I'd like to give this guy the benefit of the doubt that he's actually taking the piss, but somehow I don't that's the case.
I'm only a beginner so I'm hardly in a position to criticise anyone's playing but if he really thinks he's a pro, to quote a line from a famous Australian comedy, "tell him he's dreaming".
I wasn't sure, but I thought I heard the cameraman snicker in the background several times.
I think this guy should go ahead and do some "pro" tips for other instruments. I can just imagine, percussion, brass, keyboards, I be he could do a bang up job on all of them!
This is pure humor and it lies somewhere between parody and satire. He is clearly throwing a lighthearted round across the bow of teachers who try to describe a lick by giving the blow/draw notes and hole numbers.
However, it goes a little deeper and he is definitely mocking some of the guys that offhand refer to their "session work" and "tone", etc.
Funny stuff and I've already subscribed to his channel.
He's not there, yet, but I could see him in the ranks of Master Ken and Enter the Dojo... ---------- Greg Jones 16:23 Custom Harmonicas greg@1623customharmonicas.com 1623customharmonicas.com
Observational comedy is a form of humor based on the commonplace aspects of everyday life. It is one of the main types of humor in stand-up comedy. ----------
"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
Point taken. As I said I was in two minds about this one and I can certainly see what GMaj7 says now. It just didn't strike me as a deliberate send up on first viewing.
I guess I'm a bit slow on picking up on satire as well as picking up on how to play the harp :) I am suffering from a lack of sleep caused by a small child so my judgement it probably a bit impaired today.
Last Edited by Glass Harp Full on Jun 08, 2015 12:35 AM
It is clearly comedy, I do hear laughter off camera, and it does mock tab/riff instruction as well as discussions of how to improve tone. The video mocks instructors who make claims of greatness, sessions, etc, to establish their bona fides.
The video hits a lot of the characteristics of online harmonica instructional videos, both the poor ones and the ones that offer valid instruction to students, including us.
At times I had to laugh at his material and his accompanying facial expressions and "playing."
However, I think the video goes beyond all that and basically makes fun of anyone who would teach (or seriously study) how to play blues harp. Based on the video I think he has no respect for harmonica as an instrument, and no respect for those who play harmonica. It is a reiteration of the old view of harp being a toy that only fools take seriously... at least that is the subtext I perceive. ----------
Doug S. said..."However, I think the video goes beyond all that and basically makes fun of anyone who would teach (or seriously study) how to play blues harp. Based on the video I think he has no respect for harmonica as an instrument, and no respect for those who play harmonica. It is a reiteration of the old view of harp being a toy that only fools take seriously... at least that is the subtext I perceive."
Get a grip man!!!
So when JH says at 1.24 that a harp is a toy is he dissing all of us? Does he show no respect?
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"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
Last Edited by marine1896 on Jun 08, 2015 8:23 AM
Probably should have let my coffee kick in before posting...
UPDATED Re: Harmon video Apples and oranges... I have heard James sing and play, and his music establishes his views, despite his wry style of humor.
No denial that the part of my response that you quoted referring to the OP humor video may be a bit over the top. Posting before fully awake probably is almost as bad as posting drunk.
Can the guy really play, or is he as he seems, a non-player mocking harp? ----------
Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Jun 08, 2015 9:20 AM
I am trying to find a video from a few years ago with a young man showing how to modify your harmonica and after a few minutes he starts beating the thing with a hammer. ---------- Ridge's YouTube
Doug S.;"Can the guy really play, or is he as he seems, a non-player mocking harp?"
I don't know anything about the guy in the video. I doubt he plays but I would hazard a guess judging from the background of room he is in that him or his friends are music lovers and are maybe interested in harmonica or something but what is abundantly clear to me is is that they have a great sense of humour!
That JH video I think he was a bit pissed of at the interviewers line of questions, I know he has a wry sense of humour but something else comes across in that video the few times I've seen it, might just be sour grapes...I dunno, I got that impression also when he last toured the UK but I think that had something to do with his backing band for most of the dates they were pretty awful. ----------
"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
Last Edited by marine1896 on Jun 08, 2015 3:42 PM
Back in 2007 I saw James Harmon as part of a Mark Hummel blues blowout in Morton, IL, with Billy Branch and Mark Hummel. After the show concluded I complimented him on his harp playing and singing.
There had been local performances opening before the blowout, and several other fairly skilled harp players had played.
James responded to my compliment saying that "since the Beatles everyone plays an instrument." He indicated that because of that he doesn't think playing harp is that big a deal. When I complimented his singing he said, "I am an artiste!" ----------
I remember the local radio station used to play a parody version of Bon Jovi's 'Living on a Prayer'. I think it was 'Living on our Hair', mocking the hair band era, but they played their instruments deliberately out of key and off tempo, which to me, spoiled the joke. I think, in that context they failed to show evidence that the actual musicians weren't capable musicians because they didn't take enough time to get good enough to play it well enough to be listenable.
I think the talking part of this was fine (and the scarf was genius), but if he'd been able to play anything he could have got a lot more laughs with a little bit of effort. If he'd said, 'And here is an example of a classic blues riff' and then played a little bit of 'Mary had a little lamb' or 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' it would have worked better.
And the person chuckling behind the camera bothered me.
And now for my comedy credentials- I've done stand up at open mic, so clearly my opinions should be weighted accordingly, even if I don't have a scarf. Comedy is subjective.
@nacoran; Comedy, music, art etc. they are all subjective I would suggest to anyone viewing this not to overthink it, let's be honest this ain't Bill Hicks... now he deserves some thinking! ----------
"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
