We're all aware that the first musical instrument to be played in outer space (the expanse that exists beyond the planet earth, not the discotheque in Abergavenny High Street) was the harmonica. Have you ever played one in rather odd place? We've all had a blow (keep it clean) in a public toilet because all those tiles make great acoustics and consequently enjoyed a one handed applause from the patrons using the urinals but have you been more adventurous in a unconventional setting? The best I've got is playing one while riding pillion on Yamaha 400 at 90mph and l also had a short solo while sitting at the bottom of a Tunisian swimming pool - not to be advised.
Hm. Unconventional. Something will come to me. Some places I have played- opened with my then-band for Bobby Rush in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Did a solo version of Mellow Down Easy on the Mississippi River just over the levee from Helena one evening, last night of King Biscuit Blues Fest that year. The other occupants on that observation deck joined in with claps, slaps, stomps, and other sounds as I built to a crescendo. You had to be there I think. Another band I was with was the first act ever in University of North Texas' brand new purpose built auditorium about 21 years ago. We called it the Armadillo Building due to its shape. This place had the best acoustics of any place I've ever been in. I played with yet another band for a weekend at the only floating restaurant in Texas, on a lake south of Fort Worth. About 45 years ago I played inside a huge wine vat, unfortunately empty at the time. Space capsules, submarines, ships at sea, all are beyond my experience. ---------- Music and travel destroy prejudice.
I think most harmonica players know about parking garages. Not me, but I thought for a second I was going to see someone play harmonica on YouTube in a giant diesel oil tank when they went to pull an instrument out of their pocket, but it was just a kazoo.
It was a giant underground facility left over from WWII were the British kept diesel for their battleships. They have a bit of computer savvy and actually did some audio sampling and created a plug in that you can download though, if you want to make it sound like you are there. It's not compatible with Audacity (it works with one of the pay programs) unfortunately, so I haven't tried it.
I also had a band going about 12 years ago and we'd been hired to do a show for an open house at Little Rock's airport, to help open a new runway. Which it rained several inches the night before. We showed up and the ground in the huge tent was under 2 inches of water. Organizer had us go inside the airport and set up on the concourse and play to all the deplaning passengers! As far as I know we were and are the only band to do a gig quite like that. ---------- Music and travel destroy prejudice.
I played once in a 500+ year old chapel in the mountain top fortress of Klis in Croatia. The sound was amazing. (This fortress was used for the scenes in Mereen in Game of Thrones).
On our last day in Turkey last year, we got to this 1500-odd year-old cistern built by the Roman. I had my Big 6 on me, and as it was first thing in the morning there were no other tourists yet (amazingly), so I grabbed and blew.
"The Theodosius Cistern, believed to have been built under the reign of Byzantine emperor Theodosius II (428–43), was uncovered under an early 20th century mansion and a municipal building that was constructed in 1950. The municipal building was torn down in 2010, initiating an eight-year restoration project."
My best one was on an old disused railway line turned into a walk and cycle trail. I was biking through a long dark tunnel on part of the route when I thought 'what a great echo chamber'. Now I must admit it was a spur of the moment impulse and in hindsight, perhaps Train Sounds wasn't the best genre to have picked as I noted the startled expressions and folk ducking for cover. But hey, my harp playing in public often has that effect anyway.
