New for 2022

[jbaent]

The weirdest thing in 2019 to me was the absence on the iconic National on R&J. That sounded really strange.

The brass section can be cool if well used.

Mark turning into classic 'stax sound' blended with his inimitable touch could have been an enjoyable move.

The beard resonator just didn’t cut it. He might as well have played it on a normal wooden acoustic tuned to open G.

I think the old reliable National is just too heavy for Mark's back. The thingh weighs like an aeroplane! Around 8 lbs. or 4 kilos or more, it's a beast. And on the new guitar they seem to have a pretty generic and not a sophisticated undersaddle pickup which really sounds like a regular acoustic guitar. I think in the old one the pickup was installed right in the cone itself. But either way, this change was lame and I can't agree more.

Gibson Les Paul is also very heavy, and he used it a lot.

The problem with the National wasn't the weight, but protecting such an old guitar from further damage on the road.

I think he might had used the Beltona or the National replica instead of the Beard, that didn't sound right for Romeo nor for TR, but he thought it fit, so he used it.

[quizzaciously]

The weirdest thing in 2019 to me was the absence on the iconic National on R&J. That sounded really strange.

The brass section can be cool if well used.

Mark turning into classic 'stax sound' blended with his inimitable touch could have been an enjoyable move.

The beard resonator just didn’t cut it. He might as well have played it on a normal wooden acoustic tuned to open G.

I think the old reliable National is just too heavy for Mark's back. The thingh weighs like an aeroplane! Around 8 lbs. or 4 kilos or more, it's a beast. And on the new guitar they seem to have a pretty generic and not a sophisticated undersaddle pickup which really sounds like a regular acoustic guitar. I think in the old one the pickup was installed right in the cone itself. But either way, this change was lame and I can't agree more.

Gibson Les Paul is also very heavy, and he used it a lot.

The problem with the National wasn't the weight, but protecting such an old guitar from further damage on the road.

I think he might had used the Beltona or the National replica instead of the Beard, that didn't sound right for Romeo nor for TR, but he thought it fit, so he used it.

Protecting guitar is also that Mark said about dropping his National, I believe. So, unless he's lying, that has to be true. But I think Les Paul is still about 1 kilo less, who knows about how his signature prototype weighs, maybe less, and also LP is easier to hold. With Heart Full Of Holes and "proper" metal body resonator guitar he played it while sitting! So it's not so clear to me as he just suddenly decided to protect a guitar after almost 100 years of abuse.

[jbaent]

The weirdest thing in 2019 to me was the absence on the iconic National on R&J. That sounded really strange.

The brass section can be cool if well used.

Mark turning into classic 'stax sound' blended with his inimitable touch could have been an enjoyable move.

The beard resonator just didn’t cut it. He might as well have played it on a normal wooden acoustic tuned to open G.

I think the old reliable National is just too heavy for Mark's back. The thingh weighs like an aeroplane! Around 8 lbs. or 4 kilos or more, it's a beast. And on the new guitar they seem to have a pretty generic and not a sophisticated undersaddle pickup which really sounds like a regular acoustic guitar. I think in the old one the pickup was installed right in the cone itself. But either way, this change was lame and I can't agree more.

Gibson Les Paul is also very heavy, and he used it a lot.

The problem with the National wasn't the weight, but protecting such an old guitar from further damage on the road.

I think he might had used the Beltona or the National replica instead of the Beard, that didn't sound right for Romeo nor for TR, but he thought it fit, so he used it.

Protecting guitar is also that Mark said about dropping his National, I believe. So, unless he's lying, that has to be true. But I think Les Paul is still about 1 kilo less, who knows about how his signature prototype weighs, maybe less, and also LP is easier to hold. With Heart Full Of Holes and "proper" metal body resonator guitar he played it while sitting! So it's not so clear to me as he just suddenly decided to protect a guitar after almost 100 years of abuse.

Maybe it was a metaphore of himself, LOL

[KnopfleRick]

It hurts me to say that but I don’t think it’s a matter of wanting or not to tour, guys.

Yes.  From 2013 to 2015 there was a notable drop in standard, but in 2019 there was some basic songs just dropped from the set and others with short solos or backed by brass instruments.  I would fear for him and his reputation to tour now.

 

100% agreed dmg, sadly....

Unfortunately, I agree also.  I really enjoyed the three concerts I attended in 2019, but I wouldn't want him to do another tour in 2023 when he would be 74.   I wouldn't want him to tarnish his reputation.  I hope he just continues writing songs and making albums now.

I'm absolutely with you, superval99!

[dustyvalentino]

Very few Les Pauls only weigh 7lbs…

Maybe the action was easier on the Beard.

[TheTimeWasWrong]

He should have been seated the entire show in 2019. Although unfortunate, it worked great in 2010, and he definitely played better that way than the 2008 tour.

[superval99]

He should have been seated the entire show in 2019. Although unfortunate, it worked great in 2010, and he definitely played better that way than the 2008 tour.

I went to four 2010 concerts and all of them were terrific.  MK played beautifully, perhaps because he was seated. 

[TheTimeWasWrong]

He should have been seated the entire show in 2019. Although unfortunate, it worked great in 2010, and he definitely played better that way than the 2008 tour.

I went to four 2010 concerts and all of them were terrific.  MK played beautifully, perhaps because he was seated. 

Yeah, it was such a great tour! I have very fond memories of the concert we visited. I can literally pick any recording of that tour and just enjoy it from start to finish.

[Stiglar]

He should have been seated the entire show in 2019. Although unfortunate, it worked great in 2010, and he definitely played better that way than the 2008 tour.

I went to four 2010 concerts and all of them were terrific.  MK played beautifully, perhaps because he was seated. 

I agree! Although his playing wasn't as flawless as when I saw him in 2005, Milano in 2010 is easily my favourite concert i've seen from any artist. His playing was really inspired.

[JF]

Maybe the action was easier on the Beard.

yes that's the reason I think
and the neck was thinner to

The problem with the the national was not its weight or difficulty to preserve it, but the thick neck and high action. Mark has always said this guitar was hard to play
Thats' also the reason he played Corned beef city. Slide was a way to have a rest for his wrist, before playing STP and Once upon a time

[dmg]

He should have been seated the entire show in 2019. Although unfortunate, it worked great in 2010, and he definitely played better that way than the 2008 tour.

I think the KTGC tour is unfairly criticised.  Yes he was making more mistakes in 2008 than in 2010, but his solos were more inspired and he was taking more risks.  I admire that and the shows are always more interesting.

[Knopflerfan]

He should have been seated the entire show in 2019. Although unfortunate, it worked great in 2010, and he definitely played better that way than the 2008 tour.

I think the KTGC tour is unfairly criticised.  Yes he was making more mistakes in 2008 than in 2010, but his solos were more inspired and he was taking more risks.  I admire that and the shows are always more interesting.

Ah yes the KTGC tour - amazing when I look back now. MK seemed to play with much freedom then. Bit more variety with songs too....

[MagicElliott]

He should have been seated the entire show in 2019. Although unfortunate, it worked great in 2010, and he definitely played better that way than the 2008 tour.

I think the KTGC tour is unfairly criticised.  Yes he was making more mistakes in 2008 than in 2010, but his solos were more inspired and he was taking more risks.  I admire that and the shows are always more interesting.

Agreed. Although 2008 was the first time I saw MK live, it does seem to be a turning point in more interesting song choices for a set list-and the introduction of a folky.

[ds1984]

He should have been seated the entire show in 2019. Although unfortunate, it worked great in 2010, and he definitely played better that way than the 2008 tour.

I think the KTGC tour is unfairly criticised.  Yes he was making more mistakes in 2008 than in 2010, but his solos were more inspired and he was taking more risks.  I admire that and the shows are always more interesting.

It was during the KTGC tour that I heard the best versions of Hill Farmer's Blues and Postcards From Paraguay.

[superval99]

It was wonderful to be at the Heineken for the first two shows of the KTGC tour and to hear so many songs, unexpectedly, for the first time.   They were really great shows and I enjoyed them very much, but the 2010 concerts are still my favourites - MK's playing was so special, everything was played so well, even though he was seated, or maybe because he was seated.