Pics of the first Midnight Blues Band and Friends gig

[cerealkiller]

that was fun time! i don't get to play blues very often and taht just reminds me how fun it is to go and jam with ppl! thanks guys for having me that nite! cheers!

if anyone keen to have a blues/jazzy/funk jam i would be keen !

[DarcyPerry]

I didn’t like the keyboard player, his set was totally hideous.

Man, are you talking about Simen? Are you out of your Vulcan mind? He's amazing. What exactly didn't ya like?

Thanks for asking:

His left hand: to me his style sounds like Elton john bashing away at the bass keys, most blues/jazz players leave out the honky-tonk left-hand BASHING the bejebus out of the keys. He wasn’t playing jazz or blues, he was playing an impression or counterfeit style.
His volume: he was WAY too loud,
Wanting to play on beyond his time: his set ended a few songs before he stopped playing, he begged to keep playing. Not a professional way to behave on stage.

It just felt wrong to me; he had NO sense of dynamics, just kept hammering as hard as he could on those poor keys of his. I really believe no one has mentioned this to him, great thing about having an honest teacher is they let you know how crap you are, I think he needs a new teacher.

I wouldn’t want to bring the young guy down, I just believe he needs to know, he has to play his next ten gigs sitting on his left hand, or he needs to record himself and really listen to what he is playing.

From what I understand, he wasn't enjoying the gig. Bad sound and too many loud guitars.

Now, I could challenge you on your wisdom about what makes an honest teacher but as I come from a family of preachers and teachers, I'm going to let you work that one out by yourself. Suffice to say, I wouldn't recommend you as a teacher based on your philosophy.

Simen is self taught. He started playing on the family piano at age 4. Like many blues guitarists, his initial approach was modelled after Stevie Ray Vaughan, a blues guitar hero of the time. That was his doorway into blues music. Otis Spann was the next major influence. His study of blues artists wasn't a passing fad (like those musicians that see learning blues songs as a stepping stone to playing something they call more advanced ). He can show you a back catalogue of blues performers and their piano style that is both long and deep rooted in the genre. On top of that he has developed his own style. If all you are hearing Sgt. Mukuzi, is Elton John, then perhaps that shows how limited your knowledge is of the art of blues piano.

Then again, I've been working with him since 2002. In that time I've seen him develop musically and as a man. You will not find a more generous, loving guy wrapped up in an outwardly stoic, gruff exterior. Also, he's not restricted to blues piano. He is a producer now, sought after session player and just came back from his 2nd world tour with Tim Finn. Performing the back catalogue of Split Enz and Tim's newer material is understandably daunting. Simen has become one of this country’s best musicians and it will be a shame to see him return to Norway.

Anyway, I don't need to stick up for Simen. He has all the friends he needs. If you don't get where he's at, it's certainly not going to have an impact on his life/music career.

Our new album will be out before Christmas. When it drops, PM me and I'll post you a copy.

[otisredding]

Well Billy Boy Arnold was impressed with Simen when we backed him in Wellington in '06. That guy knows his blues piano payers too, having played with Pinetop Perkins and Otis Spann!

Simen Taylor is the best, most authentic, pure old-skool blues piano player in Australasia.
Period.

[Bg]

From what I understand, he wasn't enjoying the gig. Bad sound and too many loud guitars.

Yep, it was a shame really, George was supposed to bring a monitor along (well, its actually a 500 watt powered speaker) but he didn't bring it for some reason, so Simen had little or no foldback... and the stage sound does tend to overpower as we don't mic up the amps

[rocklander]

From what I understand, he wasn't enjoying the gig. Bad sound and too many loud guitars.

Yep, it was a shame really, George was supposed to bring a monitor along (well, its actually a 500 watt powered speaker) but he didn't bring it for some reason, so Simen had little or no foldback... and the stage sound does tend to overpower as we don't mic up the amps

we were jamming at our bass player's birthday the other weekend . no foldback, and an electronic drum set.. now that's just a freaky experience. the drummer did very well considering it was totally by feel and had no idea how he sounded. was nicely odd to not have to wear earplugs to stop the cymbal ringing...

[denden]

WAY too loud,

Bwuh?