Lion, by John Fahey 1943 Euphonon

Big shout out to my Patreon supporters over at / andrewlardnerguitar
This video is here because of your generosity. I you'd like to support my work please join us. Tier 2 patrons unlock access to our discussion forums and other materials that help you learn the songs I'm playing. This is our 5th installment, I play "Lion" by John Fahey, as he recorded it on his live album "The Great Santa Barbara Oil Slick." The guitar is a maple Euphonon dreadnought.

[@stevegrooms1142]

I think this is the best Fahey cover I've heard. My ultimate test for a cover is whether it reveals something new that enriches our appreciation of the original. This performance does that well.

[@andrewlardner]

Thanks for saying that Steve, it means a lot.

[@blorkblob2645]

This was actually the John Fahey song that first started my obsession with him and changed my guitar playing forever. Loved the cover and happy to see others enjoy it too

[@supercool7342]

you're 100% my favorite guitarist on youtube. your renditions are always spot and the clarity of your playing makes it much easier to learn these songs

[@andrewlardner]

supercool Thank you that means a lot.

[@nigeljones2701]

Excellently done.

[@nigeljones2701]

For what it's worth I knew John and used to hang out at his home in LA where he would noodle of whatever took his fancy. I heard him perform Lion a few times live, it always had an hypnotic effect on him.

[@Qwoap]

Those syncopated finger picked triplets are amazing. Fahey was a freak guitar player.

[@sibelius4230]

Def a new respect for this tune

[@johngood331]

Wow! You really brought that song to life! To be honest, I never truly focused on it, never really listened closely before. Thanks for turning me on to it. Great song and great rendition...

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you John, it’s long been one of my favorite Fahey tunes

[@TheDrJayD]

best cover of Lion ive ever watched

[@drapeblind]

the polyrhythm of this song is impossible for me to play. you do an amazing job. this is expertly done.

[@SingleMalt77005]

Just wow. That guitar sounds amazing, especially the deep bass.

[@andrewlardner]

Thanks it’s a good sounding guitar!

[@johngeddes7894]

Very nice touch. Incredible how many people overlook this basic. It makes for great listening.

[@Timo-89]

Absolutely beautiful piece and excellent rendition. Thanks

[@raychrl]

Wow Andy, once again the expression and quality of the tone is amazing and beautiful. I love John Fahey's triplets and the special character, and you capture it spot on!

[@andrewlardner]

raychrl thank you!

[@raychrl]

Signed up on Patreon today. The transcriptions are out of this world. Thanks for starting this up Andy. -Charles Ray

[@danielstoddart]

@@andrewlardner Are you using Alaska Piks for this or something else?

[@andrewlardner]

Daniel Stoddart propik

[@eths1966]

Great guitar work. Brings back many great memories.

[@andrewlardner]

Thank you!

[@stevegrodis2426]

Nicely done Andrew. I've been waiting for a good video of this tune. Also recently discovered a video of a guy doing a good job on The Yellow Princess. It's been a good week for guitar.

[@AleXxXheart5who]

Jaw droppingly good rendition, major props to you!!!

[@specialrider54]

Beautifully played, Andrew. I have never had the nerve to try this one. Your video may inspire me to do so.

[@danielstoddart]

Wow, I've been waiting for a year for you to do this song. I knew that eventually you'd get around to covering it because of its significance in the John Fahey repetoire. It's my fave piece of Fahey's. You did a remarkable job with this one!

[@oobieo]

Absolutely beautiful

[@greekflatpicker]

Awesomeness

[@bobwerner6967]

By all accounts the Larson Brothers retired in 1940 and stopped making guitars, wrapping up the business at that time; August, the elder brother, died in 1944 and Carl in 1946. So, this may be more in the area of early to mid-30's. Btw, 'Lion' was written about Fahey's big orange tabby.

[@andrewlardner]

It is believed Carl stopped in 1940, but there exists another Euphonon dread with a serial number close to this, possibly completed c1943 given the original tuners that were used during the war and were believed to not have existed before 1943. We think August continued building until about 1944.

[@bobwerner6967]

@@andrewlardner Thank you, Andrew, for the new information. I don't think Robert Hartman's book mentions this, but perhaps it does. I haven't read it in years. Or maybe a later edition. Regardless, this is quite interesting that at least one brother never "officially" retired. Strong old world work ethic. Instrument making was their life.

[@mikesweeney263]

This is just too good

[@ennbee2051]

Yes! Excellent man! Now, the tab?

[@andrewlardner]

On Patreon

[@christopherjones4789]

Very, very nice indeed! See you even threw in a Merle Travis/Thom Bresh-style palm wipe at 3.49 ;)

[@danggramson5371]

Wonderful

[@cjsligojones5101]

Very nice job.

[@roberthale2268]

Awesome!

[@fennarios]

Fahey was a beautiful alien

[@perrysar5954]

Oh so thats how he does the intro!

[@andrewlardner]

So many great tips on my Patreon if you're curious about this kind of stuff!

[@perrysar5954]

@andrewlardner Thanks Andrew! I play a weissenborn and love Faheys open tunings material and have learned from Stefan Grossman's guitar workshop.If I may suggest,how about lessons by you in the future,I'm sure there's a big demand for your talent...Cheers Perry

[@andrewlardner]

@@perrysar5954 Thanks Perry. I have an old Weissenborn too, have yet to record on it. I've actually talked to Stefan about potentially doing some DVD lessons with his esteemed workshop, the only thing I need is more time! Would love to make that happen some day.

[@perrysar5954]

@andrewlardner ABSOLUTELY!!!... a lesson on American Primative would be a smashing sucess on SGGW! Nobody has mined this American cultural musical treasure.... Fahey,Kottke,Lang, and more open tuning artists

[@DJustice91]

Love it, sounds great Andy!

[@mariapiedrabuena7836]

Hello Mr.lardrner it's me Anthony nice video

[@andrewlardner]

Maria Piedrabuena thanks buddy great job in the winter concert

[@mariapiedrabuena7836]

@@andrewlardner thanks

[@maxkeefe3742]

Great Fahey cover Andrew! I heard Fahey wrote this one for his dog? Anyway, if you have the time you should look up Chris Christy! He's this dude I used to know in NOLA that does a lot of these crazy fingerpicked instrumentals on resonators. There's only a few videos up of him but man that guy is a beast. I think if you especially would enjoy his music. Look up 'new orleans street dobro chris christy', lemme know what you think!

[@GIBKEL]

Brilliant-think I’ll dust off those records. And that guitar ain’t half bad. Wowza-Maples going to put mahogany out of business-in the right hands that is..

[@LaMbOfGoD8975]

Awesome as always.. I'm curious, what kind of fingerpicks are you using? They seem to wrap around your whole finger

[@andrewlardner]

Propik

[@rdsloane]

What kind of finger picks are you using?

[@izziegoyer7411]

What kind of fingerpicks are you using?

[@andrewlardner]

Propik, the kind that leave the finger pads exposed