Re: [Harp-L] Why I play the blues



Man, you don't play the blues, you HAVE the blues
On 21 Aug 2008, at 14:32, jandkday@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

Why I play the blues:

I play the blues because I enjoy low paying gigs as opposed to
being in a tribute/wedding/coproate band and making real money like my horn players.
I play the blues because I enjoy playing to disinterested BBQ & NOLA foodies chomping
away as we are spewing great musical moments.
I play the blues because I enjoy being locked into a I IV V framework that is
a challenge to find anything fresh to say.
I play the blues because I enjoy some ex-jailbird w/ a harmonica gussing me all set long & then
his son saying he'll "shiv me in my ribs" if I don't let his 'Dad' play.
I play the blues because I enjoy educating some municipal soccer mom booker that the blues is not necessarily depressing and an antiquated genre.
I play the blues because I enjoy living next to a 1.5 million populated major metro area that is only
interested in Karoke & DJ's spinning.
I play the blues because I love to audition guitar players who play Hendrix & SRV blues.
I play the blues because I love to audition stand up bass players who play be-bop & don't know how to 'maul' an acosutic bass.
I play the blues because I enjoy drummers who are aging rockers who hit on the 1&3.
I play the blues because I enjoy being told by first tier festival promoters that they already have a harmonica act and there are already to many "white faces on the bill"
I play the blues because I enjoy requests for Sweet Home Chicago,The Blues is Alright and my favorite:
Mustang Sally.
I play the blues because even National players are rolling quaters just to make the next 9 hour drive to a poorly routed gig.
I play the blues because I love opening for do-rag clad,harley T- shirt ,flip flop wearing ,minstrel sounding blues rockers who shuffle at the same meter all night long and the audience LOVES it because they are one of them.


"The blues is a rough & tumble game & is just like scrimping & pimping in a competition for crumbs"
-james day



-- James Day & the Fish Fry "Jump Blues & Greasy Grooves" www.jameswday.com _______________________________________________ Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l

Richard Hammersley Grantshouse, Scottish Borders http://www.last.fm/music/Richard+Hammersley http://www.myspace.com/rhammersley http://www.myspace.com/magpiesittingdown







This archive was generated by a fusion of Pipermail 0.09 (Mailman edition) and MHonArc 2.6.8.