joek18
37 posts
Feb 27, 2014
7:14 PM
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If I may... harp playing is a delicate avocation because when the instrument is played badly the effect approaches torture. This forum and site provides plenty of examples of superior playing and showmanship. We, as players, must encourage reasonable standards so that the harmonica doesn't suffer ridicule from the listening public. And while standards should be encouraged, no one is forced to accept them.
In my humble estimation, this performance thrashes the line into ridiculous. While several people have noted the audience's applause as validation of the performance, there are many reasons why an audience applauds. Using only one example, they may have been thrilled the player simply survived his own flailing.
If a player takes the stage in front of an audience, he/she is submitting to criticism or kudos by the nature of the art form. So I have no problem critiquing the person who does so.
If this particular player isn't embarrassed by that performance, good for him. It doesn't mean the performance wasn't embarrassing.
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Gipsy
45 posts
Feb 27, 2014
11:51 PM
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Did anyone here actually attend the concert? Can anyone here put it into it's proper context? If not you're all barking up the wrong tree. This guy was playing to entertain his audience! He wasn't playing a piece designed to impress his peers on a web site.
I enjoyed it for what it was, a piece of entertainment for me to enjoy. I've happily sat through long, live seemingly endless heavy metal solos. I've survived Tales from Topographic Oceans and loved it. Soft Machine were accessible compared to some of the stuff I've listened to. I also caught the J Geils Band in the early 70's, live at Imperial College. The common thread was that it was entertainment. Same with this guy. Accept it for what it is, don't obsess over it's musical form and move on.
Last Edited by Gipsy on Feb 28, 2014 6:51 AM
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The Iceman
1494 posts
Feb 28, 2014
6:21 AM
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ahh, finally someone else that is into Soft Machine!
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The Iceman
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Gipsy
46 posts
Feb 28, 2014
6:56 AM
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@iceman. There aren't many of us left! But I have to admit I did stray a little from the true path, and also took in Tangerine Dream and Tonto's Expanding Headband.
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The Iceman
1495 posts
Feb 28, 2014
7:22 AM
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Soft Machine, Family, Kraftwerk (some of their stuff) and Tangerine Dream are OK w/me.
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The Iceman
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Frank
3926 posts
Feb 28, 2014
8:35 AM
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This is applaudable if done for an audience - its amazing I think :)
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walterharp
1332 posts
Feb 28, 2014
9:43 AM
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what about king crimson then?
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Frank101
6 posts
Feb 28, 2014
10:56 AM
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Is the audience dancing? I see some bobbing their heads is all. And clapping (to some mysterious beat of their own, as audiences do), but whether that's in response to the harp or to the rest of the band doing that overhead handclap thing at several points I couldn't say.
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Rick Davis
3023 posts
Mar 04, 2014
2:44 PM
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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Frank
3935 posts
Mar 05, 2014
8:01 AM
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Trippityflapsnippityragsplashrabadabaflamfliptipyoulis.
Charlie Mccoy on steroids - was that a magic trick towards the end :)
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jnorem
80 posts
Mar 05, 2014
2:16 PM
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Hoowee, that guy can sure play fast.
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Call me J
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Rick Davis
3026 posts
Mar 05, 2014
3:35 PM
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Frank, the slight-of-hand tricks were better than the solo, IMHO. Rock harp like this is kinda lame, but the crowd liked it so who cares what I think...
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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Frank
3941 posts
Mar 05, 2014
5:50 PM
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So what is the trick I can't figure out what they are throwing back and forth... are they glow in the dark marshmellows?
Last Edited by Frank on Mar 05, 2014 6:06 PM
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laurent2015
622 posts
Mar 05, 2014
6:46 PM
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Trippityflapsnippityragsplashrabadabaflamfliptipyoulis
...Evangelos?
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shadoe42
285 posts
Mar 06, 2014
8:27 AM
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Its a light thumb tip. I have a set in red I use at night at some places to entertain children. In direct light they are very obvious.
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Dr. Rev. Mr. Cheeks Miller
My Electronic Music World
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Frank101
12 posts
Jun 28, 2014
5:31 PM
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Hi Honkin'
I just came across your post while searching for posts by me (which doesn't seem possible to just do by clicking on the username) to find out some info I didn't have saved anywhere else. Anyhow, I'm me, not him.
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pharpo
743 posts
Jun 29, 2014
8:54 AM
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I enjoyed it....while I really don't consider this "blues harp" I still found myself tapping my feet. We can criticize all we want.... But if I judged all the music that I listened to over the years ( as a DJ and harp player).....and used the same "filters" that many of you have used on this fella........my playlist would be very small.
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Procrastinator Emeritus
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The Black Pit
17 posts
Jun 29, 2014
6:13 PM
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I'd bet he'd make some coin busking.
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