Substack.com is always moving the goal post (it’s what they do); being a hillbilly is sort of old school, but we like tryin’ new stuff too.
Welcome to Haynt Blue’s Open Mic Night
We’ll try it out, see if we can get some other folks in here to strut their stuff. It’s open, it’s free and all good.
Since somebody has to open this show, we’ll turn it over to Haynt.
S&UP brings you Haynt Blue in Open Mic Night
Recorded on a Sonim XP10 (cell phone) emailed to my laptop then embedded here after converting the audio file format (bummer). It’s horrible, but it’s about the music.
Haynt Blue brings you Tommy Emmanuel
For a comparison with a fully supported performance. If you're going solo, you’d better have some chops with just a guitar, but here you’re looking at $100’000 or more in just guitars on the stage along with monitors, mics, sound reinforcement, lighting, engineer etc. And Tommy ain’t showin’ up for beer money; he’s all business and one of the few with a long and happy career.
And that whole thing starts to get real technical. Very expensive instruments made of wood and effected by environments. Feedback from unnaturally amplified hollow instruments and a maze of electronics to pull it all off.
Get on stage at the average open mic with a house sound system and you’ll be lucky if you can hear yourself bouncing off the back wall. Keep the expectations low.
Used to live 10 miles from the hallowed Martin Guitar Factory and have been working my whole life to own one, it makes that much difference.
The greatest compliment to a solo guitarist is to be told your music is “different” and when invited to open an evening or close one you have “it”, and then you keep doing it. “It” brings happiness.
Now, we hobbyists aren’t jealous or anything, it’s about the music after all; we just want some of their stuff. Tell me how to get that sound, never mind the fabulous ability, just give me the sound.
As good as all that is, in terms of audio quality, nothing beats live. On the porch or in the parlor with a fine guitar or a shoebox the music emanates from the heart directly to the ear, and we feel the difference. Kinda’ gotta’ be there.
We’ll have to see if any players want to jump in here, some of them have better equipment than me so it shouldn’t be hard to top my recording. Regarding the music, well, all are welcomed. That’s the best part.
Wow, doing a 5 minute solo is impressive, reminiscent to what Stevie Ray Vaughan would perform but with a Mississippi John Hurt style of playing. I’ll send something, but I do better with short solo’s. I tend to get sloppy as my fingers start to tire😊
Tommy Emmanuel is of course amazing, but what was really enjoyable was hearing you play and speak about performing. You're right and I think demonstrated it here -- that the personal element is where it's really at. Wish I played myself, would come back with my own piece, but sorry to say that I haven't learned a note or chord yet!