Maya Neelakantan, a 10-year-old guitar prodigy from India, has wowed audiences as soon as once more on America’s Acquired Expertise, this time ripping by Metallica’s “Grasp of Puppets” throughout her look in AGT‘s quarterfinals on Tuesday night time (August twenty seventh).
We beforehand reported on Maya crushing Papa Roach’s “Final Resort” for her AGT audition again in June, however she upped the ante within the quarterfinals, taking over an altogether extra sophisticated and technical monitor.
Metallica’s prolonged epic “Grasp of Puppets” is broadly thought-about their best musical achievement. Even for an completed guitarist equivalent to Maya, it’s an actual take a look at — particularly in a condensed, instrumental kind as she carried out it on AGT.
Backed by a home band of steel musicians and sporting an enormous smile, Maya stood centerstage and took over lead guitar duties, steering the monitor by its iconic central riff and refrain earlier than taking the highlight for some wild shredding. She even performed Kirk Hammett’s subdued solo part, hitting a pedal to make her Flying V axe quickly sound like an acoustic guitar.
Evidently, the judges had been impressed.
“That was like Van Halen reincarnated,” mentioned Howie Mandel earlier than including, “You wouldn’t assume it might come from you. You’re a shock. You’re superb!”
Even frequent dissenter Simon Cowell gave Maya excessive reward and in addition took a second to acknowledge the supply materials. “A giant thanks to Metallica for providing you with that track, that doesn’t occur fairly often,” he mentioned.
Throughout her onstage interview, Maya acknowledged Metallica and the Cliff Burton household for making the efficiency potential.
Maya continues her AGT ascent after beforehand catching our consideration — and that of some notable steel guitarists equivalent to Device’s Adam Jones — over the previous couple years together with her YouTube movies, together with a tremendous 22-song Device medley. She’ll discover out if she superior to the subsequent spherical of AGT when voting outcomes are introduced Wednesday night time (August twenty eighth).
Beneath you’ll be able to watch Maya Neelakantan play “Grasp of Puppets” on America’s Acquired Expertise.