Header Graphic
Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Video of my Band..Hope you will comment
Video of my Band..Hope you will comment
Login  |  Register
Page: 1

harpdude61
2218 posts
Nov 10, 2014
5:49 PM
I just found this from Halloween 2013. I'm Duane "Catfish" Frye and this is Catfish Frye Band. I'm 53 now and started playing harmonica when my wife bought me one for my 45th birthday.

I front the band but do not sing.

I hope all levels of players will comment.

I would love to hear your comments on... the band, the solos, the fills, how much I play, when I play, how I speak, stage presence, ANYTHING..Do be easy on the bassist as this was his first show ever. I had been with the other two about a year and a half.

Songs..

00:00 IF You Wanna Get to Heaven

03:50 Hoochie Coochie Man...harp solo at 6:20

9:00 Caldonia...harp solo at 10:25...guitar exchange at 12:20

14:25 Sky is Crying...harp solo at 16:30

21:00 Night Train...harp solo at 23:40

25:30 Folsom Prison Blues...harp solo at 26:24

Some good show pix as well on our Facebook page below. Comments welcome about our page too.

----------
www.facebook.com/catfishfryeband

Last Edited by harpdude61 on Nov 10, 2014 5:55 PM
didjcripey
841 posts
Nov 11, 2014
12:57 AM
I know it was halloween, but its hard to take the band seriously dressed as you were.
And perhaps its just me, but the motions you make from 10.01 look a little suggestive, especially with a stick mic.

Harp's good.
----------
Lucky Lester
RyanMortos
1486 posts
Nov 11, 2014
6:11 AM
Catfish, you guys rock. I think it's awesome you've accomplished so much in 8 years of playing. I like the set list as well all tunes I enjoy hearing when I'm out. Wish I were in the area to catch you guys. Keep it up!

----------



RyanMortosHarmonica

~Ryan

See My Profile for contact info, etc.

harpdude61
2219 posts
Nov 11, 2014
6:17 AM
didjcripey..suggestive of what? Cotton does that....
RyanMortos you are a class act! Thank you my friend
----------
www.facebook.com/catfishfryeband

Last Edited by harpdude61 on Nov 11, 2014 8:58 AM
harpdude61
2220 posts
Nov 11, 2014
7:11 AM
I apologize didjcreepy...your comments are within the forum creed.
----------
www.facebook.com/catfishfryeband

Last Edited by harpdude61 on Nov 11, 2014 8:58 AM
hvyj
2579 posts
Nov 11, 2014
7:30 AM
Cotton also does the white socks. I really enjoyed the performance. What I particularly liked was your use of space and the drive with which the band plays. So many bands with harp are IMHO, too harmonica centric in that there's just too much harp playing. You play as part of the band and some of your licks drive the rythym pretty hard which I think is cool. You don't over play and you know when to leave space. And you are not afraid to play relatively simple repitive riffs that drive the groove. Also, the band rocks.

So many bands with harp play with that old timey wimpy groove which has limited appeal to modern audiences. I can certainly understand why you get regular gigs. Maybe not authentic sounding blues but you guys have your own sound and are a working band, not a documentary. I think you have great stage presence without being overbearing. Nice tone on the harp, too, and your sonic presence is balanced with the rest of the instruments. You guys sound like a band, not just musicians backing up a harmonica player. I like it.

Last Edited by hvyj on Nov 11, 2014 8:06 AM
harpdude61
2221 posts
Nov 11, 2014
7:43 AM
@hvyj...means the world coming from you man. It is hard to stand there and NOT play. I figure at a gig the other three are playing 100% of the time and I am playing maybe 35%.

I do try to follow your advice and others about how much, how fancy, when, etc..etc...
----------
www.facebook.com/catfishfryeband
Joe_L
2537 posts
Nov 11, 2014
8:09 AM
Why would you post video, ask for feedback and get upset if someone gives you feedback that might be constructive?

I watched the whole video and had several suggestions, but after reading the entire thread, I'll just say it was great!

----------
The Blues Photo Gallery
hvyj
2580 posts
Nov 11, 2014
8:22 AM
A very accomplished professional musician once told me that an amateur musician is preoccupied with what he is playing but a professional musician concentrates on how what he is playing fits in with what the rest of the band is playing. Words to live by, I think. But it does require discipline which you have apparently developed.

You are also playing through a rig that gives you powerful but sonicly appropriate presence that puts you on equal terms with the other instruments. if I wanted to nit pick, on occasion you would play over the vocal. Not entirely inappropriately, but IMHO, you would make a more powerful statement if you put it in between the vocal lines instead of playing a continuous riff while the vocalist was singing. But I am being nit picky.

Last Edited by hvyj on Nov 11, 2014 10:25 AM
harpdude61
2222 posts
Nov 11, 2014
8:28 AM
Joe_L I am sorry. I would love to hear your feedback.
----------
www.facebook.com/catfishfryeband

Last Edited by harpdude61 on Nov 11, 2014 8:59 AM
scojo
491 posts
Nov 11, 2014
9:09 AM
Sounds great to me Harpdude. Not surprised.
nacoran
8117 posts
Nov 11, 2014
9:38 AM
Sounds good. I might break it up into shorter clips. Most of us aren't going to have 30 minutes to listen and if we go back to listen to the rest later we'll have lost our place.

----------
Nate
Facebook
Thread Organizer (A list of all sorts of useful threads)

First Post- May 8, 2009
smwoerner
286 posts
Nov 11, 2014
10:24 AM
I would have been happy hanging out having a beer and listening to you and the band. I like the fact that you have three different vocalists. Now you just need to find a song or two that you can sing :).

I find I'm far more of a rhythm player and melody player than lead player so I enjoyed seeing your style. Nice job keeping the tone when holding those long two draw bends.

----------
Purveyor of Optimized New and Refurbished Harmonicas.

scott@scottwoerner.com
BronzeWailer
1520 posts
Nov 11, 2014
1:09 PM
Catfish, well done. You guys have a sound and set list which I am sure will ensure you getting more gigs. It's a good idea to let each of the band members have his turn in the spotlight. I also agree with smwoerner that you should sing too.

BronzeWailer's YouTube
harpdude61
2223 posts
Nov 11, 2014
2:52 PM
I sure do appreciate this feedback. Man I want to sing. I just don't feel it's good enough. Maybe I should try making a video and you guys help me there.
----------
www.facebook.com/catfishfryeband
Goldbrick
761 posts
Nov 11, 2014
3:28 PM
I guess it all depends on your goals.
The set list and the style are about like 10,000 other bar bands- the good is you will get gigs

The down side is it is competent but not very interesting . You really dont have any arrangements to make the songs your own and except for you - the other guys are not very active.

The drummer is a good singer- I would pull him off the drums to sing and get another drummer- then maybe you and he could have some chemistry on stage together.


I would drop Folsom from your set-- that was the weakest number. Why not look for a few songs that are not played to death.

Just my worthless 2 cents- if you are happy with it thats all that counts
CarlA
629 posts
Nov 11, 2014
4:17 PM
You see this frequently on MBH. "Please critique my playing/band"
It's non-constructive IMO.
The proof is in the pudding. If your getting gigs/getting paid, our opinions mean nothing. Have fun and live the dream, you seem to be doing better/more successful than 95% of MBH members.
hvyj
2581 posts
Nov 11, 2014
5:31 PM
The reason FPB doesn't sound as good as it might is that Mr. Catfish Frye is not working off of a major pentatonic scale which would fit the tune and blend better with what the guitar player is doing. But, anyway, I'd go out and listen to these guys.

Last Edited by hvyj on Nov 11, 2014 5:40 PM
JustFuya
638 posts
Nov 11, 2014
5:48 PM
It takes guts to perform your music in front of a crowd. What a rush that is! These days you can put that same music, recorded, in front of a crowd of critics that are sitting on their ass at home and dissecting every aspect. It's not the same.

So, I must say, I love what you are doing and my hat is off to you! That's my non-musical opinion.
mr_so&so
893 posts
Nov 12, 2014
10:01 AM
I enjoyed seeing a bunch of tunes in row. You've got a very good band going there. Three singers! I think you should sing too if you want to. Just takes some shed time too. Harp playing is excellent as well. I'd go to your show for sure.
----------
mr_so&so
Joe_L
2539 posts
Nov 12, 2014
2:18 PM
I watched and listened to this twice. Once with headphones, once without. I took notes along the way.

First of all, what makes you the front man? I usually think of the front man being a leader of the band and on stage. Had you not mentioned this, I would have thought the drummer was the leader. He sets the tempo at the start of several of the tunes and sets up the end or others.

Second, after listening to this set, you guys appear to be a rock blues band. I'm also going to guess that the guitarist and the rhythm section come from rock bands. Like most rock blues bands, you guys have no sense of dynamics. The beginning of the song starts at full volume. It continues at full volume. It ends at even more full volume. Quite often, I could not understand what the vocalist is singing because the rest of the band is going full bore at full volume.

This is caused mostly by the drummer. You can tell on the tunes that he is singing. When he is singing, the volume of the band is a bit lower. The rest of the band follows him. When the other singers are singer, he is beating the drums to death. The endings of the songs are too long for my taste and it encourages way too much instrumental noodling by the harp player.

If You Wanna Get to Heaven - was an interesting tune. I never heard it before and it was pretty tight.

Hoochie Coochie Man - Vocals were drown out. Drummer hits way too hard. Your playing was good. If you are going to walk the crowd, it is used to best effect during longer solos. Your solo was too short for that.

Caldonia - Drummer hits too hard. Couldn't understand what the vocalist was singing. I think you should listen to the Louis Jordan version of that tune and steal the horn line.

The Sky Is Crying - It's an Elmore James tune. When you play slow blues, you need to think about building a feeling of tension and release. Listen to Albert King play slow blues. He takes his time. He starts out slow and gradually builds tension before something big happens. Your solo started off strong, but you released before you built the tension. You ended way to early and don't use high pitched screechy notes when you are trying to create something pretty. (I assume you want your slow blues to be pretty.) The ending went on too long. Don't noodle so much at the end. You've got skills.

Night Train - This tune had probably the coolest groove of the whole set. It was hypnotic and I was totally sucked in until the drummer destroyed it by hitting every cymbal on stage at around 22:10. On a tune like that, less is more.

Folsom Prison Blues - Keep the comping going on. I didn't dig the whistle sounds, it just didn't sound right to me. It sounded flat to me.

Sunshine Of Your Love - I thought the previous number was the last song of the set. No!

Finally, you dance around far too much for my taste. I found it distracting. It reminded me of Elwood Blues from the Blues Brothers and Angus Young from AC/DC. It might have been the way you were dressed.

I suspect that I am probably not a member of your target audience. I tend to be much more traditional in terms of what I like to play and listen to. I could see you guys getting a lot of gigs.

If you want one item that would make your band better, bring the volume down a bit.

If you want one item that would make you better, start singing. It'll change the way you play. It will also give you something to do when you aren't playing and people will really think that you front the band.

----------
The Blues Photo Gallery

Last Edited by Joe_L on Nov 12, 2014 2:22 PM
Martin
728 posts
Nov 13, 2014
5:18 AM
Hats off to Joe L for such a thorough examination of this bands pros and cons.
I think I come from a slightly different musical landscape than Joe, but I´m with him on every point (maybe not that you sould start singing: ssome people´s singing is better unheard -- your´s could be one).

The non-musical point of the puerile dressing is disproportionally annoying. Strange perhaps, but it reduces my interest and takes away some dignity.

hvyj should be grateful to Joe.
The Iceman
2243 posts
Nov 13, 2014
6:39 AM
Excellent in depth revue by Joe L.

I had very similar impressions, but hesitated to post in order not to anger Harpdude, even though asking for comments on a band video will bring out the compliments as well as the criticisms.


----------
The Iceman
atty1chgo
1194 posts
Nov 13, 2014
6:50 AM
Let me just say first that ANYONE getting up on stage to lead a band and play an instrument is to be commended, admired and applauded. It isn't an easy thing to do.

My comments should not be construed negatively, nor am I trying to be critical. And I am by no means even remotely comparing your harp playing to anyone at any skill level, much less accomplished greats.

I think that your playing is solid. But it seems that you are not taking chances. You're not letting it flow from within. Take Hootchie Coochie Man. The standard opening riff is a variation of what most people play. But you can, after introducing the riff and later in the song, elaborate on it, build on it. Something different, something that indicates that you are not playing from rote memory. And that goes for some of the other tunes as well. There is something to be said for playing conservatively. But when you are up there just comping, let it flow. Try not to be predictable. I can tell from some riffs that you are very capable of more improvisation. That's my take on the video. Thanks for being gracious to take comments, that can be a scary thing to do.
pharpo
749 posts
Nov 13, 2014
8:04 AM
I enjoyed it ! I was tappin my toes ! Band it pretty tight. I understand JoeL's comment on the mix. Not so sure it was the drummers fault though....I think the bass players mike could have been raised at the board / pa. Live recordings are sometimes tough to judge ....the venue has a lot to do with the sound, and if there is not a sound man to keep track of everything......

Great job !
----------
Photobucket

Procrastinator Emeritus
The Iceman
2244 posts
Nov 13, 2014
8:19 AM
Drummers usually drive the stage volume.
----------
The Iceman
Goldbrick
770 posts
Nov 13, 2014
12:48 PM
As a drummer, I would say that is the importance of a sound check.
Drums sound vastly different when you sit behind the kit as opposed to what the audience hears in front of the kit.

You really need somebody out front to let you know the volume level-- That being said there are plenty of drummers with no sense of dynamics. So give those guys lighter sticks and thicker drum heads to soak up the banging

I know I work on dynamics everyday- you should be able to go from a soft buzz to a bang when needed. Not just flail away like so many do

Joe_L
2543 posts
Nov 13, 2014
1:14 PM
The drummer in the video should know that he is loud. He is hitting them really hard. Plus, when he is singing, he backs off.

----------
The Blues Photo Gallery
Goldbrick
771 posts
Nov 13, 2014
1:56 PM
Joe- I think the issue is he is a better singer than drummer ( listen to Caledonia - the drummer keeps flattening the beat out to a country shuffle and not a blues shuffle)- thats why I would bring him up front to sing and interact with the harp guy and get another drummer.

Like you pointed out they are pretty much a rock band playing blues material.

If that style is their goal - thats cool.

I fill in some times in a band like that and its what I call "biker bar blues". Kind of its own genre

Its great for getting gigs- but its pretty much keep it on full bore the whole way.
atty1chgo
1196 posts
Nov 13, 2014
5:42 PM
Here is a little clip of Ronnie Baker Brooks doing a sound check on the drums before a show on the Blues Cruise last month. I usually don't see the band leader paying attention to the drums, but I guess it is more important than I thought.



Last Edited by atty1chgo on Nov 13, 2014 5:45 PM
Barley Nectar
568 posts
Nov 13, 2014
5:53 PM
Ass kickin bar band. Sounds good to me. Great harp playin, especially for 8 yrs tryin. Rock on Bro...BN
blueswannabe
526 posts
Nov 13, 2014
8:18 PM
Great playIng but consider change of wardrobe,unless you were going for the angus young Halloween outfit look, then it worked.

Last Edited by blueswannabe on Nov 13, 2014 8:22 PM
JJ Harper
32 posts
Nov 14, 2014
4:52 PM
Ozark Mountain Daredevils! I've been playing that song -- "If you wanna get to heaven"-- for decades. This is not meant as a harsh criticism, but you are playing the main rhythmic lick wrong. Hey, it's a bar band and nobody expects you to hit every lick note for note, but you probably should nail the signature phrase. It is an easy lick.

If this band were in the IBC competiton, which I have judged, I'd give you guys a 4 out of 10... "Typical of local weekend band." I doubt you would do well in the IBC against more polished acts.

All that being said, I really liked a few things you did on the harp, but as others have noted the entire presentation lacks dynamics.

Keep workin' on it. If you want to get better as a band you surely can. If you're happy with the way it is now that is fine too. Nothing wrong with weekend warrior bands.
JInx
936 posts
Nov 14, 2014
5:27 PM
Turned away after a minute or so. Not for me.
----------


Post a Message



(8192 Characters Left)


Modern Blues Harmonica supports

§The Jazz Foundation of America

and

§The Innocence Project

 

 

 

ADAM GUSSOW is an official endorser for HOHNER HARMONICAS