It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 3:43 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 16 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 11:41 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
Great Saturday spent in Bedford, Texas...the Bedford Blues & BBQ Festival with my 20-something nephew. We made it just in time for the end of Texas Slim's show (excellente, by the way...) and then, Mr. Buddy Whittington hit the stage...

Image

He played this black Les Paul for half the set, and then switched to the Strat peeking out in the background, through his Dr. Z amp--no effects.

I have often said that if Mr. Whittington didn't look like a plumber, he would be more famous than Clapton, SRV and other well-known musicians. My nephew wondered aloud why he had never heard of him.

Whittington's also smart and humble enough to hire a crack co-guitarist, Mike "Mouse" Mays, who played this Fender '51...

Image

Buddy joked that Mays is "Not just a Hair Club for Men member, he's also the warehouse!" :lol:

I also got to get a CD, an autograph and a picture with The Man Himself... 8)

Image

...and together, we look like the number 10. :P

Next up, John Mayall...

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 11:56 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
I have never seen John Mayall live, so I was happy to find out I'd get the chance...the guy looked and sounded vital and intense, especially for a dude nearing 80.

Loved his piano playing, loved the harp playing, liked his vocals...

Personal Opinion Time, Part I:

...his guitar...hmm, well, let's just say he's smart to always have a good-to-great guitarist, from Clapton to Green to Taylor to Coco Montoya to Whittington to the current dude, Rocky Athas. Playing a Fender (Swinger?) through a Roland JC120 (I hate those amps with a passion) with a lot of reverb and a dash of chorus makes for a thin, weak and wimpy tone--especially since the lead guitarist has a fat and rich tone.

Also, I was glad to see Whittington come on-stage and play with the Bluesbreakers, especially considering how he found he had lost his job (not from Mayall or even a manager, just through rumour).

Personal Opinion Time, Part II:
Rocky Athas is in somewhat of a no-win situation. He's an excellent guitarist, but he's following a guy who is primo in every way. Athas seemed to be a "replacement" rather than a band member...I somewhat feel sorry for him.

I couldn't get near the stage during his set, so here's one shot from my (cheap) seat.

Image

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 12:03 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
Darkness had fallen by the end of the Mayall set, and the second stage had a new(er) artist who makes his home in Dallas, Jason Elmore and Hoodoo Witch...he looks somewhat like Guthrie Govan's lost little brother...

Image

He switched between a Stratocaster, a P-90-loaded Les Paul and a Telecaster, through a silverface Super Reverb and a second amp I couldn't see.

Here's a sound sample of his slide playing (click on picture to play shaky video...you might take some Dramamine before watching this... :? ):

Image

I would like to see a full set (he had a shortened "second stage" set of about six songs)...I enjoyed everything I saw and heard...he did a really cool instrumental version of "Strawberry Fields Forever" to close out his set.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Last edited by Screamin' Armadillo on Mon Sep 02, 2013 12:26 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 12:22 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
Finally, Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-A-Whirl Band, featuring Lou Ann Barton:

Image

It was interesting to me that he had a sax player (both baritone and tenor, mostly baritone) and a trombone player (trombones are usually the Red-Headed Stepchildren of the Brass Section) for the horn section...it made for some really rich, full comps and fills.

Also, the bassist played upright bass all night long, through a stack of Fender tweed TV Bass amps...never went solidbody, just upright.

He played the same Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Stratocaster all night long, through a pair of Grammatica amps (Becks/Texas Guitar Slinger plays one of those, too!):

Image

Excellent backup (and occasional lead) from Billy Pitman:

Image

...and drums by the incomparable George Rains (one of the greatest of the great unknowns):

Image

...I learned something new, too. Jimmie Vaughan can play harmonica! I have never heard that he could do this...I assume because he played beside the greatest harp player in the world (Kim Wilson) for so many years, he just didn't think it would be necessary to do so. As a harp player, I know what he was doing, and while it wasn't super-difficult, it was pretty dang good. Video proof of his skill (click on picture to play video):

Image

Miss Lou Ann Barton sang or co-sang about half the songs...love her or hate her, she's an Austin Institution, and she's doing pretty well these days.

Image

Overall, it was an excellent show and a great evening with my nephew, so I'm happy.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 12:34 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:27 pm
Posts: 3355
Location: Houston, Texas
Awesome! I just saw Jimmie Vaughan and Buddy Guy (and a mysterious audience member who bore a striking resemblance to Eric Clapton) last Friday. He didn't play the harmonica though, I didn't even know he could do that! And I'm something of a living, breathing Vaughan encyclopedia. :lol:

He did play his Grammaticos though, and for me it was interested hearing his tone after I've been playing through mine for several months. There are some things about it that are very distinct. I wish I could've seen what his settings were, but there was no way I could've done that without getting on stage. And I really didn't want to see his settings bad enough to get kicked out by security!

Sounds like it was a great festival. If I had the time/gas/money, I would've loved to go see it. Maybe next time! :)

_________________
Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckslaird
Instagram: http://instagram.com/beckslaird


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 12:42 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
Guy and Vaughan and Slowhand? Whoo-hoo, that would have abeen a show...

...and if you ever get up here in D/FW, please PM me...I'd love to see you play.

By the way, no less than twenty people asked if I worked for Fender, because of my shirt...I told them, "No, I just work to buy them..."
:P

Image

Having my name on my shirt also got me to the front of the line for autographs and BBQ, too...maybe I need to put my name on all my shirts! 8)

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 12:59 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:27 pm
Posts: 3355
Location: Houston, Texas
My Dad has a shirt like that which says "Bassman" on the patch. When he wears it, sometimes people who don't know him call him "Mr. Bassman". :lol:

Right now we have some shows in the works for the Waco area, but so far nothing in D/FW. It's not exactly in your backyard, but I will be playing in Tulsa on Sept 22nd for the Hound Dog Blues Festival. And if you're ever in Houston on any given weekend, you're practically guaranteed that I'll be playing somewhere. :D

Also, I saw that guy up close and wasn't sure he really was Eric Clapton. I didn't hear him talk, but you'd think that I would be able to recognize Eric Clapton immediately and with this guy I wasn't sure (but half the audience followed him around like lost puppies). Why would Eric Clapton be in Houston of all places in the world? And why wouldn't he be backstage at some point hanging out with Buddy Guy and Jimmie Vaughan? And why would he be walking around with no body guard and leave in a regular car? And doesn't Eric Clapton has longish hair now? Oh well, I'd say the chances were about 50/50. If it actually were Clapton, I'd feel kind of bad for not talking to him. But I'd also feel bad for being one of a hundred people to bug someone who wasn't him.

The rumors have been going on ever since the show, with some people claiming it was him and some people not. It's kind of like a Big Foot sighting or something! :lol:

I don't know if y'all can see this or not, but I posted a picture of him on instagram.
http://instagram.com/p/dqqOUJq_I_/

_________________
Website: http://www.rebeccalaird.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebeccalairdmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beckslaird
Instagram: http://instagram.com/beckslaird


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 2:47 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
That may be Mr. Clapton's long-lost brother, lol...


When will you be in Waco? I have a training class the first week of October there...

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 5:26 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
IImage
Look'in good, Matt. Nice to see a face behind that name.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 5:35 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 1:10 pm
Posts: 13467
Location: Palm Beach County FL
Screamin' Armadillo wrote:
][/url]I have often said that if Mr. Whittington didn't look like a plumber, he would be more famous than Clapton, SRV and other well-known musicians. My nephew wondered aloud why he had never heard of him.

Not everybody gets to the top of the pyramid. Doesn't mean they don't have what it takes. There's an awful lot in the mix that makes it happen. Much of it dumb luck. Having been in the business myself, and having had family members in very high places, I tell you personally, how very true it all is. Everything has to click. That's why we send major mojo out to Rebecca...because we've been there.

_________________
"Another day in paradise!"


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:44 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:27 pm
Posts: 3448
Location: Connecticut
^^ Plus 1..... If Plumber looks is a deterrent than how do we explain Lowell George, Toy Caldwell,
Warren Haynes.... and a host of other's that didn't fit the quintessential Guitslinger....
On the other side of the spectrum we have Elliot Easton, who always struck me as being more at home at Apple, or Rick Nielsen....Looking much like the mad professor...

I truly believe an extrovert personality has a lot to do with the equation, I don't have that, I actually abhor the Lime Light and when I had to meet in front of a group of parents when I coached Ski racing and cycling it was never easy...... I just wanted to get the job done attend to all the details and praise was inconsequential.
We all know wether or not it meets the criteria..... No need for adulation......

I actually feel sorry for those who cannot go anywhere without a plethora of rabid fans biting at their heels.... :lol: :lol: :lol: :shock: :? :wink:

_________________
"C'est parti mon Kiki "


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:44 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:10 pm
Posts: 5646
Location: Gateway to the West
SA...Now THAT is how to report on a show! Sounds like you had one heck of a time and we appreciate the clips, some excellent playing there.

T2

_________________
-----------------------------------------------------------
What time is it? It's Fender Time.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 9:20 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:56 pm
Posts: 4033
Location: 16 Miles North Of The Red River
ZZDoc wrote:
Look'in good, Matt. Nice to see a face behind that name.

It's always a shock to see pics of myself lately; I've lost a lot of weight and a little hair, lol...

53magnatone wrote:
If Plumber looks is a deterrent than how do we explain Lowell George, Toy Caldwell, Warren Haynes.... and a host of other's that didn't fit the quintessential Guitslinger....On the other side of the spectrum we have Elliot Easton, who always struck me as being more at home at Apple, or Rick Nielsen....Looking much like the mad professor...I truly believe an extrovert personality has a lot to do with the equation...

I realize that looks aren't everything if a person is going to make it to the "next level," but Mr. Whittington has the whole package--he's a good songwriter, has the ability to play, switch and blend genres (Texas blues, British blues, Chicago blues, country & western, jazz, rock of all inclinations), he's a great singer, he always puts a good band together (as leader or sideman), great sense of humour (onstage and off) and he's genuinely humble. He is a contemporary of the Vaughan Brothers, Bugs Henderson and several other better- to well-known guitar slingers, and yet he's largely unknown.

I know there's a lot more to "making it" than having a unique look...but half the people you mentioned (especially Easton and Nielson) have very distinctive looks, which helped make them stand out in a crowd...Lowell George embraced his look, wearing the overalls, etc.; Warren Haynes, with his lion's mane, looks like either a musician or a biker--he's noticeable; Toy Caldwell looked like what he was--a Southern Rock/Outlaw Country Musician. All of them had/have a "look"...Mr. Whittington really doesn't.

...think of it this way; if you walked into Wal-Mart and saw Buddy Whittington, would you think that he's a musician? Nope, he looks like your next-door neighbor, until you see him onstage.

I don't really think he is/was held back by his looks any more than anything else except "circumstances," but my point is this:

It's a crime that he's not better known.

_________________
Good Vibes To Y'all!

Image

Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
Guitar/Slide Guitar/Harp/Vocals


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 1:09 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:51 pm
Posts: 25353
Location: Witness Protection Program
Very cool!

My friend, Dave, from the U.K. plays with Buddy sometimes:

http://www.soundclick.com/members/defau ... =sugarbeet

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Buddy Whittington, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan and More!
Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2013 1:57 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2012 2:14 pm
Posts: 2561
SA,

Sounds like an amazing day !

Any one of those guys would make the day special... but all three?

cheers!

_________________
Image

'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 16 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: