If nothing else, Buckethead practices truth in advertising. The virtuosic guitarist indeed wears a bucket on his head, usually one modeled after the type that KFC uses to hold fried chicken. It’s just one of the musician’s many eccentricities (he also covers his face with a blank white mask and engages in otherworldly dance moves, and generally only gives interviews in-character), but as odd as his persona may be, none of it gets in the way of his amazing talents on the guitar. As a person, Buckethead is a bit of an enigma, but when he straps on a guitar and starts playing, he tells you all you need to know about him.
In addition to his astounding abilities at shredding, Buckethead is also incredibly prolific, releasing literally hundreds of mostly instrumental albums of his own as well as collaborating with everyone from Les Claypool and Iggy Pop to Snoop Dogg and actor Viggo Mortensen. He was a member of Guns N’ Roses for several years, contributing to the band’s epic, long-in-the-works 2008 album Chinese Democracy. Everything he does is infused with his unique, inscrutable personality, adding an extra layer of mystery and wonder to his mind-blowing musicianship.
Hard Rock Hotel, 9 p.m. June 14, $25, tax and fee. 888.929.7849
