Image by karlockhart via Flickr
I am tempted to just describe the whole Buckethead experience as AWESOME!, but that would be too cliche, too short, and sorta lame. So, I will do this properly, Buckethead is an American musician, he primarily plays the guitar in a way that can only be described as incredible. When I first heard about Buckethead, I will admit my first reaction was pretty much Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. This alien man, wearing a plaster white mask over his face and a KFC bucket on his head, was obviously insane. When I picked up his music, however, it changed… to awe. When I heard Buckethead would grace Dallas with a show, I knew I had to be there.
I had not heard of the opener, Lynx, but on walking in, I wished I had not missed as much of it as I had. She was surrounded by an assortment of instruments, all of which she appeared to play pretty well. I liked her creativity and I definitely dug her music. She was definitely not the standard, I am a DJ because I have a Mac laptop, she was engaging, dynamic and a real musician. I was very impressed by how technical her music was, but what struck was how the groove she crafted cut right through and had most people in the crowd at least bobbing their head. Definitely a great way to start a great show.
Image by karlockhart via Flickr
The House of Blues in Dallas, TX, October 5th, 2011, will always live in my head as the day I saw one of the most talented guitarists I have EVER seen pick up the instrument. The opener, has whet our appetites and we have packed together in front of the stage, anticipation soars. A chant breaks out, Bucket-head! Bucket-head! Bucket-head! A roadie, wearing a surgical mask walks out on stage, greeted with a cheer that is meant for the man he serves. Final sound checks are done quickly, the stage goes dark, the house music stops… Buckethead, walks out on to the stage, the crowd goes wild…
Buckethead is hands down the best guitarist I have seen live. It is a bit unfair to compare Buckethead to other bands as his music, and really his performance, is really in a different class. The stage set-up for his show was pretty sparse; friends have seen him perform with other musicians on stage. The backing music for his show came from some sort of accompaniment system. I was pretty surprised by how good this setup sounded as he played along with the accompaniment track. If you come to a Buckethead show expecting good music you will get it, but above that the performance itself exceeds all expectations. From robot dancing to playing one handed while brandishing a chainsaw in the other, the show delivers on every level. The show included an epic nun-chuck demonstration, for lack of a better word, a toy trading session with the man himself and a funky groove ridden bass session. There wasn’t any sort of mosh pit to report, most just stood their either with their mouths agape in awe or with a huge smile. The ease with which the instrument seems to come to Buckethead is apparent and awe inspiring.
In conclusion, Buckethead is near the top of live performances I have seen. If you get the chance, go see the show, it is worth it. Bring along a Star Wars action figure and you may find yourself trading toys with one of the best guitarists alive today. I will NEVER forget his show, and I am willing to bet that if you go see him, neither will you.
