The one man band took a rest tonight and my acoustic guitar and harp called me. I played music that is biographical about how I left home as a kid and played in some hellish street scenes and living situations-crack houses, whore houses, junkie dens with the hells angels, guns, knives, and near death was always knocking on my door. No youtube video learning. This is the truth and listen to the songs if you like. For you recording guys- this was done with one mic (an akg c414) with a 1938 kalamazoo acoustic guitar and a stock marine band on a rack. Walter
I didn't learn to play music on the youtube(gtr/vcl/harp) 40 years of blowing harp in parking garages(voc/harp) I learned my music on the ghetto streets(gtr/voc/harp) skipping and hopping to my babys house tonight9vocal/harp) the rat hole places I have lived as a musician(gtr/voc/harp)
---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
Dang Walter you had to got to the street for all that,I live at home and learn alot from utube,But then again ,My family has delt, with drug adiction,alcoholism,Murder trails,,Brain surgery,being broke and wonder if you will be able to eat until the food stamps come in,temp jobs by the dozens Knife fights with kin folks,heck you had to leave home to get the blues ,I live right here and just deal with it,Im tired of the blues life myself;-)But things are getting better all time,all time Hobostubs
why didnt you make love and not war,and smoke pot and have peace love ins,It was going on all around you at the time you was living the blues.;-)Im just messing with ya ,If you lived a few minutes of life anyone can sing the blues,trust me its not a special club,life is the blues ---------- Hobostubs
@Hobo: (by the way that's my dog's name, seriously) While I sympathize with your situation, I take your comments like I do a drunk guy at the bar, cutting you up while immediately saying "I'm just messing with you". While I've had many struggles with life's demons, I've never dealt with the sh** that both of you have. But, I believe you're breaking the old rule of respect for your elders. Maybe old fashioned, but some things shouldn't change.
Oh im not trying to be disrespectful,Me and Walter talk about this subject all the time.He hates the internet,And dosnt think It can teach a player how to play,exspecially the blues,But I disagree,Ive been around muscians some pro's and some not, half my life,The blues will find a person Its called Life we all are delt it from time to time,How you deal with it is different for every one,But I do not say that this is the blues and if you dont do this or that you cant learn to express it. ---------- Hobostubs
If I got into details of all my blues I would be banned imediatly,Im not going to say that my blues are real and yours are not,or that A person cant learn to play by using the computer as a tool,thats crazy,No disrespect for anyone, ---------- Hobostubs
Last Edited by on Mar 07, 2012 11:12 PM
In a way Walter is kind of a online mentor,whether he likes it or not,but you have to be able to have a civil argument about a topic,every once in awhile,come on who wants to teach someone that kisses butt all the time,and is afraid of making a statement in fear of upsetting the teacher. ---------- Hobostubs
I respect all opinions as long as they stay civil:-) Hobostubs and I never have gone uncivil and I respect what he does. I am not saying one has to live in poverty, near death stuff, to play blues. What I have learned is one has to walk blindly if they want to become the true artist that lives inside each of us. Most people prefer to have one foot in the water and one out. The net is the perfect answer to this. You get to learn without ever leaving the comforts of your life. This is not a bad thing if playing is a a casual interest. I live with 2 feet in the water and it just happened to carry me to the dark places that I often sing about. I have set up my life to play music or to but it more truthful, music has called me and has set up my life. It is my top priority in life and where it calls me I go without hesitation. Also learning in the flesh will never be replaced by net learning/learning in a controlled environment. The old blues guys really knew very little compared to todays net trained techno greats but put them both in a room of people that live for live interaction and see what happens......... That living the life card is something net learning and learning in a bubble will never replace. The root of emotional based musics is the actual interaction with real people in a vibrant scene and mentorships with elders is must to have that age old torch passed on. This isn;t opinion. It is a historical fact and if anyone doubts it look into the greats of music and art and see how they evolved. the overwhelming majority have done it in the flesh, in a vibrant scene, and it guided their life and they followed. Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
yea Walter we have our little arguments about this all the time,;-)And I believe what you say,But In a way I have just let it take me under its wing and this is where It wants me to be,Not here on the net but where I am in real life,I have been surrounded by good musicians,But its cut throat with them we all get along but,they didnt help me with a thing (playing),I learned playing guitar,by years of just trying to play it years,few books ,no internet and none of the friends that played would jam with me,My best friend has a recording studio and set me up with my 8 track ,we talk music all the time we never jam,I have over a dozen friends that play here, but i dont jam with them excep sometimes they need a harp sometimes,But its real cut throat among musicians you know that,But I have learned alot on the net,exspecially the gaps im trying to fill on my guitar playing,Im not in a hurry with harp,But the lessons that are avaible,the music avaible,the comunication with people you may never meet,Is all good,yes If you never leave the house and play and record well you might not have a full filled music destiney,But I do get out some I just aint taking off looking for the scene because its all around me,I dont need to go far,My best friend will not play in a band he works and records in his free time,he records and plays as good as you Walter Im seriuos,But rock ballads type of music,has a ton a euipment drums,basses guitars keyboards recording equipment,Now he makes me mad because he will not play with anyone,Its a mental hang up he has,I swear,But who knows I have taken off with my guitar and a car a few times ,I allways end up back here;-) ---------- Hobostubs
It does appear that you may indeed truely have the blues. Whores and knives go a long way but for total validation you need some voodoo cred. Do you mojo?
Last Edited by on Mar 08, 2012 5:41 AM
I know I probelly should just write you on your FB page,but you never post on it?I always feel like your talking to me when you say get out of the house and play boy;-)I know your not but you know Your kind of my online mentor,You are the one that got me inspired to learn the 1 man band,that and who needs other musicians ,if they wont jam with ya that much make your own thing,;-)I have been wood shedding it hard here last 2 years and just invested in some equipment to take it out,A eletric guitar,a tube amp,a small pa,and mics and Ive been trying real hard to get my timing down on the drums ,Im keeping the harp simple cause thats about as much as I can do with it,But now Im trying to organize a couple sets and it will have some Cigarbox guitar,some Open D acoustic slide then my regular stuff with the 1man band,but trying to get it ready is alot of work,And im allways trying to pick up a lesson on something on the net,but Im hoping to have it ready in next couple months,Im also looking into disabilty for my messed up leg and that will help alot on going out with the music,cause got to have a little cash to do anything,But I do belive what you say is true,Im working on it with not alot of talent but bloood sweet and tears;-) ---------- Hobostubs
Hobostubs: Thanks! I dig your stuff because it is different. I would keep on your path. It is working for you. If it stops a new direction will emerge. Having the faith to follow ones gut is a great thing. I am so glad I left home and saw the world via my music! So many experiences, memories, learning experiences, I walked blindly. Heck, I still walk blindly. We moved to Ohio with no connections for work/family. A musician friend told me about the village we live in and we left for it after investigating it some via the net. I walked in the special education office at the public school administration office and met with the director. I told her what I wanted to do and tocreate a job(they had no openings at the time). She did and I am typing this from a state of the art commercial kitchen that teaches my students entry level work/social/life skills. A 5 star restraunt would be envious of this place. Orders are pouring in for our dog biscuits, baked goods, breads and local markets are going to start selling them. All this from a blind walk (drive) to Ohio. The walk with music has had similar results. My life has gone this way since I was kid and once again life has gotten better in so many ways that fit our life at this point in time. I have found that as one grows what worked often doesn't work anymore. 20 years ago living in this village would have been a death sentence. I needed then to be in the big city mix with the blues greats. Because of this repeating pattern, I enjoy moving when the urge hits. Walter
---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
thanks Walter,Its a curse and a blessing,Most every body I know that plays started in high school together I was 23,So they grew up learning the same songs and jamming with each other,they either played heavy metal or country covers usually not the same ones but the 2 types of music I was around alot,But they all pretty much sound the same(the local guitar players),I got a late start and I have a hard time doing covers,I can write songs fairly easyily,And I do some Cash and Hank but it sounds more like me than ,them And Im not sure how that might go over at some of these local lake bars,Im wanting to learn about a dozen more though cause you can always play them in bars around here if youcan get halfway close to the cover;-),And talequae just down the road is getting a big folk bluegrass redirt thing happening,The current is a music magazine about oklahoma music is done there,They have a couple clubs that cater to singer/songwriter stuff and have open mics,its a college town,And I did get a thumbs up from the editor,of the current when he was posting on facebook about the open mic,I said Iwas thinking about doing the 1man band thing there cause I heard they were singer/songwriter friendly,Its a cool college town,My 1st gig was there a few years back,but you half to drive though a small town that sucks bad,cant have no beer on the breath,Thats the main reason I havent gone yet,I dont drink and drive but Ill drink a couple ,but Ive been pulled over there and took to talequae jail,where I passed the breath test but by then my car was impounded,I had to walk aways to get home;-)But the music scene in that town is getting pretty good ---------- Hobostubs
Last Edited by on Mar 08, 2012 10:59 AM
Hobostubs: If you are driven they will book you. I have found that to be true. Look at what I do. I learned in total isolation from other musicians and once I met some it was shock to see how they did music. My approach is completely anti to what everyone else is doing. I was driven to play and places appeared. I never have catered to what I thought a crowd, club, label, wanted because my music runs me. It just comes out and most people dig it when they see it live I think because I am into it. As long as you are into it with honesty most people will be attracted to it because it is such a rare thing today. My days with Louisiana Red taught me this over and over. Red was all heart. So much so he scared many big name musicians because he wsa so darn from the heart. I realize now the universe connected us so that I could be taken further and deeper down this road. To be honest there are very few pro players that play with the honesty of Red. That is what I wanted more than riffs. Lightning hopkins was of the same but more reserverd than red overall. The right people/places will always appear if you follow your heart. Often this means leaving the comfort of ones current life. To me it was a no brainer. I saw my life as nothing much and these blues guys and the rambling ways as so exciting, hopeful, and alive, that I just had to roll. I have moved around the world with no plans, gigs, jobs, family, friends. But once I set up with my music good people always appeared and continue to. If I was driven today like I was when I was playing around the world I would be playing around around the world. It is a life long journey to be at peace with were we are and who we are. The great news is the universe provides what we need if we have faith.
Here are some from this afternoon:
its everywhere gonna keep a bottle of pills next to me blues in forgien lands Im walking to the promised land ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
i was listening to Lousiana red today for the 1st time,he;s real good,I just found out about spotify on facebook,Thats a music lovers dream,I been checking out all kinds of bands,I listened to some Satan and Adam,And found out my granpas cousin who was one of the fiddle players for Bob wills and the texas playboys,,Had a couple of his own songs under his name Jesse ashlock,And its not a bad songs its texas swing but he was a hell of a fiddle player,stuff like that I never had axcess to untill the internet,Ilove it i really do;-) ---------- Hobostubs
Last Edited by on Mar 08, 2012 4:24 PM
here is one from tonight: chopstick swing here are some good examples of Red in various formats. The days/nights I spent living in his house were music till I fell asleep. I would wake up in the morning and red would be asleep in the chair next to the couch I slept on, asleep, with his guitar still in his hand. The doorbell would ring and you never knew who would be there. One night it was eric burden. He wanted red to open a big tour for him. Red came back just fast enough to pack his guitars and left back to germany. He never came back to live stateside. The champion jack dupree and red video really hit me. Red told Jack about me (they lived in the same apt building in Germany) when he came back stateside for the first time in 28 years. Long story short he insisted on me playing in the band. They refused so he had me sit on his piano bench for 2 nights. He would slap the mic my way when I was to blow harp. Those 2 nights seeing his hands and being leg to leg touching was one of the greatest musical experiences I ever had. To this day when I play piano I see his hands. He taught me how to play piano those two nights and continues to everytime I play. This is the kind of stuff no youtube can ever teach or is something you can experience without being there in the flesh. I put up some videos I think you might like Hobostubs and maybe give you some inspiration. Walter
agreat slide show of his life
---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
I read a biography when I was listening earlier today on spotify and they said he went to Europe,(and he had a ruff childhood)like you said,its a interesting read,thanks Walter Ill check out more of his music;-) ---------- Hobostubs
Last Edited by on Mar 08, 2012 4:59 PM
I helped him pack and drove him to the airport. I did a lot of gigs over there with him when I moved my band to brussels. Here we are back in the early 80's playing the famous bannana peel in belguim. It has been a blues club for like 50 years or something. He is playing my first guitar that I still have and still love the sound it makes. Walter
---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
Here is another of my old playing partners. TT Fingers is a SF native that lived in brussels when I did. We played the streets during the days and I did club gigs with my band at night. This is a recent video and shows on a fraction of what TT was. Alcohol, being homeless most of his life, has taken a big toll but if you listen closely you will see some of the magic he had. He called me up the other day. I couldn't belive he is still alive. His diabities are so bad he had to quit drinking. Every major label tried to sign him and he told them all to go to hell. He is the king street musician of my generation IMO. Walter
---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
He was killer. You think you got limitations? Did you see his hands? He learned to play lead notes with his stump and slide that was hard to beat. Here we are playing a gig in belguim with his french wife anita on bass. TT was a real deal street musician. I am going out to the bay area this summer and am going to visit with him. Walter
---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year. " life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller