Speed, technique, ease. And a name that combines them all. Paul Gilbert. A virtuoso, technical shredder – needless turgid clichés for a man that could be called simply “what a talented guitarist”. Because after an hour and a half of delay and an hour and a half of play, most of the discussions heard around the Fair Pavilion 2 in Plovdiv  were in the spirits of “there is nothing to comment let’s be quiet for a while, ah?”

In 9.30 PM, without seeing the Bulgarian guitar trio Ivan Lechev, Tzvetan Nedyalkov and Veselin Koychev, we welcomed the band of Paul Gilbert. “Hey, Plovdiv! It is a pleasure and honor for us t play for you!” And they started playing. And, God, how they play! Seconds after the beginning of the concert, most of the over of thousand visitors leaped to the stage, drawn by the strong sonar magnet. Well done, the sound in the market hall was great!

For the acquainted with the work of the American guitarist with Racer X or his solo albums it is not a surprise the powerful guitar orientated metal that Gilbert serves to his fans. It is a surprise though the amazing teamwork of the three men and the charming wife of Paul, Emi Gilbert (keyboards) and their exceptional instrumental technique.

The accent of the show fell on the last albums of the guitarist, mostly on this year’s “Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar”. We also heard pieces of the earlier recordings of Paul and some of the legendary Racer X. „To play the guitar is the most exciting job in the world. Thank you for giving me my job!”, he admitted from the stage and then for ten minutes we have been smashed by a “Jackhammer”. The hard cutter merged from walks on the fretboards to a sprint on the drums of Jeff Bowders. Solo that at its end sounded like a slump of rocks. No, the musicians are far from accidental ones. Craig Martini, the tattooed bass-player who seemed to be out of some New York hardcore gang jumped on the stage and on the fat strings, dueling musically now with Paul, now with Jeff. And Emi was more than the beautiful girl among the guys. Her moments on the keys were adequate and very technical.

It is well known that Paul Gilbert often plays covers live. This night both cover songs were taken out of “the amazing work of Jimmy Hendrix”. “Hey Joe” for another time set the crowd on feet and Paul, following the great guitarist, fondled the strings with teeth. And at the end of the concert “when we have to get off the stage and you have to call us back, I suggest that we just stay and play for you”. And he gave us the wonderful blues of “Red House”.

The distinctive in the playing of Paul Gilbert is that he not only demonstrates his extraordinary technique; he does it in such a manner that the compositions do not lose their melody, nor get boring of “filing” on the strings. While the speed and the heaviness of the guitar are such that probably the aluminium constructions in the hall jagged to sweaty hot turnings. But this quickness sinks in the amazing musical background in a way as if to play so virtuously is one of smoothest and easy occupations in the world. And while I was standing there amazed and applauding with both palms and feet, I was thinking “This man cannot be SO good!”. Well, but he can.

Report:В Ivaylo AlexandrovВ 

Photos:В Victor Alexandrov

More photos are available in theВ GALLERY.