A quick forum search reveals that his name has come up a few times, but I've just got to take a few seconds to brag on this guy. Westside Andy is the most well respected local pro in my area. I've had the privilege of taking a few lessons from him, and I might even dare call him a friend. He certainly has proven himself welling to bend over backwards to help me advance in my playing any way that he can. To me, he is a prime example of great tone and the ability to play the right thing at the right time. What more could you ask for in a teacher?
He just released a new live album (with Barrelhouse Chuck, Billy Flynn, Dave Wood, and Steve Dougherty) but I also highly recommend checking out his work with the Mel Ford Band on Alley Cat.
Please know that if you purchase either of these albums, your supporting a very kind and generous veteran member of the harmonica community.
Okay... That's all... Thanks for indulging me!
Tom ---------- Be humble for you are made of earth. Be noble for you are made of stars.
Last Edited by TBird on Jun 30, 2015 8:17 PM
One more thing! :) Here he is with Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin' Altar Boys. I wouldn't expect anyone to listen to the whole concert, but do give the first song a listen and get a feel for some of that "right thing, right time" playing I mentioned.
---------- Be humble for you are made of earth. Be noble for you are made of stars.
The Rev and his band are an excellent example of doing Chicago blues wonderfully old school. He usually always has a great harmonica player touring with him. ---------- The Iceman
I saw him in Memphis during the IBC's with Rev. Raven. Their first set was an hour and a half of non stop music. I've been to see tons of great harmonica players over the years and his performance that night is on my top ten best.
Remember in blues magazines years ago you used to always see his picture kneeling beside a snakeskin covered Holland harp amp. I have his Alley Cat CD, really good player. There's lots of cat's like him that have only really become known to others outside the States because of the interweb like, of course Barbeque Bob, Jim Liban, Paul Harrington, Shakin' Smith and others I can't remember off hand just now but you know what I mean I'm sure! ----------
"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
There was a Holland Westside Andy amp in Austin TX Craigslist last year. I seem to recall them wanting more than I could pay. That's when I first became aware of Andy. I would happily pay to see him, but it looks like it might involve a little more travel than I can swing right now.
I really dig Westside Andy. Not bashing Paul Butterfield here, but to me, Andy brings the same kind of energy that Butterfield had, but with better technique, tone, and phrasing.
I'm a big fan - Dave Barrett turned me onto Westside Andy when I was taking lessons and he was an early influence on me. I've always enjoyed his playing. Huge tone.
@1847 - Yes - he uses a Quilter quite a bit, and a Sonny Jr for louder/larger gigs. ---------- *************************************************** /Greg
I find that interesting, we all seem to have several amps no surprise there, But he has a great sounding amp named after him the westside andy model. If I remember correctly it had slightly less power to get the tone needed at stage volume, and still be able to mic it up, “it is difficult to mic a super loud amp on stage”
Holland use to make great amps Gary primach used one when he came thru town.
What also is interesting at least to me Is most people who learned on a marine band, tend to stick with a marine band, I think that was why it caught my ear.
The quilter amp sounds fantastic So one more question.
I am once again guessing, it is the Model with a 12 inch speaker? I know they make them with 8 10 12 and 15 inch speakers.
Also let me venture one more guess
I am hearing a controlled reluctance As opposed to a controlled magnetic
Wonder if he used the Quilter amp to record with on his latest Blues Just Happen Cd? I like how it sounds on the above vid, and at half the weight of my HG50 (which I love)(romantic sense included), it would give me a lighter option and smaller footprint and still deliver the goods sonically when needed.
Last Edited by Harp2swing on Jul 04, 2015 8:01 PM
Andy is an amazing player! Thanks for the information about his new release. I purchased and downloaded it immediately.
When I lived in Madison several years ago, I used to enjoy hearing the Westside Andy--Mel Ford Band at various places around town, including the Hody Bar, Taste of Madison, and Capital Brewing. I still regularly listen to his Alley Cat and Handyman albums, and have been surprised that he isn't better known outside the upper Midwest. His new album is a welcome addition and I'm enjoying it even as I type!
1847 - He was using the Quilter one of the last times I heard him play, and in a conversation I was able to have with him between sets, I believe he said something to the effect of: "believe it or not that's just an 8'' speaker". I cannot state this as fact however, as I work really hard to block that sort of stuff out of my mind for fear of becoming more obsessed with gear then with actually playing the harmonica! :) What I can say for certain though, is that whatever the specs of the amp are, it was unmic'd and keeping up with a very loud horn section. ---------- Be humble for you are made of earth. Be noble for you are made of stars.
Last Edited by TBird on Jul 05, 2015 10:51 AM
Very nice stuff. I like the outdoor clip that 1847 posted above with "this has a great solo." What I hear is somebody who is working the edges much harder than most players--trying for the little fillip, the lagniappe, the extra thing that sets him apart and that nobody else would think to throw in a given spot. When I know I've got a house full of harp players, I sometimes play like that--not exactly trying to impress, but trying to out-think the players who imagine that there is only one approved way of making your way through a melodic line that starts in a given way.
Andy continually surprises. He's definitely NOT just recycling.
When you head for the outside game like that, you veer away from the strict constructionist version of the tradition. I hear a player who moves back and forth between lip pursing and tongue blocking--which is to say, in some of his long fast lines, I hear lip pursing, without a lot of dirt or texture. I'm fine with that--it's how I play when I do those sorts of lines--and I admire the way he carries it off. It's quite a departure from the way Kim Wilson or Martin Lang plays. It's good that we're a big, rowdy tent.
Westside Andy, in any case, is a player I want to hear more from. Thanks for letting us know about his new album.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Jul 06, 2015 7:17 PM
What he does GROOVES like freaking hell!! He takes quite a bit from the sounds of jump blues horns and guitar players. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
well holland did go out of business so i guess that would be considered poor support lol
i have a vintage bassman, its not to hard to find a qualified repair person.
amp's are usually fairly dependable i am not going to sell my amp if leo fender drops dead
unless of coarse sonny jr wants to give a free amp as an endorser, then i suppose that would be a good reason to sell mine. sonny jr does make great amps.
Last Edited by 1847 on Jul 07, 2015 3:13 PM
"well holland did go out of business so i guess that would be considered poor support lol"
It also occurred prior to Hollands demise-I guess there were some issues with the amp but they kept side-stepping on repairs -there were noted reliability issues with the amp as well.
A qualified tech would be fine-but when your endorsed by the company,it should come in the form of a quick remedy -not evasion.
re "also, what is the reason he is no longer using his signature amp the holland west side amp?" - I asked him specifically about that and it was indeed poor product and customer support. But that's what led him to Gary (Sonny Jr) and he has been a happy camper ever since - he really loves his SJ.
I'm really stoked about finally getting to know him. He's a very nice guy on the phone. ---------- *************************************************** /Greg
@1847 - What would such a mic cost? Here's the boilerplate I send to prospective customers:
My wood mics are all built to order and many options are available. The best place to start is the "design your mic" section of the Custom Wood Mics page of my web site: http://www.blowsmeaway.com/custommics.html - that will familiarize you with the options and woods available, as well as pricing. There are many, many more pictures and woods shown on my Facebook Wood Mics photo album. (Go to https://www.facebook.com/BlowsMeAwayProductions/photos_albums and click on Wood Mics.) You might have questions - that's fine. I'd prefer email if it is OK with you. I’d like us to work towards a complete spec in the following format which is based on what you told me so far:
$289 BlowsMeAway Wood Mic - base price -[wood choice] 89 stealth volume control 39 violin finish 39 billet aluminum grill in “Mercedes” pattern 10 Grill screen -------- $466
Note that some woods, like Gabon Ebony and Golden Amboyna Burl - are very expensive. One mic’s worth can push $50! So some woods carry a surcharge.
The base price includes your choice of a single impedance controlled magnetic or The Heumann Element. Other elements are available as well, described at the bottom of the above mentioned page.
The mic comes standard with a vintage style screw-on connector. Let me know if you will want a cable to go with the mic - you can't get those at most music stores. I charge $25 + $1 per foot so a 20' cable is $45.
It usually takes a few emails back and forth to arrive at a spec that works for both of us. Once we are on the same page our email trail will document exactly what you want. I will send you an invoice for a 50% deposit - payment of which will secure your place in my build queue, which is about 6-7 months long right now. Of course you can still change your mind about any features or options after the deposit is paid, up until I actually start building the mic. Once I start I will send you photos of the entire process. When the mic is complete I will send you an invoice for the balance due + shipping.
