Chris Smither. Anybody else like this guy?

twocorgis

Venerated Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Jan 8, 2010
Messages
13,923
Reaction score
6,520
Location
Lawn Guyland
Guild Total
18
Been a fan for 45 years, since I first heard Bonnie Raitt sing "Love Me Like a Man".
 

sailingshoes72

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
1,477
Reaction score
414
Location
Virginia, USA
I'm a fan of Chris Smither's music. I have several of his CDs and was lucky to see him live at the "The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival" while I was visiting my sister in SF. I notice in the above video that he is wearing a soft cast on his fretting hand... probably for carpel tunnel syndrome.

Here is one of my favorite Chris Smither songs. If you watch his fretting hand on the opening chords you can see where he makes an almost impossible stretch while keeping his thumb anchored on the low bass string! Check it out:

 

walrus

Reverential Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Messages
23,956
Reaction score
8,019
Location
Massachusetts
Great links!

Bill, that stretch at :04 IS impossible! He's just doing it anyway! :wink-new: It even looks like an optical illusion on the clip - great stuff!

walrus
 

5thumbs

Senior Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
1,556
Reaction score
914
Location
Norridge, Illinois
Guild Total
2
Bill, that stretch at :04 IS impossible! He's just doing it anyway! :wink-new: It even looks like an optical illusion on the clip - great stuff!
walrus

I agree - can't happen. But you're right. Definitely great stuff! :tears_of_joy:
 

sailingshoes72

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2014
Messages
1,477
Reaction score
414
Location
Virginia, USA
Bill, that stretch at :04 IS impossible! He's just doing it anyway! :wink-new: It even looks like an optical illusion on the clip - great stuff!

walrus

Yeah! It looks like he is double or triple jointed!

It may be one of the reasons he is wearing a soft cast on his fretting hand. Years of playing stretched chords like that will take it's toll. IIRC, Leo Kottke had wrist and hand problems a while back and had to undergo physical therapy and alter his playing position.
 
Last edited:

Quantum Strummer

Senior Member
Joined
May 26, 2015
Messages
2,382
Reaction score
118
Location
Michigan
Big fan. Got to see him play up close in a small room in the early 2000s. No amplification. He played & sang beautifully.

-Dave-
 

geoguy

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
3,519
Reaction score
1,640
Location
metrowest MA
We've seen him play in a few small venues over the years. That board that he taps his feet on is a big part of his sound.

One show we saw consisted of a three-person song circle with Chris, Jorma K., & Patty Larkin. At one point, the three of them began a song together, but Chris soon stopped playing his guitar and just sang harmony while Patty & Jorma soldiered on.

After the song ended, Jorma turned to him and asked "What, can't you play in G?" LOL

I think Chris was simply enjoying what he was hearing the other two play, and chose to sit that tune out. Funny, nonetheless.
 

Kitarkus

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2013
Messages
676
Reaction score
15
I don't like him....I love him. Regular rotation. Super talented guy. Wife and I saw him play in Lawrence, KS years ago... Really great..
 

geoguy

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
3,519
Reaction score
1,640
Location
metrowest MA
Was just enjoying this Chris Smither clip, & recalled this thread. Funny-looking one-stringed-buzzing-electric-slide gizmo is a bonus (imo):

 
Top