And you should hear Tommy play drums. I was at the CAAS show in 2004 and Tommy played the trap kit behind everybody and was fabulous. Perfect clock- solid as a rock. Tommy could quit this guitar stuff and be a world-class pro drummer tomorrow if he wanted to . . .
I've watched them do this while playing the other one's guitar, one fretting the other's, one picking the other's...flawlessly...what sets Tommy apart from all guitarists I've ever seen is his delight. It is unmistakable and infuses every part of his music. You can hear that as well, while being awed by his competency and talent...
Yeah, nice guys too. I once walked 5km through the snow at night to see Tommy play (yes really, from Smiggins to Perisher ski resort in NSW), but hey that was nothing, my friend walked it on crutches with a broken leg, to see Tommy play. Then we all walked back. It was worth it.
I saw them do this live in Houston this past weekend. I am still speechless several days later, just amazing. And the best part; they hung out and mingled after the show. Nicest guys you'd ever meet!
Here are my favorite moments: 0:47 - Tommy jumps to rhythm too early. Phil laughs and says, "Too early." Tommy laughs it off. 1:12 - Phil leans in to make sure Tommy doesn't go back to rhythm too early again lol. 2:09 - Tommy jumps to rhythm early. Phil gives a look ("dude..."), Tommy nods ("oh yeah"). 3:48 - Phil leans in to say "One more. Tommy replies "Quiet one." Mere mortals aren't supposed to be able to play like that (especially IN UNISON!) much less interact like it's no big deal!
Thanks for sharing these videos. I was lucky to see both Phil & Tommy in concert, together & individually over the years. I even got to play Town Hall Shuffle with Phil once ! I miss Phil's visits to South Australia.
Il y a une belle histoire sur une nuit à la fin d’un concert. Tommy a appelé le public : « Y a-t-il des guitaristes ici ce soir » ? Quelqu’un a répondu « Non, pas maintenant » !
It's a travesty that this has only 370,500 views... Im not talking about breaking records or something.. This is so amazing that more people need to see this! Genuine music!
We all know TE is absolutely amazing but, PHIL has to be seen to be believed - he's Incredible, and his daughter Jessie has an amazingly strong voice for her tender age of just 21. Come back to Perth soon Guys, please !
If I hadn't seen them with my own eyes I would say it was impossible. But, they really can play like that, live, no tricks, no overdubs, no backing tracks, just talent + practice.
Holy crapola and a half!! What keeps their fingers from spontaneously combusting, along with everything else within a 10 mile radius? I kept waiting for them to jump on the other's fretboard, or stand on their heads, or something, man!! Geez louise!! I'm breathless!! And they're both so gosh darn cute! So these are real live people, not a figment of my imagination??
such a great job its got to be, travelling the world with your brother, having fun and musical conversation in front of an audience and getting money for doing it! cant be nothing but extremely jealous and happy for those two :D
COOL! My last name is Thompson, we originated as the Thomson clan in the Scottish highlands... when I moved back to East TN I felt like I was going home again! Hooked up with a couple of guys in Cocke County (near Greeneville) and jammed on the guitar with them a time or two, then they got famous. Ever heard of Bela Fleck? Then he was in a group called New Grass Revival, (split comment)
there are just some musicians, like Tommy E. and his brother, who makes you feel happy when you see and hear them play, because you can see and hear them have fun playing there guitars :-)
I bought Phil's CD "Kakadu Sunrise" back in the mid nineties, which has this song (track 12). Also from the same album, Track 1, Take Off, was used in a TV commercial (featuring Phil) for a musical instrument shop in Toowoomba.
Im watching this over and over, and I cant for the life of me hear the misstake that Phil makes at 0.44. And yet, Tommy reacts to it instantly and Phil grimaces. So I know it is there. Well, I guess my carrer as a critic will remain a dream.
Tommy has lived in Nashville for years now. Tommy & his brother Phil are Australian, they started playing when they were about 5. Tommy is one of a handful of guitarists ever to have won a Chet Atkins award as a "Certified Guitarist".
Traditional Irish music . Baagh humbug. This isn't meant to be reverential. It's two enormously gifted musicians having fun, and in the process, entertaining people. I laughed and laughed at the sheer brilliance of it all.
Shows the class of Phil when you have Tommy Emmanual playing rythym support to him - not too many could handle that level of intimidation having one of the, if not the, world's best guitarist backing you - classy pair
I think Tommy has made it pretty clear he's among the top guitarists ever to pick up an axe. He doesn't need to play lead every time (Not saying Phil does, just pointing out the greatness of Ole TE). I thoroughly enjoy listening to Tommy play rhythm as much as I love his Guitar Boogie/Stevie's Blues vid, wherein he schools me and everyone else on what a guitarist has to strive for. All in all, he does it because he can. So says someone who may be full of it.