[Harp-L] Harmonica Blowout hits sleepy Troy, New York

["Glenn Weiser" <celticguitar1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ever since Troy NY, told General Electric to take its business 
elswwhere-times were real good for the starched collar business, you see, 
and the city fathers thought these new-fangled light bulbs were just a flash 
in the pan-The Collar City has been in decline (GE went up the Mohawk River 
to Schenectady, which then got the the moniker the Electric City). Well, 
things got a whole lot better in Troy last night when harmonica player and 
impressario Marl Hummel brought James Montgomery, James Harman, and Magic 
Dick to town for one stellar show. Hats off to Hummel for organizing all 
this and carrying it off as well he did.

I had only seen James Harman, who now looks like a merry old mandarin with 
his long white goatee, before. So here here's what I thought: James 
Montgomery had the flashiest stage presence, but his playing, although quite 
good, seemed perhaps a little too derivative of Paul Butterfield's style. 
Mark Hummel had most polished technique and the best overall chops. He was 
also the only guy to do anything with a chro. James Harman was the standout 
singer of the bunch, sounding vocally a lot like BB King to me. He also the 
most natural sounding performer in that everying he played seemed both 
effortless and totally sponateous. Magic Dick had the best tone. I don't 
know if his harps are hot-rodded or not, but he got a hellacious sound out 
of them. All we all know that ain't easy.

Oh, Gus was there, too-some burly jerk with a bandana on his head blowing 
his harps at  his table. If he hadn't been so big I would have told him to 
shut up, so I stayed out of trouble and discretion was the better part of 
valor once again.

That's the quick rundown. Has anyone else seen this edition of the Blowout?

-Glenn Weiser