rock band who breaks out into a solo every so often and can be forgiven the odd bum note or sloppy playing amidst the backdrop of everything else going on. Classical and flamenco guitarists are absolute front and center all the time throughout a performance and measured up against some formidable standards for both musicianship, interpretation, and just plain history. Think of it from a piano point of view - how difficult is it for any classical pianist to achieve greatness or simply recognition when he or she gets measured against the recordings and reputations of people like Rubinstein and Horowitz? Same with classical guitar - it carries an enormous burden, which pushes and pushes the standard of expectation and acceptance. Full mastery of the instrument is expected as a matter of course, as is perfect interpretation, while brilliance is the the aspect that helps the elite stand out from all the other great players - my guitar teacher told me that he once toured Spain and was blown away by the fact that he'd come across flamenco players in little villages, dressed in rags and playing for little more than a cup of coffee, who'd wipe the floor with 90% of the classically trained guitarists he knew back home. When it comes to guitarists like Leo Kottke, John Fahey, Chet Atkins, etc, they come from an entirely different folk/country background where their kind of skill level is not the norm but very much a rarity, which is why it stands out so much and leads to all the superlatives from people who aren't necessarily familiar with, or fans of, flamenco or classical guitar.
And if that sounds like I'm dissing Leo Kottke I'm not, my point is one of perspective. Furthermore, one thing he has said, and which I perfectly agree with, is that he sometimes looks across at the likes of John Williams and questions why people of such extraordinary talent never really compose much music themselves. It's a horses for course thing I guess, especially when it takes so much to simply reach and maintain such a high standard of playing, not to mention the crushing burden of trying to compose anything against the backdrop of so many legendary composers from the past. But yet, that's where Leo Kottke shines for me, because if you take the whole package - the fine playing, the wonderful humor, and that enormous catalog of glorious guitar compositions that he's bequeathed to the world - there's really no other guitarist I'd rather pay to watch in performance. I've seen John Williams, Paco Pena, etc, and I'm always left in awe of their skill and musicianship, but I also know it's not going to differ much from the recordings I have of them - it's just the difference of seeing it live. With Leo Kottke there's so much more, even if the technique isn't as great (it's still pretty damn good!).
In the end, I think it's the wonderful, unique and challenging body of work he'll leave behind for the guitar community that will mark his time on this earth, not to mention all the great memories for those of us who've had the privilege of watching him play. I'm so thankful there's so many videos available on TH-cam of his live performances.
Lastly, to save someone posting the question, no, I'm not referring to John Williams the composer of the Star Wars theme. That's another person altogether! :)
I do the pinkie finger.
@@stevenmccart1597 - I do too on occasion, but then I don't even rate 1 out of 10 compared to the guy in the clip below :) You want to see a short but sweet example of perfect technique, outstanding playing, and dead-on performance - all as effortless as you please? Go look at Wlliams play the Usher Waltz at around the 34 minute mark in this concert. th-cam.com/video/EWWP1H7pUDw/w-d-xo.html
@@timbowilderbeeste8709 agreed. He must be some kind of savant.
Thanks for sharing this video and analysis, Fil! Great stuff. Was just reading about Leo this morning. He's still going at 76 years old.
Also, it reminded me of another locally based guitarist by the name of Tim Sparks. Here's a link to his great fingerstyle arrangement of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Happy Holidays. th-cam.com/video/_uRUV5l3R_I/w-d-xo.html
Leo has flawless technique but also a great sense of melody that keeps it fun and consistently interesting.
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On "My Feet are Smiling", a live album in between songs Kottke says, "I'm going to demonstrate one of my favorite techniques. I'm taking a lovely, simple melody and drive it into the ground"
Hey man, I saw this after an old Kottke song Pamela Brown popped into me ole noggin." Some 46 years later! Whoa. I'm a rocker. Uli Jon Roth, Schenker, Frank Marino to name a few of my favorites. But back when I was 15 a friend and I heard some amplified guitars and had to check it out. LSS it was July 4th and that was our introduction to "the commune." Well, they had a huge record collection and turned us on to a lot. Being a lover of great guitarists even back in 74 I borrowed Leo Kottke's Ice water LP and got into it for a while. Great player but as I said I am a rocker. I think he is a master of what he does. Even back then he had it. I still love that Pamela Brown song. To synopsis it...She broke his heart so he's on the road now seeing the world and having good times. He didn't write it but he did it justice and his voice is great too.