RE: [Harp-L] Mustang Sally

["Eugene Ryan" <ryan.eugene@xxxxxxxxx>]

Harri writes:
> > If I could play as good as Shakey Horton I would still probably do Sally
when
> > the audience wants it.

There's no harm in that.  I think that bands get sick of Sally as it is one
of the most requested songs (the most requested song?) of the formula "can
you play X", where X is not equal to what you're currently playing.  And
often the requested song is not in the style that you're playing on the
night.  I had a request for Led Zeppelin recently.  The line up was harp,
trumpet, piano, bass and drums...
The problem is that if you were to do *only* what the audience think they
want, then you would play only covers.  They may well enjoy the new music
you've carefully arranged - but how will they know that unless you've tried
it on them?  I think that's another thing that annoys musicians: they put a
lot of effort in rehearsing their material, with good arrangements - and to
be asked for something completely different or out of context seems to
dismiss that effort.  It's kind of "the band = my personal jukebox"
phenomenon.

I quite like Cissy Strut, by the way.  I'd rather see Cissy Strut
than Sally Mustang - is mustang a verb? :-)

"All you got to do is ride around Sally.."
1 2 3 4... yahoo... we're off
Eugene