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Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert

06 Mar 04 - 01:35 PM (#1130435)
Subject: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: freightdawg

Just found out today that Leo Kottke is going to be playing in Albuquerque later this month - already ordered my tickets. I have a special request to those who have followed Mr. Kottke and maybe perhaps know him. I have been hearing about and reading about Mr. Kottke's playing, especially the 12 string. I am really stoked about this opportunity, and want to get everything I can from it.

My question is, what are some things I should look for in the concert? That looks like a dumb question written down, but it really helps a novice if someone points out the finer details of a master's work. Me and the Mrs. are going to absorb the total experience, but any words of wisdom and pointers about what to look for in his performance would really be appreciated.

Ah, what a birthday present for a humble ol' flea bitten 'dawg.

(tail wagging energetically)

Freightdawg


06 Mar 04 - 02:00 PM (#1130445)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: Murray MacLeod

I envy you seeing Leo Kottke for the first time. I can remember the first time I saw him (in 1974) and it was just a mind-blowing experience.

I am not sure how informative the experience will be , however, in terms of picking up playing tips (if that is what you are after). The last time I saw him in concert in New Hampshire, he had altered his right hand position radically, and it was impossible to see what his thumb and fingers were doing. It was really quite weird, his right hand almost appeared to be motionless.

Still, his playing was as great as ever, and his sense of humor was as off-the-wall as ever. You will certainly have a life-enhancing experience.


06 Mar 04 - 08:12 PM (#1130618)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: GUEST,McGrath of Altcar

Take some binoculars and then tell me how he doe sit


06 Mar 04 - 09:36 PM (#1130642)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: Dave Hanson

Who the feck is Leo Kottke


07 Mar 04 - 06:13 AM (#1130769)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: GUEST,Frug

WOW where you been Eric?............Leo is master of the 12 String and very much in a class.........not to say genre of his own. Great favourite of mine and Dawg how I envy you!!


07 Mar 04 - 06:19 AM (#1130773)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: van lingle

He's one of the best feckin' fingerstylists (6 or 12) that ever hoisted a guitar, Eric.

Besides all the great playing you're going to hear, freightdawg Leo can come up with some pretty off the wall stories and comments so it's best to listen up between tunes. Have fun. vl


07 Mar 04 - 07:21 AM (#1130791)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: fat B****rd

I'm GREEN with E, but you enjoy the concert.


07 Mar 04 - 07:31 AM (#1130793)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: JennyO

Saw him here in Sydney at the Opera House a few years ago. I was lucky enough to be only 5 rows from the front. It is just an amazing total experience. If you can't manage to get a seat up close, do take the binoculars. His playing style is unique, and his sense of humour is wonderful. Lucky you!

Jenny


07 Mar 04 - 08:28 PM (#1131293)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: freightdawg

Thanks, thanks and thanks again. My wife and I will be in the mezzanine section of the theater, so we will be a little distance from the stage, slightly elevated, and a little off to the left of center stage. We will have binoculars for both of us (well, at least one set to pass back and forth.)

Thanks for the heads up about the stories and humor. I can't wait.

I'll give a report after the concert. It will be on Wed. March 24.

Freightdawg

(anyone else have any pointers, etc)


07 Mar 04 - 11:22 PM (#1131375)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: Dave Hanson

Ah, that Leo Kottke


07 Mar 04 - 11:45 PM (#1131387)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: Art Thieme

...and his Uncle Francis wrote the Star Spangled Banner too !!

Art Thieme


08 Mar 04 - 11:59 AM (#1131500)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: Art Thieme

I guess that's the last word !!??

Art


08 Mar 04 - 01:14 PM (#1131572)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: Steve-o

Good advice from all- he is an amazingly charming and funny guy, as well as a master of the guitar. For me, one of the most stunning things about watching him play is.....no fingerpicks! He'll play his matching Taylors, a 6-string and a 12-string, with such accuracy and percussion that it seems inconceivable that it's just his fingertips. I am also always pleased to find that he doesn't use a bunch of strange, exotic tunings....just maybe one or two open tunings, and a good deal of stuff in standard tuning. What this means to me personally is that, after watching and listening to him for 40 years, I can actually play two (2) of his songs (in a clumsy sort of way). You are in for a big treat!


08 Mar 04 - 01:27 PM (#1131584)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: open mike

for those of you not in the know, the star spangled banner was written by francis scott key--good one art! at first i was think9ing that poor leo had to play on his own birthday--but i now see perhaps not!
"Innovative acoustic guitar virtuoso Leo Kottke was born September 11, 1945 in Athens, Georgia." what a birthday--what and how to celebrate on 9-11 these days?!
in searching for him i found this:
"Geese farts on a muggy day" is how Leo describes his voice.
for more info go here: http://www.leokottke.com
you might find that he plays a taylor guitar--they make a signature model with his name on it. zoom in with your binocs and let us know, o.k.?
there appear to be some archived radio appearances of leo's here
including a duet with iris dement from prairie home companion.
http://www.guitarmusic.org/kottke/gdisco.html


08 Mar 04 - 01:41 PM (#1131596)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: freightdawg

It took me a while Art, but I did get it.

(after pacing all around the house saying, "Leo Kottke, Leo Kottke" and wondering how he could be related to Francis Scott Key)

Thanks Steve-o and Open Mike. I am definitely interested in his playing style, although with my (in)ability to really decipher anything with much precision, I am going to go first for just the pure enjoyment of it all, and then if I can pick anything up it will be serendipity.

Freightdawg


09 Mar 04 - 01:14 AM (#1132006)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: Art Thieme

Thanks kids.

Art


09 Mar 04 - 04:32 PM (#1132414)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: Steve in Idaho

No way to describe his playing - he's just a master - enjoy him -

I would love to hear him again - the mid 70s was my last experience - I'm guessing he's improved a bit -

He said with a sheepish grin -


09 Mar 04 - 04:35 PM (#1132416)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: Steve in Idaho

Here's his website -


09 Mar 04 - 07:04 PM (#1132543)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: Art Thieme

(one more)

And I've heard he wants to be laid out naked when he passes on...

So they can play "BareLeo's Reuquium" for the funeral !!

Art Thieme


09 Mar 04 - 07:10 PM (#1132551)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: Burke

A few years ago, the teenage son of a friend seemed to be pretty serious about his guitar playing, so I loaned him one of my LK CD's. It was returned with a thanks a bit later. Later when at their house, I found he now owned a bunch of his own LK recordings.

Now a college student, last fall he & some friends drove from Canton, NY to Ithaca to see Kottke in concert. He said they loved it, but were among the few young people there. Get the word out!!!


10 Mar 04 - 10:05 PM (#1133522)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: GUEST,JerGoertz

This is my first time posting here, and I'm in somewhat of a predicament. I got 3 tickets for the Kottke show in Tucson, Arizona on March 28, but 2 of the people pulled out after I got them. They were around $20 each, but I'm willing to sell them for $15 a piece.

Please e-mail me at gjeremiahj@msn.com if you're interested. Oh, if you want rush delivery via FedEx or whatnot you'd need to cover that.

Thanks,
Jeremiah


11 Mar 04 - 05:03 PM (#1134164)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: van lingle

Art, you should be on the stage...


11 Mar 04 - 06:18 PM (#1134215)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: Art Thieme

I missed it. It already left.

Art


11 Mar 04 - 06:59 PM (#1134263)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: van lingle

*rim shot*


24 Aug 04 - 08:27 PM (#1255805)
Subject: RE: Happy Birthday - A Leo Kottke Concert
From: GUEST,Bartman

On my LP of 6 & 12 String guitar (and on the cd) it shows a typo...
Leo was born Sept 11 1845...

And yes it still mentions the 'geese farts on a muggy day'

All time classic - has permanent residence in the car cd player

Have seen a few concerts her in Oz (Australia), and the Vaseline Machine Gun never fails to bring down the house