Re: [Harp-L] Worst Gus incident ever - Origin of the term

["bbbean@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <bbbean@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Please rest assured that Barry B Bean is, in fact, a real name.

BB

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> On Jul 16, 2014, at 4:49 PM, Robert Coble <robertpcoble@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> The origin of "Gus" (as a noun) and "to Gus" (or "gussing") (as a 
> verb) originated on Harp-L, according to the Harp-L archives and fjm.
> 
> Do a Google search for:
> 
> [Harp-L] origins of the term "gussing" - Yahoo Groups
> 
> The originator of the term is "Barry B. Bean," which might be a 
> user handle rather than an actual name. His first post was in MAR 1996, 
> describing an incident that he attributed to a fellow he nicknamed "Gus." 
> 
> *Story of the original "Gus":*
> 
> I broke a cardinal rule this weekend. I let a harp player I'd never
> heard walk up in mid-set and gave him a mic.
> 
> Now you'd assume that someone walking up and asking to sit in wants to
> play the same sort of music the band is already playing, right? You'd
> assume that you could just launch into the next song on the set list
> and simply hand the solos over to the guy sitting in, right?
> 
> Whoah, nellie!
> 
> My man Gus (a mountain of a man, complete with with crewcut and
> gravelly voice) walks onto the stage, whips out some sort of a chord
> harp and says "Oh Suzanna, boys!" After 3 or 4 verses of oh Suzanna,
> we thank him profusely and start to vamp on the next song (Further on
> up the road). Before we can get into it, Gus announces that his next
> number will be You are My Sunshine. Again, we thank him and try to
> start our next song, but Gus isn't leaving. He says "one more boys!"
> and launches into Blue Eyes Cryin' In the Rain. Finally he leaves the
> stage and we gat back on with the show.
> 
> So its back to the old "audition during break" rule for us. Sheesh.
> 
> 
> Barry followed up with a formal definition of noun and verb forms of 
> "Gus" in MAY 1996.
> 
> *Definition:*
> 
> Gus: (gus) N. 1) An amateur harmonica player who forces professional
> musicians to accompany him in inappropriate situations. 2) A visiting
> musician (see: sit-in) who does not leave the bandstand at the
> appropriate time. 3) A musician whose skills are substantially below
> those of the other musicians onstage with him. Ex.: Don't look now,
> but there's a Gus at 3 o'clock.
> 
> V. 1) To force one's way into a musical performance against the
> wishes of the scehduled performers. 2) To remain onstage for longer
> than appropriate when asked to accompany previously scheduled
> musicians. Ex.: Primich was great last night but some old codger
> Gussed his way onstage and played Oh Suzannah.
> 
> The appellation seemed so appropriate that it immediately became part 
> of common Harp-L usage.
> 
> It is NOT confined to harp players. My older brother has had many gigs
> with his gospel group at churches, where the house musicians (usually
> guitarists and bassists) insist on playing along with HIS group. The
> bad thing is that they (1) don't have the professional chops, and (2)
> they have no idea how the arrangement may have been altered to provide
> a different take on the songs. The result (usually) is the proverbial
> "train wreck." He doesn't go out of his way to cause them to fail; they
> manage that all by themselves. Unless pushed, he politely demures from
> having unsolicited "assistance" with the gig.
> 
> I know from personal experience that there IS a strong desire to play 
> whenever you can, especially with a group of really good musicians. 
> RESIST THE TEMPTATION! Unless asked to "sit in" before the music starts, 
> simply enjoy the show - as a listener. The band or group who is scheduled
> to play will appreciate it greatly, and you just might learn more than
> if you get up and try to grab some attention for your "chops."
> 
>