WHEN HE WAS 16, an age when most guitarists are still dreaming of playing their first high-school dances, Marcus Machadogot a call to perform the National Anthem at an Orlando Magic NBA game before a sell-out crowd of 20,000. “I should have been nervous, but the truth is, I was elated,” he says with a laugh “The crowd actually helped me perform. Practicing in my bedroom, I had always imagined what it would be like playing to an arena full of people, so when I heard them cheering for me, it wasn’t scary at all. It was pretty magical.”
In the years since his arena debut, Machado would be called to perform theNational Anthem a few more times. One such appearance was at Madison Square Garden before a New York Knicks game. “It’s always an honor when you get asked to play the song,” he says. “It’s a heavy piece of music, and it’s been done by legends, but I don want to imitate. There was only one Hendrix, one Stevie Ray Vaughan. I’ve always tried to try to put my own flavor into it and enjoy the moment. Let the song tell its story, but put some of your stories into it, too.”
“YOU CAN LEARN TO PLAY JIMMY PAGE OR HENDRIX SOLOS, BUT WHAT ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE FEELING? THAT’S WHAT I’VE TRIED TO TAP INTO”
This story is from the September 2021 edition of Guitar Player.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2021 edition of Guitar Player.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MY CAREER IN FIVE SONGS
\"La Grange\" aside, these are the songs Billy F. Gibbons considers among his finest achievements.
TIP SHEET
He's played with and learned from the masters. Here are Christone \"Kingfish\" Ingram's best practices for performance.
How I Wrote..."The Story in Your Eyes"
Justin Hayward reveals the story and hidden message behind the Moody Blues' timeless 1971 hit single.
TWA
Krytical Mass KM-01 Reactive Octave Fuzz
FENDER
Tone Master Pro FR-10 Powered Cabinet
TWO NOTES
Special Edition Limited Run Torpedo Captor X
FENDER
Tone Master Pro Floor Modeler
AMERICANA AMBASSADOR
David Grisman details the historic mandolins, guitars and banjos he played on the Acoustic America album, as exhibited at Arizona's Musical Instrument Museum.
CAN'T STOP THE BOP
He's a bebop originator who's played with everyone from Charlie Parker to Jimmy McGriff. Now 96 and fronting a new album, Chicago guitarist George Freeman shows no sign of slowing down
DIRTY DEEDS
Looking for fresh musical inspiration, Kenny Wayne Shepherd left Nashville for Alabama's FAME Studios. The result is Dirt on My Diamonds, Vol. 1, the first half of a new album project that continues his blues-rock evolution.