That’s how you get their attention.
Philip Bowen has had our attention for a while now with his incredible fiddle covers, adding strings to everything from Colter Wall and Zach Bryan to “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC and even “Gangsta’s Paradise.”
And while he gained popularity through TikTok, Philip is credited on tracks from artists like Jenna Paulette, Noah Kahan, Josiah & the Bonnevilles, and more, even making his debut at the historic Bluebird Café in Nashville back in May 2022.
The West Virginia native also recently announced his debut album, Old Kanawha, will be arriving later this summer and even features a collaboration with another son of the Mountain State, Charles Wesley Godwin.
But before he drops his debut album, Philip had to drop by America’s Got Talent – and he turned plenty of heads with his performance.
Speaking to the judges before his audition, Philip told them that he was inspired to start playing when he was four years old, by a violin player that he saw on Sesame Street named Itzhak Perlman – who happens to be judge Howie Mandel’s cousin.
And he also revealed that his mom is a huge fan of one of the other judges, Simon Cowell, and even used to tell Philip as he was playing that Simon would love his performances.
Well he finally got the chance to see once and for all what Simon had to say about his fiddlin’ skills, and it’s safe to say he knocked the opportunity out of the park.
Philip surprised the judges and the crowd by busting out into a performance of “Chop Suey!” by System Of A Down, sawing on the fiddle so hard that his hat even came flying off in the middle of the song.
By the end, all of the judges and the entire crowd were on their feet as an emotional Bowen took in the standing ovation. And afterwards, the judges were all ready to send him through to the next round – even Simon:
“I mean, I just wasn’t expecting that. You are so talented. You have so much charisma. I mean you could feel the energy in here. They love you.
You will make your mom and dad so proud after that performance. That was a great audition.”
And with that, it was a unanimous decision: Philip Bowen moves on to the next round.
As if there was ever any doubt after putting on a show like that.
