Here's a blurb from New Orleans' music columnist Keith Spera on Jason:
Approved By Snakes featuring Jason Ricci
Tipitina's, 10 p.m.
As deployed by Jason Ricci, the harmonica is much more than a harmonica: It is a guitar, a voice, a talisman and the catalyst for a fierce form of blues self-expression. Check out the YouTube video of Ricci dismantling "Drifting Blues" at a festival in Antwerp, Belgium, in May. He grew up a son of privilege in Maine, but his life followed a different path: punk bands, tattoos, drug addiction, jail, struggles with his sexual orientation. Along the way, he won a bevy of national harmonica contests and found himself anointed one of the most expressive young players in blues; he was named best harmonica player at last year's Blues Music Awards in Memphis, Tenn. Additionally, his singing can be as intense as an exorcism performed by Tom Waits; in "Broken Toy," he howls, "I've been fired from my one-man band because I hate myself/I'm an outsider and a misfit, not a girl nor a boy/I feel like a broken toy." Ricci is now based in south Louisiana and has assembled a band, Approved By Snakes, that includes guitarist John Lisi. They headline a Saturday show at Tipitina's with Ben Labat & the Happy Devil and Dave Jordan & the Neighborhood Improvement Association. Admission is free.
Tip's is usually pretty strict on their 'no taping' policy, but if I can get over there with my Zoom H2(or HarveyHarp with his Q3HD), hopefully we can get some audio and/or video.
Oh, Tip's usually streams their shows on the web...I've played there several times and the stream has been on for some, off for others, but it's worth a shot. ----------
Snakes, methinks if you put your business hat/thinking cap on, you could profit in that band name...if nothing else, you should get free merch. ----------
Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
Last Edited by on Jan 07, 2011 9:12 AM
lots of good signs here.. jason is getting into new musical styles, contrary to what some have said about his playing he does know how to play in the pocket, he looks sharp and totally with the rest of the band, and it really is jason in spite of the hair, nobody plays with his volume control quite so compulsively (greg have you ever replaced one for him?, talk about an ad for durability) ;-)
I can tell you this:some of the negativity that has occured here on the forum really rubbed him the wrong way(and no, I will not rehash this-just take my word that this place wasn't always Mayberry). As a newly-anointed Moderator, I will do my utmost to make this place a welcome and friendly place for Jason Ricci or anyone else. You give respect, you get respect. So, for now, he might be lurking...perhaps he will chime in if the good vibes continue here. Good job, everyone-I mean that. ----------
Todd L. Greene, Codger-in-training
Last Edited by on Jan 07, 2011 11:54 AM
Nice vid. For those impatient, zip to the 7 minute mark and listen away. I love the restraint of the playing here. Lots of space for the groove to ooze through I'd love to see JR play with Papa Mali. Woodshedding in N'awlins is going to do this boy some good! Appears very comfortable in his skin.
I'm hoping to get over to Tip's tomorrow night and check them out. I've missed seeing him two weeks in a row with Major Bacon when I thought he'd be there-but, that kinda worked out in my favor, because I got to play with them :-) ----------
wow...this Approved By Snakes thing is really out there. What is it? Reggae? Jazz? Blues? I gotta admit Ricci is one talented individual, but he's into some very strange stuff. He studies the writings of Aleister Crowley, etc.
@Earwax You may not know that Led Zep was also big into Aleister Crowley. Especially Page who bought his house in Scotland. The house was built were a church had burnt down with the people still inside. The Stairway to Heaven song references a Poem by Aleister called "May Queen". Beatles were also big into Aleister...he appears on the Sgt. Pepper album. Jim Morrison was also a big fan and he appears on a Doors album too if I remember. Jim claimed to be possessed by Shaman spirits. I think the list goes on and on...interesting stuff.
This is my first day here. But to my knowledge nobody is talking religion here. Is Alester's name or beliefs against rules here?
If not, why moderate before there is a problem? I don't wish to start a problem, but I did not come here to be told to hush up. If I have said anything worthy of a ban. So be it.
But if nobody actually has broken any rules yet, aren't we censoring free speech that is still albeit barely, but still within the forum rules?
Warning heard.
Last Edited by on Jan 08, 2011 9:40 PM
@Earwax, I like Todd am also a moderator for the site, and I am in complete agreement with his view on this current discussion. Your post did infringe on forum rules as you, Joch230, and bluemozark were discussing others beliefs (one of whom is a member of the forum).
There was no mention of a ban or even editing your post, Todd merely gave you a gentle reminder since you are new here, that what you were discussing was actually not within the rules of the forum. Given recent history on the forum with similar threads getting out of control, the discussion definitely should stop.
I am certainly not interested in a debate on freedom of speech or the definition of religion however there are simply more appropriate places online to discuss some topics other than MBH.
Hey Guys Thanks for starting the thread and Todd thanks for having my back here too. NOLA is amazing I'm as inspired here as I was when I was 18 years old! I love the players and Im getting crazy into some multiethnic tuba bass lines and other great sounds of the city. As far as the Crowley thing goes, just wiki him before you start with the Satan thing. Religion aside Crowley influenced Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Joseph Cambell and contless other philosophers, psychiatrists and beyond. He brought Yoga to the west, Eastern Tantracism, The Kabballa and tons of other great non demonic practices soccor moms are into today. I dont have time nor energy to explain to anyone who hasn't even read the back of one of his books why he's a smart guy. I'm a member of a minority religion started by Crowley called Thelema if anyone want to know. I make no secrets and I love to discuss it in real life with people who have done or want to do their home work on a man with a mind that got him on the cover of Sargent Peppers "Favorite People".
Todd did you like the gig? We messed up Broken toy...I'll be ok.
"Magick (Or substitute Music)unassuaged of purpose, delivered free from the lust of result is in every way pure and perfect" -Crowley
The meaning of this quote is why I have taken a step back from touring and the industry and chose the great city of NOLA. Im in love with the harmonica and music for the second time in my life. I'm now very protective of this love and I don't want the industry, money, people, gossip, my own ego, or others or anything to sway me away from that pure child like passion I have finally refound. I'm trying to play free from the lust of result. Until then... to those hellbent on contempt prior to investigation... heres another one
"We are divided for the chance of union" Crowley
I felt the ghost of Chris in me during this post btw.
At least Chris could spell better than me....
Meow Meow to the Meow Meows!
Last Edited by on Jan 09, 2011 3:02 AM
Jason, it is great to see you are around again. I appreciate your response as the topic specifically concerns and discuses you. I am however going to lock this tread to avoid further debate, as it does breech the forum creed where Adam states:
"Religion is one topic where we have, unfortunately, proven our inability to remain civil or respect each other's differences. Accordingly, threads containing the word "religion" or variants on that word, and/or threads devoted explicitly to discussions of religion are BANNED FROM THIS FORUM until further notice."
Last Edited by on Jan 09, 2011 3:54 AM
