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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
RJ Harman - Rocking the Beach Shack
RJ Harman - Rocking the Beach Shack
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Johncn
66 posts
Jul 06, 2013
8:09 AM
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Hello,
Got the chance to see Orlando harp player RJ Harman at the Beach Shack in Cocoa Beach last night, and thought I'd post some details. The fireworks were going on just after he started, so the crowd was out on the deck and the beach and did not pick up until the second set. This gave me a chance to talk to him a bit, take a look at his set up, and take some pictures.
First of all, if you are ever in Central Florida, the Beach Shack is about 50 minutes from Orlando, and is a great little blues bar worth checking out for live blues Thursday through Sunday. It has a history of regularly hosting good bands in a low cost, no cover, no frills, sweaty-in-a-good-way, beachfront environment. Bill (manager)has a soft spot for harp players, and does a great job bringing regional and national acts in. We've had harp players like Gary Primich, Mark Hummel, Pat Ramsey, Jason Ricci, Dennis Gruenling and many others over the years. Thursday nights they have an open jam hosted by Gary Primich's old guitarist, Mark Korpi, and his band.
Not only does RJ Harman seem like a great kid in person, he's really developed as a player and singer the last couple years, and put on a very good show that was a mix of blues and other styles. As many here probably know, RJ started playing at 15 or so, and has been strongly influenced by Jason Ricci, Carlos and other technically artistic players. I believe he's 23 now, and is a very fast, fluid and controlled harp player. Oh, and having seen Jason himself several times at the Beach Shack, I was rather surprised to see the return of the Egyptian, the Brian Purdy-ized Bassman.;-)
Since there are many gear junkies like me on the forum, here is some info on his setup.
RJ uses a Low Z Electro-Voice RE-10 with a Samson wireless rig, and told me that it's his mainstay microphone. He did mention that he has a Turner Challenger that he likes, as well, but the EV was all he played last night.
His gear box, with what I think is Jason's old Egyptian in the background:
Here is a close up of RJ's pedal board setup chain with what looks to be:
Samson Receiver => Boss PS-3 Pitch Shifter (mid 1990's) => MXR Carbon Copy => BBE Two Timer => BBE Sonic Stomp => amp:
Anyway, if you get a chance, please go see this guy play live. Good stuff, whether his style is your cup of tea or not. Central Florida is lucky to have him, but I hope he and his band start to travel more widely and get some well-deserved exposure. I took a couple of videos, including one song he dedicated to Mooncat, and will try to get them posted to YouTube later today or tomorrow if there is interest.
One thing I'm a little mystified at is how hard it is to find info on RJ. His website has not been updated since 2012, and is...minimal. He has no way for visitors to buy his music online that I could fine, and even the show dates posted are from last year. I bought with cash his self-produced 2012 CD "No Refunds" - which is OK - and he told me his other CD is out of print. The band's electronic press kit mentions a 2013 CD called "Black Coffee", but he did not have it at the gig. Maybe it's a forthcoming release? Web search results are mostly Florida Harmonica competition references, and most of the YouTube videos I saw were NOT particularly representative of how good he and his band were last night.
Johncn
Last Edited by Johncn on Jul 06, 2013 11:30 AM
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Kingley
2854 posts
Jul 06, 2013
9:39 AM
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RJ has some really good chops. He has studied under Carlos Del Junco and Iceman and has also learnt stuff from Jason Ricci amongst others. I know that Larry "Iceman" Eisenberg often states that RJ plays note for note copies of other peoples solos and not his own stuff. He's only 23 though, so I'm sure sooner or later he'll develop his own voice. In the meantime though I'd be more than happy to sit and listen to him perform those covers.
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tmf714
1830 posts
Jul 06, 2013
10:40 AM
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Sorry I missed it-Bill had the schedule showing RJ playing today at 2:00-
In the meantime-
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Rick Davis
2058 posts
Jul 06, 2013
10:56 AM
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Isn't that Jason's old amp, The Egyptian?
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
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Johncn
67 posts
Jul 06, 2013
10:59 AM
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Here is the song he dedicated to Jason last night.
Sorry it is so dark, but only one of the LED stage lights was functioning, and that one looked like it was on its last legs. I only had a cell phone to use, not my better cams.
And, yes, I believe that is indeed Jason's old Egyptian.
Johncn
Last Edited by Johncn on Jul 06, 2013 11:31 AM
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Littoral
930 posts
Jul 06, 2013
1:56 PM
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hmm.
Traveling tomorrow for about 2 weeks of work down there and I was just doing the online searches for jams. Not something I do often but new neighborhoods are fun. Funny you posted this. RJ, very, very nice. I will say that he accomplishes the pyrotechnic harp leaps very musically. Just sayin...
I'm hoping I can get out -can't do Fri/Sat. Any additional suggestions would be appreciated. Just carrying harps, 57 and a harp break (and my mercenary attitude).
Last Edited by Littoral on Jul 06, 2013 1:57 PM
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tmf714
1831 posts
Jul 06, 2013
2:31 PM
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If your near Cocoa Beach,the Beach Shack Jam is every Thursday night starting at 8:00 PM-
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Johncn
68 posts
Jul 08, 2013
8:08 AM
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Littoral,
Yes, the Beach Shack jam on Thursdays is with the Space Coast Playboys, and is hosted by Mark Korpi, who was Gary Primich's guitar player for several years, and wrote some of his songs, produced "Botheration", and at least one other of his CDs. Definitely harp friendly. In fact, I think I've seen tmf714 there a time or two. ;-)
Here is the second video I took of RJ Harman last Friday night. Again, apologies on how dark it is...stage lights were mostly out.
Last Edited by Johncn on Jul 08, 2013 8:11 AM
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