Re: [Harp-L] Why I play the blues

[harmoniman@xxxxxxxxxxx]

 As I read this I thought 'A city with 1.5 million that is only interested in Karaoke and D.J.s...sounds like Philly. I see from your website that i'm right. Willie Dixon once said, "The blues is the truth" ,and sometimes the truth hurts. This hurts...real good.... until you get up on that stage for your next gig and do it all over again because the blues is embedded into your being.

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: jandkday@xxxxxxxxxxx 

> Why I play the blues: 
> 
> I play the blues because I enjoy low paying gigs as opposed to 
> being in a tribute/wedding/coproate band and making real money like my horn 
> players. 
> I play the blues because I enjoy playing to disinterested BBQ & NOLA foodies 
> chomping 
> away as we are spewing great musical moments. 
> I play the blues because I enjoy being locked into a I IV V framework that is 
> a challenge to find anything fresh to say. 
> I play the blues because I enjoy some ex-jailbird w/ a harmonica gussing me all 
> set long & then 
> his son saying he'll "shiv me in my ribs" if I don't let his 'Dad' play. 
> I play the blues because I enjoy educating some municipal soccer mom booker that 
> the blues is not necessarily depressing and an antiquated genre. 
> I play the blues because I enjoy living next to a 1.5 million populated major 
> metro area that is only 
> interested in Karoke & DJ's spinning. 
> I play the blues because I love to audition guitar players who play Hendrix & 
> SRV blues. 
> I play the blues because I love to audition stand up bass players who play 
> be-bop & don't know how to 'maul' an acosutic bass. 
> I play the blues because I enjoy drummers who are aging rockers who hit on the 
> 1&3. 
> I play the blues because I enjoy being told by first tier festival promoters 
> that they already have a harmonica act and there are already to many "white 
> faces on the bill" 
> I play the blues because I enjoy requests for Sweet Home Chicago,The Blues is 
> Alright and my favorite: 
> Mustang Sally. 
> I play the blues because even National players are rolling quaters just to make 
> the next 9 hour drive to a poorly routed gig. 
> I play the blues because I love opening for do-rag clad,harley T-shirt ,flip 
> flop wearing ,minstrel sounding blues rockers who shuffle at the same meter all 
> night long and the audience LOVES it because they are one of them. 
> 
> "The blues is a rough & tumble game & is just like scrimping & pimping in a 
> competition for crumbs" 
> -james day 
> 
> 
> -- 
> James Day & the Fish Fry 
> "Jump Blues & Greasy Grooves" 
> www.jameswday.com 
> _______________________________________________ 
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org 
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx 
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l