[Harp-L] re: New Band also re: best show seen list

["Rick Dempster" <rick.dempster@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The difficulty, in my experience, with trying to work with bands playing
this kind of material, is that they tend to want to sound like the
records. If you are going to add an instrument that was not on the
original cut, then the band has to be both willing and able to
re-interpret the song. If this is the case, it's a wonderful thing,
particulrly for a harp player, who rarely gets the chance to have a
crack at anything other than the standard blues/ country fare (unless he
or she heads the band) You can do a lot with the harp in songs that have
previously never known one. I am constantly chucking in little rhythmic
motifs that make the band swing around into a new groove. But then I'm
lucky enought to work with guys that love taking a fresh approach to
things. Grab the opportunity, I say, but use your imagination, suggest
some different feels, try new ideas, and if the band are all
stick-in-the-muds, lean on 'em till one of you breaks, and/or quit!
RD


>>> <Roscoharp@xxxxxxx> 21/10/2006 2:19:36 >>>
Mark Wilson writes:  

"I've been invited by a local guitar player to join his band.  Here's
a list of the stuff they're into, Tom Petty, Who, Stones, Beatles, 
Beach 
Boys, Bryan Adams, Kinks,
Rascals, Neil Young, Lovin Spoonful, John  Melloncamp
Jackson Brown, Gin Blossoms, Elvis Costello, etc....

I like  a lot of this music, but frankly, when it comes to playing
harmonica, I  prefer playing the blues. This summer I had an informal
jam session with  another guitar player who played mostly 60's and
70's folksy type rock  material. We had a decent time, but I didn't
feel I played well and I never  really got into the music, so we never
hooked up again, although he wanted  to. I'm afraid of getting myself
into the same situation here. My gut tells  me, this type of music
doesn't really lend itself to much harmonica, as most  of the
original material has very little harmonica in it, so I think  I'm
probably going to pass.

Anyone out there on the list have  experience playing with this type
of band? Looking for some advice and  feedback before I call him back
tomorrow.

Mark"

 
Hey Mark, 
 If all you WANT to play is blues, then don't join that band. If  you
are 
worried about the challenge of learning & fitting into new types of 
material, I 
understand. I've been trying to fit harp unto funk, big horn bands, 
folk, & 
rock/pop for years. It's an ongoing learning process, but lots of  fun.

  I play in a rock/pop band that does a few covers from bands like 
those you 
mention. I've also played for years in other bands that did a lot of 
this 
stuff.  If the band is understanding enough, experiment with different 
sounds. 
Listen to the tunes & try to figure how the harp can contribute. One 
thing I 
do a LOT is use  chorus effects that can make the harp sound  something
like 
an organ. This allows you to participate in the rhythm  section & not
be 
relegated to only squeezing in the occasional  solo.(This will not work
well if 
there is already a keyboard player in the  band.)
 You can use octave/pitch shift effects to fake horns.  
You can double guitar lines.
 Etc.Etc.
 There is not enough harp in non-blues music---you can  be an 
ambassador.
 
Also: I've been thinking about my " best live show Ive  heard" list.
It's 
damn hard to pick from literally hundreds of great shows,  but I'll try
to post 
something next week. Great topic.
 
Off to Columbus OH for another one of those low pay/high expense gigs
Jason  
Ricci writes about. Good thing I love music..................
 
 Later,
Rosco
_may.be  au.gust_ (http://www.maybeaugust.com/) 
 (http://cdbaby.com/cd/maybeaugust) b_uy CDs, sample music:CD Baby:
maybe  
august_ (http://cdbaby.com/cd/maybeaugust)  
_www.myspace.com/maybeaugust_ (http://www.myspace.com/maybeaugust)  
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