Re: [Harp-L] re: Zen Harmonica

["Bob Laughlin" <rlaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Whatever floats yer boat, I always say,,

Well,,maybe not always,,

Sorry if I sounded pompous. It's just that I am, some of the time,,pompous,
that is.

Spandex,,,sheesh,,

Where's your dignity, man,,

Bob Laughlin,
President and Chief Financial Officer,
Dignified Old Harp Players, Esq. (DOHPE)

p.s.,,all former and current members,,don't get behind on those dues
payments.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: <BiscuitBoy714@xxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 4:05 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] re: Zen Harmonica


>
> Maaaaan, now yall got me  all self conscious and stuff and I gotta play
June
> 2nd in Erie. LOL (I don't gig  too much any more) This has been a pretty
cool
> thread here, and I think it shows  that diversity is what makes life cool.
> What works for one guy won't work for  another sometimes, but you never
know
> until you try it. When it comes right down  to it, you gotta do what comes
> 'natchel. I've been dancin' to the groove for a  long time and I'm not
gonna stop
> now. BUT, when I'm playin' lead on the harp my  mind goes blank pretty
much and
> it just comes out, moves and all. I've seen  video of it and I don't do
> anything but play really unless there's a break I can  accent with my head
or
> something. I hate to admit this but in the 80's I did  metal for a while,
spandex and
> all (red and black). I knew at some point during  the night I would be
> leaping off of the speakers, but I never knew when. Music  is fun for me.
I wouldn't
> do it if I didn't get all pumped up and get nervous  before I play. Doing
> mostly blues and being a 49 year old man I don't do any  360's or half
splits
> anymore, but there has been a time in my life where I got  paid because of
my
> stage presence. I didn't do it to make up for not being able  to rip
either. Old
> habits are hard to break. Being a harmonica/sax player has  allowed me to
keep
> playing into my old age. (did I say I'm old?) I'm grateful  for that. I
> figure I can keep playin' until I can't breath anymore 'cause they's  a
bunch of
> old harp/sax blues players out there. Part of my love of  music is playin'
with
> other people and making it all come together. I don't  get in the way of
other
> instruments, and I love being part of the team. We all  slow down a little
as
> time goes on, but every now and then............I think  it's good for the
> soul to shake that thang.
>          Randy
>
> In a message dated 5/15/2007 10:28:22 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> rlaughlin@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
> Moving,  or not moving, physically across the stage, or in place, is not a
> doctrine  set in stone. For some, what Iceman suggested, letting go of a
> particular  nervous compulsion to move, plays a part in progressing from
> someone  "trying to impress", and someone "finding the groove". After a
> while, in  the course of that same progression, one may become adept
enough
> as to  allow for some "dancing" while playing well, as the technique of
> extracting  "good tone out of a tin sandwich" has been mastered to a
> reasonable degree.  If this mastery is lacking, then perhaps the
showmanship
> may need to be set  aside for now, until the tone and playing skills
improve.
> Movement  shouldn't merely be a nervous cover for lack of musical skill.
But
> that's  no law either. Mick Jagger's chops on harp aren't up to the par
of,
> say,  Kim Wilson, so I'd certainly hope dear Mick "keeps on dancin' ", cuz
> it's  "part of the show". If he just "stood there", I'd hope to hear
> something  more impressive on the harp end of it
>
>
>
>
>
>
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