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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Right place, wrong time? Nooo, right time..
Right place, wrong time? Nooo, right time..
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harmonicanick
1557 posts
Apr 26, 2012
1:51 AM
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Tuesday had a text from our host jim cancelling the weekly jam that night.
What to do? grabbed me harp bag and went to the open mic instead.
Got on the list, and Eddie Martin the host (google him for exceptional one man blues) told me to do one tune on my own quite late.
The bar was very busy and jumpin' and I clocked some 'suits' having a good time in front.
Anyway I played 'work song' in 2nd on a Bb harp.
As soon as I stopped the guys in the suits rushed over and said would I play in a big 'corporate function' the next night for a firm of lawyers who were hosting a conference on 'whiplash' injury claims.
Surprised, but intrigued, I enquired about a fee, the reply was 'how much do you want'!!
Buzzing with excitement, I called Steve my guitar buddy, and Pablo our Spanish drummer and we were good to go.
It was now midnight in the bar and the lawyers were all pissed up.
Next morning, after a sleepless night, called to see if it was true, and yes it was.
We played in the lobby of the industrial museum with Steve going through the pa with his Fender Strat and me in the pa too. Pablo just had a snare, a cymbal and brushes.
We played instrumentals all in minor keys, while the guests had Champagne before the dinner upstairs. The sound floated through the atrium. It was an occasion where you were glad no-one noticed you were playing, but plenty of smiles.
Steve turned to me and said "Jack Straw is in" for you non-ukers he was Tony Blairs right hand in the Blair govt. during the Iraq war.
I said "shut up your kidding" but there he was, had a chat, cool.
Then dinner was served on the 2nd floor, took the gear up in the service lift, and we three had a 3 course meal in a side room with a crate of beer:)
The evening drew to a close and we did another hour before the house pa was subject to a technical fault!
Now thats the kind of gig I like! No fights, no shouting, just the clink of wine glasses and the rustle of £20 notes.
Keepin' the blues live!
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MrVerylongusername
2344 posts
Apr 26, 2012
2:06 AM
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Fantastic! Does Jack Straw like the blues then?
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harmonicanick
1558 posts
Apr 26, 2012
5:24 AM
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He likes the Stones MrV, and I saw his foot tappin'
I introduced our 3 piece to him, and Pablo our Spanish drummer said 'who eees this guy'
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ridge
334 posts
Apr 26, 2012
6:19 AM
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Sounds like an awesome experience. Good for you... I mean good on ya!
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toddlgreene
3614 posts
Apr 26, 2012
8:16 AM
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Congrats! Cool story and good gig-those opportunities are rare, so you did right by going for it. Hopefully you'll get more work from it.
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Todd L. Greene
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