HarpNinja
664 posts
Oct 05, 2010
10:26 AM
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So I am trying something a bit different (that's not to claim it is original in its idea). I am at a stage currently where I don't have a lot of "free time" to dedicate to music. I am also trying to best play the hand I've been dealt.
My previous band folded and I immediately knew it would be easier in the long run to start my own group then to join another. I was hoping it would turn out to be a roots-rock type group and compete with what my old band was doing...but be more open to the masses and less blues-driven.
Then I realized that pretty much anything I do on harmonica will be musically filling and I ultimately wanted by band to have the reputation of being fun, sonically unique, and to put the harmonica in not so stereotypical situations. I didn't want to be a band whose niche was other musicians.
Along with other factors to consider, I decided that not playing small bars with no stages and slow crowds is going to be priority number one.
So...
I have started gigging with the Mike Fugazzi Band as a harp-driven cover band. Not a straight party dance band doing the exact same 30 songs as everyone else (we're learning those too), but a full-on rock band playing "popular" covers reworked to fit the style of the band.
My "artistic" itch will be satisfied playing with an all original group (with a CD coming out the end of the year!) and my interactions online via resources like YouTube - will be getting a Zoom Q3 HD right when it comes out.
Here are some of the tunes we've been doing with harp...most of which have different arrangements than what was on the radio:
1. COCAINE
2. LONG TRAIN RUNNING
3. HARD TO HANDLE
4. RUN-AROUND
5. SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE
6. THE JOKER
7. EVERY LITTLE THING SHE DOES IS MAGIC
8. MAGIC CARPET RIDE
9. ARE YOU GONNA BE MY GIRL
10. FEELIN’ ALRIGHT
11. I WILL SURVIVE
12. I WANT YOU TO WANT ME
13. RED HOUSE
14. HOOK
15. GOOD TIMES BAD TIMES
16. CREEP
17. JOHNNY B. GOODE
18. BLACK MAGIC WOMAN
19. BLISTER IN THE SUN
20. MARY JANE’S LAST DANCE
21. ROADHOUSE BLUES
22. IN YOUR EYES
23. MISS YOU
24. NO WOMAN NO CRY
25. UNDER PRESSURE
26. SWEET HOME ALABAMA
27. HEY, SOUL SISTER
28. USE SOMEBODY
29. IN LOVE WITH A GIRL
Granted, some of them are a bit lame and only played by request, but it has been a good starting point for all involved. This month, we are learning the following tunes (and not really gigging). I'll go back to 4-5 weekend shows a month in November.
AC/DC You Shook Me All Night Long
Clapton, Eric Wonderful Tonight
Jackson, Michael Beat It
Kings Of Leon Sex On Fire
U2 Beautiful Day
Prince Kiss
Rascal Flatts Life Is A Highway
Aerosmith Walk This Way
Gnarls Barkley Crazy
What I Got – Sublime
Honky Tonk Woman – Rolling Stones
Black – Pearl Jam
***Free Bird by Blues Traveler
The goal is to have 30-40 songs that most clubs would want to hear when they bring in cover bands that get paid well. We already know enough to do an hour and a half of featured material that includes originals I've written along with tasteful covers....I am not expecting to pursue that avenue heavily, but we could do any featured work my old band could right this minute.
As the band settles in, I am hoping to work in more "rock" music that maybe isn't as stereotypical of other cover bands in the area. If the band doesn't go over too well, I can always revert back to being a roots-rock band...however, the resources need by myself to do that and do it really well, are lacking in my current life situation.
I want to deliver a Bluest Traveler-esque rock show without all the frantic and repetitive harp playing.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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harmonicanick
920 posts
Oct 05, 2010
10:47 AM
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HarpNinja,
Good thinking on the new direction, you will get more gigs and better paying function ones with that sorta set list.
Its all very well being a 'no compromise' roots blues band but the band I'm in is always being asked to do covers like that and we refuse.
By the way have you missed out 'Mustang S'? you know they love a sing song!
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BAG
13 posts
Oct 05, 2010
10:57 AM
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Will new band do "Whipping Post"? Look forward to catching the reincarnation.
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HarpNinja
665 posts
Oct 05, 2010
11:22 AM
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I have two rules...
1. No Brown Eyed Gril
2. No Mustang
Anything else is a go! BAG, we'll eventually do Post, but it is a bit low priority at this point. I think, for the most part, when we play the Cities we'll do the roots-rock thing similar to NiteRail. For example, we have shows at Neumann's and Shaw's and being a full-on coverband isn't worth the effort.
Around the greater Mankato area, I think the cover format will make life easier for finding gigs. I'll do local blues shows with the Mark Cameron Band and try and sneak my band into some similar type sets down the road.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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harpdude61
387 posts
Oct 05, 2010
12:07 PM
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Just don't forget Margaritaville and Freebird. Should be fun. Curious to hear harp stuff on some of those.
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RyanMortos
839 posts
Oct 05, 2010
12:18 PM
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Sounds great! Look forward to hearing it.
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~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Contact:
My youtube account
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Kyzer Sosa
817 posts
Oct 05, 2010
1:20 PM
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whats scary is, the first list? our band covers 80% of what you listed. though its all mostly blues rock driven, there is much room for improvising and being up front or laying in the cut with just a sizzle...
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Kyzer's Travels
Kyzer's Artwork
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toddlgreene
1869 posts
Oct 05, 2010
1:30 PM
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"I have two rules...
1. No Brown Eyed Girl
2. No Mustang"
Funny, that's two of the three on my list.
3. Strokin' "Strokin' to the East! Strokin' to the West!" AAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHH! Just shoot me.
I'll actually cave in on Mustang Sally if requested by a pretty thing;I just try hard to ignore the line dancing that usually results.
Mike, 'Train, Train' by Blackfoot is another cover that goes over well. Used to do that one all the time, and I was surpised at how many people knew it.
Oh, an BT's 'But Anyway' goes over well(and is fun to play), due to it being on the Kingpin soundtrack.
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
Last Edited by on Oct 05, 2010 1:32 PM
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toddlgreene
1870 posts
Oct 05, 2010
1:36 PM
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Also used to play 'Got No Shame', which was Brother Cane's breakthru radio hit in the mid-90s. Southern Rock feel. The biker crowd will dig it.
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
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Bb
228 posts
Oct 05, 2010
1:58 PM
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Topper Price blew the lick on that Brother Cane tune. I know Damon Johnson (the guitar player) a bit here in Birmingham.
Here's a list of stuff my band does here that's in that blues/rock, rockin'/blues vein that goes over pretty well for us around here. At least with the cougar crowd – which is sort of our demographic. ;^)
Have Love Will Travel
Checkin’ Up On My Baby – in A (D harp)
Honky Tonk Women
Pride & Joy
Don’t Keep Me Wonderin – in G (C harp)
B*tch – (D harp)
Shake Your Money Maker
Cocaine
Lay Down Sally
Low Rider in G (C harp)
Roadhouse Blues –in G (C harp)
My Baby She Left Me –in A (D harp)
Call Me The Breeze
Sweet Home Alabama
Money for Mama – (B-flat harp)
Under My Thumb
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
Messin’ With The Kid in C (F Harp)
Folsom Prison Blues
Crossroads in A (G Harp)
Miss You (G harp)
One Way Out (D Harp)
Back Door Man (Doors version)
I Shot The Sherriff (C harp)
It Must Be Jelly – In F (B-flat harp)
Mystery Train – in E (A Harp)
Monkey Man
Jumping Jack Flash
My Babe (B-flat harp)
Southbound
Breakdown
Cold Shot
I Got My Mojo Working – in E (A harp)
Baby Please Don’t Go (B-flat harp)
Hoodoo Man Blues – in G (C harp)
Snatch It Back and Hold It –in B (E harp)
Superstition
Dimples
Cissy Strut in C (F harp)
Hey, Hey, What Can I Do
I Ain’t Drunk –
Ophelia (F Harp)
I’m Ready – in G (C harp)
Automatic – in E (A harp)
She’s Dangerous – in E (A harp)
If You Love Me Like You Say – in C (B-flat harp)
Peace Frog
Last Dance With Mary Jane (D Harp)
Star Star
Let It Bleed
Dead Flowers
Two-Timing Woman (B-flat harp)
Spoonful in E (A harp)
Eviction With Conviction – in A (D harp)
I Want To Be Loved – in C (C harp)
Shake Your Hips – in A (D Harp)
Mohair Sam – in F (B-flat harp)
Keep It To Yourself – in A (D harp)
Got Love If You Want It – in F (B-flat harp)
Baby What You Want Me To Do in E (A harp)
Mellow Down Easy in A (D harp)
You Don’t Love Me (B-flat harp)
Beast of Burden – Stones
Some Girls – Stones
Don’t Do It – The Band
New Minglewood Blues (A Harp)
Casey Jones – Dead
Shattered – Stones
I’ll Be Your Man – Black Keys
10 A.M. Automatic – Black Keys
Hell In A Bucket – Dead
Don’t Do Me Like That – Petty
You Don’t Know How It Feels (E Harp)
Call Me The Rocker/Killing Floor – Wolf
Who’s Been Talking – Wolf (C Harp)
Caldonia – Muddy (C Harp)
-Bob
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nacoran
2908 posts
Oct 05, 2010
2:37 PM
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Teen Spirit actually sounds pretty good with a distorted harmonica replacing the vocal line. Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Sweet Child of Mine...
I totally stopped listening to new music somewhere in the mid 90's.
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Nate
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scojo
130 posts
Oct 05, 2010
3:27 PM
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Bb: I have a great Topper Price story that I'll post some other time. Only met him once... lovely guy and great musician who left us way too soon.
Harpninja: my touring band in 2007 played covers by Peter Gabriel, Beck, the Police, and lots of other rock bands where you wouldn't expect harp... as well as some by more harp-typical bands like the Allmans. I live for that kind of thing and will be working it back into my own act as soon as I can get the right personnel.
As for off-limits covers... here's a quick tale. I sort of recoil against playing Skynrd, especially Freebird but also Sweet Home Alabama. (I'm more liberal than many of my fellow southerners.) Once, a couple of years ago, someone requested it and I gave in. My duo partner played it, and it happened to be during the SEC basketball tournament... Mississippi State was playing Alabama, in Atlanta.
At the MOMENT we finished the song, an Alabama player hit a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime. A few minutes later, a tornado ripped through the roof of the building where they were playing.
I vowed to never play SHA again, and I haven't.
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HarpNinja
667 posts
Oct 05, 2010
6:31 PM
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That story is crazy. Way crazy. Crazier than the ghost stories currently on the Travel Channel.
Regarding this whole concept, I posted it on a couple of music forums. One that is 99% guitar players, the other which is either starving original artists or hardcore party coverbands.
The feedback is quite interesting, and it amazing me how little other musicians think or our instrument. Granted several get it - not every harp player plays straight blues, you can comp and fill and not jam all night, and you can imitate other instruments, etc - however most have become so jaded to the extremes of all original or total-sellout.
It just pains me to see that as liberal as I try to be in my personal approach to music that so many have put it into such a black and white box...and give listeners next to zero credit. Again, a lot of the feedback was very positive and encouraging even though they probably have never heard me play a note, but there are just some sad musicians out there!
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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toddlgreene
1871 posts
Oct 06, 2010
5:23 AM
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Mike, don't you just love being stereotyped since you are a harmonica player? My favorite line is 'there's no harmonica on that song'. Oh? Well, there will be when I play it. Most folks see us as 'gimmick' occasional solo players, and not well-rounded players who can hold down a groove and play rhythm, or play fills(and solos)where keys, horns or guitars might normally tread. I've been doing what you're doing for years, and have met resistance along the way. The resistance usually ends when the detractor hears you pull it off, and he realizes 'Hey, more than train rhythyms and trills really CAN come from a harmonica!'
Have fun with it. You've got the chops;let 'em have it.
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
Last Edited by on Oct 06, 2010 5:50 AM
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6SN7
91 posts
Oct 06, 2010
6:14 AM
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Our band knows about 70 tunes. The set that Ninja points up to here we don't call Rock or something like that, we call it dance music. When I play private parties, weddings or bars where people are dancing, we like to provide a set of music that they can keep dancing and keep partying. It means you have to keep an eye on what is happening on the dance floor and keep that party going. We really become more than just music provider and our goal is for people to have fun. Now, this might not be as satisfying to sticking to your art and all that shit, but we did get paid to have people have fun. It actually is a trick to keep them on the dance floor and go from one tune to another with a slight pause (not 10 mins between songs!) I feel like Lester Lanin when I do this.
The no Brown eyed woman/mustang edict is funny. Frankly, my experience shows some girls love mustang sally because they want to do the funky dance and they mean now! And they like to sing it too. To keep the song interesting for the bsnd , we work very hard on the groove, to get it right. Most band that play Mustang wish they were somewhere else and play it like a toss away. That is not my band business when we play.
Last Edited by on Oct 06, 2010 6:16 AM
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HarpNinja
668 posts
Oct 06, 2010
6:18 AM
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I'll be the first to admit that there are many things regarding harmonica I could be better at. And I can sorta cheat because I do have the luxury of being able to sing and work a crowd too. That being said, my goals are pretty minimal (not trying to be a full-time musician) and I already have a foot in the door at a number of clubs that will be fun to play.
I don't think what I am doing is all that ground-breaking, but rather just different from the norm around here. I felt so proud of our instrument at SPAH and the direction it is headed. This sort of interaction with the online music world, though, has reminded me how we (harp players in the online community) are just a small, small fraction of harp out there.
And if one more multi-instrumentalist who can play three blues licks on harp and claim to be a harp player says d#ck to me about what the instrument can/can't do, I'll have to start stepping on some necks, lol (just kidding moderators!).
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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earlounge
163 posts
Oct 06, 2010
9:50 AM
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It never fails that someone yells out "Play some Skynard!" at every gig.
My band refuses to play Sweet Home Alabama, so sometimes we play a little game of trivia with the heckler. If that dude can answer this question then we claim we would play the song. The question is: "Wassaswamper?" (Pronounced exactly this way) We've never had to play it.
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HarpNinja
671 posts
Oct 06, 2010
9:53 AM
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I must admit that I love this version of Freebird enough to want to play it.
http://www.kazaa.com/#/Various-Artists/Under-The-Influence/Free-Bird
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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MrVerylongusername
1278 posts
Oct 06, 2010
10:33 AM
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Mustang Sally is my least favourite soul track of all time - it is also the best floor filling, crowd singing, lady gyrating, party making, tip generating song of all time.
musical prostitution? hell yeah!
Anyway are we talking harp as the sole lead instrument or a Ricci/Starski equal billing kind of setup?
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HarpNinja
673 posts
Oct 06, 2010
11:07 AM
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I did the math...63% of the songs have harp parts, 75% have guitar parts beyond rhythm guitar. However, the guitar plays on 98% of the tunes in general...so it is more Ricci/Starski then Blues Traveler.
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Mike
VHT Special 6 Amp for Harp Blog
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Jim Rumbaugh
319 posts
Oct 06, 2010
11:11 AM
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I just went through the "way back" machine reading the song lists.
The year was 1974, I was playing bass in a trio, trying to make a living playing full time. (it didn't work). I was spinning 45rpm single records learning the "new tunes: that had just hit the radio,"Sweet Home Alabam" and "I Shot the Sherif".
It's strange how you can't tell what's gonna last. We never play "The Bertha Butt Boogie" anymore :)
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intermediate level (+) player per the Adam Gussow Scale, Started playing 2001
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