[Harp-L] Going Mad (cat)

["Less Paul" <lesspaul58@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This weekend I had the tough choice of deciding between Aerosmith, Kim
Wilson, and Madcat and Kane concerts. I chose the latter, and have no
regrets.  Last night I had the incredibly enjoyable opportunity to see and
hear Madcat and Kane at the Lansing Creole Club, just 'round the corner from
Elderly Instruments. 

Please pardon me while I ramble on a bit. There is probably a far more
interesting message before and after mine in case you find this tedious:

I knew of Madcat only through his Ins and Outs of Rhythem Harp video which
my wife bought me for Christmas one year, plus a friendly email reply from
him a while back regarding the Madcat mic. Based on his video I knew I had
to get more, so I've been anxiously awaiting for him to come to town.

What a treat. This was the first time I'd had an opportunity to hear a wide
variety of acoustic harp. It really gave me pause with regard to all the
talk and emphasis that is made regarding mics and amps to hear such
incredible sounds coming from just a man and his instrument (albiet a master
of that instrument)

In several pieces I could not help but feel like I was in a strange sort of
time machine that allowed me to hear the spirts of Sonny Terry and Brownie
McGhee as reinvented through the heart and soul of Madcat and Kane. Other
pieces unvieled the unbrideled frenzy and fun that Madcat seems to embody.
Madcat and Kane seem to have a unique talent of making the blues a
rollicking experience without diminishing the music in any way. To my ears
it was an awakening experience.

Of course I bought all three of his CDs on the spot. To be honest I've been
awaiting this concert in hopes that the CDs wouild be available in hope that
buying them from the artists puts a bit more of the money in their pockets.
(Is this true?)

Though it is certainly to my benefit being able to listen to such a
world-class artist in such an intimate venue, it did give me a moment of
reflection of how the music and the instrument one chooses (or the person
the music and the instrument chooses, in a more cosmic view) has such an
impact. I can't imagine a guitarist, violinist, pianist, vocalist, etc of
Madcat's calibre not filling an auditorium. For the sake of the artist I
find it a bit melancholy.

As soon as I click send on this, it is time to pull the Harmonicology CD and
fire up the much-praised Ukelele and Harmonica Project.

Paul