[Harp-L] Subject: Re: My Only Holiday Gig: Kamikaze Blues Karaoke takes a test ride....

[EGS1217@xxxxxxx]

Sounds like an absolute BLAST!, Warren.  Wish I could have been there  to 
videotape it.  And you're just the guy to carry off this kind of  fun.  I'm sure 
the party-goers had a  wonderful time, and who knows?  you just may have begun 
a few new harp players.  How cool is that?   Happy New Year to you too...I 
get the feeling 2009 will be a great year  personally and harp-wise as well, for 
you, especially with your new SPAH  appointment and duties, and how much fun 
you're having with that  too. 
 
Later,
 
Elizabeth
 
Message: 12
Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:13:47 -0500
From: Warren Bee  <wlb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] My Only Holiday Gig: Kamikaze  Blues Karaoke takes a
test    ride....
To:  harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx

I haven't been doing much gigging as of late but I did  score one
interesting/fun gig that let me explore an idea that I have had  brewing
around for a while. I was asked to play host, DJ and jam master at  a
Christmas party. The guy that hired me is a harp student and he is a  real
blues fanatic. My instructions for DJ'ing were to only spin the blues  and I
was very happy to oblige! I have built up an awesome CD collection of  da
blues with much of it of the harmonica persuasion. This is how the  main
agenda transpired: when I arrived I set up my PA system with 4  microphones
along with IPOD/CD player hook-ups. When the guests arrived (40  or so) I
just let the blues tunes fly. What an honor to share my collection  with a
bunch of 20-30-40 something rock n roll heads. This was my first set  list of
artists; Jason Ricci, Kim Wilson, Lester Butler, Little Walter,  George
Smith, Musselwhite, Butterfield, Jimmy Gordon and some Slide Man Slim  to
smooth things out a bit!..As the night progressed and the group  started
getting lubricated by the spirits I then gave each attendee a brand  new
Hohner Blues Band harp in C. Then I started playing backing track CD's  that
I have but only playing those in the key of G. This is where the  kamikaze
blue karaoke starts to happen. I gave a very brief and simple  "lesson" to
the crowd. Basically showing them the "3 bases" of the blues on  their newly
acquired axe's. Then I just stepped away and let the masses take  over! For
the next few hours people came up in groups and as solos and made  up their
own words to the tracks. That along with some serious amateur harp  honking
made for an incredible fun and laugh filled good  time!



Now some of you may cringe at what I just shared. It wasn't  anything but a
good time and the guests had a blast! So what that everybody's  name was
"Gus"!  Perhaps the coolest part of the festivities were the  smiling faces
on MANY of the folks. There was a genuine thrill and excitement  for
receiving their very own harmonica from Santa. What was real interesting  was
how a few of the guys really got into it. When the right key tune is  playing
even a total newbie can "accidentally"  hit some hot notes! Some  of the made
up lyrics were hilarious. So that's what I did for gigs this  Christmas! Four
hours of fun and 400 greenbacks in my pocket. The host picked  up the tab for
the harps!



Happy New Year  All.



Warren Bee


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