Singer/Songwriters who play solo - with an Electric Guitar

[ukepicker]

I've always loved the singer/songwriter genre. Especially the solo performer version of it. I love how a good artist can craft a song and then perform the song, accompany him/herself and convey the whole idea - not leave me feeling like anything is missing.

But it is a rare thing indeed to hear someone singing alone and accompanying themselves with an electric guitar.

Live at Sin-é comes to mind. I love Jeff Buckley and a telecaster.

Does anyone else do this? Who are some other artists/what are some albums of solo electric playing songwriters?

 

[BryMelvin]

IIRC I think Bob Dylan started this not with an album but live at a Newport Festival. First one I ever went to!

 

[naveed211]

I've always loved the singer/songwriter genre. Especially the solo performer version of it. I love how a good artist can craft a song and then perform the song, accompany him/herself and convey the whole idea - not leave me feeling like anything is missing.

But it is a rare thing indeed to hear someone singing alone and accompanying themselves with an electric guitar.

Live at Sin-é comes to mind. I love Jeff Buckley and a telecaster.

Does anyone else do this? Who are some other artists/what are some albums of solo electric playing songwriters?

Jeff Buckley at Sin-e was my first thought too. Just incredible.

There’s a video with Daniel Lanois playing “The Messenger” on electric with a group (no drum or bass). Sounds wonderful, too.

 

[getbent]

steve gillette does that.

 

[Whatizitman]

I wish more did. I hate piezos on acoustics. If you can't mic an acoustic, might as well play an electric plugged into an amp. Sounds better, anyway.

 

[ukepicker]

I wish more did. I hate piezos on acoustics. If you can't mic an acoustic, might as well play an electric plugged into an amp. Sounds better, anyway.

EXACTLY, man.

 

[Elliot_G]

This was true of Billy Bragg for most of his early career, and he still plays the lion's share of solo shows that way.


The Tallest Man on Earth started as an acoustic player, but has been doing plenty of solo electric lately.

 

[nojazzhere]

Our own LGOberean does at least some if not all of his solo gigs with one of his Logan Tele-styles.
Hope he doesn't mind me posting this. (If you do, Larry, let me know and I'll take it down)

 

[ukepicker]

The Tallest Man on Earth started as an acoustic player, but has been doing plenty of solo electric lately.

I've enjoyed Tallest Man on Youtube. Always an interesting instrument and is well performed/produced.
Hadn't heard this KEXP performance. Thanks!

(PS - Cheryl Waters is a beautiful human)

 

[TigerG]

EXACTLY, man.

Exactly exactly!
For decades now, I've thought most acoustic guitar players would have a more genuine "acoustic" guitar sound by plugging a Strat or Tele into even a halfway decent clean amp--so much better than that crappy "plith plith" generally coming from an acoustic guitar through a PA.
There are exceptions of course...

 

[TeleBluesMan]

Elvis Costello, on occasion:

 

[rjtwangs]

Margaret Glaspy, girlfriend of Julian Lage....

Enjoy!


RJ

 

[Titletone]

Bob Mould does it on occasion:

 

[Jim W]

Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Jeff Walker have as has John Sebastian

 

[teletimetx]

If you're going to narrow it down to playing all the time, every time, solo electric, you're going to limit what you come up with.

first and foremost, you shouldn't forget Chuck Berry. Ok, maybe not a solo artist, but hey.

But you could add:
Steve Earle (well dang it, yeah, he plays banjo, mandolin, bass and other stuff, but)
Stephen Stills
P J Harvey
Lianne La Havas
St. Vincent
Brittany Howard

 

[davenumber2]

Paul Westerberg does.

 

[blowtorch]

SCOTT H MFin' BIRAM!

he's makin all that racket, all by himself

 

[popthree]

Doesn't Courtney Barnett usually play an electric?

I've seen Mark Knofler do it

 

[richiek65]

I've seen John Hiatt do a solo show with a good proportion of it on his Country Gentleman

 

[ukepicker]

SCOTT H MFin' BIRAM!

he's makin all that racket, all by himself

I love Scott Biram. I haven't heard him in a while.
He's the real deal.