Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Nick
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 11:24 AM

Boom Boom (is that a John Lee Hooker reference?)

I'll probably nick that and use it myself

:)

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: GUEST,Basil Brush
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 09:22 AM

As guitarists know, the majority of 12-bar blues songs were written in A and E.

Hospitals can get quite depressing.

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Nick
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 07:23 PM

For anyone interested who enjoyed the first offerings I've updated our Myspace page with the first original song we have done together which is probably the favourite thing for me of what we have done so far.

It was again recorded live but I overdubbed some organ over the top as we are considering whether perhaps to augment the band after Paul the guitarist went to see he James Taylor Quartet play and got turned onto the sound of organ. I'm not a keyboard player so it is pretty basic but I thought I'd surprise by popping it on the top and I think it fills out the sound.

Myspace page - any comments always welcome

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Nick
Date: 19 Mar 10 - 01:30 PM

It doesn't have a name yet.

I know the music will get better. I also have enough realistic critical judgement to know that after spending a few hours playing together it's not bad at all.

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 08:01 PM

critics

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Richard in Manchester
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 07:35 PM

The music will get better. It's the crap name you need to change!

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Nick
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 05:21 AM

Listening to a couple of versions of Down into Muddy Water (can't find the Aaron neville one yet) and yes it's a great track. I'd like to do some Bonnie Raitt stuff too which has a similar sort of feel.

Thanks for the suggestions

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 12:22 AM

Interesting Jeff, especially the song list.
We do a few originals, but mainly covers, and feature me on lead vocal/harp/rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass, keys, drums. We do a mix of soul(Midnight Hour, Mustang Sally), blues (Wang dang Doodle, Messin w the Kid), psychedelic(Roadhouse, Foxy Lady), and classic "fun" garage-type stuff (Under my Thumb, Brown Eyed Girl, Spooky ) and some stuff that crosses over (Red House,Turtle Blues, Iko Iko). We also feature a jam set at the end of the night when friends and acquaintances can come up and play w us. We don't do anything that's been recorded since 1980, I don't believe.

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: GUEST,jeff
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 12:02 AM

Always great to hear a given project in it's beginning stages. Much more interesting to me. Bookmarked your page and will return to it often. Trio format is difficult to pull off. My hats off to you all for your courage in posting it. For a first rehearsal or two it sounds great. You'll be kept as busy as you want to be.

ASA we get a myspace page I'll track down this thread and give a link. We're doing blues, too. Other than straight ahead harp stuff...Paul Butterfield, John Mayall, Red Devils, etc. our guitarist is a Dylan, Hendrix freak, so Fire, Hey Joe, Wind Cries Mary, Brand New Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat are included. My thing is Stax/Motown so we're doing Chain Of Fools, Rescue Me, Aint Too Proud To Beg, The Way You Do The Things You Do, Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, etc. The songs all lend themselves very nicely to a blues format.

We're called Pancake Turner. All the best to you and your bandmates. Also, check out a song called Down Into Muddy Water/Aaron Neville. It's a stinger.

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: GUEST,Bobert in New Aww'leens
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 08:07 PM

***Only*** way to play it is with a slide... MO, of course...

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 07:29 PM

Yes, I know that version too. It may not govern how the OP should (normative may be an error) do his.

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 07:26 PM

sample the original RJ version here

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Nick
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 07:16 PM

Last time I played Crossroads before this was at a gig where a guy turned up and played it acoustic with a slide like this: Crossroads

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: GUEST,Bobert in New Aww-leens
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 05:28 PM

They ain't got no sound in this here hotel pudder so I'll give listen maybe when I get home...

As for "Crossroads". yeah, the way Cream did it was very tricky but they pulled it off... I do it more like Johnny Shines did it myself which is to say kinda like Robert Johnson... I donno about the speed of it yer since I ain't heard of it but I can see how in telling that story if ya' don't allow enough space to deliver the verses then it might be hard to convey the meaning of the song, which BTW, is a purdy sad song... MO, of course...

B~

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 04:59 PM

Done during Moore's Thin Lizzy stint early 70s.

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Nick
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 04:39 PM

The Rocker - not one I know but I'll have a look

I didn't post the Red House track - slow blues is THE hardest I reckon

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 01:11 PM

Very thorough, Nick.

Gary Moore? How about covering The Rocker? The kind of song I would love to do, but my guitar player doesn't think is bluesy enough. Regarding my band, we are flying under the radar about as low as you can without hitting trees. Our last demo material is on cassette, if you can believe it. We play out about once every 2-3 months and aren't really motivated for more. We may get some of our next gig on video and upload it, and I'll let you know.

I like the guitar tone you guys get, and my guess is that your rapid Crossroads was the product of some adrenaline and the magic of new chemistry that was working. The Clapton/Cream version gets most of its drive from the bass/lead guitar interplay, and Baker's drumming, except for the fills, is really pretty understated with some high-hat cymbal pacing rather than leaning on the snare so much.

I look forward to hearing more of you three!

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Nick
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 11:25 AM

Thanks for all the feedback - a few comments back

catspaw49 - didn't have a name so picked the initials of the guitarist + B for band. The front man is a good starting point for naming a band if they are good enough and he is. Blues-Jazz-Rock I blame John Mayall for those 3 albums with the jazz players :) (and my love of jazz which I didn't realise had spun over into this). 7.5 out of? LOL How do we get it to 10?

leadfingers (and zen) - thanks for listening Terry. Not sure I'll make Sidmouth this year but if I do I'll play some acoustic blues.

Burton Coggles - thanks for that. The three full tracks were off the first two and a half hour practice we had when we first met. The demo includes stuff from the first and second. Yes we are fairly new to each other. I'll record the first gig straight off the PA and see what it's like. ever since buying my little Zoom I record everyting as it hopefully makes me stop playing the crappy bits (doesn't always work but that's the theory ...)

Nigel - it was a misprint. I meant to borrow some years

Lonesome EJ - Crossroads was much to quick and became a bit of a mess I know. I think it's part of three people checking each other and seeing what they can do - I included it because the original is in my mind one of the best bits of Clapton playing ever and so it was fun to try. By the time we perform it live it'll be ok. I'll check out Terraplane - any links?
And full marks for spotting it IS a Stratocaster. He gets good tone without a wealth of effects too which I like
A number of people have said that people will dance - I was bothered that we were too guitar soloey for people to dance and realise I may have been wrong. If I can play music I like AND have people dance that's great!

Darowyn - see above! Thanks. I'll probably amend the demos as we have more to play with. If you ARE ever near York we do folk music too

Richard - see above. Crossroads was one of the last things we played on the first practice and it IS fast and I was trying to do to much as we probably all were - it'll be good in time (in both senses!) All Your Love owes more to Gary Moore than Mayall or Otis Rush so hence the pace - the guitarist is 20+ years younger than me and was brought up on different things with the same root.
Demo1 - was recorded mostly from second practice and the room was a bit bigger than the first practice and I might have placed my Zoom better (a little digital recorder in a little room full of noise is not ideal I know - I have a little bit of parametric EQ I use in Reaper to clear some of the muddiness out but I probably need to play more with it). Purple and Sabbath you are right about. There's a thought we might do the Undead album by TYA and end with Going Home. I wanted to include some vocals and you can only go with what you have. A lot of the things were quick two minute takes of 'do you know this one and would this work?' and just going for it.
Time and Devils - from completely new band to first gig in three practices is interesting. Perhaps a reality TV show waiting to be made?

Demo2 - never thought of the TYA until you mentioned it but I'll probably revisit. ZZTop I have never played before so it's getting used to it. The Tom Petty song was an interesting one which is very different to the rest but I quite like. The Dire Straits is hard to get away with as a 3 piece but the guitarist is a huge fan so we'll work on that. Never played High Heel Sneakers so I'm not sure where that came from. Santa Barbara Machine Head is a name from the past. I hate the Creedence too...

Stratocaster. Noone famous (but always good to hedge your bets :) If my son gets to where he wants to be they'll be lots of people saying "but I remember when I played with him and...")

olddude - ta

Thank you all most helpful as always

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: olddude
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 07:55 PM

I think it is great Nick, great job!!

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 07:25 PM

PS - it runs in IE, but not in Opera

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 07:25 PM

Crossroads as done by Cream is a lot trickier than most people give it credit for - I have heard some amazing messes done by very competent bands. But it is way too fast and (sorry) not good. The recorded drum sound does not help.

All your Love is nearly 50% faster than Mayall did it but otherwise fair.

Demo 1 is a strange mixture, bits vaguely reminiscent of Peter Green's "Greeny" and some of the mashup is rather nice. The recorded instrumental sound is much better - but the vocal recording is bad enough to make it hard to evaluate the vocals - this is not a criticism of the singing, but of the recording. Covers of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath are usually a bad idea. I like the bits that sound a bit like somewhere between early 10 Years After and early Mayall.

Demo 2 - again I like the 10 Years After bits - one is I think "Spider in my web" but the ZZ Tops are not so good. Some interesting Carlos Santana influences. I like the jazzy "High Heel Sneakers". Other bits call Santa Barbara Machine Head to mind.

The Creedence does not cut it.

Is the guitar perhaps a Gordon Smith?

Generally speaking, I quite like it.

(This is probably where I find I have been condescending to someone famous)

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Darowyn
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 01:33 PM

I agree about the speedy version on Crossroads, there were times when the lead and the drummer seemed to be in a race.
On the other hand, the Demo compilations are just what you need for getting gigs- and I'm sure you'd get them.
I'd turn out to hear the band if York were not so far away.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 12:29 PM

I like it Nick. As a guy who turned 60 in October, I'm not ready to give up my amp yet, either. Crossroads was just a touch too quick for my taste, but you guys do a good job with the power trio concept. Is that a Stratocaster on lead guitar?

and regarding Rock and Blues versus Folk, it's all dance-related. When your crowd gets too old to get on the dance floor and shake it, you can lose the drums and get all folky with it. When my band Terraplane plays, we still have a crowded dance floor at closing, and that's why they turn out.

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Zen
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 11:13 AM

Not the style of blues (acoustic) I play but very good indeed.

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 11:05 AM

"Can I borrow some ears"??

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.
I come to bury ...."

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 09:53 AM

Sounds good to me too. Quality of playing & recording is plenty good enough to attract people to your gigs and suss out what you are about.

Like you say, there are a few mistakes, but the band sounds pretty tight - and this is after 1-2 practice sessions? - wow!

Might be an idea to record some of your gigs for a live track or two. Once you have the lift that audience response gives I think you will sound outstanding.

Pete.

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 08:02 AM

NOT My kind of blues Nick , but for what it is it sounds fine to me !

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 07:20 AM

PFB? Partly Fuckin' Blues?

Seems so......Call it whatever but I like it!!! That probably means its some sort of disaster musically but take it for whatever's its worth.....I give it a 7.5 on the Blues-Jazz-Rock Meter Nick, Thanks for posting it and I even bookmarked your page.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Nick
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 07:15 AM

It's working for me, Richard... I'd appreciate your feedback if you get there!

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 06:56 AM

Sounds good to me.

Subject: RE: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 06:48 AM

I would but the myspace page seems not to be running

Subject: Blues Thread! Can I borrow some ears?
From: Nick
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 06:35 AM

First time I think I've ever posted a thread about blues - I hope it's still allowed., If I remember it is mentioned every year or two!

It's not a pure blues tread as I never seem to manage to solely stay in one genre in bands or things but whatever.

The reason for posting is that I could do with an opinion or two if people are prepared to go and have a listen to a few things. It's electric rather than acoustic blues but hopefully it still counts and there are some non-blues bits which are rock or other.

I seem to change bands about as often as I eat vegetarian meals and have finally gone back to playing bass in what I used to play years and years ago when I first started playing - a mixture of rock and blues in a trio format with the emphasis on guitar playing and broadly a lot of jamming and freedom to go where I want As my fingers are starting to get a little arthritic I may not do this for too long but it's most enjoyable while it lasts.

The reason for the post is that I have hastily thrown a Myspace page together and put some music up as examples from what I have managed to record from the first two practices we have had. There will be two demos with bits of about 27 songs (ones currently off for re-editing) and three full tracks which I recorded on my Zoom H2 as they happened and so they are there with all the mistakes still there but I think they come across ok and 30 tunes in two practices is better going than some people I've played with. PA was not very good so the singing is something we are looking at.

If anyone has any time and is prepared to have a listen and give an opinion (positive or negative) I'd appreciate it. We have our first (or first two) gigs on April 10 and (probably) April 17 and part of the aim of the Myspace is to potentially try and get some gigs. Is the quality of the recording and the playing good enough or will we put people off? I asked this about a video of a different band some while ago and it was suggested it would do more harm than good - if that's the case here it would be useful to know. But feel free to comment on anything - like 'perhaps you should have played Crossroads slower as you are out of practice!'

New band tentatively called PFB at present and there is a Myspace page which I hastily put together last night. It has the two demos and versions of All Your Love, Crossroads and I'm Torn Down owing a fair bit to Mr Clapton I'd say but the demos have a wider range of stuff.

It was also partly in response to whoever it was who said that you shouldn't play anything to do with rock after you're forty. I'll go and cross post over there...