JoshTheMagish
57 posts
Jul 07, 2009
6:54 AM
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We often talk about the technical aspects of the playing the insturment, but I see somthing lacking. If you ever plan on playing professionally it is my experience as someone has worked as a professional entertainer that "performance" can mean more then what your accually doing. I learned this earily on when i was performing as a magician.
So, what I am asking is this. Who do you think is a great blues performer and why? or maybe just perfoming tips to really work the crowd. Basiclly lets talk about all the things that go into be a entertainer other then playing the music self.
I will start off and get the ball rolling with mentioning jason ricci.
I recently say him here in cincinnati and he did a great job.
He really showed great stage precence. Moving around the stage with the music, interacting with the band. Several times talking to the audience and making some funny jokes and remarks. Basiclly watching him I could tell earily on in the show he knows that his job is to be a entertainer not just a musician. earily on it the show he talked about everyone having fun, later he said that it past that and time to get serious lol. stuff like that really makes it a experience not just listening to a cd being performed live.
Last Edited by on Jul 07, 2009 6:55 AM
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The Gloth
138 posts
Jul 07, 2009
7:04 AM
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Howlin'Wolf was clearly one of the best entertainers in blues. Doing all kind of faces and mimics, telling stories, and having an incredible stage presence.
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JoshTheMagish
58 posts
Jul 07, 2009
7:16 AM
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nice! any particuar stories, or performances stand out? any video out there in reference?
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ChrisA
38 posts
Jul 07, 2009
7:57 AM
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James Cotton in his prime was pretty good too. Agree with Gloth the Wolf was a good one as well.
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ElkRiverHarmonicas
85 posts
Jul 07, 2009
8:04 AM
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I've got one. I was his roadie for a day when he was playing in Charleston. For the CD booth, we wound up sharing a tent with somebody, it was pitch black dark and pouring down rain. OUr tent didn't have any lights. Nobody knew we were there. We were selling like zero CDs cause people couldn't even see us. WE were 50 yards from the people and it was dark where we were.
Jason was fussing a little about it, and he had every right too I suppose. Then, he looks out on the field, in the pouring rain at the maybe 50 people who showed up for the blues fest in the middle of a thunderstorm.
He said "you know, my problems are miniscule compared what this festival is dealing with right now. I'm going to STFU about it."
And he did. Then he bought himself a membership in their blues society and after we got back to the hotel, he calls up the festival president and invites him over for a beer (jason himself doesn't touch the stuff), on him.
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Kingley
199 posts
Jul 07, 2009
8:12 AM
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Well there are many great performers out there.
Being a musician is never just about playing your instrument. A lot of people seem to not realise (or forget)that.
Each performer has his /her own style that they develop over time. However there is always one common factor that they all have that draws an audience in. They all enjoy what they do.
This shows more than anything onstage and is a huge influence over an audience. If an audience sees that you enjoy playing it becomes an infective thing.
But as far as "performing" goes the main thing is to never try to force it. Be yourself.
If you are trying to be something else it will always show to an audience.
Last Edited by on Jul 07, 2009 8:16 AM
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kudzurunner
564 posts
Jul 07, 2009
8:16 AM
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James Harman had great stage presence back in the 1980s and 1990s. (I hope he still does, but I've heard stories that worry me a little.)
William Clarke was a fantastic entertainer. He moved really well, apart from his playing.
Sugar Blue's shows were incendiary. He had a radio-controlled mic and would walk through the audience.
One of the greatest harmonica entertainment moments I've every seen was the time that my buddy Deak Harp was playing on a show down in Asbury Park, a big ballroom. He had a radio mic on, and he literally jumped down off the stage and ran ALL the way to the back wall, while playing, then all the way back up to the stage and jumped back on the stage and kept playing. It was compelling. It was awesome. I was awed.
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kudzurunner
565 posts
Jul 07, 2009
8:19 AM
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Albert Collins was really fun to watch, too. He always looked like he was having fun; he had a mischievous grin/grimace. He'd rotate his head 180 degrees, bend a note....and of course he had THE great blues guitar note of all time. B. B. has the high vibratoed octave-note, but Collins could make these string-snapping Telecaster scream-notes, all of them made at impossibly angular swerves from the beat and proper intonation. I don't know anybody out there now who can do that.
Actually, Bobby Radcliff comes close. He plays that way, and he got it from living with Magic Sam out in Chicago.
Last Edited by on Jul 07, 2009 8:20 AM
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MrVerylongusername
398 posts
Jul 07, 2009
8:21 AM
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It's not blues, (and it's certainly not harp playing!) but I think Springsteen is a great performer in this respect - especially with the full E-Street band. The onstage interaction, personal stories, movement - it just looks like they have the best job in the world and still love doing it. Marathon shows night after night, but they never look like they are just going through the motions. I've seen lots of stadium acts and very few can give that impression. The E Street Band can hold the audience without any need for the usual stadium gimmicks (giant inflatables, hydraulic platforms, pyrotechnics etc...)
I watched the Glastonbury footage a couple of weeks ago. They were getting shitty sound (loads of onstage feedback), and I don't think his voice was in its best condition, but the band still looked like they were having a whole heap of fun. when he needed to rest his larynx he just came down to the front and worked the crowd. I know his music isn't everyone's cup of tea, but you cannot argue with the showmanship. Real pros.
Dylan, on the other hand, when I saw him live a while back was a total let down. Fabulous musicianship (more from his band than the man himself) but nothing in the way of interaction with the crowd. I might as well have saved my money and listened to a CD.
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Kingley
200 posts
Jul 07, 2009
8:38 AM
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Earl Thomas and Doug Macleod both impressed me as performers.
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JoshTheMagish
59 posts
Jul 07, 2009
9:10 AM
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good stuff guys! anyone got some decent video examples, i think that would be fun.
I once saw travis barker play drums at a outdoor festival. Iv never had so much fun watching somoene play drums in my life. I couldn't believe someone could play with so much intensity and wildness and keep such incrediable time lol
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scstrickland
117 posts
Jul 07, 2009
9:45 AM
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How about appearance. does that count? I think the way a performer looks or presents themselves adds to being a great performer.
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JoshTheMagish
60 posts
Jul 07, 2009
10:04 AM
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i think it does too. It shows both personally and sets a tone or mood I think.
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snakes
295 posts
Jul 07, 2009
3:54 PM
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I really think Rick Estrin is a great showman. The way he tips his head to the side, plays the harp with no hands, and works the crowd. I know that there are thoughts about his comedic demeanor and respect those views (although I'll agree to disagree). When he is onstage he just commands your attention and every time I've seen him live he has not failed to deliver a great show. I also like the videos I have of Howlin Wolf. He did some comedic stuff as well.
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addict
5 posts
Jul 07, 2009
7:10 PM
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Rick Estrin, absolutely. I just saw him and he is amazing. In every respect.
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Patrick Barker
356 posts
Jul 07, 2009
7:38 PM
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Rod Piazza- I saw him live at a local bar, and he had a wireless set so he kept playing as he walked out into the audience, and across the room to climb up on the bar table and played from there. It was pretty awesome.
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"Without music, life would be a mistake" -Nietzsche
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Miles Dewar
384 posts
Jul 08, 2009
9:57 AM
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Sam and dave
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MrVerylongusername
410 posts
Jul 08, 2009
10:18 AM
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I'll second that one! They made it look effortless!
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jonsparrow
604 posts
Jul 08, 2009
10:56 AM
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wolf was a great performer for sure. the faces he made, the way he danced an moved around being the big guy that he is. jason ricci is also a great performer an he puts alot into his performance. i dont remember his exact words but when i saw him, before the show he ripped off a peice of cardboard from the box of cd's he was selling an wrote down the set list. he was sittin there for awhile trying to figure it out an i over heard him saying how he wanted to figure out the order of the songs cause he wanted the music to take you on a journey starting off in a happy heavenly place then slowly drag you down into a dark bad place an then emerge victorious in the end. again i dont remember he exact words but the description was something similar if i remember correctly. that an his overall stage precess is great. hes allways movin around, interacting with the band and audience, an he gets real emotional with certain songs an you can tell they are real. not just a song. in the middle of the show he was allready soaked dripping in sweat. an it didnt slow him down one bit.
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Fredrider51
76 posts
Jul 08, 2009
10:57 AM
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My best man could he play the blues Carlos Santana i ve seen at least 20 times
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rustywater
54 posts
Jul 08, 2009
11:36 AM
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Two really great performers come to my mind,
BB King holds the whole crowd spell bound from the minute he walks on till the minute he walks off
and the late great Rory Gallagher was awesome on stage, apart from being an amazing musician he was able to interact with his audience,I think because he never lost sight of the fact that he was there to entertain not to boost an overinflated ego.
Last Edited by on Jul 08, 2009 11:59 AM
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