As Pat Metheny worked a synthesized electric guitar, squeezing out runs and flourishes of horn-like sounds against the drums of Joe Dyson and the interlocked keyboards of James Francies, I simply wrote “wow” in my notebook.
Perhaps that reaction was far too simple. But it summarizes not only the piece that came midway through Metheny’s “Side-Eye” concert at the Lied Center for Performing Arts on Monday, but the entire astounding performance.
"Side-Eye" is the latest project from the jazz guitar virtuoso in which he’s played with younger musicians, on record and in a series of concerts.
Francies, who plays an array of keyboards, doing bass on one, playing hard-jazz runs on another and spinning in sampled loops and drone on a third, was on the “Side-Eye” record, while Dyson, a young New Orleans hotshot, stepped behind the drum kit for this run of shows.
Beginning with duets with each, Metheny set the tone for the night — first on his standard hollow-body guitar, then switching to the synthesized model before he broke out an acoustic and, of course, his Pikasso guitar.
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Created for him to get as many strings as possible on the instrument, the Pikasso guitar has an set of strings across the acoustic guitar body that create a harp-like sound and a second small neck to go with the standard guitar neck. His ability to play all of those, thumping the body with his thumb for percussion, and create a vibrant sound was, well, astounding.
That came late in the two-hour show that included some Metheny material from early in his career — I'm not going to guess at the titles — as well as new works. But, as it should be, even the familiar sounded fresh with Metheny at the peak of his form, whether playing and improvising around delicate material or scraping, pulling and hitting the strings on yet another guitar to create “how does he get that?” sounds.
The show, performed in front of more than 1,000 people who came to see a rare Lincoln appearance by the guitarist who grew up in Kansas City, was mesmerizing from the start through the two encores — one with Metheny on acoustic, the second by the trio with Metheny again working the synth guitar.
And, judging from the reaction of those around me, including some high-fives, the crowd would have gladly stayed for more. It’s not every day that you get to see and hear one of the world’s greatest guitarists on what had to be a very, very good night.
Top Journal Star photos for October

Debbie Thurber (left) talks with her son's girlfriend Amanda Stutzman, as Thurber walks with walks Bo, a 10-year-old coonhound lab mix, and Stutzman with Niko, a 7-month-old newfoundland poodle mix, along the shore of Holmes Lake on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Lincoln East's Meagan Waters (7) celebrates a point scored against Lincoln High in the Spartans' 3-1 win over the Links on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, at Lincoln East High School. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska forward Lat Mayen puts up a shot during practice on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, at Hendrix Training Complex. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Lincoln Southwest's Markus Rutledge returns the ball in the No. 1 singles during Heartland Athletic Conference tennis tournament, Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, at Woods Tennis Center. JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Freeman's Kloey Johnson reacts after nearly getting a double play against Bishop Neumann on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, at Hackberry Softball Complex. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star

Wahoo's Kylee Kenning swings at a pitch from Beatrice on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, at Hackberry Softball Complex. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star

Nebraska celebrates a kill in the third set against Michigan State on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, at Devaney Sports Center. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star

A Nebraska cheerleader stands on the sidelines before the start of the game on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Memorial Stadium. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star

Nebraska's Broc Bando walks off the field after defeating Northwestern 56-7 on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Memorial Stadium. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star

Nebraska head coach Scott Frost (right) arches his back to follow a booming Husker punt as he talks to defensive coordinator Erik Chinander as they watch warm ups before taking on Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Memorial Stadium. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Tiny Tim, a long-haired dachshund owned by John Bender of Monument, Colo., is dressed up in Husker red for the game against Northwestern on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Memorial Stadium. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Lincoln Southwest's Taylor Korecky robs Southeast's Katelyn Neumayer (not pictured) of a home run on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Doris Bair Complex. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star

Fans raise their hands in hopes of getting a basketball before the men's game on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. EAKIN HOWARD, Journal Star

Lincoln High's Beni Ngoyi (8) pulls in a pass in front of Lincoln Northeast's Antonio Washington in the second quarter on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star

Nebraska's Lauren Stivrins (26) looks at the video board as the team waits to be introduced before a game against Michigan on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, at Devaney Sports Center. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star

Lincoln Southwest's Jack Baptista (3) bobbles, then catches the pass for a first down as Omaha South's Julian Mejia looks on in the first quarter on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, at Seacrest Field. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Reach the writer at 402-473-7244 or kwolgamott@journalstar.com. On Twitter @KentWolgamott