In Dire Need of music

John Entwistle has this unique ability to quietly demand attention on stage simply by his stance and his mastery of the bass.  No antics were required.  It was pure music.

That is the way I think of Mark Knopfler.

I was reminded of him on a recent evening walk in my neighborhood.  One of my neighbors, a huge fan of Frank Zappa (time for that another day) and many tasteful artists, was playing one of Mark's albums while he was working in his garage.  The somewhat mournful tone that Knopfler seems to emit from the depth of his playing made me turn around, run Maxx(a sweet 14-year old mixed breed) up the hill to home.

The look on Maxx's face was "whaaaaat.....?"  until he saw me open the music cabinet.  To which he responded by grunting, turning to his water bowl, grabbing a drink, then leaping on the couch to settle in to take in some serious tunes.  If you think dogs don't listen to music too, you are not paying attention.

But this is about the guitar, not the dog (they'll get blog time elsewhere)

Co-founder of Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler is so much more than the hits we recognize from the early days.  "Sultans of Swing" , "Walk of Life", "Money for Nothing".  MTV darlings because of the latter, those who bought the albums soon dug deeper into the tracks to find that unique sound that Knopfler stylized.

I sat down next to Maxx, patted his head, then rested mine against the back of the couch as the music swept over me.

Genius.   Pure Genius.

Like the oceans, the undercurrents move through my mind and capture every fiber...its exciting, sensual, moody: just out and out fabulous.

You may have seen him play with his one of his heroes: Chet Atkins.  Watch the faces.  The joy of playing together is captured in the eyes, the smiles and the body language.  Not to mention the deep underlying respect that vibrates in the air.

With Gibson or Fender in hand, he is able to create a tone that moves from his fingertips and out through the pores.  Every bit of tissue connects to his sound. Sweet yet melancholy at the same time, his creation is beautiful and personal.


"Brothers in Arms" makes me weep.  Lyrically its magnificent, but once you add that emotional pull of the heartstrings that comes from his guitar, I am lost.


Although Dire Straits is long past, the good news is there is a new album in the wings: set to be released September 3rd, 2012 : Privateering, a double album with over 20 new songs...and not too soon for me.

There is something quite special within his music.  He moves from the playful to the yearning.  A tone so distinctive that it is recognized within the first several notes.

It is uniquely Mark Knopfler.  and yes, I will state the obvious "Oh Yeah, the boy can play..."