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Slide of Hand: AJ Ghent & His Singing Guitar
AJ Ghent comes out of the sacred-steel tradition, blending church-born slide guitar with soul, funk, and rock into a modern neo-blues. Based in Atlanta, he plays a custom lap steel he calls the Singing Guitar, making lines bend and sigh like a voice.
Gospel fire meets neon blues
The current show leans on a tight trio or quartet, keeping space for his vocal hooks and sharp, rhythmic slides. Expect anchors like Power, Raise Your Hands, and a soaring cover moment such as Purple Rain, with a hymn turn on Amazing Grace when the room is right. The crowd usually mixes blues lifers, jam-scene explorers, younger guitar nerds, and a few families who recognize the church feel.Little studio crumbs fans love
His family includes lap-steel notable Aubrey Ghent, and his broader lineage traces to Willie Eason and the House of God tradition. On record he sometimes double-tracks slide parts or uses a subtle octave effect to make the guitar answer his own vocal lines. Details about songs and staging here draw from patterns at recent dates and could change from night to night.The Neo-Blues Hang: AJ Ghent & His Singing Guitar
The room feels communal but focused, like a Friday night hang where musicianship matters and people still dance.
Style notes from club to chapel
You will see denim jackets next to brimmed hats and a few sharp suits, a nod to both club blues and Sunday best. Fans clap loud on two and four, and the front rows echo short refrains when the band cues them, especially on a raise-your-hands lyric.How the night breathes
Merch tables tilt toward statement tees, flat caps, and the occasional slide or pick set, with vinyl for those who want the deep-cut takes. Between sets, talk tends to be about tone and feel rather than gear lists, and strangers trade favorite solo moments like recipes. It is a scene that values uplift without pretense, where a quick grin after a risky run gets the same cheer as a high note.Strings That Sing, Drums That Drive: AJ Ghent & His Singing Guitar
Live, the voice sits up front, warm and direct, and the lap steel answers like a second singer.
Hooks that lean, solos that soar
Riffs often start clipped and percussive, then open into long, crying notes when the chorus lands. The rhythm section favors mid-tempo pocket where kick and bass hit together, giving his slides a sturdy floor to dance on. Arrangements leave space for call-and-response, with quick breaks that reset the groove so solos pop.Small choices, big lift
He often favors an open-major tuning and will drop the lowest string a step to add a chesty drone on vamps. A small volume pedal swell here and a gritty octave-fuzz there let the guitar mimic a talk-singing texture without burying the band. Visuals are tasteful and saturated, supporting the color of each section rather than chasing flash for its own sake.If You Like These, Youre in the Right Room: AJ Ghent & His Singing Guitar
Fans of Robert Randolph and the Family Band will hear the same sacred-steel fire paired with danceable grooves.