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DuncanAngus · January 21st, 2012, 05:03 PM

If you post this question on any of the "purest" acoustic sites you'll need a hard hat.

While he plays acoustic, his sound is so experimental and un-acoustic. Lots of delay, reverb, echo. You can almost imagine what he's sound like with an electric guitar, but seems that what he does sets him far apart from most others.

Just heard the live "Rocket Launcher" and wondered if anyone else thought that this guy may be onto something. either good or bad.

ScottJPatrick · January 21st, 2012, 05:10 PM

oh yes, great songwriter who doesn't get a lot of mainstream coverage due to the political nature of a lot of his songs.

Cassady · January 21st, 2012, 07:27 PM

I'm a big fan of Bruce Cockburn and own a lot of his recordings. He's a fantastic songwriter, singer and guitarist. Eventually, I'll own all of his recording since there's generally a gem or two on everything he does.

I would really (really, REALLY) like to see him live sometime, but he doesn't ever seem to play quite close enough to my location to make it convenient to do so.

Here's a video I found about him as a guitarist:

Cassady · January 21st, 2012, 07:31 PM

Some pretty fair playing here, even if he is using some effects:

Tim Armstrong · January 21st, 2012, 07:47 PM

He's a hell of a guitarist, songwriter, singer, performer...

Tim

Oakville Dave · January 21st, 2012, 07:47 PM

He's astounding! INCREDIBLE technique - check out "Water Into Wine" - his writing is subtle, insightful, lyrical, yet topical, even at times confrontational. An incredibly diverse and prolific body of work. He's the real McCoy, the complete package. I've been a fan for over 30 years, have seen him in concert at least 6 times, have met him twice, and he autographed one of my acoustic guitars.

ROADMAN · January 21st, 2012, 09:20 PM

totally with ya Oakville Dave ...at least 30 years I've been digging Bruce and covering his stuff ( the easier stuff that is) for years....don't know why Bruce isn't more famous but as has been mentioned he does bring politics into his work and that can be contentious as "we" all know ;)

ringodingo · January 21st, 2012, 09:44 PM

Great guitarist but I think I only know 3 of his songs.

Geoff738 · January 21st, 2012, 10:47 PM

Bruce was an almost neighbour of mine. He moved out of his place around the time I moved in. I never saw him there, but I did get some mail that was supposed to have been delivered to his place that I went and stuffed back in his mailbox.

I ended up in a pub here after a Dino Jr. show, and who should pull up a chair right next to me but Mr. Cockburn. I let him do his crossword in peace. Although I did really want to ask him what he wrote at that house that I ended up living beside.

I have to admit I haven't kept up with his recent stuff. But he has a heckuva body of work that I'm guessing goes back 40 years or so now.

Cheers,
geoff

boneyguy · January 22nd, 2012, 03:45 AM

The world of music and songwriting would be far less interesting without Bruce's presence. He's been doing what he does for a very long time now and is a Canadian icon. A music hero here. I've seen him in concert three times and it's always different and always familiar. He's cut from the old school singer-songwriter cloth like CSNY and Joni and folks like that. He sings what he cares about. He's real and not a record company product. I dig him a lot and have for many years.

TG · January 22nd, 2012, 04:05 AM

Haven't heard of him in years.....not well known over here, I guess.

But I used to try to learn how to play some of his stuff back home in Canada in the late '70s/early '80s.
I think I can still remember how to play 'Foxglove'. Open C tuning, I think it was. ??

Saw him play in Guelph in '80 or '81. I remember being impressed by the musicianship, although there was a lot of unnecessary fast noodling by the various musicians, I thought. I recall thinking that it all came across a bit arty-pretentious.

TEAM LANDRETH · January 22nd, 2012, 04:16 AM

Eternally tasty and well informed, truly a Canadian treasure. And one hell of a good shot...

djalt · January 22nd, 2012, 09:08 AM

Nice little interview with Bruce and luthier (luthieress?) Linda Manzer in the current Fretboard Journal. Explains Bruces bluey green guitars.....

Paul in Colorado · January 22nd, 2012, 11:07 AM

A former girlfriend played "Circles in the Stream" for me back around '77. I've been a fan ever since. I haven't heard his latest works, but "Stealing Fire" is a desert island disk. I've seen him in concert several times and got to meet him and his band after a show in Tempe, AZ back in the '90's. I think he played all of my favorite songs at that show.

nasonm · January 22nd, 2012, 11:16 AM

My former boss introduced me to his music. Although I do enjoy many of his "hits", I'm partial to his instrumental stuff. My favorite is the instrumental compilation "Time Pieces".

uriah1 · January 22nd, 2012, 11:28 AM

Yep

refin · January 22nd, 2012, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassady

Some pretty fair playing here, even if he is using some effects:

Was gonna post that one---good choice!

I have alot of Cockburn's stuff,even fortunate to have his first two on LP.Great player and lyricist/storyteller.

elihu · January 22nd, 2012, 03:44 PM

I love his take on Blind Willie Johnson...

January 21st, 2012, 05:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
DuncanAngus Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Massachusetts Age: 54 Posts: 938	Any love for Bruce Cockburn? If you post this question on any of the "purest" acoustic sites you'll need a hard hat. While he plays acoustic, his sound is so experimental and un-acoustic. Lots of delay, reverb, echo. You can almost imagine what he's sound like with an electric guitar, but seems that what he does sets him far apart from most others. Just heard the live "Rocket Launcher" and wondered if anyone else thought that this guy may be onto something. either good or bad. __________________ "I've suffered years for my art. Now it's your turn.. One, two, three and..."

January 21st, 2012, 07:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
Oakville Dave Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,894 19 Photos	He's astounding! INCREDIBLE technique - check out "Water Into Wine" - his writing is subtle, insightful, lyrical, yet topical, even at times confrontational. An incredibly diverse and prolific body of work. He's the real McCoy, the complete package. I've been a fan for over 30 years, have seen him in concert at least 6 times, have met him twice, and he autographed one of my acoustic guitars. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Rock On - Oakville Dave groovehammer.ca

January 21st, 2012, 09:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
ringodingo Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vancouver BC Posts: 499	If I Had A Rocking Lawnchair Great guitarist but I think I only know 3 of his songs. __________________ I don't play a Telecaster because of the Beatles, but I DO play guitar because of the Beatles.

January 21st, 2012, 10:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
Geoff738 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto Age: 49 Posts: 3,946	Bruce was an almost neighbour of mine. He moved out of his place around the time I moved in. I never saw him there, but I did get some mail that was supposed to have been delivered to his place that I went and stuffed back in his mailbox. I ended up in a pub here after a Dino Jr. show, and who should pull up a chair right next to me but Mr. Cockburn. I let him do his crossword in peace. Although I did really want to ask him what he wrote at that house that I ended up living beside. I have to admit I haven't kept up with his recent stuff. But he has a heckuva body of work that I'm guessing goes back 40 years or so now. Cheers, geoff __________________ "Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world."

January 22nd, 2012, 03:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
boneyguy Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: victoria b.c. CANADA Age: 55 Posts: 9,318	The world of music and songwriting would be far less interesting without Bruce's presence. He's been doing what he does for a very long time now and is a Canadian icon. A music hero here. I've seen him in concert three times and it's always different and always familiar. He's cut from the old school singer-songwriter cloth like CSNY and Joni and folks like that. He sings what he cares about. He's real and not a record company product. I dig him a lot and have for many years. __________________ I am the center of the universe and so are you.

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January 21st, 2012, 05:10 PM	#2 (permalink)
ScottJPatrick Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2011 Location: Scotland Age: 52 Posts: 485	oh yes, great songwriter who doesn't get a lot of mainstream coverage due to the political nature of a lot of his songs.

January 21st, 2012, 07:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cassady Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,190	I'm a big fan of Bruce Cockburn and own a lot of his recordings. He's a fantastic songwriter, singer and guitarist. Eventually, I'll own all of his recording since there's generally a gem or two on everything he does. I would really (really, REALLY) like to see him live sometime, but he doesn't ever seem to play quite close enough to my location to make it convenient to do so. Here's a video I found about him as a guitarist:

January 21st, 2012, 07:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cassady Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,190	Some pretty fair playing here, even if he is using some effects:

January 21st, 2012, 07:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Super Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Age: 53 Posts: 18,820	He's a hell of a guitarist, songwriter, singer, performer... Tim

January 21st, 2012, 09:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
ROADMAN Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Boundary Bay BC Canada Age: 58 Posts: 5,214	totally with ya Oakville Dave ...at least 30 years I've been digging Bruce and covering his stuff ( the easier stuff that is) for years....don't know why Bruce isn't more famous but as has been mentioned he does bring politics into his work and that can be contentious as "we" all know ;)

January 22nd, 2012, 04:05 AM	#11 (permalink)
TG Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beside a bog in the west Age: 51 Posts: 11,048	Haven't heard of him in years.....not well known over here, I guess. But I used to try to learn how to play some of his stuff back home in Canada in the late '70s/early '80s. I think I can still remember how to play 'Foxglove'. Open C tuning, I think it was. ?? Saw him play in Guelph in '80 or '81. I remember being impressed by the musicianship, although there was a lot of unnecessary fast noodling by the various musicians, I thought. I recall thinking that it all came across a bit arty-pretentious.

January 22nd, 2012, 04:16 AM	#12 (permalink)
TEAM LANDRETH Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Winnipeg Age: 54 Posts: 346 6 Photos	Eternally tasty and well informed, truly a Canadian treasure. And one hell of a good shot...

January 22nd, 2012, 09:08 AM	#13 (permalink)
djalt Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: canada Age: 38 Posts: 619	Nice little interview with Bruce and luthier (luthieress?) Linda Manzer in the current Fretboard Journal. Explains Bruces bluey green guitars..... __________________ played the at Ryman once ...for 2 minutes

January 22nd, 2012, 11:07 AM	#14 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 60 Posts: 9,698 3 Photos	A former girlfriend played "Circles in the Stream" for me back around '77. I've been a fan ever since. I haven't heard his latest works, but "Stealing Fire" is a desert island disk. I've seen him in concert several times and got to meet him and his band after a show in Tempe, AZ back in the '90's. I think he played all of my favorite songs at that show. __________________ "Can y'all play some Skynnard? Y'know, like 'Stairway to Heaven?'" -Drunk cowboy at Trail Dust Days, Pine Bluffs, WY

January 22nd, 2012, 11:16 AM	#15 (permalink)
nasonm Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bangor, Maine Age: 35 Posts: 2,810 16 Photos	My former boss introduced me to his music. Although I do enjoy many of his "hits", I'm partial to his instrumental stuff. My favorite is the instrumental compilation "Time Pieces". __________________ "i have learned to just grit my teeth, change the subject, consider their deep total ignorance, fondle the thumb picks in my pocket and go on my way" - bender-freak It's been lonely in the saddle since my horse died

January 22nd, 2012, 11:28 AM	#16 (permalink)
uriah1 Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: toledo Posts: 5,796	Yep __________________ A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read..... Mark Twain

January 22nd, 2012, 03:44 PM	#18 (permalink)
elihu Friend of Leo's Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Texas Age: 52 Posts: 3,820	I love his take on Blind Willie Johnson... __________________ Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

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