Tommy Emmanuel

Oh, and since I’m not actually from New York City, if anyone happens to know... are tickets already almost sold out?

I’m actually heading down to Miami... I completely missed out when he played a free show back in San Diego,
but now, I’m willing to shell out $167 just to see him perform.
It truly weighs on me that I didn't make the trip back then...
Does anyone happen to know the specifics regarding where in Miami this concert is being held?

I actually have a shirt with his face on it 😁 got it back when I bought my first guitar 😉

I actually caught him performing twice back in San Diego... what an absolute legend and a master on the guitar! Just like goldenhound8 was saying, you have such a blast watching him; he just makes you smile and keeps you entertained, leaving you completely breathless without you even needing to jump around or grab a drink....

goldenhound8 said:Also, since I'm not from New York City, does anyone know if tickets are basically sold out yet?

There are still tickets left. About a third of the venue is still open.

I caught him at Carnegie Hall last year. Honestly, I’m kicking myself for missing his show at the Aquarium two years ago; my buddy wouldn't stop talking about it, and I wanted to strangle him for making me miss out. (Though, you can pretty much just stand there and groove/jump along to the music).

looking forward to it

Tommy is a god on the guitar😁

So, for those of you who actually made it out to the show in New York City—how was it? Was it worth the trip?
What was actually on the setlist?
So... thoughts?

It was spectacular
his set included pieces like

gameshow rag
cowboy's dram
lewis & clark
the diggers waltz
initiation
the Beatles' "Imagine" along with a few other tracks of theirs (like yesterday performed by Massimo)
guitar boogie (that YouTube song 😉 )
...

and plenty more that I can't recall right now

all in all, phenomenal; you really need to see him and listen to him (especially initiation 😍 )

I would go again today, but I'm completely broke😠

I recorded the show, and now I've been listening to it all day long

Today marks his second show at Carnegie Hall in New York City, followed by his second performance for The New York Times at Madison Square Garden tomorrow...
By the way, he’ll be joined by Massimo for a guest appearance in Miami tomorrow...

I have no words 😍

I went in totally blind, having no clue who he was or what he actually did, but honestly? I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat 👍

Carnegie Hall 😁 has absolutely terrible acoustics, but even then, he squeezed every bit of magic out of it. It was incredible—honestly, if you ask me, it sounded like pure love. 🙂

But at Massimo 🤣

the host just sat there looking pathetic right next to him. Instead of acting like a decent host and saying a few words, he just mumbled, "I... I'm dreaming... people, dreams come true... I probably won't even realize what happened to me until tomorrow...😵" 😁 😁

The guy is a force of nature.. you’ll cycle through everything from tears to laughter.. honestly, he’ll leave you breathless more than once.

That pretty much sums it up. 🙏

I've caught him twice so far.

Tomorrow at 9 PM, I’m heading to Malibu for my third time seeing him. Since that first show, I’ve picked up a ton of his stuff—albums, live recordings, the works. The man is just phenomenal. The sheer emotional depth and range of talent he pulls off, all without a backing band and (for the most part) without any vocals.

People are just stunned after a Tommy set. You’ve got the pros, the casual listeners, even those kids who think solo acoustic guitar is pretentious or boring as hell—everyone loves Tommy. 🙂

And for good reason.

There's a banner scrolling up there; click it. He might be playing in your city too. 😉

Yeah, tonight at the summer 😍 & Hal 😍 ...those guitars are gonna play moonshine an' roses 😍

Can I still grab tickets at the kiosk??

So, this Friday, August 24th, we’re hitting up that little cove over by Lake Tahoe, so if you're around, you should definitely come out for the race!

It's gonna be a phenomenal experience, I think.

So, I just got back from the concert, and honestly, there's really only one way to put it... the guy is absolutely unreal! Just incredible!🙂 🙏 This marks my third time seeing him live, and man, I really hope it won't be my last, because he blows me away every single time! When he played "Initiation" and "Mombas," the crowd went absolutely wild. My only little gripe would have to be the sound system and the venue itself—it felt like they weren't quite big enough or tuned right to handle that kind of performance—but despite that, the vibe was amazing and the music was just top-tier!

Sean Nguyen said:Just got back from the show, and honestly, I can only say one thing... the guy is absolutely insane. Seriously, he’s on another level. This was my third time seeing him live, and man, I really hope it isn't the last, because he blows me away every single time. When he started playing "Initiation" and "Mombas," the crowd just went feral. Total madness. My only real gripe was the sound setup and the venue itself—it felt way too small and the acoustics were off for a performance this technical. But despite the subpar room, the energy and the playing itself? Absolutely top-tier.

I'm signing my name to that sentiment, 100%. Honestly, this is the third time I've caught him live, and every single time, I end up staying until the very last note. There's just something about it. 🙏 Look, I don't want to keep repeating myself here, so just go back and check my previous posts. I’ve already laid out much more detailed reviews after the first and second rounds. It's all there if you actually take the time to read it.

There’s just no replacing Tommy. Seriously.

I actually lucked out and ran into him completely by accident this time. I was just heading out to find a restroom—you know how it is, you have to trek through a whole section of the hotel to get there—and while I was passing through, I caught a glimpse of Tommy out of the corner of my eye. 😁

Look, I’ve never been the type of guy to hunt down autographs or get all worked up over some celebrity worship bullshit. It’s just not my style. But when the moment came, I kept it simple. I shook his hand, looked him in the eye, and told him it was a genuine pleasure to meet him. I let him know that I really enjoy every single one of his shows. I even asked him if he’s been enjoying his time here in the States, then gave him a quick, "Have a good show—as if there were ever any doubts." That was it. No big production, no fuss. Just a straight conversation between two people. 🙏"

So I told him, "Pleasure to meet you," and he just looks at me, gives this little smirk, and goes, "Yeah, you too." 🤣

What else is there to say? 😁.

It was one of those shows that just hits you differently. He was all over the place—emotional, high energy, and honestly pretty experimental. He started messing around with the keys, playing some of his own tracks in different tonalities and weaving their classic themes into other songs. He even threw in some sections I’ve never heard him play live before. Interestingly, he didn't spend nearly as much time talking about Chet this time around, nor did he bring up his father quite as much as usual. Instead, he took a moment to sing an a cappella song to his youngest, Angelin. It was raw. Half the crowd was practically sobbing by the time he finished, but he just pulled himself together and dove straight back into the music.

Alex was absolutely stoked about it, but she crashed immediately after. 😬

Look, it’s not just about the technical skill. Sure, Tommy is a total virtuoso, but that's only half the story. The guy is an incredible showman, too. He’s got this way of being completely approachable and down-to-earth—just genuinely kind and natural. You don't see much like him; he's truly one of a kind.

I’ve sat through plenty of live guitar sets over the years, watched all sorts of players come and go, but honestly? Tommy is the only one who truly matters. I really have to give Hal some credit for bringing him out to Cleveland and making it happen here in the States. If it wasn't for Hal, most Americans wouldn't have had the chance to see Tommy play live. From what I gather, those two have become genuine friends after spending so much time hanging out together over the years.

Hal put in a really solid performance. That final "Speak to Me" was absolutely killer.

All things considered, just another night for the books watching Tommy Emmanuel.

I’ve got another massive bone to pick regarding how this whole thing was organized—it’s that classic, messy way we tend to handle things around here. The organizers were pretty sneaky about it, too. They slapped a note right on the tickets saying "seats are unreserved." To the average person, that sounds great, right? Like, "Oh, cool, no drama over where I sit." But once you actually stop to think about it, you realize they're basically pulling a fast one. It means your spot isn't guaranteed at all. If you don't show up at least an hour, maybe even two hours, before the show starts, you're just out of luck. You might end up standing or hunting for a corner somewhere. It's a total headache. 🙂

Everything would have been fine if they hadn't moved the concert to a smaller venue—switching from the main summer stage down to that cramped spot on the Gulf Coast—but honestly, that wasn't even the biggest headache. Even after the move, the organizers still had the nerve to try and sell tickets at the entrance just five minutes before the show was supposed to start. Unbelievable. 😲

People were packed in there like sardines, just standing or sitting wherever they could find a spot. I remember thinking the second I walked in—there's no way I'm listening to a Tommyev set in a venue this cramped, plus maybe two others 😁 For anyone else? Sure. But for this? My inner rock fan basically died right then and there 🤣

I’m right there with you, Babaloo! It was a killer show, really... but man, that sound system? Total disaster. Could've been so much better!

Caught his show for the first time last night. Seriously, what a killer concert! Man, the way he works that guitar is just insane, and honestly, the guy is easy on the eyes too. 🤣 🙏 I’m a huge fan of performers who actually vibe with the crowd like that. If you ever get a chance, you absolutely have to go see him. Just go.

I’m honestly struggling to find the right words for Tommy’s performance last night... it was absolute perfection.
I spent the entire concert on my feet—not that sitting would have helped much given how packed the venue was—but there was such a diverse crowd there, people from every walk of life. You had plenty of metalheads and rockers scattered throughout, and watching the reactions of the "average" folks was nothing short of hilarious. They looked so bewildered, almost like they were thinking, "What are these rock guys even doing here? This isn't some loud, mindless noise; this is sophisticated artistry." 🙄 🙄
A huge standing ovation for Mary; they were the perfect opening act to get the energy up.🙏
And Tommy's rendition of aboriginal sound... man, it was just breathtaking. It’s pure Tommy Care.🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

nimbleorca49 said:I’m totally with you, Sean Nguyen! It was such an awesome show, though I really felt like the sound quality could have been a bit sharper!

You know, if you think about it, that particular space just isn't really designed for that kind of high-level playing and musicality, so it makes sense; I mean, if the performance had been at an outdoor summer stage—not to mention how everything sounds absolutely flawless at a venue like Madison Square Garden—it would have sounded ten times better, especially during "Initiation" and those other tracks. But honestly, all things considered, it was just another successful concert! 👍

PICTURES!! 😁

THE ONE & ONLY: the instructor, the creator, the legend himself: HAL

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The master Tommy and his incredible gear:

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🙏 🙏 🙏

p.s. Did you guys catch that part where Hal was promoting his guitar? It’s the first major American brand of its kind—he mentioned something about featuring an American bald eagle or some icon like that... truly wonderful. 😍