Tommy @The Ryman

In this episode – Tommy at The Ryman . . .

"Shit happens! This is real life; just give me a minute to retune this guitar."

Tommy Emmanuel pounds the driving cord to his live performance during a pulse-pounding rendering of "Fuel" from his album Tommy Songs.

Red strobe lights flash, a loud pop, darkness, then silence reverberated throughout the auditorium, and a little laughter from the stage - one of his guitar pickup amplifiers has blown completely out.

It was Saturday-evening, September 25^th, 2021, seated in the balcony 4^th, row center stage left, in the Pews at Nashville's most famous concert venue, the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. You may know it as the original Grand Ole' Opry.

There was no doubt; this is what we came to experience! It was clear that Tommy Emmanuel was keyed-up for tonight's show. Was it the historic venue, the fact that live stage performances had not been played since the start of this COVID pandemic, or was it the pure joy of having a live audience? This was Tommy Emmanuel at his best!

My dear listeners, you say you've never seen Tommy in concert. I promise - you will never look at a guitar the same way again! And believe what you are seeing and hearing is possible. Every square inch of his guitar gets plucked or pounded to propel the beat, scratched to imitate symbols, driven with a rhythmic thump, thump, thump, to lead with the bass and magic fingers that tickle the strings to drive pure harmonic tones.

Lori, James, Merrill, and I marvel at the masterful way his fingers dance (flew really) over the fretboard. The pure melodies from the acoustics – we were there enjoying every minute of his commanding performance.

Tonight's set included classic Tommy renditions of The Beatles Medley ending with an unapologetic version of Classical Gas! Wow!

He highlighted new music from his latest album, Tommy Songs, to name a few: A Rainy Morning, Timberlake Road, Lewis, and Clark, (The Man with the) Green Thumb, and one of my favorites, Fuel. It was a night to remember! Close your eyes, listen . . . and you feel the power of the music.

As a bonus, he performed Chet Atkins and Jerry Reeds' tunes with virtuoso Richard Smith. They played one of Chet and Jerrys' most famous tunes, Twitchy.

If you are a guitar player who appreciates the sound of a fine acoustic-electric guitar? You must see, or should I say, hear Tommy Emmanuel live. He is unquestionably one of the finest guitar players of this generation. I've read the comments on YouTube and, after seeing Tommy Emmanuel live, "I'm giving my guitar away; there is no way I'll ever play like that!"

But folks - you will be inspired . . . you will realize just what's possible or, should I say, impossible for budding or seasoned guitar players.

Go to YouTube, look up Tommy Emmanuel, take a listen, then check your schedule against Tommy's performance schedule and go!

Oh, one more thing, "I'd better return this shirt to Walmart before it changes color."

So, won't you be my virtual neighbor? If you enjoy our weekly visits, please share them with a friend.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Feeling Human Again

In this episode, The Unexpected Thankfulness of Feeling Human Again I’ll be honest with you: My triumphant return from France was not the glamorous homecoming I had imagined. No graceful glide back into routine. No cinematic jet-setter moment where I lift my suitcase off the carousel and wink at life like we’re old pals. Instead? I came home and immediately launched into a two-week performance piece titled The Great American Couch Collapse. My days blurred together in a haze of soup, hot tea, tissues, and desperate negotiations with the universe for just one nostril—one!—to function properly. The living room sofa became my emotional support furniture. And any creative idea that dared tiptoe into my congested brain was gently shown the exit with a firm but courteous, “Not today, friend. Try again later.” When life hits the pause button like that—when you’re exhausted, sick, and mentally unplugged—how do you find your spark again? Somehow, today, I felt it. A tiny shift. A clearing of th...

Patience – the Only First-Class Ticket

In this episode, Why Patience is the Only First-Class Ticket They say travel broadens the mind. After eight days sailing the Rhône with 140 fellow luxury vacationers, I can confirm it also tests patience, calf strength, buffet strategy, and one's tolerance for people furious that France insists on being French. Don't get me wrong—I adored this trip. The river shimmered like liquid optimism. The villages looked hand-painted. The pastries could negotiate world peace. But somewhere between Ship Horn Hello and Bon Voyage, we'd inadvertently boarded a floating behavioral research study disguised as a holiday. Our ship was less a cruise and more a ferry for the Sailors of Status. ⌚ The Wristwatch Wars Some passengers approached relaxation like yogis. Others treated leisure like a final exam with extra credit. I came to believe certain luxury watches emit ultrasonic signals that only their owners can detect. A frequency calibrated to trigger rapid movement toward any line forming...

Up the Rhône

Up the Rhône by Patrick Ball We booked a fine cruise up the Rhône — what a treat! With iPhones, lanyards, and schedules so neat. They promised us peace and a mind that would mend, But each calm beginning had chores at the end! "Now breakfast at seven! At eight, take the view!" At nine, there's a lecture on ' What Tourists Do!' At noon, there's a tasting (you must love the cheese), Then hurry to nap time — as corporate decrees! I followed that plan till my patience ran dry. The Rhône softly chuckled, "Oh my, oh my, my! You've missed half my sparkles, my ripples, my tone— You're busy pretending you've peacefully grown!" So I fired my planner and banished my clock. I tossed my agenda right off the dock! I let the wind tickle my schedule away, and drifted through hours that danced where they may. I chatted with swans, had no notion of when, I'd nibble, or nap, or go roaming again. No Wi-Fi! No meetings! No planning! No fuss! Just me and ...

When a Guitar Chooses You

In this episode - When a Guitar Chooses You — And a Musician Steals the Show. Every so often, something nudges you back into the wide-eyed wonder of being a kid again. It feels like it was just yesterday—for me—June 2, 2023—thanks to a guitar shop, a long drive, and one very talented musician. I finally made the pilgrimage to Norman’s Rare Guitars —the mythical land where famous guitarists roam and ordinary folks (like me) try not to look like we’re hyperventilating. I walked in clutching my humble Squier Strat like a kid carrying his lunchbox to the Oscars. Enter Brandon Soriano, encyclopedic guitar wizard and “Spec Check” champion. Within minutes, he had me test-driving Fender Strats like I was choosing a getaway car. Just as I settled on an American Ultra Strat , Michael Lemmo—yes, that Lemmo—walked in, the effortlessly cool host of Guitar of the Day . He plugged in the guitar I was thinking about buying . . . and suddenly I wasn’t thinking anymore. “Stevie Ray? He said, "Tr...

On The Fly

Search This Blog