Busted Bicycle and Vaseline Machine Gun by Leo Kottke (Cover)

These are a couple of Leo Kottke's easier songs to play. I am still amazed at how difficult they sound in relation to their playability. The sound man (working the stage under the Budweiser tent) at the Kentucky State Fair recorded this (thank you). This was August of 97.' I was just 22 and spent the two weeks previous to this setting up and working concessions at this event. On the last day of the fair, I asked if I could get up on stage and play. After playing, I was told by him that if I had asked earlier I could have played on stage everyday of the event. Ironically, this is the weekend I met my wife. We're still happily married to this day. We have three kids. She's in the crowd watching me. I keep looking at her - she's to my left. She asked me out later that day. Brings back great memories. I was feeling so self concious. It was hard to focus on my playing. Damn that is one BRIGHT GREEN shirt I was wearing (it came with the job)! All you guitar players out there, you know you do it just to get the girls!!! Well, it works... sometimes.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• matthew
• james
• hardin
• busted
• bicycle
• vaseline
• machine
• gun
• cover
• leo
• kottke
• john
• fahey
• guitar
• acoustic
• fingerpicking
• fingerstyle

[birkenweg42]

Thanks for posting this. It sounds great and you make it look so easy. *****

[matthewjameshardin]

I really appreciate your feedback! They were some of the first Kottke songs I learned.

[Tenntoad]

Thanks for posting. Think you're playing it in Open G versus Open C?

Rgds,

Joe Carpenter

[matthewjameshardin]

I am in the video. Though I like to play it in C sometimes. I keep waiting for someone to invent an 8 string guitar. Then I could play songs in open C,G, and D (relationally) without ever having to retune my guitar. In open C you would play it the same way - just don't hit the top string. In open D you play it the same without hitting the bottom string. Thank you for commenting.

[Tenntoad]

@Matthew; Yes, quite familiar with open tunings & Leo stuff.

Rgds,

Joe Carpenter

[matthewjameshardin]

Yes you are!  I just viewed your channel. FANTASTIC!

[WRB7]

Like you, I learned Kottkes stuff from the recordings so, I play Busted bycicle in open C and vasaline machine Gun in open G. I also Play watermelon in C and only discovered through the interned that it should be played inD.....

[musicluva33]

Amazing! Love the story about how you met your wife too.

[JCMcGee]

Brilliant!

Just been reading more about Lead Belly....12 string was his instrument wasn't it?

[justplainfred]

very cool!!! - Excellent guitar work!!!