Suggested listening for self-ass-kicking

[slash-ed]

I just played one of my worst gigs of the year last weekend at a corporate function, and while luckily the punters were really happy with the performance, I'm personally really shitty about it. I haven't had the time to really play guitar for the past month due to being overseas and whatnot, but had been feeling very stuck in a rut for awhile prior to that.

So, I want to start learning cool stuff again to really kick my playing in the ass. Any recommendations? I tried to watch the old 80s Richie Kotzen video I had last night but found most of the licks to be fairly boring, not particularly musical things, just played ridiculously fast. I'm not really that much into playing shred these days, but would like to get into stuff that might straddle and sometimes push the boundary between normal blues/rock playing and more technical stuff. If that makes sense.

I know this is a very, very general question but I'm interested in seeing what responses come of it. Who should I listen to and try to learn from? Nuno? Eddie? Holdsworth? SRV? Who are your go-to guys when you want to kick your own playing in the ass?

Caveat: I'm not much of a jazz/fusion type of guy.

[Some Bozo]

Eddie? Holdsworth?

Holdsworth is Eddie's go-to-guy, so that's like go-to-guy squared

[Pakehendrix]

Straddling blues/technical? How about Mastodon

[slash-ed]

Youtube/song links appreciated

[Pakehendrix]

On dialup so that's a bit tricky, but I recommend Capillarian Crest from Blood Mountain.

[Lawrence]

Hi Ed
what about Robben Ford...he brings a level of class and intellect to "blues" that may work for you...

the other idea Id recommend is to listen to other instruments..particularly Sax. That will give tyou melodic and phrasing ideas that are well away from the guitar cliches...

[Lawrence]

oh and Guthrie Govan...
check him out on youtube - fantastic player and a bit left of this universe!

[Timoes]

Learnt some cool bits and bobs off "Deltabluestips" on youtube. He's cool. Clever and cool. Personally, I have no show of learning more than 10% of what the cat is tryin to lay down. As in some of his lessons are aimed at the higher skilled players, of which I am not. Anyone else checked out DBT ? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/user/deltabluestips?ob=5[/youtube]

[druz15]

Mastodon ftmfw
just learn all of Crack the Skye the album

[twistedthoughts]

Dr. twistedthoughts prescribes you a huge dose of Doug Aldrich.

Bluesy enough to be melodic, shreddy enough to be dynamic, original enough to be interesting.

[Slowy]

The left field contribution would be Danny Gatton. The closer you look, the harder he is to define. There's a good reason he was known as 'The Humbler'.

[Zaulkin]

The left field contribution would be Danny Gatton. The closer you look, the harder he is to define. There's a good reason he was known as 'The Humbler'.

Intense player. Enjoyed his Hotlicks DVD.

[The Scarecrow]

Anything by At The Drive In. Conventional chords and structures? Not really. Manic timings, loopy riffs and tricky solos? Yep.

This one is a good start, IMO. None of the verses are played the same way. Chorus pretty basic, but there's plenty of room to experiment.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NYbojdoAQE[/youtube]

[slash-ed]

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys. Some good ones there, and a few I'll have to explore further...

Dr. twistedthoughts prescribes you a huge dose of Doug Aldrich.

Bluesy enough to be melodic, shreddy enough to be dynamic, original enough to be interesting.

This sounds like something I've been meaning to do for some time actually! What album/songs would you recommend? I've never listened to much Whitesnake or Dio.

[youami]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezhevNcFq58[/youtube]