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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Blues night for real
Blues night for real
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LittleJoeSamson
537 posts
Mar 23, 2011
12:50 AM
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...So , our regular Bluesday Tuesday gig has become the most popular weekly venue inthe area. We pack the place every week.
I started this on a query from the venue owners at MY birthday party four years ago.
It was and is my concept...but I don't care who gets the credit for a good idea ( but I do have witnesses ... ).
Next thing you know, the frontman / leader of one of the bands I'm in has taken over running the jam.
I stay "in the pocket" ...knowing it was hijacked from me, but also knowing ( from experience ) that running a jam can be a pain and work. If someone else wants to to be the manager, I will be fine with being a compensated sideman.
This is the way it has been for the last three years : the Frontman leading most of the time...Me being a featured sideman, and pickup Frontman when necessary.
Our frontman is one of my best friends, and a truly kind-humanitarian person.
He had been undergoing many personal grievances over the last couple years...mostly economic...leading to much stress and other duress. Compounding the health issues, he found he had diabetes.
Now, being a musician, he had no health insurance. He delayed treatment until near death's door.
Since then, he's been operating on restricted diets and special regimes.
Until today.
He had a cardiac arrest at the school we both teach at. He was taken to emergency care and later transferred to a cardiac unit at a very good local hospital for an angioplasty.
I am not religious. It is bunk as far as I am concerned. But I believe in the power of the human spirit.
I hope that you share with me in the rejuvenation of our friend.
His name is Jimmy.
I took over the jam tonight, and was reminded why it is a major pain in the WOO-HOO.
stroking EGO's ...and there were 8 guitarists in the house !
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Buzadero
751 posts
Mar 23, 2011
6:32 AM
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Here's to Jimmy....
And, you too LJ.
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~Buzadero
Underwater Janitor, Patriot
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Greg Heumann
1080 posts
Mar 23, 2011
9:05 AM
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Sad news about your friend - my thoughts are with both of you.
I'm in a similar situation as far as jam duties- my guitar player runs our pro jam every week (rwcbluesjam.com) but he's out of town tonight so I "get" to do it. All the players who aren't good enough to get up will sniff out Vince's absence and give me puppy dog eyes and guilt trips to try to get on stage tonight. Running a jam is not about democracy - it is about maintaining the highest possible music quality all night long. That's what keeps the audience coming back and the venue happy. But there are always a few, unencumbered by talent, who don't get that.
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/Greg
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toddlgreene
2788 posts
Mar 23, 2011
9:19 AM
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Ah, so it's not just here then, Greg? I mean, I'm all for giving folks a chance to get up and play with others, but there's a fine line that can be crossed when the player is running folks out of the bar!
There are two jams that run on Wednesday nights here-right down the street from each other. At one, the core band almost never leaves the stage-if you play, you JOIN them, not replace them. Seldom will the keyboardist, bassist or drummer allow anyone else to get up, which sucks for those players. But, the core band is good, and consistently so.
The complete opposite end of the spectrum happens down the road at John Lisi's jam-he'll often grab enough players of any instrument and throw them on the stage together, so there is no core band. Sometimes this actually ends up okay, depending on the caliber of players present, but other times, it's a hot mess.
Best wishes to your friend and his loved ones, LJS
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Todd
Eudora and Deep Soul
Last Edited by on Mar 23, 2011 9:32 AM
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Joe_L
1147 posts
Mar 23, 2011
9:19 AM
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Little Joe - Sorry about your friend.
Greg - Is Vince really going to be missing? I'll spread the word. I may have to come down.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
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LittleJoeSamson
539 posts
Mar 23, 2011
4:41 PM
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Thanks, all. Turns out it was a major scare...a myocardial infarction with a 90% blockage. I don't know what they did exactly, suped up meds I guess....but they did not have to do anything radical. He'll be out of commish for a time, but should be feeling much better.
I'll give Jimmy the good vibes.
The thing about being a benevolent dictator running a jam is that SOMEONE has to do it. It can't be by committee. And it seems that when there is a rewplacement, some think they can take advantage and step all over you...like a substitute teacher.
We try to accomodate most everyone that shows up, and we'll place those of lesser skill with players that can carry them.
Had two marginal drummers last night. One is still learning, and knows he's not the best, so he goes basic. That's smart and respectful. The other fellow doesn't know he's not very good, and likely never will be. I was diplomatic about it, and told him we had other players waiting to get up...and scooted him off the stage after one song.
Another thing I will do with a crowd killer is to have them play toward the end. If they chase people out then, they were going to leave anyway.
Had a situation last night where there were several good bass players, and one that was incredible here for the first time who is involved extensively with the Central Valley Blues Society. A friend gave me the head's up that this fellow would be coming, so I knew he was solid. Well, he was better than that, and he's a fine singer as well. I let him go for more than the usual three song turn.
Well, wouldn't you know, but one of the semi-regulars that plays too loud and misses changes notoriously started getting offended. I had to tell him firmly, "Pete...( not real name ), You'll play here again. This cat came here from 250 miles away. I want him to feel welcome here. Give me a break. I promise you're up next".
Another fellow wanted to do "Moondance" a staple that Jimmy does frequently. So I asked this fellow, "SO, you're going to sing it ? " . "Oh no, I don't know the words and I don't sing ". I said, "Well, I guess you're out of luck then ". AY!
One thing I like to do that is well received is to do shout-outs after solo's with players names. Course, you have to know them, and when you do one, you have to do all.
Todd: the first joint is not a JAM. It's a band showcase. OK enough, but it sounds stuck-up to me.
What John Lisi is doing sounds like a real JAM. Yeah, you get your share of clusters, but you also get surprised more often than not. This type is often the foundation of the formation of many bands later on.
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