Josh Smith, Matt Schofield, Tomo Fujita and Eric Gales with Eminence at NAMM 2016

Fine Young Thing, performed by the Josh Smith Band with Matt Schofield, Tomo Fujita and Eric Gales.
Eminence Speaker celebrated their 50th anniversary at NAMM 2016 with an unforgettable party on Friday, January 22nd in Anaheim, CA. In attendance were Eminence customers, media partners, suppliers, industry friends, and a long list of amazing endorsing artists.
The highlight of the night was a remarkable concert featuring Josh Smith and his band (Nick Campbell on bass, Jaydon Bean on drums, and Carey Frank on Hammond organ). Guest appearances included Kirk Fletcher, Eric Gales, Gary Morse, Joshua Ray Gooch, Dave Baker, Tomo Fujita, Matt Schofield, Mark Letierri, Oz Noy, Dave Widow, Pennal Johnson, and many more.
Eminence would also like to thank McCune Audio for providing FOH sound engineering, Morgan Amps for the awesome backline, Yamaha for the subs, mains and monitors, Gourmet Catering for the incredible food and drinks, and Stephen Schauer for capturing the evening on video.

[@snowyfrog7727]

Tomo telling everyone you don't need high gain to play a good solo

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

Tomo is probably the only dude to ever say he could actually take Josh Smith to school. Get it? LOL!

[@benmtz]

Spot on ! What a refine solo :)

[@JJoshua_V]

Absolutely!!!. Tomo legend. Man I can’t get enough of this.

[@bobrheaume5774]

Just good math skills?

[@pippo9830]

@@bobrheaume5774 that's called music theory. You can't play a solo like these 4 do if you don't understand roman numeral analysis of the scale, chord changes, triads, modes etc.

[@ayushgvrg]

I love Tomo man. Everything about him, the perfect bends, the phrasing and of course those dance moves!

[@Jeff4014]

He learned from Eric gales, and then he just tried to do it more softly

[@benjaminz2523]

Gimme eric gales any day

[@whynottalklikeapirat]

This was a great one from Tomo

[@Donfleebie1]

I feel that way about Matt. Perfect bends, phrasing, and stick a nice scale in every once in a while.

[@hegartyj1]

It's easy to jump in and say which guitarist I prefer, but for me, the biggest attraction of this video is just how incredibly different they are all from each other. Each is absolutely wonderful in their own way.

[@nickbouvy8851]

John Hegarty yep. And no attention seeking princesses!

[@1telemaster]

I loved when Tomo could’ve just RIPPED on the solo the last time around, and laid back and played the TASTIEST NOTES HE SHOULD HAVE,instead of the blazing stuff he could have..

[@57Stratocat]

+++ Each is uniquely different, but to me the real joy here is how they all LISTEN & RESPOND to each other with the final goal of making each other sound even better. They make this into a really interesting conversation to witness.

[@jimtalltheislandbrothers6639]

They all showed great musicianship to the Hammond player as they moved out the way to let him shine when he soloed. Fantastic.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

i think thats quite possibly the most shared common perception of this amazing array of incredible talent

[@guitarbasics2911]

I was afraid Tomo was going for a stage dive.

[@stevekirby7333]

Tomo was just playing the blues and not trying to hurt anyone. He could have gone off from RF to heavy jazz vocabulary. But he's too humble. Just play some blues with feeling.

[@LucaMusicBeats]

Hahahaha

[@operonium]

The bassist looks like a weird young version of Quentin Tarantino.

[@Gentle50113]

He's also a member of scary pocket. Great bassman imho.

[@萩原順子-l6c]

Well put !

[@이오니언-y5v]

Tell me about it !!!

[@younesbahamou9084]

He's a mixture of Michael Shannon and Quentin Tarantino

[@marcosgutierrez9820]

The bassists is on cocain

[@magsuns7648]

tomo bending is soooooo goooooood

[@mr_bluesrocker4230]

@Beard Guy101 yeah and he was pretty much out of timing, Eric first 2/3 of his solo too :/

[@einarabelc5]

He has Tomo after Tomo of lessons on it. ;) Use Translate: Spanish.

[@keepemlo]

Very original

[@Pudekz51790]

No doubt Tomo’s influence on John Mayer. You can here it on those bends

[@aaronlusher288]

WhySoSerious? Honestly bending is one of those things imo mayer and tomo have complete different sounds on

[@floggymosco13]

Matt Schofield is so sophisticated. Eric Gale is so raw. Tomo is so educated.

[@methenyjazz]

Panu Panuparb I totally Agree your right!

[@nickbouvy8851]

To o is also an extraordinary crab dancer😎

[@Pudge4400]

Don't forget my boy Josh...he's a guitar wunderkind!

[@telecasterbear]

Josh is so handsome.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

@@telecasterbear Josh, is that you??? LOL!

[@kieranoconnor333]

Every single phrase in Tomo's solo flowed perfectly onto the next and had a reason for being there. Mind-blowing.

[@kieranoconnor333]

@@KP-by4eu And you're understating.

[@panicandfreakout-]

Eric is the only cat there who has "DANGER" in his playing, a very rare quality (Jimi and Jeff)

[@coquio]

Tomo's dancing is definitely the best.

[@ayushmanbhalla8737]

Alfalfa Male the crab 🦀 dance

[@MatraBatra]

@@ayushmanbhalla8737 his dancing is so cute lmao he doesnt fit in with those big dudes

[@thebilsproject]

he plays better than all the big dudes

[@Pudekz51790]

Robbin tomo has the most melodic improvisation among all of em. Some are just shredding and don’t have a flow. Tomo built up his improvisation so good. His double stop was on point. And those bends at the end are just singing. I mean he is the teacher of John Mayer after all.

[@thebilsproject]

@@Pudekz51790 i bet Robin is a noob he can't understand either

[@FinnAndJamie]

That Tomo solo was the best I’ve heard in a while! Tasteful, tight and creative, brilliant 🎸

[@benmtz]

Couldn’t agree more ! Watched it like 20 times not even kidding, those chromatic bends blew my mind 🙌🏼

[@rschelyoung8705]

To follow Eric gales takes a confident man with a plan....awesome

[@bluesborn]

Tomo did a great job of following Eric G. (talk about a hard act to follow!) by going in a totally opposite direction and pulling out some classic swing/hard bop riffs and messing with time like Grant Green used to do (who was a time master)

[@alward5678]

These guys are All Excellent Guitarist. Love em All. The Mystery is, Why does the Blues make you Feel So Good....🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️?

[@Prossdog]

That’s why they’re pros. They don’t get flustered or intimidated by the last guy, they just each do their individual things and it all works amazingly.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

@@Prossdog Honestly everybody on that stage would bow down to Tomo for his incredible knowledge even though he doesn't look as "cool" or whatever as the rest of them. He's the guy that everybody bullies but then one day he decides to fight and everyone winds up fearing. LOL!

[@thexplode7]

@@SimpleManGuitars1973 everybody bullies tomo?

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

@@thexplode7 No not in reality. I was just meaning he's like the unassuming guy that turns out to be able to destroy people like in the movies or something.

[@michaelbledsoe1060]

As Tomo was building his solo Eric kept looking at nodding. Then he applauds when Tomo is done. Eric is a monster player but he knows when he heard something good. Enjoyed all of it.

[@TruthSurge]

Gales has so many licks at his disposal with those pentatonic runs he does. He's like a melting pot that someone chunked a little Eric Johnson, Hendrix and Shawn Lane in there and you know that's gonna taste REALLY good.

[@bobrheaume5774]

He amazes me every time he takes the lead.

[@keithremedy]

He’s super nice too he gave me some tips on playing and performing that I really took to heart after meeting him at the Fillmore in SF. He said get high on music and the women and to stay away from the party and the drugs. It stuck with me cause it was the largest crowd I had ever played in front of and to get some sort approval from Eric Gales it made my night. One of the coolest experiences of my life.

[@andrewcruz7595]

Bruh I heard Hendrix right away

[@porkbelly0713]

@@keithremedy He really is a great guy. Son and I used to hang out with him a few times in Memphis and play "roadies" for him before he moved north. My son helped him early on with his website back in 2009 - 2010, and Eric was nice enough to give him a credit on the Transformation liner notes, Arthur Smith. We don't get to see him all that often now, I guess the last time was at The Caverns in Pelham TN a few years back. I tell you what, he and Walter Trout flat tore that cave down :-))

[@oliverfunk6606]

@TruthSurge: ...and a hugh portion of Buddy Guy, I think.

[@widjowidjo9819]

Standing applause for tomo

[@aminesbox1]

damn josh smith is great singer !!!

[@DroogMonkey]

Eric Gales is just from another planet. Just soul and fire. My new favorite player.

[@Guitarwizardjoinme]

He's got the fucking magic. My favorite player too.

[@Jeff4014]

Pure magic another thing another level guthrie govan plays guitar , Eric gale lives and gives guitar

[@paulwarren8936]

I'm totally with....more real heart and soul. Joe B is the master of technique...but Eric's playing is all him...real, raw and super talented. So glad I just discovered this guy.

[@sawdust6968]

yes he is MIND BLOWING!;-)

[@Pudge4400]

Josh Smith is from the 3rd moon of that planet.

[@johns1139]

Tomo kamikazed the whole band in another direction

[@bibs8452]

Sensei doin his crab thang😂

[@JohnPerryMusic]

Not one Humbucker was harmed in the making of this video.

[@braydontomak]

nope, just several single coils lol

[@brandoningersoll5034]

This is like the Mt Rushmore of modern blues guitar....Tomo doesn’t jump out at you and rip your head off (like Gales...OMG that guy is a performer)...but when listen closer to Tomo’s phrasing, his perfect intonation on his bends...he has the balls and audacity to play slow...so every note is examined and seen...and they all do. I’m a fan..

[@fulltonesmusic]

Eric's unpredictability & combustion is something to behold.... even when he's playing at a whisper it's so intense... like... the shotgun is right behind the whisper... he's something special

[@foxylady7777]

Tomo is smart. Blending jazzy stuff into blues. Eric Gale is wild & raw. A Monster.

[@Mathiasbendiksen]

Gotta love Tomo’s crab dance

[@lueysixty-six7300]

Tomo Fujita was the standout for me

[@Kaspen82]

Luey Sixty-six why can’t you just like them all for the qualities they bring? Why does everything have to be a competition?

[@nitrogenax2327]

Kaspen82 he’s just saying he liked him the most

[@CptFoot.]

Kaspen82 Are you wondering why relativity exists in a world with observing creatures? Seems like a pretty elementary thing to have an issue with. Learn about thinking beings and then learn about the world around you. That will explain why things are “competitive” as you put it.

[@benmtz]

Oh yeah no doubt about that 🙌🏼

[@XuXin198]

Eric giving Tomo ‘the look’ during Tomos jumping is the best thing since sliced bread. Bass player having the time of his life, by the way. This was amazing

[@robbiedigital79]

I know it's not a competition, but Tomo's solo was clearly the best in my book - interesting, musical, dynamic. And he deviated from the standard pentatonic stuff. I could have listened to another 12 bars of him soloing. Not sure I can say that about the others

[@jimtalltheislandbrothers6639]

Josh's voice really suits the blues.. so much talent on stage.

[@Jonathan-L]

Josh Smith is a great vocalist!

[@tashaclaire7258]

And an incredible guitarist! x

[@tashaclaire7258]

Check out him playing Let me love you at Lucky strike with Artur Menezes x

[@bluessax5089]

I actually played Eric Gales’s solo from this but on sax 🎷, I would be humbly honored if yo would check it out and tell me what you think

[@simonsmith2642]

All heavy hitters. But I came here for Tomo…

[@slypouliot]

These guys are all playing in the pocket, man. What a great performance. Drum and bass giving a fantastic rythm...the rest is now history. Wow. I'm blown away. 🤪

[@guitarttimman]

Turn that damn organ up! He sounds great.

[@theloniouscoltrane3778]

2019 If musicians like them would get together more often that they would, there is still hope for what is left of music worth listening to.

[@louielixx]

9:14 Bass player is feeling it !

[@rborbe]

I didn't know Jackie Chan can play guitar too! lol Great phrasing though :)

[@detike14]

Eric Gales is from another planet. What a great musical chemistry!

[@bouleamythe]

Wow Tomo, Blues as no race, blues is from the deep soul.

[@alfredo50560]

Tomo's improvisation ideas are excellent, musicality, melodies almost telling a story and the speed ordered at the right moment, wonderful!

[@cawfeedawg]

Amazing. How was I not in the audience for this?? Eric Matt josh and tomo. The grooves are rich. ❤️❤️❤️. I knew this would be amazing. Tomo that solo was soaring.

[@ninoaveni8234]

Damn, this is some fine guitar playing. Everyone's so talented, but Eric Gales, what in the living hell, the shivers were so strong I was LAUGHING while listening to the apex of some of his licks just to get rid of the energy surge this guy gave me. I'm SPEECHLESS!

[@guitaristshawn]

This is my favorite Schofield solo. Also, I really enjoy Tomo's. He was really getting into it

[@thedudeaars8527]

Eric gales is so good, i almost shit myself

[@thomasbongart4131]

Eric is on a par with Jimi and Stevie..for me.

[@fin-n8981]

☮️✌🏾❤️🎸

[@gino9025]

didn't know that Quentin Tarantino plays bass?

[@jamesemerson4102]

Far out they are all absolute killer. Eric Gales solo really got to me... that passion !!!

[@pius_sebastian8692]

tomo phrasing just beautifull like speaking

[@guitashamilele]

That bassist is having the time of his life

[@yobhsiFehT]

I meeeeann, say what you will, obviously these are all significant players, but **I** was most pleasantly surprised by FUJITA'S solo 😳🤷🏼‍♂️

[@johnfisher434]

All great masters. Different styles & tone.Gotta love it all!

[@sassyguitars]

Eric Gales, your timing and melodic structure is something to behold.

[@davidnewstead7898]

tomo is a master at the jump blues genre

[@JamesDavis551]

Nobody beats anybody here. They all bring their own unique voice on the instrument and that’s the whole point of having them all up there. All killer players, and kudos to Josh for letting everyone else take the solo spots (we all know he’s a monster on that Tele too!). It’s a celebration of how personal and distinctive the guitar is, and what makes it such a captivating instrument in the first place.

[@Jeff4014]

You guys don't know what you are talking about if you don't start by saying that Eric gales is outta this world, not for his speed, not for his phrasing nor his irreplaceable licks ....but for his SOUL POWER AND UPSIDEDOWN AND BACKWARDS POSITION, you guys dont know what yoy are talking about if you Dont really understand what's going on that REVERSED. Guitar....you are just not prepared to it. Eric Gales is the best guitar player alive. Period, your Job is to understand why

[@leinadatidumarp]

They are just blues monsters. Tomo was not as 'big' as the others, but he is the only one doing more than blues.

[@NikolausBrocke]

I never heard about Matt before. Sorry! But he is unbelievable. Hui! I came across this video because of Josh Smith.

[@stonelenny]

A new Robben Ford!

[@jasonrobertson8487]

I think Matt's greatest assets are his dynamic approach and tone. He makes a Strat sound big as a house.

[@johnhendricks8140]

Eric takes his time at first then he starts eating up frets. Tomo play those vocal lines. I like how Schofield just does what he does.

[@kathehun6034]

Look at Johses face at 3:27 diging Matts turnaround and 2 secons later repeat the lick himself pure musicianship and respect ....They all kings of the modern blues scene!

[@ruechel]

Eric Gales is a monster; thinks outside the cliché box. Killer. Smith is an assassin too: he really understands the blues. Tomo? virtuosic, sure - but too much of a clinical technician for my taste: i just don't "believe" him. Amazing teacher though - one of the best.

[@timothyhenson8853]

Tomo.. pure education of how to use the bend of notes

[@EVEROSFP1]

The reverse technique that Eric has is a beat of of mind boggling....And Josh is a force of nature both as a vocalist and a guitarist...

[@danhope77]

Tomo's hair cut was not great, but his solo compensated for that. The dance was good too. All great guitarists

[@AndrewWesthoff]

For some reason I love Eric Gales' blues shredding but not Joe Bonamassa's. I don't know why.

[@FenderJL5150]

Same. I'm pretty sure it's because Gales still plays with soul first, technique second. Joe B to me sounds like you taught a terminator to play guitar... So right but so wrong at the same time.

[@growtogether]

Pr3EmiNEnce spot on

[@JoshNpublicgplus]

Love them both!

[@johnzimmerman1159]

Andrew Westhoff Why do you love Gale's shredding, but not Bonamassa? The answer's easy to the ear. Bonamassa has no nuance, no "feel," no emotion. A technocrat.

[@Seventysongs]

I believe Eric Gales has fire and creativity and Bonamassa more intent than inspiration!

[@angrybuzzy]

I love the playing of all these guys but that solo by Tomo was just...wow.

[@foxybrown2]

The the best did not even play Josh Smith would have smoke them like a black and mild cigar.

[@steroidolympics2012]

Right on, Tomo. Enjoyed your solo over all the others.

[@johnbolger2625]

Everyone wants to play like Robben Ford, and I can't blame them for trying. Join the club.

[@gunnros]

Especially that guy Matt Schofield.

[@PeterKertesz2013]

I do love Tomo very much but for fairness all of the seven musicians are equally fantastic in this video 🎸🎶🎵🔥

[@arcadetv8537]

Tomo's bending is killer!!

[@jamescarter5153]

Those softer notes really stand out in this set. Sometimes less is more.

[@ajkkysfsy]

James Carter you are 100% that’s the problem with modern blues

[@slypouliot]

MY GOODNESS! This is freakin incredible. Shot out to the camera crew/editing team who captured everything. I love to see what these guys are doing on their instruments…the camera is at the right place at the right time. ❤

[@lkssdi6688]

Они все по своему лучшие гитаристы....браво!!! Мне понравился Томо своими прыжками....

[@thekriskokid]

These guys are all fabulous; but I really like this Tomo character! Very, very unique and so melodic!

[@sdkdrummer]

John Mayer's instructor at Berklee. Really nice guy. Had plenty of off line interchanges with him on TGP. Can play any style. Could keep up with any shredding going on, but that's not his thing. Incredible rhythm player too. Amazing funk rhythm chops. I've heard a phrase "Play like you have something to say, not something to prove". Matt's playing sounds all of a piece. Put together. Going somewhere, saying something other than "hey look at me". Gales can definitely play, but he always feels to me like he's clubbing me over the head with it. Josh gets a little over the top for me sometimes but it's always going somewhere and he has an amazing vocabulary to put it together with. Would have been fun to hear him and Tomo playing around from bebop to Jimi.

[@princeyehuwdahdanielyisrael11]

GrandMaster Cosmic Blues Guitarist. Eric Gale #1 🎸🎼🎶🎶🦁

[@vincentramos6120]

Tomo’s was so sweet gravity had nothing on him

[@leftystrat62]

I think I had a bigger smile on my face while listening to this than the bass player.

[@benmtz]

Tomo gave the coolest solo here imo !! I went back 4/5 times to it what a great refine solo :)) I bought his album and loved it btw

[@nicgin3945]

I'm just here for Eric gales😁..other guys are great as well, also love Marcus King/ Kirk Smitheart/ Carson Alexander/ and that other fella

[@ziggylayneable]

This is a perfect example of why Tomo Fujita is SOOOOO friggin' versatile & good. I advise anybody, no matter how good of a guitar player they are to go subscribe to his you-tube channel "TomoFujitaMusic". No matter how good you are I guarantee you'll learn something.

[@Jeff4014]

You dont what ur saying sir, Eric gales is on that stage man!

[@ziggylayneable]

@@Jeff4014I think Eric Gales is absolutely incredible. Tomo Fujita? He was a music teacher at Berkeley.John Mayer took guitar lessons off of him very early on in his career. When you listen to Tomo play, you can hear the little bits and pieces that John Mayersoaked up from his instructional sessions that he spent with Tomo.but in no way shape or form am I saying anything bad about Eric Gales. I want that one put on the record.Eric gales is a really good blues player but then he starts throwing these jazzy parts in which absolutely blows my mind. There's not many living guitar players that I think have that spark like Hendrix are Stevie Ray Vaughan did? Eric Gales definitely has that spark.He could play three notes and I would immediately know it was him.

[@darkaouireda8603]

Ive been watching this video since it has been posted and it helped me track the evolution of my musical taste over the years. For years, I used to watch it until the end of Eric Gales solo, now I just fast forward the song to watch Tomo over and over...

[@dood587]

TOMO is so smart !! but GALES is GREAT !!

[@realgoodmind]

Eric's tone at 6:35 mark is just unreal and almost scratchy and fizzy. Man that sound is so nasty. Love it. He is a legend

[@bobbynoe1]

Eric Gales 6:52 - 7:00 Whole lotta shakin' going on!

[@LUckybones25]

All these guys are savages! I especially love hearing Tomo.

[@horstlemke9591]

Einfach nur absolute Weltklasse, diese TOP Gitarristen zuhören, mit welcher Leidenschaft, mir feehlen fast die Worte, einfach großartig!!! Beste Grüße, Horst Lemke, Studiogitarrist und Produzent, Germany

[@lkssdi6688]

Это одно из лучших выступлений!!!! Это легенды блюза!!!!

[@kewlfonz]

That Eric Gales is fucking STONKING GOOD guitar player!!! OUTTA SIGHT good - Brilliant player. Matt Scofield is a brilliant player too, but Eric Gales TIMING is crazy - How can he play that far OUT of time, yet ironically be so IN the pocket??? That's what I call timing - Like a cross between an upside down Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa!!! Show stopping...

[@yvonnelaurenty6427]

This guy has explained the very magic of Eric,s playing. A blues master.

[@gizzhead7941]

I don't think its out of time, it's just that you can keep dividing the blues "grid" into triplets

[@astewart9410]

That bass player's facial expressions yessir!

[@zacate1983]

my god! they´re all great! Tomo´s solo was super cool, nice melodic phrasing and cool ideas, although Eric Gales man! anyway cool video, very inspiring!

[@mussolinishead9916]

boring as fuck....til Eric Gales "broke it down!

[@VIP-Guitar]

Correct!

[@samhope4654]

7:57 when the bassist gets caught having fun

[@jerry-st7rc]

Everybody has fenders, laughing w my 1979 Ibanez MC 500 NT and 1982 MC150 DS

[@ideath173]

Josh--technician. Matt--technician. Tomo-- seems like a nice guy, but absolutely, positively, not a blues man. Gales--fucking wizard who has no equal.

[@Diax1324]

Tomo Fujita - the crab king

[@kennywally]

wow. If you're a guitar player you learn SO much from this vid. Best players on the planet.

[@riverbankfisher]

Of all the formidable guitar players on stage there, Matt Scofield's blues vocabulary, melody construction and timing are second to none. There is no waffle in his playing and there are no wasted notes to clutter his traditional blues phrasing, as he careens along like a freight train.

[@amoneyshredder9513]

riverbankfisher I wish I could write something like that , I agree , Matt is nasty nasty fella , and in a good way

[@stevekirby7333]

Matt and Tomo are my two favorites here. More than one gear. There are people with Tomo's knowledge and Matt's fluidity and grace. But that doesn't sell as much as flash and non-stop intensity.

[@gwm92881able]

以外にも藤田さんへの肯定的なコメントが多くて驚いた　日本人として嬉しい Besides, I was surprised that there were many positive comments to Tomo Fujita I am proud as a Japanese

[@LUckybones25]

gwm92881able Tomo is the master!

[@stysner4580]

Holding his own after Eric Gales with a huge slowdown but tasteful phrasing is incredibly hard. I have a huge new found respect for Tomo. What a guy.

[@benmtz]

Matt’s face at 9.05 during Tomo’s EPIC solo says it all ! Happy days

[@cHzism]

Jesus Christ Tomo! What the hell was that, what an amazing sense for rhytm and phrasing. Completely blew me away, incredibly creative.