Verlon Thompson - campfire-side performance of he and Guy Clark's song "The Guitar"

Verlon Thompson tells about the time that Guy Clark gave him a Bourgeois "mahogany back & sides" Guitar... he then rolls into a performance of he and Guy Clark's song The Guitar. This was aside the campfire at the 55th wedding anniversary party for Terry & Jo Harvey Allen, at the Marfa, TX home of Dick & Janie DeGuerin... on July 6th, 2017.

[@imnova7822]

Jesus this is another level of playing

[@MrPennystyle01]

Keep His name out of your mouth.

[@brisklyinapostchaise]

@@MrPennystyle01 Jesus, doc; chill yerself.

[@brisklyinapostchaise]

@@MrPennystyle01 you must be real fun at parties. Your lord, not mine. You remind me of the fundamentalists who attack people for drawing pictures of their prophet. Stay off KZbin comments if hearing Jesus makes you clutch your pearls. You have no authority to police anyone's language.

[@brisklyinapostchaise]

@@MrPennystyle01 your evident satisfaction in the idea of someone you don't know in the least suffering the worst torment you can imagine seems decidedly un-Christ-like; but whatever, chief. I'll be sure, whilst roasting for all eternity, to say hi to Bert Jansch. Now THERE'S a reprobate for you.

[@ClaytonWillisMusic]

@@brisklyinapostchaise talking to yourself?

[@DrBlues76]

That’s how you play at a campfire! Wow

[@hle.racing]

As a 28 year old man who has been playing guitar and singing since I was 12, I can relate to the feeling of being in a guitar store or a pawn shop and picking up an instrument that you just get lost in. It's been a few years since i've experienced that feeling, but this song did something to me and brought me to tears. Tears of joy. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for writing and playing this song. Cheers!

[@tigersports8988]

I can’t imagine what the guy after him was thinking. “Holy shit what do I play to sound as good as that?”

[@DiamondbackDetailing]

Okay so here’s wonderwall

[@armadillotoe]

I would attempt an acappella tune.

[@PiDev]

This gives me chills every time I watch it, which I've done about 50 times over the past two days.

[@OhhBallistic]

Haha

[@STEViEmando]

A masterclass in playing a campfire. A good story and a great song. Thanks for posting this. CHEERS !!

[@jaredmoore6713]

I've listened to Verlon play that song a dozen times, and it never gets old.

[@frankguernier2280]

I must admit . I loved Guy's vocals and Vernon's picking.

[@kerryevans1562]

Guy Clark smiling down from heaven.....

[@seejay60]

I really do pity the 4 unfortunates that gave this a thumbs-down! Verlon's amazing fretwork gives this song so much depth!

[@navajomudtoy]

i was there as well. a real magical night it was. "Eli" is DeG's grandson, sittin next to ol' Verlon.

[@aditya19945]

You are so lucky.

[@georgemagson2196]

this dude is a fucking wizard

[@chuckHart70]

HAHHAHAHA yes sir!

[@mairianncullen8753]

That is one good sounding guitar, played by one good guitarist! Verlon - he and Guy worked together for so many years. What a partnership that was.

[@kevinl1717]

Learned of Verlon thru listening to Towns and Steve Earle... Guy Clark amazing too but seriously... Verlon can play guitar like I’ve never heard before!!! 👍🏼

[@frankguernier2280]

That song with Guy singing rates up there with the Randal Knife.

[@jeremyvantrease8689]

Now we get the backstory on the song! This is good stuff!

[@2razorfreak]

Guy Clark is very likely the greatest songwriter of all time.

[@armadillotoe]

I have played and listened to guitars around a campfire a few times. I have never heard anything as amazing as this. I have heard Verlon play this with Guy Clark, and by himself, but the campfire makes it even more magical.

[@willcoffarchives]

what the genuine fuck have I just come across. This is otherworldly

[@pickititllneverheal9016]

Verlon is a hell of a picker. Underrated as hell.

[@Tubularll]

Soooo cool! Verlon's solo on the recording of "The Guitar" is one of the greatest things I've ever heard!

[@austinitesince1979]

amazing. i've recently discovered Verlon Thompson while i was going through some of Guy Clark's videos, specifically a performance of Guy and Verlon doing The Guitar at The Cactus Cafe (RIP Guy) and man what a monster guitarist Verlon is, that is some crazy good guitar playing! hell yeah! awesome guitar, awesome guitarist, and those LYRICS!! "whatever" (lol!) even more awesome story to go with it at the beginning! xD Thank you for sharing!

[@GordyThomas]

Verlon is a true Nashville treasure

[@bodyguy1]

Awesome! I have entertained a camp fire or two but those poor people never got to experience the likes of you! Bravo

[@bigted1953]

very impressed with the song- even more impressed by the man himself.

[@markhayner3498]

Verlon I Hope your are still with us and playing great music!

[@g392_cs_echo5]

I love everything about this.

[@fmoe87]

This is beyond amazing, i dont have words that justifies just how great this is

[@txcowgirl83]

Why can’t I like this more than ONCE!! Totally love this video.

[@shaanp9796]

I’ll help you out 👍.

[@txcowgirl83]

@@shaanp9796 Hahaha THANKS!

[@ambianknight6816]

That was a real pleasure. Thank you.

[@quokka8292]

It's so wholesome, makes me feel the most at ease I've ever been in a long time.

[@chuckHart70]

F my campfire songs! Thanks Verlon.... :-)

[@burakakdemir3934]

This video is touching my soul everytime i watch it

[@daleworrall]

Mighty Fine work Verlon..!!

[@erichcrowley8603]

Adds a lot to it with a backstory

[@kennymccormack6746]

Verlon is first class! Love his style and I have the same love for mahogany guitars!

[@MrSanfrinsisco]

This videos makes fills a hole in my heart.

[@henske100]

This is SO Good!!!

[@stephencardiff7536]

Amazing song ... brilliantly played

[@DrStich]

Thank you Mr. Thompson, that's incredible!

[@kenhughes4715]

It doesn’t get any better!

[@RUNNOFT71]

Love, Love Verlon Thompson.

[@RebelRitchieMusic]

This would have been my favourite recording of this song ever, if it wasn’t for the person who couldn’t hold back their mouth right at the climax. Upsetting.

[@dieselman7453]

🤮🤮wat you are a clown !! It was a child who done that ! And he knew the words 😁wat a star that is the best part of this video !! You must be one sorry ass sucker 😂😂😂

[@heatherseamons9507]

Amazing playing. Love the back story

[@keithbird8910]

Just fantastic!

[@A_Random_Rat]

I guess it’s fair to say the guitar is in fine hands

[@robgray9620]

Whoever put thumbs down have no taste , Great video thanks

[@rachaelgoan2900]

Goosebumps... literal... goosebumps! 😱

[@BrockCarter-sd5rr]

A master at work.

[@Yano_2323]

That was amazing 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@stubarrett1073]

Wonderful!

[@OurBackwoodsHomestead]

Love this song!

[@chetvolz8363]

How the hell do you top that? Just amazing!

[@chuckHart70]

Chet you dont. Verlon... is one of the best period.

[@robertfarmer7427]

That is some HOT ROD PICKING! Also, that is a cool tune! The man has his craft well perfected!

[@nhuxley29]

WOW the sound of that guitar!

[@KeyserTheRedBeard]

amazing content Greg Giannukos. I smashed that thumbs up on your video. Always keep up the wonderful work.

[@Kendo276]

Great guitar song, no pun intended. Verlons voice and the tempo are perfect.

[@ehduftsjroc8]

Great story! ....reminds me of Spanish Train

[@jackisgallant]

What a beautiful moment.

[@thebookpeddler]

Amazing...

[@jimmymundane1084]

Wow!

[@thenodrumdrummer2923]

Wow

[@sjlee1951]

My friend Verlon Thompson.

[@americanbradley]

Rock solid guitar pickin'. Phenomenal.

[@j.p9655]

Legend. Maybe in another 30 years I'll be able to play that well.

[@chuckHart70]

Well no one can play like Vern, cause its Vern but you can do your own version...As good as Verns? No, but its good enough.

[@dusrjam88]

What a treat.

[@LazloArcadia]

LOL - what an amazing evening that must have been. Only sorry I wasn't there.

[@lukewilkins1190]

Living the best life man I’m gonna start playing guitar again use to play years ago I’m gonna need a while to get good at it again❤

[@schlickems5728]

Blaze, Townes, Clark, now this guy and im sure so many others I dont know about.. I found this amazing corner of music through Foley a couple years ago and Im slowly uncovering more and more people that all seem to be interconnected. Can anyone here give me some more names to listen to? And a history lesson if you’d be down lol. If im not mistaken, they’re all from austin? but aside from that Id love to learn more. This is absolutely the best music ive ever listened to.

[@Ditch1221]

Verlon was playing at a festival near my home last week. I was out of town and unaware he'd be there. Sure wish I could have seen him.

[@ericlong9085]

Class song

[@volaoh2.016]

I'll be in my 80's before I'm able to play just nearly as good as Verlon

[@evanmulryan9964]

Yes man Yes

[@ryanfrenchak5043]

Gosh damn that man can play guitar!

[@pickititllneverheal9016]

Would love to see you and Billy Strings get together and pick. Especially if y'all were to do an extended "freebird length " version of this. Might just be the best day ever if that were to happen.

[@justinjoseph600]

This is the craziest thing ever

[@candacethompson4754]

That's my uncle

[@jameskenyon5989]

Candace You are a very fortunate niece. Verlon is awesome. I would give just about anything to meet him He and Guy Clark are something special, really touches the heart whenever I hear either

[@A_Random_Rat]

Last name checks out

[@dieselman7453]

You need to go to your uncle and learn every song he knows especially this one !! Don’t let this skill fade away !! If I had an uncle that could play like that I’d be with him night and day 😎😎🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🎸🎸🎸

[@greyvr4336]

Was on a project long ago. Walk in on the rest of the team. "We just can't fix it without washers. Have to send someone to the town for some" Me: "I have washers." "We've been working on this for days! Why didn't you say?" "First I'm hearing about it." Always let people around you know what you are looking for.

[@camcook7241]

Dam !

[@dieselman7453]

The proper tab for this would be amazing every tab I find is very hard to follow !! This is an amazing party piece to play for folks !! Thanks from Ireland 🇮🇪

[@oliroy]

Matthew McConaughey's dad plays really well 😮

[@malicious8458]

This is the best thing I have heard.

[@drb000]

oh If I had a time machine

[@ms.saratonin6467]

“…just tune it up and play a song & we’ll just see what haunts it…” - EPIC

[@texascarpenter3931]

I think I've seen Verlon in Luckenbach

[@ronniepotts8561]

Does anyone know of a video lesson or tabs for the solo?

[@markfarley4689]

Virtuoso

[@dreamwell2020]

Thank you, Greg. Whudoweoweya?

[@irishluck7461]

That was the devil behind that guitar case

[@joannehack7588]

🙃

[@duaneholcomb8408]

Mighty fine playing. And picking. I play but not that good,, those are .impressive runs. Your doing,,,

[@Caperhere]

Hope that fire doesn’t ruin it.

[@jeffkokosinski1784]

He just reared back and burned it!!!

[@davek4059]

Are there any tabs? Would be great!

[@skillet7805]

Anybody know the Gi-taur he's singin' 'bout

2:05

[@crispycheerios453]

Song?

[@josephfavreau511]

Crispy Cheerios “The Guitar”

[@reecejohs3334]

It says it in the title 😂

[@rayw2455]

I’d sit down after he left, not knowing he was there, and show off to everyone by playing the most sloppy version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star you ever heard.

[@simonerusso6920]

I love this but the voice ov guy clarck is suites bettar the song is to fast this way love and respect