Review: Fretkillr on You Tube

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: olddude
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 12:44 AM

And you may also want to check out lightning thumbs ... LOL
look familiar
lightning thumbs

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: olddude
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 12:37 AM

guitar rag

Son and father are the same by the way

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: olddude
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 12:24 AM

I am pretty sure Kat but it would be under his real name. He is guarding this thing really well and I don't know why ... just having fun with it I think.   He does a lot of rock and modern country also .. but then sits down and cranks out these old favorites to relax and have fun .. some of the songs I heard that were original were brilliant .. more towards the rock and country genre ..

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 10:35 PM

Oh, hellO! Thanks for that olddude...just as handsome as his picking and voice! Any hopes of him putting out a CD?

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: olddude
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 06:23 PM

Well even after a number of requests I won't tell ya who he is but I will give ya a photo

fretk

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Jayto
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 03:31 AM

That was great man I really enjoyed it. The talent on this site never ceases to amaze me.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST,Chloe
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 03:28 AM

On Fretkillrs YT page he said that his parents were baby boomers and he grew up listening to their music. His fingers look younger than a baby boomer's to me. In one video, he's wearing an ESPN jacket. I went to the ESPN website to look at the jackets for sale. The ones for sale to the public didn't look remotely like the one he was wearing, which was black with ESPN in small block letters, multi-colors, on his upper left chest. I don't know, but it looked "official."

As someone who was taught vibrato, and has also taught vibrato, I don't believe anyone taught him vibrato, which he most probably would have been taught if he had taken guitar lessons. He has a vibrato of a sort but it's not what you learn from a professional.

I sure hope he gets back on youtube.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: olddude
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 05:25 PM

He is an amazing musician and as good on an electric as acoustic ..

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 05:21 PM

Very nice too...

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: olddude
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 04:54 PM

i am pretty sure i know who he is. I have all but got him to admit it but I won't say ... he is florida boy however :-) He is on another site and left his myspace link .. we became friends on the other site and exchange music ... 99.9% sure ... and he sure got quiet and bashful when I call him on it ... nice man also

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Melissa
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 02:27 AM

Ha..duh..his VOICE implies that he is!
I forgot about that one little detail..got distracted by the thick shirt and right wrist.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Melissa
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 02:25 AM

St Anne's Reel is hot!


Did his original videos say he's a man?

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Jul 10 - 11:34 PM

Wow. Good listening. I watched one after another- hard to pull oneself away.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jul 10 - 11:17 PM

Looks as though folks have been busy putting fretkillr's videos back on youtube...I've missed them.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST,slumpondslim
Date: 21 Jul 10 - 10:03 PM

I vote John Sabastian from the Lovin Spoonful... Listen to DayDream from both of them....

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Richie
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 07:57 PM

I got one of my videos pulled for copyright infringement on youtube even tho it was a PD song.

It was because I said something about a copyrighted song.

Richie

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: PoppaGator
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 03:13 PM

I'm sorry to heaf that FK's stuff got pulled, and encouraged that someone is trying to put it all back.

I haven't thought about him for a while, but I certainly enjoyed watching and listening to many of his offerings, and learned a thing or two in the process.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 08:47 AM

another piece of idiocy on the part of Youtube.

copyright infringement, my arse.

the man never made a penny out of any of these videos, and showed a lot of people how the songs should be played.

fortunately, one of his fans has recorded all his videos, and is uploading them again.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 06:32 AM

Evidently he did too many covers and got pulled on copyright infringement. Pity.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: keyofzed
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 06:06 AM

Where's Fretkillr gone? His youtube account appears to be suspended.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 11:04 AM

Fretkillr by a country mile, man! Isaac fella can't sing!

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST,dzjc
Date: 14 Nov 09 - 01:28 PM

For all you naysayers, why even bother commenting on something you don't like? Haven't you got better things to do? Fretkillr has some obvious talent that touches people in the right way, and if he'd rather not show his face, so what?

Yes, there are probably lots of players on Youtube that are better guitarists and vocalists, but so what? This is not a contest! People are just trying to enjoy his music. If you don't like it, don't listen to it. Is that so hard?

Dale

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST,Guest, jukkagy
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 04:59 AM

I must confess to being just as intrigued by this incredible talent as the rest of you who've bothered to post here. And unlike any other blog I've read, each and every post has been worth a read. This speculation bit is just too much fun.

So far, the illustrious fretkillr has been surmised to be a bedroom recluse, mental patient, contract musician, (but better that the person he's backing up), average Joe with a day job, did I miss anything! After listening to
this gem I am leaning in the direction of contract musician. Absolutely flawless combination of guitar, harp and vocals. Does it get any better?

Whoever this guy turns out to be, I will be eternally grateful for the gift of his music - and all the swell free lessons ;-)

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 02:18 PM

Honestly, his version of some songs are superior to the originals. He's a fairly good guitarist, but his voice is excellent.

I've travelled quite a bit, and I've heard probably thousands of live musicians/bands. His talents warrant notice, but so do countless other unknowns.

If I was to take a wild guess as to who this guy is, I would guess he's a contracted backup musician for a star that is not as good as he is.

Off-the-cuff name guesses: Ralph Banuelos, Stockton, CA., Barry Enwright, Cynthiana, KY.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Feb 09 - 02:23 PM

Some comments were made early in this thread about his recording sounding so good. I have noticed in a few FK vids that a cord is hanging by his side, so he must have a head mounted mic on, yet I don't see any cords on the guitar, so that's still a mystery.
Anyway, as I am a beginner guitar player, I am in awe of his skill.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Sep 08 - 11:39 AM

I think one of the reasons Fretkillr appears so good is that he is being compared to the millions of wannabes on Youtube. Don't get me wrong, I love his vids. However, how good would Paul McCartney or James taylor(say) sound in a similar vid scenario ?

Anyway, God bless him. I've learned a lot from watching his vids.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Gulliver
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 08:28 PM

Like John said, I too know a number of guys, and not too old either, who'd be technically as good as Fretkillr, and have as good a voice. But I don't think they'd be able to package it as well as Fretkillr. His guitar has a great sound, sings with feeling, clear enunciation, good rhythm, etc. Really nice, IMO.

Don

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: PoppaGator
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 02:41 PM

Yeah you right, John.

One thing about Fretkillr that I DON'T believe is when he tells us he's never learned anything from either tablature or sheet music. Of course, like you say, "careful observation of the original" is another way to cop someone's arrangement, but there are tab and/or "dots" transcriptions available for a hell of a lot more songs than there are videos.

I was pretty intrugued watching him play "Lakes of Pontchartrain." He writes that he learned it from Paul Brady's playing, and his playing of the song sounds very much like Brady's . . . BUT ~ this song is one only two* for which Brady provides tablature on his website, and Fretkillr does it quite differently, evidently using a different tuning to produce pretty much the same notes and chords. Brady's arrangement is in open D Vastapol (DADF#AD) and I've learned it pretty well; I can clearly see that FK is not using the same chord shapes, not fretting the same strings in the same places, etc.

I can only conclude that FK is playing in some other tuning ~ open G, maybe, or DADGAD, or maybe even standard. (I am very much a novice when it comes to alternative tunings, so I can't offer an informed opinion.) If FK figured out a whole different way to get the same (or very similar) result, my hat's off to him.

* The other song tabbed on PaulBrady.com is Arthur McBride, in open G "Spanish" tuning.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: John Hardly
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 01:22 PM

I don't have any problem believing that fretkillr is a "nobody". He's a good guitar player and I really enjoy his vocals, but I know some of the arrangements he uses and they aren't his own -- they're culled from songbooks (or careful observation of the original -- just the way we all learn 'em). For instance, he uses James Taylor's idiosyncratic guitar arrangement for "Walkin' My Baby Back Home".

Fretkillr is good, but he's not even in the same league with Pat Donohue, guitar-wise. I know any number of guys who play as well as fretkillr and they aren't even professionals (or they are semi-pro).

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: PoppaGator
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 01:13 PM

Hi Murray,

I noticed a couple of "murrmac" posts that DID remain posted as comments, and was pretty sure that was you.

One comment that someone made about one of the FK clips gave me pause: the person observed that "the background looks like a rehab clinic." Now, the "background" to the typical FK video is as blank as blank can be, which would be consistent with an institutional setting, but of course could really be anywhere. After all, you only see about two square feet of wall space.

But the idea that FK could be a recovering addict or some kind of mental patient is one of many plausible explanations for the phenomenon that he is. A person could be pathologically shy, after all, and his condition would in no way impair his ability to learn an instrument or to sing ~ only to do so in front of other people. That could explain why he doesn't show his face, and also why he might make the decision to delete a given comment for reasons no one else would ever understand.

Another theory: he could be perfectly sane but disfigured in some way that makes him reluctant to show his face.

Being a recluse, for any reason, would definitely allow a musically-inclined individual to practive long hours, hone his craft, and pour his soul quite completely into his playing and singing.

He is giving us some wonderful performances, but I don't see him as an impossibly dexterous, lightning-fast virutoso. He's a highly skilled player with a nice voice who puts across very solidly constructed and deeply felt renditions of well-chosen songs.

From my own experience, I'm quite sure that I could be heard to my very best advantage recorded close-up, alone, in a totally quiet setting. Playing in a louder and more unpredicable environment sometimes brings out a little extra "magic," but is just as likely, if not moreso, to induce nervousness to the point of stiffened fingers, choked-up vocals, etc. I've experienced both sides of that coin, and I've also know some quite excelent players who've never been able to show even a glimpse of their considerable strengths when put in front of a (live) audience.

Some people are motivated to learn and play music primarily as a way to present themselves to others, e.g., to meet girls. But others get into it simply to express themselves, to get out feelings they can't deal with otherwise, to feel the satisfaction of creating something, but have no interest at all in "performing."

I am still very willing to believe that Fretkillr belongs to that latter group. His choice of repertoire definitely puts him into the AARP/BabyBoom age group, and assuming that he learned most of those songs when they were current, he's been playing 35-40 years. If he is indeed a stay-at-home "closet" player, never inclined to take to a stage, this newfangled opportunity offered by the Internet, to reveal his music without revelaing much of himself, would be too tempting to pass up.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 06:24 PM

meant to mention this in the previous post, but if Fretkillr is purely an unknown, and doing all these videos out of pure altruism, why is is he so touchy about the comments posted on the videos ?

as an example, if you search for "murrmac" which is my YouTube ID, you will see on my Homepage a list of my recent comments. One of these comments is a perfectly valid observation about the Fretkillr video of "Wayfaring Stranger".

yet this comment never ever got posted on the list of comments on that video.

I wonder why ...

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 06:11 PM

Poppagator, I would love to see Fretkillr confirmed as a total unknown who had acquired such a superlative level of skill purely through playing in his bedroom. I kind of visualise a fairy tale scenario in which Fretkillr is finally "outed" and persuaded to do a world-wide tour encompassing festival appearances, Taylor Guitar workshops, the whole nine yards.

Sadly, I don't think it will happen.

As I said in an earlier post, it is too improbable that any one man with Fretkillr's level of expertise could remain unknown and " unouted " after this period of time.

If he is indeed one man, somebody, somewhere must know who he is. That person would tell somebody else. And at some point down the line, the YouTube fraternity would get to hear of his identity. That is the way of the world.Or maybe he has a circle of friends , all sworn to secrecy ? Or alternatively in forty years nobody else apart from himself and YouTube viewers has ever heard him perform ? How unlikely is that ?

So, either he is a professional going incognito, or the videos are expertly edited to combine the singing of one man with the guitar playing of another.

I have to confess I will feel quite deflated when the true identity of Fretkillr is finally revealed,(as it inevitably will) it has been fun speculating about him.

btw I agree with you about his similarity to Doc Watson.

My wife, otoh, is convinced that he is Burl Ives returned to haunt us from the other side ...

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: PoppaGator
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 01:42 PM

Leon Redbone always recorded in a much raspier and mannered voice than Fretkillr; I don't think they're the same person at all.

Redbone, I believe is a performer first and a vocal/instrumental musician second. Fretkillr ~ assuming (as I do) that he's not some famous star traveling incognito ~ is a singer and player, period, with no compulsion to perform at all, and perhaps even a neurotic aversion to exposing himself to public scrutiny.

I spend a couple of hours last night checking out multiple FK videos. He really is quite excellent; as one of his fans pointed out in the "text comments" section, he can take very simple 3-chord arrangements and breathe a lot of life into them, not necssarily by a lot of flashy virtuosity, but just by playing cleanly and solidly, and with absolute conviction.

That particular comment was posted, I believe, along with FK's rendition of "Greenback Dollar," which is considerably more serious that the Kingston Trio version and compares very favorably with that of the songwriter, Hoyt Axton.

I have no problem believing that a guy of his talent and abilities might very well be an unknown who never went public in the flesh, for whatever reasons, but who has found a context ideal for himself in YouTube, setting up in the privacy of his room and showing the world what he can do without showing himself.

It's entirely plausible that the reason he doesn't show his face is not that it's a famous face, but out of simple shyness. He's obviously in the baby-boomer age group and has been playing for at least forty years. He might very well have done all of that playing at home, in private, with no desire to seek the public spotlight. A person can acquire and sharpen some very serious skills in such a context and over that long a timespan, and remain fearful of ~ or simply disinterested in ~ getting up on the bandstand. I've been there myself, albeit not so permanently, and know other folks who have never sought public exposure and feedback, regardless of their skill level.

FK is gifted with rather a better set of pipes than the average obsessive guitar picker, so his singing is not only heartfelt but also tonally quite fine. He certainly does NOT sound "black" to me; he's just soulful, exhibiting the same comprehension of the African vocal component of American music as any decent folk/blues/roots-rock singer of any skintone. If he sounds like any famous voice we all know, I would not think of any African-American singer; to me, he sounds more-or-less like Doc Watson. (Not a bad way to sound, needless to say!)

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 12:57 AM

Yeah, I don't think FK is Redbone, either. I did find an early appearance of Rebone on JOhnny Carson, which is pretty funny and shows more of his face than I've ever seen before.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST,T Bear
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 12:46 AM

Good point Murray. I check out some Leon Redbone videos on YouTube and his hand positioning doesn't look like Fretkillr's and he also doesn't show the same level of proficiency. But Redbone puts on such an elaborate cover, who knows what he's really capable of? I'll check out Donahue. Thanks for the input.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 02:37 AM

There has been a lot of speculation that Redbone is Fretkillr (and also that Fretkillr might be Pat Donahue) but as far as I know, Redbone doesn't ever present himself as a flatpicking expert, which Fretkillr undoubtedly is.

If Redbone is in fact a flatpicker, I stand corrected, but I just don't think the man playing guitar in the Fretkillr videos has the same physique as Redbone, as far as it is possible to judge.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST,T Bear
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 11:00 PM

I'm almost certain that Redbone is Fretkillr. Take a look at his bio on Wikipedia. Nothing is known about him prior to his taking on his Leon Redbone persona. He is shrouded in anonymity when not on stage. He is also listed as a virtuoso guitar and harmonica player. He probably has a ton of money from his album and concert sales so he is probably doing this just as a creative release. When he sings as Redbone, I believe the voice is altered to fit his "character".

Not to blow your mind, but just another theory would be to check out a sound clip of Jack Sheldon. Virtuoso trumpet player and the guy that sang Conjunction Junction! Not a stretch to think that someone could master more than one instrument. My father is a retired music professor and was a premiere concert clarinetist for years and can also play other instuments almost at the same professional level.

Just my thoughts, please post any other theories you might have.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Gulliver
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 10:22 PM

I much prefer Fretkillr's version of "Wayfaring Stranger". Matter of taste, I suppose...

Don

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 06:09 PM

Guest Mikeym, Fretkillr is a fine singer and guitar player, if the guitarist and singer are in fact one person, on which question the jury are still out. Even if they are not the same person, the singer is a fine singer and the guitarist is a fine guitarist.

Whether he is the "best thing since sliced bread" (sort of thing you read on YouTube comments) is open to debate.

I would ask you to listen to Fretkillr's version of "Wayfaring Stranger"

and then listen to Isaac Guillory singing "Wayfaring Stranger", and then come back here and tell us that Fretkillr is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST,Mikeym
Date: 23 Aug 08 - 04:37 PM

The best thing since sliced bread. Period.
I really hope he remains annonymous to be honest.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 03:11 AM

the reason this thread keeps reappearing is because it is the third hit that comes up on Google for "fretkillr", so we can expect it to keep on surfacing till the end of time, with various Guests either defending or disparaging the anonymous minstrel.

He hasn't put up a new video for quite some time btw, I do hope he isn't surfacing from creative burn-out ...

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 11:38 PM

wld, that was worthy of Spaw's writing! Sounded almost like him!:-)

PoppaGator, Rick Fielding could play like that and so can Peter T. I also agree wholeheartedly about dwditty! Isn't it great to hear so many talented peeples!:-)

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Cool Beans
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 04:58 PM

On "I Wanto To Go Back To Michigan" (check it out), Fretkillr sounds a lot like Joel Mabus. Whoever he is, he's terrific. As is Joel Mabus.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 02:47 PM

Nice story, Big Al...heh heh heh.

I can't believe this discussion is still going on, and that there's any question of whether a human being could possibly be as transcentantly wonderful a musical performer as Fretkillr. He's perfectly OK, and of course far superior to 90-95% of the generally lame efforts posted on YouTube, but his level of talent is hardly unprecedented.

I had occasion recently, thanks to a reference in another Mudcat thread, to check out our own dwditty's performance of the classic "Come Back Baby." Now, that's the real deal, at least as impressive as any of FK's work ~ but I don't see anyone questioning whether DW had to hire someone else to do his singing for him, or whatever.

At the risk of embarrassing myself and appearing ridiculous and egotistical, I look at most of these videos, even FK's, and honestly believe "I could do that" (especially given the abilty to record take after take until finally getting it just right).

Even if I'm deluding myself a bit, and the guy really is a significantly better player or a better singer than I am, the fact is that I'm not intimidated ~ and that's not always the case when I view guitar players on video.

For example, I am currently renting a Stephan Grossman DVD from Netflix, entitled "Fingerstyle Guitar: New Dimensions & Explorations, Vol 1." Some of those performances do truly impress me, and make me feel woefullly inadequate. Some are by well-known names ~ John Fahey, Bert Jansch, Jorma Kaukonen [spelling?], Leo Kottke ~ but I've got to tell you, some of the mest impressive numbers on the disk are by players I've never (yet) heard of. Now, when I look at the best of those selections, I truly am intimidated, and know for absolute sure that I'd never in my life be able to duplicate such an effort.

And oh yeah, by the way, if you've ever seen that Asian teenager from Vancouver play "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on his ukelele, on YouTube ~ that's another transcendant performance I could never hope to match, nor do I think could Fretkillr.

PS: On the YouTube page with DW's performance is a list of links to quite a few other renditions of the same "Come Back Baby." Needless to say, none measure up to our friend, and several are just embarrasingly bad. What the hell are people thinking? I look at some of this crap, and can only think, if that were the best I could do, I sure wouldn't be posting it for the world to see ~ and hear....

A week or more ago ~ probably somewhere above, in this very thread ~ I offered my opinion that YouTube is a great new vehicle through which many talented "closet" musicians, players who for one reason or another have not put themselves forward as live performers, can reveal themselves to us, and that we shouldn't be surprised when such an unknown exhibits extraordinary talent. I still believe that this is true, but of course YouTube provides a platform for everyone, including plenty of not-so-wonderful wannabees...

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Jul 08 - 01:40 PM

I'm amazed none of you Americans have not recognised the mystery guitarist. It is of course none other than George Bush, The president.

George gave me a call last time he was over in London, and said just point the camera at my belly button.

I said, George - don't you want me to play anything...

He said, No I've heard all that slimey hymie limey crap folk music - all about raggle taggle goddam gypsies, you just point the camera. In Texas we got real folksongs about horses and trains and stuff.....

Anyway we did about a hundred songs that night, and then suddenly George says, Okay - time to call the dogs in and piss on the fire. Say man, d'you think Tony Blair could get me a gig teaching folkmusic 101 or whatever the hell they do in Newcastle - showing these limey kids which way their dicks pointing in when they play guitar.

I said, no you're too good George - you'd embarass the English folkscene - make them all look like shit.......

George said, I figured that might be the case, but I've had about twelve really tough years signing death warrants in Texas, starting wars all over the place. I could really do with a gig like that if Tony could swing it.....

I said I'd raise it on Mudcat...

he said, Jeez! That gang of democrooks and losers!

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST,banjo didgeridoo
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 11:21 PM

Here is a link to the specific youtube clip I referred to in my above post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efnIlbkc5vg ... if you read my above post and look at the appropriate point in the youtube clip you can see that it is *obvious* that fretkillr is doing his own singing.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: olddude
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 02:39 PM

The guy is amazing and he has just made my youtube favorites list for sure. no question in my mind at all

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: GUEST,banjo didgeridoo
Date: 21 Jul 08 - 02:07 PM

Folks - Take a look at the fretkillr post on youtube in which he plays "Wabash Cannonball." Look carefully at the 1:36 time point in the clip - it is obvious that he is singing while playing: you can clearly see his chest move in direct response to the "whoop" he sings at that time point. Does this "prove" he is singing on his other clips? No. Is it enough to convince me? Yes. After seeing his other clips, hearing the voice, and seeing the obvious evidence that it is he who is singing while playing Wabash Cannonball, it is quite clear that it is just one guy playing and singing. Why doesn't his chest move so much when he sings in his other clips? Well, he appears to have a bit of weight on him (sorry fretkillr - no insult intended), and, evidently, not all sung words provide as much momentum to move that weight as does the "whoop" at 1:36 in Cannonball.

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: PoppaGator
Date: 27 Jun 08 - 01:38 PM

"I love this guy's style, but also love his choice of songs..."

Me too. He must be about the same age as me, and from a similar background, because I play quite a few of the same songs myself ~ and most of the others in his repertoire are numbers I've always enjoyed and would like to play.

When someone asks me what kind of material I play, I tell 'em half Dylan songs and half Mississippi John Hurt ~ plus a third half of wildly assorted other stuff. My monthly email flyer announcing my mosest little "schedule" of one one-hour spot per month features this heading:

Country Blues / Psychedelic Folk
in other words, the usual
OLD HIPPIE SHIT

Subject: RE: Review: Fretkillr on You Tube
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 27 Jun 08 - 01:18 PM

I've recorded approx 80 songs of Mr Fretkill (so far) - by simply hooking up my WAV/MP3 recorder (a Zoom H2 - highly recommended) via the headphone socket on my laptop, and then burning to CD from the hard drive using "Creator Basic". I've also linked via the SVideo outlet to a DVD recorder to catch the fingers of this fella for future study.

To date have got my fingers around "Don't Think Twice", "Norwegian Wood" and "O'Brien is Tryin' to Learn to Talk Hawaiian" and will spend the rest of my days getting to grips with as many as possible of the others (beats watching "Eastenders").

I love this guy's style, but also love his choice of songs - I hope I'm not infringing any copyright law here!. If this fella had any CD's for sale I would happily buy them.