Re: Subject: [Harp-L] An Amazing Performance

[Mojo Red <harplicks@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hey Elizabeth,

I'm sure you have noticed that many on this list are somewhat "gear obsessed." I'm not sure if I fall into that category, but as a performing musician who is forced to deal with amps and mics and feedback and such at every single gig, I can certainly understand where Rick was coming from in his post. 

Gear for amped harp is often a complex and hugely frustrating endeavor since most amps are not made to amplify harmonicas, and only a very small percentage of the equipment that's out there does the job well. 

We who are forced to deal with equipment on a regular basis, often come to believe that the better the equipment, the better the sound (an understandable notion, I'm sure). We also come to believe (through bad-night experiences) that cheap equipment will sometimes get in the way or even sabotage an otherwise fine performance, piss off your band mates, and result in patrons running from the room holding their ears in pain. 

Rick's intent, I'm pretty sure, was that Clay's feat was all the MORE amazing, DESPITE the fact that he was using cheap equipment. Typically cheap equipment acts as a huge detriment to a performance. 

Clay is an outstanding player, a genuinely GREAT human being and a personal friend of mine. I happen to know that he owns all sorts of amps and gear (including vintage, and expensive boutique harp-specific gear). The fact that he CHOSE to use cheap equipment and it produced the sound he wanted, is indeed amazing. 

I know that Rick has the utmost respect for Clay as a player and as a person, and I truly believe that your attack on him -- insinuating that he believes that the cheap equipment was the most important factor in Clay's well deserved victory -- was patently unfair on every level.

Your perspective, of listening to a performer and giving no thought to the equipment being employed, is typical of people who do not often (or ever) have to deal with equipment themselves. When I go see a show, say RiverDance for example, I don't dwell on the equipment being used either. Not one particle of thought. It's ALL about the performances I'm seeing.

But when I see a show where a guy is playing amped harmonica, I ALWAYS pay attention what equipment is being used, and try to understand how the performer is getting the sound they're getting because that's something I am personally involved with. 

Okay, I've had my say. 
Peace.

Harpin' in Colorado,
--Ken M.

TeraBlu Band on My Space
http://www.myspace.com/terablu



----- Original Message ----
From: "EGS1217@xxxxxxx" <EGS1217@xxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, September 2, 2009 9:56:33 PM
Subject: Subject: [Harp-L] An Amazing Performance 

Rick Davis writes:

"but here is the really amazing part. His harp
amp was a Fender Frontman  15R. That's right... He won the day with a cheap
little solid state amp that  is bundled with a Squire Strat in a $200 
"Guitar
Starter Kit" at Wal-Mart. It  isn't even the new model of the Frontman 15
that sells for $79.99. It's a  late-90s version that sold for even less."

It is? THAT is what you think is the 'really amazing part'?   ???!!!
What am I missing?  

I must be terribly naive. See...here I'm thinking that 
'The really amazing part' is that he achieved something extraordinary...  
played well enough to garner major applause and kudos from an audience of his 
peers. 

Yet you single out the cheapness of his gear as 'The' most important  
factor, mention his playing as 'pretty' amazing before you launch into this  
discussion of his Amps. 

Who cares?  There's something surely wrong then about how I think of  
playing harmonica if the Amp is THE most important feature rather than the  
player and his instrument, and if your ideas of harmonica playing (major rants  
about what Charlie Musselwhite should or should not carry on board a plane 
come  to mind) are what people care about most today.

If I'd been there I wouldn't have spared a thought towards what he played  
through... wouldn't have noticed at all, in fact. All I'D have heard was his 
actual playing, and the effect it had on me and the audience, and whether 
or not  I liked/enjoyed what I heard.

Frankly I could give a hoot if someone plays through the PA  system or sans 
any amplification of any kind.  Can he/she deliver 'the  goods'? - is far 
more important.....  IS he/she a player?.... Does  he/she move me?...are far 
more important factors in what I think of as a  great performance...JUST as 
I would that of any other instrumentalist. 

I've never once looked at or cared what Amps Peter White plays through when 
I go to his many concerts/shows. ALL I care about is listening to his 
wonderful  guitar playing (and I honestly don't care what guitar he uses).

Perhaps you who focus your entire lives on what someone  plays 'through'  
are forgetting the simple reality and  needs of the audience. The rest of us 
really don't care what gear  is onstage. We're there to hear the  performer 
not the gear, so adding  that paragraph at the end of the 'review' - which 
certainly seems  to have been your entire raison d'etre for writing the 
review in  the first place, was superfluous and did nothing but take away from 
his  achievement, no matter how you slice and dice it.  

Umm...what was the name of the player again?  Oh right. Clay  Kirkland.

Elizabeth 

_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l