Don’t Let This Feeling End!

I’m a fingerstyle guitar enthusiast! So much so that I volunteer to write the Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar weekly newsletter. I’ll post my articles here for your musical pleasure. Be sure to check us out online at http://www.fingerstyleguitar.ca  This article was originally printed in May 2008.

Let me start by saying a big thanks to everyone who helped behind the scenes at Tommy Emmanuel’s Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto shows. Without the help and support of these dedicated people, the shows would not be possible.

And an extra special big thanks to Randy Finney for his tireless efforts in bringing Tommy to the TFGA Main Stage.

The past week has been a whirl of activity for the TFGA with four Tommy Emmanuel shows. I was lucky enough to attend both Toronto shows and happily tapped my toes, sang along and danced away in my seat for both shows to songs like The Beatles Medley, Mombasa, Ruby’s Eyes and Lewis & Clark, to name just a few. Tommy even threw in a little AC/DC!

When the last note of the last song died down, my heart sank because I just didn’t want this feeling to end. It will be about a year before I’ll be back in that audience again and in my happy zone. I have the new CD, Center Stage, to fill the void (if you haven’t heard it yet - it’s fantastic! You can pick up a copy on Tommy’s website by clicking here) but nothing compares to the pure pleasure of sitting in the audience and watching Tommy’s genius unfold before your very own eyes.

Tommy is the hardest working artist I’ve ever seen perform. He commands the stage. no matter the size, and makes you forget that you’re watching just a guy and his guitars. You are totally immersed and engaged in his performance. Tommy’s guitars are an extension of his body. It’s difficult to see where the man ends and the guitar begins - and that’s what guitar playing should be. Tommy’s music is a part of him - it comes from deep within his core and radiates out into the audience through every inch of his body. Check out songs like Mombasa and Initiation to see what I mean.

If you’ve never seen Tommy live then you simply must do whatever you can to see him the next time he headlines on the TFGA Main Stage. “You must see this show!” I heard a ticket holder exclaim to someone who was undecided about buying tickets to the show. And she was right!

So be sure to stay on our newsletter list or consider a membership to be first in line for next year’s performance.

As for me, I’ll be counting the days until I see the magic that is Tommy Emmanuel again.