Fingerstyle Guitarist-Richard Smith

Kenneth Rexrode’s Six String Society brought together three exceptional musicians for an unforgettable night of prominent guitar music at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach.  Fingerstyle guitarist Richard Smith was the first to take the stage.  Hailing from the UK, Smith was the 2001 National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion, and in 2008 and 2021, he was named “Thumbpicker of the Year” by the National Thumpickers Hall of Fame.  He has been playing the guitar since he was five years old, and at the age of eleven, he played with Chet Atkins at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London.

Smith sat in a chair at the front of the stage and began with a fast- fingerpicking Merle Travis Tune.  I was transfixed watching his left-hand move lightning fast up and down the fretboard while his picking fingers plucked the strings with equal speed and fluidity.  His performance covered a gamut of musical genres.  He delivered a smooth blues instrumental version of “Georgie On My Mind” while delving into some ragtime with the Scott Joplin classic, “The Entertainer.”  He even sang the Merle Travis tune “So Round, So Firm, So Fully Packed,” a song that uses a clever lyrical play on 50’s advertising slogans to describe the author’s wife.  Smith ended the performance with what he described as an old fiddle tune, “Black Mountain Rag.” The song further highlighted Smith’s dizzying fingerpicking.

Next up on the evening’s bill was Singer/Guitarist Carl Verheyen, who has played lead guitar for the band Supertramp from 1985 to the present.  Verheyen has also released 15 solo studio albums and two live albums; the most recent LP, Sundial, came out in 2021.  Classic Rock Magazine in the UK called Verheyen “One of the Top 100 Guitarists of all time,” and Guitar Magazine in the US called him one of the top 10 guitarists in the World.

Guitarist, Singer-Songwriter Carl Verheyen

Carl Verheyen kicked off his set with ”Spike The Punch,” an upbeat song with a swing rhythm overlayed with revved-up blues guitar lines.

The song “Highland Shuffle,” an instrumental with a mellow melodic rhythm, featured Verheyen’s smooth guitar legato creating an intensely emotive vibe to his soloing.  Verheyen’s guitar phrasing was seductively disarming and displayed his seasoned expertise.  He played a few off his latest album, Sundial, “Clawhammer Man,” a slower bluesy song with delicate keyboards and jazz-infused guitar lines.  The night ended with the instrumental “Kaningie,” showcasing Verheyen’s hardcore guitar textures, fiery soloing, and a splintering drum solo with intricate patterns.

Verheyen’s set was a testament to his dexterity as a top-level guitarist and songwriter who also surrounds himself with immensely talented musicians.  His keyboardist Troy Dexter is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer whose live and studio credits include Don Felder, Tower of Power, Stephen Bishop, Chaka Kahn, and many more.  Drummer John Mader began playing drums at five years old and, over the years, has played with countless famous musicians, Pat Benatar, Steve Miller, Bonnie Raitt, and Booker T., to name a few.  Bassist Fredrico Orlandidni, a stand-in, did a stellar job plunking out some sophisticated bass lines.

The final musician to take the stage was guitarist and vocalist Anthony Cullins, A.K.A.  “The Fallbrook Kid.”  Cullins began taking guitar lessons from Larry Robinson at nine years of age and enrolled at the school of Rock, where he quickly became a standout.  In the past, Cullins has played with and studied under Greg Douglas (former guitar player for Steve Miller Band and Van Morrison.), Ron Blair ( former bassist for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Steve Salas (guitarist who has recorded with George Clinton, Buddy Miles, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, and many others)  Frank Hannon -lead guitarist and co-founder of Tesla.  In 2017 Cullins released his first album Hitting All Cylinders.  Now at 21 years of age, Cullins is working on two studio albums and a live LP.

Guitarist, Singer-Songwriter Anthony Cullins

Before tonight I hadn’t had the opportunity to see Cullins perform live, and upon hearing his first song, it was evident this young man was musically skilled beyond his years.  I was impressed with Cullins’ guitar soloing, which showed remarkable timing and skill.  The song “Whirlwind” had a  mid-tempo rhythm overlayed with a soulful melody and infectious chorus that exemplified Cullins’ skill with song composition.  Cullins’ tenor vocals had a timbre that carried evocations of the soulful seventies singers I fondly remember listening to when I was young.

The song “Sitting On Top of The World” had a funky beat that showcased some of the talent backing Cullins.  The trumpet and trombone players took turns soloing.  The keyboards and bass kept the groove going with their funky articulations.

Cullins added another dimension to the show by including backup singers to join in on a couple of songs that blended 50’s doo-wop and 60’s soul.

Guitarist, Singer-Songwriter Anthony Cullins

Cullins’ grandmother was at the show, and she talked about her grandson’s love of older music, saying that when he was young, all he listened to was “oldies” music.  I definitely could hear the strong influence of the Motown song era in many of his songs.

Throughout the performance, I was struck by Cullins’ refined compositions that one would never expect from a musician his age.  In listening to his album that he released in 2017, which was primarily blues tunes,  I was impressed with his guitar prowess.  Tonight’s performance, however, did not feature any tracks off that album, and his original material at this show seemed to branch out into different genres.  His guitar mastery was brilliant as he cycled through his stringed arsenal.  From the Music Man Axis Sport to the nostalgic Fender Esquire and even a Jimmy Wallace Korina Phoenix, Cullins played each with finesse and skill.

In the future, I look forward to hearing much more from this highly mature, albeit young musician.

BackStage360 would like to thank the Belly Up Tavern, along with Ken Rexrode, for producing and hosting a talent-packed show and affording us your outstanding hospitality.

Jen B. / BackStage360

Guitarist, Singer-Songwriter Anthony Cullins