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Andy Gavin - Precise, Orchestrated Riffing
Review By Dude Rockstar
Email: bigbadmoon777@hotmail.com

Andy Gavin's name sounds familiar.  The first time I heard "Andy Gavin", I thought, "Hey, where do I know that name from?"  In retrospect, I'm now quite sure I had no prior experience with Mr. Gavin until recently.

I know this because one listen to his tune, "Harlequin" told me this was something new.  The man with the familiar name brings a not-so-familiar style to the arena of instrumental rock guitar.

"Harlequin" is a song that took down no less than Danny "MAJICHANDS" Danzi's tune, "Happy to Be Alive" (read review) in a "Pro War" battle at GuitarWar.Com last year.  "Harlequin" finished with a 73% margin of victory.

Gavin begins Harlequin with a blues-metalesque series of quick riffs that will be revisited throughout the tune.  His restraint is admirable.  Gavin's articulate, tight, and precise right hand hint at the fretboard frenzy ahead.

Andy spends almost 1:30 of "Harlequin" setting the table for a series of machinegun staccato runs.  The lead that begins near the 1:30 mark is accentuated by Gavin's slight and thoughtful use of a wah pedal.  Andy has the ear for production - the lead work begins over bass and drums only.  That's a nice and unexpected touch.

If all Andy played were the first 1:44 of the tune, "Harlequin" might just be a "good idea".  Thankfully, he moves us into another realm with the blazing Paul-Gilbert-like runs at 1:56, and from 2:27 to the close.  Pay particular attention to the runs from 1:44 to 1:58. 

That, my friend, is how alt-picking should sound!

The comparison to Paul Gilbert is not for the note selection.  I compare Gavin to Gilbert for Andy's right hand.  Gavin has the unique ability to speed up rhythmically and "on a dime".  No slop.  Just blistering warp-speed staccatocism.

And, yes, I did just make that word up.

What sets Andy Gavin apart from other players of his genre is the precision with which he orchestrates a complex series of movements.  Listen to the snare-hits behind his blistering attack from 1:56 to 1:59.   There are plenty of guys who can play as fast and accurate, but not many with the non-stop ferocity and timing.

"Harlequin" closes with an insanely tight bass, guitar, keyboard, drum flurry.  You'll want to take a deep breath before you dive back in.  I was tired after my listen.  During Andy's recording session, I can only imagine how he felt after the last note sliced from his fingers and out through his amp.

Andy says, "I started playing guitar in 1985 in my last year of high school. I had a good guitar teacher in the first few years of playing, who helped me build a solid foundation of technique.  My guitar influences include Ritchie Blackmore, Paul Kossoff, Frank Marino, Michael Schenker, Gary Moore, Adrian Vandenberg and Yngwie Malmsteen."

He studied his influences well.  Andy Gavin sounds like none of his influences in total, but his style reflects a heavy-dose of Gary Moore's staccato attack, Richie Blackmore's compositional sensability, and Michael Schenker's wildly aggressive tone.