Larry
"Uncle Larry"
No way.
That's a fallacy. Lately, in addition to my trio and my 6 piece band, I've been playing with this straight ahead Chicago style blues band featuring the lead guy, a harmonica player. He's got this steady gig once a week at a hotel. We set up in this outdoor patio area, it's got a bar and tables and is surrounded by big old trees. It's real nice. Anyway, after playing there all summer, we were told we have to cut it way down on volume. Like a lot. So the front guy, I'll call him Russ, he was all bummed out and saying stuff like, how can I do my thing if I have to tone it down. It won't have enough energy. That's a fallacy.
So I was trying to get him in the right mindset, saying that this is not a concert, we are background music here. People are here to eat and talk and enjoy the outside air. Now either we deliver what they need, or they will get a band who can. Everything will be fine. Suffice it to say Russ was not happy. Russ is used to testosterone fueled harp solos that are pretty overpowering. That's his style, he's a ball of fire.
There's a certain freeing element when you're just the background music. After you get past the initial few songs, you relax. You feel you don't have to "try as hard". No one cares anyway, they aren't looking at you. You have to keep it low anyway, so you just kind of coast. Then you find out that...you know, this is still cooking on this low heat setting. Not only that, it's cooking in a way that it never did before. It's simmering instead of burning. It's whole new world here. When you try less, you have headroom, and extra brainpower to listen closer, and you have the resources to think of some real tasty stuff, because you have energy to spare. I tuned my snare low and sloshy. With my 7A's it was just the right tone for that great low tech Chicago sound. So long story short, Russ found a new thing. Simmering nicely at low volumes is equally effective as burning at high volumes.
The management loved the new sound. People danced. We had the worlds cutest 11 year old girl imitating Russ when he soloed. Then she would flit off to the other side of the stage and imitate the guitarist when he soloed. She was a scream! I love kids.
After all was said and done, Russ was very pleased.
I'm no stranger to playing quiet, actually I have more adjustment when I have to play really loud. I don't have the real loud gigs too often anymore. Playing quietly and simmering is a skill I need to work. But it was really cool seeing Russ go from all worried to pleasantly surprised. Restraint is just as satisfying as letting it all hang loose. Pretty cool.
So that's it, just a little fable for y'all.
That's a fallacy. Lately, in addition to my trio and my 6 piece band, I've been playing with this straight ahead Chicago style blues band featuring the lead guy, a harmonica player. He's got this steady gig once a week at a hotel. We set up in this outdoor patio area, it's got a bar and tables and is surrounded by big old trees. It's real nice. Anyway, after playing there all summer, we were told we have to cut it way down on volume. Like a lot. So the front guy, I'll call him Russ, he was all bummed out and saying stuff like, how can I do my thing if I have to tone it down. It won't have enough energy. That's a fallacy.
So I was trying to get him in the right mindset, saying that this is not a concert, we are background music here. People are here to eat and talk and enjoy the outside air. Now either we deliver what they need, or they will get a band who can. Everything will be fine. Suffice it to say Russ was not happy. Russ is used to testosterone fueled harp solos that are pretty overpowering. That's his style, he's a ball of fire.
There's a certain freeing element when you're just the background music. After you get past the initial few songs, you relax. You feel you don't have to "try as hard". No one cares anyway, they aren't looking at you. You have to keep it low anyway, so you just kind of coast. Then you find out that...you know, this is still cooking on this low heat setting. Not only that, it's cooking in a way that it never did before. It's simmering instead of burning. It's whole new world here. When you try less, you have headroom, and extra brainpower to listen closer, and you have the resources to think of some real tasty stuff, because you have energy to spare. I tuned my snare low and sloshy. With my 7A's it was just the right tone for that great low tech Chicago sound. So long story short, Russ found a new thing. Simmering nicely at low volumes is equally effective as burning at high volumes.
The management loved the new sound. People danced. We had the worlds cutest 11 year old girl imitating Russ when he soloed. Then she would flit off to the other side of the stage and imitate the guitarist when he soloed. She was a scream! I love kids.
After all was said and done, Russ was very pleased.
I'm no stranger to playing quiet, actually I have more adjustment when I have to play really loud. I don't have the real loud gigs too often anymore. Playing quietly and simmering is a skill I need to work. But it was really cool seeing Russ go from all worried to pleasantly surprised. Restraint is just as satisfying as letting it all hang loose. Pretty cool.
So that's it, just a little fable for y'all.