Some blues jamming in KC

[Paul Sylvain]

I started to write this in Mark Lemon's excellent thread on Lynyrd Skynyrd, but realized I'd kind of be hijacking that thread, and decided to post it here.

I'm an Old Dog (60 going on 16) when it comes to playing and making music. I've been playing guitar for 45 years or so, and, yes, I liked the Beatles, but have always found myself attracted more to the blues-based British Invasion groups of the day, rather than the purely pop side of all that. I didn't know at the time that what those groups were bringing over here was our own home-spun music, but I guess I've always been stuck on the blues.

Well, for the past seven or eight months, I've traveled a lot in conjunction with my work for Homeland Security. I'm in the middle of a two-week stay in the Kansas City area, and a bit later today will meet and make the rounds with a like-minded music buddy from one of the music forum sites I frequent. The plan is to hook up with him and some of his band mates and hit a couple of open blues jams in downtown KC, and just plug in and rip it up. In between the jams, we'll get down to some good KC barbeque. Man, it doesn't get much better than that.

Yeah, I'm like a kid in a candy shop, and excited as heck to think I'll get to do some "live" playing while I'm in town. y wife is cool, too. She gave up asking me what I was going to be when I grow up a long time ago. We all know musicians NEVER grow up!

Paul

[TRK]

So, are you gonna go to the Musicians Friend bargain warehouse while you're there? They say it's a great place to find some real deals on gear.

[Paul Sylvain]

Oct 24, 2009 9:06:38 GMT -5 TRK said:

So, are you gonna go to the Musicians Friend bargain warehouse while you're there? They say it's a great place to find some real deals on gear.

Well, we drove by it, but we didn't stop. I recently "stole" a phenominal Tele on FleaBay, so I figure I better lay low, lest I get my wife's ire up. lol

Well, my buddy and I did hook up, and had an absolute blast. Besides a tour of the downtown, we hit Arthur Bryants and had some of the best ... no ... THE absolute BEST BBQ I've ever had. KC barbeque is hard to beat anyway. Different than Texas BBQ, which I love as well.

But the highlight of the day was getting a chance to jam with my buddy at a blues roadhouse called Knuckleheads. I was thinking a daytime open jam will have, like, three people there. Man, was I wrong. These folks here love the blues and a good "live" jam. The place was packed at 3 p.m.!!! The jam runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, with regular shows on in the evening. It's kind of neat being on the same stage where people like Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy and others play when in town.

I have to tell you, the blues is alive and well and going strong in KC. I brought the new Telecaster and "Slin" brought one of his Highway 1 Jazz Basses. The guy running the show asked if we needed anyone else, and he quickly enlisted a drummer, blues harp player, keyboard guy and a second guitarist. We tore the place up for the next 20 or 30 minutes, without ever rehearsing or playing a note together. What a hoot. I've known Sling for several years, but only through a music site online. Until yesterday, I had never met him face-to-face klet alone played a note together with him.

It's not often I'm intimidated, but I have to admit that, as I was sitting there, waiting for our turn up, and listening to these blues cats doing their thing, I'm thinking, like, I'm about to make a compete and utter fool out of myself. Those guys could play, and were pretty dang tight.

But you know what ... once we cranked into it, it was the most fun I've had on a stage in a long, long time. The musicians hanging around this place were incredible. The guys that played before and after us, were all great. They were just a great bunch of folks, just there to have a good time, and without any egos.

Sling and I got back to my hotel and noodled around together, unplugged. And we've made a promise to work on some recordings together and to hook up again within the next year, to work some songs out and maybe do something around KC. I only wish Dallas and KC were just a tad closer. But it will happen. There's no doubt in my mind.

Can't wait for "next time".

I don't have any pix of me and Sling playing together, but my wife snapped these of us at the hotel before we went to the jam. I'm the short, fugly dude with hair.

Enjoy.





Paul

[TRK]

Thanks for the account, Paul. Sounds like BIG fun! Do you remember what songs you did?

[Paul Sylvain]

Oct 26, 2009 7:39:52 GMT -5 TRK said:

Thanks for the account, Paul. Sounds like BIG fun! Do you remember what songs you did?

We were given a 20- to 30-minute slot to fill, and did so with some serious jamming on these songs:

1. Rambling Blues
2. (I'm A) King Bee
3. Route 66

Keep in mind, I had never played with or heard any of these guys before, although I've known Whitey ("SlingBass") for a number of years through a mutual music site. So, we kept the tunes simple, but, man, it sounded good and felt even better.

Everybody (me on lead guitar, a second guitarist, a keyboardist and a blues harp player) took solos on these. We were about to get called up again but left to grab some BBQ and to see KC. However, I had in mind to do "Before You Accuse Me", "Help Me, Baby", and "Stormy Monday" had we gotten up again.

You can check out some home recorded and mixed tunes with me and some guys from Maine here:

www1.indiemusicworks.com/Paul_Sylvain/

These are all original songs I wrote. I play all the six-string guitar parts and do all vocals. Some buddies in Maine and New Hampshire round out the bass, drums and blues harp bits. You'll see a player with the songs on the page. Just play through the songs, or go to the songs link.

Hope you like.

Paul

[greg]

I enjoyed reading about the jam session! And the BBQ! I can't play a lick musically, but I've been known to lick my fingers after BBQ. So's I'm jealous of your time in KC.

I recently found I have a connection there that I was unaware of. I found that my Great-Uncle Randolph, who had dissappeared off the family radar years before, worked and died in KC. Unbeknownst to me, he was a musician, worked in a music store, and even had at least one song published (Bug-House Rag, 1916). I even found out that he played (before that date) on stage in some bars in St Louis with his then-wife.

So a road-trip to KC is anticipated in the near-future for research, and a night or two of music at Knuckleheads and Arthur Bryants BBQ! Any other recommendations would be appreciated!

[Paul Sylvain]

Cool, beans. I'm planning a return trip and (hopefully) a full night's gig in KC with my buddy and some of his amigos. I'm not that well-versed about KC, seeing I was there last year for the first time. But my buddy there knows most of the hot spots, especially since he'd played at most of them.

I just love a good night blues. What can I say?

Interesting about your family. I found out about 12 years ago that I'm part Abenaki from the Canadian side of the border above New Hamsphire. I'd always suspected that part of me had "First Peoples" blood, but it wasn't until my day blurted it out in a by-the-way conversation that I knew for sure. I prefer "First People" to "Native American", and think the Canadians have it right in calling the native peoples "First People." It's much more accurate, in my opinion.

Let me know how you make out in KC.

Paul