It is a peculiar feeling seeing Preston Reed live. Even if, like me, you have watched videos of him performing or listened to his albums, or even if you have seen the quote in Total Guitar Magazine, describing him as being “… widely thought of as the world’s most gifted guitarist,” it is impossible to be prepared for the experience of actually seeing him play on stage. His technical ability is undeniable, his style utterly unique and his habit of using storytelling to set the scene for each particular piece adds warmth and heart to his performance, but that’s not it. The thing that really sets him apart from his peers and causes fans and critics alike to speak of him in hushed, reverent tones is the way you feel when you watch him. As he begins to play an internal conflict quickly arises in you. Your eyes tell you that there is one man, playing one guitar right in front of you but your ears know that cannot possibly be the case, because the sound that you are hearing could only ever be made by a score of guitars, or by a band, or by an orchestra even. So, It would seem that even though you can believe your eyes, your ears are easily fooled. One man, one guitar, 10 fingers… The results are simply astounding.