waltertore
522 posts
May 08, 2010
10:39 AM
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Boy oh boy, they say you always end up back where you started. Well, I am back to the streets. I started playing the streets as a young teenager. Wilbert Harrison (kansas city song fame) picked me up while I was blowing my harp in Newark, NJ, and put me in his band. That was his 1 man band. I learned that via him. Now, decades later, I am going to be playing my 1 man band at the farmers market every saturday this summer. It is only 3 blocks from our house and I have a shopping cart to push my gear in. I will also be selling the homemade dog and horse treats my special education students make. I am really looking forward to this gig. No travel, no set times, no expectations. I get to hang out and talk, play, or whatever, and can sell my cds and put out a tip jar. I will add some color to the show by having about 60 different cds of my music out for sale and a sign saying - walter tore's spontobeat - all his words and music are spontaneously created before your eyes. That should create some chatter. The streets have always been my friend. I have met some of the coolest people, had some of my wildest adventures, and just plain enjoy the spontaneous nature of it all. Clubs and festivals are great when they fit, but often times they are more of a hassle than fun. You never know what will pass your way on the streets. Being legal takes the stress off it. I am going to use a snare drum, ride cymbal, my 1940 national steel guitar (a real conversation piece), harp on the rack, and leave the bass drum and keys at home. I will be playing acoustic. that is cool too because it is less crap to haul. the bushman harps John Hall gave me put out some good volume. I will put them to the test. I know many musicians that say playing the streets is for amatuers, but I have been doing it for over 35 years around the world, and still love it as much or more than a good club or festival gig. The market gets like a sardine can and attracts some eccentric folks. Who knows, maybe I will meet the person that will open the door to the next adventure............... Walter
here is one from about 10 years ago in front of a music store I would play most days in the summer. You can tell it is the SF Bay area by the flannel shirt in July. This one was taken during a live recording session. My drum rig has changed since then.
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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.
" No one can control anyone, but anyone can let someone control them"
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on May 10, 2010 5:42 PM
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Greg Heumann
438 posts
May 08, 2010
11:25 AM
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Sounds like a great gig, Walter - enjoy yourself!
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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Delta Dirt
150 posts
May 08, 2010
12:12 PM
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Walter, your a trip man. Good luck on the streets and be careful.
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Hobostubs Ashlock
755 posts
May 08, 2010
12:13 PM
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i heard you mention that you was waiting on the Ok for the farmers market,Im glad they knew what a good deal you was bringing to there market.Sounds like you'll have some fun.And help promote your students baked goods.Its a win win situation.
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Hobostubs Ashlock
756 posts
May 08, 2010
12:15 PM
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Delta Dirt-Hes at a farmers market in Ohio surely he can handle any trouble that might head his way :-)Although you could pinch Grandma's tomatos to hard ,get everybody upset.
Last Edited by on May 08, 2010 12:19 PM
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waltertore
523 posts
May 08, 2010
12:49 PM
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thanks everyone! I should be pretty safe on the streets of Granville. It is kind of like a Mayberry- very safe. We don't lock our doors, and it takes us about an hour to walk the 3 blocks to the center of the village because people stop to talk to you, want to pet our dogs, share some vegetables from their garden with you, or just have you sit on their porch and enjoy the breeze with them. It is quite a change from living inner city all my life! Walter
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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.
" No one can control anyone, but anyone can let someone control them"
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
411 posts
May 08, 2010
9:37 PM
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Walter, you're like a Yankee Hasil Adkins. I love it. Too bad the two of you couldn't have gotten together... Geez, what a two man band of the two of you could do...
Dave
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waltertore
531 posts
May 09, 2010
9:18 AM
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Thanks Dave! I actually saw Hasil play a bunch at Antones in Austin. Jimmy Vaughn was a big fan of his and got him gigs there. I dream of someday doing a 1 man band festival tour with a few other 1 man bands. There are a bunch of them out there now. It seems the young people are getting into them more than when I was their age. When I played in Memphis at the International Blues Challenge, there were 2 other 1 man bands as well - ben prestige and a young blond haired guy whose name slips me. Walter
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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.
" No one can control anyone, but anyone can let someone control them"
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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Hobostubs Ashlock
758 posts
May 10, 2010
3:06 AM
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Walter from your pic it looks like your harp is all the way to the right of the rack,Is that how you prefer your harp in a rack,At least thats what it looks like i need glasses,so its kinda hard for me to tell.
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waltertore
538 posts
May 10, 2010
5:56 AM
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Your eyes are good! I figured more people would notice the 1956 champ I was using :-) For whatever reasons, the harp has always felt more comfortable on the right side of the rack. Walter
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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.
" No one can control anyone, but anyone can let someone control them"
2,000 of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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