Dang, of all the Friday nights Penn State has to have Parents Weekend! I
had to go up and visit my kids at two different campuses Friday night
and Saturday/Sunday or I would have been there brother. Hearing you play
is always enjoyable but taking in this scene would have been a bonus.
Geez Mike, I have to say with all that going on, if I was there I would
have abandoned my sensibilities and the harp-man code and gussed a
little to get some of that attention too, haha.
Right now I'm going to go take a cold shower, are you sure you don't
write porn screenplays in your spare time? That was some pretty
descriptive stuff there Fathead. I hope your SO doesn't ever read
harp-l, haha. She'll have a bonfire with your kit in the front yard. I
hope you were displaying that "Danger: Harp Player" sticker I gave you
prominently. Obviously these women did not heed, perhaps caution tape is
in order.
However, after reading all that, I'm gonna go PRACTICE (after the cold shower). Wild Willy wants some of that action ;^)
-----Original Message----- From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael Easton Sent: Sunday, September 25, 2005 8:51 PM To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx Subject: [Harp-L] harp envy ;-)
I don't know about the rest of you that play "sideman" in a band but I found I get a raw deal when it comes to space on stage. Or so I thought:-)
The drummer always gets center stage with the bassist beside him.
Both guitarists sing so they pick their spot in order to be spotlighted.
The keyboard player needs plenty of space for his keys, bench and
rig. That leaves the last spot if any for the harp player, me!
I don't know how it is for those of you that are "sidemen/woman" in a band but sometimes it has it's good and bad moments. Especially when it comes to being a harp player in a 6 piece band. At first I was quietly annoyed about the situation because my band mates would laugh at where they stuck me off stage. That has all changed the past couple of gigs.
Example bar #1: Nice upscale lounge but no stage for the band. The available playing area was cut off by the entrance to the woman's rest room and an indoor waterfall opposite that. The back wall is divided by the entrance to the restroom which cuts the "stage" area in half. I was one of the first ones there to set up. 25 minutes later I get moved across the other side of the stage area separated from the band by a path leading to the woman's restroom. Throughout the night the lovely ladies ignored my band mates while smiling at me when they came and went. I was also the one they came to with song requests. I acted like I couldn't hear their request so they had to put their face closer to mine. If she was walking toward me while I soloed I played a little raunchier as she passed. It was all in good fun watching my band mates watch me entertain the ladies while they were being ignored.
Example bar #2: This past friday we played our usually monthly gig at this one neighborhood bar, Chicks. (While that is the owners name it also describes who hangs there). The stage is about 6 inches off the floor and big enough for only 5 players so I get assigned to the floor beside the stage, my amp and me in front of a videogame. The spot lights were pointed toward the guys on stage. I was left in the dark. I thought I got a raw deal until the women started coming up to dance. Since the dance floor is small it doesn't take much to fill it. Well, these 3 blonde cuties in their early 20's come up to me while we are playing and ask me if my wife is there because they didn't want to get beat up for what they were about to do. I said no, but she is Puerto Rican/Sicilian and has a serious temper so they were lucky she decided not to come that night.
They then proceeded to ungulate, er dance in front of me very, very close. The first one in a very short demin mini skirt went first showing me how low to the floor she could go while dancing. Pretty darn low I might add. the middle one then rubbed her hands from my chest down to my ankles and back up while I soloed on the tune Killing Floor. The 3rd blonde in jeans and a light blue silk top then started rubbing her chest up and down my forearm while I was playing. I kept looking up at my band mates who were looking down at me like a deer in the headlights. They were in shock to see what had transpired. I thought it was only a fluke but then the first dancer in the short demin skirt came up later and gave me a personal dance while I soloed for her. (This was not a strip club and these were not hookers). The lower she got to the floor the slower and lower I bent the reed on the 2 draw during my solo. When she hit bottom I hit a 2 draw bend vibrato and held it. She was about 2 feet from my amp so she got the full effect of the deep bass bend vibrato and started to laugh real hard. I don't think I need to explain the physics of how sound vibrates off objects it hits but she sure got a lesson in it.
Later, during the 3rd set, 2 other hot blondes started dancing for me while I was playing. One rubbing her hand across the side of my face down to my neck. My head was about to explode from all the attention. Then a ravishing brunette dripping in sex appeal with big hazel eyes and full lips started dancing for me. First with her back facing me and head cocked sideways looking over her shoulder, then she turned around and swayed like a King Cobra ready to strike. All less then 2 feet from me. I was a puddle of sweat at that point. One of my best nights of playing ever because the only thing I could do was entertain those entertaining me.
Most of the guys were watching football, shooting pool or hanging their own woman. I ended up entertaining the rest. I think we played 1 1/2 hours for the second set. All my band mates could talk about during break was the attention I was getting off stage. The keyboard player said he would switch with me next time but I told him only if he gave me $200.
I was surprised at the end of the night to find 3 of the woman were there with their dates. We exchanged good nights and I thanked them for coming to the gig. The blonde in demin gave me an inviting smile as she walked off with her boyfriend. It all ended in good clean fun but damn, that is one night I'll remember for a long long time. Too bad Bill Hines didn't show up to verify my story. Hey Bill, ask KJ or Mitch about it.:) Every word of it is true.
mike
_______________________________________________ Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l