You may recall the interview I conducted with former Television guitarist Richard Lloyd in 2007. Among other topics, I tried to engage Lloyd in a discussion of his time accompanying Matthew Sweet. We quickly veered off into other more pressing matters, but we were able to scratch the surface of guitar porn, or Gentleman’s Rock.
RTH: When I saw you with Matthew Sweet, every guitar player in Philadelphia at that time was gathered at your side of the stage –
RL: Yes, staring at my fucking crotch! OK.
RTH: I was surprised people weren’t shoving dollar bills down your jeans.
RL: I was saying to myself, Will you please move over and let me see some tits? At least if you’re gonna stand there staring at my crotch lend me your girlfriend after the show.
I’m not a guy who goes out of his way to get off on ax-wielding guitar heroes, but Lloyd’s playing was worth the occasionally embarrassing moments of bumping into another guy with a hard-on for the man’s fretwork.
Check out this live clip of Sweet from the tour I saw. I’ll still stand behind much of Sweet’s work from that period, but the guy wasn’t a dynamic performer. No wonder all the dudes stood in front of Lloyd’s side of the stage.
Whether you frequently attend stip – er – rock clubs to metaphorically shove dollar bills into the waistband of a lead guitarist or not, who’s your favorite “adult guitar player” – or “adult” player of any instrument?
looks like the camera man was doing a little whack – er.. a – worshiping himself. haha
Was this one of those entries for the false endings thread? Two false ones.
I guess I’m guilty of ogling Mike Watt’s bass playing. He’s pretty damned manic for a bass player too, so it is entertaining in addition to his kinetic thudstaff mastery.
I saw this tour as well and was glad Matthew had a focal point in his guitar player.
I will watch Rick Richards, Nils Lofgren, Nels Cline, Billy Gibbons in that way, hang on every note, check out their “gear” and “technique” ok, now it does feel like porn…thanks!
Richard Thompson. Not sure anyone else is even competitive in this particular arena.
I was thinking along the same lines as mwall. RT’s the man.
Yeah, Richard Thompson is smokin’!
Why do these particular discussions always end up with me confessing my man-crush for Pete Townshend. The two times I saw The Who, I couldn’t take my eyes off the man.
TB
WTF? Look at that ridiculous pedal rig Sweet is using to play — what — three chords? That tells us a LOT. I swear, that guy is the modern rock kentonite. Has he moved out of mom’s basement, by the way?
Sorry, that should have read: the *ultimate* modern rock kentonite. And prockist, too! He is guilty of much questionable behavior, for sure.
According to what I’ve read in interviews, HVB, you know what one of his first loves was and what bassist he slavishly studied as a yon’ teen? Yes and Chris Squire.
Speaking of Yes, I really have enjoyed Steve Howe’s playing whenever I’ve seen it, even at an Asia show once (man, do I regret admitting that).
The last guy that blew me away was Cheetah Chrome when I saw Rocket From the Tombs. He was WAY better than I thought he’d be and he just wailed. I also loved watching Mick Collins from The Dirtbombs. I swear, he plays by just squeezing and threatening his guitar and it’s an awesome sound!
I can watch Keith Richards play all day, up to a point a few years ago. I’m pretty sure that you need to use at least one hand to get sound out of a guitar.
Haven’t seen X in a long time, but I can watch Billy Zoom until completion.
He has a cool look and rock stance. As rudimentary as those sped up Chuck Berry riffs are, when a real pro plays them, I’m transfixed on the finger work.
I did a complimentary piece on Matthew Sweet for the paper I worked for. Met him after the show and he was an ass. All part of tearing down the dream, I guess. Back then I was just NorthVanCoveBOY. Now I’m a M-A-N.
I would spend various NRBQ shows just focusing on one of the players in that band and be pretty damn impressed. Terry Adams doing things to the Clavinet and piano, Tommy Ardolino’s drumming would amaze me at times as with Joey Spampinato’s bass playing. Al Anderson (and even later with Johnny Spampinato) on guitar.