Well since I've not seen your band Jfllr1, then I can't say why you're not getting gigs, but here's some reasons why these guys probably are.
1. They are young and (from my straight, male perspective) relatively good looking. I'm sure they have lots of young female fans. If you have a loyal fanbase, who follow you around, you get gigs.
2. They have charisma and energy on stage - the singer is definitely modelling himself on Jagger. Stage presence trumps talent.
3. They are playing a tune you can dance to. Dancing is good, it gets people thirsty, they buy more drinks. The venue is happy.
Getting gigs isn't about just about talent, it's about hard work. If these guys are getting gigs it's because they are working at it and have a good following. Venues generally don't care about the music, they care about the money. If you fill the room you get asked back. So, as long as you keep the volume reasonable (so as to not drive the regulars away) and you get enough people along you'll be OK.
Don't get hung up on talent, if it was just about talent there'd be a lot more people who could name a harp player other than Dylan.
That las tpost, especially the second to last paragraph is very spot on and having talent is not enough by itself and you need to learn the business side of the music business. There's plenty of stuff online as well as in print to learn the business end both for performing as well as being a recording artist and I cannot overemphasize the need to learn it. It is HARD WORK and you also need to be organized as well, and just like you're a manager in any kind of business, you have to follow up on EVERYTHING. If you really want to do it, trust me, it is NOT a kid's game, and that's the truth!!! ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
I loved the video. This group of kids has what most players lack- pure letting it hang out without concern for what is the right thing. That is beautiful. They are young. This is what young people should be doing. This is how you develop the real deal down the road. It reminded me of my early gigs. I was getting gigs in punk clubs. I was called punk. the dead kennedys had me opening for them. I got onstage after playing the harp for a couple months, and never singing, and fronted a 5 piece band that was thinking they were doing blues. It was mainly just adrenilin like these kids have going. The hell with all the woodshedding stuff- getting it just right. That is boring - there are a zillion of these type of bands out there. Follow that route and you are will be just another generic player. Do like these kids are doing at their age and you will develop a real presence in time. Get out and play from your heart and you too could be getting critized on forums like this, but you will have a gig, be feeling great, and pissing off the calculating minds :-). Walter
ps: give a listen to my recent song - 21st century blues. This song is 35 years down the road from this video song. It smoothes out in time, but you got to start wild and raw to get there. Just about any blues or early rock and roller started out with 99% adrenilin and 1% technique. Most of us first heard them after honing it down to where it would qualify for record companies to record it. ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
I'm in Louisiana, and none of the stores stock Mojo by itself, but there's a place in the Quarter that does sell hands... ---------- Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Stage presence, that's a HUGE X-factor that is very important. It can be developed, but it's almost impossible to teach and somebody who's fronting the band doesn't want to have the presence of a wet dishrag when they're up there. ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Regardless of how he plays, you guys got it on the money. These kids have some great stage presence. They remind me a lot of Old Crow Medicine Show in a way-- harp playing is thoroughly 'eh' but MAN can they put on a show.
Dylan can play harp better than you think. In the old days he appeared as a sideman on an album. You wouldn't know it was dylan by the playing. Can't remember the album.
Ah, the Shoestrung. I saw them accompany Joe Filisko in Brighton. I asked him about it, perhaps more rudely than I meant to:
"When I saw you up there with The Shoestrung, a more serious bluesman juxtaposed with some guys who’re really just having a laugh, it reminded me of Sonny Boy II playing with the Yardbirds. Not that I’m directing this at The Shoestrung in any way, but as a teacher and a performer if you had to put your finger on it, what’s one key thing that youngsters in blues are missing?
I was gonna say he's a great singer and they are rockin' plus their other songs are awesome. the comment was from a harp perspective. ---------- "Blow as thou pleaseth"
There is a conspiracy against decent harmonica players obviously that prevents them from gigging ---------- http://www.youtube.com/user/asilve3
Last Edited by on Jan 25, 2010 2:17 PM
Jfllr1 - do you have a good dynamic with your band? Are you willing to listen and be part of a whole? your technique on the instrument won't mean shit if not...
If yes, then just persevere and you'll get gigs...
I don't get why people don't like this. THEY HAVE ENERGY. It's not their fault the other bands out there don't even move or interact. That is good stuff. Sure, he ain't Little Walter, but I'd rather see them than some boring band with incredible musicians.
Here's a point being missed here. If you are fronting a band and you have crap for stage presence, weak vocals, can't connect with the audience, and seem like you`re playing/singing AT them rather than TO and FOR them, virtuosity on any instrument just ain`t going to go over well at all unless your audience is comprised of 100% musicians (in this case 100% harp players and chances of that happening is 98% unlikely). ---------- Sincerely, Barbeque Bob Maglinte Boston, MA http://www.barbequebob.com CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
Right on Bob, and I will add this. I will take these kids anyday over ones the same age that try to play like that muddy waters video sound. Those young, techno gear and moves all to grown up status correct kids, are boring and embarrasing to watch. they forgot they are just kids. These young hyper kids are doing what they should be doing. Do you think Muddy was that controlled when he was a teenager? If he was, he never would have made the video we have here. High energy performances that are low on finess will win over the reserved technical stuff most anyday with most people. Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
The entertainment industry is a business, what do business's want? Profit. Do you know what that band of very enthusiastic young men were paid? Maybe they did it for nothing??Just to get known.. You have to bring a decent amount of people with you when you first start gigging; the bar management want punters buying alcohol, that is where there profit is.
When approaching potential gigs stress how many people you will bring; do not negotiate on the first gig fee (if any) Prove youselves and I thought those guys really did that with their infectious enthusiasm, then, if you are successful rack it up for the 2nd gig, but the bar owner will know that already.... The other thing is be persistent but polite in selling your band; dont make a nuisance but stress the benefits of them hiring your band for a crowd pleasing, jumping, performance at a very competitive price. I am not a pro musician like BBob and others but I was a pro drummer in the 1970's and the principle is the same. Notice I have not talked about the band, it dosent matter, they have energy and enthusiasm, that will get the the other camp going! I am nearly 60 and I feel I still have that enthusiasm and energy but hey the body is not what it was...good luck with your music project Frank Zappa was asked why he never had commercial success, his reply 'because we aren't pretty'
I think the guy is trying to do more of a Mick Jagger gone punk version of Got My Mojo Workin'.
I think the same appeal the Rolling Stones had from being a Blues band to where they are today is the same kind of energy and difference these guys are showing.
I wouldn't mind seeing this band in person. They have energy and a little extra.
Now the harp...not the greatest, but in light of somethink kinda punk... it serves it's purpose.
My kind of music; Raw, unrefined, lots of yelling, punk & blues. For the same reasons, I prefer demos and live stuff to studio albums. ---------- Ozark Rich
The title was a misnomer. They're great and I mentioned their greatness in a previous post... PURELY FROM A HARP PLAYING PERSPECTIVE. please. ---------- "Blow as thou pleaseth"
but as has been pointed out, the harp playing perspective is a red herring. Yeah he's not a great player, is that what you want to hear? I think everyone agrees that. If you have energy and confidence you really do not need to be good. John Lennon was not a great player, Dylan is not a great player, Brian Jones wasn't that good, nor is Mick Jagger. Technical skill is really only appreciated by other musicians. As long as it is in key, fits rhythmically and doesn't kill the dynamics, then it the audience will dig it. The majority of people are taking in the experience holistically. The whole performance; looks, movement, sound, dynamics, groove, lighting, dancing, stage-banter. Do you think anyone out there really cares if you're playing a 7 Limit JI harp or hitting a bent overblow at speed? No! they have no idea what that means. The crowd cheers when Springsteen pulls out a harp - why? The cool factor: NOT because he conjures up the spirit of Big Walter. We can smugly mock Neil, Bob, Bruce and Alanis for their amateur harp playing, but they are bigger than all of us - even the "name" pros who post here - you need to look elsewhere for the secrets of their success.
99% of people don't care about technically good harmonica. You can play all the Jason Ricci, Howard Levy, Chris Michalek, etc in the world, but you'll get a bigger reaction playing stuff like that.
Stupid I know, but I can't think of an instrument that is more judged on appearance and novelty.
Just hope around high on an energy drink. Playing sweet gear with awesome chops is overrated.
Spend money on your clothes and only practice your rock star kicks and bent over hyperventalating seizure dance for fast tunes...you'll go much farther.
The first time I met Jason Ricci he said that the better you get technically the harder it will become to find an audience.
That being said, your overall disposition can get people to at least listen and enjoy what you're doing. If you are playing things that represent who you are rather than what you can do, you'll be ok in the long run. ---------- Mike Fugazzi http://www.myspace.com/niterailband http://www.youtube.com/user/NiteRail http://www.twitter.com/NiteRail http://www.facebook.com/mike.fugazzi
"The first time I met Jason Ricci he said that the better you get technically the harder it will become to find an audience"
That is a fact, especially if you deviate off the strict blues path. The blues audience is generally very rigid with what they want to hear. Blues clubs will be less likely to book you once you start blowing licks that are out of the box. People want what is familiar and comfortable so labels, agents, clubs, tend to almost always go this way with the acts they sign. Walter ---------- walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
