Metallica – King Nothing

This is a live performance by the American heavy metal band Metallica playing the song “King Nothing” live. The performance is from 1996 from the British TV show “Later with Jools Holland”.
The song was originally released on the band’s 1996 album “Load”. The song is credited to: James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett. All guitars were tuned down one half step to Eb.
The song was released as a single in 1997 and a music video was shot for it as well. It peaked at #90 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
It’s a good song and a good performance by the band.

Enjoy ; )

Rory Gallagher - Out on the Western Plain

This is a live performance by blues and folk musician Rory Gallagher. He plays his version of the classic folk song "Out on the Western Plain".
The song was originally a folk song performed by the artist known as Leadbelly or Lead Belly. He was a folk and blues singer in the late 1880's up until his death in 1949. He was known for his strong voice, his virtuosity on the 12-string acoustic guitar, for playing the accordion, harmonica, piano, violin and concertina and for introducing a huge catalogue of folk standards.
Gallagher's version is quite different from the original recording though the lyrics are the same. Gallagher plays it with a pick and his fingers in an Open-D tuning. Leadbelly also used low tunings, but it was a baritone standard tuning (B-E-A-D-F#-b) on a 12-string acoustic. The Open-D also gives that low feel which is what I think Gallagher went for intentionally when he decided to interpret the song.
A good song that really sets the mood. You just feel like you're out on the Western Plain after listening to it.

Enjoy ; )

Albert Collins, Jimmie Vaughan & Stevie Ray Vaughan - Frosty

This is a live performance from a trio of blues guitarists who are all legends in their own right, but together they equal one hell of a performance! The trio consists of Albert Collins, Jimmie Vaughan and his brother Stevie Ray Vaughan.
They play the classic Albert Collins song "Frosty". This instrumental was one of Collins' hugely successful instrumental pieces. And it was recorded around 1958 at the beginning of Collins' recording career.
Collins is famous for his use of open minor tunings combined with the use of a capo on the guitar. This technique is credited by Collins to his cousin Willow Young. Collins was also famous for his entertainment skills and showmanship. He would often, as he also does in this clip, get up close and personal with his audience. He also very often continued playing through the PA system after he left the building. One time he left the stage, continued playing, went to a pizza place, ordered a pizza and several minutes after he returned onto the stage have it delivered on stage. A great player indeed.
I really think this is a great performance. It cuts straight into Stevie doing a solo, then goes onto his brother Jimmie Vaughan doing a solo and then for a large part of the video Collins is soloing. He is soloing for the longest time and it shows respect that the Vaughan Brothers stepped back and let Collins take the stage for the biggest part of the performance. Another funny thing is that Jimmie is actually playing one of Stevie's guitars. He is playing Stevie's "Charley Stratocaster", a custom built guitar given to Stevie by Charley Wirz. (You can tell from the slight difference in body-shape and the lipstick pick-ups.
It's a great performance from three blues legends. Gotta love that!!

Enjoy ; )

Led Zeppelin - Kashmir

This is a live performance by the British hard rock band Led Zeppelin performing the classic song "Kashmir". It was written over a period stretching from 1973-1975 which was the release year for the song. It was on Zeppelin's album "Physical Graffiti". It was written by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Bonham. And the lyrics of the song date back to 1973.
The main guitar riff is played in Open Dsus4 tuning (commonly referred to as DADGAD-tuning). It has an eastern sound and feel to it, and Page has stated that he had a sitar, and that therefore the sitar was an influence on the song. It is one of the few songs from Zeppelin to feature session musicians as the album version has a string section and a brass section as well, and an added mellotron on top, and you get the distinctive sound of this song.
It's a great performance, Plant is singing his lungs off and Page is playing to the point where he starts sweating, and Bonham is as always just excellent on the drum kit. A great performance of a great song.

Enjoy ; )

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Hug You, Squeeze You

This is a live performance by blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. He performs the song "Hug You, Squeeze You", an up beat happy blues song.
The song is a take off, or maybe even a cover of a John Lee Hooker song that at least have very similar lyrics. The John Lee Hooker version is simply titled "I Want To Hug You".
This is a song that Stevie didn't perform very often, and it's also in a key that Stevie didn't use very much. It's played in the key of E. As most people who are fans of Stevie probably know, he tuned his guitar down one half step. This means that the key you get when playing a straight forward shuffle blues starting on the lowest string is in the key of Eb. Stevie basically forms what on a regularly tuned guitar would be an F chord, and takes it from there. So this is one of those rare occasions where Stevie is playing in the key of E on a guitar tuned in the key of Eb essentially. I think this is the only song where he does this, but I'm not sure.
Any ways, it gives the song and performance a unique sound.
It's a great performance, and a great song.

Enjoy ; )