I love seeing Stevie Ray sounding so great and looking so healthy and happy. There still hasn't been anyone like Stevie Ray Vaughn. I admire that everyone in the band received the same pay, including SRV. Sounds like a good human to me.

I was 13 years old, in Austin for a journalism class trip (we spent a week there going to different conferences). My journalism teacher had taken us to 6th street and other places around the city...we had been walking around for awhile and heard different music from different clubs..anyway we were walking by a club and I heard this guitar....a guitar sound like I had never ever heard before...I immediately stopped outside of the club to listen..I guess the bouncer noticed me standing there eyes closed just feeling the music.. He said "do you like that" and I told him I'd never heard anything like it before and yes I liked it!!...he took me to the side door and let me watch the set from the door..it was of course.. Stevie Ray Vaughan. I was a SRV fan from that moment on.. Thanks Fil for bringing back an amazing memory...

There’s nothing like the Blues , and no one could play like SRV !!!♥️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎶🎵🎵🎶🎶🎶🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸Gone too soon😔, Rest In Peace, Stevie ⭐️

I knew him in early to mid '70's he was a very SINCERE CARING human being. His playing is so much like his real personality!

I was at Stevie's last concert at Alpine Valley on August 27,1990. It's 30 years later and his music can still bring me to tears. Stevie just had it.

Pretty much Clapton said the same: " I have to tell this story: We played on the same bill on his last two gigs. On the first night, I watched his set for about half an hour and then I had to leave because I couldn't handle it!. I knew enough to know that his playing was just going to get better and better. His set had started, he was like two or three songs in, and I suddenly got this flash that I'd experienced before so many times whenever I'd seen him play, which was that he was like a channel. One of the purest channels I've ever seen, where everything he sang and played flowed straight down from heaven. Almost like one of those mystic Sufi guys with one finger pointing up and one finger down. That's what it was like to listen to. And I had to leave just to preserve some kind of sanity or confidence in myself."

On his worst day Stevie was better than most guitarists on their best.

A bartender I knew told me he and some buddies got to go to a concert and were pretty close to the stage. He said grown men were crying tears, they were so moved by his talent.

Got to have my daily dose of SRV. A day without Stevie is a day without sunshine....Could sit and watch him play for hours. He's simply BRILLIANT. Thanks for doing a SRV....

Stevie gives me the chills. When I hear him play i feel like he’s changed my molecular structure

I first saw him at a Polish Legion Hall in Houston about 1973...he was about nineteen - sitting in with Freddie or Albert King or Gatemouth Brown, or somebody. Years later we opened for him around Texas. He was an otherworldly force in person...you really had to see him live! A Prodigy of Prodigies!

What a great description of Stevie!!! He was truly one with his guitar at all times. A technical master for sure and he had so much natural soul expressed in blues!!!! Truly one of a kind and I miss him so much. Thank God we have all these masterful videos to savour forever. And he's so smooth and makes it sound so easy and fluid. And plus, John Mayer said that Stevie kept the blues alive through the 80s when it wasn't necessarily in the mainstream, at a time when there was a lot of heavy metal rock bands. I never liked the 80s rockstars...but Stevie held his spot above the rest because his blues playing is timeless. We always had Clapton and BB King, and then Jeff Healey and Robert Cray in the 80s....but Stevie was on top then and still is!! Thank God for Clapton and John Mayer today, who continue to keep the blues alive with phenomenal playing. But no one can ever take the place of Stevie Ray Vaughan. And he was a wonderful human being too.

Damn. After all these years - still blows my mind every time.

"It took me years to learn how to play like myself." - Miles Davis

One of the best concerts I ever saw was Stevie in the early 80's. It was an outdoor concert and at the end of the show they had a fireworks display. Instead of leaving the stage he played along to the fireworks. It was so great! The next day in the newspaper I read that Stevie said it was one of his best concerts and that the good lord must have been with him!

Best Guitar Player ever! The sweat Falling dripping from his face were pure Soul drops! Miss Him Greatly!

Saw Stevie live at red rocks amphitheater in the late 80's, he was phenomenal, I cant think of any concert that I ever attended my whole life that left me more mesmerized than that night, literally goosebumps the whole show!

Good one Fil. Rest easy Stevie, you're mightily missed.

The best thing about him was that he conveyed so much emotion in the simplest of his riffs. He could do some crazy complicated things, but for example, in a single slide note in the intro to Texas Flood at 0:53 you can hear and feel an entire story in a single note. THAT, is a real gift! The real tragedy is that he had final gotten to a place where he loved his life and more importantly, himself. What a loss!

its always amazing to me how much noise 3 guys with instruments can make. How they fill all that audio space without a rythm guitar or keys. One of the tightest bass/drums ive heard. amazing

Stevie is a musical artist just like any celebrated opera singer and great classical musician. He was pure genius.

Still gives me goosebumps watching any Stevie. IMHO, the greatest person to ever pick up an electric guitar. Guy had chops too.

Stevie was special, once in awhile we get a guitarist like no other. Stevie played the guitar like it was an extension of himself. His natural ability was just exceptional. Stevie just had that unique expressiveness that few guitarists can capture live. He really enjoyed playing and you can really tell in this video. He wanted to take you to a place where only he could go.

I have seen SRV in concert over a dozen times in the 80s,still my fav shows of my lifetime...RIP Stevie

If you are learning guitar or have been playing for years. You need to listen to what Stevie brought to the table. I promise you, you won't be disappointed. I wasn't really into the blues fully but you can't ignore the foundation of any music out there. Thanks for sharing and an awesome analysis Fil as always. Rock on dude!!!

Miss him everyday as musicians, especially a fellow Texan who like so many others left us tragically and way to soon. Grew up listening to him and will continue til I’m gone. I’ve seen a lot of guitarist live & Stevie is and will always be the best to me.no one can do the things he could. Using the heaviest strings & could break a neck with ease showed just how strong his hands were for a really small man.

This show that he did back in 89’ never fails to blow me away - and I’ve watched it umteen million times.

One of the most in depth “psychological “ analyses I’ve ever seen you do. Excellent job relating musical consciousness and technical ability. 👍

One thing I have always loved about Stevie is out every video I’ve ever watched he never played a song the same way. It’s always different which to me it shows just how much of his playing was how he was feeling at that moment. To me he is my best ever

Saw him twice - left me thrilled on both occasions. ...... as a guitar player, seeing him again here, Vaughn continues to leave me speechless.

Number One is a “ragged American Stratocaster with 1959 pickups, a ’62 neck, and a ’63 body, reveals upon inspection a brutally worn finish, upside-down tremolo bar, cigarette-burnt headstock”. Vaughan acquired this instrument in 1974 from Ray Hennig’s Heart of Texas Music. When Vaughan took possession of Number One, it was already well worn. What is not as well known is that its previous owner was was another celebrated Texas musician,Christopher Cross. Hennig tells quite a story. As I’ve heard the tale, Cross wanted something “beefier” and traded the Stratocaster for a Les Paul. Stevie had already had a loaner guitar from Hennig, who was pleased to trade it for Cross’ guitar since it was in much better condition.

I also love when he shuffles back, like a happy dance. You also forgot to mention the sensuality. That’s the relationship they have with that guitar. Beautiful

Stevie Ray will forever retain GOAT status. The guy just never messed up. Stevie could break a string, which I've heard he did often, and never miss a beat. His vocal abilities were also topnotch.

S.R.V. was so insanely gifted and you can easily see he felt the music with every ounce of his soul. His music came from a place most of us can only imagine. He was beyond dynamic..love how he closes his eyes when he sings, just going off on his own. He crammed more into his 35 years than most people do in 80. Great analysis Fil. Thank you for this one.🎼🖤

Love SRV! My late husband used to sing Pride & Joy to me weekly! He & I along with friends went to Memphis, Tennessee 6 days b4 my cancer surgery. The first night there we cabbed it to the famous Beale St Blues Clubs. The BEST blues live music I’ve ever heard & danced to a 1 man band with only his amp & guitar! He was fantastic & we danced to his slowed bluesy rendition of Purple Rain! A trip I’ll never forget!!!

SRV was the greatest guitar player to walk the planet bar none.

This is how Stevie Ray Vaughan communiicates..through his legendary music he saids it all and his strumming on those strings relieves his trauma of any kind that could be happening in his life..Always a great performance and Stevie closed his eyes to really concentrate on what he is saying to you and keep his thoughts in process..Stevie expresses everything through his music and will tell you pretty much what is going on in his life....great band ..Great in blue's and rock..RIP Stevie

Thank you, Fil. I can’t get over the love Stevie is receiving after all these years, thanks to folks like you.❤️ I think you May have already checked out Stevie’s Tin Pan Alley, with Johnny Copeland, but if you haven’t, listening to that version, then listening to the version from Tokyo (SRV is wearing the red pants, jacket and hat) will absolutely floor you. He does a completely different version in Tokyo that is stunning, almost jarring. Turn the lights down and the volume up. I miss the friendship he and I had just begun, and seeing people like you show your love is very comforting.❤️ Donna G

SRV is my favorite guitarist-it still amazes me today after watching his videos, what a talented musician he was- you are right , he does not have to think about what he will do next-it just comes out of him-- he makes it look so easy, has his eyes closed, very seldom looks at the fretboard-- he put in many, many years of practice and hard work to get where he was as a guitarist so it is not as easy as he makes it look-RIP Stevie Ray

Thanks for the vid. I got to see SRV twice. First time was at a small auditorium. I'd never heard of him. He gave a speech about how he'd overcome his self-destructive addictions. Second time was right after he'd hit the big time in the early nineties. It was a duel bill with Jeff Beck, who had Terry Bozzio on drums. Carlos Santana joined SRV on stage for the encore. What a show!

I can feel his music from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Not a lot of musicians or singers do that for me. He’s #1 on the guitar for me.

Good evening Phil and all I can say is that Stevie Ray Vaughan was the man🎸🎤🙌

One of my favorite videos by Stevie ray nice job Fil! 😎 it’s far as I’m concerned a great loss one of the best bluesman of my generation♥️

I can't imagine a more difficult musical thesis to expound upon than that of "How Stevie Ray Vaughan Plays What He Feels". Yet You, Fil, have done just that with this video. Amazing insights. Thank you.

Stevie Ray never cease to amaze me. Never forgot the day we lost him. Working at a record store, we had been playing his album, as he was touring at the time, we had a display with Stevie and his brother Jimmie. We were all so sad.

You are doing good life coaching, not just for guitar and music, but life in general. Tennis players call it playing "In the Zone" , they are not thinking about it, they are doing it. Great observations sir! When it comes to taste and preference no one can tell you what to like. Thank you for your perceptive explanations and respect for individuality and artistic expression.

One of the things that really stood out to me with Stevie was his use of the pickup switch. He'd pull so many unique tones in a solo just by going through those 5 positions, I don't really recall too many other players doing that to the level he did it.

Phenomenal..with all things added together Stevi Ray Vaughan could bring on the best performance and entertainment that was ever performed..Stevie was exceptional on a stage and entertain his fans..RIP

You usually keep your emotions close to your vest....its clear how much you love SRV. Your joy comes through and in turn...we appreciate even more. Thanks Fil...for another great segment and for sharing a little piece of yourself!

Stevie's playing and the sound he creates is one of a kind! Excellent take on the mental side of musicality, Thanks Fil for putting this expression of music theory to the masses!

Phil your face tells the story of the music your hearing.... I have never seen such honesty in an intelligent grown up...Matter of fact your honesty has spilled over, brought honesty into places I’d never thought it would see... Your a special guy, as a lifelong musician the appreciation I fell being drawn in to so artist work, places I honestly never would have thought to look, a may not could see without your help

Phil, you described exactly why your analysis videos are so engaging and effective - you’ve mastered connecting with your audience.

I truly appreciate your analysis. It is not only educational to musicians, but to non-musician music enthusiasts. It definitely enhances the experience with your insights. Well done

I always try to watch Stevies hands play guitar but watching his facial expressions are just as interesting. He definitely feels what he plays and plays what he feels. I also agree with you. I can get a song in my head and hear every part of it without singing out loud. Great analysis video Fil! As always. ❤️🤘🏼

I’ve played the trumpet for 35 years. I think everything you said applies to any instrumentalist/performer. You are spot on! I’ve played in front of hundreds of people regularly and my beat playing was always when I was “in the zone.” That zone is so accurately described by you.

such a bad ass.... that's all I really say in every way... love it and thanks Fil what a tragic loss

I loved all the lessons in this one, especially the old Shakespearean wisdom, "To thine own self be true." Great encouragement for anyone.

You are spot on, Fil . He is singing through the guitar! Watching SRV is seeing his soul and voice ,vocally in those guitar riffs. Watching live, I could not sit still. It amazed me that anyone could just sit there.

When ever I listen to Stevie I hear something new and my brain melts and runs out my ears.

Thank you Fil for this great analysis of the late, GREAT Stevie Ray Vaughan. I never got the chance to see him perform live. The closest I got was the tribute band Texas Flood and they do a decent job. Of course growing up in Texas, listening to the blues and such artists as Stevie was essential. My late brother made sure I was exposed to this music with the mixed tapes he given me. Once again thank you for this video. 🤘🏻❤️✌🏻

Stevie is channeling. He is so adept at playing the guitar that I imagine his mind is all around making each passage and phrase just a little bit better. Amazing talent.

Fil, what a great message to not only musicians but anyone trying to master a craft. I find it fascinating that you put into words why we are admirers of SRV.

I'll admit up front that I'm not a big fan of the blues, and I agree with those who thought Vaughan focused on it too much, but my word, his playing is positively astounding -- I have complete respect for the man, Really, his playing is so central to his performance that the lyrics are almost like an afterthought, the standard form is stood on its head to where the sung sections become mere bridges to him heating up the guitar with his searing, flawless solos.

I was driving home from work when I heard what happened to Stevie Ray Vaughn. Thank God I didn't live far because I couldn't see through my tears.....you Fil once again have expressed in your analysis exactly how I feel about Stevie. At least we have his music to listen to forever 🤘🎸

Excellent analysis Fil. You always notice the "little" things. Eric Clapton once said about SRV that he never seemed to "get lost" meaning, he always knew where he was going next in a lead passage. A lot of really talented players have to think about where they were going next in the passage. Not Stevie. It just flowed with him. Like he was taking a walk down a path that he knew intimately.

He was clean an sober right around this time....super clean and sharp his he was healthy and just getting ready to take over the world again.....I saw him rt around this time and to this day few could touch him if any .....

In 1987, we all worked in hospitality so we'd work until midnight and go out for a few drinks when we were finished. I remember I would come home late, slip on my headphones and play SRV records, cranked, and dance around the living room for hours. Those were the days =) Thanks Fil 💓

Fil, you're not alone with the ability of mental playback. I've been drumming since 1969 and have quite the jukebox in my brain as well. In 1973, a friend and I worked up a list of songs that I knew at 14 years old, and it was almost 2,000 then. I can't even begin to think of how many there are today, but it's ridiculous. I can pretty much, at will, listen to any song, any time, any where, that I want. It's obviously from the drumming, you have to know the songs if you're going to play them.

Re communicating with the audience, there's no better audience than people who enjoy the show and live for the moment. I was working on a field crew in the Australian bush in 1990 the day Stevie died. The crew were salt-of-the-earth Celts. Their idea of winding down after a hard day at work was to turn the music up full blast and revel in it. Music like Gary Moore's Wild Frontier and SRV's. They felt his passing pretty hard.

I saw Stevie Ray live in the 80s...incredible! He just makes It look effortless! The connection he had with his guitar said it all, an amazing extension of himself! Sensational Fil! Cheers Mario! 😀👌👍

FiL , thank you for expressing so eloquently the realism of music being played is being processed and shows in their facial movements ; so many people just don’t understand... I have noticed in your live presentations and your Analysis of people in the music, you express things so completely and so deeply that it’s just amazing ; you are so wise and gifted With such wonderful insight.. ! 👍🏼🤗⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎶🎵🎵🎶🎵

Excellent stuff, Fil! I'll never forget where I was when I learned that he'd died after his 1989 Wisconsin performance. Truly an amazing guitar player. One of my all-time favorites. Love how easily his soloing flows without hesitation with his hand flying up and down the fretboard providing so much intense expression, aggression, and sensitivity.

I can't imagine anyone not liking SRVs music. To me he was a soulful, savant guitarist. My favorite bluesman that could also hold his own with rock and roll.

It’s mind boggling to me that anyone could not like Stevie’s playing, but I enjoy it and I enjoy your analysis of different performers. Interesting stuff. As for SRV, he makes me proud to be a Texas.

Thank you Fil for the fascinating analysis of SRV and his mental approach to his playing. Because of the shortness of his life, Stevie was like a bolt of lightning on the musical horizon. Much like his idol Jimi.

You've done it again, Fil! Excellent analysis and comments - it was very deep - which is quite impressive to those of us who get it! Thank you for getting SRV! Was so fortunate to experience this force of nature 3 times in the 80's in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Can still see, hear, and feel all those experiences to this very day! Gives me chills!

I've always loved this particular concert because in addition to the great Stevie performance we also get to hear the awesome bass work of Tommy Shannon which is pushed up in the mix.

Eric Clapton said when he first heard Stevie Ray on the radio he was immediately impressed because he knew how much mental effort it took him to string together so many musical thoughts in successive order. It seemed to him that Stevie just did it so naturally he was kind of gobsmacked.

Thanks Fil, I really like the psychological aspects that you highlight in this! Love SRV!

Just subscribed to your channel . I was scrolling thru different videos and came across your analyzing of Stevie Ray Vaughns mental state while playing. I was so impressed by your knowledge and detailed explanation of not only his technique , but of how he was so in tune with his guitar that he was relaying his feelings through it. I will be looking forward to many more of your videos. There was one artist who said that Stevie was the blackest white man he ever knew! LOL

Can never EVER go wrong with SRV! Great analysis as always. Thanks, Fil! You are the best at this whole KZfaq thing...

Life Without You is one of my favorites by Stevie. I miss him. The Best Of The Best to me ❤️🌹❤️

Thank you Fil. Your analysis is spot on. I am a huge SRV fan and have watched many other so called experts analyze him. You not only react, you obviously put a lot of thought and respect into this. I,for one, totally appreciate it.

That whole ACL show was gold. It's very interesting to compare his ease here vs his hungry days. He'd matured sooooo much by this time.

Still brings a tear to my eye. I don't think I will ever get over it.

As a Suburban white kid growing up in the USA, particularly early 80's, it was Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Page who taught me how to play the blues. Pretty good teachers I must say! It was a few years later that I came to know more about BB King, Albert Collins, Albert King and other ground breaking Bluesmen. I am grateful to all of them and they still amaze me today!

Outstanding, you truly are spot on correct with this SRV analysis. He indeed sang thru his guitar. That spontaneous, unconscious muscle memory led many shallow minded folks to have the gall to say all his songs and tunes sounded the same. They don't 'get it' at all. He is my personal favorite and I certainly miss him.

An absolute delight, as always. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this video and your analysis of it, Fil- thank you!!!!

In Jan. 2008, I randomly conversed with a guitarist at a bus stop and his hero was SRV. Great memory!

Never knew about him till after his death.....but he wins....for me as all around greatness...adore him...miss him.

The Blues for Stevie lives in his soul and it comes out in his voice and especially that guitar it's in him you can feel it hear it you really feel it you want to get up and dance or sing along it's it resides inside his soul

Always enjoy and learn from you reactions. As a long time Stevie fan, I really enjoy your reactions to him!

But what Stevie had, as all truly great guitarists have, is the guitar was an extension of himself. It goes beyond mere muscle memory. He played so much, even when he wasn't on stage, that he was naked without a guitar in his hands. He not only sang with the guitar, he made the guitar sing and speak for him. He breathed all his emotions through his guitar because Stevie was guitar. They were the same person. He wasn't quite himself if he wasn't playing his guitar. You can tell just watching him that he always had a guitar with him, whatever else he was doing, no matter where he was. Plugged in to an amp or not, Stevie was always playing, so communicating through his guitar was second nature. His guitar was second nature. And if you watch him play enough, even with the slightly more buttoned down Austin City Limits hosts and audiences? His music moved him, often literally propelling him across the stage. Sometimes it was almost like he was dancing. Sometimes the music seemed to levitate him off the stage and he just went wherever the mood of the music took him. He had that amazing something that even intense well thought out analysis like yours can't entirely define, Fil. And I mean no disrespect, because you are always very perceptive about your various analyses. But sometimes, especially with players like Stevie? A lot of what he does with his playing just defies analysis. When a musician is so fully connected to his or her instrument that it's an extension of themselves both physically AND emotionally? That's really hard to effectively fully tie up in a neat little analytical package. Stevie was just at one with his guitar. Stevie was his guitar, and his guitar was Stevie. And Stevie was the blues. Yet his musical gifts transcended the genre. And Stevie transcended everything. (I think it was during this same show, or one similar, where Stevie was playing a bit hard and snapped one of his strings, I think the high E but I can't remember. But he continued to play around the broken string, and if you hadn't seen it just hanging there? You'd never have known it broke, just based on his playing. And he and his guitar tech were just so in sync with each other that Stevie was already playing his new guitar, even as he was slipping out of the broken string guitar. So smooth you would never have known, unless you were watching the whole thing. That's when you know your guitar is truly an extension of yourself: When you can break a string and it doesn't even faze you in the slightest.)

Yet another absolutely enthroning break down of a musical genius. SRV. A Texas icon and a Texas legend.

So cool, I was there! This was 1989 at Austin City Limits. The sound quality and atmosphere that night was amazing.

Your analysis on all these videos are like the virtuosity of SRV and other greats. It's so educational and really deep. Thank you as always. Best wishes.

Agnetha from ABBA had many of the qualities that you are speaking about. She inhabited a song incredibly deeply. I know a lot of people roll their eyes when people bring up ABBA but there are a lot of creative layers to what she is doing. I hope you will analyze her soon. The winner takes it all is one of her best songs.

Rip SRV he is the GOAT of blues and he will live on forever

Stevie was so incredible. Its like his guitar was part of him❤️

RIP Stevie Mr..Badass