Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - Tightrope (Live From Austin, TX) 

Who’s diggin’ Stevie in ‘24 ? 🙌🏻

you know a musician's good when the live version is better than the studio version

For me this is SRV at his absolute peak. Playing his heart out with a smile on his face and clean from drugs. One of the very best guitarists ever.

This man’s career ended on a spectacular high note. He was clean, sober and looked happy and healthy. Was writing great new material and never sounded better. People mourn his loss, but I looked at Stevie’s life as a real Triumph. Stevie turned his life around and beat the odds and came out on top against very tough circumstances. We love and miss you!!!

I'm two years older than Stevie, so I've seen/heard a lot of guitar players over the years. Thirty years after his death, he's still the best I've ever seen.

I never hear people talk about how good of a singer SRV was. Yes, he was an awesome and unique guitar player. But his voice is amazing. The timbre, control, texture-- what a musical powerhouse this guy was.

Pretty much my favorite SRV song. It's about his struggles with addiction - a struggle he won. It gives me so much joy to listen to the groove and swagger in this song. It evokes the feeling of a strutting champion, an audible strut of a man who beat his demons and came out on the other side. Transcendent stuff, really.

SRV wasn't just a guitar player, he was an antennae picking up a signal from a higher power and relaying it to the rest of us.

Sweet baby Jesus on a motorbike - that final solo tho. Step back kids & educate yourself something. ✋🏽😔

The baddest blues six-stringer to ever do it!🎸

My only regret so far in life? Being too young to hear this guy live...

Y'all, let's not forget the only keyboard/organ player that could hang with the otherworldly SRV. Mr. Reese Wynans. Most people never understand how much he added to the overall sound. He filled in the gaps so Stevie could soar!

No autotune, no ridiculous effects - just a master with ridiculously thick guitar strings kicking ass and taking names. absolutely love it at the beginning of the solo when he yells "Yeah!" you know he's gonna just blow your mind. Rave on SRV

Nobody comes close to this man, nobody

That battle cry going into the solo! 1:21

"you can play with the same srv intensity, but for only about 20 seconds, then your arm cramps up, and you got nothing" - John Mayer

When I listen to SRV and Double Trouble so do my neighbors!

I saw Stevie at The Orpheum in Boston in October '84. About a third of the way into the show the microphone cut out mid song. Instead of stopping, he and the band just kept playing and jammed for about 5-10 minutes while the stage crew fixed it...at this pace too not some slow jam. When the mic was fixed they slid back into the song seamlessly and kept going. Absolutely amazing. I'll never forget it. He was the greatest.

For the uninitiated, this is Austin City Limits. They put the very best music on PBS to be viewed for free for its own sake. Thanks to viewers like you.

Doesn’t get any tighter than this! His lead gives me chills everytime…..especially when he goes “Ahhhh!!” and then tears into it

It happened again...I started watching SRV clips and 3 hours rolled by....lol, what a master.

Ferocious. Stevie's playing that night was on a level that was almost superhuman - even for him. His fucking tone, just unbelievable - even for him. And the command he had of the stage was incredible - even for him. It is rare when a musician is both a master showman, and a master artist. There may never be another to match Stevie. Ferocious.

Roses are red Violets are blue When I listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan My neighbors do too

If you liked the first solo at minute 1:31 wait till you hear the second solo at minute 3:31!!!

I’m surprised that Strat didn’t burst into flames!! I thought I saw fucking smoke.

My god, he just destroys BOTH of those solos. I will catch crap for writing this, but I stand behind it: SRV was the absolute best. I can't see the phenomenal greats that I LOVE like Clapton, Page, Hendrix, Jeff Healey, etc. playing anything close to this. Obviously no slight on those incredible legends. Just saying how Stevie was the Gold Standard in my very humble opinion.

"9-1-1, what's your emergency?" "Yeah, my name is Strat-o-Caster and I was just physically assaulted by a man" "Can you describe him?" "Yes, he looks just like a right handed version of Jimi Hendrix, but much lighter skin"

still blows me away in 2024!!!🤘

The Baddest ass Guitar player Ever

Stevie was truly on fire that night.

This Austin City limits show he did in 1989 was otherwordly. He was on another plane that night. His playing just tears right through you. Your left shaking and crying at the same time. It's hard to believe another human can play like that. We are so so blessed to have his music. If I live to be a hundred, I'll never get over his death. God bless you all who love him as much as I do.

Holy shit! Absolutely NOBODY could play that good!

There will never be anyone, and I mean anyone, that can play with this type of swagger again. This is something you can only achieve once in a lifetime. He played with such accuracy and groove that you can only breed from the great state of Texas. Long live the name of Stevie Ray Vaughan.

People for get how great Stevie ray was but I'm 55 still no one close to him today unfortunately another great Musician who left this world to early

I used to have to spend weekends with my dad, who was divorced from my mom. I was at his house one miserable weekend, when I stayed up late and by chance, caught this performance on TV. Just an amazing memory, one that elevated me out of my miserable childhood. Was just a kid, and didn’t know who he was, but was so mesmerized by his performance. Had no clue that another human could be so talented at something. Still to this day, I will watch this performance, and am brought back to the amazement I felt as a kid. No matter whether you like his music or not, you can’t do anything but appreciate the obscene amount of talent he had. Sometimes humans take an art form and elevate it to something godlike. Truly a sight to behold.

Damn son No one can play like this anymore

This is so insanely powerful, the guitar sound, the voice, the focus, the savage sequence of notes, and the brutality how he attacks them with those huge hands. There are no words to describe the feeling you get out of this. if there was no videos to prove this kind of playing, no one would believe that someone could play like this. SRV, we will be missing you for centuries.

I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news of his passing. It hit me to the core. His memory is a true, genuine blessing to so many of us. 🎶💖🎶🎸⭐

This guy plays better live than he does with perfect studio tracks. This guy's music is so good live, I don't want to hear his studio tracks. Best guitarist who ever lived.

This has to be SRV's zenith. NEVER BETTER. Just simply freaking mind-blowing with TWO solos. What a player. My fave of all time.

Stevie's war cry at about 1:20 ....awesome

Reason number 451 while there is no Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute band lol

Another Legend gone but his music live forever RIP SRV❤. 🦅

If this song doesn’t make you get up and groove I just don’t think you’re conscious. Hot damn What a badass!

This performance is just absolutely amazing, tone, presence, feel, dexterity, passion, just an absolute master at what he did, this is my personal favourite and what a solo, wow. R.I.P Mr Vaughan.

DANG, that guitar solo that kicks off around 1:18 is just pure Stevie magic. Stevie always said he played guitar like he was breaking out of jail. He wasn't kidding.

Absolutely Hands Down The Best Ever. Others Really Don't Compare they just Don't.

Stevie came down from another planet, left us rocking...and then took off back home. Thanks Mr. Vaughan.

Stevie is so damn good, it never ceases to amaze me the flow out of his hands directly into that guitar. Truly the greatest to have ever done it!

There will be countless Stevie tribute guitarist for the years to come, and some may do his style justice, or even play his songs note for note, but I don't believe anyone will EVER come close to playing with the same raw expression, intensity, aggression, passion, and electrifying energy that emanated from his body. That's just something you just cant fake or imitate. There will never be another Stevie. He was beyond a guitarist, He was a fucking force of nature, and blues prophet that the world may never see the likes of again.

You can recreate the sound, you can recreate the licks, but you can never recreate the stage presence of a legend!

Dude is in straight BEAST MODE!!! R I P SRV. You are sadly missed

Of all versions of tightrope he’s done, this one speaks to me. It’s his best to me. The body language of a master guitarist who can’t wait to tear into his solo.

You can tell me you like other artists more- that's cool. You can tell me you prefer other SRV tunes- I dig. You can tell me he's done more melodic solos or deeper emotional grooves or whatever- I love you for it. However- for me- this is the 5 minutes in all of eternity, for which the guitar was invented. All stringed instruments throughout history envy the Strat we see here as it reaches the pinnacle of musical magic in the hands of the ultimate wizard.

Let's not forget how tight Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon (Double Trouble) are too. That in the pocket groove is out of this world.... just sublime.

holy shit, ive never been a blues fan but i just discovered this song and damn is it amazing

Had the pleasure of meeting Stevie a couple of times. Once in a large club (The Moonshadow) in Atlanta, once at Lakewood Amphitheater (also Atlanta) about 3 weeks before he got killed. Such a nice, humble cat both times. God, he was fantastic! Cried for 2 days after that helo crash. Still miss him to this day.

The only person that could've handled that overdriven push during the solo is Stevie. Amazing.

Ain't nobody getting off this God damn ride until Stevie says you can go!! And I am absolutely good with that! As long as you need me friend!! Wooow!

1:19 Man, Stevie was FEELING that groove!..I felt that groove!.. My neighbors felt that groove!

How is his timing so tight? Man I wish I could play in the pocket like him

He didn’t just play the guitar….he became the guitar. Music was his soul, and each time he performed you can see him being in a sort of trance where everything and everyone disappeared. It was just him, a guitar and…brilliance. ❤️

You can teach someone to play the guitar, but you can’t teach him how to feel it. It’s either there or it’s not Stevie was blessed with both. You are missed❤️

Man what a tour de force of a guitar player. Really makes me miss this guy seeing him play this well. Among the best of musicians absolutely as far as authenticity, creative flow, technical prowess, and a one-of-a-kind vocal all rolled into one.

Rest in Peace the great Stevie Ray😎

Who's the one that dislike this?! He'd better learn what's great music! Love you Stevie ❤️

Favorite Stevie moment this. I encourage my students to listen closely to Stevie Ray (infact I gush like a child), not because anyone can ever play remotely like him but because he changes ones whole perspective on the guitar. Changes your approach. Makes you want to put every single little bit of what you have into expressing yourself, and at least trying to achieve a tiny glimpse into how to really speak with the guitar and connect yourself with your listener's emotions. Still so very sad that he is gone, even all these years later but at the same time such a great story of triumph over the demons. We got to see him at his best. Greatest Of All Time. "My heart goes out to others who are there to make amends"... that says who he was, right there. Looking in the mirror through the eyes of love and realizing he's really looking at a friend. Amazing.

Oh dear God, I thought his fretboard was going to burst into flames, especially on that second solo!

YOU DO NOT TEACH WHAT HE'S GOT PURE GIFT FROM GOD

Other artists like Eric Clapton said “he was a conduit, music just flowed through him”. Most artists could hit a decent solo, then run out of notes. SRV was an open conduit. My all-time favorite guitar player of any genre. With a nod to Jimi and Terry Kath of course.

Stevie has always been one of those guys you feel you've known forever..RIP Brother !..

Stevie could make the guitar cry,laugh,scream,weep,howl and everything in between. Absolutely stunning ❤

Makes me cry,seen his last concert alpine valley, UNBELIEVABLE!!!❤️❤️😭

Thank you SRV for your work on Earth. May your music live on in the heart of your world forever.

It’s like he’s playing three parts on the one guitar. What an amazing talent he had!!!!!!!

His solo at 3:30, absolutely fantastic! This particular version is one of my all-time favorites. Thanks for reuploading this live performance again to youtube.

Thinking positively, I'd say the down votes were purely accidental.

RIP SRV. You were taken to soon. Tragic.

Lookin' sleek, healthy, happy. And playing smooth, easy, perfect. I'm so glad he had a few really good years at the end. Gone but never forgotten, sweet Texas bluesman. RIP

I know there’s a lot of great guitar players past and present, but Stevie though, in my opinion, was and is the best!! Watching him play never gets old!

As someone who didn't get to experience this type of music a whole lot while growing up, I am so glad I found this now. This was recorded in the year I was born and I'm just seeing it now smh. Watching him rock that solo was like nothing I've ever seen.

Looks like Christmas came early this year, boys and girls!

In the future, don't tell them about our cell phones and buildings and sports. When they ask what "America" was, play a Stevie Ray Vaughan concert.

Haley here I'm 65 and I've been scence day one Stevie Ray is # 1 in my book,love it

Thank you for uploading this gem. SRV the greatest

You can feel his mood by listening to the „Ahhhh“ before his solo starts

My favorite song from Stevie Ray and hands down my favorite live performance of Tightrope. As many have commented he was otherwordly, from another dimension, however you want to say it. Hands down to me the greatest guitarist I have ever seen, heard, or who ever picked up a guitar. Thank God for Stevie Ray Vaughn.

LOVE the yell right before the guitar solo!!!! Sounds just a little bit like he might be enjoying himself slightly😂😂

Stevie could drop a funk vibe in the Texas/Albert King blues like nobody's business. His playing style was so unique, free and tight at the same time. He makes the guitar playing look effortless and his soul was brilliant

Caught up in a whirlwind can't catch my breath Knee deep in hot water, broke out in a cold sweat Can't catch a turtle in this rat race Feels like I'm losin' time at a breakneck pace Afraid of my own shadow in the face of grace Heart full of darkness spotlight on my face There was love all around me but I was lookin' for revenge Thank God it never found me would have been the end Walkin' the tightrope, steppin' on my friends Walkin' the tightrope, it was a shame and a sin Walkin' the tightrope between wrong and right Walkin' the tightrope both day and night Lookin' back in front of me, the mirror's a grin Through eyes of love I see I'm really lookin' at a friend We've all had our problems, that's the way life is My heart goes out to others, who are there to make amends? We've been walkin' the tightrope tryin' to make it right Walkin' the tightrope, every day and every night Walkin' the tightrope, bring it all around Walkin' the tightrope from the lost to found Walkin' the tightrope, stretched around the world Walkin' the tightrope, save the boys and girls Walkin' the tightrope, let's make it right Walkin' the tightrope, do it, do it tonight Walkin' the tightrope

A 5 minute master class of guitar work you are unlikely to see anywhere else EVER.

Clapton said it's like he had an open channel and is playing like I cannot

This must have been like 6 months to 1 year or so after he got sober. He’s looking full in his face and health wise in really good shape. When he was using he looked thin and worn down but even then looked youthful.Here he’s looking a bit more mature in his looks and is hitting every note and is really in the gruve. Man ! What might have been? The youth of the day have no clue who SRV was or what he is to music,it’s sad! I mean everyone talks about Hendrix because it’s what they heard there whole life so they just parrot what they heard others say as most people do. SRV was a huge Hendrix fan and he literally picked up where Hendrix left off and he was also influenced by others like Stevie Wonder and Clapton to name a few which is why he covered there songs as homage but chose the songs he covered because of how great they were,then he did them in a way that only he could have done and he made them better and made him legend. How many artists do you know of that covered somebody else’s song and did it so well that it was as if he Wrote them himself?He made other peoples great songs better then better.He was a very rare dude down to his swagger,a true Texan. His talent is off the charts and there has only been one SRV I have never seen anyone play the guitar backwards as good as they can forwards while singing and bouncing around. If his tallest weren’t enough he also got the voice as well and this man put his soul into his music in a way you hardly ever see if you ever do! It’s hard to imagine just how good this dude was along with double trouble and when SRV belted out a song you can see his soul,it just flows naturally and is the beauty of music and you feel his music on your bones. He had it all and swagger like you have never seen. In my eyes he’s a guitar god like no other and his music was a gift. I can only imagine what he could have done had he more time. There are many great players that can cover many other great players but most can’t come close to covering SRV. He is the best of all time in my mind and when you see this man with the other greats they were floored by this man which says it all. In the little time he was on this earth Guitar God‘s bowed to this man stood back with a grin from ear to ear and didn’t even try to compare as they watched in awe. He was born for this!

Came here to listen to one track and got stuck for hours, can't get enough of the guy...

and that is how you make a Strat Growl and Wail

Damn he was on fire this night...and that's saying a lot when speaking of SRV.

Show me somebody alive today that could even play that dam song. Steve was magical.

Caught up in a whirlwind can't catch my breath Knee deep in hot water broke out in a cold sweat Can't catch a turtle in this rat race Feels like I'm losin' time at a breakneck pace Afraid of my own shadow in the face of grace Heart full of darkness spotlight on my face There was love all around me but I was lookin' for revenge Thank God it never found me would have been the end walkin' the tightrope steppin' on my friends Walkin' the tightrope (it) was a shame and a sin Walkin' the tightrope between wrong and right Walkin' the tightrope both day and night Lookin' back in front of me in the mirror's a grin Through eyes of love I see I'm really lookin' at a friend We've all had our problems that's the way life is My heart goes out to others who are there to make amends We've been walkin' the tightrope tryin' to make it right Walkin' the tightrope every day and every night Walkin' the tightrope bring it all around Walkin' the tightrope from the lost to found Walkin' the tightrope stretched around the world Walkin' the tightrope save the boys and girls Walkin' the tightrope let's make it right Walkin' the tightrope do it do it tonight Walkin' the tightrope

There have been so many great guitarists throughout time, but there has only been, and ever will be, one SRV. I don't think anyone will ever be able to truly capture his sound and style the way he did.

As a guitar player I must say. When SRV goes into solo mode he looks away from his guitar. 99.99% of guitar players look at their guitar when they come to a solo. I'm not a religious person, but every time SRV comes to a solo, his eyes roll back and he just jams. He may have actually been a god.