Got invited to see Victor Wooten

[Alex Kenivel]

So this morning (well technically yesterday morning now) my buddy texts me telling me he has an extra ticket to see Victor Wooten, and invited me to go. I hadn't looked the show up so didn't know what to expect until about a half hour before I leave.

Not just Victor on the roster, but the Wooten Brothers and Stanley Jordan!

Stanley Jordan came on first. I spotted the FM9 set up on a road case before the show and he used that to FoH. Yes, he played Eleanor Rigby.

After his first song, Stanley stood and chugged a bottle of water for a comical amount of time before continuing with his set.

Then the Wootens came on after a cool video montage of some of their childhood photos and audio recordings. They performed a handful songs they wrote as kids in the 70s and others including some new stuff that sounds like Cameo or The Time. Super funky, insane style and chops, so much rhythmic interplay, four point Harmony, calling out different time signatures within a song, and making it all look easy.

The blonde girl came out for one of their new songs. Not sure what the point of her was. Something I noticed is that Victor's left hand looks like it's having some issues. He's doing a lot of one finger on the fretboard moves and shook his hand off like he was hurting a few times. My buddy told me he has dystonia which makes it hard for him to play. Sad to hear but it was a great show and super inspiring. I used to watch old VHS of these guys years and years ago and now I got to see it in real life.

 

[sleewell]

He is not human. Genius level. I love seeing him live, been crazy fun every time

 

[JiveTurkey]

I bet this was awesome \m/

 

[la szum]

Wow. Very cool!!!!

Have you checked out his book by chance?

 

[unix-guy]

So you're somewhere in the Bay Area?

Stanley Jordan was just announced as a Fractal Audio Artist a couple weeks ago using FM9, apparently he also created a custom hardware controller and a custom editor!

I recently saw a video with Victor from a few years ago. Apparently he's been battling Focal Dystonia for something like 15 years, but didn't know what it was. Sucks...

 

[AutomationBias]

That's awesome. The first time I saw Victor (and Roy) was with Bela Fleck in (I think) 1994. It was a free public show at a gazebo on the town common. I think there were like 20 people there. We all sat on the ground like 3 feet away from them and it was mind blowing.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

Have you checked out his book by chance?

I have not but I will.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Stanley Jordan blew my mind so hard back in the late 80's/ early 90's when I saw him! Never heard of the other cats, but I'm sure they're also spectacular.

 

[la szum]

I have not but I will.

I've been wanting to read it for years. Let me know if you do.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

So you're somewhere in the Bay Area?

Upper East Bay

Apparently he's been battling Focal Dystonia for something like 15 years, but didn't know what it was. Sucks...

His playing was definitely subdued compared to videos of last year. He wasn't moving his left hand much, often only using his index finger to fret notes. I've had nerve and tendon issues that cause pain while playing so I know how much it sucks.

 

[Alex Kenivel]

Stanley Jordan blew my mind so hard back in the late 80's/ early 90's when I saw him! Never heard of the other cats, but I'm sure they're also spectacular.

This was my first introduction to the Wooten Brothers in my buddy's bedroom on VHS in between skate sessions

 

[unix-guy]

I saw The Wooten Brothers at Great American Music Hall in SF a long time ago.

My bassist buddy from work and I opted to take BART... They started very late and were just getting into their groove when we had to leave or else risk missing the last train home. We were bummed, but we were literally standing at the edge of the stage for what we did see!

Regi Wooten was playing some old, beat to hell Peavey 2x12 combo (the ones with black and blue front panel) with an Alesis Quadraverb sitting on top. The Alesis looked like somebody kicked it down a couple flights of stairs.

His amp was pointing right at my head and it was frigging LOUD! He used massive distortion...

 

[unix-guy]

Stanley Jordan blew my mind so hard back in the late 80's/ early 90's when I saw him! Never heard of the other cats, but I'm sure they're also spectacular.

You've never heard of Victor Wooten?

Go punch his name into YouTube... I'll wait :)

 

[Sleezy E]

So awesome man! So much Talent on that stage!

 

[spawnofthesith]

Hell yeah!!


And also dammit because I didn't realize Stanley Jordan was on this tour. I had to miss the Denver date but if I was aware of that I probably would have made it happen

Bass player of my old Sax Djent band has opened for Wooten a few times with his fusion project

 

[Alex Kenivel]

I didn't realize Stanley Jordan was on this tour

That's the thing..he's not! He must live around here..

 

[unix-guy]

my old Sax Djent band

I'll take "Things I never expected to hear" for $500!

 

[TSJMajesty]

Upper East Bay


His playing was definitely subdued compared to videos of last year. He wasn't moving his left hand much, often only using his index finger to fret notes. I've had nerve and tendon issues that cause pain while playing so I know how much it sucks.

Serious question..., my hands occasionally fall asleep, had a nerve test done..., very mild carpal tunnel in both hands, but lately it hasn't been acting up at all.

Did yours first exhibit those types of symptoms?

 

[Alex Kenivel]

Serious question..., my hands occasionally fall asleep, had a nerve test done..., very mild carpal tunnel in both hands, but lately it hasn't been acting up at all.

Did yours first exhibit those types of symptoms?

Yeah, but not just that. I did a lot of warehouse labor work, loading heavy packages of hardwood flooring or frozen meat, stacking and unstacking trailers. Upon tensing and lifting I had a sensation similar to that of what I can only describe as a plucked and vibrating guitar string in my forearms followed by tingling and numbness. After several hours/days of this happening, I would be in pain, forearms red and swollen.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Yeah, but not just that. I did a lot of warehouse labor work, loading heavy packages of hardwood flooring or frozen meat, stacking and unstacking trailers. Upon tensing and lifting I had a sensation similar to that of what I can only describe as a plucked and vibrating guitar string in my forearms followed by tingling and numbness. After several hours/days of this happening, I would be in pain, forearms red and swollen.

Damn dude, that's rough. Have you had anything done to alleviate that?

I had to install a very heavy, 2-1/4" thick, solid Mahogany door the past couple days to replace an existing door, so it had to be carefully fitted to the existing door frame, which meant we had to move it from inside to outside several times. Damn thing was so heavy, even with 2 of us carrying it!

During one trip I caught myself holding it with only 1 hand and letting it balance on my shoulder, and I thought, Dude, those are your guitar-playing fingers- hold it with BOTH hands to even out the stress! But I never experienced any tingling or other symptoms during handling that door. Glad that fucking job is done!

But there for a while, my fingers would go to sleep, as I was playing the guitar, and sometimes it would keep coming back, even after I would move my fingers around to get rid of the sensation. Fortunately that's not happening any more, but it was the reason I went to see a nerve specialist.