preston reed

there's this little self-imposed rule that i observe
after x number of years working in the music 'industry'
and not pushing too hard for tickets, names on door, etc
when something does come along - accept the offer and attend
especially if it's something low-key and with some promise
in this case i had seen a grab of preston reed on qantas in-flight
enough to give a definite yes to attendance at his show at the basement
walking in pre-show and it's a very sparse crowd in attendance
i recognise the man himself walking around willing up the numbers
he like me probably wondering what is it with this city
4 million people and about 50 of them here tonight
of which most likely many such as me are on the 'guest' list
so a little bit of doubt creeping in about the attendance rule
until i notice there are 6 beautiful guitars lined up on the stage
a single amplifier, a chair and a microphone stand all set for use
on he comes, straps on the ovation acoustic, plugs in and fires up
i have never seen nor heard what came next from this one man band
he's playing the guitar with both hands dangling over the neck
both of them moving up and down rapidly to draw out complex sounds
the right hand also somehow finding time to tap the body of the guitar
so that there's a drum sound worked into the mix also
there are no vocals - no room or time for them i suspect
at the end of this first tune he takes time to welcome us
i'm a bit embarrassed for the lack of numbers but no problem
he's a very tall, imposing looking man and quietly spoken
he seems genuinely grateful for this opportunity to play
then plays a couple of more tunes in a similar way to the first
one of them very memorable - titled shinkansen - japanese bullet train
closing the eyes and the beat used to imagine being on one
3 totally impressive tunes but can he maintain this for a whole set?
the answer given when he swaps over to a stunning looking jazz guitar
sits down and plays a couple of tunes more conventionally
one titled street beat that is actually more a song than a tune
a simple structure but some more amazing skills on display
number 3 guitar is a long-neck acoustic 12-string
the first tune on this instrument is introduced as overture
and again easy to see why when he gets it up and running
so many sounds drawn out from one set of hands at work
i worry for his fingers and the strings when he's hard at it
but everything holds up as the room is filled with noise
he announces that he's so happy with this sound he does another
which had me thinking what total freedom he has on stage
no-one to defer to, no expectation, so he can play what he wants
a steel guitar is introduced with a compelling story from his youth
involving witnessing a german man playing a saw with a violin bow
this experience presumably influencing his own unconventional style
it's a great blues based tune that segues into a more rock-based sound
one tune only on this unique instrument and then it's a 6-string acoustic
any doubts about the ability to maintain interest for a whole set now gone
the small audience totally captivated and giving resounding applause
2 encores are demanded and supplied from this consummate performer
he does the necessaries in the promotions department
but with a sense of humour and total graciousness
he says he hopes to come back to australia soon
me thinking that one thing is guaranteed
an exponential growth in audience size
preston reed - world's best guitarist?
...quite possibly actually