Leo Kottke Workshop at UWM

[LKSM_Owner]

Anybody going to the "Music of Leo Kottke Workshop" at
the University of Wisconsin in July ?

[Jay B.]

Is Leo going to be there? Back in '68 or 9 (not sure) a young Leo Kottke came to my home to jam with me. It was pretty one sided. I knew then that he was going to make a mark in the music world. He was staying in San Francisco at the time in a cubical below the sidewalk level, in space that was about 9x9. It had a toilet and a sink along with his six guitars and two Akai recorders. Now that's a real guitarman. His playing was literally out of this world, but his singing didn't cut it for me. So I told him "Leo your a great guitar player, but take my advise, don't sing!) Words I live to regret! The Ring, Everybody Lies, Pepe Hush and many more proved me wrong. Someday I hope to meet up with him once more (hopefully he'll remember me), and tell him I was wrong about that. Leo is a rare musician!.........Have a good time.....JB

[LKSM_Owner]

No, I wish he was going to make an appearance. The workshop is taught by John Stropes at UWM. Last year I did meet Leo very briefly and I wish I could have talked with him a little longer.

[Jay B.]

Up until that day Leo came to my house in Pacifica, I only knew flat picking. But when he dasseled me with his tricky finger work, I couldn't help but ask him "How the heck do you get your fingers to do that?" He said do this (demonstrating a simple thumb and finger pattern) over and over until it becomes second nature. So I did, and I've been five finger style ever since. Now when someone says"where did you learn to finger pick like that?" I tell them Leo kottke. And I mean it! Leo was just here in Sacramento last month and I was out of town or I would gone to meet him. Hopefully his next tour of the west coast. By the way I saw your video, very good, very Kottke.....JB

[lofapco]

His playing was literally out of this world, but his singing didn't cut it for me. So I told him "Leo your a great guitar player, but take my advise, don't sing!) Words I live to regret! The Ring, Everybody Lies, Pepe Hush and many more proved me wrong. Someday I hope to meet up with him once more (hopefully he'll remember me), and tell him I was wrong about that. Leo is a rare musician!.........Have a good time.....JB

Leo knows his limitations... I have seen him in concert a couple times here in his home state of MN. I remember him saying (or maybe it was in the liners of one of his CD's I have) that he feels his singing is akin to "Goose farts on a muggy day"... I tend to agree with the exception of the song "At the top of the stairs" which fits his voice perfectly. His playing is out of this world in my opinion which always more than makes up for a goose fart vocal... :D

[birkenweg42]

Leo knows his limitations... I have seen him in concert a couple times here in his home state of MN. I remember him saying (or maybe it was in the liners of one of his CD's I have) that he feels his singing is akin to "Goose farts on a muggy day"... I tend to agree with the exception of the song "At the top of the stairs" which fits his voice perfectly. His playing is out of this world in my opinion which always more than makes up for a goose fart vocal... :D

I used to think likewise about Leo's singing but it has grown on me. Songs like Deep River Blues, Flattened Brain and Driver are perfect for his bariton. But I can see that it's not for everybody.
I have tickets to see him for the fourth time in Fresno in October or November.

[kottkemckee]

I've seen him somewhere between 10-15 times, twice with Mike Gordon from Phish. He is incredible (as is Gordon). I have this fear that he will quit touring soon. The man is almost 64 so who knows how much longer he'll go on.