Frank
2723 posts
Sep 10, 2013
7:35 PM
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Seen a great show last night, Mark Hummel and guests doing a LW tribute....It was unnecessarily loud in my opinion - and it really didn't have to be...It was a very small club and all the guys in the band were 50 plus, while Billy Boy is 77 - I figured they would keep the Volume fairly tame - no go though....The Jazz Guys and Gals seem to really watch the volume levels when playing little clubs, gotta respect that!
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1847
1060 posts
Sep 10, 2013
7:57 PM
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i think you hit the nail on the head there frank
he's 77 they are pushing 60
most likely a substantial amount of hearing loss
has transpired... perhaps they are not aware just how loud it was.
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there's a new sheriff in town
i get a lot of request when i play my harmonica
"but i play it anyway"
Last Edited by 1847 on Sep 10, 2013 7:58 PM
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Kingley
3123 posts
Sep 10, 2013
10:41 PM
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"most likely a substantial amount of hearing loss
has transpired... perhaps they are not aware just how loud it was."
This is why I always bang onto people about playing too loud. As a musician your ears are your single most important asset. Doing something consistently that damages them beyond repair is complete and utter stupidity. Too many musicians are suffering heavy hearing loss and/or complete deafness in at least one ear by the time they are in their fifties. It's a very sad state of affairs that is usually simply down to massaging egos.
On another note. I hope you enjoyed the show Frank. Those guys are all great players who play some mighty fine music.
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The Iceman
1146 posts
Sep 11, 2013
4:25 AM
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Wasn't at the show, so can't speak first hand.
I do know that, in the past, Little Charlie cranked his guitar at all the gigs w/The Nightcats. All it takes is one guitarist to push the volume and everyone else is stuck at that too loud level.
Rick Estrin shared with me that he has hearing loss in his right ear due to many years of playing w/Charlie. Rick even bought a HarpKing and used it on the gig for a while in order to match the volume.
I told him that the HarpKing made his tone sound too much like Rod Piazza.
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The Iceman
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colman
261 posts
Sep 11, 2013
5:51 AM
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most of us are from the school of turn the amp up.one reason in the 50`s small clubs with alot of noisy people,and amp`s ,so turn it up,then it was discovered distortion from the tube amps-WOW,then into the 60`s ,feedback and distortion. Little Walter set the standerd for harp,cool with a smaller amp but 100 w. amps in a small place don`t fit.so little amps turned up ,distortion.I remember seeing P.Butterfield in 70.with two fender twins up on chairs ,cranked up as high as the guitar amps and getting feedback, overtones just like the guitar.that was at a big arena,he was atleast 30 feet from the amps,and could controle the feedback.my self i always wear a ear filter plug in my right ear and face the crowd on a right angle,save my ear!!!
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Tuckster
1336 posts
Sep 11, 2013
7:23 AM
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Iceman- I was there and thought Anson was louder than Charlie. He had more treble in his setup. That particular soundman always cranks the PA too loud.I know he has significant hearing loss.
Hummel seemed uncomfortable with the stage volumes and would move forward on the stage when he played harp. I noticed feedback from the monitors if he played harp near his vocal mic. The stage is a horrible low ceilinged box that bounces sound everywhere. The only time I've heard that PA sound good was with Curtis Salgado and he had his own soundman.
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harmonicanick
2021 posts
Sep 11, 2013
11:49 AM
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@Frank
Whole bunch of difference between jazz (very good players) and blusers.
I have jammed with top class jazz bands like this, with the silence and the polite applause..
Give me a drunk, loud, sweaty, noisey audience anytime and the blues
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Kingley
3125 posts
Sep 11, 2013
10:35 PM
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I don't the audience volume is the point here though Nick. It's the ridiculous volumes used by many players that's the issue. I'd much rather play in an outfit who play at sensible volumes over a bunch of egotistical idiots any day of the week. When it comes to audiences yes, I agree that a reactive audience is much more fun, but you don't need to play at full volume to get their attention.
Last Edited by Kingley on Sep 11, 2013 10:36 PM
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Frank
2726 posts
Sep 12, 2013
5:18 AM
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I understand where you're coming from Nick - and for better or worse most folks I know have outgrown that mentality and lifestyle.
At the Hummel LW tribute show the other night- I did not see any loud, sweaty, noisy drunks in attendance.
The audience was very appreciative and LOVIN the AWESOME blues that were being delivered and the little dance floor was hoppin...
PLUS "smoking" was banned from the club and that was a huge relief not having to deal with that disgusting filth. Love the smoker hate the habit, especially in shoebox sized clubs :)
Last Edited by Frank on Sep 12, 2013 5:25 AM
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mr_so&so
730 posts
Sep 13, 2013
11:03 AM
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Frank, I feel your pain on this issue. I have not been a jammer for this reason, and always wear musicians' ear plugs to any shows I attend. If I ever join a band it will be an acoustic one.
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harmonicanick
2022 posts
Sep 13, 2013
11:19 AM
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Went to an electric jam last night, jesus these guys were loud!! Young and able, but I had to shout them down..good fun but the ears are a'ringin'
I feel if there is a full drum kit then the volume increases a great deal. Maybe take the bassman next time
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HarpNinja
3454 posts
Sep 13, 2013
12:31 PM
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Frank,
What was the backline? Where things miked, or was FOH provided by the backline?
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Mantra Customized Harmonicas
My Website
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Frank
2728 posts
Sep 14, 2013
4:09 AM
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I don't pay attention much or enough... my guess - bands amps, clubs monitors and such - didn't notice miked amps - may have been? House soundman...I told Mark during break, it was unnecessarily loud and he just smiled and shook his head. He does about 20 of these shows in a row before a break - so he is probably like, F^%^ it - as long as I can hear myself on stage - things are cool.
Last Edited by Frank on Sep 14, 2013 4:11 AM
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