Allan Holdsworth at The Kessler Theater in Dallas, Texas

[ntesslafan]

I never tire of hearing Allan play. Thanks for this very nice posting. Thanks for the music Allan.

[clovis2012]

I was doubting at first because I know AH always used the Delap even though he had a Carvin endorsement. But holy heck, the new Carvin HH1 sounds SICK. I hope he finally uses his Carvin for every show and not just when Carvin is watching.

[Timotheedle]

btw, do you think that's the latest canton guitar??

[Timotheedle]

by the way--- oh my god

[jamesedwardtheobald]

sweet. i sat two feet from allan the last time i saw him (at the baked potato in LA a couple months ago). Then i exchanged some pleasantries with him; he's a down-to-earth cat, i dig that he hangs between sets and chats with fans...

[Timotheedle]

@jamesedwardtheobald I think it depends on his mood--the last show I went to, allan had a few problems or mistakes in his playing, apologized to chad a couple times and apparently had some tech problems before the show, and he was gone as soon as the show finished. I don't want to say it's right, but it's almost like he's too down to earth--like he would have been embarrassed to confront the fans after such a "terrible" show.

just a thought---

[jamesedwardtheobald]

@Timotheedle oh, heh, i saw allan on a severely off night. bruner was a half hour late to the gig, and was texting while playing when he got there; allan cursed out loud 'where the fuck is the drummer' before bruner showed. then they played 'fred' -played our of key and apologized., and if you watch ANY recent video; he is always twiddling with his equipment (which seems to go rogue on him),i think something is eating at him;the 1st time i met him in the 80s and he was different...

[Timotheedle]

@jamesedwardtheobald

well here anyway, I think allan has some really nice interactions with bruner--even put a smile on his face, am I right? I think bruner does bring change up the mix in a positive way, and I'm personally excited to see him with allan if they're still playing together when allan comes to the east coast.

[Samsgarden]

@jamesedwardtheobald

from what I know, he's beleaguered by very exacting standards on himself.

Have you noticed that he's developed a whole new repertoire of facial expressions in latter years? On a positive note, I agree with Timotheedle -Bruner puts a smile on his face and he appears to be less serious at times.

[jamesedwardtheobald]

@Samsgarden haha, probably because bruner is such an enthusiastic young punk! it is funny to see allan play with a drummer who loves to groove as much as RB Jr, in many interviews allan is quoted as saying that he hates drum grooves. i know this- allan ain't too happy about getting old, the last two times i've seen him he has made comments to that effect. also he told me personally that 'i hate fucking computers' when i was asking when we'd see him on facebook. gotta love allan...

[Samsgarden]

@jamesedwardtheobald

Such is life. That shit you've got to deal with.

Does he still smoke?

[jamesedwardtheobald]

@Samsgarden ya, when i saw him in 84 he was smoking while playing!. at yoshi's in 07 and this year at the baked potato he took cigarette breaks. in 84 his roadie always kept 3 beers on top of allan's amps. now he just chugs on water bottles and sips on white wine between sets. he seemed to remember me the third time i met him at the BP! he's quite nice to fans, except 'the whistler' , heh, have you seen that video? pretty funny... (allan introduces 'the whistler' as part of the band

[Samsgarden]

@jamesedwardtheobald

Well, consider that McLaughlin is 70 but he looks healthier than Holdsworth.

Actually, I don't really care about people's personal habits -it's entirely up to them, but as for the age thing, it's irrational -no amount of longevity will allay those fears, not even a millennium. Holdsworth looks like someone who carries a heavy burden- maybe it's just his proclivity, or at least how it appears? Love him though.

[jamesedwardtheobald]

@Samsgarden PS, check out my tracks on my channel, notably '500 kilometers mas alta' ; 'same fear' 'eclipse of reason' and 'imaginary friend', i am influenced by allan, but i have my own thing... 

[jamesedwardtheobald]

@Timotheedle last time i talked with him was in 2007 at yoshi's, bought a copy of 'flat tire' from him, and he discussed his divorce, and i think that is what is eating at him... my heart goes out to him, obviously i love his music very much (especially if ya listen to some of my work on my channel), and it saddens me to see him not doing too well. the expression of concern on bassist Bunny Brunel's face was not very well hidden, too.