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My favorite guitarist ever.
Funny story... many many moons ago I had a roommate who, while he had somewhat similar musical tastes as I did, tended more towards heavy metal. I told him about this guy Michael Hedges who was coming to the Lawrence Opera house. I told him he played solo acoustic and warned him that while he could be mellow at times, but as a guitar player, I was pretty sure he'd enjoy the show regardless. We went and Hedges started the show with a blistering version of AC/DCs Back in Black. My friend's mouth dropped open and he became a big fan.
When Hedges died years later, it was really the first time the death of a famous person (who I had only met briefly after a show - another good Hedges story) really affected me and made me feel the world was a lesser place without him in it.
RIP, king of the acoustic guitar
Around 1987 me and a friend went to see him in Lubbock TX. The other patrons were dressed in their finest suits and dresses while were in jeans and ACDC shirts. After getting sneered at for not being dressed to their standard Hedges came out with his hair braided and jeans and played Hendrix' all along the watchtower WE were the first to start the standing ovation on the first song.
My favorite guitarist ever.
Funny story... many many moons ago I had a roommate who, while he had somewhat similar musical tastes as I did, tended more towards heavy metal. I told him about this guy Michael Hedges who was coming to the Lawrence Opera house. I told him he played solo acoustic and warned him that while he could be mellow at times, but as a guitar player, I was pretty sure he'd enjoy the show regardless. We went and Hedges started the show with a blistering version of AC/DCs Back in Black. My friend's mouth dropped open and he became a big fan.
When Hedges died years later, it was really the first time the death of a famous person (who I had only met briefly after a show - another good Hedges story) really affected me and made me feel the world was a lesser place without him in it.
RIP, king of the acoustic guitar
Cool Story. Thank you for sharing it.
Great playing and helps understand how this tune is played.
Love the leopard print pants! Shades of Mr. Dave Lindley.
Thanks for the link.
Arguably, for 1986, leopard print pants would be "period correct".
And... There's actually a video of Michael playing this at Wolf Trap, in Vienna, VA in 1986... Amazing...
Because It's There -Michael Hedges
Great playing and helps understand how this tune is played.
Love the leopard print pants! Shades of Mr. Dave Lindley.
Thanks for the link.
Because It's There -Michael Hedges
![](https://www.harpguitars.net/knutsen_images/hedges4.jpg)
This tune is played on this instrument.
Bass is way too low to be from a standard guitar.
Funny story... many many moons ago I had a roommate who, while he had somewhat similar musical tastes as I did, tended more towards heavy metal. I told him about this guy Michael Hedges who was coming to the Lawrence Opera house. I told him he played solo acoustic and warned him that while he could be mellow at times, but as a guitar player, I was pretty sure he'd enjoy the show regardless. We went and Hedges started the show with a blistering version of AC/DCs Back in Black. My friend's mouth dropped open and he became a big fan.
When Hedges died years later, it was really the first time the death of a famous person (who I had only met briefly after a show - another good Hedges story) really affected me and made me feel the world was a lesser place without him in it.
RIP, king of the acoustic guitar
*For you die hard fans - Funky Avocado was influenced by a fabulous dance club and a great but long gone Natural Grocer here in Baltimore.
I was devastated to learn of his death; it was a horrific way to go, only adding to my sadness over his loss.
Many awesome acoustic guitarists out there, but he was the first.
If you ever have the opportunity to see Clive Carroll perform his homage to Michael, it will make you cry.
I was also at that Carnegie Hall show where Michael opened for Leo and they jammed on Eight Miles High as an encore. That was my first of many Hedges shows in a variety of clubs/theatres.
Funny story... many many moons ago I had a roommate who, while he had somewhat similar musical tastes as I did, tended more towards heavy metal. I told him about this guy Michael Hedges who was coming to the Lawrence Opera house. I told him he played solo acoustic and warned him that while he could be mellow at times, but as a guitar player, I was pretty sure he'd enjoy the show regardless. We went and Hedges started the show with a blistering version of AC/DCs Back in Black. My friend's mouth dropped open and he became a big fan.
When Hedges died years later, it was really the first time the death of a famous person (who I had only met briefly after a show - another good Hedges story) really affected me and made me feel the world was a lesser place without him in it.
RIP, king of the acoustic guitar
Great story,–I was introduced to him under the same pretenses! And yeah, life-changing. Such a pleasant and whimsical fellow to meet, and of course, pure guitar bliss to experience live. I too, mourned his loss hard. Thank you for sharing, and long live his music and our fond memories.
Thank you BillG.
Funny story... many many moons ago I had a roommate who, while he had somewhat similar musical tastes as I did, tended more towards heavy metal. I told him about this guy Michael Hedges who was coming to the Lawrence Opera house. I told him he played solo acoustic and warned him that while he could be mellow at times, but as a guitar player, I was pretty sure he'd enjoy the show regardless. We went and Hedges started the show with a blistering version of AC/DCs Back in Black. My friend's mouth dropped open and he became a big fan.
When Hedges died years later, it was really the first time the death of a famous person (who I had only met briefly after a show - another good Hedges story) really affected me and made me feel the world was a lesser place without him in it.
RIP, king of the acoustic guitar
Anytime else first assume he was playing a Stick?
very cool story.
Cool, but if you went to New Paltz you should know that the village down and across the river from there is "Tarrytown", not "Terrytown".
Possibly true, although they are 60 miles apart. You could spend a lifetime in New Paltz and never visit Tarrytown, except to pass through on the train on your way into the city.
![{#Yes} {#Yes}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_yes.gif)
Cool, but if you went to New Paltz you should know that the village down and across the river from there is "Tarrytown", not "Terrytown".
Possibly true, although they are 60 miles apart. You could spend a lifetime in New Paltz and never visit Tarrytown, except to pass through on the train on your way into the city.
Cool, but if you went to New Paltz you should know that the village down and across the river from there is "Tarrytown", not "Terrytown".
.........The Kinks - Victoria
Santana - Jingo......
BoDeans - Fadeaway
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Two Step (alternate version)
Michael Hedges - Because it's There
........The Chieftains - Whole Heap Of Little Horses (w/Patty Griffin)
Rodrigo Y Gabriela - PPA.......
More than 3 years later, virtually an identical playlist. Bill - are you being lazy? Godspeed to you if this is the case.
If only Michael and Jeff Beck could have played together. Now that would have been even better!
If only Michael and Jeff Beck could have played together. Now that would have been even better!
It blew my mind when I found out this was one guy, one guitar.
Well, that ain't just a regular guy, and by no means is that song played on a regular guitar.
I walked into a bagel shop here in town, and they were playing a Hedges/Manring duet, the Neil Young cover took me far away.
I said, "Who the heck is that?"
I went to search out the album, but couldn't find the one with After the Goldrush. Instead, I got Micheal's "Watching My Life Go By," which included his cover of "All Along the Watchtower." Fancy that about a week later, I got to see him perform at the tiny jazz club known locally as the Kauumba.
Out walks Micheal with a Martin 6 string, and he launches into All Along the Watchtower. My jaw hit the floor, I had no idea that what I'd been listening to on the album was just Micheal with a silly acoustic guitar--6 strings in all, with no over dubs.
And after all that time, I'd thought the track was composed with two over-dubbed guitars!
Even more amazing is that he didn't swap out his guitar after the song. Such a funky tuning, for sure, any other player would have grabbed another box that was tuned correctly for the next song. But without comparing strings, Micheal tuned up again, and launched again into another mind-bending number.
And that's the way it was for the rest of the evening, every song a new tuning, and he'd tune each string by ear, without comparing string tones. I was lucky in that I got to see him play about 10 times live. Yes Mr. Micheal, we miss you, and your soul.
beautiful music... love it...
Sadly...was.
Wow... I just looked it up... that is so sad... love this music...
Yes... Hedges is an incredible artist...
Sadly...was.
Very nice!!
.........The Kinks - Victoria
Santana - Jingo......
BoDeans - Fadeaway
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Two Step (alternate version)
Michael Hedges - Because it's There
........The Chieftains - Whole Heap Of Little Horses (w/Patty Griffin)
Rodrigo Y Gabriela - PPA.......
Same set this evening—worth hanging around for.
Excellent guitar work!
Let's hear more John Butler on RP!
I was lucky enough to see Michael open for Shadowfax maybe around '86 or '87, he really was extraordinary. Shadowfax wasn't half bad either, I really dug their Shamanic Fusion thing.
.........The Kinks - Victoria
Santana - Jingo......
BoDeans - Fadeaway
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Two Step (alternate version)
Michael Hedges - Because it's There
........The Chieftains - Whole Heap Of Little Horses (w/Patty Griffin)
Rodrigo Y Gabriela - PPA.......
RP is always a source for new-found-goodies. never heard this before - beuatiful!
It blew my mind when I found out this was one guy, one guitar. Saw him live in Ashville NC once and in the middle of this song he went into "Inna Gadda Da Vida". We miss you Michael.
Saw him at the Gordon Center for performing arts in Reisterstown, MD in the late 90's and he did the same thing. Has to be the best concert I ever saw because of the small venue and the quality of music.
Very cool, thanks! Don Ross is another great guitarist. In fact there is a Youtube video of Andy McKee and Don Ross playing together. But here's one of Don on his own:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ip111lXjDSs
I have a friend who used to be a roadie for Hedges. He actually got to go on stage once to play some kind of hand-drum, but he was a bit too surprised (it wasn't planned...) to really do anything with the drum, like keep proper time...
It blew my mind when I found out this was one guy, one guitar. Saw him live in Ashville NC once and in the middle of this song he went into "Inna Gadda Da Vida". We miss you Michael.
C'mon man. Look through your sock drawer and find those testicles!
Ditto. Unmemorable? Listen closer
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