[Harp-L] Bill Hines

[Michael Easton <diachrome@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I thought I would post this for Bill since he is too humble to brag  
about himself.

I've known Bill for about 3 years now. While he had sat in with his  
cousin's rock cover band occasionally on harp it wasn't in a blues  
format.
I've bugged him for a few years to play at the local jam but he  
preferred to sit back and listen and learn the right from wrong in  
stage etiquette from other harp players.

This past winter he made his first forte onto the jam stage with most  
of the local harp players in the audience to cheer him on.
I was surprised at how well he listened and learned. He didn't have  
the usual pitfalls a rookie (or seasoned)  harp player makes on stage.
He laid back, added fills where needed and never played through  the  
vocalist or other soloists. Despite the mix match of talent (or lack  
of) he was pared up with he
was never sat in the conductors seat in a trainwreck.

Last night at my gig I was surprised when the band leader called up a  
special guest, Bill Hines.   I was planning on asking the band leader  
to let him sit in on one of our gigs but
he beat me to it.

Bill played with authority and control and has great chops.  I guess  
woodshedding with jammers paid off. When it came time to play with a  
tight band he really fit in.  He didn't sound like a
rookie on stage. He sounded like he actually fit with the band.  Good  
use of chords, phrasings and effects.  It was also nice to finally  
hear what my amp sounds like out front since Bill's style is
close to mine.  The audience's loud response afterwards was genuine.

You can sit in with us any time Bill.  I figure he could be my fill- 
in player inside 2 years if he isn't in a band by then.
Way to go Bily.   Now we gotta get you a nickname.

mike 'fathead" e.