Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

Gotta write ROTK review soon, but want to get this out of the way before it slips clear out of my head.

Driving home from rehearsal, I flipped the radio to WRNR about the start of the instrumental break of a song. I heard somewhat non-rock-like percussion, so I turned it up, and at a more reasonable highway volume I heard classic-rock in the drum part, but also other influences, some of which were not quite identifiable. So I turned it up a little louder still, and got interested in how the other parts were interacting with the drag-you-forward, splashy/crashy drums. Then the guitar solo came to my attention.

It was an unusual solo. And while I was trying to watch out for traffic on I95 and puzzle out what was odd about the guitar solo at the same time, it suddenly hit me: those were "Glennish" note choices and picking style. Except that it wasn't how I'd play a lead/solo there; it was how I play what I call "background lead guitar" -- flatpicked melodic improvisation designed to go behind vocals (or behind a lead instrumental melody) ... basically guitar accompaniment that's not "rythm guitar" or a bass part). So I was wondering who this guitarist was who played like me, and then the vocals came back in.

And I recognized the voice of one of my guitar heroes.

That was a really odd feeling.