Filming as an extra this Friday with possibility of prison harmonica playing.If I get the go ahead to let loose on a couple licks I want to be prepared.I'm thinking not to play any cover song licks to avoid copywright infringments.
Your post inspired me to play some prison yard blues. Of course I couldn't better Cartman's blues in the Whalowhores episode of southpark, with the epic line "I don't belong here my eyes are round."
If they want prison yard blues, they'll most likely want cliche. So give them a big fat 34D to start with, then go down for some big bends, ending on the 1B, and jump right into a sweet warble. Than after that make a fast run upwards to end on the 6OB, and then back to the 34D. If they want you to play more than that, finish in Ricci-like slow blues (focussing on the many variations of 3D bends) style, so you can make it as long as you want. String power move to power move. That way everything will sound bluesy, even if they cut it to 2 seconds.
They probably won't know it if you were playing something special, so I wouldn't. Don't compromise on tone. Just play something fat they'll like. There was a clip posted where Kim Wilson plays on here yesterday, which shows one of the best doing just that: pleasing the crowd with easy stuff, executed perfectly. There's something to learn there I guess.
willy done thought this out, huh? i'd be careful or it might just sound like aimless noodling. i suppose there are other factors to keep in mind such as what type of movie is it, the time period, what's happening in the scene...
"Out of the Furnace" starring Christian Bale,story of turn of the century Pittsburgh steel mill working immigrants.Yes,filming in Pittsburgh.Got issued my prisoner clothing yesterday for 12 hrs. of hanging around the set Friday morn 5:30A.M.Probably be packing a Blues Harp in key of E.If at all,it'll be acoustic and I like the E for loudness.Hope Christian doesnt start that ranting and raving that went viral on You Tube.
Correction on name of movie that I xtra'd in.It is 'Dust to Dust',Christian Bale,Woody Harrelson,Robert Duvall,me.We filmned on location Fri. morn @ Moundsville Penitentiary,W.V. Check their website @ www.wvpentours.com.Anyfreaknway,we're in the prison yard and I'm using a beat up (for realism)Blues Harp in A that 4draw reed is broke off ,5draw is flat and I'm noodling and workin out some licks as we rehearse ,and its bounc'n off these ancient lookn 50 ft. high walls with guard shacks in the corners and the chapel building within these walls.I;m feeling the left over sadness ,remorse,pain,and evil.I was playn shit from the devil himself.But because I had no contract for the music worked out they filmned me only faking it for now,with possibilities of re-inserting after a trip to the recording studio.Who knows.I;m sitting on a concrete pedistal above everyone so if they use it I shouldn't be to hard to find.
