My taste in acoustic guitar music developed during the 90’s. Before then, I was just your average headbanger who dabbled with everything else every now and then. But acoustic guitars seemed to have made a big comeback after a decade of dominance by the Jacksons and the Marshalls and the AquaNets. I used to acquire a new acoustic every couple of years. At one time I had six different ones. But I still have four left today, thank goodness.

One of the groups I had always admired that played acoustic music was the Indigo Girls. I remember gigging at coffee houses around Venice Beach in California and playing a set of their tunes. Something about their music always grabbed my attention. They’re very simple yet deeply poetic and emotional. They sound very personal and close to the heart. One song I’ll never forget is Closer to Fine. It’s one of my favorite acoustic songs of all time. When you listen to it, it feels like the words and melodies/harmonies transform into oil on canvas. Like it’s painting the song, and you can hear every brushstroke. Weird, I know. I just don’t know how else to describe it.