[Harp-L] Buddy Guy Legends Monday Jam

[Bill Hines <billhines4@xxxxxxxxx>]

 I feel that I should follow up here since I am guilty of perpetuating 
what may now be a false accusation about the jam at Buddy Guy's Legends 
club in Chicago. Cliff notes in case you don't want to read the long 
diatribe below: it was alllll good. Go forth, and do not be afraid.

I recently asked on this list about Chicago jams and noted that I 
wouldn't go to Buddy Guy's Legends club jam because I've heard stories 
of extreme favoritism to locals, head cutting, etc. My trip got cut down 
to "one night only" as they say in show biz (even though I was going 
there for a tech/geek event) so I figured I'd just pack my five 
essential harps (A, Bb, C, D, G) and practice in my room some, maybe 
catch an act in town if there was one Monday night, or go check out this 
notorius jam.

Didn't see much in the way of acts to catch that particular night, at 
least right nearby as I didn't have a car. So I went to Legends which 
was only a few blocks from the hotel. They moved to a new location about 
three months ago. I wasn't going to bring the harps, but since I only 
had a few I said "what the heck" and stuffed the soft case into my belt, 
under my jacket. I could always say I went there and tried to play, and 
got shot down, to add my story to the others. A short cab ride later, I 
was pushing through the door with some dudes carrying guitar cases. They 
asked for a $10 cover, but said if you are playing this is waived. I saw 
the signup sheet and said (dishonestly maybe at the time, as I still had 
no intention of playing, but by now I'm thinking "hell they aren't going 
to call me up from what I hear about this place, I might as well sign 
up") "I'm playing" and went to sign up. The bouncer said "Where's your 
instrument?" and I said "Harp!" and started to reach behind my jacket. 
He rolled his eyes and said "Nevermind, go ahead".

I did notice that out of the dozen or so players signed up already, 
there was nobody playing harp on the list yet. It was pretty early 
though, about 8:45pm and the jam starts at 9:30. Anyway, to the bar, 
some beer and dinner, chatting up the local musicians (everyone has a 
story.....) and folks in town on business or pleasure.  I asked the 
bartender who the guy was that was running the jam, I needed to talk to 
him. I was going to explain that I had come on a whim, so I only had 
five harps rather than the full set a "real" musician would travel with, 
and if that's not OK to take me off the list. Not that I was going to 
play anyway, but just to be sure. I started having flashbacks of the jam 
at Rum Boogie in Memphis, packed house, and the singer calls a tune in 
B, with an E harp being the only one I didn't have on stage with me (had 
one back in the room, but who's going to call a tune in E? - lesson 
learned - I thought until now). The house band starts, run by a guy 
named Jimmy Burns and the house band was pretty damn good - Jimmy on 
vocals and guitar. Jimmy blew some harp on a number at the end, pretty 
basic blues stuff into the vocal mic. Big crowd by now, I noticed. Sound 
man in a proper sound boot, big stage with stage lighting, the works. 
Lots of folks patiently leaning on instruments, waiting.... (nobody 
leaning on a harp though)

They played a set and then Jimmy said he was going to get this jam going 
and they would be right back. I went back to my business at the bar. 
Next thing I know he's up there with the signup list calling folks up.  
He called up a drummer, keyboardist, bassist, guitar, 
guitar/vocalist.....and then me. First set. I was momentarily in shock, 
and deciding whether to look around and say "Where is that a-hole?" and 
then work my way out the door, or just go up. I hadn't had a chance to 
explain I only had five harps (and little position mastery outside of 
2nd and a lame 1st/3rd - note to self, work on that!). I also had no 
gear at all, not even the digitech I sometimes pack along for situations 
like this. I had a few beers, not drunk but enough to give me courage to 
do the right thing. I had gotten in free after all, under the pretense 
of being a musician. Time to pay the cost. I went up nonchalantly, like 
the badass I am (not). Chatted up the guy settling down on keys, he was 
from out of town and as lost as me as far as how it works. The rest of 
the band looked like hardened regulars from the streets of Chicago, 
scowling hardened no-nonsense pissed off mofos.

Anyway, I was happy that the first song was called out in A, and grabbed 
my D harp. Even happier when he called G for the second, and I could use 
my trust C harp. Both were blues classics, I forget which now, but ones 
that I knew well from our own (awesome) local jam in Harrisburg PA. So I 
was comfortable, and it was a rush while playing to think I was up there 
on Buddy Guy's stage in downtown Chicago, home of electric blues, Muddy, 
Walters, etc. Now, I'm no Smokey Joe Leone or anything, but the crowd 
seemed to appreciate what I was doing, or was extraordinarily 
sympathetic (or drunk), I heard noises resembling clapping, whistling 
and hooting. The sound was fantastic on stage. I was worried about 
feedback, cupping the SM58 vocal mic, but heard none so I assume the 
sound guy saw me grab it, noted "F'ing harp players" and adjusted the 
EQ. I sure wished I had my Sonny Jr Cruncher though, then I would have 
showed them!!

I was in the zone after two songs, ready to go. What's next!! Gimme 
something hot!! And then I heard the "Thank you's" and saw the rest of 
the crew packing up. Whoops, two songs only here, as opposed to our jam 
where you get four. Understandable given the numbers, but still a bummer.

So anyway, maybe the jam is different when Jimmy Burns is running it, or 
maybe things have changed with the new location, or it was just a lucky 
thing but I have nothing but good things to report about Buddy Guy's 
Monday night jam at the Legends club in Chicago. Go for it!!

Bill Hines