Re: [Harp-L] Re: Why Charlie's Cruncher was backwards, and other stuff

joe leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:56:47 -0400

On Jun 24, 2010, at 2:37 AM, Greg Heumann wrote:
I emailed Charlie and asked him. Here's what he said:
"They picked up the band at 5:15am. When we got to the studio they  
had it all set up like they wanted. A Times Square TV studio like  
that with an audience and all is a very busy and complicated place.  
I was curious about why they had my amp turned around, but there  
was no time to even discuss it.

Wrong. You ask:  Why is my amp turned around? Takes 2.652  
seconds.....I timed it.
We just had time to get straight to work. When it was over the crew  
started breaking everything down with the precision of a drill team  
while they hustled the band out to a waiting van. Next week when I  
fly back to meet Cyndi in Cleveland to start the tour, I'll get to  
discuss it because I'm curious too about the amp placement.

Naaaah, too late, you had your chance.
Another thing all those folks should know is that whatever sound I  
was getting from my Cruncher, it was at the mercy of the studio  
before it reached the TV listening audience.

We understand.
I have no way of controlling that and they can change your sound  
dramatically and the player has no way of knowing about it.  A  
professional that's backing somebody up plays what's appropriate  
for who they're backing up and what's appropriate is what the  
artist that hired them wants. If you ignore what they want and just  
play what you want.....you ain't going to last long in that line of  
work. It's not a difficult concept to grasp.

I think we got it.
If you hired a guy to paint your house and he decided to paint it  
his favorite color instead of the color the homeowner asked  
for.....well that'd be plain stupid.  That shouldn't be so hard to  
understand unless you're the kind of person that just likes to look  
for something negative to say. If you come to hear me live, you  
would hear something very different. But, no matter how hard you  
try and no matter how much you care, there's always some sour puss  
out there

I'm picking up negative waves here. It's as if someone primed this  
guy up.
just waiting to jump on you with something negative and they are,  
for the most part, clueless - they weren't there; they don't know  
what all went on behind the scenes, but they're not going to  
hesitate from blabbing a bunch of baloney as if they're some kind  
of authority.

More negative waves.
Personally, when I see anybody getting any kind of work at all in  
this business - I'm pulling for them. All that negative baloney is  
just plain silly."

Well first of all, I liked Cyndi..in her day. I think her day has  
passed and she needs to take her money and get a place on the French  
riviera. I thought her voice was tired. And often off key. Flatted  
out the high notes. Her outfit didn't do a thing for her (otherwise  
cute) pixieish look. The dumb ass hat was the coup de grasse. As for  
Mr. Musselwhite, I don't have to tip toe around because I don't know  
him. Met him in 93-94?. In the last 17 years, we have crossed paths  
maybe 8 times. The only words between us have been:

Me:  "Whaaaaaz-up Hoss"   Him:  "Hey"  See, he is a star, and as  
such, usually has a raft of people whom want to talk to him, get  
tips, hang around him, ask questions, and in general soak up some of  
his aura. I don't glom onto people like that. They need room to  
breathe. So, what I'm saying is I don't owe him. His playing didn't  
fit the occasion. Plain and simple. Listen to it again. Lots of Ebs  
that should have been Es. Other wrong pitches. Hey, I know this guy  
is a terrific player, and maybe (in this case) this video belongs in  
the 'I tried' bin.
I'm just sayne.
smo-joe

I couldn't agree more.

/Greg
http://www.blowsmeaway.com
http://www.bluestateband.net
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/duracool/id343874731