Wow, this guy brought an acoustic guitar to a coffee shop open mic. I’m sure he will just astound us with technical ingenuity and lyrical insights beyond our comprehension. That is, of course, assuming he won’t just do a clunky rendition of something everyone remembers from the 90s.
Wait.
No, he can’t be.
He’s actually playing fucking “Wonderwall.”
Okay, this is probably just a joke and he’s only doing the first few lines. Oh, never mind, it looks like he’s well into the second verse. I guess commitment to the bit helps with the irony?
But it doesn’t seem like he’s being ironic. He’s not making any goofy faces or singing in a purposefully bad Liam Gallagher impression. In fact, he’s got a really nice voice. It’s kinda got that Sturgill Simpson quality where it’s gritty but also has an unmistakable vulnerability.
And he’s definitely not just doing a complete retread of the original. He’s given it a more rustic feel, yet it doesn’t feel like some kind of novelty. Honestly, he’s kind of making it his own.
This is like hearing a used car jingle on a stradivarius. This dude is giving me an emotional reaction to “Wonderwall,” what the fuck is his problem?
He looks like he’s in his early 30s. So, surely, he’s old enough to know that after a decade-plus of unwanted frat bro covers at parties, “Wonderwall” has become something of a punchline. I mean, I think we can generally agree that it’s a good song. But playing a sincere cover of it, in 2023, just boggles the mind. Doesn’t he remember the “Anyway, here’s ‘Wonderwall’” meme from a few years back?
Well, maybe he does. But he’s showing no apparent sign of self-consciousness. He’s not douchey or anything. He’s just…present, playing a song I hadn’t heard brought up in a non-ironic context in years. It’s actually kind of inspiring. It at least makes me want to put on “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?” when I get home. Great, great album. Jesus, what is happening to me?
Update: His “Hallelujah” cover sounds good too, and I am now old.