I made a new years resolution to start posting videos. I've been reluctant in the past because I'm always waiting till I have a song down perfect (that probably won't happen) and because I'm nervous in front of the camera, even more so than in front of an audience. I've decided this year to quit worrying about it and just start posting.
In that spirit, rather than doing the normal sane thing of sitting at home in front of my webcam, I decided to record myself at an annual cave campout that I attend with my sons. On Friday, after hiking/climbing for half a mile while carrying two packs in sub-freezing weather, I climbed a boulder in the mouth of the cave (see photos at my face book link) and, while still out of breath, recorded these videos before I could talk myself out of it.
Both are the first and only takes and have a few mistakes.
I'm using a Shure 520DX and a Pignose 7-100. No pedals, just the natural cavern echo.
Rich, backpacking up a mountain with two packs and a laptop, including amplification, in freezing conditions, and then knocking off a couple of soulful tunes when gasping for breath!
I take my hat off to you. What did the local wildlife make of it? Any bears?
@bluemozark: I'm in Springfield MO. The cave is on private property 10mi east of Conway.
@nacoran: I had to look up Les Stroud. I've seen parts of Survivorman but haven't heard him play harp. I'll have to watch a full episode. ---------- Ozark Rich __________ ##########
There is nothing that can equate to the natural accoustics provided by mother nature. Great work for your first post. Keep 'em coming especially the more adventureous ones.
Hey OzarkRich, I sent you a FB message. You are gonna have to get together together with my band sometime soon. My gtr player lives in Springfield, and the bass player and me are in Branson. I was wondering if that was the Smallin Civil War Cave in Ozark. I'm actually a drummer, not a full time harp player, I just dabble in it.
Yes, it was actually the last day (30th) and 65 degrees. We had plenty of fun and I got to wear a t-shirt and shorts. Looking at some of the people, though, made me think I was in a zoo...
I grew up in Tulsa, so Branson is a memorable part of my childhood.
I could write a fun blues song about a girl I dated in college from Springfield....
you are certainly raising the bar! perhaps not in the playing (havent had time to hear them), but in the effort made! i am anticipating some great sounds coming from that cave!
Nice! I too liked the cave effect. I should follow your lead and cross this bridge too but much like you I'm holding back because things aren't really the way I want them to be yet.
----------
~Ryan
"I play the harmonica. The only way I can play is if I get my car going really fast, and stick it out the window." - Stephen Wright
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
Very cool sound! IMHO--you might want to work on adding a more rhythmic feel to your music. You don't need to BE the rhythm on harp, but even a solo should have a *sense* of rhythm. Tap a toe--synch up a chord or two--of course, tapping your toe probably don't work in a cave. . . ---------- ==================================== Always be yourself--unless you suck. . . -Joss Whedon
@oldwailer: I thought my chattering teeth were keeping good rhythm! LOL. Thanks, I'll work on that. My sense of rhythm (and speed) seem to be the first thing to go when I'm concentrating on everything else. ---------- Ozark Rich __________ ##########
Well done! You inspired me to take the leap from a lurker and I will try post my first YouTube video in a near future. I have worked on Easy and it is nowhere as good as Jodanchudan version but I will give it a shot.
Take care PerL
Last Edited by on Jan 10, 2011 9:33 PM
Here's a few seconds of my playing from another camera that someone else posted on Youtube. I'm sitting on the boulder in the background. To give some perspective, the boulder is about eight feet high and the ceiling thirty feet.
Cool vids, OzarkR...You should entitle one of your cave recordings 'Guano Blues'...
You might be inadverantly spawning an 'extreme harpin' challenge', where folks play harp in the craziest places and video them...skydiving? In a diving bell(Buzadero)?, on the rim of a volcano, etc... ----------
