The second in a series on Memphis music, where Don shares some love for music from his hometown.
I met Shawn Lane a couple of years before his untimely death. Sandip Burman was passing through on a university tour. Frank Schaffer, U of M faculty extraordinaire, asked if it was cool for Sandip to crash at the house where I was living. Shawn called round for a session the first night. It was profound.
The history on him is that Shawn was from Memphis and started out playing guitar for Black Oak Arkansas. That might not sound too impressive, BOA aren’t everyone’s taste, but Shawn transformed the band at the age of 14 and was out by the time his 18th rolled around. Fuckin’ legend. He went on to play with some of the greats of Indian/Jazz/Fusion: Zakir Hussain, V. Selvaganesh, and Allan Holdsworth. He also released a highly acclaimed solo effort, Powers of Ten.
Back to that night in Memphis, Shawn got his hands on this fretless acoustic that had the sawed-in-half headstock of a mandolin added to where the neck joined the body. That gave the guitar some sympathetic strings, like on a sitar. Shawn tore it to shreds. Nobody could really step to the guy. It was the only time in my life when I’ve actually been afraid to pick up a guitar in someone’s presence. I hope some of you find Shawn’s musical ability as incredible as I do.
On a side note, Sandip Burman ran up hell of phone bills.
MP3
Jonas Hellborg with Shawn Lane & Kofi Baker – Throwing Elephant and Wresting
[audio:https://nialler9.com/mp3/Jonas_Hellborg_with_Shawn_Lane_and_Kofi Baker_-_Throwing_Elephant_And_Wrestling.mp3]Jonas Hellborg with Shawn Lane & Kofi Baker – Abstract Logic
[audio:https://nialler9.com/mp3/Jonas_Hellborg_with_Shawn_Lane_and_Kofi Baker_-_Abstract_Logic.mp3]
Video
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l5sEvC0SpY[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpP_Eix2INg[/youtube]
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
The picture at the top of this post is Jonas Hellborg, not Shawn Lane.
The picture at the top of this post is Jonas Hellborg, not Shawn Lane.
Don’s having trouble leaving a comment but he’s sure it’s Shawn Lane. In his own words –
He’s got his Vigier Excalibur and is smoking. Plus he looks like he weighs 300 pounds. Can’t be anybody else. Hellborg has male pattern baldness and plays the bass.
Don’s having trouble leaving a comment but he’s sure it’s Shawn Lane. In his own words –
He’s got his Vigier Excalibur and is smoking. Plus he looks like he weighs 300 pounds. Can’t be anybody else. Hellborg has male pattern baldness and plays the bass.
The picture that is currently up IS Shawn Lane. But there was a Hellborg photo there before.
The picture that is currently up IS Shawn Lane. But there was a Hellborg photo there before.
sorry. heavy confusion!
it’s him now alright!
sorry. heavy confusion!
it’s him now alright!
Hey no problem! It’s just cool that someone out there is writing about these guys. Nice blog, keep up the good work.
Hey no problem! It’s just cool that someone out there is writing about these guys. Nice blog, keep up the good work.
Yeah, that was kind of weird with the photos. Rich, props on that site man. Am working on that Jimmy Herring lick as we speak.
Yeah, that was kind of weird with the photos. Rich, props on that site man. Am working on that Jimmy Herring lick as we speak.
Hey thanks!
Hey thanks!