Vidar Busk from Norway

[bluzman1971]

In case alot of you on here haven't heard about this guy - Do yourself a favor - CHECK THIS CAT OUT!!!
http://youtu.be/tDoaBtn8cwI

[bluzman1971]

Here's one of him on his tele w/ Bigsby.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J7r2r8No4w

[Telemarkman]

Thanks for trying bluzman1971, but I have posted Vidar (and other great Norwegian players) before with little success!

Maybe it helps if we mention that Vidar went to the US as a 15 year old to play with Rock Bottom and toured the US for several years ... ? That almost makes him an American ...

[toddfan]

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

Thanks for trying bluzman1971, but I have posted Vidar (and other great Norwegian players) before with little success!

Don't know about Vidar....

But, I just got back from a weekend ROAD TRIP to Chicago (from Kansas City) to see Norwegian = SONDRE LERCHE

I did not know a lot about Sondre before (my son wanted me to go see this guy)....but, after seeing him, I have been listening to his newest release..aptly titled = "Sondre Lerche", pretty much non-stop.

The guy plays some very cool guitar (altho he appears to be a Gretsch guy...didn't see any Tele's in his band!) and has some nice, inventive, pop tunes.

[Telemarkman]

Yeah, but Sondre is thought of as being a singer/songwriter more than a guitar player.

He's had a certain success internationally though.

[toddfan]

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

Yeah, but Sondre is thought of as being a singer/songwriter more than a guitar player.

He's had a certain success internationally though.

...didn't realize you want to limit the discussion to "shredder" or "soloist" type "players".

For me, if there ain't no song or melody, then it pretty much isn't worth listening to.

Besides, Sondre may not be a traditional "lead" style player, but he is more creative with chords than most...and by that, I mean he can stretch out those hands over the fretboard and reach some crazy note combos, and those can change pretty swiftly!

I cannot get youtube right now, but will check out the vids later.

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by toddfan

...didn't realize you want to limit the discussion to "shredder" or "soloist" type "players".

I certainly don't, I just said so because you mentioned his guitar playing.

Originally Posted by toddfan

For me, if there ain't no song or melody, then it pretty much isn't worth listening to.

I absolutely agree! The song is 90% of it.

[oldsoultroy]

As a norwegian import myself- I recomend turbonegro if you wanna hear some fine "norwegian" rock and roll. There's alot of talent from thy motherland though- in all style's of music.

[bluzman1971]

It's a shame most players don't know who Vidar is. He lived with Rock here in my home town. Those in the know about him reverend him - He's a true baddass!

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by bluzman1971

It's a shame most players don't know who Vidar is. He lived with Rock here in my home town. Those in the know about him reverend him - He's a true baddass!

But he's also not from the US (or GB), but from a small, insignificant country called Norway ... What did I tell you my friend?

BTW, Vidar is born in a neighboring village of my home town. I don't know him personally, but my brother does and has jammed with him on some occasions.

[daddyopapa]

Originally Posted by bluzman1971

In case alot of you on here haven't heard about this guy - Do yourself a favor - CHECK THIS CAT OUT!!!
http://youtu.be/tDoaBtn8cwI

I've known about Vidar for a few years from this Youtube. Great playing. I wish I could say something nice about the singer's skill, though. His aweful voice screws up the song.

[bluzman1971]

Thanks Telemarkman - yes I know he is originally from Norway & still lives there. He & his wife Line are friends of mine along with his former harmonica player - Erik "Spanky" Bergene. I personally don't feel Erik's voice is awful - I've heard worse. He is one of Norways top harmonica players though and he's coming into his own on guitar. He moved to Moscow now. I was just stating that Vidar used to live here in St. Petersburg with Rock Bottom for awhile. I also whouldn't call your country insignificant. Norway produce's some mighty fine musicians/ guitarist. Theres a young man named Borny thats a great player, heavily influenced by Jimmie Vaughan. I'm not sure if "Kid" Anderson is from Norway or Sweden? Has anyone picked up the cd Vidar did w/. Kid called - Guitarmaggedon?

[Telemarkman]

Hey bluzman1971 - you're absolutely right: Norway isn't by any means insignificant, musically speaking. The reason I said what I did, was that everytime I've posted about Norwegian guitar players - no matter how good they are/where - there's been almost zero interest.

Some time ago I posted Vidar Busk's version of "Harlem Nocturne", which is one of the most amazing (and twangy!) works ever done on a Fender Jaguar Baritone. Zero interest!

I've posted about Hellbillies' lead guitar player, Lars Håvard Haugen, several times. He's undoubtedly equally good as Brent Mason, Brad Paisley or Vince Gill - almost no interest! Maybe it's his name that's real strange to english speaking people?

I've also posted a couple of times about jazz legend (in Europe anyway), Robert Normann. As a young man in 1939 he got a chance to meet Django Reinhardt at a concert in Oslo, and was allowed to try out his Maccaferry guitar. He made Django drop his jaw, and Robert was just 22-23 at the time, and had only played professionally for about 2 years.

Robert was a wizzard and a great inventor both musically and techniqually/electronically. But do you think anyone was interested ... ? Less than a handful at the most....

I'm not familiar with Borny, but Kid Andersen is one of many great Norwegian blues players.

[DOGMA Dunn]

Very cool stuff. Thanks for the post.

[bluzman1971]

Telemarkman - interesting stuff I'll have to check those cats out! It's strange that people over look such truely great talent - no matter where they're from. Being a blues music enthusiest myself and having conversations with others on the subject it never ceases to amaze me how much more it seems blues music is apreciated, excepted over in europe and the surounding scandinavian countries. They truely seem to embrace much more than over here in the states.
I loaned Kid Andersen my 68' dual showman reverb amp one night last time I saw Vidar play and he plugged straight in w/. his 335. He made it sound like a Marshall JTM45 and started playing Muddy Water licks that sounded like muddy playing slide on a tele with out the use of a slide - truely phenomenol! Even Vidar commented afterwards to me "Did you hear Kid playing those Muddy licks" with a smile;)

[birv2]

Great playing. Thanks for sharing. He reminds me of Sean Costello.

[bluzman1971]

another great talent & friend - miss that guy HUGE!

[toddfan]

Originally Posted by toddfan

...didn't realize you want to limit the discussion to "shredder" or "soloist" type "players".

For me, if there ain't no song or melody, then it pretty much isn't worth listening to.

Besides, Sondre may not be a traditional "lead" style player, but he is more creative with chords than most...and by that, I mean he can stretch out those hands over the fretboard and reach some crazy note combos, and those can change pretty swiftly!

I cannot get youtube right now, but will check out the vids later.

Finally got to pull up these links and listen....a little bit....



Sorry, but "std" blues progressions, even with really nice guitar leads laid upon them...just do not do too much for me. It takes me about 10 seconds to get really bored hearing that type of stuff. Don't get me wrong...the guy can definitely PLAY...but from my perspective, someone like SONDRE is just so much more creative.

When I said Sondre played some "cool guitar"....I was not referring to tried and true blues licks played over pretty much standard blues progressions....I was referring to imaginative combinations of chords and sounds, layered together in ways that sound fresh and new.....interesting voicing and nice hammer-ons used in tasteful manners....all to create a new and fresh SONG that, while it may use many elements from standard blues, still sounds new, fresh and exciting. Oh yeah....and decent vocals with clever lyrics is also a nice touch.

I would say that anyone who is into the "blues thing" should probably check out Vidar.....sounded like he was very competent and tasty.

[Mark Davis]

That guy was great weird to see someone smoking while playing as its outlawed in most places in the USA.

[bluzman1971]

The thing with Vidar is yes he can do standard blues stuff - very well I may add, but he changes his image & style often. He's not just a blues player, he can do jazz, country, rockabilly, pop you name it. From what I know of him he's HUGE in Norway. By the time he was 14rys old he was one of the baddest guitarist in all of Norway. I've heard that he can't walk out of his home without being mobbed by people wanting his picture or autograph. One reason why he likes to come back home here to the states because he's not well known he can relax & be himself. Those clips were just a sample of what he can do. Here in the Tampa Bay area we are blessed to have an incredible amount of talented musicians. THeres at least a dozen really badass professional guitar players locally that all know Vidar and share admiration & respect for his abilities. I know in every city of every state there's badass guitar players all over the world. We all know of someone like that Im sure.