I've just gotta tell you guys about a great band that I went to see last night. West weston and the bluesonics. WOW. The guy's got TONE. It was in a small bar called 'Ain't nothing but the blues'. Me and the missus got there and about 8pm and had to wait in the queue for about 20 minutes. The place was heaving! Me and the wife grabbed our drinks and our spot and waited. I glanced around the bar and recognised a face though couldn't place it at 1st. Then it dawned on me that it was oxharp from this very forum and that I recognized him from YouTube. I introduced myself and we chatted harps and gear as only us harp nerds can. Steve west weston came in with his band and oxharp and him seem friends and I had a bit of a chat with him to. Anyways, the band started playing, Weston started blowing and the place started jumping to pure west coast swing coming out of the fender bassman. They were fantastic!!!! But alas, all good things must come to an end and me and the wife had to get the last train home and we didn't even get to watch the whole of the 1st set. But what I did see was just over an hour of tongueblocked blues of the highest order. Despite not being able to stay to the end, I had a great night and it was great to chat harp with oxharp from this forum. If you get the chance to see west weston, or indeed chat to oxharp, then I can highly recommend it!
Indeed he does. His Marine Bands are great harps and very affordable too. West is not an overblower so doesn't set them up this way, but you only need to do some minimal gapping adjustment if that's what ya need..
Steve "West" Weston is one of the best Chicago/West Coast style players in the UK. He has a great sense of timing and his playing is always impeccable. He also has a wonderful tone.
His custom Marine Bands are very affordable (less than the cost of a Hohner Crossover I seem to recall) and are very good too.
Steve is a really nice guy and is always willing to chat harmonica, blues and music in general.
@Sirsucksalot...thanks for the vid...if that doesn't inspire someone to pick up the harp nothing will. It felt like I was on the dance floor with the rest of the party.
Hi Luke, Yep it was a great night and thanks for the shout out though I am only just like every one else on my own personal journey. If you want to chat any time or meet or if I can help with anything then give me an email (russ.turner@ntlworld.com). I have the first 2 sets recorded and will hopefully get around to posting them on my YT site soon.
For those that do not know Steve he is a Fantastic fella and you cannot go wrong with his harps I have several and most of the UK pro players use Steve for their Harps. I think they are £40 GBP each now and thats a great price for what you get.
Here is a vid I took of Steve a while ago and I think is better than the one on here.
Steve is a 100% TB and has been playeing for over 30 years and still found the time between sets to talk to me and thats the kind of guy he is.
Hope you enjoy. BTW the email is for anyone who wants to talk harp.
Does anyone have Wes's email address? I've been meaning to contact him for a while about these Marine Bands, but can't email him through myspace without being a myspace user myself.
Oxharp, do you know if he'll customise an existing harp, or must I buy one from him? I got a Bb a few weeks ago that sounds like a breezy dog fart.
Great Sound.....does he have any CD's ??? ---------- Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker
Been watching him on YouTube for about 18 months. Just KILLER. I emailed him about if he had any CDs out and he did reply that he had something in the works.I hope he does. I think he is a very inventive player. -Bob
Elwood, Steve has a Myspace page where you can order the harps from. He lives beside me in Leigh on Sea....would you believe in West Street!! He also gives lessons. I had one with him last year and just sat for over an hour with my bottom jaw on the ground as he showed me some techniques I had never even heard of. I had to leave as I'd locked my missus out of the house but I would seriously recommend anyone who can get down to see him to have a lesson. As Russ and Luke say above he is a lovely bloke and makes a great cup of tea!!
Also might add that although Steve currently hasn't got a CD out he has recorded in the past and I have a compliation CD of local bands from Southend that he's on.
Thanks Oisin. The issue is every time I try to contact someone by their myspace page, it asks me to log in. I don't do myspace so this is all very inconvenient. But Oxharp has sorted me out.
