Josh Gooch: Guitar Center King of the Blues '09 Finalist

[@emadismusic]

Everyone approaches the blues differently, and that approach evolves with age, experience and knowledge. But I loved the electric part of this performance (both slide and lead guitar) and I cannot understand the need for some people to criticize someone who has obviously put a lot of time and work into his playing and has the guts to get out there and let people hear him do it HIS OWN WAY. Actually, I hear a lot of blues tradition in Josh's playing (for example, a lot of Muddy Waters influence in that slide playing....unusual for a young guy), although he approaches it with a young, aggressive, rocking mentality. He has a lot of original and fresh ideas in his playing, but more importantly it is filled with emotion and executed with great technique and feel. And one thing I would like to point out about his performance: he is just about the only competitor (of all the other "Kings of the Blues") who had the guts to do a slow blues, rather than a medium tempo shuffle.

[@andyginterblues2961]

Just discovered Josh on "KZbin". He is great! Destined to become the next blues legend. A few days ago, I "searched" "The Thrill is Gone" on KZbin, and, while I was busying myself picking up around my apartment, the "Autoplay" kept selecting and playing everyone's different versions of "TTIG". Then, it got to Josh and Jack Thammarat's rendition of the blues standard at the Bangkok Music Fair. Thammarat singing the lyrics with his Thai accent- I was like- SNAP- "Who the hell is that, playing all that great lead guitar?" "What band is that?" After I discovered that it was Josh doing all the amazing lead work, I must have replayed the video several dozen times. I was awestruck. I played it for a friend, HE was awestruck. Reminded me of the first time that I heard SRV. This kid is the one to watch.

[@mvermillion19]

Can't believe there are any negative comments about this young kid.....Loved it.

[@misstramaine1981]

Michael Vermillion Agreed...there's got to be that one numb-nut to criticize...Anyway, this kid is amazing. FLAT OUT!

[@emadismusic]

I agree. Look, it's the blues and everyone does it in his own way. The real artists always ruffle some feathers. Sure, he has a young, rocking mentality, but so what? The electric portion (of the show) was really good.

[@NorthcountyD]

I was one of the judges at the San Marcos Store who sent Josh on to the finals. Anyone who says he can't play or lacks soul is an idiot. He has style for days!

[@nugs187]

my step dad loved Josh Gooch and was obsessed with this video. He thought he was the greatest player he had ever seen. My step dad passed on two weeks back and im just revisiting some of his favorite jams. Thought josh should know he had a #1 fan in my step dad.

[@rionwithxai]

なんてかっこいいんだろう！　ロックでもブルーズでもかまいません。勝った負けたもなし。Joshの演奏と彼自身の存在が生み出す空間支配力に、もうどきどきです。すばらしい。

[@BluesStraightFromTheHarp]

GOTTA LOVE THE BLUES! 30+ years of playing, coast to coast & in between. And it never gets old. From the 1% clubs of Killeen to Austin's 6th, N & S and up & down I-35, to the east coast to Chicago...the blues IS LIFE!

[@nalu1462]

So cool to see the young guys keeping this style of guitar playing alive! This young lad, really does have amazing chops and a natural talent for the blues. Certainly, one of the "next gen" blues guitarists. I'm sure he'll go on to make lots of great music. Keep doing what you're doing, Josh. You're ruling it !!

[@ryanquealey9788]

That's how you play the guitar boys and girls. Goose bumps and a shiver down my spine is what this gave me. Very well done

[@Kiddiepool1]

this guy is awesome!! great player! that string break was simply awesome. and his fingerpicking is great.

[@MaryBethKellee]

Gotta love Josh, knew him way back when and he is a true freaking rock star!!! Go Josh, Go!!!

[@TomsTomTomdotcom]

I wish everyone in the world liked this ..... we'd hear more of it.. ... and... well there is a mesage of taking in the grandeur of world around you in these "blues"

[@jonsqueen326]

I really liked the way he played. Thank you for sharing!

[@lllULTIMATEMASTERlll]

This kid is the best guitar for his age ive ever even heard of. He is incredible. He is the real king of blues.

[@MannyBlue65]

I was there that night, Josh Gooch was awesome. He got the audience going and he got a standup ovation when he was done playing with the backup band. He know his guitar very well, watch him tune it while he still playing and after he breaks a string he keeps going like it never happened. In my opinion Josh Gooch should have won.

[@TomsTomTomdotcom]

So Good ! this true blues is getting passed generation to generation .. and alive an well here in great form.......the latency of the rythym reinforced by the notes his lingers on really is what makes it groove. The chord play hammered back and forth in the riffs gives us something to chew on with constant enticement for the next bite

[@StratMatt777]

Oh my God!!! This is only the second King of the Blues clip I've seen (the other was the winner who sounded like he was playing a less impressive version of Johnny Langs "Good Morning Little School Girl" lead playing plus some technically impressive stuff thrown in), but this kid is amazing!!! Man, I should practice more!!!

[@SpeedBowlBand]

RIP little e string 3:10

[@carlwyatt]

Well done!!! Nice guitar playing there by Josh..

[@armandopace8559]

Great player. He kept going even when he broke a string.

[@KevinHamProductions1]

People are saying he isn't playing with soul or from the heart because he's too young to "know the blues"...I understand what everyone is saying that it's an unoriginal well-used style as so many good blues guitarists use these days, but that's mostly how modern young artists are. I've watched pretty much every video of this guy on youtube and no doubt he's an outstanding player and knows his shit, but it's obvious that he has learned his style from a variety of the early blues originators. But why is that such a bad thing for everyone? Whens the last time you saw a completely original blues guitarist?? Everyone now days is influenced by someone, if they weren't they probably never would have picked up a guitar to begin with...this is the king of the blues festival, unless you're rooting for the metal shredders who attempt to play blues in these things, this is about the best you're gonna get. And I'm not saying just this video, this guy has got some variety and original sounding licks I've never heard, but everyone gets so critical about these as if they are all rip-off's of someone else....what would you expect? John Mayer is another popular guy who every "guitar expert" bashes on for being an SRV rip-off, but look deep into his music and he plays shit that Stevie probably couldn't imagine...people take it all for granted because it's this supposed "new wave of clones" that are coming out with the blues, but in reality it's all just influencing the future of the blues, since it's origin it's all been a building process and this is nothing more than that. Take it for what it is, in reality this isn't bad blues guitar by any means, he represents modern blues well and will only get better.

[@KevinHamProductions1]

Another great example would be Jonny Lang, in his very first self released album "Smokin" released when he was like 14 he sounded like a Stevie Ray Vaughan clone as far as style and riffs go, yet he was developing his own style. But you look at him today and his style is unique and raw enough where you could call it out among a blind test of 40 guitar players....he started young worshiping his idols and eventually developed his own style, just like this guy will and pretty much already has, he's only been getting better and I think this was great publicity for him to not only get noticed but to get the motivation to keep thriving in the blues world which has unfortunately died due to the shit that's made today.

[@SamHooperGroup]

I saw this live and it's great to have it captured here. Great job Josh! Burnin!

[@eldavison1]

really?? people saying he is got no feel for the blues just because he is playing some fast licks, like they know what they are talking about

[@zaccyo]

They don't actually believe what they're saying, they're just bitter about players on a much higher level than themselves. Crabs in a bucket.

[@lh7801]

@@zaccyo yup

[@BuyFdip]

2021 came back for this legend.

[@Neverdii]

whoa, this just made me do an SRV flashback. Simply amazing style and feel that I haven't seen in quite awhile out of the new blues players

[@artiert5224]

This guy is freakin' amazing. Heaven on Earth? It does exist.....

[@jimchumley6568]

Reminds me of other guitarist but def his own style.On acuistic Phil Keaggy

[@barristanselmy2758]

Now, this kid can fucking play.

[@STRYPER41]

This guy really should have won, no doubt about it. It takes a pro to recover that well from a string break in the middle of a song! He didn't even stop or act like it was broken, most people there probably couldn't even tell unless they were up front and saw it! What an amazing performance, acoustic and electric.

[@gouedallica]

i love this young future bluesman star

[@GutoPolonio]

Josh Gooch is amazing, great guitarist!! You can see it in the small stuff, how the time that string broke...Man... he kept his skills as if nothing had happened :D

[@QuinnGuitar]

Josh, You rock. I am very happy to see your success. Rock on, bro.

[@Skans-Gustav]

Now this is such a great guitar player. Found him recently playing with the great Molly Miller.

[@eczufin]

man this is nasty. Love the dynamics and versatility throughout the whole thing. I'm a pretty big Graham Whitford fan but this just has performance is just to jam packed. Mad props for ripping on the 5 stringer.

[@jollyr92373]

Great Job Josh ! Hope to see you soon.

[@ClaytonMRay]

when you break a string, throw it off the neck start playing harder than you were before your broke the string thats some next lever shit right there

[@MrPook17]

This kid is way better than the winner of this year. He plays the blues, hits all his notes and the acoustic part sounded way more together than the winners.

[@dtbjjrb]

2:36 - sounds like some Page influence. This guy is great.

[@humphreystewart]

Oh yeah, this guy definitely blows the winner away!! Very good...

[@mgalbu]

I just saw the video of the '09 winner. What-a-JOKE!!! I can't believe that guy won over the amazing talent of Josh Gooch. It's unreal!! I saw Josh in the KOTB Finals by chance while walking out of my local Guitar Center store and I was blown away to the point of looking it up on KZbin.

[@richsotto4851]

no doubt, there are amazing musicians in the world

[@adaptiveagile]

Beautiful playing.

[@jacksonthomson]

WHO NEEDS A HIGH E STRING! Badass and what a mixture of influences!! RIP Duane

[@noelzhu1986]

love his vibrato...solid player, and so young

[@dronai]

I cant belive he didnt win ? He's reminds me of a young Clapton. I saw this kid play at two of the stores. He is amazing. The winner is probably really good, but this guy is so young, would have been fun to see what GC could have done for his future.

[@jeffreywcf]

beast. he deserves something more

[@brucealcoriza1606]

This kid obviously got a real talent than those so-called "celebrities" like Justin Bieber or One Direction guys, etc..! A true artist in my own opinion, should be able to play a musical instrument to express his heart and soul in music, regardless if he sings vocally or not, this is some real shit right here ! I mean you just can't fake an expressive and musical guitar playing..!

[@QuinnGuitar]

Josh, dude, you rock. You got it.

[@javierloya4086]

Dud, you’re truly amazing!

[@mpdub3]

I have a new favourite blues guitarist!

[@striker327]

this guy is awesome!!

[@jahenx94]

Wow, nice tune up, and the string break was awesome. It didn't throw him off at all.

[@bobberner6382]

Don't know how I missed this guy

[@joshgooch1968]

I hate him.

[@nbarry2346]

makes me want to give up. Great tone, great licks.

[@nsc217]

This is the best winner so far IMO

[@MrBluesfromDBURGH]

weve all got our idols....im guessin Gary Moore.........great stuff....you kicked ass!

[@crazyfire100]

wow. That was extremely impressive

[@TheDukeOfFall]

This guy was my favorite.

[@JPnumber1]

I like him.Way better than the actual winner. He is not just straight down home blues. It is more modern. Very cool.

[@GraffitiPhysical]

Nice guitar sound and great technique. Blues rock style, just how I like it.

[@sixstrings1490]

Damn ~ I wish I could play HALF that good !

[@Owenjamesp84]

There's a lot of Jimmy Page there. Its an enviable style. Wish i could play even 50% as well as that kid

[@michaelbottalico1478]

Nice reminds me of Joey B....when he started out...trying to find his voice, HUGE....homage to Joe....

[@fattirevsbud]

@Fillydawg69 Lucille is a Gibson ES355 with a great story behind it

[@janoack1]

never heard of this kid but i like this tune

[@Bartonvid]

Wow. . Amazing.

[@dsckakashi]

man he is awesome

[@grahamm13]

i saw josh live at the 2010 king of the blues, they had him play, he is amazing and in my opinion better than kirby kelley

[@JerGervasi]

Coolest thing about Josh? He's a REALLY REALLY nice guy. Spend 5 minutes with him, he'll be your new fave guitarist. No kidding.

[@TylerVanderkooy]

I love how well he handled that string breakage.

[@gaetan59554]

he is THE King of Blues!

[@cacona36]

amazing

[@fistchips]

Great player!!

[@jpjdo1212]

I think is far better than the other guy just the fact that he was too good for his string and broke it and continued like nothing happened now thats awesome

[@jeffee47]

@edwinanibalguevara Absolutely! This is the best player I've ever seen in any of these KOTB contests.

[@marcelomarcosdasilvasantos9736]

O cara é muito fera...toca muito!

[@TexasFlood]

this is the true king of the blues you can hear it in his guitar and you can see it on his facee this kid is the shit

[@richiemabie]

Kid is mint, real style, wow how did he not win ?

[@Emmanuelle_Neo]

great feel

[@g.m.6417]

Great potential & has something to work with of some what of his owm style. All he needs is to go out there & have the chance to grow into & develop what he can truly be. Its a tuff world & you have to be driven & determined if you are looking for success. Also watch the back stabbers & the greedy who will try to use you as merchandise!

[@fenderstratguy]

I listened to this vid and also the winner. I'm not a worthy judge of who is technically better, but I know what I like. They both played about 10x more notes than I need, actually, but I suppose if you want to win this contest, you probably have to lay it all out there. This guy seems more funky than the winner. He played the strings off that sh*t at 3:07. If you like this, you might really dig Scott McKeon, that new kid from England.

[@JohnsLoveBakery]

The guy that won was great... But how does he even compare to this kid? This kid absolutely rules.

[@SaxophoneHitman008]

You know, after giving him a second and third listen, disregarding his equipment and tone selections, but concentrating on style........my conclusion is: he's young. Yep, inexperience will kill you every time. With time, personal experience[s] and more confidence I think Josh may turn out to be a very good blues-man! Frankly....I wish I had half the natural talent this cat has....then combined with my Blues-Riddled life story , I'd surely spout the best blues since Muddy Waters! lol Personal advice to Josh [not that he needs or requested it]...Look out for the "Too many notes syndrome" [i.e. Mozart]. I've always liked BB's approach more than Bonamassa's. Why? Because there's a lot to be said and heard between the notes in blues. And I just can't 'hear' it if you're taking up all the space! Just my personal humble opinion. Keep on Bluesing Josh! "Thinking good thoughts for BB while writing this!" He's in hospital again:(

[@bestep420]

let me guess, you can't play very fast...

[@lh7801]

Hahaha. Nice "expert" opinion. Like the other guy that replied, I'm guessing you dont have anything close to resembling the skill and ability to play fast with accuracy and taste. Sorry that this kid has more talent in his pinky nail than you have in your whole existence, but that's life. Maybe you would be better off playing the tambourine.

[@josky852]

Yep, he's got that Duane Allman shit down. I like the incorporation of color tones outside the blues scale too, very nice.

[@davidvazquezlanchas2704]

eres el mejor tio ,

[@QuinnGuitar]

I gotta figure this kid could hold his own trading bolts with Clapton...my personal opinion. Hey, Josh, you keep on crunchin', grindin' and singing on that guitar, man.

[@kevindaigle]

this kid is the PRINCE of blues, second only to the great. joe bonamassa

[@FranciscoFernandez05A]

que maestro, se le corto una cuerda y si siguio tocando lo mas bien!! me encantó!!

[@rplum712]

@MrZSBadger Kirby Kelley. mainly because he had the unique factor of using two slides. but in my personal opinion, i think gooch takes home the gold with the soul

[@talibe801]

you guys should have listen to joel xavier when he was 18,and playing the blues. amazing guitar playing in all genres of music.

[@nazarenoemiliano8877]

excelente josh gooch perfect

[@JoseR7417]

Really good

[@back2backband1]

@terzolilu i have both they are both kings of the blues!

[@pparrish11679]

In my opinion, this kid kills the actual winner of the competition.

[@WetKindOfBlues]

Love!!!

[@MrNightrain22]

I agree :)) do you have any recommendation? I like style of bad to the bone

[@billtownsend]

Dayum! Go Josh, Go!

[@MeyerG4Indiana]

Did you see him smile when the high E string snapped. (almost looked orchestrated) If not, that is some serious cool. Great player.

[@terrihardeman5699]

I like this guy! I knew a Nathan Gooche in the 1990s…he was a very good guitarist also. Could they be related?

[@hachattack13]

josh Gooch is the man reppin the dirty PQ

[@DMoon34]

this guy gives my best friend lessons. ah so proud haha