I liked what Tommy Emmanuel did at the 2020 Transatlantic Sessions but my main motivation for going to this gig (originally scheduled for 2021) was to see Jerry Douglas. Although he was designated as 'Special Guest' he did play with Tommy for around half an hour as well as having the opening slot as a solo act. His set was of course brilliant, mostly on Dobro but with a couple of tunes on a Lap Steel guitar as well. He just mesmerises with that wonderful Dobro sound. Among the songs he played was a Tom Waits cover '2:19', 'A Peaceful Return', 'Monkey Let the Hogs Out' and a set of four tunes that included 'Little Martha' which is of course an Allman Bros song - it's been a while since I heard that.
Tommy Emmanuel came on playing fast guitar with incredible skill but I think the songs I enjoyed most of his were the more melodic ones. Early on he did 'Deep River Blues' which resonated and a song called 'The Mystery' (allegedly written whilst he was in Ebbw Vale) was nice. I was less taken with a Beatles medley but then I don't like medleys and I am not a huge Beatles fan. That was immediately followed by a brilliant version of 'Classical Gas' which I enjoyed a lot. Thereafter he played a couple of old old songs namely 'Secret Love' and 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' which were more of the quieter melodic end of his repertoire.
After an hour or so he brought on Jerry Douglas and that upped the level hugely. Fair play to Tommy he let Jerry take the lead part mostly and they did a great version of 'Choctaw Hayride', a great track called 'Half Way Home', a cover of 'I'm on Fire' (which Tommy also did at the Transatlantic Sessions gig) and brilliantly ' Hey Joe' - a song that means a lot to me since I saw Hendrix do it.
All in all it's been a long wait to see this gig but with front row seats at St Davids Hall - this was good night out.
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