I've been a prof blues, rock, jazz guitar player for over 35 years and listened 12 times to Gary playing this masterpiece live in concert...I'm a huge fan of Gary, B.B, Wes, Muddy, SRV, Eric, Peter, Ronnie, Duke, Kessel..etc...etc....and I must say, this is the absolute best cover of "The Loner" I've EVER heard. Pure art...just like Gary. You absolutely cracked the very important thing with the vibrato and whammy bar......yes, U know....not overdoing and sometimes no vibrato at all......many covers overdo this.....let the guitar sing and be patient...let your fingers relax and make the guitar do it for you...Yes, It takes a lot of experience to crack this masterpiece....but You did it sooo beautiful, Shinji.......FANTASTIC!..Best ever!
Nobody will ever be albe to really play like Gary, but a cover is very well performed, when you get a clue of the master himself, Mr. Gary Moore. So this is a really good cover. Congrats and my respect for your playing and for your attitude to the music of Gary, which will be present in my heart until to my very last moment!
In my honest opinion Gary Moore was the G.O.A.T., "The Loner" one of his masterpieces. But Mr. Tagawa, you nailed it! The best cover / rendition on RU-vid.
Pure perfection,the timing is perfect,i saw Gary live playing this music in 87 and 11 years later..and was superb,the man was a powerhouse playing live.
Since day 1 of listening to Gary Moore I've stood amazed at his music ... this cover is indeed a tribute to the master! The guitarist is not only covering GM's music but he wrapped in soulful sounds of the music itself that to him it's no longer a cover!
One of the best "Loner" tributes I've heard. He really nails all the nuances that makes this song hit your heart. I've been playing it since Wild Frontier came out, but my vibrato isn't as good as this.
Gary didn’t write the loner. It was written by Max Middleton, a keyboard player who appeared on Cozy Powell’s “Over the Top” album. The guitarist on the track was Clem Clempson. Gary played on a couple of tracks on the album. He heard the song and spotting the potential, made a few changes. This is version we hear now. The track is credited to Middleton/Moore.
Born in 1956 i grow up with Gary Moore, one of the greatest Axe-men ever, but i love Shinji doing it sooo good LIVE and he, Shinji Tagawa, is himself one of the greatest. >^.^
Wonderful! ..Love this piece of music. As a kid, I would drive my friends nuts forever covering this song. Too many nuances for me to ace it in any real way. This is a great cover.. Love how this song breaks you down and builds you up to feel... emotionally complete. Was devastated when Gary died.. His musical style touched so many people, and this video goes to prove he will live on for a long-Long time yet. Thanks for the Great Post! :0)
This man indeed is a superb guitarist. But I think (but I could be wrong) however I think others who have comented have heard a difference to the original. What stands out sounds like a miss hit note or bend of a string that hits an open string at approximately 3:57. Also some of the bends and picking strength don't seem to run consistently. But huge respect to him: Because he must have done this in one take. (And don't be sexist by making comparisons to T. S) .But if he was unable to do it again because of time constraints this is an excellent tribute to Gary who wrote it and played it for us all to hear - and remember this - the version we know and is written in stone was resorded in the studio. So although I'm a massive devotee and 'fan' of Gary Moore I was priviliged to meet and speak to him many times in the past. So I still say Shinji - nice one. Music truly is a universal language that we all appreciate and hopefully never argue about to the millimetre or dedecibel. Incidentally, What band does he play in or is there anywhere I can listen to his own instrumentals. But I'll leave this comment until last - for the man himself who has had the guts to do a cover version of this track. Like Gary always was and would have said himself. Stay rock and stay true my friend...
