The Most Unexpected Acoustic Guitar Performance | The Showhawk Duo | TEDxKlagenfurt

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Published 2018-07-25

Music works a lot like language does - except instead of words and ideas, it expresses emotions and intent. It also gives us an oxytocin boost, which plays an important role in increasing bonding and trust between people. The Showhawk Duo bonded TEDxKlagenfurt’s audience with their spectacular approach to playing the guitar. Listen to the magic they created on stage with their version of Insomnia - I can't get no sleep, Tiesto’s Adagio For Strings or the most unexpected thing you can expect on a guitar Bohemian Rhapsody. Young British guitarists Mikhail Asanovic and Jake Wright, together known as The Showhawk Duo, started out as buskers and have since gone on to play all over the globe. They have appeared on BBC Radio 1 on the Nick Grimshaw’s Breakfast Show, they performed for the LAD Bible and BBC Radio Bristol. They played at the UK's large festivals including the Main Stage at Bestival, Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Wilderness, Somersault and more. International performances include F1 Grand Prix in Singapore, Seychelles, club tours in Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands and a 20 - date residency at Pacha in Ibiza. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

All Comments (21)

@averagedude6688 5 years ago

I play guitar myself, I see a lot of criticism about skill. This isnt about skill, this is about emotion and performing. They sat up a great performance, and i believe they will inspire others to play guitar. Music isnt about competition, its about fun and unity. I hope people understand this.
@kristoffervemy8331 5 years ago

Update: (thanks for all the comments) Song list: 1. Insomnia - Faithless @01:53 2. Kernkraft 400 - Zombie nation @03:30 3. Sandstorm - Darude @04:20 4. Adagio for strings - Tiesto @07:42 5. Children - Robert Miles (Jack Holiday remix) @10:47 6. ATB - Till i Come @12:45 7. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen @16:00 cheers
@chaddius3177 2 years ago

The power of music, that whole room connected by 2 people just playing away, zero words needed. Incredible
@graceanne6780 1 year ago

The fact that nearly 11 million people have now collectively watched this video and sang Bohemian Rhapsody out loud from memory because of it. B R A V O.
@SchmidtTools 4 years ago

I've played guitars for almost 30 years. These guys have some real creative talent. It's much harder to create or play a musical piece with no words, no singer, no drummer, no bass player, no keyboards, or anything else. Just 2 guys, 2 guitars. If you can keep anyone now days intrigued for more than 3.5 seconds your a genius. These guys can keep you hooked for 23 minutes. That's called real talent.
@dc2blair 5 years ago

I don’t care if it was technically hard or easy to play, I don’t play guitar, that element doesn’t matter to me. What matters is that I stopped everything I was doing for 20 minutes to be fixated by 2 guys pumping out songs that you’d never normally hear on an acoustic guitar. 10/10 for entertainment purposes.
@shawnrowe7749 1 year ago

Over the years, I keep coming back to this amazing performance!!
@vikash.s8523 1 year ago

All musical instruments have DIVINE power. When people make instruments cry, it touches many hearts.
@aaronbrown3668 3 years ago

Playing with out missing a beat with that crowd clapping is some serious talent.
@kevinfoster1213 1 year ago

I've studied, played, and practiced trombone for years. Could sight read and transpose into any key signature. But could never get over the plateau of putting emotion in the music. That is why I bent nails for 40 years. These guys show what music is to be. Fun and full of emotion. Technically correct is just icing..
@texasplumr 2 years ago

They bared their soul in public and believe me, that's not an easy thing to do. I never criticize an artist or artists for their creation. It's art in it's truest form and absolutely captivating. And until you've stepped up on a stage and performed for an audience, you'll never understand how vulnerable you feel when all eyes are on you and itching to catch any mistake. These two are brilliant!
@sagerealestate101 2 years ago

people might be surprised how well music connects us but people fail to forget that we're bodies of frequency
@pierrerossouw6083 4 years ago

Best 23 minutes I've spent in a while. This made my soul smile.
@ryanelliott8967 3 years ago

2000s techno played on guitar is something I didn't know I needed until now! Great performance
@aboveus1638 2 years ago

Adagio for strings was sensational. One of the best versions of it I have ever heard. Shear beauty and talent.
@laboniparvin213 6 months ago

🍁Song list🍁 🔻 1. Insomnia - Faithless ▪️01:53 2. Kernkraft 400 - Zombie Nation ▪️03:30 3. Sandstorm - Darude ▪️04:20 4. Adagio for strings - Samuel Barber ▪️07:42 5. Children - Robert Miles ▪️10:47 6. ATB - 9PM (Till I Come) ▪️12:45 7. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen ▪️16:00 🔺 Colle
@V19KEEandP33ETO 5 years ago

Was so lucky to have these guys play at our wedding in St Andrews in 2015, absolutely amazing and really lovely guys!
@seaba56 4 years ago

I’m always sceptical when a video title has “unexpected” in the title but I was gladly proved wrong. This was a pleasure to listen to.
@Sesioboy07 11 months ago

WOOOOOW!!! WHAT A JOURNEY!!! THEY NAILED THAT TIESTO'S VERSION OF ADAGGIO FOR STRINGS, AND IT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST "CHILDREN" COVER I'VE EVER HEARD!!! THOSE GUYS ARE REALLY AMAZING! STANDING OVATION FOR THEM! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@vishnumoorthy8859 6 months ago

Imagine you attend a TED event and you get to listen to this magic!