Rick Davis
2850 posts
Jan 13, 2014
8:22 AM
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At the jam last night I was helping a harp player get ready for his set with my rig when he said, "Can I borrow your C harp?"
I declined.
He is from Tokyo Japan. Maybe things are different there. He played very well!
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Jan 13, 2014 9:07 AM
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grahamonica
83 posts
Jan 13, 2014
8:28 AM
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Rick...I would,ve done the same.
Who goes to a jam expecting to play and doesn,t take a harmonica?
So who gave him a harp?
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The Iceman
1377 posts
Jan 13, 2014
8:29 AM
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Keep in mind when dealing with other cultures that you should not judge based on ours...
It is much fun to learn and immerse yourself in those other cultural philosophies to better understand the people of the world.
I do know Japanese culture is based on protocol and social rules rather than individual outlook.
Back in the 90's, I accompanied a Japanese World Harmonica Diatonic competitor on piano for his piece. He won that year and for about 8 years would send me annual letters thanking me along with beautiful japanese ink drawings that he would do.
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The Iceman
Last Edited by The Iceman on Jan 13, 2014 8:31 AM
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Rick Davis
2851 posts
Jan 13, 2014
8:43 AM
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Iceman, I am not judging at all, but I was not willing to share a harp with him. He was a very nice fellow, by the way. I invited him up again to play with the host band in the last set.
grahamonica, he came with 4 harps in his hand. I'm thinking it had something to do with travelling light from Tokyo. He heads back today.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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JInx
702 posts
Jan 13, 2014
8:50 AM
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once i lent a harmonica, came back with a horribly strong tobacco taste and smell….never again
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Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
Last Edited by JInx on Jan 13, 2014 8:51 AM
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Rick Davis
2852 posts
Jan 13, 2014
9:00 AM
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He's using my rig: 1959 Shure 440SL "Silver Bullet" mic and the Memphis Mini amp. He sang too.... pretty good, the crowd liked him a lot.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Jan 13, 2014 9:03 AM
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Martin
590 posts
Jan 13, 2014
9:01 AM
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@Rick: Don´t know about your sexual orientation, but how about kissing a girl (or a guy)?
Admittedly it´s a bit of bad form to ask for another person´s harmonica, but can it really be worse than a good healthy kiss?
I blushingly confess that it was just the other day that I found a lady to my liking and kissed her ... quite a few times: had never seen her before; didn´t ask for a medical record.
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Rick Davis
2853 posts
Jan 13, 2014
9:06 AM
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Martin, I would indeed share a harp with my wife. Your point?
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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Martin
591 posts
Jan 13, 2014
9:09 AM
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Rick: There´s a first for everything. Even a kiss.
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Rick Davis
2854 posts
Jan 13, 2014
9:13 AM
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Martin, do you share harps with strangers?
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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ridge
484 posts
Jan 13, 2014
9:28 AM
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I'd say under most circumstances I wouldn't share a harmonica with somebody else or try somebody else's harmonica. I've made exceptions to this at events like SPAH/HCH/Harmonica Collective when someone is like, "Try this amazing harmonica" and I'm all like, "Okay".
I would never lend a harmonica for somebody to play a whole song on; that's a different level of taboo in my mind. I know there is a fellow forum member who doesn't play anyone else's harmonicas because they got REALLY sick.
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Ridge's YouTube
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John95683
133 posts
Jan 13, 2014
9:28 AM
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Sharing a harp is like sharing a toothbrush.
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Martin
592 posts
Jan 13, 2014
9:37 AM
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@Rick: yes I do -- or anyway: I have done. Several times. Ouch. I´m an old Swedish bastard marinated in booze and I probably ought to be more careful.
But then again, those kissing situations -- at least as potentially perilous as sharing a harp -- have turned out rather nicely from time to time.
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harmonicanick
2124 posts
Jan 13, 2014
9:40 AM
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Kim Wilson went to Spain for a festival.
His harps got lost in transit.
He asked the audience and someone threw up a harp and he blew them away..
I would not throw mine even to the man (or would I??)
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Rick Davis
2855 posts
Jan 13, 2014
9:42 AM
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To each his own. No disrespect to the Japanese player or to you, Martin, but I'd rather not swap spit with either of you.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Last Edited by Rick Davis on Jan 13, 2014 9:47 AM
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rbeetsme
1473 posts
Jan 13, 2014
9:43 AM
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I asked Snooky Pryor for some Mojo once, he declined too.
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Martin
593 posts
Jan 13, 2014
10:10 AM
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None taken, Rick, and if I ever turn up at one of those jam sessions of yours I´ll most definitely make a point of bringing my own harps -- and give all the kiss-able ladies fair warning.
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tmf714
2335 posts
Jan 13, 2014
11:01 AM
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Around 1995,James Cottton came to my town-it was my first time seeing him.
I sat in the front row,singing and bopping along quietly,snapping my fingers and the like.
During the last set,James offered his harp and mic to the people at the table next to me-they declined.
He offered the harp and mic to me next-I took both,and jammed along for about 12 bars with Dave Maxwell on keys, and Bob Margolin on guitar -the photographer sitting to my right took a bunch of pictures-and enclosed a letter entitiled "Holy Shit Man" He said this is how Cotton looked when I was playing  /">Holy Shit
Last Edited by tmf714 on Jan 13, 2014 11:11 AM
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MP
3049 posts
Jan 13, 2014
11:09 AM
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"Sharing a harp is like sharing a toothbrush."
A guy asked if he could play my harps. I said, "no".
He asked rudely, "Why, are they Holy?"
I replied, "I don't use your toothbrush."
He was a drunk. He was English. I doubt culture had anything to do w/ his ignorance and obstreperous behavior. ----------
Affordable Reed Replacement
Marks Harmonica Tune-up
Click user name MP for contact info
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isaacullah
2612 posts
Jan 13, 2014
11:09 AM
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I've gone so far as to hold another man's harp in my hands. I've felt it's heft, caressed it's curves, and have held it up the light and examined it closely... On occasion, I've even whipped out my tools and dissected another man's harp just to see what makes it tick. Having an encounter with another man's harp can be a very enlightening experience, but you have to decide where you want to draw the line. Here's my line: while I can fully appreciate the beauty of another man's harp, that don't mean I'm about to stick it in my mouth!
;)
PS: No offense meant to the OP or any other forum member... Just having a bit of fun, cause I couldn't resist!
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YouTube! Soundcloud!
Last Edited by isaacullah on Jan 13, 2014 11:11 AM
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Frank
3688 posts
Jan 13, 2014
11:14 AM
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Just a side topic- kinda related...but, be careful kissin your pets too, they're most likely as filthy as using another persons harp...Ahhh, never mind - pets are just too adorable, go head kiss away ")
Last Edited by Frank on Jan 13, 2014 11:16 AM
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MP
3050 posts
Jan 13, 2014
11:14 AM
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isaaculla,
now that was funny! chock full of innuendo.
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Affordable Reed Replacement
Marks Harmonica Tune-up
Click user name MP for contact info
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nacoran
7494 posts
Jan 13, 2014
12:36 PM
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If I was at a show and someone famous needed a specific harp and I happened to have the exact harp they needed in their pocket, I'd let them have it. At the end of the show I'd ask them to sign it and I'd put it on a shelf and never play it again. For a friend, depending on how good a friend, it would either be, 'fine, sure, but I don't want it back' or 'fine, sure, but you are buying me a new one.' I suppose if it was a famous friend and it was my absolute favorite harp and they were about to play the Super Bowl, I might put it in the sonic cleaner afterwards. (I do have some used harps that I've sterilized, so I guess that's the same thing.)
If it's a woman I'd treat it like kissing.
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Nate
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Rick Davis
2859 posts
Jan 13, 2014
12:40 PM
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Way off topic and no harp content, but I thought this was one of the best moments in the jam last night.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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BronzeWailer
1182 posts
Jan 13, 2014
1:24 PM
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I was busking once and Christelle walked past. She didn't have a harp on her that day but I wanted to hear her play so lent her one of my Manjis and she blew away and blew us away. I was in Burma recently and played a bit of harp in a restaurant. I was showing an old guy how it worked and thought I would let him hold it. He had a blow of course. I am not too squeamish but I put the harp in with some water sterilization tablets I had just in case.
BronzeWailer's YouTube
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Gnarly
870 posts
Jan 13, 2014
1:29 PM
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Dan Gage will not share harmonicas, he caught mono in college from doing that.
I try not to share harps, but it's not a hard and fast rule.
If James Cotton tried to get me to play, I would pull out the chrom I carry around with me everywhere I go.
YMMV
If it's a cute girl, she can still have cooties.
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tmf714
2336 posts
Jan 13, 2014
2:05 PM
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Heres the album I brought with me that night-when I asked how he knew I was a harp player,James said"I just knew it man-you were singing along with all the songs,and on time too!"
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TetonJohn
180 posts
Jan 13, 2014
3:22 PM
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Speaking of cultural norms:
Funny how so many folks who didn't think twice about sharing a joint won't share a harmonica.
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mlefree
137 posts
Jan 13, 2014
4:32 PM
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Rick, with all due respect, that cat can play, but Magic Sam's Boogie it was not.
Michelle
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SilverWingLeather.com
email: mlefree@silverwingleather.com
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Barley Nectar
243 posts
Jan 13, 2014
4:41 PM
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Yep, I'v shared a little bit of everything at one time or another. Love that shot of Cotton, he's wearing my bibs...BN
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Rick Davis
2862 posts
Jan 13, 2014
5:27 PM
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Michelle, I don't think we play every classic blues song note for note with perfect inflection. I like what Anthony did. Let's just say it was inspired by Magic Sam and appreciate Anthony's work. He is 24 years old and has been focused on blues for about two years. Give him some time...
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-Little Rick Davis
The Memphis Mini harp amp
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
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walterharp
1278 posts
Jan 13, 2014
6:48 PM
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I have lent harps to people at gigs... usually have at least two in each key and let them use my backup, give them a wash when I get home.
you should see all the harp sharing at the vendor tables at SPAH. John Sebastian just picked them all up and blew!
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JInx
704 posts
Jan 13, 2014
11:06 PM
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Magic Sam! yeah that kid is on the right track.
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Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
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Gnarly
871 posts
Jan 13, 2014
11:33 PM
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@Walterharp Yeah, but we wipe 'em off with alcohol in between players. OK, we try to do that . . .
Having John there was the coolest! Man, I love that guy. What a thrill!
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blueswannabe
399 posts
Jan 13, 2014
11:49 PM
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@tmf714, LOL!!! are you serious?!
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jbone
1463 posts
Jan 14, 2014
4:24 AM
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I may have just made a gift of a spare C harp to the guy.
I have played harps of a good friend occasionally and let a good friend play mine here or there. If it's flu season forget all that though!
My wife has recently begun the harp journey and we got her a new Sp20 as a first harp. Since then I've sorted through my extras and given her a few more. Of course we don't hesitate to use each other's.
Point for me is, if I know you're not a freak I may let you use one or try one of yours, but it's rare and getting rarer.
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7La7yYYeE
Last Edited by jbone on Jan 14, 2014 4:36 AM
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Rarko
89 posts
Jan 14, 2014
4:43 AM
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@Gnarly, we had this thread last year and Dan told us his story and his reasons why he doesnt play other peoples harps... http://www.modernbluesharmonica.com/board/board_topic/5560960/5456951.htm
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tmf714
2337 posts
Jan 14, 2014
6:06 AM
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"@tmf714, LOL!!! are you serious?!"
Yep-serious as a heart attack-
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Gnarly
872 posts
Jan 14, 2014
6:57 AM
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@Rarko Right!
It's worth mentioning that the saliva is one threat and getting a mouthful of loose chunks of what I affectionate call "boogers" is another--
We DO mostly inhale on blues harp . . .
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Slimharp
105 posts
Jan 14, 2014
3:39 PM
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I was at NAAM year before last and Suzuki was demoing diatonics. Jason Ricci was the rep at the time. The booth was empty but for me, which may have given me a sense of ease. I played a few of the harps and set them back down. Jason wiped them off with some sort of alcohol wipe. Thats cool for the outside. Later on I kinda got an uneasy feeling about the fluids that may have been projected into the harps by god knows how many people. Never got sick ---- whew !
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Slimharp
106 posts
Jan 14, 2014
3:54 PM
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Gnarly ...... Oh god ! I would hurl on the spot lol.
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Silvertone
141 posts
Jan 14, 2014
5:38 PM
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I don't even like letting other people touch my harps . Its like letting them put there fingers in your mouth.
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JInx
708 posts
Jan 14, 2014
5:48 PM
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you can easily get strep throat from sharing a harp
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Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
Last Edited by JInx on Jan 16, 2014 4:22 AM
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Jim Rumbaugh
947 posts
Jan 14, 2014
7:20 PM
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Yes I will play someone else's harp
Yes I will let someone play my harps.
I don't do it on a routine basis, but will when the occasion call for it.
I don't worry about it.
I do understand why other people worry, but I don't.
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theharmonicaclub.com (of Huntington, WV)
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CWinter
88 posts
Jan 15, 2014
6:14 PM
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@Jlnx
Dude, delete that already....that's disgusting.
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CWinter
89 posts
Jan 15, 2014
6:17 PM
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Yeah, if a hot babe wants to play your harp....of course, why not?
But some dude? Whether or not that's acceptable in Japan or anywhere else is irrelevant. At an American Blues Jam, and Ziggie's is very much in the heart of America, that shit doesn't fly.
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