Let’s be real for a moment shall we? Most if not all of you never heard of Sonny Landreth. He isn’t pretty, sings like shit, no top 20, 30,40, 50, 60 (you get the picture) lps, cd or songs. Barely tours around here if at all.
So why am I writing this or why should give a shit? Because some of the greatest music around you will never hear because of the market place, distribution or one’s own arrogance, narcissism, and or stupidity. It a world were most people are working so hard to out cool everyone else they miss the coolest things.
Guitarist, songwriter, and singer Sonny Landreth is a musician's musician who is best known for his signature slide playing. Landreth developed a technique where he frets notes and plays chords and chord fragments behind the slide while he plays. He plays with the slide on his little finger, so that his other fingers have more room to fret behind the slide. He's also known for his right-hand technique, which involves tapping, slapping, and picking strings, using all of the fingers on his right hand. His distinctive guitar playing can be heard on recordings by John Hiatt, Leslie West and Mountain, and other rock & rollers. He plays an instrument at the highest level. Took him years or hard work, discipline, hours, years of practice to be come a highly skilled and much sought after musician. He PLAYS MUSIC. Let’s see if Kanye, Jay Z, Beyonce, Lil’ Wayne or Nicki Minaj, Flo Rida or Pitbull, Guetta or Tiiesto can do that. They don’t have to cuz they are cool and hip and so now. So is gluten free food, you can have.
His latest release "Elemental Journey" has been described as a "masterpiece of fluid music" and features guest stars Joe Satriani, who delivers an astonishing, ferocious solo on the opener “Gaia Tribe,” and the returning virtuoso Eric Johnson casts his seductive spell on the dusky dreamscape “Passionola”. Steel drum master Robert Greenidge brings his magical overtones to the balmy, swaying “Forgotten Story.” Elemental Journey, his first all instrumental work is his most adventurous to date.
Most people only hear music. Pity. Music should be listened to, but that is dangerous because if you listened to the music you hear you would suddenly realize it ‘s not music you are listening to but marketing. The influencers are playing you almost as well as Sonny plays a guitar. Listen to Sonny. Come back to your love of music.