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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
apropos of nothing - Rick Estrin
apropos of nothing - Rick Estrin
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joeleebush
11 posts
May 19, 2010
7:17 PM
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Rick Estrin has been a friend of mine since 1989, has been to my home for dinner with me and my wife many times, and is a master of stage presence and showmanship.
To question his shades, suits, and stage talk is to show ignorance of what controlling an audience is really all about. Ever notice how the crowds just lap it up?
Rick is, in my opinion, the best showman out there in this blues business genre...with Rod running a close second. Although I think Rod plays better harp.
I would say that someone like Rick, who has booked 150 shows a year for 20 years, would know a lot more about what to say to a crowd and what to wear than a member of "Farmer Brown and The Seldom Fed Five"
Being a great harmonica player is not about playing great harmonica...it's about BECOMING someone. That requires study of human moves..and all the greats were students of human moves.
And for those who don't get it, I suggest they leave their political correctness at the door and just sit back and enjoy the show. Personally, the last thing I am concerned with when I am up there is what a pack of harmonica players (who are usually broke and don't buy anything) will think of my meager program. Usually all they really want is to sit in and then ambush you later by snaking your gig when you aren't around....this is especially true if they themselves ask to "play a number".
All the greatest of entertainers had a cardinal rule ..."ALWAYS LOOK BETTER THAN THEY DO".
Of course a lot of that went down the tubes in the 60's when it was considered, oh so hip, to look all downtrodden and bedraggled and anti-establishment.
As for me, I don't like paying money to see someone who looks like they just got off a bus after a 12 hour ride from Alabama. I can get that free at any 2-bit jam session in town.
Little Charlie and also Rod Piazza, used to ask me to come up and do a few tunes when they came through here but I always said..."fellas this audience paid their hard earned $15 to see YOU...hell, they can see me for a few bucks in the tip jar anytime, 3 blocks down the street. Let's wait until the last song of the last set at quitting time and then we'll see what's happening. You can just use me as a "throw away" and then get out of here".
And from my point of view, that is what top action performing is all about.
Regards.
Last Edited by on May 19, 2010 7:32 PM
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Ev630
465 posts
May 19, 2010
8:32 PM
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Ness I created a simple inequality to help you understand:
MAL = <===8
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Kingley
1183 posts
May 19, 2010
10:34 PM
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I think everybody seems to be forgetting one very important point when it comes to the question of whether or not Rick Estrin is authentic".
When you see Rick play, talk, sing, etc. It's all Rick there is no "show". His stage persona is exactly how he is off stage. So therefore the whole discussion of his authenticity is kind of pointless really. He's simply being himself. You either like it or you don't.
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MichaelAndrewLo
386 posts
May 20, 2010
12:15 AM
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lol @ Ev630
That's an equality :p
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Ev630
467 posts
May 20, 2010
12:31 AM
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Yeah, I know, but I couldn't be arsed to edit it.
The good thing is we BOTH enjoyed the joke. I got to call you a dick and you got to exercise your pedantry. (Another fancy new word for your lexicon, James).
`8^P
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kudzurunner
1478 posts
May 20, 2010
12:45 AM
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Thanks for your contributions, everybody. We seem to have achieved closure, for better or worse.
This thread is locked.
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