The audition began with a quiet walk and a shy smile. Nineteen-year-old Silas Luke Jones stepped into the lights carrying his guitar, looking more like a student ready for practice than a showman. Then he tapped the body, slid into his first notes, and the sound took over. Within seconds the room felt bigger, as if one musician had somehow become an entire band.
It all happened during week eight of auditions on America’s Got Talent, Season 20. Silas, who comes from Homer, Alaska, uses a mix of open tunings, finger percussion, and a handful of pedals to create layers of sound. An EBow added a long, haunting hum that floated above the rhythm. By the time he reached the final run of “Misirlou,” the classic made famous by surf guitar legend Dick Dale, the crowd was already rising to its feet.
19 Year Old Guitarist Silas Luke Jones Receives A Standing Ovation For “Misirlou” | AGT 2025
Viewers at home felt the same electricity. Many wrote online that they could not believe one guitar could sound so full. Some praised the clean rhythm that never wavered, while others were caught by the way he shifted from shy and reserved to bold and confident within minutes. A common comment summed it up best: this is exactly what a stage is for.
The extended audition cut revealed even more. After a brief chat with the judges, Silas took a breath and began to build his world of sound step by step. A steady thumb tapped the wood like a drum. Fingers raced across the strings in open tuning, pulling out both melody and rhythm at once. The EBow added a soaring edge that made the whole piece shimmer. When the last chord landed, his grin showed he knew he had delivered something special.
Silas Luke Jones Audition | Week 8 | America’s Got Talent 2025
Together, both the performance clip and the longer audition reel paint the full picture. One captures the pure roar of the moment while the other shows how carefully Silas builds his sound. Fans noted the balance he struck, playful flourishes tucked inside a steady groove, confidence grounded in craft.
For those who want more, Silas shares practice clips and small lessons online, from pedal experiments to tuning tricks. His journey is just beginning.