mickil
324 posts
Jul 06, 2009
4:07 PM
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A strange thing happened yesterday. I went up to Central London with a friend, and, knowing I'm into blues, he showed me this little blues bar in Kingley Street, not far from Wardour Street.
There were these three guys, one playing bass, one lead, and the other strummed rhythm on an acoustic and sang. All of them were technically competent, but there was something missing; none of them moved, they were like statues. Most of the audience seemed to be inspired to act the same way.
By the third song, I was losing the will to live. When they finished it, and the audience clapped in an almost obligatory, perfunctory kind of way, the singer actually said, 'That was a lazy clap,' and the audience had another go.
I thought, 'This blokes having a laugh.' Am I missing something? Since I was a child, I've been involved with music, and one thing I do know is that good music played well will get a reaction. An audience can't be antagonised into liking you. No one can.
The whole thing reminded me of that Nietzsche quotation that Patrick Barker uses on here: "Without music, life would be a mistake" or rather, its inversion, which someone used on here a while ago: "Without life, music would be a mistake."
I know we all have off days, but am I missing something? I'd never speak to an audience like that. What would you do in that situation?
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'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
http://www.youtube.com/user/SlimHarpMick
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jonsparrow
595 posts
Jul 06, 2009
4:30 PM
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"By the third song, I was losing the will to live."
lol!
but thats a normal thing for bands to do when the audience applauds whether it was good or not. i been to a million shows. people would be like "lets hear it for so an so" *woooohooo yaaa* "is that all you got" or "what was that?" or "come on you can do better then that" etc... its a technique used to amp up the audience more. like tricking them into thinking they had more fun then they actually did.
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Patrick Barker
354 posts
Jul 06, 2009
4:37 PM
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Sounds like they need a harmonica player...
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"Without music, life would be a mistake" -Nietzsche
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mickil
326 posts
Jul 06, 2009
4:44 PM
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PB, I nearly asked to get up. I suppose I was frieghtned that I too might become one of the 'living dead'.
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'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
http://www.youtube.com/user/SlimHarpMick
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Oliver
70 posts
Jul 06, 2009
4:51 PM
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I know the place, been a few times. It's hit and miss.
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mickil
327 posts
Jul 06, 2009
4:56 PM
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Thanks, Oliver. I tried to remember the web address, but couldn't.
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'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
http://www.youtube.com/user/SlimHarpMick
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GamblersHand
49 posts
Jul 06, 2009
11:24 PM
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I know the band/singer you're talking about - yes, I'd agree it's a very laid-back sound. In my opinion, he's got a great sense of humour and a fine line in witty asides. Each their own I guess, or maybe they were having an off-night.
He also runs a fair few jams around London - including one at the same vanue just before that gig.
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Kingley
194 posts
Jul 07, 2009
12:39 AM
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You should have waited to go to the "Ain't Nothin' But" until Steve "West" Weston was playing there.
He plays at least once a month usually and has a great tone. He's also a very affable chap and always willing to chat about harp, mics, amps, etc.
Along with Brian Lynam and Johny Hewitt, Steve is probably one of the best "West Coast" style players in the UK.
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Baker
26 posts
Jul 07, 2009
5:08 AM
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I play at that jam night now and again. I haven't been down for a few weeks. One of the things it has taught me is that a lot depends on who you get put with. I have had nights where everyone clicks, it sounds great, you feel great and the audience loves it.
Other times, even though - as you said - you are put up with great players and competent musicians something is just missing, you can't get into the groove and you are left with something very mediocre.
This is the only jam night I have played at and have assumed it's a hazard of getting up and playing with people you don't know or haven't played with before.
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KingoBad
52 posts
Jul 07, 2009
5:42 AM
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I didn't know Kingley had his own street!
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Kingley
197 posts
Jul 07, 2009
5:55 AM
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Well I was hoping for a small country or a tropical island to be named after me, but a street with a blues club on it ain't too bad! :)
Last Edited by on Jul 07, 2009 5:56 AM
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