I think the most impressive thing about Mark Knopfler's playing, in a LONG list of impressive things, is the fact that with all the crazy things he does on the guitar so effortlessly, it's the fact that he finger picks every damn note..

Alchemy is one of the greatest performances ever committed to tape.

Drummer going absolutely insane This video will never gets old for me

He doesn't even try . Along with mr gilmour easily one of the greatest living guitarist love it

„how do you do that?“ Good question! That is Mark Knopfler, one of the very few guitar players, who would finger pic his guitar! And he is playing call and response between his voice and his guitar, which in itself is hard to fathom how you even do that…! And the chemistry between the band members and the dynamic-changes - insane! And the drummer is hot as hell!

Does anyone else cry when they hear this amazing guitar solo??

Hands down the single best performance i have ever seen from a band. Utterly amazing.

Terry on drums raised the tempo and Mark looks at him as if to say "Wtf that's cool. Let's roll with it. "

I worked with Dire Straits on his Sultans of swing tour doing lights, he & his brother, David, were nice people. Dire Straits, the album, is one of the best debut albums I've ever heard.

I honestly think the most impressive thing about this live performance is the drumming, it's absolutely epic!!!

You have to do Telegraph Road from the same concert now. Absolutely mind blowing.

They all brought their A game - and then decided to see how much better they can be... Sheer perfection

Greatest performance ever. The drummers dad was in the audience and mark let him go off. Simply breathtaking.

As good a live performance as has ever been done. Never get tired of it.

Mark was brought up in Northumberland. That’s where his accent comes from. Still going strong. The drummer, Terry Williams, is one of my all time favourites. He really knocked it out of the park on the Alchemy tour. His dad was in the audience and had never seen him play with Dire Straits. Telegraph Road off the same tour is absolutely monumental.

FACT: the band Dire Straits is awesome

I have never heard of this band, but the energy they brought was amazing. Thank you for sharing and reacting! Will check out more for sure! ♥

Not a Dorset accent, …. born in Glasgow, but lived in Blyth near Newcastle, .. what makes his playing style even more unique and unbelievable, is that he’s actually left handed!!

EVEN THE AUDIENCE PERFORMED PERFECTLY! Yeah, one of the best EVER easily. You should listen to more Dire Straights because the singers voice and style changes a lot depending on the character the songs about. It's a whole extra level of showmanship and performance. He's a brit, but that sounded so gritty and American.

The drummer, THE DRUMMER, THE DRUMMER!!!!! Is awesome on this recording

One of the greatest guitarists in history.

The studio version of this is one of the best songs for cruising. It's nice that you enjoyed it so much.🤗 What I love about this clip is how much fun they're having. A job like that wouldn't suck.

The lead singer's voice often at times sounds like an American Southerner in this video. It is one of the best live rock performances I've ever seen. The lead guitarist is awesome, and he doesn't even use a pick, just his hands.

One of the most iconic guitar solos ever.

You are not wrong Rebecca. This is their best, feel good performance of this brilliant song. Also absolutely epic from this particular concert, is the wonderful "Tunnel Of Love".

I've followed Mark's career from the very beginning to the present, new album out soon at 74yo. His voice was very Dylanesque, then by 1986 his voice started to sound more like Mark Knopfler. By 2015 there's a song called Lights Of Taormina. He sounds so different to back then but you still know it's him. I really recommend Brothers In Arms from the concert Dire Straits Live "On The Night"1993. Every reactor I've seen here stated it had impacted them so much. One of the best performances ever, and you'll need a full box of tissues. Anyway I just discovered your channel, very nice. Merry Christmas and New Year, Cheers from Australia 🎅🎸🎸🎸

Watching your reactions to Mark's vocal inflections and phrasing makes me think you'd enjoy Lady Writer by Dire Straits. An under-appreciated gem.

“Telegraph Road”is a song of theirs that has one of the best emotional, high and low extended guitar solos of all time. I think it’s like 7 minutes long. The whole song is a master class in story telling and mood setting.

6:16 RVA: what a wonderful solo Everybody: wait for the end Rebecca 🔥😉

I had this cassette tape in the 80s, then I bought the VHS video. I now have the Blue Ray of the concert. This is the best version of Sultans of Swing by far.

I really appreciate how even your enthusiastic spontaneous vocalizations have such great intonation. Nothing ruins the vibe like someone singing along in random accidentals. This whole band is of course amazing, but Mark's guitar playing is just pure gold. One of my all-time favorites.

I'm glad you reacted to the unedited live version. Mark Knopfler's guitar playing is just unreal in this. You should listen to the album version also. Merry Xmas girl. 😀

The sound Mark Knopfler gets without ever using a pick is incredible!

You're not wrong. This is one of the very best musical performances by any rock band, EVER!

OMG! I almost fell off my couch laughing out loud at your reaction to this epic live performance! It was hilarious and at the same time so intelligent. So much fun! I LOVED it!

DRUMS ON FIRE

What you've just experienced is all from the genius of Mark Knopfler, he wrote the words, music arranged it, sang it and played his guitar with his fingers as only he can. This was 1983, 40 years ago. He's still alive and kicking and keeping himself busy. TELEGRAPH ROAD from ALCHEMY LIVE, this concert next please, he wrote about his experiences, TELEGRAPH ROAD is the same. Very well done ❤

One of the best rock performances of all time. Terry Williams was absolutely on fire on the drums. Near the beginning of the video, you can see Knopfler look back at him and grin. Mark Knopfler is one of the best guitarists in the world and probably the best finger picker in the world. I'd say on the guitar, he is comparable to the great Roy Clark.

I hadn't seen this performance before, but they really brought their passion to the stage. I'll have to look for the rest of this session.

AND, he taught himsel to play guitar. One of the masters at his best, love this concert.

I love this love version so much!! Keep on rocking!!! 🤟🫶

Glad to see you react to this. Every album and song by Dire Straits is worth listening to, and they have great variety in their music. Mark Knopfler is definitely one of my best guitarists of all time backed up by a band with no real weaknesses. Love his vocals as well, and his ability to do both at the same time is matched by very few.

This song is just... amazing, mesmerising.... Just something different and lovely. And that drummer.... he's just built different lol. Your reaction... PRICELESS! Thank you :)

The thing I love about this is the absolute joy on the guys faces playing this oh as a side line the George he is referring to is George Young from the Easy Beats who is Angus Young from AC/DC older brother and Harry is Harry Vanda also from the Easy Beats. Peace out.

I played this track over 10 times today. amazing.

The best way I've heard Mark Knopfler's vocal performances described is, "His voice tells the story, his guitar sings the songs." :)

Some musicians are just so visionary and unique in their style. Mark Knopfler is once such musician. His unmistakable sound is legendary!

I call Mark Knopfler a wizard on the guitar because he does things I’ve never seen anyone else do. He’s absolutely amazing. There’s definitely something magical every time this man is on a guitar, he’s one of the best in history.

Ultimate live performance!

I live in a very small town in Missouri. I noticed, quite by chance, that the blinking Christmas lights on the senior center are synchronized to Sultans of Swing. I sat in the drive through of our local burger joint, giggling through the whole song. It was awesome!

Nothing less than the greatest live performance ever.

Well put! One of the BEST live performances ever!!

Not once does he seem to even look at his guitar whilst singing and jumping about, they are all top notch musicians, great gig, I have this on cassette tape and CD it never bores me, one of the best performances ever, thank you for your reaction

Mark Knopfler is criminally underrated among guitar players. Unique style and phrasing. A guitar player for the purists.

"It gets weirder here..." 😂 And that is just one of the many reason that we love ya Rebecca! 😉💕 Great reaction to an amazing performance by the way my friend! 👏

When this came out in those dark punk days in Europe, it was definitely a feel good song, with some musicians who could really play their instruments.

My dire straight story. It was my second year at college in Boston, week of midterms, Tuesday or Wednesday I believe, 6:30 p.m. . A friend of two of my roommates comes in and says he has won two tickets via a radio DJ to tonight's "Brothers In Arms" tour show (1986) at the Boston garden and he can't find anyone to go with him because of midterms. The concert starts in about an hour and a half and these two guys both say no, he looks at me and says would you want to go? I responded in a heartbeat yes even though I had two midterms the next day. We picked up the tickets at the door. I couldn't believe it They were 6th row center on the floor. I've never been so close to a major rock and roll band for such a long time, it was absolutely unforgettable. His fingers fly, no pick... Folks didn't want to leave they came back out for a second encore song. It was really a very well done show. I didn't do all that well on those two midterms but it was worth it.

Mark Knopfler let his guitar do the singing... Your comment on the energy is spot on. This is a prime example of how the interaction between artist and audience creates a positive feedback loop. The (good) artist gets inspiration from the audience to do better, increasing feedback to up the performance even further, and so on...

I sometime forget how good Mark and DS were. Effortless playing, so much fun and enjoyment. Music of my elementary and high school years.

Amazing what comes out of popping into a Deptford pub on a rainy night

I may have listened to the song about fifty times but I never get tired of listening to it. I think the Alchemy Live performance is one of the best together with Queen's at Live Aid. What makes the performance at Hammersmith Odeon great I think goes beyond the performance of the individuals who did literally nothing wrong. It transmits an energy similar to that of a volcano eruption. The rise in dynamics after the descent of the second solo is something truly explosive and at that point you suddenly find yourself moving your head to the rhythm and you feel as if you have entered and exited paradise. Simply uniquely fantastic

The drummer, Terry, is so good. Mark the guitarist/lead ssiger is just god worthy. The way he plays not looking at the fretboard and just enjoying his band is just magic.

I bought this as a teenager in the eighties, the entire Alchemy album is incredible. I was inspired to become a bass player thanks to John Illsley's cream suit and melodic bass playing (but mostly the cream suit). However, Alchemy doesn't even make the NME's or Rolling Stone Magazine's top fifty live albums, which probably shows how the standards of their music journalism have slipped over the last few decades and also how Dire Straits were unfashionable because they could actually play their instruments. But hey, I love Rush so fashion has never stopped me from rocking out, even if I was on my own in the corner whilst the Cool Kids were listening to Nirvana!

The drummer is fantastic!

You'll not get an argument from anyone. This is the finest live performance ever. One for the ages.

Thanks gorgeous! Mark is .... how do you say... fabulous? He didn't invent the guitar, but he sure OWNS IT! And because he is so spectacular, he is often overlooked as a singer and songwriter. And then there's this brilliant band! The video turned out great! If I could have you read the phone book out loud for a couple hours... Don't think I could ever get tired of your voice... Absolutely LOVED every one of your original songs. Stunning voice and beautifully written and produced❤

Best comment i heard about this performance was "Damn that tennis player is good at playing guitar!" And damn, he really is!

King Mark Knopfler here. A Master. A genius.

❤telegraph road from the same concert...in fact all the concert it's fantastic !!!

They are the sultans... Of swing... 😎

Hey Rebecca! Oh I love this band, song and performance!! One of my favorites, just like you! 😂😉😘😍♥️

I know the song really well, but wasn't familiar with this version-Knopfler's playing and vocals here are some of the most creative parts that I've heard. It's impressive to hear him stray so far from the studio version but make it sound seamless

One of the greatest rock bands ever...With Mark Knopfler's song writing and unique guitar style added to the complete togetherness of the group you have rock majesty! Try anything from their 'On the Night' live performance in 1993 such wonderful performances of classic hits, Brothers in Arms and Romeo and Juliet, listening is believing.

You do that using 3 and 4 fingers to 'pluck' each string. Not many can do it..❤

I do love it when Mark plays a song without a pick. The sound is just unmistakable!!!!!! Beautiful!!!!! Thank you for this. You make my Christmas Eve!!!!! Ho Ho Ho!!!!!! So says Austin TX. 😎🍸

With all the amazing virtuosity on display, you're one of the first reactors to notice the love & respect & mutual sensitivity on display throughout this great 10 minute performance.

I read that Terry Williams (drummer) asked his father to this show as his dad hadn’t seen him play or who what he played. If this is true what a bloody performance!

Rebecca, I loved your banter throughout. Mark sang in a very Bob Dylanish style, and his banjo "ckickin' pickin" technique really shines during this concert. Great job girl!

Drummer shines!Whole band is fantastic.

One of the all-time best rock tracks undermined by the most banal evaluation/commentary ever to appear on You Tube!

The headband and tennis wristbands come from the old days of Mark Knopfler, an English teacher and newspaper reporter, playing tiny, hot, smoke filled pubs and clubs - where sweat burns your eyes and face. My dad, tired of all the shite I was listening in 1984, gave me the cassette tape "Alchemy - Dire Straits". Here, listen to this. For some time I thought the band was Alchemy and the album was Dire Straits. Thanks, pa, 40 years on - still listening!

One of the greatest rock guitarists of all time, who's guitar expression does the singing for him. Check out Brothers in Arms - very emotional.

The longest KZfaq music reaction career before arriving to Sultans at Alchemy? I think this video sets a record.

Always loved their guitar sound

Wow, I used to listen to the Brothers in Arms album all the time as s late teen in the late 80s, and never knew they were a British band. I always thought they were an American band. Learn something new every day. Thanks for sharing that tidbit of info, Rebecca. Have a safe and Merry Christmas!

Amongst all the praise for the musical ability and epic drumming can I add a shoutout for the sound engineer who balanced this to perfection and made it such a viral video. If he had screwed up it would have been just another live number.

He could solo for days and it’d never get boring.

The drumming here is phenomenal. Never flashy or ostentatious, but exactly what the song needs at every point.

It wouldn't be a happy new year without Ms RVA. 💙

Terry just takes the drumming up to 11 in this performance!! He’s amazing !

Apart from Dire Straits, Mark has a solo career with a more "Country" feel, and has composed quite a few soundtracks for some very big movies, and even wrote Private Dancer for Tina Turner. He's widely regarded as one of the best guitarists ever.

Before the band recorded this, Mark had produced two albums for....BOB DYLAN!!!! Their album Love Over Gold has a song called "It Never Rains" which sounds like Bob wrote it. No, it was Mark. Bob clearly showed Mark that enpointe singing is not what you need for pop music. You need to get the point across, and Mark ALWAYS does. Off this video, you also have the song Tunnel of Love. Newcastle was so impressed by their favourite son, the lyrics of it are permanently in the public space overlooking The Spanish City. Not bad fer a man oo can't sing an' all. Mark did a great video with ACDC's Brian Johnson (On the road with Brian Johnson), where the two Geordies discussed Mark's headband and Brian's Newsboy cap. In both cases it was keeping sweat out of their eyes.

I always found this song was perfect to listen to whilst driving through the rural roads of the New Forest and Dorset on a warm Summer evening.

Yes. He's signing about themselves as they started off in pub gigs up north and travelled down to London

Just one big effortless jam session for these guys who are at the top of their game. My favourite band from my youth.

I love Rebecca's reactions she's is amazing and I believe she loves music with all her heart

Loved your reaction!! Thank you!! Someone below mentioned Telegraph Road from the same concert, it is absolutely sublime!! Take care!

Hi Rebecca! Great video. Merry Christmas!

Terry Williams on drums. He owns this performance.

Don't know who's more mesmerizing, the band or you. Thank you for raising my enjoyment of this.