Music: Buckethead

A character, both literally and figuratively, delivers one great musical performance, a relative unknown player brings the heat, but also a delicate virtuosity to the instrument

In my journey as a guitar player, I have found many role models to idolize. Big names like Eddie Van Halen, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, and Gary Moore, as well as some of the obscure ones like Vinnie Moore, Tony MacAlpine, Chris Impelliteri, and others.

None of them are on the same level as Buckethead. Born Brian Patrick Carroll, his on-stage persona is Buckethead, started with a KFC (presumably unused) bucket on his head, and he wears a mask. Later he switched to unbranded “white” buckets, but underneath the mask and the bucket, is one kick ass guitar player.

From the Wikipedia link above:

The Buckethead persona came to be when Carroll saw the 1988 slasher film Halloween 4 and was inspired by the film. He went out right after seeing it and bought a Michael Myers-like white mask. The bucket idea came later that night while eating chicken:^[14]

I was eating it, and I put the mask on and then the bucket on my head. I went to the mirror. I just said, 'Buckethead. That's Buckethead right there.' It was just one of those things. After that, I wanted to be that thing all the time.

— Buckethead, 1996, Guitar Player Magazine ^[5]

I am not sure when I first heard of him and his playing, but if I had to guess, I read somewhere that my all-time idol, Paul Gilbert, had him as a student, and that would have been enough to dip my toe in.

And his music is eclectic, combining quirky licks, just ballsey sounds, and often he builds concept albums (c.f. Bucketheadland)

Regardless, one of the staples of his live shows is a song called “Soothsayer” and there are literally hundreds of variants posted to Youtube, but the one below caught my eye.

His style is unique, combining amazing phrasing with a delicate touch, and also a deftness for high drama transitions, building and tearing down his themes.

The ethereal connective tissues between the main riffs is entrancing, and makes you want there to be another go ‘round.

(here is the album version)

I hope you enjoy this diversion from the hullabaloo of the news this week.

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