Izzy Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 I think there is a difference between an entertainer and a musician. The prodigy who sits with his classical guitar all proper might beat out the boy who excitedly jumps around onstage doing three chords, but not in THIS category. Yes, talent speaks for itself, but here I wanna ask about your favorite guitar showman. Example: Angus Young came to mind just now. Dude isn't the greatest guitarist ever (sorry to those who think so), but he is an example of a GREAT showman. Watching Robin Finck made me think of this post, so he's my pick. Dude is fun to watch, even when he's jamming soulless NIN songs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSG_Standard Posted November 8, 2009 Share Posted November 8, 2009 Chuck Berry, SRV, The Reverend, Angus and yes...wait for it...EVH. That's all I have to say about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackHawk233 Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Kurt cobain, INSANE entertainment watching his live stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 for live "jive" it's really hard to beat the boys......oops, now, old men, of Golden Earring.........check them out on the tube sometime. and flog me hard but i'll say it anyhow...........Buckethead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruznolfart Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 It's all about heart! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Arcadius Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Steve Vai is certainly one of the greatest showmen / guitarists ever. Who also brought in mind... Frank Zappa. Oh, and this thread would have no meaning if I did not mention (not related to guitar of course) the one and only, the Prince of Darkness, ALICE COOPER! (and he is an ugly motherf* too!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Ultimately, you want both. My experience has been that it's nigh impossible to find folks who can play the guitar well and still do the showmanship part. Next time you play, pay attention to where you are looking... at your fretboard, or at the folks who paid to see you.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I think there is a difference between an entertainer and a musician. The prodigy who sits with his classical guitar all proper might beat out the boy who excitedly jumps around onstage doing three chords' date=' but not in THIS category. Yes, talent speaks for itself, but here I wanna ask about your favorite guitar showman. [/quote'] I'm not sure that being an entertainer and musician are necessarily distinct and separate - Louie Prima and Louis Armstrong were phenomenal musicians who took a hell of lot of flak for upping their showmanship and downplaying their chops. Favorite guitar showman though... I'm thinking Guitar Slim. Back in the 40s & 50s he'd wear shockingly brightly-colored suits & dye his hair to match (yellow, green, orange... this a black guy, now), play while sitting on people's shoulders (Angus who?), play the guitar behind his back or behind his head AND he used feedback in his solos (Jimi who?), and had specially-made extra long cables on big ol spools, over 200 and 300 feet of cable, so he could walk around the clubs. He was known to make his entrance through the club's front door while playing the opening tune. All this was way back in the 40s and 50s. Definitely Link Wray as well. I liked how he would act retardedly cool & have girls come out between songs to comb his hair for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichCI Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I agree with brundaddy, KSG, guitarest and Hector, particularly when it comes to rock and roll. Ultimately, I go to concerts for the music but I love it when the band not only plays well, but also puts on a great show too. If I weren't interested in the show part, I would have just stayed home and listened to a live album. To add to the list of great players who also put on great shows, **** Dale is a phenomenal player as well as a guy who knows how to work the crowd. He doesn't have a big light or stage show, but he knows how to move around and work a stage, he flips his hand over top of the neck while playing, makes eye contact with and points to audience members and talks it up in between songs. And this is a guy rocking out in his 70's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I opened for **** Dale once and he does put on a damn good show. And yes he can play like hell, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Isn't that what music is, entertainment or entertainment of the senses or soul? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichCI Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Wow, brunsdaddy! That must have been awesome! He's one of my favorite players and the one time I got to see him was one of the best shows I've ever been to - and I've been to a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 IMO these are great musicians and entertainers... Paul McCartney Prince Elton John Peter Frampton Eddie VH Randy Rhoads Billy Joel Maynard Ferguson ...and the list goes on and on..... IMO you can have both showmanship and raw talent/musicianship built in to what you do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izzy Posted November 9, 2009 Author Share Posted November 9, 2009 I'm not sure that being an entertainer and musician are necessarily distinct and separate - Louie Prima and Louis Armstrong were phenomenal musicians who took a hell of lot of flak for upping their showmanship and downplaying their chops. Thanks for bringing this up. First let me say just cus you PLAY guitar don't mean you're a musician. I watched a Jonas brother entertain and play guitar but is HE a musician? Not by my standards. I didn't say "separate or distinct"...I said there's a "difference" between these aspects of a guitarist. I wasn't implying that a great showman couldn't be an extraordinary musician or the other way round. They are not mutually exclusive, and often collide in various grades (50/50, 20/80). Yes, to entertain you gotta know at least a little something, BUT what makes incredible musicians stay home and play for themselves, or play in an orchestra? Recognising that you've the talent to play and create songs but lack the talent to entertain is what keeps these people home or in the studio. I mean, a studio musician can give his all to a recording and you'll be awestruck when you hear it at home. Put that guy onstage, and he might poop himself. Surely the Jonas kid has something over the shy prodigious guy, though I hate to even say that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I didn't say "separate or distinct"...I said there's a "difference" between these aspects of a guitarist. I wasn't implying that a great showman couldn't be an extraordinary musician or the other way round. They are not mutually exclusive' date=' and often collide in various grades (50/50, 20/80). [/quote'] I agree... there are many-many GREAT musicians that we'll never hear of who are just playing bars, etc. And there are too many mediocre musicians who are making the big bucks playing the big venues. Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw... or being in the right place at the right time. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChanMan Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I opened for **** Dale once and he does put on a damn good show. And yes he can play like hell' date=' too.[/quote'] Very cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Thanks for bringing this up.First let me say just cus you PLAY guitar don't mean you're a musician. I watched a Jonas brother entertain and play guitar but is HE a musician? Not by my standards. Dig the thread[cool] However' date=' all those young guys in the Jonas Brothers can read and write music..... And believe it or not they put on a pretty damn good show, despite the type of music they play... As a fellow musician, I try to steer clear of passing judgment of others musicianship...... I had a great trumpet teacher (Claude Gordon) that had this great quote on the walls of his studio........ [b']"It's surprising how many persons go through life without ever recognizing that their feelings toward other people are largely determined by their feelings toward themselves, and if you're not comfortable within yourself, you can't be comfortable with others."[/b] That always stuck with me[cool] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepblue Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Amazing musicians, but poor showmanship= Supertramp I saw then at the CNE in 1980. The music sounded great but the show was boring. They hardley moved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 This guy used to rock. Now he sits on tailgates and plays for the squirrels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichCI Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 This guy used to rock. Now he sits on tailgates and plays for the squirrels. The Crazy Squirrel Guy! I've heard of him! He yells at the kids who take a shortcut across his lawn on their way home from school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 ...the fridge is empty and the cat is pregnant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeVeeWee Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 It's all about heart! Dennis, You earn way to much with that profession of yours... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeVeeWee Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 And when he goes to their homes he hits on their Mom.... ...hmm...I know what you mean...the ban stick... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deepblue Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I think there is a difference between an entertainer and a musician. The prodigy who sits with his classical guitar all proper might beat out the boy who excitedly jumps around onstage doing three chords' date=' but not in THIS category. Yes, talent speaks for itself, but here I wanna ask about your favorite guitar showman. Example: Angus Young came to mind just now. Dude isn't the greatest guitarist ever (sorry to those who think so), but he is an example of a GREAT showman. Watching Robin Finck made me think of this post, so he's my pick. Dude is fun to watch, even when he's jamming soulless NIN songs. [/quote'] btw...Izzy you are lovely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I love how sometimes SRV'll just sit there and completley kick ***. Not so much as a smile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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