CarlA
395 posts
Jul 31, 2013
7:22 PM
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Just ran into this today! Anyone else see the show??
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1UBdzvfWpnY
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joelvis66
9 posts
Jul 31, 2013
8:20 PM
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Sure did. I'm hoping to see the Blues Brothers in Truro at the Dutch Mason Blues Festival along with James Cotton and other great blues acts a week from Saturday.
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Goldbrick
245 posts
Aug 01, 2013
11:04 AM
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I guess I have become a blues snob.
Dan may be funny as a conehead but his blues act makes me wanna barf
Now I gotta listen to 1/2 hour of Butterfield to clear my palate.
Sorry-just my 2 Cents
I respect his love of the blues-just wish he wouldnt try and play 'em
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easyreeder
385 posts
Aug 01, 2013
12:34 PM
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That's an impostor. The real Dan Akroyd was abducted by aliens.
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Greg Heumann
2294 posts
Aug 01, 2013
12:48 PM
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I'm with goldbrick. Pretty weak harp playing. Even weaker vocals.
And a really wimpy ass harp mic...... ;)
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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TheoBurke
442 posts
Aug 02, 2013
7:02 AM
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Pathetic, I think. I like Ackroyd and think his love of blues is real, but if a television program wants blues music, they should hire a real blues artist to come on and play.They could certainly could use the exposure. This smacks of the Minstrel Show. Good intentions, negative connotations.
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Ted Burke
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheoBurke?feature=mhee
http://ted-burke.com
tburke4@san.rr.co,
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The Iceman
1065 posts
Aug 02, 2013
7:07 AM
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Too the less than .001 of the population that posts here, we all know Dan is not the best musician.
However, to the 99.009 of the rest of the people, he is a celebrity and we all know how "the citizens" will respond to a figurehead like this.
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The Iceman
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Martin
442 posts
Aug 02, 2013
7:14 AM
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Another case of someone who´s been playing harp for decades and not learnt a thing. Choosing a B-field song is rather obnoxious.
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HarpNinja
3404 posts
Aug 02, 2013
7:25 AM
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You guys are way too rough...it was fun, he was in tune, and he actually did some tongue blocking and flutters. It was cool how he walked to the dressing room and back. How cool!
I didn't see any monitors or IEM's. I wonder how he was hearing what was going on...I am assuming he just heard the stage volume? LOVED IT!
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Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
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AW
149 posts
Aug 02, 2013
7:57 AM
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The Blues Brothers was the first thing that got me thinking about harmonica.
I enjoyed seeing Dan Akroyd out there playing.
I particularly enjoyed being able to think to myself, "thanks to Gussow, Michael Rubin, and practice, I can play that song better than him."
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stones
82 posts
Aug 02, 2013
7:58 AM
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WOW goes to show what NO practice sounds like.. I felt embarrassed for him especially with that intro from Jimmy. maybe he never played very well to begin with ? and the harp in his movies was a soundtrack by some one else. just my 2 cents worth.
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nutty316
8 posts
Aug 02, 2013
8:32 AM
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Man it is rough around here, HA! If he was trying to tour and charge people I would agree, but this is the Blues Brothers "act". It should be enjoyed and viewed for what it is, fun entertainment.
I doubt Akyrod claims to be a musical genius. Looks like a man having fun playing the blues he loves (even if not great).
Could have been lady gaga in meat suite instead, just saying.
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LSC
480 posts
Aug 02, 2013
8:41 AM
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I would mention that John Popper cited the first Blues Brothers film as the inspiration for picking up the harmonica. In the spirit of full disclosure, Elwood Blues gave a written endorsement to one of my previous bands.
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LSC
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HarpNinja
3407 posts
Aug 02, 2013
10:13 AM
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There isn't much harp on the BB stuff from the original band. For the second BB movie, John Popper played all the harp for the kid, Buster.
But, Dan never played a ton of harp live.
If you go back to the actual act, John Beluschi carried most of the show musically. Dan was more of a hype guy - like before it was cool for rappers to have an entoruge.
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Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
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Philosofy
476 posts
Aug 02, 2013
10:40 AM
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Dan might not be the best, but I think of him as more an ambassador for the instrument and the blues. It was Elwood that got me to listen to the blues, and to pick up a harmonica. Listen to the live Blues Brothers record: they would do a song, but also tell you who did it originally, and sometimes what that original artist was up to. John and Dan used their celebrity to promote the blues better than ANYONE. And we should thank them for that.
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Honkin On Bobo
1138 posts
Aug 02, 2013
10:43 AM
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Tough crowd in this forum, I second HarpNinja's remarks.
I thought his harp playing served the song, it sounded fine for what it was (a comedy master who can play a little, doing some shtick for his intro to a late night comedy talk show).
It's much more annoying to me when artists (usually the gutitar playing singer/songwriter types) add a harp to their "repertoire" and they literally can't play a lick. They just start randomly wanking and honking. I didn't see/hear that here with DA.
LOVED IT +1
I
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FatJesus
20 posts
Aug 02, 2013
12:03 PM
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As much as I loved Elwood Blues, I think it's pretty clear that Dan Aykroyd was NOT born in Chicago. And this doesn't help things.
But Ice is probably right about the impression of the huddled, ignorant masses.
On the plus side...
After this, no one on this forum should ever have stagefright again--at least not if you're afraid you're "not good enough."
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blueswannabe
239 posts
Aug 02, 2013
1:15 PM
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it was entertaining, you can't argue with that. He was even better in the 2nd video. Notwithstanding his acting antics, I truly believe he respects the blues genre.
Last Edited by blueswannabe on Aug 02, 2013 1:19 PM
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6SN7
346 posts
Aug 02, 2013
2:28 PM
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OMG. It was a clever, 5 minute segment of television; can you say Hollywood?
Dan Ackroyd has arguably done more to bring blues music to wider, more diverse, international audience than anyone else living, period. Movies, records, performances, syndicated radio shows, House of Blues, while at the same time pulling along countless deserving musicians in his slipstream.
I don't give a hoot if he can't play a fluttered TB over-blow, or shows up with a rusty, out of tune Steve Tyler harmonica full of pocket lint, the man is welcome on my stage anytime.
Honestly, you are going to say you haven't heard worse stuff posted here at this site? I need a cool compress...
Last Edited by 6SN7 on Aug 02, 2013 7:10 PM
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Admin1
8 posts
Aug 02, 2013
3:11 PM
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6SN7 your comment to to Goldbrick is out of line and clearly breeches forum rules to refrain from insulting other forum members. Please edit your offending post.
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IndianaHarpKid
22 posts
Aug 02, 2013
4:56 PM
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As much as I love the Blues Brothers, this was painful to listen to.
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BronzeWailer
1104 posts
Aug 03, 2013
1:06 AM
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I was a little taken aback by some of the vitriol. He isn't a great player, so what? Imagine this was Modern Jugglers Forum, and some actor had the temerity to juggle a couple of tennis balls on a TV talk show. Wold we all lay into them and ask how they dare do such a terrible performance?
For a large portion of the public, DA might be the best harp player they have ever heard. Are we to despise them for liking it?
I side with the school that appreciates him for helping to popularize the harp.
I think we all agree on perhaps one thing; the harp is a wonderful instrument. We should all ask ourselves what we are doing to spread the magic of the harp to a wider audience.
Last Edited by BronzeWailer on Aug 03, 2013 1:07 AM
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ReedSqueal
462 posts
Aug 03, 2013
1:27 AM
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He's an actor that plays some harp. Not a harp player who acts. Have fun with it.
(Bruce Willis, another case-in-point actor who plays some harp)
Might as well embed the video in question:
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Go ahead and play the blues if it'll make you happy.
-Dan Castellaneta
Last Edited by ReedSqueal on Aug 03, 2013 1:28 AM
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cyclodan
19 posts
Aug 03, 2013
12:18 PM
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Vitriol? I don't think so, just people stating their opinions. Myself I'm of the opinion that life is too short to listen to bad blues, and that video, in my opinion, falls into that category.
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JInx
475 posts
Aug 03, 2013
1:48 PM
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LOL, you guys are wacked! Aykroyd killed it.
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Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
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TheoBurke
443 posts
Aug 03, 2013
2:33 PM
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The basic fact is that the joke that was The Blues Brothers is gone; John Belushi has been dead for years and Ackryod's attempts to revive the act/joke has always seemed strained and unnatural. As fine an actor as he is, John Goodman does not have the chemistry that Belushi had with Ackroyd, which was really the point of watching these guys on tv or in their one movie. At this point the fun has really, really, really gone out of this faux-blues revival thing.
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Ted Burke
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheoBurke?feature=mhee
http://ted-burke.com
tburke4@san.rr.co,
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Martin
446 posts
Aug 03, 2013
6:50 PM
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Tha fact that something is an "inspiration" or whatever to 1 or 100 000 000 people doesn´t make it one iota better.
That is very hard for people to understand.
We´re talking to types of values here: aesthetic (artistic) and ... "inspirational". They don´t overlap with any necessity whatsoever.
Quite often the contrary.
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Jim Rumbaugh
899 posts
Aug 03, 2013
7:42 PM
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It was entertainment that had music.
I call it successful entertainment.
I will not comment on the quality of the music. I do not think that was the point of the routine.
Or how about this..... if so many of us can play better, why aren't we on Jimmy Fallon???????
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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Tweedaddict
85 posts
Aug 03, 2013
7:54 PM
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It's Dan folks!
My two cents...
It's the 'Blues Brothers'
It's 'comedy' - it's 'schtick'
He killed it, It is/was meant to be entertainment, and it IS entertainment... He's sure as hell not trying to pretend to be Paul Butterfield!
VERY wireless mic!
:)
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TheoBurke
446 posts
Aug 03, 2013
8:02 PM
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@Jim Rumbaugh Because Ackyod isn't on because of harmonica skill, but because he's a professional celebrity with substantial TV and movie credits to his name.
@Tweedaddict: Not pretending to be Paul Butterfield isn't a convincing defense of what Ackroyd is doing here. Back in the day, not so long ago, late night shows could get edgier and present us some legitimate music. Fallon missed an opportunity to present a real blues musician and gave instead a tired old comedian hamming it up with a frankly pathetic Minstrel show routine that disrepects the blues and black culture. These guys should be ashamed of themselves.
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Ted Burke
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheoBurke?feature=mhee
http://ted-burke.com
tburke4@san.rr.co,
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Tweedaddict
86 posts
Aug 03, 2013
8:11 PM
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Theo,
I hear you...BUT...
It's schtick comedy, It sure maybe/is tired, but it's schtick! nonetheless. I don't think Fallon had any intention of showing a 'real-deal' blues gig. It's comedy!
Hell That mic sure was nice
:)
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apskarp
614 posts
Aug 04, 2013
11:14 AM
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Wow, that was great! I have to admire a person who can make that kind of entrance to talk show. It's not the skills, it's not the accuracy, it's not even the music. It's the spirit!
This made me feel good, can't say that with most of the videos I see even from very skilled players. I'd rather spend an hour watching Ackroyd's energy and spirit than some hot shot presenting his harp playing techniques in a musical context...
Just my two cents. Thank's for the link CarlA!
Last Edited by apskarp on Aug 04, 2013 11:14 AM
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joelvis66
10 posts
Aug 04, 2013
1:10 PM
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I as a Dan fan, Blues Brothers fan and Blues fan enjoyed the show. I've recently listened to Briefcase full of Blues and think Dan did a good job as a harp player. He played just the right amount for an ensemble act. He honked and warbled in the right places and didn't overplay. The actual was also very physical. The Blues Brothers were all about the magic and voodoo, the coolness of the Blues. Not all blues musicians can play like John Popper. Nor should they. Anytime we see a person promoting the Blues and playing the harmonica, we should all be happy, proud. I have to travel 2 hours to get to a blues festival once a year to meet others who love the Blues and to see great acts.
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Larry Abela
15 posts
Aug 04, 2013
1:29 PM
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He plays harp better than I do. I sing better than he does. I've done a walk on with a band of that caliber. Could not have carried off that bit of showmanship with a month of practice.
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Frank
2611 posts
Aug 09, 2013
8:50 AM
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You gotta admit that "the roots" laid down a bacon greased groove slick enough to belly dive into it face first :)
Last Edited by Frank on Aug 09, 2013 8:51 AM
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nacoran
7015 posts
Aug 09, 2013
10:35 AM
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He's a blues lover. He's a performer. He's a comedian. He plays harp and sings.
Right now he is a comedian doing great shtick. Would he get that kind of response if he was an average harp player not doing shtick? He's managed to stay around for all these years because he knows his business, and along the way, as a blues lover, he's managed to get a lot of exposure for other blues performers.
I read a book about writing once, and one part stuck with me. Writers don't mind terrible writing if it's not intended to be great writing. A decent writer can read a comic book or watch a soap opera and not get offended by how bad the writing is. It's shtick and camp.
On the other hand, a writer may get really upset with writing that tries to pass itself off as great writing. Now it's pretending.
Despite the grandiose introduction, I think it's pretty clear Aykroyd knows he's shtick. The over the top introduction is just part of the act, and it's a pretty good act. It's gotten a lot of exposure for the blues over the years.
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Nate
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