Andy McKee and Don Ross

The Boardwalk is pretty full tonight; everyone is sitting at the tables leading up to the stage, hoping to get a good view of the proceedings. This is no ordinary gig, where you could catch a glimpse of the band and maybe make do with the back of somebody's head for the rest of the show, you need to see what's happening. We manage to cram in on the cold floor near the front, and can just make out the wonderment above the monitors. Not only do we get the unreal guitar playing of Andy McKee, we also get to hear him duet with one of his heroes, Don Ross.



McKee has become a hit on video websites with his amazing multi-tasking on the guitar. Many Yorkshire folk have had the pleasure of watching Jon Gomm perform, and this guy is showing us that the technique is used all over the world, in his case in Kansas. Sadly the weird and wonderful guitar-harp instrument is not here today, but just the normal guitar is wonderful enough in this guys hands.

Slapping the guitar body, playing the strings from both top and bottom of the fret board and turning the tuning keys produce the most soothing sounds, quite strange when McKee's background was in listening to Metallica and Pantera! This is where Canadian Don Ross steps in.

Winner of the U.S. National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship twice (the only one to have done so), his guitar playing looks so relaxed yet incredibly difficult. The addition of slight effects gives a layered sound, and the deep throat of his baritone guitar (it is tuned lower) perfectly compliments McKee on the many duets they perform tonight, from their album 'The Thing That Came From Somewhere'. Mike Marshall's 'Dolphins' and Ross' 'KlimBim' ('Junk Shop' in German), are clever arrangements of original songs, as are 'Ebon Coast' and McKee's 'Rylynn'.



I much prefer to hear these musicians playing solo, as their talent can really shine through. That said, during the duets it sounds like there are four guitars playing on stage, not just two. Ross' 'Michael, Michael, Michael' is a perfect as a birthday dedication to someone in the crowd, and his hip hop style in 'Afraid To Dance' is jaw-dropping. He also adds vocals on track 'Any Colour But Blue'.

McKee impresses just the same with a cover of Toto's 'Africa', the emotional 'For my Father' and of course his hit 'Drifting'. Eat your strings Mr Newton Faulkner, these guys really not how to play the guitar all over, not just tap it slightly to Spongebob Squarepants...

The duo appear very relaxed too, really feeling the music when they play, and having a joke between songs (Ross has some amusing stories). The whole night is eye-opening; I return home and start slapping my guitar, until the neighbour lets me know that I need a lot more practice!

img src="/photos/2008/AndyMckee-DJM03-081027.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Andy McKee">

Setlist:
Africa
Dracula And Friends
Rylynn
For My Father
Afraid To Dance
Dolphins

Klimbim
Michael, Michael, Michael
Drifting
Ebon Coast
Any Colour But Blue
Common Ground
Tight Trite Night

With You In Mind

FUTURE GIGS