Erin Harpe
Here is my latest blog, I got the chance to see Erin Harpe at The Blues City Deli in 2015. It was an amazing show, I was hooked on Erin’s music right away. Erin has a unique sound, kind of like a Swing/Blues combination. Which makes for some good music, the kind of music you can really shake your tailfeathers too. Erin is an amazing Guitar player, no matter if she is playing some upbeat Blues songs or some Down-Home Delta Blues like on her album “Blues Roots”. She has such smooth style with the fingerstyle playing sort of reminds me of Memphis Minnie. Erin learned a lot from her father Neil Harpe, who himself was a master at The Piedmont Blues. Now Erin’s singing is not the usual style you think of when you think of the Blues. But it’s a beautiful sound, which is a pleasure to listen to. Erin can put the emotions in to the songs so much that you can get the real feel of the song. On top of being excellent guitarist and an amazing singer, Erin is also a great entertainer. Weather you are at one of her shows to just listen to show great music or to get up on the dance floor and boogie the night away. Erin Harpe is the complete show. I highly recommend checking out the websites below to hear what Erin can do. If Erin ever comes to your town I also highly recommend going to see her. https://www.erinharpe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/Erinharpemusic I Recently got to ask some questions to Erin. Here are the answers. Enjoy. 1. How long have you been playing music? Pretty much my whole life. I started learning Fingerstyle blues over 25 years ago. Before that I played flute in school. 2. How many bands have you been in? I’ve been (and still am in) two bands that I formed with my husband, Jim Countryman: Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers (“boogie, blues and beyond”) and Lovewhip (dance rock). I also play acoustic blues with my Country Blues Duo or “CBD”. Before that I played solo. 3. Where were you born? Baltimore, MD. 4. Are you self-taught? Pretty much, I never went to music school, though I did study the flute in school. Growing up, I was surrounded by music. My dad, Neil Harpe, who is a master acoustic fingerpicker in a style called Piedmont blues, was part of a scene based around Archie’s Barbershop in Washington DC. I got to watch and listen to some of the greats of the style like Cephas & Wiggins, John Jackson, Eleanor Ellis, Archie Edwards and many others. By the time I decided to pick up a guitar and learn from my dad, I had already soaked in a lot of it, so I picked up fingerstyle guitar pretty quickly. Eventually I went away to college and then moved to Boston, where I continued learning acoustic blues from recordings. I did have a few guitar lessons here and there, especially when I first picked up an electric guitar, and as I expanded into other styles like afro pop, rock and reggae for my band Lovewhip, but I mostly learn by ear (or nowadays YouTube videos!). 5. Who are your biggest influences? My dad, Memphis Minnie, Koko Taylor, Howlin’ Wolf, Bonnie Raitt, Toots & the Maytals, and so many others. 6. What style of music do you consider yours? American roots dance music. Whether playing acoustic country blues, electric boogie blues, or original rock, it’s always about moving the audience with a danceable beat. 7. What was your first gig? How old were you? I know my first paid gig was solo, opening up for two of my Washington DC blues heroes – Warner Williams and Jay Summerour. I can’t remember the name of the venue, but it was in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. I think I was still in high school. 8. What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? Do it for the love of the music, and the lifestyle (i.e.. be prepared to work very hard and still be poor and be able to enjoy playing for audiences no matter how small). Don’t do it to get famous! 9. Do you write your own songs? Yes, I write quite a few of my own songs, and I also do my own interpretations of songs I love. 10. What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal song collection? I’m all over the place with my collection of favorite artists and songs. From acoustic blues and early electric blues to post punk/electro dance rock, reggae and afro pop. 11. What would you be doing if playing music was not an option? At this point I’d be great as a graphic designer and social media promoter for music! I am also a music producer, so I could help other people with their music. 12. Besides your own songs, what is your favorite song to perform? Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips” is a really fun one! I play it with my electric band Erin Harpe & the Delta Swingers, and it’s a big highpoint of the show. Everybody dances, and I often go out into the crowd with my guitar. 13. If you were strictly a songwriter, who would you like to see sing your songs? It would be cool to see what Bonnie Raitt did with one of my songs, she’s probably my all-time favorite vocalist.
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Lisa Mann
This blog is about Lisa Mann, Bass player and singer/songwriter. I believe I first heard of Lisa thru Gil Anthony’s radio show. It’s only been a few years that I have been listening to Lisa’s music. I think the one thing that got my attention about Lisa was her amazing Bass playing and vocals. Lisa’s voice has a bit a Southern tinge to it that gives it a Bluesy feel to it. But she can also bring out the raspy and rough side of the Blues when it’s needed. Now her Bass playing in just Top-Notch. Lisa seems to have her own unique sound on the Bass, which really puts the raw feeling into her songs. I have two CDs of Lisa’s “Hard Times Bad Decisions” & “Old Girl” I am not sure which one I like better; I would have to say that Hard Times Bad Decisions is one that people should get if they are just finding out about Lisa Mann because it shows all of her many talents and styles of music that she does so well. Now as far as songs, couple of my favorites are “Two Halves Of One Broken Heart” duet with Andy Stokes. This song is a soulful sad song, Love it. The next few songs all have that New Orleans vibe to them… The other CD I have is “Old Girl” this is an EP. The Tittle song is an amazing song that really shows off Lisa’s vocal skills. “It’s The Monkeys or Me” is a lighthearted song, which has been said that it’s based on a true story. The last song “Around Here” to me is a celebration of Music Legends, possibly ones that had influence Lisa Mann. I highly recommend checking out Lisa Mann’s music, she is one powerful performer. Here is Lisa’s website and other ways to find her music, http://www.lisamannmusic.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/lisamann https://www.facebook.com/LisaMannBlues https://open.spotify.com/artist/119v7X6k46bE5xgwuWawbt 1. How long have you been playing music? I started singing and playing bass at a very young age, I actually walked home from school every day at age 11 & 12 to save my lunch money and buy my first bass. I was in a few garage punk and metal bands, but when I was 19 I decided to play professionally and started doing Top 40 in bars. Of course, I couldn’t be in the bar on breaks- I got to know a lot of dishwashers and doormen! 2. How many bands have you been in? It’s hard to say, because frankly I’ve been in a lot of side projects and done a lot of sub work in the past. But I was in a metal cover band in Seattle called Dixon Hill for a while (named after a Star Trek character), as well as an Irish drinking song band, a funk/ soul band, and a few blues bands. I came to front my own band in the mid-2000’s. We didn’t have a name, until one show we were discussing it while packing up, and during that time three people came up and said “hey, you guys are really good!” So, we named it “Lisa Mann & Her Really Good Band.” 3. Where were you born? I was born in Charleston, WV. I moved here to Portland OR as a young teen after my parents broke up, but I can never completely get rid of the accent. 4. Are you self-taught? I am mostly self-taught, though I did take one year of music theory at a local community college. I learned by playing and singing along with records. First my parents’ albums-Deep Purple, Cream, Led Zeppelin- then later my own metal records- Iron Maiden, Dio, Rush, etc. As I’ve learned different styles of music along the way (blues, funk, soul) it was always through playing along with recordings of artists I love. 5. Who are your biggest influences? For blues, I would say most of my influences are the local musicians in Portland OR. I was blessed to hear vocalists like the late Linda Hornbuckle, and local bass players like Marco Savo and Phil Haxton. For major artists in blues, I’m influenced by Little Milton Campbell, Etta James, Johnny Guitar Watson, Bonnie Raitt, and for songwriting, Jimmy Reed. I’m influenced by pretty much everything I hear and enjoy in some way. For heavy metal, my main influences are Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Mercyful fate and Dio. But again, anything I enjoy listening to may creep into my performances or recordings. 6. What style of music do you consider yours? I walk in two worlds, in contemporary blues and in heavy metal. But I have performed country songs, folk songs, indie rock songs, Americana. While I mostly make my home in blues, I don’t consider any style necessarily my own. Who knows what crazy thing I may do in the future? I am a musician and recording artists first and foremost, and I like to leave things open for personally creativity. 7. What was your first gig? How old were you? My first gig was at a dive called The Satyricon here in Portland OR. I was 16 years old; it was with a crossover punk/metal band called Dead Conspiracy. We opened for a skate punk band from Sweden called Slam. We got paid $13 for the four of us, all in one-dollar bills- I had to ask my cousin for four quarters so we could split the money evenly! 8. What advice do you have for someone starting out in the music business? If you cook the ramen a little longer, it puffs up, and it feels like you have more. Add a few frozen peas and grated carrot, stir in an egg, and you’ll have a healthy meal! (I think you catch my drift) 9. Do you write your own songs? I write the majority of my recorded material, though I like to throw in a few covers of songs that really strike me or are really fun to play. I have recorded a few songs written by friends, like “Gamblin’ Virgin Mary” by tattoo artist and author Jeff Johnson, and “The Blues is My Medicine” by my dear friend Sonny Hess and the late blues diva Paulette Davis. 10.What would people be surprised to hear that you have in your personal record collection? I don’t have a record player so mine is more of a CD and digital collection- my husband tells me I listen to some weird music. I can listen to BB King’s Live at the Regal one hour, then Ghost’s Impera the next. I have lots of local Northwest blues artist recordings in my collection, national blues artists, some old school R&B and soul, lots of classic metal, some extreme metal, some world music, some classical, some classic singers like Judy Garland too. It’s all over the map! 11.What would you be doing if playing music was not an option? I would have died of a drug and alcohol overdose at a young age, I am convinced of that. 12.Besides your own songs, what is your favorite song to perform? I just love the live version of “You Don’t Love Me” on the Junior Wells album Coming at You. It’s a Willie Cobbs tune that Wells transformed in his studio version to a faster swing with a different riff, then it was straightened out in that live version, with Buddy Guy chanking away on guitar. The drums are Kinda swinging while the rest of the band plays it pretty straight, it’s a really hip version. Whenever we play it live, people immediately get up and dance. 13.If you were strictly a songwriter, who would you like to see sing your songs? I guess it depends on the song- there are a couple of songs that were influenced by Bonnie Raitt, like “You Don’t Know,” and it would be incredible to have her perform one of them. Other songs, like “Old Girl” are more countrified, it would be amazing to hear Dolly Parton sing that one. Hey thanks so much for the interesting questions! -Lisa Mann |
AuthorHello, My name is Michael. I am into music, have been for over 48yrs. Big fan of all kinds of music, right now it has been the Blues for the last 10yrs. I do not play any instruments, But I very interested in the recording aspect of the industry. Have messed around with it a little and always learning new things about it. I have met many wonderful people because of Music.. Hope you enjoy my Blogs... In the last two years I have been producing House Concerts. I also in the past 2 years got to produce and engineer an album for a very good friend of mine from Sweden "Magpie". Archives
February 2024
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