Other web Sites
Harmonica Blues  Harmonica Amps
Harmonica Links Harmonica Pages
• Archives Home
• Years
 · 1992
 · 1993
 · 1994
 · 1995
 · 1996
 · 1997 		 · 1998
 · 1999
 · 2000
 · 2001
 · 2002
 · 2003
 
Web HarpL
Ebay Searches:
Amps:
Microphones:
Effects:
Harmonicas and Gear:
Harmonica Music and Instruction:

 

 

Harp-L Archives

[Previous Message] [Next Message]
[Previous in Thread] [Next in Thread]
[Start of Thread] [End of Thread]

From: t~umancode.com (Tim Moyer)
Date: Thu, 15 Jan 1998 08:38:23 -0600
Subject: Re: Held bends/ over blows etc

At 05:49 AM 1/15/98 EST, Bluesonics wrote:
>after what I consider to be just a bunch of "junk" runs up and down
>the harp, he got a great reaction from the audience!

I gather from this description that this is somewhat different from the way
you play (certainly no one describes their own playing realistically as
"junk"). I suggest that part of the audience reaction might have been to
the change in styles. A lot of times they get used to one player's style,
then another guy comes along and does something completely different and
the crowd cheers the change.

I've played with a few bands that have guest guitarists, and the guests
almost always intentionally play stylistically differently than the normal
guitarist, though they might even be playing through his equipment. They
do that to counterpoint themselves, to make themselves stand away from what
the audience has been hearing, and it usually gets a good reaction. It's
not that the other guy can't do that, or isn't even possibly a "better"
player, it's just a change of pace, and that is often welcome, especially
in a multi-set club gig.

>Now THAT'S discouraging, especially when you think the audience hears and
>appreciates all the nuances and phrases you've spent years developing ....
HA!

Most people don't appreciate the subtle nuances of your style because they
haven't heard enough good harp players. There will always be a few people
who understand the work you put into your playing, but after all, it is
about showmanship.

I attended a gig recently that featured harp-l's own "Uncle Ed" Kliman on
harp. Rocking good stuff, the band was in a groove, the audience was
loving it (except those drunk guys that were trying to pay Ed to let their
father sing American Pie, but that's another story). But NOTHING that
night got a bigger crowd reaction that when Ed, in the middle of a solo,
stepped off of the stage on onto our table without missing a lick. Now
Ed's no slouch of a player, but I'd guess that it wasn't his subtle use of
throat vibrato that people were screaming about. To quote Ed's sig, the
gig's the thing.



[ t i m m o y e r ]
- ---------------------
[ t~umancode.com ]