Re: Re: [Harp-L] Comfort blanket harmonica

["Tim Moyer" <wmharps@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

fjm wrote:
> I never carry harmonicas with me if I'm not headed to a gig.  
> You need harmonicas to practise?  For me the vast majority 
> of the work takes place in my head.  I play a bunch and there 
> are harmonicas scattered everywhere in my house.  I can't 
> imagine imposing my music on unsuspecting strangers.  

Once about 20 years ago I went to visit my parents and sister in 
another town.  I wasn't playing much those days, and it never 
occurred to me to carry a harp.  My sister and I went to a local bar 
to see a band, and low and behold, a friend was playing guitar.  He 
asked me to come up and play, but I had no harp.  Another guy in the 
band said, "Man, if I played something that small, I'd never go 
anywhere without it."  I started carrying a harp with me at all 
times.  

Years later, on my anniversary my wife and I went to a restaurant 
with a blues band playing.  While I was away from the table, my wife 
made arrangements through the maitre d' for me to get up and play 
with the band.  I was totally taken by surprise when they called me 
up, but I had a harp in my pocket.  They asked me back up for three 
more songs!  

This spring I went to a backyard concert by Austin musician Guy 
Forsyth (if you haven't heard him, you're missing a LOT).  He and I 
were talking before the show, and he knew me from Working Man's 
Harps.  About three quarters of the way through the show he looked 
at me and said, "Want to come up and play some harp?"  How could I 
say no?  

Man, I *ALWAYS* carry a harp!  (For me, it's a Golden Melody, key of 
C, Paddy Richter tuning).  

-tim