Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2015 6:36:19 GMT -6
My name is Jed Kemsley and I first got into "shred" guitar playing in 2006. (Well, listening to shred anyway, as I personally cannot play very fast!)
I first heard Michael Angelo Batio play when I was at my friend Adam Noble's house, and he played the original 'Speed Kills' video of 'No Boundaries' on his PC. (Adam himself is a shred guitarist, and back then had the Paul Gilbert signature guitar with the dual 'f' holes.)
I was blown away by MAB's speed and accuracy from the very first time I heard the 'Speed Kills' video. It seemed to me that MAB was (and still is) on another level, indeed a level all of his own in playing guitar. Whereas other shred guitarists can often seem to me to be a bit sloppy, careless or uncaring about their accuracy, MAB never does. MAB always, always plays to his utmost ability every time I have seen him play - and I have watched a lot of YouTube videos of him performing, as well as seeing him play live twice.
The first time I saw MAB play live was in Parramatta in Sydney in October 2008 on his Australian tour. (I am Australian.) I remember the venue was very hot and crowded - indeed, it was standing room only at the back of the room, which is where I was. Still, the heat and crowd didn't stop MAB from delivering a stellar performance, and I was blown away hearing him live for the first time. The show was a great success, and everyone cheered each song. It was an awesome night!
The second time I saw MAB play live was at the Highlands Golf Club in Mittagong in June 2011, again in Australia. (I actually grew up in Welby, a small village five minutes' drive from Mittagong, and I played cricket for Mittagong when I was a kid. So it was surreal to see MAB so close to home!) The Mittagong show was amazing. Again, MAB played flawlessly, with his regular good-natured banter in between songs! The show was sponsored and run by Guitar Central in Mittagong - specifically Ernie Taylor, Phill Morris and Treelo Herrington, who are all gentlemen and fine guitarists too - and I wrote an article for the local newspaper, the 'Southern Highland News' a week before the show to promote it and help generate interest. It was an amazing show and I had a front row seat, thanks to Mr Morris. The lighting was superb on the night, and Treelo said to me that Guitar Central wanted to make it like a real rock concert - and they certainly didn't disappoint.
I hope to see MAB in concert again soon! Men of his commitment to their craft are few and far between, and indeed, few men are as incredible at their chosen profession as MAB is at his. MAB is a true master musician, and a gentleman too - he signed a poster of himself for me and had his photo taken with me at both of his shows I attended.
Regards,
Jed Kemsley
I first heard Michael Angelo Batio play when I was at my friend Adam Noble's house, and he played the original 'Speed Kills' video of 'No Boundaries' on his PC. (Adam himself is a shred guitarist, and back then had the Paul Gilbert signature guitar with the dual 'f' holes.)
I was blown away by MAB's speed and accuracy from the very first time I heard the 'Speed Kills' video. It seemed to me that MAB was (and still is) on another level, indeed a level all of his own in playing guitar. Whereas other shred guitarists can often seem to me to be a bit sloppy, careless or uncaring about their accuracy, MAB never does. MAB always, always plays to his utmost ability every time I have seen him play - and I have watched a lot of YouTube videos of him performing, as well as seeing him play live twice.
The first time I saw MAB play live was in Parramatta in Sydney in October 2008 on his Australian tour. (I am Australian.) I remember the venue was very hot and crowded - indeed, it was standing room only at the back of the room, which is where I was. Still, the heat and crowd didn't stop MAB from delivering a stellar performance, and I was blown away hearing him live for the first time. The show was a great success, and everyone cheered each song. It was an awesome night!
The second time I saw MAB play live was at the Highlands Golf Club in Mittagong in June 2011, again in Australia. (I actually grew up in Welby, a small village five minutes' drive from Mittagong, and I played cricket for Mittagong when I was a kid. So it was surreal to see MAB so close to home!) The Mittagong show was amazing. Again, MAB played flawlessly, with his regular good-natured banter in between songs! The show was sponsored and run by Guitar Central in Mittagong - specifically Ernie Taylor, Phill Morris and Treelo Herrington, who are all gentlemen and fine guitarists too - and I wrote an article for the local newspaper, the 'Southern Highland News' a week before the show to promote it and help generate interest. It was an amazing show and I had a front row seat, thanks to Mr Morris. The lighting was superb on the night, and Treelo said to me that Guitar Central wanted to make it like a real rock concert - and they certainly didn't disappoint.
I hope to see MAB in concert again soon! Men of his commitment to their craft are few and far between, and indeed, few men are as incredible at their chosen profession as MAB is at his. MAB is a true master musician, and a gentleman too - he signed a poster of himself for me and had his photo taken with me at both of his shows I attended.
Regards,
Jed Kemsley