The Mystery of Tommy Emmanuel

I’m a fingerstyle guitar enthusiast! So much so that I volunteer to write for the Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar monthly 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 September 2009.

The mystery of Tommy Emmanuel is that you can see back-to-back shows and feel like you’ve seen two entirely different concerts.  The Toronto performances were as different from each other as Saturday is from Sunday.

The mood Sunday night was in sharp contrast to Saturday.  From the minute Tommy stepped out on stage you could see that he was more relaxed and playful than the previous evening.

Where Saturday night was made for fighting (or smoking a guitar) Sunday night was made for Old friends who sat on their park bench like book ends (from “Old Friends” by Simon & Garfunkle).  There was an intimate quality to his performance that night.  While Saturday night Tommy seemed larger than life, Sunday night he seemed like a good mate who was seated in your living room playing the songs that made him happy.  Songs that captured his mood and the spirit of the audience.

Saturday night was a celebration of a master guitarist and showman, Sunday night was a celebration of a man who loves to play guitar.

On both nights the seats were filled with die hard fans.  Shouts of “We love you Tommy” rang out from the audience and praise was measured out in enthusiastic applause.

Even the dedications played or spoken had a different tone each evening.  Whereas on Saturday he paid tribute to a guitar legend, Les Paul, Sunday he honoured old friends who were celebrating 25 years of the mystery of their love with the song played at their wedding, “You Needed Me”.

But even more than that, Sunday’s performance was marked by something more personal to me.  Tommy unwittingly gave me something which I needed.  He played my favorite piece, “Stay Close To Me”, a piece so hauntingly moving that it always brings a tear to my eye.  A piece that I played Friday after I heard news of the passing of a loved one.  I was disappointed that it had not been played Saturday night but the fiery mood Saturday did not leave room for the sentiment needed for “Stay Close To Me”.  But Sunday night the mood was right and I was able to take what I needed.

The mystery of Tommy Emmanuel is that he pours his love and soul into his guitar and shares his music when you need it most.

I can’t say which performance I enjoyed more: the mastery of Saturday night or intimacy of Sunday.  They were radically different yet each left me yearning for more.  I know I’m fortunate to have been in the audience both evenings and to have caught a glimpse of two of the many faces of Tommy.

Thank you Tommy.  We hope you come back soon.