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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
I did it!
I did it!
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shanester
91 posts
Jun 27, 2010
8:41 PM
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I finally went to the Ted Hall Blues Church Jam:
http://www.tedhallsbluesjam.com/index.php
I had a blast. I had been meaning to check it out ever since rpoe listed the link.
I showed up at the bar, got a lone star and a table and set my harp case on top while Ted's band was setting up. He saw my case and asked if I played harp. I said yes. "Sign in on the sheet and we'll bring you up in a few"
The band's harp player (Jose) was very generous and let me use his sweet rig...first time I've played through a bullet, and some sweet obscure vintage amp. Very nice.
If you ever come through Austin, I highly recommend this jam. The band is awesome, with drums, organ, keyboard, bass, tenor sax, trombone. They let people come in and swap with the regulars.
I got called up twice, and when I had to leave, Ted seemed genuinely disappointed and told me to please come back.
I'm on cloud nine!
Last Edited by on Jun 27, 2010 8:42 PM
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LittleJoeSamson
317 posts
Jun 27, 2010
9:13 PM
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Congratulations. Sounds like your stage etiquette was perfect.
Good job!
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captainbliss
238 posts
Jun 28, 2010
1:58 AM
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Congratulations!
xxx
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MySpace | Facebook | Calendar | YouTube | London Harmonica Group | My Main Gig
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toddlgreene
1485 posts
Jun 28, 2010
5:18 AM
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shanester-I will take note and try to hit this. Glad you had a good experience!
p.s.-my previously mentioned trip to A-town got cancelled, unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control.
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
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shanester
94 posts
Jun 28, 2010
6:41 AM
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Yeah, Todd, you should definitely check it out.
I can't imagine a much better jam than this. You get to play with some hot players, everyone's friendly, and Ted runs a tight ship and doesn't tolerate any mavericks stepping on everyone else. (one of his guitar students took a second solo out of turn and he got the big stare-down, and then Ted called him on it after the song)
I will be going whenever I can, they're every Sunday, and only blocks from my house!
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toddlgreene
1486 posts
Jun 28, 2010
6:57 AM
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A good jam, like yours sounds to be, is something to make a note of. I've been to some pretty horrible ones, where either the core band just can't cut it, or the 'mavericks' run the show. An orderly, well-run jam can be fun, but it's the other kind that turned me off of jams for a long time. We have our club meetings at a bar that has a jam on the same night, right after our meeetings, that is run by killer slide player John Lisi(check him out on Pandora or myspace, etc.). HE does it right-his band plays for about a half hour, then he starts calling up players, and he keeps it balanced. Never too loud, either. Very accomodating to beginners and less-experienced folks. Oh, and he's harp-friendly. Big plus!
Make yourself some business cards when you feel ready to, and hand 'em out at the jams-network, network, network!
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Crescent City Harmonica Club
Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
Last Edited by on Jun 28, 2010 7:01 AM
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Greg Heumann
594 posts
Jun 28, 2010
7:38 AM
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@Shanester - congratulations. It's a rush, ain't it? Careful, it is addictive in just one trip.
@Toddl - for sure- there are some really awful jams and a few good ones. We had a jam running for 3 years here that was PERFECT best jam I've ever been to or even heard of anywhere. Well run, great venue, great crowd, happy owners, happy musicians and drawing the best musicians from the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Just go to YouTube and search on "little fox jam" to see.
The place went into foreclosure about a year ago and shut down. I miss it like crazy - not only was it a great place to play but it was my main social event of the week and I had a lot of friends there. The good news is that, finally, the place was sold and is re-opening under new management, and the jam will be coming back at the end of July. I can't wait.
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/Greg
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shanester
95 posts
Jun 28, 2010
4:56 PM
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Yeah, I've read some of the horror stories about jams on this forum and I got to tell you, I can't imagine them getting much better than this one.
If you want to play the blues, the players here give you a luxuriant tonal bed to lie on and play from. Ted leads and manages the whole deal, he also has the Austin Guitar School, so a lot of the guit players are students of his.
And the Blues Machine (his house band) know their chops and know how to let the harp come through.
Lots of players and folks hanging out too, a great scene. I'm definitely addicted.
Greg, I know for a fact I'm getting a sm 57 for my birthday in a few weeks...I've been peeking at your website and coveting some mods, at least a volume control, I'll be hollering at you soon!
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rpoe
181 posts
Jun 28, 2010
8:26 PM
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Very cool! I will have to meet you there sometime.
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Rob
Rob's Tube
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Joe_L
412 posts
Jun 28, 2010
8:42 PM
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Jams aren't always great, but it's often worth trying the local ones out as you may never know what you will find or who may drop in.
Get out there and do it again!
Last Edited by on Jun 28, 2010 9:56 PM
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LittleJoeSamson
321 posts
Jun 29, 2010
1:27 AM
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Oh Yeah!
A buddy of mine ( sax player, good one ) was in the opening band for John Lisi a year ago. John invited him up to play with HIS band, and they just kept him up all night. Scott said his clothes were soaked like out of the washer!
Good to hear about the Little Fox. Was there a year and half back, but did not have harps or gear on hand. Heard some great music, and got to talk with Chris "Kid" Anderson. We caught up in January when my core band opened for John Nemeth with the Kid as featured sideman.
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waltertore
713 posts
Jun 29, 2010
5:27 AM
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congragulations shanester! 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.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
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shanester
105 posts
Jul 12, 2010
7:06 PM
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I went to this jam for the second time last night. Had a blast again!
I'm really clicking with the house band, Ted Hall came up to me and thanked me for coming back!
Jose (the resident harp player) seems to be taking me under his wing. He tells me, "keep coming back, you'll learn a ton from these guys!" He is promising to let me use some pedal of his next week.
A young red headed crazy gal named Milan from Carson City Nevada came. She got everyone's attention with this sustained blue note she was singing from in the crowd. Ted invited her up to sing and she jumped up. He said, "What do you want to do?"
She said "play something and I'll sing something".
She turns out to be a great freakin' blues singer, and she made it up as she went. The band was just holding a groove and I felt like it needed something, she sang a call phrase, I played a response.
We looked at each other. She sang another, I played another, and again, Ted starts to create a build with the guitar, the brass jumps in and bam, musical catharsis, crowd goes wild!
This is a cool scene, and I am honored to be a part of it, and totally hooked. There is also a Gospel Brunch before it, that Milan's been doing, I'll check it out next week.
Shane
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Joe_L
453 posts
Jul 12, 2010
7:14 PM
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Cool. Get out there and do it again!
If you don't already, start singing.
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shanester
106 posts
Jul 12, 2010
7:22 PM
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Yeah, thanks Joe, I will definitely go every chance I get, and I do sing, although right now I am really enjoying being an instrumentalist.
I will start singing with them soon!
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Joe_L
454 posts
Jul 12, 2010
8:57 PM
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The cool thing is that you'll get to call the shots. I only started singing about nine months ago. I get to play the stuff I dig playing. I wish I done it sooner.
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LittleJoeSamson
347 posts
Jul 13, 2010
12:43 AM
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Oh Wow, shanester! You sing, too ?
Here's a tip. Hold off. But practice doing a s l o w song.
Fast songs are fun, but...if you can really sing, do a nice, mellow, slow blues or ballad.
The first song I sang with one of my current bands ( after six months ) was "West Helena Woman" in D.
The rather boisterous audience became suddenly quiet...almost mesmerized. We did it so impeccably, and imperceptively, choreographed...with fluid dynamics. It was one of those "moments". Entirely extemporaneous.
When we finished, the gitfiddler ( who has a solid background as a shredder ) turned to me and said, "How the hell are we gonna follow THAT ? ".
Other showstoppers are Percy Mayfield's "Send Me Someone to Love", and John Hiatt's "Feels Like Rain".
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MP
679 posts
Jul 13, 2010
1:07 AM
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LittleJoeSamson,
did i just read you left the house without any harps?
dude! i cannot do that. i need at least one. it's like against the laws of physics or something.
--
PS love doin' that percy mayfield number.--------
MP
hibachi cook for the yakuza
doctor of semiotics
superhero emeritus
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