Martic
77 posts
Jun 01, 2014
3:36 PM
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I'm a young guy, but since I was a kid everybody said I was a grumpy old man in a small package.
Recently I've noted many things that bother me and make me angry when I play live: the need of musicians to play too damn loud, the bad habit of playing between songs and/or play over the soloist. Everyday I start to appreciate silence more.
The objective of this topic is to share videos, experiences or stories about what NOT TO DO when you're playing with other people, related with the lack of silence. Let's be critics, selfcritics and let's get some learning of it!
One thing I used to do when playing live was to play the harmonica without the mic during the guitar solo, just to check scales and see what I was going to play when it was my turn to play a solo. One day I understood how distractive it could be, when a sax player did the same during my solo. I just couldn't play a sh*t because he, without any amplification, was louder than me, and it was impossible for me to concentrate on what I was playing.
Other thing my bandmates do and personally I hate is to play their instruments before the gig, on the time we have between the soundcheck and the show, or between songs. I understand we all have to warm up, but there's no need to warm up with your 60W amp on volume 10.
Finally, I share with you the video that made me want to start this thread. People say we harmonica players have problems with shutting up. Here's a proof of it :P
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The Iceman
1692 posts
Jun 01, 2014
3:55 PM
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How about a back up musician who doesn't know how to play a supportive role?
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The Iceman
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eharp
2173 posts
Jun 01, 2014
4:13 PM
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I was in a band where the 2 guitarists would doodle around between songs and NOT hear the song that was called.
Then they acted shocked when we started and they had no clue what we were doing.
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JustFuya
240 posts
Jun 01, 2014
4:18 PM
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Overreaction is just plain ugly.
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Frank
4443 posts
Jun 01, 2014
4:53 PM
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Alex gives a player... The SHUT THE F*CK UP - in your face "HAND" :)
Was it an appropriate response from Alex?
Last Edited by Frank on Jun 01, 2014 4:55 PM
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JInx
791 posts
Jun 01, 2014
5:07 PM
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god that was awful.
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Sun, sun, sun
Burn, burn, burn
Soon, soon, soon
Moon, moon, moon
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walterharp
1395 posts
Jun 01, 2014
5:14 PM
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I like Cake's take on this. Their timing is awesome.
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didjcripey
753 posts
Jun 02, 2014
2:38 AM
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@martic: don't know if I agree with the criticism of the harp player in the video you posted. He did go on a bit long, but its not fair to watch it like this. It might have come across totally differently live, and the crowd might have been loving it. Seemed like he was on a roll.
He completely stopped playing during the guitar solo, too.
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Lucky Lester
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Frank
4445 posts
Jun 02, 2014
3:47 AM
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When Steve Plays you just shut up and listen :)
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Goldbrick
467 posts
Jun 02, 2014
6:25 AM
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I dig the drummer - he stays outta the way when they do their frontline masturbation thing.
Vai has tremendous skill -everything he plays sounds exactly the same.
Maybe if he could sing like John Lee Hooker it would be interesting
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Frank
4448 posts
Jun 02, 2014
6:49 AM
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for sure...once a year I'll watch Steve do his thing - love the way he makes it talk :)
Last Edited by Frank on Jun 02, 2014 6:50 AM
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florida-trader
493 posts
Jun 02, 2014
11:30 AM
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Way back in 1972 or '73 I saw John Mayall in concert. He was the first "Harmonica Player" I ever saw play live. At one point during the show all the other musicians left the stage and Mayall started playing a harp solo. It was a bit unusual. It was kind of quiet and he incorporated a lot of clicking and other rhythmic mouth noises with his playing. I don't think a lot of people, including me, "got it". People were talking amongst themselves and ultimately Mayall told the audience to "Shut the f**k up!" I was stunned and had a negative opinion of him after that for a while until I heard some more of his music.
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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harmonicanick
2167 posts
Jun 02, 2014
12:04 PM
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@Martic
Could not agree with you more! Every gig the guitarist doodles over the sound system before the set starts. I tell him to shut the f up, also he has a loop pedal
which means the volume creeps up over the course of the evening.
We had complaints last week on volume so its costing me money now, f.....g guitarists, always in denial as
well!!
@Frank - great post of Zappas stunt guitarist!
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Littoral
1085 posts
Jun 02, 2014
12:23 PM
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Just occurred to me, maybe we should be thankful.
Given that we're almost always under gunned in the arms race to be heard we don't participate in many dangerous volume situations.
Being able to hear well is a wonderful thing.
...all said while I'm pining for a modded Bassman...
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