It amazes me how radically the music world has changed in such a short time. I realize the younger people know nothing else but it feels like I landed on another planet sometimes. Downloads replacing CD's (I never could relate to them vs. an album), custom harps, giving away how to's via youtubes, lessons bought via the net or done with skype, and all the other such stuff that is this being done without a face to face experience. Clubs becoming extinct, everybody and their brother putting out cds and videos, open mics becoming the majority for live music events at local levels.... I am not judging it, just amazed. Being raised in a hands on, in the flesh apprenticeship scene I am just blown away by how this is just about extinct. I wonder what the young generation will type here in 40 years on how things have changed.
I have wondered where all the people and energy went with most of the clubs in this country closing. I think I figured it out. They are in cyberspace land doing all this stuff. All I can say is wow and I hope someday a grass roots effort takes place that brings back the face to face experience with playing music, making instruments, and giving lessons. It is a snowy day here in Ohio. A few close friends/relatives have died recently and I am missing the days of music coming out of clubs, people playing music on the streets, kids sitting around together trying to figure out a song, a bunch of us going to see one of our blues heros in small local clubs, and in general just a more hands on, hanging with your friends, being physically in the moment of the event experiences. Music use to be a live, hands on thing. Walter
---------- 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
Know what you mean Walter. There has been so much information made available to people via the internet now. Only the other day I was reading from someone who said they learnt the hard way and was amazed at the amount of information that was now easily found.
That being the case, there should be thousands of harp wizards who have been able to glean all the tricks and techniques to make them world class blues players from the internet but I can't say I've heard of many yet. ----------
tookatooka: I teach Mentally Retarded high school students. They keep me rooted in the old ways. They prefer to socialize with others verse do a video game. They are hands on, concrete, thinkers and doers. I am lucky to still live in such a world. They love live music too and will dance till they drop when the beat starts. We may have to look to this population someday because we have ventured so far from it.
Music has historically been a face to face experience. I a few short years all of this is being rewritten. I am sure there will be tons of harp whiz kids coming out of this new age. I will be curious as to how they compare in live situations to the old blues greats that learned everything they knew in flesh to flesh environments. Walter ---------- 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
Ive been jamming some with some old friends that was trying to start a band again,after a couple sessions,I was ready to go back to the house and record,It was so much less B.S I control what im wanting,up to the point of what I can do,Im still going to go out and jam but,its a mess out there;-) ---------- Hobostubs
Dont get me wrong Ive out grown the type of music them guys still play,im more into lets quiet it down a notch and work on dynamics maybe some blues,HELL NO WE ROCK ROCK ROCK ROCK TURN UP THE AMPS GIVE ME A BEER WE ROCK.see what i mean(But it was live). i havent gave up hope im wanting to find a cool open mic with blues guys maybe in Tulsa,cause its still more fun that way,how you been Walter? ---------- Hobostubs
Yes, it's sad Walter. But one things for sure,thanks to people like you, the blues will never die, even if they do seem to be on life support. ---------- My YouTube Channel
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 10:46 AM
i miss the days when music, any live music, was an EVENT. i still gig a bit and have fun doing it. public radio here is a bastion for making music an event. but over-all live music isn't as special.
i know cats over 60 who still drive from state to state doing the 4 hour pull.( there are still places on the east coast where bands can do this if they don't mind the hassle), talk about pluck.
as a species, we humans are very adaptable. even i have adapted. in fact, with less gigs, the gigs i do get are all the more special. folks come up to you and thank you profusely. they really appreciate what you do.
i miss certain stuff but don't reject the new state of affairs. i dig technology. i'm analog man but i adapt. cheers! ---------- MP hibachi cook for the yakuza doctor of semiotics superhero emeritus
Hobostubs: It is hard finding guys to groove with. I wonder with this physical isolation that the net creates if future generations will find it harder to interact with fellow musicians on a real stage? I have been good but this winter snow/cold/gray gets me thinking on these things.
ncpacemaker: Thanks! I am on pretty much life support gig wise. If it wasn't for my studio I probably would quit playing. I am currently driven to learn how to make good sounding recordings and seeing I need to play so as to record, I got to keep playing :-) Walter ---------- 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
If it wasn't for the internet, I would never have discovered James Cotton, SBW I and II, Carey Bell, Big Walter. If it wasn't for the internet, I never would have seen how diverse the blues could be, and how incredibly cool it could be.
I'm not even sure I would have started playing harp without the internet. I can benefit from the wonderful gift Adam has shared with the world via youtube; I doubt I could find someone else in my area willing to offer even a quarter of the time, experience and generosity put into those tutorials, even for a sum of money.
The internet was a key tool in developping my appreciation for music and for making me actually want to play music (the piano, recorder and sax lessons through the years all failed - though I didn't know the blues).
In such ways, I am extremely glad these changes have taken place.
we have a few bands around here,Talequae is about 20 minutes away,and they have some cool stuff going on and Tulsa has to have a blues scene surely,But I have to borrow a car to get any where or bum a ride,which Ill do,but in this small town of wagoner,which is in the middle of the two mentioned,All I know is of bands doing country and classic rock covers or there doing hard rock originals grungy and loud,I have never met a real blues man,In person I wish I could,Ive mentioned this to my friends the other day,I know of no players that can do 25 or more blues standards in various keys 12 or 8 bar blues ,ect.I cant myself im trying to learn it some but its hard with out the type of stuff you mention.
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 11:51 AM
I understand Philippe's point. That tiny little instruction paper that came with the cheap Hohners was all the guidance I had.
I must say the area I live in (where TN, VA, and NC meet) is alive with the sound of music. Plenty of bluegrass, newgrass, roots, country, and thanks to a few of us, blues is getting a decent chunk of the pie.
Open mics and jams are thriving, as well as live music in clubs and diners as well as several music festivals. Bristol Rhythm and Roots has become one of the primier festivals in the country. ...20 stages and countless performers. Check out the artist list. http://bristolrhythm.com/artist.php
It is considered rude to text or use a cell phone while artists are performing. We prefer to leave em in the car. We make it just fine without them.
I'm really amazed at the young people around here that are into old styles of music and adding a fresh sound.
I have numbers of 1/2 dozen or so folks that want harp lessons (it's still French Harp around here), which i hope to find time for in the near future.
C'mon down Waltertore...we'd love to hear you play. Hope you don't mind if we feel like dancin a little....
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 12:07 PM
I hear you Walter I dont know how to work with other musicians,But thats on me really,I had plenty of chances to play with the people that jam around town ,but I never fit in musically with them,we like alot of the same music but we play nothing alike I can party with them and get along with them were friends,but I never could relate to what they were into playing,plus my struggles with just trying to learn what i do around the house,And its something im trying to work around,I can noodle some harp with them and they dig it,Im frustrated though with the noodleing to heavy metal basically,and I have never been able to connect with anyone on my guitar,never I dont know why.except maybe because of my off the wall crap,so im trying to learn the basic blues 12 bars in a few keys,and Its the internet that provides the info,so I think its a good thing really,cause I could play out every weekend around here if i could connect on a musical level with my friends.still would have to bum a ride though;-) ---------- Hobostubs
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 12:53 PM
I do feel the need to add that if it had not been for the internet and people like Kudzurunner, I would probably never have learned how to play in second position. (I use the word "play" loosely as I would never want to imply that I am in the company of the many great musicians, including yourself Walter, that frequent this forum.) Nevertheless, the internet has done much to preserve and proliferate the blues and music in general. Just YouTube alone has done that. Many people are learning to play and getting turned on to the blues because of the net, so it's good in that respect. But I completely understand what you mean about people missing out on the experience of learning first hand face to face and clubbing like you did. It's something you can be proud of and rejoice in. You were part of a generation that cared about the music. You were part of a great time. Now it seems it's heavy metal, rap, Justin Bieber and American Idol for the young generation. But the spirit of the blues remains. It remains in you, who pours out heart and soul into his music,it remains also in cover bands seeking to bring back the good old days you speak of, and it remains in those who seek to expose and teach it to others. Be happy Walter. It's a sad thing to be like me and be middle age and wish you had given your life to music. Onward Blues Soldier. ================================================== My YouTube Channel
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 3:10 PM
I have enjoyed reading all the posts. I agree the internet has been a great thing in many ways. I pray that the stuff that inspired people to investigate the blues via it for learning will become the vehicle to rebirth the live music scene.
harpdude61: I would love to come down there. It sounds like the good old days - people listening and dancing.......
ncpacemaker: I really appreciate your support!
Here is a little story of my musical backround. My wish is young people continue such journies as this. I am just one in a loooong line of musicians that have followed this route. excuse typos. I am a poor typer/editor.
I was involved in some unbelievable scenes. Just a few weeks ago I got an email from Charlie Musselwhite. We corresponded about the good old days in the SF bay area. We both played with Mark Naftlins Blue monday show at the sleeping lady cafe in fairfax. Bob wier of the grateful dead owned it and it was non smoking and drinking. Tom Mazzolini (SF Bluesfestival founder) broadcasted it on KPFA. Anybody who was on tour would come to sit in. I met Kim Wilson via that. Backstage every kind of drink and drug was available and Charlie and I drank a lot of wine......
I started out playing with wilbert harrison (a king of 1 man bands) when he picked me up as I blew my harp walking down south orange ave in Newark, NJ. I delivered drugs to bars for the mob and would entertain the customers in the bars as I made my drops.
Then Lousiana Red let me live in his house after he divorced Odetta. The door would knock and guys like eric burdon and johnny winter would come a visiting. Bill Dicey took me in but his habbits were to deep for me. Then Sonny Terry let me help him around clubs in NYC. Terry, the owner of Tramps in NYC, took a liking to me and got me up onstage with all the name touring guys - lightning, jb hutto, lowell fulsom, champion jack dupree, albert collins, and others of that era.
Then I hit Ca and landed in the fertile SF Bay area music scene. I played in the bands of sonny rhodes, cool papa, mississippi johnny waters, trocye keys/jj malone, and others.
Then on to europe for 2.5 years. We based out of brussels and played all over europe and scandinavia. Lots of gigs with Red, Luther tucker, eddie c. campell, al rapone, champion jack, robert cray, and others.
then back to nyc. Nothing happening and I ended up cutting grass. But I did play regularly with buddy bowser and david johanson of the NY Dolls. I heard austin was hot so we moved there. It was just heating up and we stayed with Luther Tucker until we found a house to rent. He told me of the black cat lounge and I walked in with a record I made in Europe and the owner booked me 7 nights a week. It was the craziest club in austin and played it for 10 years. We would start at 10 on fri/sat and when the club closed at 2, he would only admit musicians. We would go to 6am. everybody in austin came there that was not touring or finished for the night. SRV, jimmy vaughn, lou ann barton, evan johns, doug sham, ronnie lane, charlie and will sexton. I could go on for pages with all the guys that sat in with us. Joan Baez came by after her show and refused to sit in but listened for 2 hours.
then robbie robertson asked me to play on the soundtrack for the color of money movie with him and clapton. He had michael been of The Call contact me when he was touring through town. I said no because they wanted me to rehearse. Michael and I became good friends and I opened several tours for him and played an acoustic deal with Harry Dean Stanton/the call who michael met when they filmed the last temptation of christ together.
then the president of BMI courted me for 2 years in austin. He promised me fame and fortune if I would forget spontobeat and work with his nashville song whiz kids to spiff up my song ideas.
Then Timbuck 3 took a liking to my music. They turned my stuff on to bob dylan. Dylan told them he had to meet me. He couldn't believe I was making all the words up. then Joey ramone started coming to my austin gigs with charlie sexton. We jammed a bunch.
Austin died and we left back for Ca in 1996. Not much was happening musically there but I was now a teacher and wasn't worried about making money playing. I found the blue heron inn in duncan mills. They booked me every saturday for 3 years. It was almost as wild as the black cat lounge in austin.
I have left out a ton of stuff, but felt inspired to type this in hopes it may inspire someone who is feeling the burn to play music live. All of this was done on a dream. I never once had a booking agent, record label. We can make dreams come true. Young people don't let live music die. Walter ---------- 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
Walter, I know it's not spontobeat friendly, but one day you'll definitely have to sit down and write that book about your life and experience(s) as a musician.
Well, writing is like spontobeat, only without harp, drums, guitar... :o)
saregapadanisa: did I spell that right??? Nigel Price, an author from England is doing that. We talk on the phone, I record it, and send it to him. He has also come over here for 2 tours I did. The book is close to finished. I also need to wait a bit. I witnessed a mob hit(still unsolved) when I was 9 years old and the hitman tried to kill me.Luckily I escaped via running through alleys and over fences. I swear I have never run that fast since. My parents in their own way tried to protect me by telling me to forget about it and it was never to be spoken about again. That screwed me up pretty good to say the least. During one of my many therapies I contacted the police station to find out more about it. There was a policeman that was on the force at that time still there. He was now a captain and told me the statue of limitations never ends for a murder. So he took my statement, the only eyewitness one to date, and said he would be in touch. He never called back and I called him a bunch of times over the next few weeks and he was never in. Finally I guess he figured that I wasn't going to give up and he got on the phone. He simply said "drop it" and hung up. There are some things like this that still need some time to fade out before we publish it. Walter ---------- 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
Yes, there's so much at stake when speaking of oneself. Time helps, although not as quickly as we would like.
I'm just glad to know about this book. I know it should be no small endeavour for you, and that it will be an unvaluable reading for all of us. Whatever the date of release, I'll stil be looking forward for it.
I gigged all the way through junior & senior high school, college, and for a few years afterwards, and I went back to giggin' after the kids got older, BUT I've stumbled into jammin' with the same bunch of vets for the last 15-20 years, at our host's house. It's a big band that plays blues/rock/boogie country/honky-tonk, etc.
I love just being able to have a few beers, learn new tunes, work on your chops, and play for 3-4 hours with very little break. We only gig 5-6 times/yr. for special events and one club. It's still all about the music and we try to get it right. The only place we don't get any satisfaction is that we don't work on tight intros, endings, or tough modulations. I've loved it, 'cuz it mostly satisfies my need to play and motivates my practice and tune learning.
Otherwise, I do get a rush out of sittin' in with friends of mine on a gig, or with total stranger vets that can communicate well and help me fit in. BUT, I try to keep the blues, and remember that the tune has to come to you... you can't beat the tune to death and get the most out of it. 'n' then there's those jam tunes that come outa nowhere and leave you breathless..ah-h-h-h.
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 5:51 PM
walter, do you know guit-steel virtuoso junior brown? old friend of mine.
i believe he's from tieras new mexico but giged a lot in austin and all over texas. ---------- MP hibachi cook for the yakuza doctor of semiotics superhero emeritus
"I wonder what the young generation will type here in 40 years on how things have changed."
How 'bout this:
"Remember when we had to do all that reading and practicing instead of simply uploading the knowlege & skill into our brains?"
(They won't even have to type it. They'll just think it and there it is on screen...or on hologram...or directly into the minds of whoever "views" it.)---That is-If we don't blow ourselves into the stone age.
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 6:35 PM
If kids would spend half the time learning to play a real instrument as the do playing Guitar Hero, there would be a lot of great musicians around. What a joke. Personally, I banned guitar hero from the house and told them to play a real instrument if they wanted to make music. ---------- My YouTube Channel
MP: Junior lived in austin while I was there. I never got to know him though.
gene: sounds feasible to me! ---------- 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
kids are playing just utube it ,I gave my 3 year old niece a real nice Dean acoustic 1/2 size and when she turned 4 a eletric and 5 a recorder flute ,bad year for money,she has alot of interests but when she comes over she wants to sing,and now wants a drum set,but im going to have to go back to work for that ;-) and ok it with her parents 1st.But alot of them do play that guitar hero, I think its crazy I had a young man about 18 say he learned how to play a real guitar from what he learned from guitar hero,I think hes full of BS cause i havent heard him play. ---------- Hobostubs
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 7:14 PM
Hey Walter, I just want to hugely acknowledge you for your commitment to your muse.
I relate, every day that passes I find myself more drawn in to mine, my love for the music I get to express only gets stronger and stronger.
I was playing 3 different jams in Austin, and then moved to Houston because my construction work largely dried up there, and my wife's entrepeneurial venture was not working out.
I was very sad to leave my scene, I had some mentors and some great training just keeping up!
I have to say I am hooking up with a really cool scene in Houston. I have been playing at a blues/zydeco house called "The Big Easy" in Houston and I am loving it!
The crowd at the jams has been very lively and diverse, with lot's of dancing.
I am getting taken under the wing of a few different folks, a very family feel for me.
I know I'm in the right place, last week I brought an awesome female singer friend who had never done blues, but had a big hip hop and gospel background to the jam. We missed our call practicing out in the parking lot and I got informed by my peeps and presented myself to get chewed out royally by John, the awesome guitar player who leads the jam and I believe, plays guitar for Sonny Boy Terry.
After humbling myself greatly acknowledging how fucked up it was missing my call and promising to never do it again, after a few numbers he let me and my friend Ona Maria go up for one song.
My hastily plugged in cord to the owner of the house's Twin Reverb all tangled so i have about five or six feet of cord, thank god i found the standby switch on the back in time, we started into John Lee Hooker's "I'm in the Mood" She killed it, had the house hollering. I was happy with my playing, but not turned up near enough.
Oh well, next time.
I love playing live, I am gathering my resources to put something together, and the crowd is there.
These days, there is such a strong pull with all the fear, to huddle in the home entertainment bunker and veg out, but deep down everybody knows the real adventure is the real world, we may just have to remind them, wake them up.
you must be jamming alotI havent heard from you on here in awhile, Shanester,I was just thinking about you today,when i wrote on a thread about I was wondering about the Tulsa blues scene sence your originally around here,How you been? Know any good clubs in Tulsa? ---------- Hobostubs
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 9:20 PM
I haven't been on here as much because I have kind of hit rock bottom financially...in jeopardy of losing my house in Austin, I moved to Houston for work a couple of months ago because there is plenty of work.
It has been stressful, but good for my playing! I get up and jam these days because I just can't help it. It doesn't matter whether I suck or not, I know what I know and I do all I can do within that to contribute to the song in every way I can!
I don't know much about the Tulsa scene but my cousin Johnny from McAlester plays in a rockabilly band and I know they do Tulsa a lot, I'll find out what he knows and let you know!
I also acknowledge you for your commitment to your muse Hobostubs, I enjoy following your evolution!
I hate to hear about the bad luck,the job market is going to get better it has to,Im hoping,I got a place to stay but were using food stamps and sometimes chariety food from the food giving place.hang in there Bro ---------- Hobostubs
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 9:37 PM
I believe it will and is getting better, we just have to adapt to the new playing field.
Good luck to y'all as well. You said you're a welder right? I bet there is work in Houston, it's way different from Wagoner but i am coming to love and respect it. There are many good people here, and just about anything you could want. Holler if you ever want to check it out... ---------- Shane
My best friend that I grew up with,lives in Bay city he the best welder I know,He just bought him a small helocopter a couple years ago,he's doing good,I went down there a few years ago but i was partying to much,I could been sitting alot better right now,If grew up a little faster,But I just heard about 2 shops in BA thats hiring so maybe;-)My main problem is tranpotation I have couple that need fixed just havent got them going yet,but this is the year for something good I feel it,its just a whisper in the air but i feel something could be the cold medicine I took ;-) ---------- Hobostubs
Last Edited by on Jan 24, 2011 10:00 PM
Walter, I think the way audiences relate to live music is changing as well. I just posted about audience response but I didn't say that I think younger audiences are losing a sense of responsibility to give back to the performer. Sometimes when I play for younger crowds I feel like I'm on a TV set or something. Maybe my music just isn't reaching them, but I think it's something deeper. I think live music itself is becoming antiquated to them, and their social skills are less developed in an increasingly virtual world.
I have to say I'm in the middle here. Like some other posters, I would have never heard of, let alone picked up the harp if not for the state of music, with what all the youtubes and the napsters. On the other hand I can see the anomosity from the oldtimers harking back to the glory days of vinyls and smoke filled speakeasys. It was purer, more intimate, more homey. That initmaticy is coming back with full force though, I believe, and a resurgance of roots, blues, and folk is on the rise. When people are force fed copypasta music with the same three chords and overproduced beat with the same four lookalike bandmates, somehow in that jumbled cesspool of "musicians" looking to "make it big", people start to notice that guy with the washboard is doing something extraoridinary and we need to stop and have a looksee. Or that guy with the harp really believes in his music and his soul is out there for all to see, let's purchase his album. Festivals and parkin lot picks are here to stay and busking is starting to turn heads again. I consider myself a Gen Yer, past the mtv era, yet between the ipod era (I'm 25) and there are a good chunk of us who are tired of the digital in your face advertisement and wish to bring it back to our roots, utlising these outlets to appeal to young and old alike. Adapting is how it survives, we survive. There is a wealth of young and rising musicians if you know where to look for em
ItsTater: Thanks for sharing your passion! Walter ---------- 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
I think it's still big. But I'm only 24. Though DJs seem to be messing things up a bit. More of them in newsletters than live acts. -------
"I have wondered where all the people and energy went with most of the clubs in this country closing. I think I figured it out. They are in cyberspace land doing all this stuff. All I can say is wow and I hope someday a grass roots effort takes place that brings back the face to face experience with playing music, making instruments, and giving lessons."
You should come to Chicago.
Ohio is great! Cincinnatti, Hamilton......
.......But Chicago has a very Real "Blues Minded" atmosphere when dealing with the people. With all the Jazz/Blues festivals and shows, the Howlin' Wolf festival..... People are Very aware of Blues. Know the songs, the artists. They seem to Embrace it as part of Chicago History. Much like people in Clarksdale do. ---------- ---Go Chicago Bears!!!---
That is great you are keeping the spirit alive Miles! Yes Chicago is a great blues town. Unfortunately it is a shell of what it once was much like Memphis, SF, Austin, NYC is today compared to the 70's. Maxwell Street is gone and so are most of the local neighborhood bars that spawned so many of the greats of the 50's, 60's, 70' 80's.
I use to hang around Roy Smeck (do a google on him). this was at the time that djs were first on the scene and were taking over club gigs where bands were getting 3-800 a night and they were spining records for 100 bucks. When I told Roy of this he laughed and told me that when the record and radio came in, it wiped out over 90% of the working musicians. Up till then it had to be live. I guess we are fighting an ever growing beast called TECHNOLOGY and one of its consequences is the downsizing of live music. If we look at this historically, eventually live music performances as we have known them will most likely become extinct. Hopefully you younger guys will bring it all back and kill the beast! Walter ---------- 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
Even in 8 years, the local scene hear has totally dried up. It is very, very sad. I don't think anything can relate to seeing a good live band.
One positive as that music nerds are able to have much more direct relationships with other nerds...some of who are professionals.
Had you told me when I started out I'd be communicating with my heroes on a first name basis frequently, I would have laughed...and thought that meant I'd become famous. Sadly, it just means I have internet access. :( ---------- Mike Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas Updated 1/11/11
Mike, yer right: I think it's great that there are guys like Adam and others who are so willing to share their knowledge and experience in direct ways. I realize that there's business involved, but any of us who have been around for a while know all about the "head-cuttin'" wars, and guys who don't want to take a chance that anybody else will be loved by the audiences-- or be able to play better than them. We've played with frontmen who showcase their sidemen, and we've played with guys who keep ya' on a leash. I prefer the lack of ego guys who are more about the blues, insteada thinkin' about how they can strut & mebbe get laid by somebody later.
Last Edited by on Jan 25, 2011 11:38 AM
You are right! Maxwell street nowadays is a sad place to call a "Blues Haven". Mostly NOTHING blues related going on. I wish I was around the old days. I know I would have had the time of my life there! Though I still am. Michigan ave., the "Bean", Millenium Park and surrounding area are Bustling!
I believe we just have to help the re-inforcement of the idea of Blues being the Ambient sound of Chicago.
That's why I Love the idea of "Street Play".
You have to be live to play on the street. It's the one place I don't believe a DJ would fit in. And just playing a soundtrack of your playing won't get you those lusted after "Dollar Bills".
I have some family in Cincinnatti. They love Blues. I was wondering if I could send them to some of your shows or a down home thing you have going on in the future. I tried to get out there for the Barbecue you spoke about recently but couldn't make it. Looked like a whole lot of fun.
Hi Miles: You sound like a blues ambasador! I have no gigs on the calendar and no house party scheduled. I will let you know when something comes up. The street is the great equalizer. It levels the playing field. You play to people that aren't really there to hear music, anybody (including crazies, crimminals, drug addicts, homeless)and everybody has a ticket of admission, traffic sounds, all add up to you really have to have your sound down to make it. Clubs have covers, admitt who they choose, and are basically safe places. I have been playing on the streets for almost 40 years. The problem there is the money has really dropped. Not that it was ever very good but now one can play for 5 hours and make 10 bucks. Also communities are not allowing it or you need to have a permit, which costs money and you may have to audition to get one. That takes most of the fun out of it for me. I love just setting up and playing. Here is a shot from a now closed music store in santa rosa california. The store owned the sidewalk I played on so the cops couldn't bother me. I played there everyday during my summer break from teaching for 5 years. A turkish woman sold flowers there too and fed me a turkish lunch everyday. She would sweep up as I played right on beat. I would bring my dogs too. They loved it. Like I said, now it is all to regulated for my taste. My soundclick page has a bunch of live songs from this spot (you can see the recording mics in the photos). Here is a link to the set. I was using a 1953 fender champ on my guitar- killer tone! This was right at the beginning of my recording journey. It sounds pretty raw and in a way fits the street scene. On one song a guy was watching as he drove by and rear ended the car in front of him. You can hear the crash. Only on the street such things happen!
here is another from the same spot with Douglas McKenzie on bass and me playing slide on my old 50's no name guitar through the tweed champ. Doug is a well know bay area guitarist whose last band had Doyle Brahamal (now with clapton) as second guitarist. It got the maxwell street vibe.
---------- 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
I've just come back from our weekly Harmonica Club meeting in our town of 50,000 people.
1 bass, 1 guitar, 1 drummer, and about 8 harp players. For 2 hours, from 7 to 9, we all took turns playing 12 bars and having fun. When the weather breaks, we'll take it to the town square once a month. The live music is still alive, and our little club seems to have some energy. Tonight I'm feeling fine. ---------- intermediate level (+) player per the Adam Gussow Scale, Started playing 2001
