I don't usually pay much attention to guitar solos these days...but...

Good grief do I like the way Guthrie Govan plays!!  This solo from Home Invasion/Regret #9 I just can't stop listening to.  He gets that balance between feel, improv and technique that hits me just right.  There's such a great drama to this solo, a build that just keeps increasing and increasing.

He's really good. I like how his main focus is on feel while teaching different techniques.

I ended up watching this one as well. Got to see and meet him when he was the guitarist in Asia. Nice guy and a great player.



I actually had the reverse affect on a fellow guitar player. I wanted to play Whipping Post, so I learned the Dickey Betts parts and had him learn the Duane Allman parts. He was never the same afterwards. No longer just a metal shredder, he now loved the blues style and couldn't get out of playing it!

........... and he played it beautifully.

Killer guitar player and such a great solo!

Wow, that technique video is in a whole 'nother language to me. He's definitely a virtuoso. He also looks like Ian Anderson.

80s Metal Lady wrote:

Wow, that technique video is in a whole 'nother language to me. He's definitely a virtuoso. He also looks like Ian Anderson.

He does look like Anderson, glad someone else noticed that.

S.D. wrote:

80s Metal Lady wrote:

Wow, that technique video is in a whole 'nother language to me. He's definitely a virtuoso. He also looks like Ian Anderson.

He does look like Anderson, glad someone else noticed that.  

That's the first thing I thought when I saw the video stills.

Just discovered this thread exists. At this moment Govan is my second favorite guitarist behind EVH...and EVH is simply there by default. After hearing Govan's work on Wilson's albums I've come to the conclusion that there is no one as unique to my ears as him. Regret #9 is a fantastic example. He teeters on the edge of shred but never fully goes there, and you can see the intensity in that clip. Other solos, such as in Drive Home and Watchmaker, are diverse yet follow the same vibe. And he's completely unorthodox.

I was mentioning this to Shawn after the Wilson concert Saturday at the Wiltern--Dave Kilminster, Govan's replacement for the tour (and was hand-picked by Govan as being closest in style and skill to himself) did an exceptional job throughout the set, but my only complaint was there was too much "shred," or full-throttle on Invasion #9. And I realize something awesome: that perhaps only can pull off that type of subtle restraint, just enough give one the feeling that they're on the edge of a cliff in high winds. Now that's a bitchin' guitarist.

The Hand. Cannot. Erase. Blu-Ray has an alternate solo that's just as rich but different. Wish I could post it here for everyone.

I'm really becoming a big fan of Govan. He's just so damn interesting in his teaching techniques and playing style is second to none. I've been watching a lot of his videos, very intelligent gentleman.

Been enjoying his Aristocrats work, some crazy stuff there, especially with Marco drumming.

I had this playing while packing for our move last night. It was so captivating that I couldn't get anything done. To put it into greater perspective, this is an old video shot in 2005, and the quality is terrible--regardless it comes through amazingly. He covers a broad range of styles and genres. Go to 15:30 for a fun (and impressive) example.

No idea who this guy is, but that was very good.

Feel. It's what 95% of guitar solos out there lack. And 100% of Zakk Wylde's solo. Haha. Skolnik's solo in "Return to Serenity" is greatest solo I've ever hear because it is bleeding with emotion, you know. Wish more guitarists understood the importance of this.

Eyesore wrote:

No idea who this guy is, but that was very good.

Feel. It's what 95% of guitar solos out there lack. And 100% of Zakk Wylde's solo. Haha. Skolnik's solo in "Return to Serenity" is greatest solo I've ever hear because it is bleeding with emotion, you know. Wish more guitarists understood the importance of this.

He is the guitarist on the most recent Steven Wilson solo albums, he played on The Raven That Refused To Sing and Hand Cannot Erase (which is where that solo in the first post comes from).  

He has an excellent instrumental band called The Aristocrats which features drummer Marco Minneman who also played on those Steven Wilson records.

corplhicks wrote:

I had this playing while packing for our move last night.

Wait! What? Where?

Lol Moving just down the street. Don't worry Joe, Sac is still a possibility in the future. ☺