I love this guy. I love every piece of this guy. In the 70's,this beautiful guy created his own form of music. He was weird. He was different. His music was impossible. By that,I mean, he created a persona,and a sound,that was "super-charged"- thanks to his 12-string guitar,and his attack on finger-picking. My brother Leo makes me cry. He transcended the ordinary-hokey-singer/songwriter genre.He was special.
I saw the man perform a number of times in the early 70's, when he attacked the guitar with every fiber of his being. Somewhere in the mid 70's he came to play music at a friend of mine's house after a concert. He was very generous with his knowledge of the guitar and how to avoid injury. I went my way and lost track of him for some 30 years. Ironically he apparently injured his right hand, forcing him to, in essence, learn the guitar again. Through You Tube I have rediscovered his work and am amused at the comments lamenting his glory days now passed. This and other more recent videos show him to be more creative and compelling than ever. The harmony and nuance, time compressed and expanding, place him alongside Joe Pass as my favorite guitarists of my lifetime. All the best to a great man.
I saw Leo many times in the last 35 years and I still don't know how he does it. I have travelled over 150 miles just to see him. I love this man and he is my favorite artist.
I first saw Leo play live over 20 years ago. He just keeps getting better and better. Not only does he play the hell out of his guitars, he is super funny!
Funniest damned thing -- In 1978 I was in Kansas City, on a lovely spring night, in a little park, a few yards from the stage where Kottke was playing. Suddenly, a really loud guy, kind of deranged, a miserable drunk, wandered up and started yelling at Kottke, right in front of him. People started freaking out and a couple of guys started heading the man's way but Kottke waved them back and...talked to the guy. The guy was yelling completely unintelligible things and Kottke would listen and occasionally say something like, "I can see that" or "I can see why you're upset" or "I hope things get better for you." And the guy CALMED DOWN. He stopped yelling, smiled at Kottke, and walked away. I'll never forget it.
leo is wonderful with this song. As a fellow guitar player he mystifies me with his playing.Be thankful for any artist who moves you deeply or gives those brief moments of joy.
I dig it! Leo Kottke is an inspiration to me in my own guitar playing. His rhythms, groove and playing style appeal to me in countless ways. His music brings me joy. To borrow the words of others, he truly is an american treasure. I never get tired of hearing him play on UA-cam and live at the Woodstock Opera House. Thank you Mr Leo Kottke.
+Merry Dickens Great description - I've been a fan since '78 (I remember hearing Stealing then and have practiced it ever since - never did get it right). The funny thing is though that I read a local interview when he played in our area where he described his singing voice as sounding like "geese farting on a muggy afternoon" - I love that voice.
Thanks so much for the love and support, Merry Dickens ❤️ It really does appear you are a huge fan... Do so well to send me a mail on goggle chat to the email address on my UA-cam channel description! Look forward to reading from you pretty soon!
I'm not sure the world even knows how incredible this guy really plays. I rate him at the top, and this is what I do for a living, (and I ain;t starving)
I was just thinking the same thought, Stringbender.. gratitude to all the great musicians and singer/songwriters who helped make my life more liveable and meaningful.. : )
One of my favorite songs ever. Leo’s voice has thinned out here but what he does with an acoustic guitar makes me want to tell every electric guitar player to learn from this guy how it’s really done.
Nice to see Leo performing this one again! I saw him live back in the 90's, and I stood up and requested this from the audience. Leo just looked at me like I was nuts!
Wow! Thanks so much, Pamela ❤️ It appears you are a huge fan, right? Do so well to send me a mail on goggle chat to the email address on my UA-cam channel description. Look forward to reading from you pretty soon!
Wow!!! Thank you for the post! I took my wife to THIS show at the Rio in Santa Cruz. I'd been a loyal Leo "disciple" since, well, the 6&12 String Guitar vinyl for obviously good reasons. The show also converted my wife who since "understands". I've had the pleasure to attend so many live performances by virtually everyone who's anyone across all the genres of guitar during their prime and can attest that Leo for me ranks right up there among the most thoroughly enjoyable. Given the chance, go see him perform.
Thanks so much for the love, Diana ❤️ It really does appear you are a huge fan... Do so well to send me a mail on goggle chat to the email address on my UA-cam channel description. Look forward to reading from you pretty soon!
I truly love Leo Kottke.. I've seen him 3 times now. Actually the first time was probably 1977 in Santa Cruz. So I've been to the Rio theater but at moved away a long time before this show. But the point I was going to make is even though is a mind-blowing guitarist he's got a great sense of humor and a presence what's charismatic I agree with his own assessment of his singing voice. " geese farts in muggy weather."
I saw him in Seattle in 1977 at the Paramount Northwest. Just him and three or four guitars. The finest acoustic show and guitarist that I have ever seen.
I saw L.K. at the Fieldhouse in Iowa City in '74 or so, sitting onstage about 6 feet from him- he has fingers like spatulas...he appears to be mellowing into a combination of Leonard Cohen and Paul Newman...El Besto !!!
His music is certainly for the ages. I first heard his music and saw him at Tulagi's on the Hill in Boulder, a great intimate place to see him play...and sing.
The man is a genious with a gorilla grip i dare anybody to deal with a twelve string acoustic even one with killer action you deffinatly would'nt wanna go under 10guage for fear of a lotta buzz action naw he looks like furous bronze maybe 12guage hearing those nice clear high and loows tones thats a monster to wrestle with live on stage at any age my hats of to Leo the Lion Kottke Carry on my 12st wayward wammer Jammer
Honk if you were at the 1973 Ozark Mtn Folk Festival - Eureka Sprgs, AR. Saw Leo and John Lee Hooker. Got Leo's autograph for my brother who's now passed, but man, he could play Kottke on his 12-string.
@bobbeseymour Bobbe...you are one of the all-time great pedal steel players and you are someone who has done so much to further not only our instrument, but country and jazz music in general. While you might not like offering advice one way or the other, when you do, I'll certainly listen.
one time working site crew on the Winnipeg Folk Festival I was watching Leo mid song when a 5" x 10' steel main stage tent post blew out in a storm, about to kill several of us me and two others jumped up, and wrestled it back to safety, tied it down, Leo is still thumping away, hasn't missed a beat... ... and as he's finishing the song, works "nice work on the ropes, boys" into the lyrics so cool
If I had to pick one guitar player to listen to forever..and only one...Leo's it hands down. He carries a BUUUUUNCH of weight. Maybe not the greatest singer there ever was but then neither am I. I'd put him, Tom Waits, Paul Simon and Antje Duvekot up on the pedestal and slap the Gold to em.
Where I come from we have a saying... "There's Bradman, and there's the rest!" The great man is looking old, but still the greatest player of his genre that ever picked up a guitar!
@CFLanger I just got my tickets for his next perfomance at the Woodstock Opera House in September. I first saw him there back in the early 80's and I've been back nearly every year since.
I am a succesful pro studio steelplayer, I spent the first fortyfive years of my life using fingerpicks, the last fifteen without. I feel that I now play as well one way or the other. I'd rather not offer advice to others as to which way to go about this subject, however, I will never go back to using picks, even after a professional career using them. I only know of three pro steel players that don't use picks, I feel we all need to play the way we feel it. Bobbe Seymour Bobbe Seymour
It's an interesting question. As a matter of fact my favorite guitarist Duane Allman had been listening to Miles and Coltrane on Kind of Blue when he showed remarkable development in musicianship (both virtuosity and musicality).
I think the real difference between Kottke and McGuinn is that Leo Kottke is a guitar virtuoso, first last and always. McGuinn's quirky playing and singing brought an element to rock and roll that has been ingrained in us all, but if we are honest we'll admit that McGuinn's lead playing is a bit haphazard at best. Not bad, just "quirky." I loved the Byrds, and McGuinn's super compressed 12 string defined what an electric 12 is supposed to sound like for many of us. Bottom line-both are great.
I kinda like his self-deprecating sense of humor; i.e. he once described his own singing voice as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day". Lol, but I still love his stuff.
I never agreed with his own comment. He just never had confidence in his voice. He has a grittier John Cash-type voice. Even when he was young it was beyond his years. It's got character...
It's just silly to compare Kottke and McGuinn- it's like saying a pear tastes better than an apple.McGuinn was HUGEly influential at the time this came out-NOBODY had a sound like this on guitar-and was a large part of the Byrds'success(apart from their stunning vocals)Also,he was pretty much a band guy,whereas Kottke has been mainly a solo player,at least live.Bottom line,both are great in their own unique ways.This IS a cool interpretation of a classic tune-give Kottke props for that.
Roger McGuinn is excellent, but Leo Kottke can play rings around him on guitar. The more you listen to the range of what Leo can do,.. you'll understand. He is a virtuoso, and only plays simple music because we like it!
i cant:) you should check out bjorn berge. his a great fan of leo as well. those two are actualy very different. bjorn has his own awesome style. btw leo kottke is king!
That '71 release date doesn't seem right to me. I remember it being his third album with a release date closer to '74. I think 1971 was when his first Tacoma recording came out. Also, isn't this theatre is in Petaluma, CA? If so, next time Kottke should stop in at Tom Waits place and work up some duets.
i am asking this seriously. is there anyone else in the world who can make a 12 string sound like this? if you are out there please youtube yourself. i doubt you exist.
I love this guy. I love every piece of this guy. In the 70's,this beautiful guy created his own form of music. He was weird. He was different. His music was impossible. By that,I mean, he created a persona,and a sound,that was "super-charged"- thanks to his 12-string guitar,and his attack on finger-picking. My brother Leo makes me cry. He transcended the ordinary-hokey-singer/songwriter genre.He was special.
Thank you
I saw the man perform a number of times in the early 70's, when he attacked the guitar with every fiber of his being. Somewhere in the mid 70's he came to play music at a friend of mine's house after a concert. He was very generous with his knowledge of the guitar and how to avoid injury. I went my way and lost track of him for some 30 years. Ironically he apparently injured his right hand, forcing him to, in essence, learn the guitar again. Through You Tube I have rediscovered his work and am amused at the comments lamenting his glory days now passed. This and other more recent videos show him to be more creative and compelling than ever. The harmony and nuance, time compressed and expanding, place him alongside Joe Pass as my favorite guitarists of my lifetime. All the best to a great man.
Leo is indeed a national treasure. His picking is unique, identifiable after a note or two.
Absolutely Breathtaking. I've seen Leo a bunch of times, but never seen him do this one and it's one of my favorite songs. Thanks.
You know the version of Golden Earring? Nearly 20 minutes long...different but fantastic too!
I was there that night in Santa Cruz. What a treat. I never go driving anywhere without Leo on CD.
His music brings tears to my eyes. May his music be heard by unborn generations.
I heard his music at Rockefeller's in Houston way back when.
I saw Leo many times in the last 35 years and I still don't know how he does it. I have travelled over 150 miles just to see him. I love this man and he is my favorite artist.
I first saw Leo play live over 20 years ago. He just keeps getting better and better. Not only does he play the hell out of his guitars, he is super funny!
Funniest damned thing --
In 1978 I was in Kansas City, on a lovely spring night, in a little park, a few yards from the stage where Kottke was playing. Suddenly, a really loud guy, kind of deranged, a miserable drunk, wandered up and started yelling at Kottke, right in front of him. People started freaking out and a couple of guys started heading the man's way but Kottke waved them back and...talked to the guy. The guy was yelling completely unintelligible things and Kottke would listen and occasionally say something like, "I can see that" or "I can see why you're upset" or "I hope things get better for you."
And the guy CALMED DOWN. He stopped yelling, smiled at Kottke, and walked away.
I'll never forget it.
Thomas Hofheinz... Isn't it great when a fine artist turns out to be a good human being?
Good story: thanks for sharing.
leo is wonderful with this song. As a fellow guitar player he mystifies me with his playing.Be thankful for any artist who moves you deeply or gives those brief moments of joy.
I've been following Leo since the early 70's... he's a genius and a great story teller
I saw Leo in a small venue in Montana around this time. This show? He connected with the audience in a way that I have rarely seen. Magic!
Saw him 20 years ago. When I walked out, it felt like I had travelled to another planet.
I dig it! Leo Kottke is an inspiration to me in my own guitar playing. His rhythms, groove and playing style appeal to me in countless ways. His music brings me joy. To borrow the words of others, he truly is an american treasure. I never get tired of hearing him play on UA-cam and live at the Woodstock Opera House. Thank you Mr Leo Kottke.
Haven't listened to him in years. Still great music. Nobody plays acoustic 12 string like he does
Almost forgot how good he is! My brother introduced me to him about 1980. My brother loved and played 12 string.
Leo Kottke is a national living treasure. Period.
Leo Kottke would definitely be invited as a guest to my ultimate dinner party. Thanks very much for uploading.
Leo, what can you say, A truly gifted man, I still aspire,Go Leo!!
Silky milk chocolate voice with raspberries... my favorite musician/magician EVER... Truly
+Merry Dickens Great description - I've been a fan since '78 (I remember hearing Stealing then and have practiced it ever since - never did get it right). The funny thing is though that I read a local interview when he played in our area where he described his singing voice as sounding like "geese farting on a muggy afternoon" - I love that voice.
Thanks so much for the love and support, Merry Dickens ❤️
It really does appear you are a huge fan... Do so well to send me a mail on goggle chat to the email address on my UA-cam channel description! Look forward to reading from you pretty soon!
I'm not sure the world even knows how incredible this guy really plays.
I rate him at the top, and this is what I do for a living, (and I ain;t starving)
I was just thinking the same thought, Stringbender.. gratitude to all the great musicians and singer/songwriters who helped make my life more liveable and meaningful.. : )
Love Leo....What a guitar player and love his singing
One of my favorite songs ever. Leo’s voice has thinned out here but what he does with an acoustic guitar makes me want to tell every electric guitar player to learn from this guy how it’s really done.
Nice to see Leo performing this one again! I saw him live back in the 90's, and I stood up and requested this from the audience. Leo just looked at me like I was nuts!
Went to College on the edge of the Boreal Forest, his music intertwined with many in the 70's
Haven't seen him in years it was always so mesmerized by such a guitar Smith
I saw this man play in marin county California last night with Judy Collins and it was an amazing performance
The thing about this guy is it's so good and he makes it look so easy.
Absolutely Many Thanks Wonderful Share
+Pamela Drake you again hehe
Wow! Thanks so much, Pamela ❤️
It appears you are a huge fan, right? Do so well to send me a mail on goggle chat to the email address on my UA-cam channel description. Look forward to reading from you pretty soon!
Wow!!! Thank you for the post! I took my wife to THIS show at the Rio in Santa Cruz. I'd been a loyal Leo "disciple" since, well, the 6&12 String Guitar vinyl for obviously good reasons. The show also converted my wife who since "understands". I've had the pleasure to attend so many live performances by virtually everyone who's anyone across all the genres of guitar during their prime and can attest that Leo for me ranks right up there among the most thoroughly enjoyable. Given the chance, go see him perform.
I could listen to this forever, virtuosity and comforting ...
Thanks so much for the love, Diana ❤️
It really does appear you are a huge fan... Do so well to send me a mail on goggle chat to the email address on my UA-cam channel description. Look forward to reading from you pretty soon!
Saw him in the 70's at Santa Barbara City College performing for free. Great then, and great now! Thanks!
Wow! What an absolutely freakin' brilliant take on this song. An instant favorite.
Thanks for the great vid post!
Discovered Leo at UCSB concert... 1972.. Have seen him too often to remember. Just saw him at the Eli Caulkin Opera house. He remains a legend....
I truly love Leo Kottke.. I've seen him 3 times now. Actually the first time was probably 1977 in Santa Cruz. So I've been to the Rio theater but at moved away a long time before this show. But the point I was going to make is even though is a mind-blowing guitarist he's got a great sense of humor and a presence what's charismatic I agree with his own assessment of his singing voice.
" geese farts in muggy weather."
I saw him in Seattle in 1977 at the Paramount Northwest. Just him and three or four guitars. The finest acoustic show and guitarist that I have ever seen.
Fantastic video and sound. Thanks! Great to hear Leo still pounding this out. Makes "psychedelic" actually mean something.
very lucky for you.
i saw him once in michigan.
wow. obviously.
thank you for posting this and thank you leo
His voice has actually gotten a lot better as he has aged.
Leo is the Master. The source from which all acoustic guitar rises.
Long live Leo Kottke. His guitar says it all!
What a song. What a man
I saw L.K. at the Fieldhouse in Iowa City in '74 or so, sitting onstage about 6 feet from him- he has fingers like spatulas...he appears to be mellowing into a combination of Leonard Cohen and Paul Newman...El Besto !!!
His music is certainly for the ages. I first heard his music and saw him at Tulagi's on the Hill in Boulder, a great intimate place to see him play...and sing.
Wow, I love this cover!
Leo Kottke is a guitar god!
I always liked Leo's version of this song.
I heard him play this at the Civic Center in Fairhope, AL in a room that he filled up with his voice and guitar. This guy is very witty on the stage.
The man is a genious with a gorilla grip i dare anybody to deal with a twelve string acoustic even one with killer action you deffinatly would'nt wanna go under 10guage for fear of a lotta buzz action naw he looks like furous bronze maybe 12guage hearing those nice clear high and loows tones thats a monster to wrestle with live on stage at any age my hats of to Leo the Lion Kottke Carry on my 12st wayward wammer Jammer
So amazing.... I would love to sit with him and just watch him play for a few hours. Imagine how much you could learn!
Honk if you were at the 1973 Ozark Mtn Folk Festival - Eureka Sprgs, AR. Saw Leo and John Lee Hooker. Got Leo's autograph for my brother who's now passed, but man, he could play Kottke on his 12-string.
Absolutely awesome, tears.
This is JUST GREAT!
@bobbeseymour
Bobbe...you are one of the all-time great pedal steel players and you are someone who has done so much to further not only our instrument, but country and jazz music in general. While you might not like offering advice one way or the other, when you do, I'll certainly listen.
one time working site crew on the Winnipeg Folk Festival I was watching Leo mid song when a 5" x 10' steel main stage tent post blew out in a storm, about to kill several of us
me and two others jumped up, and wrestled it back to safety, tied it down, Leo is still thumping away, hasn't missed a beat...
... and as he's finishing the song, works
"nice work on the ropes, boys" into the lyrics
so cool
Yeah!
Master and commander Kottke I take my hat off.
What a guitarist
If I had to pick one guitar player to listen to forever..and only one...Leo's it hands down. He carries a BUUUUUNCH of weight. Maybe not the greatest singer there ever was but then neither am I. I'd put him, Tom Waits, Paul Simon and Antje Duvekot up on the pedestal and slap the Gold to em.
Where I come from we have a saying... "There's Bradman, and there's the rest!" The great man is looking old, but still the greatest player of his genre that ever picked up a guitar!
@CFLanger I just got my tickets for his next perfomance at the Woodstock Opera House in September. I first saw him there back in the early 80's and I've been back nearly every year since.
love it. thanks for posting!
Cmon beiber, brianna twerkymylie, ANYBODY? show me 1 ounce of talent? this man provides us all with MUSIC!!!!
What a Master!!
He once described his own voice as "goose farts on a cloudy day" lol... that completely encapsulates those vocals
Unparalleled
Far out. LOVE leo.....
God, he's amazing!
Enjoyed !
Man, people on the internet will argue about ANYTHING. I wish I knew a way to help you see what you're missing.
@FlibbidyFleu I have seen him play at Woodstock for the past 8 years. This year is Leo's 25th year here. I'll see you there.
so great!
I am a succesful pro studio steelplayer, I spent the first fortyfive years of my life using fingerpicks, the last fifteen without. I feel that I now play as well one way or the other. I'd rather not offer advice to others as to which way to go about this subject, however, I will never go back to using picks, even after a professional career using them. I only know of three pro steel players that don't use picks, I feel we all need to play the way we feel it.
Bobbe Seymour
Bobbe Seymour
amazing nice
Incredible guitarist!!
Damn. Just damn.
It's an interesting question. As a matter of fact my favorite guitarist Duane Allman had been listening to Miles and Coltrane on Kind of Blue when he showed remarkable development in musicianship (both virtuosity and musicality).
I think the real difference between Kottke and McGuinn is that Leo Kottke is a guitar virtuoso, first last and always. McGuinn's quirky playing and singing brought an element to rock and roll that has been ingrained in us all, but if we are honest we'll admit that McGuinn's lead playing is a bit haphazard at best. Not bad, just "quirky." I loved the Byrds, and McGuinn's super compressed 12 string defined what an electric 12 is supposed to sound like for many of us. Bottom line-both are great.
He's really good live. If anyone has the chance, make sure to see him
I kinda like his self-deprecating sense of humor; i.e. he once described his own singing voice as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day". Lol, but I still love his stuff.
Is (or was) Leo really a Coltrane fan? I'd really like to know who he admires musically. Somebody needs to write a good book on this guy.
Yes.
I never agreed with his own comment. He just never had confidence in his voice. He has a grittier John Cash-type voice. Even when he was young it was beyond his years. It's got character...
When i first heard Leo play, i was confounded! How do you play notes upside down and backwards?
A unique master.
wowsers, he slipped out of my best of all time category. what a relief from the crap today
just 4 now
I agree. He's still the greatest tho'!
I like this better than the original
Would love to hear Leo Kottke play with Mark Knopfler. Let them figure out the songs.
It's just silly to compare Kottke and McGuinn-
it's like saying a pear tastes better than an apple.McGuinn was HUGEly influential at the
time this came out-NOBODY had a sound like this on guitar-and was a large part of the Byrds'success(apart from their stunning vocals)Also,he was pretty much a band
guy,whereas Kottke has been mainly a solo
player,at least live.Bottom line,both are great in their own unique ways.This IS a cool
interpretation of a classic tune-give Kottke props for that.
There's a reason for no hot song
even as a guitarist
@AxeWraith who were you comparing jhim with?
Roger McGuinn is excellent, but Leo Kottke can play rings around him on guitar. The more you listen to the range of what Leo can do,.. you'll understand. He is a virtuoso, and only plays simple music because we like it!
It looks like his Right hand does more work than his Left!
What tuning is he using ?
No it wasn't . Leo used the plural 'geese'. Check it out on the back cover of his "6 and 12 string guitar" album.
i cant:) you should check out bjorn berge. his a great fan of leo as well. those two are actualy very different. bjorn has his own awesome style. btw leo kottke is king!
Saw him open for Harry Chapin!
Actually, it was 'geese farts on a muggy day'. Even better than 'cloudy'.
That '71 release date doesn't seem right to me. I remember it being his third album with a release date closer to '74. I think 1971 was when his first Tacoma recording came out. Also, isn't this theatre is in Petaluma, CA? If so, next time Kottke should stop in at Tom Waits place and work up some duets.
Santa Cruz!
i am asking this seriously. is there anyone else in the world who can make a 12 string sound like this? if you are out there please youtube yourself. i doubt you exist.
@green66vw is it a compliment??? i just count 12 pegs