I check out this kid from time to time. He overcame a lot of medical hardships from birth. Took up guitar at 15, and now at age 23 is a monster player. https://www.youtube.com/PetesDiaryOfficial
I tend to agree wit Rhett on most things, and we seem to share a lot of similar tastes. Maybe i'll come across one to try out. At the moment, I have enough Teles.
Probably my 2 favorite acoustic covers, both happen to be by the same guy. I'm not even a big fan of Coldplay and Maroon 5, but these songs are both good and his style is awesome. I could half-ass play Sugar at one time but: A - I'm not growing my nails on my right hand so the downbeat percussive strikes and he'll play notes while flicking his fingers down cut the skin drawing blood at the cuticle and was just brutal - had to get a damp towel to get the blood off the top of the guitar; B - his fingers are so damned long it's really tough to get a good bass thump w/the palm of my hand then get back to the right spot on the strings to play cleanly.
Watched this one while folding laundry and playing with the puppy and eating breakfast this morning.
Had avoided it for awhile because it's an hour and a half but it's really good.
It's surprising (and yet not) how many guitarists reference the influence of EVH in these types of videos.
Paul Gilbert, Nuno, Vai, I've heard them all talk about "Edward" in ways that really have him on a pedestal next to Hendrix.
I know zilch about Townsend or his music. And he get less mic time than the others here, but when he talks about grabbing his looper and a guitar, a pot of coffee, and then just freestyling while watching 9 hours of a train going to the North Pole from the view from the cab, it's crazy. You can even see Tobin look at John and Rick with a "Whoa…who is this guy?" look on his face.