Tommy Emmanuel Doing His Thing – Reaction

Tommy Emmanuel!

We first heard of Tommy Emmanuel in 2009 when we were on student exchange in Australia. He’s one of Australia’s finest treasures! We were just starting to get into fingerpicking during that time and already had a long history of percussion work through high school and music school. Tommy manages to combine the two flawlessly.

We are sure many of the guitarists/musicians amongst you will already be well aware of Tommy’s playing but we say a big thank you to Fred W. for submitting today’s video:

YouTube video link: Tommy Emmanuel l Mombasa (Live from Music Gone Public)

We finally managed to see Tommy Emmanuel live in 2019 and hope all of you will get the chance to do the same, he’s a masterclass entertainer.

This is the autograph we mention in the video:

If you’re new to his music and want to check out his incredible Beatles Medley, here is the link to it.

Please share your favourite guitar performance clips in the comments!

Stay groovy,
Mona & Lisa

Responses

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  1. I was introduced to Tommy when he and Chet Atkins did an album together called “The Day when finger pickers took over the world.” The man is amazing and like Chet Atkins he can make you believe there is more than one person playing the guitar when he plays. He’s also a great mentor and often involves other young musicians in his concerts. He’s a joy to listen to, a great entertainer and you can see how much he loves to make music when he performs.

  2. Jung,

    I’ve never seen that before, so I watched it twice! I’m guessing it’s 6 to 10 years old, judging by Lisa’s hair color. What I always see with Lisa & Mona is great technique on their instruments, AND they have so much fun performing! Thanks for posting that!

    — Bud

    1. Jung, I didn’t know which song that was that Lisa was playing with, so I found it on YouTube. “Mr. Soft” by Cockney Rebel! It sounded like a Jewish-Style comedy song, but with an English accent. I love comedy in Music! That was very nice, Thanks! — Bud

      1. Hi Bud. Yeah that’s a great song, Mr Soft, and Mona and Lisa’s cover of Cockney Rebel’s “Best Years Of Our Lives” has amazing singing, so moving and heartfelt. It showcases what powerful and impactful singers they are. On their What’s On The Table of “Best Years Of Our Lives’ album, they get into their time touring with Cockney Rebel, I think that’s where I discovered Lisa’s Ukelele work on Mr Soft.

  3. MLT & Fans, here are some very aggressive guitar & piano solos on the Blues form with “Route 66.” Russell Malone on Guitar, & Diana Krall on piano in Quebec, Canada. This is the group my students & I saw at the Jazz Festival. Fantastic playing! Diana is married to Elvis Costello, & she played piano on Paul McCartney’s 2012 DVD “Live Kisses,” performing Traditional Pop Music & Jazz!

    Diana Krall & Russell Malone Route 66 – YouTube

  4. Mona & Lisa Fans,

    Here’s 3 more Guitar videos. No. 1– The great Spanish guitar master, Andres Segovia (1893–1987.) He helped bring the guitar to prominence as a respected solo instrument!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGfFii6Dtkg&list=RDEMd4C3hcOZpWLreIBfjybrSw&index=2

    No. 2 — Russell Malone, Jazz Guitar (1963 –) A transcription of his solo on “When A Man Loves A Woman.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDa8r9EmnY0

    No. 3 — Russell again, one of my favorite Jazz Guitarists! I took my middle school Jazz Bands to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Idaho 11 times. We saw him perform there a few times, & in Seattle. I had a young guitarist at that time from Brazil, & we got to meet Russell!

    Russell M, recorded in Paris in 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvh-pxIEN7I

    He can play very fast, but this solo has an “other-worldly” beauty to it!

    I hope you enjoy these different Guitar styles! — Bud

  5. What a brilliant performance, it’s always so thrilling and inspiring to see a musician at this level play and display their genius. The percussion on the guitar while Tommy plays kept reminding me of Mona doing that little percussion on the guitar in that early performance of Alone.

    A favourite guitar clip? the one comes to mind. Randy Bachman guitar riff He makes the guitar sound sooo good, and the crowd is loving it.

    Thank you for this!

    1. Jung, Thanks, I enjoyed the wild and crazy performance here! A drum stick on the guitar produced quite a different sound. Kinda like Free Jazz for a moment.. only Free Rock?
      I looked thru a bunch of videos to find this one; playing the Guitar with a Violin Bow! There are smaller bows now too, just for guitar. I like this one for a start! (I can see Lisa &/or Mona trying this one day, unless they have already! — Bud J.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iad9m6OKsT0

      1. Hi Bud, Randy really pushes his guitar to the extreme limit there doesn’t he, so much so they replace his guitar for him in the middle of the song. The over 5 minutes long guitar lead in before the song is amazing as he teases the crowd with the guitar sounds, and then when American Woman kicks in with those signature riffs, the crowd goes crazy. That Violin Bow sure adds a great effect to the electric guitar. Some creative sounds you can create with the bow. I’m sure Mona and Lisa could make good use of the effect with the bow on their Rickenbacker and the Gretsch. Thanks for sharing that video.

      2. Hey Jung! I’m sure they changed his guitar because he used the whammy bar so much that it put it out-of-tune! Anyway, that was an interesting solo! Paul McCartney mentions in an interview how Jimmy Hendrix overdid the whammy bar, & then asked Eric Clapton if he’d come up & re-tune it! (I found the interview here below.)

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6IXZVYvu2w

        I remember hearing “American Woman,” but I didn’t know who did it! So thanks for the clip! I have seen both Paul & Eric live — great shows!
        Check out the Russell Malone & Taimane Gardner videos I uploaded somewhere on the comments section here.

        Peace Bro!’ — Bud

      3. Hi Bud. That’s a funny story from Paul about JImmy’s whammy bar.
        It would have been great to see Hendricks and Clapton on stage together to do a guitar duel in collaboration. I am not aware they ever did something like that together, but it would have been epic! Thanks for that video.
        Have a great weekend Bud.

      4. Thanks Jung, you too!

        I visited a park dedicated to Jimmy Hendrix with my brother & sister-in-law. It’s about 10 miles from my house. It’s a nice tribute! Also, I went back & watched the WOTT video of Cockney Rebel w/the MLT’s. Very well done!
        I’d heard of them before, but this is the 1st time I’ve seen this group. I find them very interesting, different & “quirky,” like the English say! How wonderful that Mona & Lisa got to tour w/them! I wish I could have been there!

        Take care! — Bud J.

  6. Great video ! Because you like Tommy Emmanuel you should also check Finnish finger style guitarist Petteri Sariola. I saw him live in June and the concert was fantastic. He also played one of Tommy´s compositions. youtu.be/ZJ3G_nXxZhU

  7. I’m no expert on the finer details of the guitarist’s art (it’s an instrument that I never learned to play), but the thing that strikes me most is that along with all the intricate playing and the multiple melodies, Tommy maintains a beautifully mellow tone throughout. He’s clearly an exceptionally talented instrumentalist.

  8. Yes he pretty incredible! I LOL watching your smiling heads bob around as you watched him, like 2 bobble head dolls bobbing like crazy!

  9. Ja Tommy Emmanuel ist einer der ganz großen Gitarristen. Ein Fan bzw. Schülerin von ihm und beinahe genau so gut wie er ist Gabriella Quevedo. Sie hat eine eigene Internetseite und ist auf Youtube vertreten, ebenso auf Instagram und Twitter. Es lohnt sich, sie anzuhören.

  10. Tommy Emmanuel is such a great performer and entertainer, let alone such an astounding guitarist. If I had not seen the video and just heard the audio, I would have thought we was with someone with a whole percussion setup like Ray Cooper. Amazing that it was all him. One person with his guitar nothing else. Astounding.
    Since I moved to North Carolina, I’ve been exposed to the Appalachian music and started to appreciate it more. I’m always amazed when someone grabs a guitar and can deliver a powerful amazing performance without any frills. Just like MLT can and do constantly.
    Oliver Anthony does just that, he sings from the bottom of his heart.
    He’s someone from this part of the of the country, across the border in Virginia. The accent of the Appalachians is different than the south, “Rich men” and “Richmond” sound exactly the same.
    https://youtu.be/sqSA-SY5Hro

    1. Wow! No frills for sure but what a message. Straight to the point.
      Have watched several of his vids now. All good.

      Some lines from Peter, Paul and Mary come to mind……,

      But if I really say it,
      The Radio won’t play it,
      Unless I lay it,
      Between the lines.

      Oliver Anthony doesn’t lay it anywhere but in yer face. I’m guessing youtube will soon be looking for an excuse to ban him.
      Surprisingly, it was a radio station that recorded that vid. A private, local station, I’m guessing.

      Hey!
      If all of us who sing and/or play anything just got out in the streets and sang a peaceful thang, what kind of a difference would we make?

    1. I’ve seen that amazing clip lately! Unless you know who Roy Clark was, you wouldn’t expect a TV personality to be able to play like that! Thanks for posting this!

      1. Yeah Bud, Roy was a country boy but he could really play with anybody. If you had a stick and a string Roy could play a song with it.

      2. Tim,

        Right on bro,’ Roy was an exceptional guitarist who obviously put in a LOT of practice time over the years! He’s an inspiration! I’ll never play like that, but I still love playing the guitar for fun, & using it in my teaching! — Bud

    2. That’s great, I never heard that before. He’s got some percussion in there too. Thanks for posting that.

      I remember discovering that song from Jose Feliciano’s version back when I was in college in the 70s.

  11. Tommy played our local Center for the Arts with John Knowles back in 2019. I didn’t hear about it in time so wasn’t able to see it, so now it’s one of those forehead slapping regrets of my life.  We have had lots of great musicians visit our little center here in Homer NY. It’s a great venue, not big (300 seats or so) but ideal for acts with say, a couple of guitars and harmonized vocals, acoustically or otherwise. So, if you know of any acts like that, please have them contact center4art.org and we will set you, I mean, them, up. For another great Tommy video, check out “If I Had You” with Joscho Stephan, incredible work by them both.

  12. Tommy is my guitar hero, but there are so many others out there in so many different genres. Too many to talk about. Picking a single clip is, of course, impossible. I picked this one only because it may not be as well known, and it is performed by the composer himself. Roland Dyens is best known for taking works from other genres and arranging them for guitar. His arrangement of Dizzy Gillespie’s “A Night In Tunisia” is pretty incredible too. Enjoy!

    https://youtu.be/-8fbHlaY7HQ

    1. This is special.
      I know A Night In Tunisia from my father’s record collection but never knew this.
      Instantly recognizable but wildly different too. But also recognizable as connected to the six months I lived in Andalucia, Spain.
      Goosebumps!

      1. Your comment about your father’s record collection reminded me of this experience, 1st July 1977, seeing Dizzy play that song live. Old memories.

        I’ve only ever spent one weekend in Andalucia, in Sevilla. 6 months there sounds fantastic. Yeah, like 3am, they’re outside playing guitar and dancing flamenco.

      2. Six months in Cordoba was excellent indeed. Most of the wee small hours performances I remember were either in the house I shared or in a bar somewhere, more than in the streets.
        During Semana Santa, there was plenty going on in the streets but mostly at more sensible hours.
        This was back in ’84 and ’85.

  13. I remember a guitarist when I was in high school (late fifties), Duane Eddy. One of his songs that I liked was Raunchy. I have his vinyl album it was on “Twangn’ the Golden Hits” 1965.

  14. Tommy Emmanuel sure has a lot of energy and it looks like he would be fun to see live.

    My favorite non-twins guitar video is actually a commercial for Tonewoodamp. It’s a live rendition of John Mayer’s “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room” by Mike Dawes and Jake Allen. It is a soft, easy listening melody to relax with, which is why I like it. They show off a bit, but it’s something that Lisa could play if she wished to (a 2006 song is a bit far away from the Beatles era we all love). It got so many views that the commercial started having commercials. Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbCzjpzg9jg

    One thing I have been wanting to mention is that I seldom comment on just how good Lisa’s guitar play is; I just take it for granted. While she doesn’t to the show off stuff some do, she is certainly a master guitarist and when it comes to making a guitar sound wonderful I’ve never heard anyone better. My favorite Lisa guitar videos are actually two older ones: “Johnny B. Goode” and the original “Revolution”. It’s easy to miss, but I think I saw Lisa mouth “whew!” at the end of “Revolution”.

  15. Thanks for introducing me to Tommy. I went down the rabbit hole and he is really good. I use to have a guitar that was almost as worn as his from the intense and hard playing. Leo Kottke is a fantastic accoustic player who occasional sang and this is my favorite tune of his with some very original guitar playing. Tommy actually comes up in play lists with Leo!!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpdGvlVGZmk&list=RDEM8f-St-PQX8fEDb91CU8NhA&index=34

    An one other great, Chet Atkins doing Beatles tunes

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9bajxt02h8&list=RDEM8f-St-PQX8fEDb91CU8NhA&index=36

  16. Hey kids, I really get a kick of how you guys get into the music. I knew of Tommy, but never viewed his stuff. I will check the Beatles one you referenced. There are several young guitarist I’ve view on YouTube: Orlaith and Mollie of Dea Matrona, both play bass, and guitar – they swap them on stage. I’ve viewed Paola Hermosin, a Spanish classical-flamenco guitar player/composer. She’s really pleasant. And Gabriella Quevedo, Swedish guitarist; she plays contemporary music in a classical style. They are all under 30, but can really make the guitar sing. If I may, I would like to put in a request for you guys to play us a number in the finger pick style/persuasive style of Tommy. Just saying. Stay groovy, Peace be.

  17. I’ve heard of Tommy Emmanuel, but this is the first time I’ve actually heard his work. Phenominal! I went on to his Beatles medley, which was just as amazing. Great choice for a reaction Fred!

    The link I’ve attached is a great performance from my favorite all-acoustic group, Nickel Creek. Their original songs are excellent and probably show off their talents better, but their cover of Toxic really shows their ability to entertain musically and with their own type of humor. They’ve also got a somewhat similar origin story to MLT. No twins in the group, but brother, sister and friend. They recorded their first album when they were in their early teens and still perform together. Hope you enjoy it!

    https://youtu.be/A9gRnwmUl9A

  18. After a long grueling week at work I really needed this! thank you for sharing ! I’m not familiar with Tommy but that was amazing. I’ll have to check out all the shared videos this weekend, Have a nice weekend everyone

      1. Hi Jung, sorry, I’m just seeing your comment here. I get some busy days, & then don’t check back for comments. I’m glad you enjoyed that! — Bud

      2. Hi Bud, no worries at all. Thanks for posting these videos, enjoyed them! BTW, love the photo of your cat. He/she looks so cute. My first cat Spooky was an all black cat. Loved his ultra feisty character. My last cat Milo, a ginger tabby, lived almost 20 years, had to say goodbye to him last summer which was tough.

      3. HAHAHA! 🤗 🤣Bud that is hilarious, especially those lyrics. The mouse and the head. Reminds me of years ago when I use to sleep in really late, one morning my cat left me a live mouse in the room. I don’t know if it was a gift, or to get back at me for ignoring him all morning.

      4. Hi Jung, the first time I ran across that video, I burst out laughing at several places! Your mouse story is funny, (& luckily for the mouse, he lived!) I did put this video on the MLT Facebook page recently, the day when everyone was showing their cat pictures! Our pets have brightened our lives so much thru the years! It’s awfully sad when they leave us, but what would life be like without them? And we give them a wonderful, loving home!

        Ahem, now about Music: I play Trumpet in a Jazz Big Band, which is a lot of fun, & totally different from the MLT’s Music. But I enjoy playing rhythm Guitar and singing Beatles songs & other music too. I use Guitar to teach songs & accompany elementary students in class. I’ve also taught middle & high school Band, Strings, Jazz Band, beginning Guitar, etc. I enjoy all kinds of Music, but I really appreciate Mona & Lisa’s singing, playing & personalities! And I respect how they’re producing themselves without outside help.

        Well, I have another busy week ahead, so I’ll be talking to you again sometime soon! Take it easy! — Bud

  19. Lisa & Mona, Yeah, that was great!! I saw a few of Tommy’s videos before, but hadn’t seen him do his percussion bit before. He didn’t just do it for a novelty — he was SUPERP at percussion, AND virtuoso Guitar technique, plus he’s an excellent entertainer! Here’s 2 videos I’m sure everyone will enjoy!

    1.) Diego Figueiredo — “Malaguena” & “Manha de Carnaval” (2017) Great playing!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8JcDpICC54

    2.) Taimane Gardner — Ukulele version of “Carmen” & “Phantom of the Opera” (2019)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMfhyMlBw40

    She lives in Honolulu, Hawaii (where I was born.) Her mom was Samoan, & her dad’s ancestry is German, Irish, French, & Swedish!) She plays Flamenco-style Ukulele
    here, with a lot of fast percussion. She started playing Uke at age 5. I’m sure that Lisa will like this especially, as will Mona too & everyone here!
    Thanks so much for doing this Reaction videos, Mona & Lisa! Have a great day everyone!! — Bud

      1. Thank you Lisa, you’re welcome!

        I didn’t know if you’d seen her before. There are a bunch of newer musicians and groups that I follow. I don’t compare them, I just appreciate them all for their individual talent & creativity. You and Mona are still my FAVORITES, for many reasons! This is such a great sharing video you’ve done; I’m enjoying everyone’s videos. (I need to stop and practice now!!)

        “All the Best” to you two! (I know that’s the the name of a McCartney “best of” CD!) — Bud

      2. This is a brilliant performance. Never seen Taimane before. Not sure why the Uke can’t sound cool. Please check out present day Andy Eastwood or Roy Smeck from the past to name but two who can

    1. Wow Bud, I love Carmen and Taimane’s rendition on the uke is absolutely awesome, she even got into Bach’s Organ Fugue, niice!

      1. Taimane started on the Uke at age 5 & was very focused. I like her Flamenco influence, which is unusual for the Ukulele! — Bud

  20. One great thing about being around other music lovers is they tell me about music I haven’t heard before. Tommy is new to me, and I enjoyed that video very much. Thank you.

    You asked us to share favorite guitar clips. Wow. There are just so many.

    A show I would have loved to be at was Jeff Beck at Ronnie Scott’s from 2007. People who sat in for a song included Imogen Heap, Joss Stone, and Eric Clapton.

    This won a Grammy for best rock performance. At the end, after Beck hands his guitar away, you see a quick shot of a broadly smiling Jimmy Page in the room too. A Day in the Life.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHHY3eRUMsM

  21. I have watched Tommy’s videos before but it’s been a few years. He’s very entertaining and always having a good time. I agree with you girls in that I like a guitarist who can play solos that remain true to the song and not be out on an island away from the melody. Thanks for all the smiles.

  22. A very talented guitarist whose style meshes nicely with the talents of Mona and Lisa.
    Mona, Tommy’s percussion element and Lisa, Tommy’s deft fingerpicking surely blend in with your styles of playing. An excellent artist for a reaction video!

    1. Two of my favorites also. I was lucky to see those 2 on the same bill at the Toronto SkyDome in November ’89, with Jeff Beck, each playing with their separate bands. Amazing show.

      Sad to think that all 3 of them are gone now.

      1. Yeah Chris, so sad that so many of these great players are gone. Great that you got to see them live.

  23. Hello Ladies
    It’s always great to see how different artists interpret different genres of their art.

    Tommy is no exception and is a wonderful performer. You definitely get your money’s worth. Unfortunately some artists go through the motions for the sake of making money. The ones that stay true to their heart are the real artists.
    Thanks Ladies and Fred.
    Best
    Rick Ross

      1. In the video I saw of Randy receiving his guitar back after decades of missing it, he said, “You hold your guitar close to you…it feels your heartbeat and your breathing and it becomes part of you.” So moving.

      1. Yes Lisa, he was….nobody quite like him and/ or the way he played his guitar and sang just as well…but his guitaring …That was frikkin phenomenal 🇨🇦🍁🤘🏻🪈🔊🎛🎚🎙🎤

      1. You’re Welcome…yes …to see both these guys Live….you forget they are/were blind-visually impaired …. just mind blowing, Happy I saw Jeff Healey Live and Lucas

      1. Yes…..both were awesome to see in person when I had seen them in concert when I had … They frikkin Rocked ….🤘🏻🎸

  24. Whoa …That was Frikkin incredibly mindblowing …. I had never heard of Tommy Emanuel up until you had or someone had awhile ago on here sometimes Canadians don’t always get to know/hear of fab music until someone else mentions, etc and then it’s cool to discover further music of said performers that weren’t previously aware of ….

    I do follow his music now on YouTube since the time he was first mentioned on here…. otherwise, I’d of maybe never would have known about him….

    Now, 2 special Canadian guitarists ( one locally from Ottawa , Canada where where I am ) and the other ( sadly he passed some years ago ) but was from Toronto area in Canada, and I had the pleasure of seeing both live …. what makes them special…. both are/were blind-visually impaired…. but can they play their guitars in their own unique style…
    I’m referring to Lucas Haneman ( Ottawa dude ) and of course The Late Jeff Healey ….🍁🇨🇦🎸🤘

  25. Tommy was very popular in Australia when we were there in 2003 but we (sadly) never had the chance to see him perform. What a great submission by Fred!

  26. I’ve watched many Tommy Emmanuel music videos and interviews. He is an amazing guitarist and I always feel inadequate watching him. Another great guitarist, one of my favorites, is Gabriella Quevedo from Sweden. She has played with Tommy and one they did together, when she was around 18 years old, is “Classical Gas” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQHVzFLsfZ8 which was fantastic.
    Gabriella also plays a lot of Beatles songs that she has arranged.
    You should give her a listen, if you haven’t already. https://www.youtube.com/@Gabriella9797/videos

    1. Gabriella is fab, I’ve seen a few of her videos before! Didn’t know she played with Tommy Emmanuel … great clip!

    2. love the Classical Gas video and I also watched Bohemian Rhapsody video another nice one she can make her guitar sing.

      1. Right, I only wish I could play half a good as Gabriella.
        Lisa Wagner is also a great guitarist🎸 who I admire very much. I like to play along with some of the Twin’s songs. I put their songs that I want to play along with in my DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). That way I can record my guitar🎸 on my own track along with them. Much fun!😊

  27. I saw Tommy Emanuel live in Melbourne back in the nineties. Awesome then as now.
    It seems you enjoy his music as much as I do. 🙂
    I watch a lot of his youtube content too.
    His ‘Accomplice’ series in which he collaborates with other great guitarists/musicians is totally worth watching and the album worth having.

  28. I discovered Tommy Emmanuel some time ago on you tube and have been listening to his music for a long time now. His brother Phil was also a famous Australian guitarist but sadly died in 2018. I think they were planning a tour together just before Phil died. Good video choice Fred .

  29. Wow what a great performance by Tommy Emmanuel. To be honest I’ve never heard off him before, but he is a great musician. In the clip you asked what our favourite guitar video was, well for me it is ( besides the two of you) Jacob Collier (the sun is in your eyes)

    https://youtu.be/YgpLfy1UMpo

    As a musician, but there is allso a movie of a young boy, who is very talented called August Rush a great feel good movie
    https://youtu.be/r2K5IcpZEU4

    1. “The Sun Is In Your Eyes” – loved that song the first time I heard it but wasn’t familiar with this version/clip. Thanks for sharing ♥

  30. Looking at your faces it looks like you enjoyed the video. Thanks for introducing me to Tommy Emmanuel.

    I can recommend to look for Harry Sacksioni or Jan Akkerman

    In below video Harry explains (in Dutch, but Mona explained how to do the translation in last Q&A) how to play quitar

    https://youtu.be/NzxXJRZPI8A