Guitar Teacher REACTS: DAVID LINDLEY "Mercury Blues" | LIVE 1981

[@zummo61]

I did a 3 day workshop with David at Fur Peace. He gave me the best advice of my career 'just play what Mavis sings...', Also, the scariest moment (playing lap steel on These Days with him in the audience smiling) and the BEST playing mandolin behind his violin on a performance of After the Deluge. Mr. Dave was my musical hero... RIP (Return Immediately Please).

[@williambarry8015]

Lindley owns Mercury Blues. His version is hand down the absolute best.

[@snowhyt77]

1980, Jackson Browne"s Running on Empty tour, I hear this sound. "Mr David LIndley on the lapsteel". The next day bought my first steel at a local pawn shop. Now I have too many steels and a lifetime of happy playing. Thank You Mr Dave!!! and Thank you Michael for the tribute and analysis.

[@KyleS.1987]

He just had that uncanny ability to play exactly what the song needed at exactly the right time, and on a multitude of instruments. Rest in peace, Mr. Lindley, and thanks for the beautiful music.

[@Martychargin]

RIP David Lindley... He was string magic... saw him so many times... he had picks on ever finger and played them back and forth.... he is incomparable

[@ronbirchard5262]

David had a sound that on every album he was a guest on you can pick him out. he also was a master of 52 different string instruments. he also as a young youth was 5 time Banjo champion.

[@jeffgrant935]

One of the best concerts I've ever seen was David Lindley and Ry Cooder playing in Vancouver, BC. The whole night was just a lineup of instruments, and each guy would grab one, and then figure out what they wanted to play. It was awesome.

[@johnleonard3806]

I bet that was great.

[@davidspreckley6610]

Yeah I saw the two of them together in Adelaide early 80's - one of my favourite concerts - I remember 'Billy the Kid' bringing the house down

[@bigEcatMan]

Thanks for posting this. LIndley was one of my major influences growing up. I saw this tour, was amazing, what a tone he had.

[@iconoclastic12007]

In the ‘80’s I saw David play this song at a gig in a small bar. The pedal steel was plugged into a Howard Dumble amp that looked like it was built on a Marshall chassis and instead of “Marshall” on the front it said “Dumble”. I ran sound for bands as a teenager and was familiar with the sound of a variety of amps but as I leaned against Dave’s floor monitor slightly more than an arms length away from that amp I was so blown away; I was in sonic nirvana. If you can imagine an amp that sounded like a cross between a Harley Davidson and a chainsaw but without any harshness, that’s probably the best description. Low notes you felt not just in your chest but in your groin and the high notes were just heaven. Obscene amount of distortion but not on the high end. Unbelievable. Like a classical music concert you truly had to be there, close enough to hear the amp itself rather than through the P.A. to fully appreciate how special it was.

[@AshPerrow]

One of the most phenomenal musicians to have ever lived.

[@randyteta9170]

It was cool to see him back in the early 80’s , had a stage full of guitars and would tell a story about it and then play a song…and years later got to see Ry Cooder and get a signed poster

[@johnleonard3806]

RIP David. Saw ElRayo in the mid 80's and then Dave solo years later. Noone had a broader knowledge of stringed instruments. A Dave Lindley show was like a walk through a guitar and lute museum.

[@geew-fr9th]

You are right, Michael. A truly awesome talent . (I bet he could play 2 blades of grass stretched across a cigar box.)!

[@rachelkopel5678]

Love you Michael💕 and thank you so much for this tribute to a favorite musician. He did so much to bring us music from far distant shores as well. We have lost a great one. 💕🙋🎶🙏

[@glassncobalt]

Saw him years ago expecting a great guitarist to come on stage and he starts the show ripping on violin! I was in shock the rest of the evening. What a musician!!! RIP David.

[@rayschoch5882]

One of my musical heroes. Jackson Browne's 1st album through El Rayo-Ex. Wonderful instrumentalist.

[@RogerBergqvist]

The drummer Ian Wallace is also gone. Mercury Blues is a fine tribute to David. R.I.P.

[@Bunkymark]

Thank you for your heartfelt tribute to Mr. Dave, nice to know of fellow Lindleyophiles from my home state. One thing I'll throw out there, if you ever decide to go the lap steel route, this song is played in open F tuning (or open E if F is too high to sing) which makes the pentatonic lay out on the fretboard a little better). Even the opening motif of Bb F Bb F makes sense. Yeah. you have to learn a new tuning, but it becomes familiar quickly. I have learned this and Werewolves, they are very fun tunes to do. If you do get a lap, follow Mr. Dave's advice, you don't need to strive for quality or big bucks. He is also playing a steel guitar with a longer scale length which is not necessary but it does improve the sustain. So does a Dumble, but who has that kind of cash? I enjoyed your video very much, thank you.

[@Stlie1]

David Lindley and Wally Ingram has the concert where I was totally blown away musically, but also rolling with laughter. React to his Cat Food Sandwiches - hysterical!

[@ronbirchard5262]

ya thats a great song and also when A Man Gets Boobs

[@Justin_Dykes]

Some songs it seems like everyone plays..... And this is one of them... And what your have to do is take it to a new level to make it become relevant again and this is done through the roof!!!!

[@bluerev]

Never heard of this guy but wow, I'm speechless. Amazing stuff. Thanks for turning us on to this greatness.

[@WildwoodSon]

So glad you did this tribute, Michael. Mercury Blues is a good choice. I only discovered Lindley's cover of Robert Fuller's, Quarter of a Man, after his death. What a great song and what a great rendition this band perform. Cheers.

[@mikeaustin4138]

Just found out the sad news from this video showing up in my feed. I listen to El Rayo-X regularly, but I felt a need to run my Lindley playlist through earlier today. A premonition? First became aware of David when he and Jackson Browne showed up at an Orleans club gig at Jabberwocky (Syracuse University) in 1971(?). They proceeded to jam through the entire "The Harder They Come" album. Been a massive fan ever since.

[@jbrock2175]

Me and my dad are huge lindley fans and saw him many times once with hanni nasser. 1st time i saw him when i was just old enough to get in the bar and saw him in Victoria at the strathcona hotel, was so shocked when i found out he past away😢 miss you Dave

[@keliwadsworth7466]

Wow, that was so cool. Loved learning about this band

[@goodun2974]

The uninterrupted performance of Mercury Blues, as well as an interview with Dave and the band, and another song ("She Took Off My Romeos), are viewable on the Zvonimir Bucevic channel on KZbin. There are also 3 excellent German full length ElRayo-X concerts on KZbin, from Rockpalast, Loreley, and Metropol Berlin.

[@briancheetham9134]

For my money, the greatest guitar playing by anyone ever was done by David Lindley. And most of it on lap steel. Unreal

[@davidallman653]

you might want to check out an acoustic version he did with JB: Jackson Browne David Lindley, Philadelphia Folk Festival, 2006. about 50 minutes in.

[@goodun2974]

The band: Jorge Calderone, bass; Ian Wallace, drums; Bernie Larsen, rhythm guitar (a National or Supro Reso-glas); Baboo Pierre, percussion; David Lindley, double-neck Supro lap steel (with the infamous string-through pickups; also see Ry Cooder and his "Cooder-caster", and the repro pickups made by Lollar).

[@barclaysauers255]

I'm taking this personally! David was/is/forevermore 'MY MAGICAL MUSICAL MUNCHKIN' damn it!

[@rickiejohnson4766]

That venue I mentioned in Muscle Shoals Alabama is called The Church of Sound.

[@andrewtedlow6552]

That’s his band El Rayo X

[@benjaminmcdougall8805]

Ya bud, was hoping to figure this one out (or have you show me: sweet)

[@bluerev]

Can anyone recommend some albums from this guy, with great slide playing like this?

[@williamkennedy5335]

Page

[@JulesLeyheGuitarPlayer]

El Rayo X, Win This Record and Very Greasy! :-)

[@rhllnm]

Late for the Sky by Jackson Browne has great Lindley guitar playing.

[@davidamooreii1805]

​@@JulesLeyheGuitarPlayer *Papa Was A Rollin' Stone* -- (Very greasy indeed!)

[@goodun2974]

​@@JulesLeyheGuitarPlayer , also, the rarer "El Rayo Live" and the solo album "Mr Dave", both typically available only as European or Japanese imports. Lindley also put out a bunch of self-produced records doing duets with percussionists Hani Nasser or Wally Ingram: "Playing Real Good", "Playing Even Better", "Twango Bango", "Twango Bango II"(dunno if they'll still be available). . There's also a "Cooder/Lindley Family Live" with Ry Cooder's son Joachim on percussion and Lindley's daughter Roseanne on vocals. Finally, there's the series of "world out of time" recordings that Lindley and his friend Henry Kaiser made with local musicians in Madagascar, which are absolutely stunning.

[@davidamooreii1805]

The first CD I ever bought was the album after this (Very Greasy), I think it was 89'-90'. I'd never heard him play, just read an interesting article in Guitar World (?) I think that maj3 slide to the 4th at the opening is a full pick-up note (at least an 8th note), not just a grace note on the downbeat. I enjoy your song teardowns.

[@goodun2974]

"Very Greasy" was the 3rd and final El RayoX studio recording, preceded by"Win This Record" and the 1st El RayoX" record. There was also an "El Rayo Live"album that was only available as a European or Japanese import, and a Lindley solo album titled "Mr. Dave" that was similarly only available as an import.

[@direwolf6234]

this tune captures the tempo of a car screaming down the road at 75 MPH !! .. pretty darn fast for a merc '49 ...

[@bock-schroeder]

Excellent.

[@elwap0]

Ahhhhh .....exactly

[@pault.9842]

I cannot believe rolling stone mag called him a soft rocker. Yeah right

[@JD43576]

Hey Michael - love your videos my friend. As far as songwriters alive today I truly believe Anna Tivel is among the best. So many great tracks but if I had to choose a favorite for you to review check out Alleyways. My best always my friend - keep up the amazing work :)

[@northernmonkey8652]

Have a listen to the live concert with ry cooder

[@DarthWutang]

I would love to hear your take on Sleep Token "The Summoning" musically talented and it a bit of a wild ride.

[@codyburgess7034]

Gotta find a way to review Dylan Adams

[@mcmrv14]

Are you in an open tuning?

[@rjvanetten3123]

Rip

[@geoffdanker3034]

Is DL not in open F? Seems like he is.

[@yazulubrown]

hello can you do the lesson on the lead of marvin junior from the live of Bob Marley & The Wailers - Lively Up Yourself (Live At The Rainbow Theatre, London / 1977) please thank you very much

[@robdavidson993]

The Prince of Polyester!

[@rickiejohnson4766]

There's a lot going on in Muscle Shoals right now. There are tons of new musicians who have moved here from all over the country. I follow the music scene Play Music as well as working at and restoring old recording studios here in town. My friend Paul, I mentioned has bought a building and is starting a place for new musicians to record and a place to write songs and have them demoed. He's doing it for 25 bucks an hour. That's right a professional recording studio that's brand new. To qualify for getting this studio time you have to be a new artist, a struggling artist. A professional artist can even use the facility to practice prior to going into say a place like Fame recording studio. They can work on there sound and dial it in before entering a studio. Paul has provided all the equipment you would need even instruments. You can look the venue up yourself on social media brand new so there's not a lot of stuff to talk about yet.

[@bwhotwing411]

Love Michaels pick scrape technique. It’s like his own style. Like John Bonham and triplets he threw in all of the time

[@SlightReturn666]

I think it's one of those things best down in moderation. Too much scraping/raking isn't a good thing

[@bwhotwing411]

@@SlightReturn666 It’s like Zach Wilde and pinch harmonics. But I like it

[@patrickbrown8540]

I appreciate the original but if you want to see next level musicianship, check out Alan Jackson’s cover of this. Brent Mason’s guitar work is phenomenal.

[@edisonbulb]

*Man attempts Lindley on Stratocaster*

[@holliewood61]

I know classical guitar isnt something you generally touch on, but if you want to see a master of his craft look up Matt Palmer playing Sonata Mongoliana.

[@Sunshine-yp7km]

Could you please do a reaction to Trilogy by Ren? I really enjoyed your previous reactions to him and Trilogy is so innovative and like nothing we’ve seen before ❤❤❤

[@XsvShOnUfFvsX]

Michael!!! Please do Gary Moore-Still got the blues!

[@bearsmartdurango]

Gary Moore is the best.

[@pilchard2000]

Michael I love your talent , I love your style , but you and I know that you and I just cant do what David does.....

[@dboblues8778]

R L Burnside/Johnny B Good

[@williamkennedy5335]

JBG fo sure!

[@teddysabarudjie3958]

Alip ba ta please.. Rorien

[@bsherbine]

1 4 6 plus 6 min

[@turkeytrac1]

He's using a lapsteel, and you're using a a strat-ish guitar, to completely different machines

[@orkneyrd]

Like duh Hon?

[@bjohnson515]

I prefer this version kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zp6qdmqwqNCBaZY

[@daveman_50]

1. I love David Lindley. RIP. I'm glad you also appreciate his music. But.... 2. ... this video is pointless, IMO, for technique. At least use a slide with open tuning.

[@goodun2974]

Yeah, Dave plays a lot of plucked double-stops here that you can't get without open tuning at the very least.

[@richardknight1346]

Michael - Michael!! I've got some tough feedback for ya body. Not that you might care, but; what are you doing stepping all over David's Mercury Blues. Your attempts at duplicating were weak and a distraction. Hopefully you might have introduced some to David that have never heard of him. Stay in your lane and give respect - David deserves that.