Twelve minutes long but worth every second. Nic Clark on blues harp, Bad Brad Stivers on guitar, HeXx Henderson on steel, Bruce Collins on drums, Mac McMurray on bass.
Nic is playing the Mission Delta Sonic PRO amp which was the subject of a thread about the amp at SPAH. 19 watts.
Bad Brad is playing a new Mission Tweed Vibrolux guiar amp, 18 watts. He unplugged his Victoria and let other people play it.
HeXx Henderson is a touring player who hits the jam every couple months. He always brings an interesting amp. This time it was a vintage Peavey solid state. 200 watts. In white alligator tolex. Bitchin'.
The jam was fun, but there were EIGHT drummers on the list. That is way more than usual, and I had to do some creative scheduling to make everybody happy.
Great playing and singing by Nic and great playing by the band, including the master amp builder, Bruce Collins. Nic is really coming along as a singer. We know he is an outstanding harp player and phenom. May I be so bold as to offer one tiny comment on the singing. First, he' got a really good voice. It's not the voice, it's more technical. The only comment I have is that i think he needs to stretch out the notes a little bit more on the singing like he does on the harp.
In the recording I'm using a 5F2H amp and bullet mic with Shure CM element. That wicked guitar player is Matt Spinks.
I don't mind playing before, after, or even with Nic Clark -- or anyone else for that matter. Nic and I frequently do a duet on Little Walter's "Juke." I do what I do; nobody expects me to out-shine Nic, and it is fun.
5 watt fender champ 8' speaker plugged straight in no effects no kinder pedal. 5751 preamp tube the amp sounds even better with a 12 ax7 i hung a fireball over the speaker ran it thru the pa ---------- master po
i am headed out to hear a couple of the great local players playing across town but this keeps popping up in my browser. there is so much to like here... so much
the guitar player is chomping at the bit nick is like i hear ya lol listen to the guitar solo holy smoke ----------
i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica "but i play it anyway"
Rick: Was the Mission DSP lined out or miked for that video? the video played like a very "real world" jam situation (the band wasn't quiet) with the amp not quite loud enough into N's crescendos but otherwise really holding it's own. I will be mighty impressed with it's volume if you tell me it wasn't miked and the recording mike wasn't favoring it directionally! Also (if you know) was Nic near or at maximum volume. And finally would he have been much louder on your 32/20 12'' amp, i.e., is it audibly much louder than the MD? Thanks. d ---------- Facebook
I have a Delta Sonic Pro and the Amp is very loud for its size. Very Toneful and is one of my favorite amps if not my favorite! The amp sounds even better live!
Nic was at his Maximum volume if you ask me. If you look he adjusts the Mic alot to stay right on the cusp of feedback.
528hemi
Last Edited by 528hemi on Oct 19, 2013 6:17 PM
Bigd- No pedals, not lined out or mic'ed up. Sorry, I don't remember his settings
Was the recording mic favoring the harp amp directionally? Maybe, but I don't think so. I was using a Zoom Q3HD recorder which has X and Y axis stereo microphones, and I think I am standing more in front of Brad's Victoria guitar amp. The DS Pro is on the stage floor right behind Nic.
My Mission 32-20 1x12 sounds and feels significantly bigger and louder than the Delta Sonic amps. The 32-20 has 6L6 or 5881 power tubes while the DS has 6V6 tubes. The 32-20 has bigger transformers and a more efficient 12-inch speaker (or two 10-inch speakers). It is just a stronger amp.
The Delta Sonic amps are just as 528hemi describes -- they are very loud for their size and very toneful. That is exactly what Bruce Collins was going for when he came up with the idea for these amps.
The guy on the lap steel (or whatever that is) is pretty good. I hate to say it, but the rest of the band is nothing special, average at best. I see a lot of live blues band, maybe that's the difference. Y'all should get out of the house more often.
yeah, I am, Mr. Funny Man. My own band averages 10 gigs a month, and I see a lot of other bands. Point is, when I see stuff being said like "killer", "doesn't get any better than that!","smokin good", I expect to see/hear something that will totally blow me away. This youtube clip didn't do that...at all. Maybe a lot of you folks only see live blues bands on youtube? That's better than nothing, I suppose. But there are lots better players out there than this. Heap your praise on someone who really deserves it.
You guys sound pretty good, I guess. I hate to tell you this... your band would be an average jam set at the blues jam I have been hosting in Denver for four years, no better.
If I went by the description you put up on your Reverbnation page I would expect to hear something a little more, uh, polished.
Hey, RJ Mishco played at the jam a couple weeks ago. In the last couple years in Denver I've seen Kim Wilson, Charlie Musselwhite, Rick Estrin, The Nighthawks, Jason Ricci, and others. I get out of the house frequently to hear blues.
You are more than welcome to bring your band to the jam at Ziggies. Everybody is welcome. Maybe you can give some pointers to Nic Clark.
Lord Have Mercy...now you're gonna try and convince me that Denver is a HOT BED of BLUES? HA! oh, that's funny... Maybe a hot bed of John Denver fans! I do like Al and the Delta Sonics a lot, and I just saw RJ this past week in St Louis and he was very good. I'm not saying the recordings on that RevNation page are the best, they're definitely not, obviously not studio quality. We’re a live band. I just got back from a weekend in Eureka Springs, AR (yeah, Arkansas, there’s some comedic material for ya). Packed out - SRO for 2 nights. My band would go head-to-head live with the guys in the youtube clip on this page any day of the week and heads will be cut (Blues term in case you aren‘t familiar). Come and jam for free in Denver? Not gonna happen. You pay the price and we’ll see if we can come. Music shouldn’t be a competition, but unfortunately sometimes in the Blues world it is. Kim Wilson, Estrin, Mark Wenner, and those guys? (note I didn’t say JR) Yeah, they're definitely worthy of terms like "killer" and "smokin good". Nic Clark? Sorry, he's some kid who wandered in with his harps. Pretty good for his age, but he's not ready yet. Maybe someday down the road. You can get offended if you want, but I’m just keeping it real.
We are commenting on the fact that it's a blues jam. IMO, one of the best! I dont't think anyone is comparing it to a polished pro blues band like Rod P, Rick E, etc:
The reality is bands like the MH's are a dime a dozen. That doesn't mean you can't play. If your making money and enjoy it, that's all that matters. Just keepin it real!
What I like about Nic is he has a superb sense of what "BLUES" harmonica playing is all about...To be that young with serious blues harp skills that border Pro quality is rare indeed :)
I would have to definitely agree with Rick, after hearing it, and especially after the way this Mudhound put himself out there, and tried to make it a competition. Really who cares, about what he says, it's about having fun and enjoying the music and the company of other people who love it, also. If this guy is so good how come I or the rest of the world has never heard of him. I have heard of Nick C though, hmm!
Mudhound, LOL. Give it up, man! We've heard your stuff and it is average weekend warrior material. It's not bad, but it is very typical. Seriously, most sets at the Sunday jam at Ziggies in Denver have a higher level of musicianship. I know the truth sometimes stings, but it's the truth. I've seen 'em come and I've seen 'em go, and there is nothing particularly remarkable about your band.
You have much to be modest about. You will have a better experience here if you recognize that. Really man... Calling Nic Clark "average" or "some kid who wandered in with his harps" is just irrational.
You don't want to play my jam? Okay, I guess we'll survive. RJ Mischo had a blast, so did Ryan McGarvey and Trampled Under Foot and many more. Even Big Head Todd & The Monsters have hit the jams at Ziggies. :-) I guess we'll be okay if MUDHOUND snubs us.
MUDHOUND, Denver may not be a hotbed of blues as you say, but most of the working blues bands around town (about 30 of them) have a pretty good pro sound.
Click on the link below to the Mile High Blues Society website. There is a music player at the bottom of the screen with recordings from many local bands.
You might keep in mind that local bluesman Dan Treanor and his band finished 3rd in the finals at IBC in Memphis this year and now are touring. Two years ago Lionel Young's band won it all in Memphis and now tours constantly. Hey, we may not be rural SW Missouri but we still have our moments, ya know?
So yeah Ricky, I guess we're gonna have to snub you. We're booked anyway, and we don't do any John Denver tunes. This Clark kid is just a harp equivalent of a SRV wannabe. And we both know how many of those are around nowadays. Don't tell me you've never heard of Austin Young. Wait...I guess that would make the Clark kid a Little Walter wannabe, huh? Those are a dime a dozen. Remember Brody Buster? The Clark kid is good for his age, I already said that. Give him a few years to season and then ask me again. So...I guess we’ll just stay down south here and wallow in mediocrity and perpetual obscurity since we‘re not playing “your jam” and getting Rocky Mountain High. WAIT...You're not gonna try and tell me Big Head Todd is a "Blues" band now, are ya?
Last Edited by MUDHOUND on Oct 21, 2013 8:42 PM
No, Big Head Todd is definitely NOT a blues band, but Todd Park Mohr can lay down a really fine blues groove with killer vocals, two things that your band seem unfamiliar with. That was my point.
You are making a fool of yourself. Please, continue.
My post never showed up. I had linked to Todd Mohr's personal YT as he has a ton of solo BLUES on that page.
Nic Clark is an awesome harp player and could totally hang with a group of touring pros. His tone, phrasing, and technique are excellent! ---------- Mantra Customized Harmonicas My Website
Last Edited by HarpNinja on Oct 22, 2013 10:34 AM
Rick I'm not associated with Mudhound as far as I know, but would like to defend my home state of Missouri. Even though it's flyover country to you, we aren't exactly backwoods.
FWIW RJ lives maybe an hour south of him if you take your time, TUF an hour or so north, along with Lee McBee and a few others that do get around. Dustin Arbuckle isn't too far to the west. It's true that times have gotten tougher though and the big names only come through about once a year. Rod Piazza used to come at least twice a year when he toured, and sometimes the tornadoes didn't even cancel the show (and I'm not kidding about the twisters). ----------
harpwrench, yep, I know RJ lives in Fayetteville AR with his wife Heidi Ho, and I know there are some good blues bands in the region. Just yankin' Mudhound's chain a bit, responding in kind. I meant no offense to good bands in rural SW Missouri.
I met him at Ziggies in 2009. He was a nice and very respectful kid. He was a good player then and has just gotten better. It's good to see him singing.
Wes certainly has the killer vibe illuminating from his soul, love the way he takes his good ole time - very surgical too :)
Last Edited by Frank on Oct 23, 2013 6:58 AM
Brother Nic kills it in many ways in that slow blues solo, I particularly like the explosive flutter lick a the 1 min 50 sec mark :)
Last Edited by Frank on Oct 23, 2013 7:49 AM
