Metal Sludge Gossip Board

I recently came across two Stevie Ray Vaughan concerts from 1986 and 1987, and honestly… this is peak SRV.

By this time, Stevie had cleaned up, was laser-focused, and his playing was on another level. The fire and raw energy were still there from the early days, but paired with this new clarity and precision that made every solo hit harder. You can hear the confidence in his tone, the way he attacks every bend, and the sheer joy he has on stage.

These shows capture Stevie at the height of his powers — a perfect storm of technical brilliance, emotional depth, and that unmistakable SRV groove.

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Live In Antioch, 1987
https://youtu.be/RsnpXAHe2_g?si=Jz61dJxX5XRN4i7w

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Live In Memphis, 1986
https://youtu.be/NB6ePE5F6cs

Wasn't he not really fully clean til 88? Anyway, i saw him in 88, 89, and 90 and he was great every time. My friend saw him high off his ass in 84 and said he was great then too, FWIW.

October 13th, 1986 was his sobriety date, according to something I found online anyway

What a player. He was a pretty early case for me of hearing that single-coil Strat sound, which came out so nicely on particular mid-neck notes with a pinched picking style. And by his last solo album, with things like "Riviera Paradise," he was on a path toward some really beautiful music. I wonder if later in his career he ever would have gone over to a hum bucking sound (kind of like Joe Bonamassa uses) as explored that space. Maybe not. Another key to his sound was fantastic rhythm playing. The intro of Couldn't Stand the Weather is an example of that. I prefer that over the more traditional blues riffs like Pride and Joy. He was a much more fluid and rhythmic player than was (for example) BB King.

1983 - Live At The El Mocambo is the best I've ever heard him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtij9_f ... HlakPu_EOz

Phenomenal show

Van Ailin' wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 4:57 am What a player. He was a pretty early case for me of hearing that single-coil Strat sound, which came out so nicely on particular mid-neck notes with a pinched picking style. And by his last solo album, with things like "Riviera Paradise," he was on a path toward some really beautiful music. I wonder if later in his career he ever would have gone over to a hum bucking sound (kind of like Joe Bonamassa uses)

Did you just compare the great SRV to that gear-hoarding hack that looks like Sloth from the Goonies?

Die.

Bono Nettencourt wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 12:10 pm

Van Ailin' wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 4:57 am What a player. He was a pretty early case for me of hearing that single-coil Strat sound, which came out so nicely on particular mid-neck notes with a pinched picking style. And by his last solo album, with things like "Riviera Paradise," he was on a path toward some really beautiful music. I wonder if later in his career he ever would have gone over to a hum bucking sound (kind of like Joe Bonamassa uses)

Did you just compare the great SRV to that gear-hoarding hack that looks like Sloth from the Goonies?

Die.

No. Read again. What I suggested was: had Stevie lived, would we have ever seen him move away from the single coil sound and try (at least a little) soloing with a humbucker sound? I used JB as an example of that sound, especially in that no matter what you might think of his songs or playing, he gets a great lead tone. But it's a very very different lead tone than SRV used. That was the entire point. Think of Peter Green playing Green. That was also a very different tone.

Van Ailin' wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 9:30 pm

Bono Nettencourt wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 12:10 pm

Van Ailin' wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 4:57 am What a player. He was a pretty early case for me of hearing that single-coil Strat sound, which came out so nicely on particular mid-neck notes with a pinched picking style. And by his last solo album, with things like "Riviera Paradise," he was on a path toward some really beautiful music. I wonder if later in his career he ever would have gone over to a hum bucking sound (kind of like Joe Bonamassa uses)

Did you just compare the great SRV to that gear-hoarding hack that looks like Sloth from the Goonies?

Die.

No. Read again.

No. I already killed enough brain cells reading it once.

Joe Bonamasshole stole 90% of his style and tone from Eric Johnson. Motherfucker should be paying him royalties.

Van Ailin' wrote: ↑Mon Aug 18, 2025 4:57 amI I wonder if later in his career he ever would have gone over to a hum bucking sound (kind of like Joe Bonamassa uses) as explored that space.

Shut the front door. Fuck no.

No fucking Sloth tone for Stevie. Sloth love Chunk.