Re: [Harp-L] Super Loud Bands

[Arthur Jennings <timeistight@xxxxxxxxx>]

For a lot of guitar players, a non-master volume, 100-watt Marshall amp
pushed to distortion is the holy grail of tone. That set up is inherently
loud, and everyone else in the band will have to amp up in order to be
heard. Nothing to be done but baffle the beast off or seel the guitarist on
the joys of an overdriven Princeton or Deluxe.

On Wed, May 6, 2009 at 10:19 AM, <IcemanLE@xxxxxxx> wrote:

> Yup - you said load, I corrected it to loud, as "load" made no sense to
> me..
>
> Money speaks volumes - take that off the table. Almost anyone can be
> "bought" - (Rent "The Magic Christian").
>
> Saying people love it and you love it is nice, but doesn't really explain
> much aside from love - it doesn't answer the synergy, musical relating,
> musical dialogue, etc query.
>
> There was a Florida Harmonica Competition a few months ago in New Smyrna
> Beach. The back up band was the wall of musicians/wall of stupifying volume
> in a  very small venue. I had a terrible time doing a few tunes and crashed
> and  burned, because it was TOO LOUD - couldn't hear anything on stage or
> myself in  relation to it except LOUDLOUDLOUD. Two dimensional. Couldn't
> get
> the band to  respond to "quiet down" hand signals or anything. (Funniest
> moment was my trying  for a solid ending to the last tune by jumping up in
> the
> air and hoping the band  would stop on a dime as I landed - hot sweaty
> Larry's
> glasses flew off his face  and across the stage as I tried to make my "big
> ending"). A night to  remember.
>
> The other competitors played against this wall of sound, too. Everyone
> sounded almost the same. Winner was the one who jumped around the most and
> did
> the most John Popper style speed stuff. Not really a quality competition,
> but  seemed more in line with bikers, beer, broads and INYOFACE. I kin dig
> the biker  crowd wanting to rock and roll, but don't find it very musical
> or
> satisfying. I  know biker gigs can pay good money and many bands do so for
> the money or because  they get drunk on stage, too.
>
> Aside from this aspect, I'm interested in how it translates to musical
> dialogue, creating, etc at a super loud gig.
>
> How do I not play super loud and enjoy it?
>
> 1. I can hear all the musicians and the parts they are playing to add to
> the whole.
> 2. I can gauge how I add or detract to the overall sound.
> 3. I can start to lock in with some of the musicians as we toss musical
> ideas/rhythms back and forth
> 4. I can use musical force to create excitement without resorting to too
> loud - this in itself is very addicting.
> 5. A super loud moment may come and go, but will be all the more effective
> because the music breathes in three dimensions.
> etc etc
>
>
> In a message dated 5/6/2009 10:47:49 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> buzzo@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
> Money is  great. I love the band.  Money is great.  I love to play loud.
> People love it.  Money is great
> How can you play not loud &  enjoy it.  No disrespect you just don't
> understand.  I didn't  say too loud.  Oh by the way I said  load.;)
>
> **************Remember Mom this Mother's Day! Find a florist near you now.
> (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=florist&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000006
> )
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-- 
Arthur Jennings
http://www.timeistight.com