The Comet's Flame

Leo Kottke is the man who got me interested in music.  Years ago, my dad brought home an ancient VHS tape from the library featuring instrumental performances by several guitarists.  I had never heard any of the names listed on the cover, and I thought it was just going to be another lame “teach yourself guitar” sort of thing.  Boy was I wrong.

This was music like I had never heard before (i.e. it actually sounded good)!  Enigmatic mountain-men and hippies effortlessly played bluesy riffs juxtaposed with moving melodies, all with a sort of syncopated finger-picking style.  I discovered the likes of Jorma Kaukonen (of Jefferson Airplane fame), Preston Reed, and John Fahey.

Then Leo Kottke started playing his song “Airproofing” on a 12-string, and I was just in awe.  It sounded like music from another dimension!  I watched the video about a billion times, and then I went and acquired a copy of Leo’s first album, Six and Twelve String Guitar, and listened to that about a billion times.  I got out my mom’s old guitar and tried to duplicate some of Mr. Kottke’s music.  Of course, I didn’t do too well (for one thing, I think that that old guitar was inherently bad-sounding), and I eventually decided that playing guitar was just not my thing.  But my love for music (especially Leo’s music) has stuck with me.

That said, I was thrilled to have a chance to go see Leo Kottke in Des Moines with my brother.  It was a great show.  Leo played a few of his newer songs.  Then he played (in his own inimitable style) a beautiful song by Pete Seeger.  I wish I could remember what it was called. He talked about a debate he attended in the 60′s at Berkley between John Fahey and Pete Seeger regarding the role of politics in music.  Pete Seeger is, as you might know, an outspoken political activist, so you can guess what his side was.  John Fahey argued that politics is too boring.

It was a very entertaining and eventful performance.  Perhaps my brother can write more about it.