1972 I was a freshman promoting campus concerts at Kenyon College in rural Ohio. We brought Leo in for a show and I was tasked with picking him up and dropping him off from Columbus airport one hour away. We spent the entirety of both drives smoking weed while he told stories. A great concert and a whole lot of fun to be with.
Saw him twice in Portland, OR during the same time period and he was quite the cut up cut up between songs. He loves telling stories, always with a humorous end.
I saw Leo at the Lorelei, on the bank of the Rhein, about a million years ago. Some genius had booked him to open for Jefferson Starship. It had been raining all day and the ampitheater was a sea of mud. Leo played and was, of course, superb. He walked off, leaving a couple guitars on stage for encores, but the emcee came out and announced that Grace Slick was "Very ill" (yeah, right) and Starship would not play without her. The rage descending was palpable. I started seeing beer bottles soaring overhead. As I was beating a hasty retreat, I saw poor Leo dodging bottles dropping out of the sky to retrieve those instruments. It was really brave and/or really dumb. I've loved him and all 14 of his fingers ever since.
45 yrs ago, a friend of mine and I took a break after night law school to see Leo in a very small club in San Jose CA. Having played guitar for nearly 20 yrs and sat in w/some decent acts (Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Winter), I approached Leo at a break and told him what a huge fan of his I was and just glad my friend (former Asst Oenologist at Mondavi Vineyards who looked Hippier than the movement itself;) could hear him. Leo invited us outside to sit with him in his limo and take a few tokes and exchange a few jokes w/this Wine savvy dude and a Vietnam Vet hopin to make the law more just. He was so kind and his musical talent-esp on his 12-string-magical. A memorable eve that was in fact...ALL TIME. Humility and humor will triumph over sour puss, nasal muttered music every time in our book. Keep on truckin, Leo.
I saw :Leo on my 18th birthday (I'm 62 now!) in Perth West. Aust. He had Leon Redbone as a guest. Leo walk out with 3 guitars, and blew me away with the 12 string and playing slide on it. A fan to this day and just a magical night. Thanks for all the memories and music Leo.
Cool little story! In his prime, Leo Kottke was the fastest & slickest 12 string acoustic guitar player around. But eventually, repeated severe bouts with tendinitis forced Leo to stop playing the 12 string, as he switched mostly to 6 string. This was the only reason Leo was able to continue on with his career of writing, recording, and performing.
Leois one of the funniest guys who ever lived. i saw him at a concert at IU in the seventies; he had us all in stitches between each song. He stopped dead, right in the middle of "Vaseline Machine Gun". There was absolute silence, the audience was dumbstruck. Then Leo said, " Stopping in the middle of a song like this is like waking up in the middle of a wet dream, and then trying to go back to sleep in it." Whereupon he re-commenced, right where he left off. The audience went nuts!
I saw Leo 53 years ago, 1970, Mankato College, Mn. He was awesome of course, had about 8 guitars behind him in different tunings. He's so funny! Love it!
I love Leo Kottke's live performances! I've seen him live three times, and it never gets old. It's like getting two for one. You buy a ticket for a concert, and Leo Kottke is an amazing guitarist, and you also get a comedy show. I love his shows.
Went to see him many years ago. One of the funniest men I've heard. That combined with truly virtuoso guitar picking made it a really great night. One of the very best...
Went to a live performance in Charlotte, more than 40 years ago, with a musician friend who was also a big fan. Before Kottke was world famous. My friend insisted that we go backstage to meet him, after the show. I was very embarrassed to impose, but we went. Kottke was obviously worn out, but met us, and was very humble and gracious. A classy guy. I later took my 16 year-old nephew, a beginning guitarist, to another Kottke concert. My nephew was immediately a fan, and turned into an amazing guitarist, able to play many of Kottke’s songs. Damn, that made me jealous.
I saw Leo last night at the Aladdin Theatre in Portland, Oregon. He was hilarious, and his tunes were beautiful. A couple of the darker, slower songs had me in tears- so much emotion expressed elegantly. Mr. Kottke is a master musician and entertainer..
I saw Leo in concert with a long forgotten (almost) girlfriend almost 40 years ago. It was a great show. I can't hear him without thinking of her. Thank you Leo.
I had the great pleasure of seeing Leo live at a small venue in Boston around 1980. Great guitarist and funny story teller as you can see. Still has that boyish charm.
Had the pleasure of seeing him twice in small venues where I was about a couple of guitar lengths from him. What I saw him do wasn’t humanly possible, but he did it with such ease and presence, I’ll never forget. A true master. Humble to boot. You play guitar and get a chance to see him, find a way to do it. You won’t regret it.
I've been strumming the guitar for years and just look at players like him with wonder. It's obvious some people just have natural talent and the rest of us can never rise to that level.
I met him when he was a pup. I was sleeping in the student lounge @ Umpqua Community College. I awakened to guitar playing (Good guitar playing) Looked up and a young man was sitting by my feet. There were people there looking him. (and me). He said "Good afternoon, Sleeping Beauty" I got up and slunk from the room to laughter. Later on found out who it was.
I so agree with you, and I'm a guitar player. effortless humor and effortless guitar magic, have you rolling in the aisles and weeping for joy. What a gift! Great posting.
Always loved playing Asquaga's Nugget with Glen Campbell... lots and lots of weeks there after they closed Harrah's Headliner Room in Reno in the 90s. LEO - you're a treasure! Hope to have you on the 2nd Annual MN Guitar Summit next year!
Leo always does a fantastic show. You do not need to be a fan to really enjoy his performances. His immense talent and incredible ability to engage the audience (great example here) makes every single show unique and a great time. BB King shows are great in this same way as well.
It’s been a long time since I saw Leo Kottke, but in addition to his being a great musician, I don’t remember anyone ever making me laugh harder than he did
I have seen Leo perform live here in Portland Oregon mabe a dozen times; ocassionally sitting up close. No one compares to him. He is one of kind. I recommend you see other films of his earlier performances - You must NEVER miss him if he comes to play live in your town! You will learn things you never imagined aside from his par excellence in guitar mastery. - Mark Seibold, Artist- Astronomer, Portland Oregon
Great analysis. I saw him a couple of times . Love the way you let the video run, because its like, is that it? No, of course not, he simply takes off in another direction like a bird. He said once 'I like to take a tune and drive it into the ground.' Well. he does do that but takes it out the other side backwards.The fluidity of his playing and the drawing melodies out of nowhere is truly a magical art form and as you say the complexity of the chord shapes he jumps in and out of are nothing short of an olympic gold medal gymnast!
I just got done watching the Bob Dylan and Bette Midler video on CZcams, and I thought Dylan's voice was sooo beautiful.....I could almost cry. Dylan has the sexiest voice of all time and I think people don't get it. It is truly annoying. Love4dylan
Leo changes up his tuning between songs, quite frequently. Some songs are in standard tuning, some aren't. Lucky for us, Leo is a good story teller, and can keep us entertained while he tunes.
I never heard of Leo Kottke until meeting up with a long time friend/bf who had his CD....I first heard the song the Ring and that was our song.....then others came...love Kottke and Dylan both....great singer/songwriters!!
Hilarious... My neighbor used to be Bob Wootton. As he told the story to me, Cash called him to come by the house and take some guy fishing. Bob spent the day on Old Hickory Lake fishing with this guy. Later that evening it had to be explained to him that he had spent the day on the lake with Bob Dylan.
I love Leo's shows. I never miss a local show. Also, I agree, I would go to see him even if he didn't have a guitar with him, but he's an amazing guitarist.
met mack rebennack backstage once. talked to him for about an hour. no idea who he was or that i was talking to dr. john. he went on to play and i went on to buy most of his music and be mesmerized and confuscated intermidably. merci, doc, for the prescription. merci monsier.
i got to see leo front row a few years back and i had no idea how much laughing i would be doing between moments of appreciating his awesome mastery of the guitar. such a multifaceted performer, i would jump at the opportunity to see him again!
Only Leo. He's a different guy. Had the absolute honor of watching from a table 5 feet from him. Front and center. I enjoy watching him tune, tell stories and of course play.
Leo's hilariously dry sense of humor is every bit as unique as his remarkable guitar playing! This is a great example of how he has you laughing between songs!
I've seen Leo seven times, which is also the same number of times I've seen GWAR. I've often said that I would still go see Leo even if I knew in advance that he wasn't bringing any guitars and was just going to talk for two hours. So far, I've never heard him repeat a story and I've enjoyed every one. He does have a unique perspective and a way with words. Oh yeah, he can play guitar a little, too.
When Leo was in Muenster, northern Germany, way back in 1980 or something, I found it cool when he suddenly stopped playing and said, "That was wrong." (or words to that effect), and then played the tricky bit again and went on ...
i've seen Leo a few times - not only a guitar virtuoso but the funniest dude on the planet for in-between banter!! Last time i saw him was at the Kent Stage in Kent OH, sat about 33-1/3 feet from the stage...
In the early 70's I think I went to see him at Berkeley Community Theater. He brought out a metal folding chair and a big brown paper bag. He sat down and reached into the bag. He mumbled something about beer or whiskey...so I wasn't expecting much. My expectations differed from reality.
Great story! Completely believable too. Sad that you can be this great technically and musically, have an engaging and hilarious stage demeanor, and still evade household name status. I've had the pleasure of seeing Leo a few times, chatting briefly with him. Always the same, always great, always friendly... As someone who discovered him right as I was first learning to play, he's informed everything I've done since. At one point I could even pull off bad imitations of a few of his tunes. I still have no idea how he does it. His right hand is just insane... It's like Blind Blake. You can approximate it, but you can't really do it.
Great Story! Saw him in the 70's? at the Musicians Exchange in Sunrise/Fort Lauderdale. A very intimate setting, maybe 50 People. My Good Army buddy, Earl and I sat right in front of leo and watched him do his thing. Leo always had a great story, and could pick the guitar incredibly. Great memories. Thanks for sharing
Kottke your my hero as much as Dylan. I've spent equal time trying to play each of you. I play your songs out of technical marvel and Dylan when I want to get back at an old girl friend.....How does it FEEEL.......
Saw Leo at a small club at the airport on Martha's Vineyard a couple of years ago... about 30 people in the room...wonderful show, an American(a) treasure.
I got to see Leo Kottke in San Francisco about a year and a half ago and recently seen Tommy Emmanuel in Napa. They were both totally awsome live! I dont know why people always feel the need to make comparisons they both kick ass on the stage in their own way :-)
Saw his performance and Leo is just a good guy, glad he survived life. A real gentleman. Leo opened in Memphis for Lyle Lovett and half way through his set my wife said " this guy reminds me of Leo Kottke , yes we had toked heavily before the tram ride to Mud Island Amphitheater ! Leo was on his best.
@YUG74 Kottke could wipe the floor backwards with Dylan in terms of playing of playing ability. Dylan however runs rings around Kottke when it come to writing songs. Kottke is a technical genius and not a bad writer either but he's never had an album anywhere near as good as Blood On The Tracks - thats not a derogatory remark though - hardly anybody has had an album as good as Blood On The Tracks (or Highway 61 Revsited).
Yet, the complexity and intelligence with which Leo manipulates the 6 or 12 strings would leave "Bob" gasping and choking in some gutter, unable to communicate.
12 strings puts twice as much stress on the neck than six strings. Ovation Co. advises that you loosen the strings about an octave when idle or transporting the guitar. And yes, Leo is best live.
Actually I think is more than twice the string tension - the four lower strings are octaved pairs - but if you treat the guitar well it will be fine. For years my go to guitar at home was a 12-string,
@@SkeeterMcGrawTraditionally (as I recall--I only played 12-string briefly) if you had a 14-fret neck, you tuned down a whole step and capo'd up, and if you had a 12-fret (a friend of mine had a D12-35) you could tune to standard pitch. Back in the '70s, Ovation's deal was that you could tune to standard pitch with a 14-fret neck on their 12-strings, but you didn't want to store/transport fully-tuned. Being a benighted 6-string player, I don't worry so much about that stuff.
Thanks to my friend Peter I got to see Leo for the first time in my life in good old Chicago! (Well, Evanston, by a matter of feet) - Fantastic stories & a most relaxing show, reminds me a lot of my dad, though Leo's guitar has much more pluck. Keep those strings a hummin' Leo!!!
Martin Carthy claims to not remember meeting Dylan either. Someone had to show him a picture of them togther to convince him. Seems to be a re-occurring theme. Maybe we've all met Dylan at one point in our lives but just don't remember.
Leo has great talent and is such a showman. I think the first time I saw a live performance was about 1972 in D.C. Got in the hall early and saw him doing a sound check.
Here's my Leo story. I saw him a bunch of times in the 70s,80s, and 90s. The last time was in 2002 in an unbearably hot high school auditorium in Palo Alto. Leo pauses to tune up after playing a while and during this tells how at a gig early in his career he thought he had the audience enraptured at his playing; he'd had his eyes closed and when he opened them every single person was watching his playing with rapt attention. What he only slowly realized was that he'd had his mouth open while playing eyes closed and that a spittle of drool had been hanging out of his mouth for most if not all of his best playing. Sort of put things in perspective, in a Stoic/BUddhist way.
When great guitarists play snippets of pieces they might have not yet have worked out to completion, or have partly forgotten, some of the best music comes out.
Yeah, because his hearing was badly damaged. He lost most of the hearing in one ear from a firecracker as a kid, and in the other ear from gunnery practice in the navy. I love his humor at his shows - he'll start some rambling story that will go on for 10 minutes, and you'll be going "what the hell?". Then he'll tie it all together with some punch line that will leave you rolling on the floor.
I saw Leo play at a school theatre in MN ........he had multi-colored striped socks on....he had to mention them....Leo is an American Treasure....He should get a medal from the President for Awesome American Artist....or something...
Saw him in the nineties in South Dakota in a small town near where I live and spoke to him afterwards and found out that we were distantly related! My mom is a Little from southern Minnesota and he and my mom had quite a talk!
Several things. First off, my grandfather was a piano tuner (and a very high level one, requested at least twice by name by Victor Borge, and many times by other famous people as well). He told me that his main job during his peak years was tuning during intermissions of concerts that featured the piano; and the piano holds a tune better than most other instruments. The guitar must be retuned OFTEN. But you're right, Leo exaggerates it a bit, but it's for his fantastic stories! See him live!!!
This clip explains why Leo was such a regular on "A Prairie Home Companion." He's a gifted storyteller. Garrison Keillor I'd know anywhere. He's strange looking and sings, but not very well. I was a radio fan for many years. The last broadcast of PHC was taped for TV by PBS in 1988. That's when I saw Leo Kottke for the first time. A duet with Chet Atkins (RIP) that is just about perfect. All along Leo was this young and very handsome man. I didn't know. So. A shy, guitar-player, with a better than average voice - the perfect backstage companion and guest. My favorite all-time Kottke recording is "Louise." Thanks to CZcams you can check out "Sleepwalk," "Louise," and stories like this one. I read recently that he lost his wife of 35 years. He's always been one of my favorites, and this Bob Dylan story is too good NOT to be true.
I saw Leo in concert years ago and he made some crack about fish farting. He then asked audience members to find out if, in fact, fish do fart and write him care of his record label (Capitol at the time). Hysterically funny.
I sucked as a trombone player too. And then took up the guitar, and spent 61 years sucking at THAT. But I must be getting something out of the activity, or I'd have packed in by the time Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band came out in '67..
I saw Leo in concert here recently, and he's coming back this year. His banter was very entertaining. He could replace Garrison Keiller if he wanted to. I'm going to ask if he'll sign my guitar. I have a Martin 6 string and thinking real hard about buying a Taylor 12 string. Surely he can sign one or the other.
pretty amusing tale, as part of an intimate connection to his live audience. A slice of life & history, of how these "artist types, " of different specialties, different levels of success, intersect with one another in the churning passages of their lives.
1972 I was a freshman promoting campus concerts at Kenyon College in rural Ohio. We brought Leo in for a show and I was tasked with picking him up and dropping him off from Columbus airport one hour away. We spent the entirety of both drives smoking weed while he told stories. A great concert and a whole lot of fun to be with.
I don’t think I could be more jealous
But I was the guy who lined you two out with some fine Peruvian coke at the bar in the airport.
Saw him twice in Portland, OR during the same time period and he was quite the cut up cut up between songs. He loves telling stories, always with a humorous end.
Now THAT is a cool old story!
I saw Leo at the Lorelei, on the bank of the Rhein, about a million years ago. Some genius had booked him to open for Jefferson Starship. It had been raining all day and the ampitheater was a sea of mud. Leo played and was, of course, superb. He walked off, leaving a couple guitars on stage for encores, but the emcee came out and announced that Grace Slick was "Very ill" (yeah, right) and Starship would not play without her. The rage descending was palpable. I started seeing beer bottles soaring overhead. As I was beating a hasty retreat, I saw poor Leo dodging bottles dropping out of the sky to retrieve those instruments. It was really brave and/or really dumb. I've loved him and all 14 of his fingers ever since.
45 yrs ago, a friend of mine and I took a break after night law school to see Leo in a very small club in San Jose CA. Having played guitar for nearly 20 yrs and sat in w/some decent acts (Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Winter), I approached Leo at a break and told him what a huge fan of his I was and just glad my friend (former Asst Oenologist at Mondavi Vineyards who looked Hippier than the movement itself;) could hear him. Leo invited us outside to sit with him in his limo and take a few tokes and exchange a few jokes w/this Wine savvy dude and a Vietnam Vet hopin to make the law more just. He was so kind and his musical talent-esp on his 12-string-magical. A memorable eve that was in fact...ALL TIME. Humility and humor will triumph over sour puss, nasal muttered music every time in our book. Keep on truckin, Leo.
So much honesty. So much humility. So much endurance. Just like his music. What a refreshing joy! Always. Thanks.
I saw :Leo on my 18th birthday (I'm 62 now!) in Perth West. Aust. He had Leon Redbone as a guest. Leo walk out with 3 guitars, and blew me away with the 12 string and playing slide on it. A fan to this day and just a magical night. Thanks for all the memories and music Leo.
Cool little story! In his prime, Leo Kottke was the fastest & slickest 12 string acoustic guitar player around. But eventually, repeated severe bouts with tendinitis forced Leo to stop playing the 12 string, as he switched mostly to 6 string. This was the only reason Leo was able to continue on with his career of writing, recording, and performing.
Leois one of the funniest guys who ever lived. i saw him at a concert at IU in the seventies; he had us all in stitches between each song.
He stopped dead, right in the middle of "Vaseline Machine Gun". There was absolute silence, the audience was dumbstruck.
Then Leo said, " Stopping in the middle of a song like this is like waking up in the middle of a wet dream, and then trying to go back to sleep in it."
Whereupon he re-commenced, right where he left off. The audience went nuts!
that would have been amazing, (I bet your forgot about posting this!!! ) all that time ago...
I saw Leo 53 years ago, 1970, Mankato College, Mn. He was awesome of course, had about 8 guitars behind him in different tunings. He's so funny! Love it!
I love Leo Kottke's live performances! I've seen him live three times, and it never gets old. It's like getting two for one. You buy a ticket for a concert, and Leo Kottke is an amazing guitarist, and you also get a comedy show. I love his shows.
Went to see him many years ago. One of the funniest men I've heard. That combined with truly virtuoso guitar picking made it a really great night. One of the very best...
Went to a live performance in Charlotte, more than 40 years ago, with a musician friend who was also a big fan. Before Kottke was world famous. My friend insisted that we go backstage to meet him, after the show. I was very embarrassed to impose, but we went. Kottke was obviously worn out, but met us, and was very humble and gracious. A classy guy.
I later took my 16 year-old nephew, a beginning guitarist, to another Kottke concert. My nephew was immediately a fan, and turned into an amazing guitarist, able to play many of Kottke’s songs. Damn, that made me jealous.
I saw Leo last night at the Aladdin Theatre in Portland, Oregon. He was hilarious, and his tunes were beautiful. A couple of the darker, slower songs had me in tears- so much emotion expressed elegantly. Mr. Kottke is a master musician and entertainer..
The whole world should be thankful that Kottke, Fahey and Lang lived on earth when we did.
leo kottke is still alive
So am I.
So are we.
The whole world is my friend.
Greatings from the U.K.
Norman Blake as well!
I saw Leo in concert with a long forgotten (almost) girlfriend almost 40 years ago. It was a great show. I can't hear him without thinking of her. Thank you Leo.
I had the great pleasure of seeing Leo live at a small venue in Boston around 1980. Great guitarist and funny story teller as you can see. Still has that boyish charm.
Had the pleasure of seeing him twice in small venues where I was about a couple of guitar lengths from him. What I saw him do wasn’t humanly possible, but he did it with such ease and presence, I’ll never forget. A true master. Humble to boot. You play guitar and get a chance to see him, find a way to do it. You won’t regret it.
I heard him at McCabe's in Santa Monica in '75, and yes: he played with surpassing skill. Nice guy too.......
Leo sounds better tuning a guitar than most of us sound playing one.
+Hank Tilbury Amen...........
+Harry Harshimoto Ha! You and me both!
=
HAHAHA so true!
Hank Tilbury yup
You can say that again!
I've been strumming the guitar for years and just look at players like him with wonder. It's obvious some people just have natural talent and the rest of us can never rise to that level.
I met him when he was a pup. I was sleeping in the student lounge @ Umpqua Community College. I awakened to guitar playing (Good guitar playing) Looked up and a young man was sitting by my feet. There were people there looking him. (and me). He said "Good afternoon, Sleeping Beauty" I got up and slunk from the room to laughter. Later on found out who it was.
I so agree with you, and I'm a guitar player. effortless humor and effortless guitar magic, have you rolling in the aisles and weeping for joy. What a gift! Great posting.
His sense of humor almost equals his playing. Love it.
I have earring made from Leo's guitar strings. I am so honored to have them and I love them
Love your singing and guitar playing, Mr. Kottke! Beautiful
Always loved playing Asquaga's Nugget with Glen Campbell... lots and lots of weeks there after they closed Harrah's Headliner Room in Reno in the 90s. LEO - you're a treasure! Hope to have you on the 2nd Annual MN Guitar Summit next year!
Leo always does a fantastic show. You do not need to be a fan to really enjoy his performances. His immense talent and incredible ability to engage the audience (great example here) makes every single show unique and a great time.
BB King shows are great in this same way as well.
It’s been a long time since I saw Leo Kottke, but in addition to his being a great musician, I don’t remember anyone ever making me laugh harder than he did
I have seen Leo perform live here in Portland Oregon mabe a dozen times; ocassionally sitting up close. No one compares to him. He is one of kind. I recommend you see other films of his earlier performances - You must NEVER miss him if he comes to play live in your town! You will learn things you never imagined aside from his par excellence in guitar mastery. - Mark Seibold, Artist- Astronomer, Portland Oregon
Great analysis. I saw him a couple of times . Love the way you let the video run, because its like, is that it? No, of course not, he simply takes off in another direction like a bird. He said once 'I like to take a tune and drive it into the ground.' Well. he does do that but takes it out the other side backwards.The fluidity of his playing and the drawing melodies out of nowhere is truly a magical art form and as you say the complexity of the chord shapes he jumps in and out of are nothing short of an olympic gold medal gymnast!
Had the privilege to have seen Leo at Carnegie Hall in the very early 1970s. What a great concert!
I just got done watching the Bob Dylan and Bette Midler video on CZcams, and I thought Dylan's voice was sooo beautiful.....I could almost cry. Dylan has the sexiest voice of all time and I think people don't get it. It is truly annoying.
Love4dylan
Leo changes up his tuning between songs, quite frequently. Some songs are in standard tuning, some aren't. Lucky for us, Leo is a good story teller, and can keep us entertained while he tunes.
Kotke must have perfect pitch - he never plays even slightly out of tune.
I never heard of Leo Kottke until meeting up with a long time friend/bf who had his CD....I first heard the song the Ring and that was our song.....then others came...love Kottke and Dylan both....great singer/songwriters!!
Hilarious... My neighbor used to be Bob Wootton. As he told the story to me, Cash called him to come by the house and take some guy fishing. Bob spent the day on Old Hickory Lake fishing with this guy. Later that evening it had to be explained to him that he had spent the day on the lake with Bob Dylan.
So musically talented, but humble, which is what makes his humor so awesome.
I love Leo's shows. I never miss a local show. Also, I agree, I would go to see him even if he didn't have a guitar with him, but he's an amazing guitarist.
Leo's so cool. He seems so laid back. He knows that speech can never match the message of fine guitar playing
LOL, love it. I think Bob should ask for HIS autograph
+jack002tuber Leo should have at least one Grammy or so. But nothing for one of the best Musician and all for Idiots ? And where are new Videos ?
+ytrebiLeurT The Grime-ys are not about music and/or talent, they're about popularity and showmanship.
met mack rebennack backstage once. talked to him for about an hour. no idea who he was or that i was talking to dr. john. he went on to play and i went on to buy most of his music and be mesmerized and confuscated intermidably.
merci, doc, for the prescription. merci monsier.
Yeah, I've seen one or two of Leo's show and I'm always amused at his banter.
i got to see leo front row a few years back and i had no idea how much laughing i would be doing between moments of appreciating his awesome mastery of the guitar. such a multifaceted performer, i would jump at the opportunity to see him again!
Only Leo. He's a different guy. Had the absolute honor of watching from a table 5 feet from him. Front and center. I enjoy watching him tune, tell stories and of course play.
Leo's hilariously dry sense of humor is every bit as unique as his remarkable guitar playing! This is a great example of how he has you laughing between songs!
I've seen Leo seven times, which is also the same number of times I've seen GWAR. I've often said that I would still go see Leo even if I knew in advance that he wasn't bringing any guitars and was just going to talk for two hours. So far, I've never heard him repeat a story and I've enjoyed every one. He does have a unique perspective and a way with words. Oh yeah, he can play guitar a little, too.
Honest. First time I've ever heard of this man. But I'll be up googling his videos because he's not pretentious and he's got a great voice.
His wit is dry, and his music is juicy - a great combination and only one of him.
When Leo was in Muenster, northern Germany, way back in 1980 or something, I found it cool when he suddenly stopped playing and said, "That was wrong." (or words to that effect), and then played the tricky bit again and went on ...
i've seen Leo a few times - not only a guitar virtuoso but the funniest dude on the planet for in-between banter!! Last time i saw him was at the Kent Stage in Kent OH, sat about 33-1/3 feet from the stage...
In the early 70's I think I went to see him at Berkeley Community Theater. He brought out a metal folding chair and a big brown paper bag.
He sat down and reached into the bag. He mumbled something about beer or whiskey...so I wasn't expecting much.
My expectations differed from reality.
Great story! Completely believable too. Sad that you can be this great technically and musically, have an engaging and hilarious stage demeanor, and still evade household name status.
I've had the pleasure of seeing Leo a few times, chatting briefly with him. Always the same, always great, always friendly... As someone who discovered him right as I was first learning to play, he's informed everything I've done since. At one point I could even pull off bad imitations of a few of his tunes. I still have no idea how he does it. His right hand is just insane... It's like Blind Blake. You can approximate it, but you can't really do it.
Great Story! Saw him in the 70's? at the Musicians Exchange in Sunrise/Fort Lauderdale. A very intimate setting, maybe 50 People. My Good Army buddy, Earl and I sat right in front of leo and watched him do his thing. Leo always had a great story, and could pick the guitar incredibly. Great memories. Thanks for sharing
Kottke your my hero as much as Dylan. I've spent equal time trying to play each of you. I play your songs out of technical marvel and Dylan when I want to get back at an old girl friend.....How does it FEEEL.......
Kottke has a career in late night if he ever gets tired of music!
If you've never seen him live, his stories are worth the price of admission.
Saw Leo at a small club at the airport on Martha's Vineyard a couple of years ago...
about 30 people in the room...wonderful show, an American(a) treasure.
I got to see Leo Kottke in San Francisco about a year and a half ago and recently seen Tommy Emmanuel in Napa. They were both totally awsome live! I dont know why people always feel the need to make comparisons they both kick ass on the stage in their own way :-)
Saw his performance and Leo is just a good guy, glad he survived life. A real gentleman. Leo opened in Memphis for Lyle Lovett and half way through his set my wife said " this guy reminds me of Leo Kottke , yes we had toked heavily before the tram ride to Mud Island Amphitheater ! Leo was on his best.
@YUG74
Kottke could wipe the floor backwards with Dylan in terms of playing of playing ability. Dylan however runs rings around Kottke when it come to writing songs. Kottke is a technical genius and not a bad writer either but he's never had an album anywhere near as good as Blood On The Tracks - thats not a derogatory remark though - hardly anybody has had an album as good as Blood On The Tracks (or Highway 61 Revsited).
Yet, the complexity and intelligence with which Leo manipulates the 6 or 12 strings would leave "Bob" gasping and choking in some gutter, unable to communicate.
I like that he got "stuck in his guitar".
I saw him in Seattle in 1977 at The Paramount Northwest. He is an amazing guitarist!!
i watch this video every once in awhile because it's one of the funniest stories i've heard this guy tell. i still want to see him live.
I only saw him live once, and I was almost laughing too hard to hear the music.
You better have some stories when you're re-tuning a 12 string.
This is priceless! Thanks so much for posting! :)
I will always have great respect for Mr. Little. Not only for his talent. Also for once comparing his singing voice to "goose farts on a muggy day".
12 strings puts twice as much stress on the neck than six strings. Ovation Co. advises that you loosen the strings about an octave when idle or transporting the guitar. And yes, Leo is best live.
Actually I think is more than twice the string tension - the four lower strings are octaved pairs - but if you treat the guitar well it will be fine. For years my go to guitar at home was a 12-string,
Rocky Parent
I keep my 12 tuned down a half step. When I play it with others I'll capo up to standard.
@@SkeeterMcGrawTraditionally (as I recall--I only played 12-string briefly) if you had a 14-fret neck, you tuned down a whole step and capo'd up, and if you had a 12-fret (a friend of mine had a D12-35) you could tune to standard pitch. Back in the '70s, Ovation's deal was that you could tune to standard pitch with a 14-fret neck on their 12-strings, but you didn't want to store/transport fully-tuned. Being a benighted 6-string player, I don't worry so much about that stuff.
Thanks to my friend Peter I got to see Leo for the first time in my life in good old Chicago! (Well, Evanston, by a matter of feet) - Fantastic stories & a most relaxing show, reminds me a lot of my dad, though Leo's guitar has much more pluck. Keep those strings a hummin' Leo!!!
Martin Carthy claims to not remember meeting Dylan either. Someone had to show him a picture of them togther to convince him.
Seems to be a re-occurring theme. Maybe we've all met Dylan at one point in our lives but just don't remember.
Martin didn't remember playing a gig with him. He certainly remembers meeting him, and recounts it in a BBC interview.
Amazing wit, guitar player and human being.
Leo has great talent and is such a showman. I think the first time I saw a live performance was about 1972 in D.C. Got in the hall early and saw him doing a sound check.
Here's my Leo story. I saw him a bunch of times in the 70s,80s, and 90s. The last time was in 2002 in an unbearably hot high school auditorium in Palo Alto. Leo pauses to tune up after playing a while and during this tells how at a gig early in his career he thought he had the audience enraptured at his playing; he'd had his eyes closed and when he opened them every single person was watching his playing with rapt attention. What he only slowly realized was that he'd had his mouth open while playing eyes closed and that a spittle of drool had been hanging out of his mouth for most if not all of his best playing. Sort of put things in perspective, in a Stoic/BUddhist way.
When great guitarists play snippets of pieces they might have not yet have worked out to completion, or have partly forgotten, some of the best music comes out.
Yeah, because his hearing was badly damaged. He lost most of the hearing in one ear from a firecracker as a kid, and in the other ear from gunnery practice in the navy.
I love his humor at his shows - he'll start some rambling story that will go on for 10 minutes, and you'll be going "what the hell?". Then he'll tie it all together with some punch line that will leave you rolling on the floor.
Great clip. Leo has such good comic timing. Pretty good guitarist too!
tok me a lil while to understand "most" of the talk here and i was already laughing mad...
great leo!!
ONE OF FUNNIEST STORY
I'VE EVER HEARD. A TRUE
CLASSIC .THAT LEO FOR YOU.
CHEERS.
I like the way he speaks.
He sounds like Steven Wright.
I still haven't gotten tired of listening to him.
Leo and Neil Jacob are two of the worlds greatest 12 string guitar players !
I saw Leo play at a school theatre in MN ........he had multi-colored striped socks on....he had to mention them....Leo is an American Treasure....He should get a medal from the President for Awesome American Artist....or something...
Leo for our next Nobel Laureate!
He reminds my very much of Bruce Cockburn. Both very amazing guitarist singer song writers.
His jokes...his playing...man, I love him!
Saw him in the nineties in South Dakota in a small town near where I live and spoke to him afterwards and found out that we were distantly related! My mom is a Little from southern Minnesota and he and my mom had quite a talk!
Sorry I got spell checked! Instead of Little it was supposed to be Kottke! My mom's maiden name was Kottke
Kottke can tell some funny stories so well. I still think it's strange that he would not have recognized Dylan when he met him at that studio complex.
They both play different styles and different types of guitar. Those that criticize don't know how to truly play or enjoy talent, PURE and SIMPLE.
Several things. First off, my grandfather was a piano tuner (and a very high level one, requested at least twice by name by Victor Borge, and many times by other famous people as well). He told me that his main job during his peak years was tuning during intermissions of concerts that featured the piano; and the piano holds a tune better than most other instruments.
The guitar must be retuned OFTEN. But you're right, Leo exaggerates it a bit, but it's for his fantastic stories! See him live!!!
Love the eye brow rise.
very interesting, thanks for posting and best wishes and greetings from a great leo kottke fan from germany for more than 35 years
This clip explains why Leo was such a regular on "A Prairie Home Companion." He's a gifted storyteller. Garrison Keillor I'd know anywhere. He's strange looking and sings, but not very well. I was a radio fan for many years. The last broadcast of PHC was taped for TV by PBS in 1988. That's when I saw Leo Kottke for the first time. A duet with Chet Atkins (RIP) that is just about perfect. All along Leo was this young and very handsome man. I didn't know. So. A shy, guitar-player, with a better than average voice - the perfect backstage companion and guest. My favorite all-time Kottke recording is "Louise." Thanks to CZcams you can check out "Sleepwalk," "Louise," and stories like this one.
I read recently that he lost his wife of 35 years. He's always been one of my favorites, and this Bob Dylan story is too good NOT to be true.
my first date with the wife was at a Leo Kotke concert at the opera house... couldn't believe my ears... still can't, but smiling seems to help
He must be from another planet, if he didn't recognize Dylan.
It was Robert Zimmerman he was talking to. Big difference.
I don't see why. He's quite nondescript looking.
I just love you Leo Kottke!
I saw Leo in concert years ago and he made some crack about fish farting. He then asked audience members to find out if, in fact, fish do fart and write him care of his record label (Capitol at the time). Hysterically funny.
I sucked as a trombone player too. And then took up the guitar, and spent 61 years sucking at THAT. But I must be getting something out of the activity, or I'd have packed in by the time Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band came out in '67..
I saw Leo in concert here recently, and he's coming back this year. His banter was very entertaining. He could replace Garrison Keiller if he wanted to. I'm going to ask if he'll sign my guitar. I have a Martin 6 string and thinking real hard about buying a Taylor 12 string. Surely he can sign one or the other.
Nothing beats a recounted encounter!
pretty amusing tale, as part of an intimate connection to his live audience. A slice of life & history, of how these "artist types, " of different specialties, different levels of success, intersect with one another in the churning passages of their lives.
Finally got to see Leo a few years ago in Milwaukee!
i met the 63 version of dylan one day i was walking down the street in Cologne Germany. He was wearing a blue overall. I was shocked.
Blue over all !
If Leo didn't play the guitar at all, I'd still go see him for his humor. Love Leo!
That is really funny and it's reflected in his music.
This makes me laugh everytime I hear it. I bet Leo could make it big as a standup comedian when he isn't busy playing guitar.