This guy was one of the rare people who I idolized and tried to emulate, but never got even anywhere into his vicinity. Of course, his music isn’t for everyone. But the incredible novelty and passionate flamboyance of his quiet (yet mind-shredding) style caused me terrifying confusion, since I was unable to -even vaguely- emulate it.

This, to me, was the acme of originality.

I embarrassed myself once by walking up to his table at a burrito place in Cotati, where he was sitting with whole I.O.U lineup. Chad Wackerman looked at me like I was a purple duck for interrupting their meal. But when I saw Allan sitting 50 ft away, I had to tell him what his work meant to me and shake his picking hand.

This song is one of the first songs of his I heard and saw him play. It re-made my whole understanding of music. It hasn’t stopped. All these years later… be sure to watch a bit of his soloing technique, not to mention noting the fact that his chords often span 8 frets?