Friday was a real highlight and milestone for me, musically, career wise and personally. I got to perform with maybe the most beloved and incredible guitarist alive, Tommy Emmanuel. But performing with him was but one final moment in a day where we got to know each other and become friends. I got to absolutely re-live the thrill of being a kid and taking guitar lessons! A true friendship and mentor/protege relationship was set into motion. Most guitarists would give anything for this rare wonderful opportunity that I have had.
At 9:30 am, Tommy jumped into the hotel lobby and just embraced me with a big bear hug. “How ya doin’ brotha!!!” he said with his Aussie twang. We had a few laughs and I was cautious to let him unwind, but no…he asked me immediately up to his room. In a matter of seconds he showed me his guitar and played for me. It was like youtube came to life 12 inches away from my face. My jaw hung open. And, it was interesting to see what he packed, how he packed…after all he is THE road dog.
We went downstairs and had lunch and talked about more…relationships, road strain, but most importantly – communicating to an audience through music. He’s so passionate about this stuff! I bounced ideas off of him, and over lunch he gave me lots of great advice, especially this – “what other people think of you is none of your business!”. He’s describing the strength to forge ahead with one’s mission and not even think about others approval.
He took me back to the hotel room after lunch for rehearsal. I suggested “Tenderly” which we played together on the concert. Tommy was very specific about how I should accompany him, and showed me ways to get the melody to sing more. As he got the melody to sing he says “brother, that’s the difference between 80 or 800 in your audience!” We fooled around playing “On Broadway” and then, I just had to ask him about his tunes. We played “The Hunt” together and he was cracking up as we did it! Then we played “Tall Fiddler” and on both tunes he showed me spots I did not quite have 100% right.
We left for soundcheck and here is where I got to see his sheer mastery. He brought me over to his stage setup, which was so much simpler than one could imagine, and plugged in. I stood 2 feet away in the empty theater. From the first note, BOOM it sounded stellar and he just looked at me and said “no time to screw around, I want a sound and I want it NOW!” and cackled with laughter. I got a mini concert right there, just him playing for me and it was ridiculously…well, Tommy, right there 2 feet away, kickin ass, just like in concert.
Backstage, he said I’d come up after “Mombasa” his guitar percussion feature. Here’s where it turns into the guitarists hilarious LSD nightmare. You are backstage listening to Tommy play in front of 1400 people, just the most incredible stuff you’ve heard in your life….and then you realize that you have to follow up and play after him. I sat backstage and laughed at the sheer madness of it. Thank God for all the gigs in my life where I actually was nervous, because this was so ridiculous, all I could think was “well you wanted it, now you got it. Time to make music!”
As he called me out, there was nothing short of love, support and a grand introduction. Once I got on stage, all was cool…I performed “Superstition” and “Chameleon” and rocked out as hard as I could. I think the people really dug it.
Tommy then joined me for “Tenderly” which I heard the playback of about an hour ago – and it was MAGIC.
It could not have gone better! To have the opportunity, visibility and recognition of playing for and with Tommy is a real “name booster” in the guitar scene, but add to the mix that I got yet another music master to take me under his wing….that makes it a double whammy! Thank you God, Universe, Source!!! And thank you Tommy!
Pictures, videos and audio clips will be posted as soon as they are processed by the concert promoter, but thankfully it was all captured in HD and great digital audio as well.
I am smiling right now! Until next time…
– Adam
Wayne Gremminger says
Hi Adam,
Reading this makes “my heart soar like a hawk”. Congratulations!!!!
Matt says
Hey Adam, thanks for the comment, I’m glad you liked it!
Here’s some good quality photos from your show:
https://vesa.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Adam+Rafferty+2009-04-05/
Cheers,
Matti
Micah says
Awesome, Adam. I’m adding a pointer to this in Tommy’s MySpace blog.
cheers,
Micah @ CGP
Chuck says
Adam, I’m not sure if you are a better guitarist or writer, my friend! What a great description of a marvelous day!
It was an absolute hoot to see the video of you onstage in Helsinki, knockin’ em dead with the beatboxing. The video that exists on YouTube from the cell phone is pretty poor, but you can hear the audience giggling — and you cannot have giggling without SMILING — and isn’t that what Tommy was trying to say about the music and what it does? I honestly look at TE as an ambassador of music — not only for his guitar virtuosity but his absolute mastery of the performance, and for what music can BECOME onstage… (and you had them SMILING too… even AFTER Tommy had a chance to wear out their grins š
I am SO GLAD that you got to spend the day with Tommy, my God… a few days before the concert we were wondering if you would even get the time to toss the beat box at him BACKSTAGE, and HOLY HELL you spent the WHOLE DAY with him??? I know how much this meant to you, Adam — and it’s like I have said many times about TE — there has never been a musician as talented in his craft that is that UNSELFISH about sharing his talent!
Tour Trinkets…………… $30
Hotel in Finland………… $300
Travel Expenses…….. $3000
A Day with Tommy…… Priceless
But, the impromptu hotel room concert, I would have given anything to have been there in the room just watching Mr. Emmanuel explain those few “little things” that weren’t just 100% right… what a great opportunity for you to just polish that last 1%… and what a rare and marvelous chance to bounce music back and forth with the composer…
I am jealous as a (world’s worst) guitarist, I am elated as a fan of both you and TE — and most importantly I am bloody damned proud of you as a friend. You kicked ass, Mr. Swing Monster… and Europe is taking down your name.
Peace and good health in your travels!
Chuck in ol’ Kentucky
Tom Maddox says
Fantastic Blog Entry Adam! I just saw the video of this on YouTube and let me say that the two of you playing Tenderly together was absolutely beautiful. I loved it! I really would love a copy of that!
I am very happy for you my friend. Good things happening to a very deserving person puts a smile on my face.
MySpace Friend Adder says
I found your blog whlie Googling for ways to promote my own blog with Social Networks. Great work here – hope that I can get mine going soon – any tips or advice for a relative newb?
MySpace Proxy says
Very well thought out and informative. I’m sure many others enjoy reading this too, but are just a little scared to post – anyway – thanks again!
dedy's deanfies says
Hi Adam,
Reading this article makes me want to read it again and certainly all people want to read this article. Congratulations!!