Saw Phil Keaggy last night

[JTyson]

Saw him at Huntingdon college { my daughter goes there } absolutly jaw-dropping! Was an acoustic set, he used a Jam-Man looper, did things I've never seen done before by anyone. Played 8-10 part songs, incorperated E-Bow violin parts, then detuned e-string to do chello parts { while playing!! } over hand-drum on body rythym parts. Sang backups into guitar body to simulate vocals into a megaphone, did incredible harmonic-tapped melodies to fill the top. Then added a egg thru the soundhole to fill out the rythym part ALL IN ONE SONG!!! Did not use the looper the whole time, just when he needed it. Sounded incredible. Was in Flowers Hall, in the chapel that was built in the 1850's with 80 ft. cielings. Really neat guy, very humble and easy to talk to. Did not know he is missing the middle finger on his right hand, I think it actually helps his technique. The guy really loves people, life and God. We need more of that - Jim

 

[PeteLaramee]

He's awesome. I've never seen him live, but all of his vids are so impressive.

 

[ejecta]

Such a great talent.

 

[loudgtr]

Saw him with some friends about 3-4 years ago doing the acoustic thing like you. Going home we were saying it was time for us to give "it" up

He's that good

 

[bill]

I know Phil and have seen him many time both acoustic and electric. If you think he is good on an acoustic take that same thinking apply it to electric and thats what you get. I have some cool pictures of him playing my Wife's pink paisley Strat. Also have a bunch of autographs and strings etc from shows. Good guy who is as good a guitarist I ever heard. His volume swell stuff is to die for. His acoustic music is very uplifting and good for the head and spirit.

 

[Gainzilla]

+1 to everything said here about him as a person and a player. I had always heard of him but never really listenend until Pat(Mentoneman) hooked me up with some audio and video..

Scary good player and a really incredible soul...

 

[JTyson]

Anyone know what kinds of acoustics he plays? They looked like custom made, real hard to tell, I forgot to ask him!

 

[JTyson]

Saw him with some friends about 3-4 years ago doing the acoustic thing like you. Going home we were saying it was time for us to give "it" up

He's that good

Thats what we said too, What does that say about all of us?? It means I'm LAZY, and I know I'll never be that good! Reality hurts..... Actually, he's inspired me to start really practicing again, I haven't really practiced for 8 years, I just rehash my same old stuff over and over. Anyone else do that? In the 80's when I was in a band, we would do serious practice 6-8 hours, 4 times a week, When I quit, I started working on originals and slowley quit practicing, until I wasent practicing at all. I plan on changing that!

 

[squealie]

Jeez. Mindblowing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV3bLZLpqTQ

 

[bill]

In the video he is playing a James Olson guitar. I was gonna get one years ago when they were only $2500 now they start at $12,500.

 

[JTyson]

In the video he is playing a James Olson guitar. I was gonna get one years ago when they were only $2500 now they start at $12,500.

Wow, never even heard of those. sure did sound good. I'm sure he could pick up my daughters baby taylor and sound awesome!

 

[JTyson]

I know Phil and have seen him many time both acoustic and electric. If you think he is good on an acoustic take that same thinking apply it to electric and thats what you get. I have some cool pictures of him playing my Wife's pink paisley Strat. Also have a bunch of autographs and strings etc from shows. Good guy who is as good a guitarist I ever heard. His volume swell stuff is to die for. His acoustic music is very uplifting and good for the head and spirit.

What is some electric stuff you would recomend? His recorded music is so vast, I would not know where to start - Thanks- Jim

 

[chunktone]

Anyone know what kinds of acoustics he plays? They looked like custom made, real hard to tell, I forgot to ask him!

I have seen Phil several time, and he leaves me just blown away every time! He is truly one of a kind. I know he used to play Olsen custom acoustics. This is a great example of what he does:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV3bLZLpqTQ

 

[mentoneman]

he used to use a lexicon jamman and line 6 DL4 for layering loops, and a boss dimension C chorus.
i remember thinking the jamman crushed the line 6 tonally.

i had the luxury of being present during his soundchecks and seeing some ridiculous playing in those moments.

he goes 110% at soundchecks....and out of the 5 times i've seen him live, he's always been great, but once he was BEYOND.

it was like he forgot where he was and just blazed as hard and as fast as he could trying to pop a blood vessel!

 

[bill]

Check out 220 it rocks.

 

[JTyson]

Check out 220 it rocks.

Thanks man, Will do - Jim

 

[JTyson]

he used to use a lexicon jamman and line 6 DL4 for layering loops, and a boss dimension C chorus.
i remember thinking the jamman crushed the line 6 tonally.

i had the luxury of being present during his soundchecks and seeing some ridiculous playing in those moments.

he goes 110% at soundchecks....and out of the 5 times i've seen him live, he's always been great, but once he was BEYOND.

it was like he forgot where he was and just blazed as hard and as fast as he could trying to pop a blood vessel!

Thats what he is still using, went up and checked out his setup- that dimension C is amazing, never heard one of those before. He had one of those moments that night, I thought he was gonna black-out, and collapse onstage- AWESOME! He actually made me cry!!! My daughter looked at me, and just shook her head. Never seen anything like that.

 

[mentoneman]

one soundcheck which is a normally closed door affair for staff and tech crew only, a lady from the area that was an aquaintance of Phil brought a new Taylor she had just picked up and asked him if he could check it out to see what he thought.

he plugs in to his rig, does a few tone tweaks, and destroys.
gives it the thumbs up, and the lady did not stop smiling for an hour.."Phil liked my guitar/he played my guitar.."

but his Olsens sound really awesome, and second best only to Petros acoustics

 

[Everlone]

I saw Phil do a solo acoustic show back in '98. Absolutly mind-blowing. He did some Beatles songs that almost had me in tears. And he was using loopers back before everyone and their brother was making them. Phil kicks ass. I'd love to see him again.

 

[bill]

When my Wife and go to see Phil we always bring him cookies or something for a treat. One time we were with Phil and he was getting ready to go on and asked if I wanted to play his Olson. I picked it up looked at Phil set it back in the case and just laughed. My very best which isn't all that bad is a joke compared to his playing.