Tommy Emmanuel - Maestro form down under (21st July 2007)

I couldn't take a nap in the afternoon, im about to watch Tommy Emmanuel tonight. One of the 3 whom is a certify guitar player in the world by the late GREAT Chet Atkins. My first visit to the Esplanade to watch this Guitar God from Australia. We had to wait for David to arrive as he holds our 2 tix. Imagine getting a close up on Mr Emmanuel, 1st Row Centre Seats.!!!! O my god, am i some kind of celebrity? Well i did not see any inside, but Chris and myself reckon that 90 % of them are guitarist of some sort. David was late, concert starts at 730pm. David came 735, he had to wait for frens. Chris and me had to be seated at the outer rows while Tom is playing the first piece to avoid disturbance to the audience watching. Once he finished, we were ushered to the front seats. Bingo....the speaker is infront of me with Tom on the stage.

I was pretty tired(no nap!) by then but Tommy was breathetaking. His fingering was so damn good i couldn't believe it. Fingering, harmonics, tapping and percussion were flawless and in absolute harmony. He had 3 Maton Guitars which look damn worn off like being out in the desert with the finishing all gone due to his whacking on the guitar Top. Tommy sang as well which happen to be a surprise for me but it was good as he praise the lord in one of the songs. Particularly sweet was when he played "Angelina" for her 2nd daughter in UK. Then came "Ruby's Eye" which i think is on his new album, written for this little girl which happens to be infront of him while he open his eyes composing a new song. Then he played"Padre" a piece he had written for his Ex pa-in-law which happens to be my favourite. "Questions" came, a piece that woke him up in a hotel with mist that most inspiring to me. "Initiation" a musical dedicated to the Aborigines which i find absolutely wonderful that so much music and sound came out from such a little wooden box which none of the musical instruments are capable of. It was magically brilliance just listening in the front row. Then he did "Tall fiddler", one he wrote for this tall fren in the states and Tommy played the guitar sounding like a fiddler pulling the strings..if you know what i mean. Finale came with an encore as he did numbers from Beattles. The show ended with a standing ovation. I could go on and on..... but it's time for bed...hehe

Thank you Tom for the experience you gave, it is truly inspiring and wonderful. Tommy Emmanuel a remarkable human being.