Original image by There Stands the Glass.
I told the young Hayden Pedigo enthusiast seated next to me at the Ship that I suspected the guitarist from Amarillo was no more or less than the Leo Kottke of his generation. While I’m fond of Kottke, my comment was meant to be contentious.
Pedigo is one of the most fashionable musicians of 2025. His first headlining performance in Kansas City attracted about 200 hipsters on Wednesday, November 19. I paid $25 for a general admission ticket at the venue Pedigo said “reminds me of Season 1 of Spongebob.”
Kottke, an octogenarian acoustic guitar master who released his first album in 1969, is yesterday’s news. Pedigo currently dominates that space in the music press and social media. Sure enough, my new friend hadn’t heard of Kottke.
Pedigo’s 65-minute performance was a music nerd’s dream. He mentioned Blag Flag, John Fahey, Genesis, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell and Yes in a mid-show question-and-answer session or while introducing his songs.
I was charmed. Furthermore, my disputatious assertion was validated. Incredibly, Kottke still performs in mid-size theaters around the world. Pedigo would almost certainly be thrilled at the prospect of entertaining 500 fans in Kansas City fifty years from now.
Setlist: Smoked, Long Pond Lily, Elsewhere/Theme from Brokeback Mountain, Q-and-A session, Rained Like Hell, The Happiest Times I Ever Ignored, I'll Be Waving As You Drive Away