GARY THOMAS - GUITARIST
From 02 April 2011 to 02 April 2009.
It’s common enough nowadays that you find all nature of technical trickery, Singers unplugged with pedals providing harmonies and drums. Gary Thomas is not that kind of one-man band, he is one man who comes on with the force of a band, he is an analogue trickster, and if all the tricks were to be taken away, as proven this gig, he is still a power unto himself.
In this resurgence of folk worldwide, these many men with guitars, it takes unique skills and talents to set a performer apart. Thomas wrings his song’s feelings out. Sure, at some points, if you’re not paying attention you could think the vocal constrictions are an affectation, but from whispering to squeezing sounds out between his teeth, from technical wizardry to banging and clicking on the guitar with his ring, he is doing everything to get us to feel all the myriad little emotions that rise and swell through the big motion of each song. Most people want their folk twee. Or at very least to be sorta gypsy kings-ish big flamenco many string type showing off. Thomas will do none of this. He just unpretentiously plays. He has an embarrassed swagger, an “I’m just here to play some songs and really am just one of you guys” feeling that comes off genuine. He has no pose. But really, have you heard this man play? How can he not at least have an inkling of his genius?
The genius lies in the details, his acoustic guitar skills are as close to as good as it gets, yet he doesn’t leave it there. He plays stomp box with one foot, gets percussion out of the guitar body and shifts tempo and mood making all his songs little journeys. Sorry, Big journeys. But it could all be gimmick; he could be using these tricks to hide the blandness that every open mike session regular impresario showers us with. But it’s Sunday in Durban at Yossi’s and this is meant to be an unplugged session. The support act snuck through quietly, but by the time Gary Thomas is into his forth song, the raw power of it has the neighbours complaining. The gig organisers are totally un-rock and roll about it and ask Gary to turn off his stomp box and mellow it out a bit.
So he is stripped down to just his guitar and voice. He makes a little joke, him, but it’s all copacetic as all the little things that seemingly make him unique are taken away. And he still, rocking and wailing quietly is a devastating hush, a straining bit of beauty. For Gary Thomas, however you dress him, is beyond a mere technical talent. He is a musician with a voice who does whatever it takes to bring you to a point of feeling his songs, beyond mere hearing. And even if we’re not quite sure what they mean, you can’t leave without having felt something akin to being between an imploding building and a blinding sunrise
more info: www.pottersplace.co.za
In this resurgence of folk worldwide, these many men with guitars, it takes unique skills and talents to set a performer apart. Thomas wrings his song’s feelings out. Sure, at some points, if you’re not paying attention you could think the vocal constrictions are an affectation, but from whispering to squeezing sounds out between his teeth, from technical wizardry to banging and clicking on the guitar with his ring, he is doing everything to get us to feel all the myriad little emotions that rise and swell through the big motion of each song. Most people want their folk twee. Or at very least to be sorta gypsy kings-ish big flamenco many string type showing off. Thomas will do none of this. He just unpretentiously plays. He has an embarrassed swagger, an “I’m just here to play some songs and really am just one of you guys” feeling that comes off genuine. He has no pose. But really, have you heard this man play? How can he not at least have an inkling of his genius?
The genius lies in the details, his acoustic guitar skills are as close to as good as it gets, yet he doesn’t leave it there. He plays stomp box with one foot, gets percussion out of the guitar body and shifts tempo and mood making all his songs little journeys. Sorry, Big journeys. But it could all be gimmick; he could be using these tricks to hide the blandness that every open mike session regular impresario showers us with. But it’s Sunday in Durban at Yossi’s and this is meant to be an unplugged session. The support act snuck through quietly, but by the time Gary Thomas is into his forth song, the raw power of it has the neighbours complaining. The gig organisers are totally un-rock and roll about it and ask Gary to turn off his stomp box and mellow it out a bit.
So he is stripped down to just his guitar and voice. He makes a little joke, him, but it’s all copacetic as all the little things that seemingly make him unique are taken away. And he still, rocking and wailing quietly is a devastating hush, a straining bit of beauty. For Gary Thomas, however you dress him, is beyond a mere technical talent. He is a musician with a voice who does whatever it takes to bring you to a point of feeling his songs, beyond mere hearing. And even if we’re not quite sure what they mean, you can’t leave without having felt something akin to being between an imploding building and a blinding sunrise
more info: www.pottersplace.co.za
Venue: POTTERSPLACE, JEFFREYSBAAI
Location: JEFFREYSBAAI
Admission fee: R50 PP
Contact: EUGENIE
Telephone: +27 042 2932500
Email: eugenie@pottersplace.co.za
This event is listed under the following categories:
• Food and Wine
• Music and Entertainment
Location: JEFFREYSBAAI
Admission fee: R50 PP
Contact: EUGENIE
Telephone: +27 042 2932500
Email: eugenie@pottersplace.co.za
This event is listed under the following categories:
• Food and Wine
• Music and Entertainment
