Tuesday, September 25, 2007

The Guitar gods Shine Down

A great guitarist is so hard to find. Yet, mighty Zeus has bestowed upon a select few the ability to create pure magic out of this often misused instrument. David Gilmour, legendary guitarist of Pink Floyd, and Steven Wilson, the superb guitarist of Porcupine Tree, have both been given this amazing ability.

Recently, I bought the David Gilmour live DVD, Remember That Night-Live from the Royal Albert Hall. At the ripe age of 61, Gilmour has not skipped a beat. He can make the guitar sing. This is a talent that most musicians can not begin to comprehend. Though age has caught up with him as far as looks go, his musical talent remains unscathed. Listening to his smooth sound can take any listener on a journey. He is by far one of music's immortals.



Steven Wilson is another example of a great guitarist. Though nowhere near the legendary status of David Gilmour, Steven Wilson has brought back a spark to the music scene. The way he is able to manipulate the intricate sounds from his guitar is nothing short of amazing. Not to mention his halo of influence is quite a large one. He has several side projects. Bass Communion, No-Man, and Blackfield, a collaboration with Aviv Geffen of Israel, are all some his side projects outside of his main band, Porcupine Tree. He has also helped with such bands as Opeth, OSI, Marillion, and Dream Theater.

These two guitarists are from two very different generations, but their music is simply timeless.

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