I just saw Dickey Betts (Allmann Bros fame)and MAN - what a show! Almost all instrumental - a cross between country/rock mixed with blues and blended with Jazz fusion. It had moments of "Santana" style and some of the best three part harmony on guitars I've ever heard - 3 old guys (Dickey is 69!) wailin' on Les Pauls through Marshall amps ... is was EPIC!
I'm so glad I went with an open mind. I really loved it. Check him out - he's the "Ramblin' man"!

Where?

Sounds interesting, UD. Glad to know he's still pickin'.

What a fantastic show Dave. I can imagine how great it would have been. Dicky has always been an awesome player.

I also see Jeff Beck whenever he is playing near me and he is about the same age and always blows me away. Gets better the older he gets.

Here's one of many video's

The last generation where you had to actually be able to PLAY to make it...

Now sadly history.

Now there you go getting all sentimental on us, Diki.

Gary

This was the Scottish Ballroom in Collingswood NJ. AWESOME venue too!

And playing music is what makes it all so much fun. Performing on an instrument is what it is all about. Hopefully audiences will begin to realize that before all the real musicians are dead.

I'll say one thing... never have a generation of 60+ year old musicians enjoyed so much fame and relevancy before. At least in popular music. The newer generation always swept the old guys out, played their asses off, and were in turn swept away.

If you think about it, the 60's and 70's are 40-50 YEARS ago. Now think of how much 'pop' music from the 1890's and 1900's was being played in the 1950's...? Or how much relevance anything from 1920 had in 1970.

The technology of easy song production has resulted in at least two generations of musicians that haven't been able to sweep their forebears away. Instead of shredding your way up the charts, you ProTools your way up, and bottom line - at some deep unconscious level, the audience knows it is fake. And they keep returning to the well of the 'real'.

Never before have the oldest generation of live musicians had so much respect and relevancy to the young.

God help us when they are gone!

How true. My friend James Burton is either touring or in the studio almost every day of the year. He's currently doing a tour in Europe. This one is with Dennis Jale and the TCB band, starting in Denmark January 10.
https://www.facebook.com/jamesburtonguitarist
I think Glen Campbell just did a farewell tour. Even though he has fairly advanced case of Altheimers, he could still outplay most of today's "youngsters".
Chuck Berry is still performing, and drawing big crowds, at age 86!
I consider Eric Clapton a young guy, he's only 67! The list can go on all day.
DonM

Paul McCartney... 'Nuff said!

Saw a brilliant 'Later.... with Jools Holland' show recently. Sir Paul opened with 'Jet', they had Elvis Costello on next, then Neil Diamond, an interview with Alice Cooper, more Sir Paul and Elvis... (plus some Black Keys and Aloe Blacc, two up-and-comers)

Watch it if you can.

Rolling Stones Nuff Said!

Diana Krall...more than 'nuff said!

Smokey Robinson....NUFFFFFFF said!

Russ Lay. . . not NEAR nufff said!
DonM

Damn, Mason, you must REALLY WANT THAT SCOOTER....trying to get me to laugh myself to death?

You're right about Burton. He's a guy I'd really like to meet before I sign over the title to the Cushman (LOL)!

And, Dianna Krall is a plain fox...easy on the ears AND eyes!


Russ

I agree that many of the older players are respected by the young players but I do think the young generation is for sure producing some fine musiscians. Just listen to the radio show on NPR called "From The Top" and you'll hear children playing classical music at very high level. Ever hear the University of North Texas O'Clock Lab Band? Even American Idol has put the spot light on some great talent. Maybe the general public is lossing interst in live musicians but the talent is there.

My 13 and 14 year old grand daughters have little, and mostly zero interest in music from the 50' 60's 70's 80's or even the 90's...with the possible exception of Michael Jackson...about the same low amount of interest I had for 1910, 20's and 30's music at age 14 in 1964.