Skip's Harp Site: Harmonica News

If you're free on Tuesday, December 16th, head on over to the Budlong Library, 5630 N. Lincoln for our 7 pm show.

We'll be doing jug band music of the kind you might have heard on Maxwell Street in the 1920s-30's.

Jug band music? It features not only traditional insttruments like guitar, mandolin, and banjo, but also kazoo, slide whistle, jug, washboard, and washtub bass. It's a fun informal kind of music.

The show is free and family friendly -- we'll show you how to play the washboard, washtub, and even the jug!

We sometimes get these calls: "I really want to take a class, but between work and family, I don't have the time."

Well, what about a class that meets two hours a month, at 3 pm the first Saturday or Sunday of each month? I've offered this monthly class every two or three years, and it's been very popular. Between class meetings we can be on touch through email and telephone.

I guarantee you'll have a good time -- and a class performance at an outside venue after the final class!

This class is now in the process of being scheduled for January-April 2009. If you don't see it in the printed listings, call the Old Town School at 773-728-6000.

Here's what I'll be teaching at the Old Town School of Folk Music in January, including two new classes:

Harmonica 1 and Rep - Jump in! Learn the basic harmonica skills used in folk, blues, gospel, country, Irish, and jug band traditions, including playing in different keys, 12-bar blues, and note-bending. Emphasis on in-class playing. “Rep” means that content changes each term for students wishing to expand their repertoire with new songs.
Monday mornings at 10 am, Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm, Friday afternoons at 12:30 pm

Harmonica Forever - Develop note-bending, tone production, and soloing while playing songs in blues, country, gospel, and other traditions with band backup. Content varies each session, ranging from classics to Flying Burrito Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show etc. Prerequisite: ability to play clear single notes. Ear players, chromatic harps welcome.
Tuesday nights at 8 pm, Friday mornings at 10 am.

New! The Americana Ensemble- This class emphasizes American popular music before 1950. We sing it, we play it, and arrange it for performances. The class has guitar accompaniment and includes harmonica players, singers, and players of spoons and other instruments. Ear players, chromatic players, and kazooists welcome.
Thursday mornings at 10 am

In January, 2008, I'll also be starting a monthly harp class, meeting on one Saturday or Sunday a month.
It's a great option for people with tight schedules.

Yep, jug fever has Chicago in its grasp.

The first Chicago Battle of the Jug Bands took place Saturday, November 8th. at Morseland in Rodgers Park.
By shortly after 9 pm the place was so full that no one else was admitted until someone left. They had to send an employee out to buy a case of glasses from another bar.

Morseland staff tell us it was the largest crowd they have ever had.

Bands included Strictly Jug Nuts (my band(, The Bare Hand Jug Band (Chicago), Escape the Floodwaters Jug Band (Iowa City), The Fat Chance Jug Band (Minneapolis), the Geezers (Minneapolis), the Blue Ribbon Jug Band (Chicago), and the Hump Night Thumpers Chicago, with which Fran and I also played).

The winner was determined by ballot of those attending; a ballot based on the Chicago Board of Elections model. People entering and paying their $5 received a ballot. In true Chicago style, the winning band had hired a trolley which was routed to pick up and bring all their friends to the election.

Their reward:
one year custody of the Chicago Battle trophy, a large, genuine, inoperable sausage grinder, mounted on an attractive wooden shelf.

As Chicagoans, we appreciated the traditional touch of votes being exchanged for money.

Check out the recording I made with Patent Medicine for the Old Town School Songbook project. It's on the music section of this site and is available through i-tunes.

Enjoy the blues? This two part harmonica workshop for beginners will get you started in learning the basics -- both of playing the harp and playing the blues.
We'll meet on two successive Sundays, September 7 and 14, at 3 pm.

The first meeting will cover harmonica basics: single notes, the chug, straight harp, cross harp, the beat, harmonica tone using blues and blues-related songs. (You'll leave playing one or two songs, along with practice tips).

That following week is your time to practice, come up with questions, suggestions, requests. (I welcome email).

In the second meeting, I'll check out how you're doing, address any problems you're having, and give you additional songs. We move into learning and developing your ability to play the blues notes (note bending). By the end of the workshop you have my best suggestions on how tyou can continue developing your skills. You also have my contact information should you develop questions later on.

I've taught at the Old Town School now for 20+ years: each year I learn and teach new songs and techniques, including note bending. new ways of teaching these techniques. It's a special pleasure for me when someone who has been stumped by note-bending takes one of my classes and workshops -- and finally "gets" it.

This summer the School added added another Harmonica I class for me -- Monday mornings at 10 am. This is in addition to my Harmonica 1 on Friday mornings at 10 am ,and Harmonica Forever Friday afternoons from 12:30 to 1:50. These classes are for folks who have other commitments during the evening but have some daytimes free. These are great classes, small and enthusiastic. As usual, we've done a variety of music, from gospel to folk, and leading into country and blues. They're s scheduled again for the fall;
the term begins September 2nd.

Again this year, whenever possible each class will have a final performance at a venue outside the School.

Current plans for Harmonica Americana involve performances during the term as well; meetings will include both practices and outside gigs.
This class has recently added other instruments:
a uke and spoons player, and we love vocals. Additional instrumentalists and singers are welcome.

On Sunday, February 10th, the Hump Night Thumpers returned to Minneapolis as reigning champions to play in the 26th Annual Battle of the Jug Bands.

We couldn't win (we'd selected the judges, and this event was not in Chicago), but one of our members was recognized for having the most unusual instrument (a tension-controled, no neck coffee-can banjo).

Following is an edited version of the release that appears on the Battle of the Jug Bands website:

Hump Night Thumpers Sweep 2007 Battle of the Jug Bands!

Chicagoians walked away with with the Waffle Iron at Silver Anniversary of the Battle, held Feb. 11, 2007 at the Cabooze Bar & Lounge in Minneapolis.
Twenty bands competed in the battle for the coveted Hollywood waffle iron, which passed from Grandma's Saggy Jug Band, the 2006 winner.

As always, a capacity crowd packed the Cabooze to schmooze, listen to jug band music, and chow down on potluck. Receiving awards for leaping on stage with more bands than anyone else were Tim "Dr Dog"B radach and Ann Coreg (Tapdancer Extraordinaire) chosen respectively (if not respectfully) as this year's Male and Female Jug Band Sluts. The judges also gave special mention for the bass in Old Deluder Satan as Best Instrument, and to themselves for "Best Showmanship".

Thanks to all of the volunteers and Cabooze staff people who made last year's event possible.
Thanks also to all of the people who attended the battle, brought potluck, and donated at the door. After production and promotion expenses, the Battle of the Jug Bands was able to contribute $1100 each to the Bedlam Theatre Company and KFAI Fresh Air Radio from your donations
=========================
Don't miss the 27th Annual Battle in February, 2009. The battles are always held at the at the Cabooze
917 Cedar Avenue, on the West Bank, Minneapolis, MN.

I've always hoped that one of my students would make it big. Yes, it's true that Rick Sherry of Devil in
a Woodpile started as one of my students, and that two other Old Town School teachers did too.
And Lamont Harris, a wonderful student who also took Joe Filisko's classes, is a fine harp player who performs in clubs.

But I mean really big.

Well, it finally happened. Roger Myerson, who took Harmonica Forever for a few sessions, this week received the Nobel Prize.

Yep, that's big! Unfortunately, they don't offer a Nobel Prize in harmonica. As a result, Roger had to do extensive, really hard work in the field of economics -- for which I am very grateful, as (along with his other friends and teachers), I am basking now in his glory.

The last I heard, Swedish television was planning to interview Roger AND ask him to play. My only request to him was that, if possible, he flash his harmonica while receiving the award.

The news this week is that the Patent Medicine version of Frankie and Johnnie is a bonus track on Volume 4 of the Old Town School CD set (when purchased on I-Tunes). You'll hear me on harp.

We're in good company: also on the album are both other teachers and well known performers like Michael Smith, Tom Paxton, and Bonnie Koloc.

I've had day-time classes on Thursdays and Fridays for the past couple years --both for beginning players and those who have played a while. Starting the week of June 25th, I'll have a new series classes.

Thursdays, 10 a.m. -
Harmonica Americana. This is an on-going class for players of varying skill levels -- from long-time players to beginners (who are welcome!) We focus on the traditional American songs that everyone has known in their head and their heart since childhood. Beginners do simple melodies, more established players (including Jim Regan, one of the school's best traditional harp students) playing harmonies or bass parts. We do this heading for a performance at a local coffee house at the end of the session. During this term, we've been accompanied by Bill and Dan, two skilled guitarists/singers who perform with Jim at a variety of Chicagoland venues.

Fridays, 10 a.m. -
Harmonica Forever. This ongoing class is comprised of intermediate/ advanced players who enjoy building their skills on blues, gospel, country, and other styles of music. This class has also been accompanied this term by Bill and Dan, adding greatly to the fun. Bonus: on Fridays, interested class members join students in the school's guitar classes for a half-hour jam.

Friday, 12:30 - Harp I.
This is an introductory class -- the basic skills you need to play harmonica.
We do a variety of music with the objective of making you a harp player in eight weeks. (OK, I'd love to have you continue in one of the other classes, but you'll have all the skills you need to keep playing and learning on your own).

If evening works better for you, I also have the Tuesday classes: 6:30 p.m. for Harp I and 8 p.m. for Harmonica Forever.

Wondering which class is right for you? Email me at
skiplandt at sbcglobal.net; if you include a phone number, I'll give you a call.

I hope to see you the last week in June !

Skip

If you missed us at Bill's Blues, think of catching Patent Medicine at one of Chicago's great neighborhood hangouts -- the Heartland Cafe. This is a chance to combine their legendary great food with our soon-to-be legendary great music.

We'll be there on Thursday evening, May 3rd, from 9 to 11 p.m. with songs from our next album.

There's no cover!

Here's the remaining lineup for spring 2007:

- Sunday, April 29th -- Pickacup Coffee House, 4-6 p.m.

- Thursday, May 3rd -- Heartland Cafe, 9-11 p.m.

- Sunday, June 24th -- Pickacup Cofee House, 4-6 p.m.

Hope to see you at one of our gigs!

Yep, the Hump Night Thumpers won the 25th Annual Battle of the Jug Bands in Minneapolis on February 11th! Twenty bands competed, but we brought home the travelling trophy: the 1938 waffle iron engraved with the names of each year's champ.

Update: At the Old Town School's First Friday in March we had a victory waffling, making waffles for all comers. The evening ended with the installation of the 1938 Waffle Iron in a display case in the lobby.

To the best of our knowledge, our victory marks the first return home of the 1938 Holliwood (sic) since it was manufactured here in Chicago 69 years ago.

Thanks to Oakton Community College, I'll have a workshop this spring at the Morton Grove Park District on April 1 and April 8th,
This is my two-part workshop; the week between gives you time to practice and come back with questions and any problems. You'll notice that these fall on holiday weekends: Palm Sunday and Easter. That was a dumb mistake -- both by the Oakton folks and by me -- but may work out OK. The workshop is at 2 p.m., well after church and (maybe) other family activities.

Sales of the CD are continuing at CDbaby and the Different Strummer, including a re-order of inventory from CDbaby. If you haven't bought your copy, there's still time.

We're currently looking at a February or March date for a show at Bill's Blues in Evanston -- watch this space!

OK, OK, not really. But the CD is now available via the internet on CD Baby, with the first purchase made by a fellow in Spain.

If you live in Chicago, your better bet will be picking up a copy at the Different Strummer, at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

Thanks to those of you who have bought it and said nice things! Tell your friends!

Where do you find the music of Patsy Cline, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, and Fats Waller, all in one place?

These greats come together in the music of Patent Medicine, the Chicago band that has headlined at the Midwest Outsiders Art Fair every summer since 1996. The band is named for a type of medicinal products sold by traveling musical troupes during the 19th and early 20th centry.

Until now, to hear this sound you had to catch us live. Now that's changed. We've just received copies of "Good for what Ails 'Ya!", our first CD.

We've included a little of everything: blues, country, folk, and standards. Tracks: No One Knows My Name, Bright Lights/Big City, You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go, Good Mornin' Blues, Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out, Careless Love, Empty Pocket Blues, CC Rider, Louisiana Fairytale, Fields of Gold, Is You Is or Is You Ain't (My Baby), and She's Got You.

I'm featured on harp with Garth Taylor (lead guitar, vocals), MK Nessler (vocals, guitar), and Matt Dressler (bass, harp). Matt and I team up on Bright Lights/Big City, with me taking the lead through most of the song. But the heart of the band is MK's vocals. (While you can hear her only on the CD, we get to practice with her every week!)

"Good for What Ails 'Ya" is available at the Different Strummer (part of the Old Town School), 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue for $15.
(For mail orders, see the product section on this site).

Got time during the day?

We've just had the first program in a series of Wednesday afternoon concerts at Oakton Community College. Susan and Luis Alban gave us a wonderful afternoon of music from the Andes. They'll soon be moving to Equador, where they met, to operate a bread-and-breakfast. For those who travel, this will be a wonderful destination:
they'll be in the cloud forest, and directly in the migration path of more than 500 species of birds.

The next concert will be on Wednesday, September 27th, at 3:30. Admission is $15. Interested? Let me know and I'll get you more info. skiplandt@sbcglobal.net.
(my site email is still dicey).

Patent Medicine will be playing at the Speakeasy Supper Club, 1401 W. Devon, on Thursday, August 24th. This is a nice place, great for hearing music. Cover charge: $7.