RE: [Harp-L] Bill Hines

"Bill Hines" <billhines4@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Sun, 3 Jun 2007 19:17:35 -0400

Wow, thanks Mike! To tell the truth, I think anyone could sound good
through Mike's killer rig. Man did that thing scream and it sounded
unlike anything I have played through to date, and I've played through a
lot of stuff. I thought for a moment it wasn't really me I was hearing.
Amazing what a great vintage system in good upkeep can sound like.

I joked with the band after that it was just stunning to me that
everyone was actually playing the same song, unlike at the jam, haha.
Mike doesn't do lessons but unbeknownst to him he's been mentoring me
every time I came to hear him since I love his tone/style so much. To be
honest I think I played over my head Friday night, it seems to be up and
down at this stage, some good nights and some bad ones, but there was
some adrenaline at play there because while I don't mind screwing up at
the jam, I didn't want to let Mike and the band leader down and I had
some family/friends in the audience too. Mike's band is just amazing all
the way through, they went to the IBC finals in Memphis and did very
well (they was robbed I tell ya!).

I'd also say that everyone here on harp-l had a part in my growth so
far, as well as Jon Gindick, Dennis Greunling, Jason Ricci, David
Barrett, Dane Paul Russel, Pete Sheridan, James Day and folks like that.
I think Garry Hodgson an I both started about the same time and when I
heard some of his stuff I was like "dang, he's way out there", and it's
not a competition, not in the least interested in that sort of thing,
but I'd at least like to keep up with you Garry!

It was such a great experience, probably my high point so far. I enjoyed
the moment, then Mike took the wheel again and there was the reality of
how much I really still have to learn!

Bill Hines
Hershey, PA

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Michael Easton
Sent: Saturday, June 02, 2007 1:27 PM
To: Harpl list
Subject: [Harp-L] Bill Hines

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.

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