Nuno Bettencourt was about to turn in for the night when a final scroll through Instagram stopped him cold.
The Portuguese-American guitarist — best known for his work with Extreme — knows virtuosity when he hears it. Bettencourt’s own playing earned the admiration and friendship of Eddie Van Halen, whom he honored on Extreme’s track “Rise.”
So when a clip from little-known multi-instrumentalist Christy Carey appeared in his feed, it made an immediate impression.
Article continues below“I very, very rarely repost anything,” Bettencourt said. “But this has to be shared. I’m right on the verge of passing out in bed and I stumble upon this gift — and it just stopped me in my tracks.”
Bettencourt reposted the video, then followed it with three more clips showcasing Carey’s playing.
“I haven’t heard or seen anything this cool, this fresh, this unique — with anyone this talented as a producer, innovative guitarist and bass player — in a generation,” he added. “His vibe, confidence and style. He owns this. If these are your early compositions, I can’t imagine what’s coming. It’s cool as fuck.”
The praise may sound hyperbolic, but Carey — who currently has just under 10,000 followers on Instagram — appears to have the musicality to back it up. A multi-instrumentalist, he moves easily between electric guitar, synths and drum loops, treating genres less like boundaries and more like a buffet.
When he digs into the guitar, his playing carries a mathy indie-rock sensibility, thick with fuzz and off-kilter motifs that feel adventurous without becoming chaotic.
Bettencourt’s followers were quick to weigh in. In the comments, listeners compared Carey’s work to everyone from viral microtonal experimenter Angine de Poitrine to artists such as Mike Oldfield and the Mars Volta, while others heard echoes of Steve Howe’s “Yours Is No Disgrace”-era work with Yes. Even YouTuber and former Mastodon guitarist Ben Eller chimed in with praise.
“I don’t know you, but please keep creating — you’ve got something special,” Bettencourt concluded in his post. “You’re like the Police, Radiohead, Led Zeppelin, Devo, Yes, the Buggles, King Crimson and Rush all wrapped into your own culture.”
Perhaps the most surprising part: it doesn’t appear that Carey has yet noticed that one of rock’s most revered guitarists has been publicly singing his praises.
When he does, it should be quite a discovery.
Bettencourt, meanwhile, has recently spoken about turning down the chance to join Ozzy Osbourne’s band after auditioning years ago, and about the remarkable journey of recovering his prized Washburn guitar after it was stolen.
