Guitar Heroes

For me, a bonafide rock ‘n’ roll guitar hero is one who transcends the genre. To my great fortune, I had the opportunity to see no less than five brilliant guitarists over a five-day period in early August. The featured performers were old rockers from the 1970s. The opening acts were even older rockers from the 1960s.

On Thursday, August 7, we witnessed a magnum opus from the likes of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the Matthew Knight Arena. Back in 1978, one of his first hits, “Breakdown,” was repeatedly playing on the jukebox in the Cornerstone Bar and Grill in Ellensburg, Washington when I first met my lovely bride, Rebecca.

Though he didn’t play that particular tune, Petty and fellow guitar hero Mike Campbell (above, left) -- the “co-captain” of The Heartbreakers -- did lead the band into familiar territory with songs like “Learning To Fly,” “Mary Jane’s Last Dance,” “Free Fallin’,” and a cover of “So You Want To Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star” by the Byrds.

On stage first was the legendary Steve Winwood, a key member of the Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith before striking out on his own. A versatile musician who plays keyboards, guitar and mandolin, Winwood covered such favorites as “I’m A Man,” “Gimme Some Lovin'," "Dear Mr. Fantasy,” and “Can’t Find My Way Home.”

On Sunday, August 10, we moved across the Willamette River to the Cuthbert Amphitheater for an outdoor concert featuring ZZ Top, including lead guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard. Paradoxically, the drummer -- the foundation for the band's infectious sound -- is the only one lacking a beard.

The iconic Texas band banged out old favorites like “Waiting For The Bus,” “Jesus Just Left Chicago,” “Sharp Dressed Man” and “My Head’s In Mississippi.” With a well-synchronized blues/rock set, the band really rocked, and boogieing squatters tried to impede our front row view, but they were soon chased away by some guy named "Guido."

Jeff Beck, another versatile guitarist, preceded the boys with the long beards. An early guitarist for The Yardbirds (along with Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page), Beck plays jazz, funk and rock like a maestro in each genre; he played well-known compositions like “Morning Dew,” and an instrumental version of “A Day In The Life” by The Beatles.

Both guitarists, below (photo credit: Jory Mitchell), paid homage to Jimi Hendrix with versions of “Little Wing” (Beck) and "Foxy Lady" (ZZ Top). Beck, 70, particularly seemed to be enjoying himself. “I sure was glad when I got the call from ZZ Top to join them on tour,” he noted. I second that opinion with a hearty “how, how, how, how.”