In my dreams maybe...or perhaps in 20 to 25 years! Couldn't even get through the song without chocking on my own saliva. Still it was a whole lot of fun to make.
constructive criticism welcomed
Cheers Mathieu
---------- Heart2Harp
Heart2Harp
Last Edited by on Sep 02, 2010 11:31 AM
You gotta good groove and you feel it man! I like it a lot.....the end took me back out of the groove...I hope you slept well. Don't let yourself get in your own way.
Last Edited by on Sep 02, 2010 1:09 PM
Throwing your harmonica in the river sounds like a good blues song idea. You're on a roll. It sounds good. Was the choice to play in such a deserted looking room an acoustic choice?
The only advice I'd give you is that when you screw up, don't stop; that only makes it worse. Keep playing and either do another take afterwards or fix it in post production. Of course, from what you were saying this was a later take. It sounded good.
@ GermanHarpist: your comment on the 2 hole bend insulted me personally and so, I'm leaving this forum...
nahhh...you're right ;-) . Something about that low G harp that I'm not used to yet. The bends are more difficult for me. They are not always spot on.
As for amping it...I'm don't know. It's an interesting suggestion but I just find that lot of people do that on the forum and on youtube. I don't find it adds anything, if anything it makes the harp irritatingly loud and you lose lot's of little subtelties and nuances (unless your name is Adam Gussow of course). But I guess I should try it to see.
@harpdude: you said the end took you out of the groove. Was it the playing or the comment I said in the end (or maybe it was the fact I chocked). If it was the playing, care to elaborate?
@nacoran: the room is deserted because we are poor. But you are right, it has a nice acoustic feel to it. I agree about not stopping when you screw-up. However, I just thought since I had done too many takes already (and everyone in the house was in bed but me) it added a little bit of a humoristic twist to the vid.
Thanks for the comments y'all ---------- Heart2Harp
All I meant was don't worry about messing up. We ALL do. I don't think an audience would have heard a mistake unless you pointed it out. Forget you are taping, relax and have fun. I know because I still sometimes struggle with these things. I think you have a great thing going and I look forward to seeing where you take it. You should always say it was your first take that made it in...lol
Matthieu: I think it's pretty clear that you just have "it". I would much rather listen to you playing than many other more "experienced" players out there in YouTube land... I include myself in that group of other players too!
I'm gonna be watching your development with a very close eye... I think you are going places, for sure! ---------- ------------------ View my videos on YouTube!"
I agree with all the positive comments. You've got a great voice--it's got feeling, you're hitting the right pitches like a great tennis player or baseball pitcher who knows how to let it fly--and you've got a compelling groove.
Earlier this evening I drove 30 miles from Oxford up to Holly Springs--this is north Mississippi--because I'd heard that the Burnsides and Kimbroughs were hosting some sort of blues gig on the "black" side of the square in downtown Holly Springs. There was indeed a party, although the Burnsides and Kimbroughs weren't there. There was a street blocked off, a couple of cop cars, about 800 black people and 15 white people, with a small stage and several bands. The band that started shortly after I got there was OK, but not great. It wasn't blues. They did party songs, as they're called around here: generic disco-type music, alternating with "Down Home Blues," which is a good song (Satan and Adam recorded it) but overplayed.
My point is, I'd rather listen to what you're doing than what I heard up there. And if they'd thrown you on that stage: I think the place would have gone nuts. You've got more honest feeling and energy than the five people in that band.
The short version: keep on working it. You're definitely heading in the right direction.
Last Edited by on Sep 02, 2010 8:59 PM
Ditto what all the above have already said but I take my hat off to you for keeping your room clear of all soft furnishings in order to enhance the ambience of your sound.
Now that does take some dedication to the humble harp. Don't think Mrs Tooka would let me get away with that.
I got to listen to this last night-you have a fantastic voice, and you held your own on harp as well. Are you in a band currently? I also dig that you had the stones to break into a vacant apartment to film this...
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Crescent City Harmonica Club Todd L Greene, Co-Founder
So your idea about throwing your harp into the river inspired me to write some lyrics. This is a rough draft. It's way to long, and it needs some rhythm fixes... :)
I was sitting on a stump Down by the river bank My feet a'danglin' in the water. Got no god to thank.
I been down, my lips been cut, Ripped up on a dime store harp My fishin' line done snapped By a big fat carp.
I was still playing Though my lips were sore When I heard someone coming near I couldn't take it no more.
And I stopped playing Got ready to toss my harp Away out into the river But I heard a voice scream 'NO!'
And a man came out Harp in hand, ready to play. I'll teach you harp; I can teach you in just one day.
So he played, and I played But my playing just got worse And he just got frustrated Trying to teach me just one verse.
So I set my harp down And he set his harp down I jumped in the water, nearly drowned But the river didn't wash my sins.
So I picked up my harp And tossed it away Out into the water. 'You said you'd teach me in just a day.'
And the other man screamed 'NO!' That was four-hundred dollars! A Harrison, customized by a team Of Sleigh, Filisko and the Buddha himself, he hollered.
And I looked down And saw my harp lying there on the ground And his expensive harp Was nowhere around.
And he picked up my harp in disgust And he started playing... He was still pretty good But not as good, it goes without saying.
His 2 hole stuck; his 4 wouldn't bend. The 1 hole rattled; the covers cut. The comb will swell as you play The 10 hole would blow from the first day.
And he stormed off and never looked back. And I jumped in the river and started to swim. I was the captain of my high school team. I'm like a fish when I get in the water.
And I found me that harp. It only took just a minute. Water don't hurt a good harp much And I played, and I was in it.
You got to get up pretty early to trick the devil But the way I figure, not as early as to go fishin' You got to get up pretty early to trick the devil But the way I figure, not as early as to go fishin!
And I played, and the harp didn't cut my lip And I played, and the 4 hole wouldn't bend And I played, everything from one to ten And it played everything from hole one to ten.
Aww chucks...thanks for the love everyone. That's what I love about this forum: there's occasional ruffling of feathers but also lot's of friendly and usefull comments from everyone.
@Kudzu: thanks for your kind words. I'm really motivated to keep practicing and playing now. I know in most respects you're an average guy just like everyone else but to some of us on this forum you really are an inspirational figure.
@toddlgreene: No I'm not in a band formally. I do play at small gigs with other musician friends but our repertoire spans from french canadian and irish folk to blues, and good old train songs. I've been an entertainer playing on a tourism steam train for many years as well.
@Nacoran: that is quite creative! I would love to see a song come out of this. You're right about some little ryhtmic problems but stuff like that can be fixed. Please keep me informed you if you continue working on it.
