WeenieCampbell.com

Country Blues => Performance Corner => Topic started by: frankie on February 07, 2013, 03:42:39 AM

Title: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on February 07, 2013, 03:42:39 AM
I've been in "one-take" mode lately...  whatever I post has to be done in one take and one take only (no re-takes or second chances), so I get what I get. That means you, too. :)

There's a few things on my youtube channel, but I was particularly happy about getting a piece of this one. Maybe you'll like it, too:

http://youtu.be/ojEVn3gM8BY (http://youtu.be/ojEVn3gM8BY)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Gumbo on February 07, 2013, 05:06:25 AM
Wonderful!

Needs a little thought bubble from your audience there saying "Don't quit while you're a head!" ;)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: dj on February 07, 2013, 05:14:15 AM
Terrific vocals there.  Frankie, you are one of my favorite singers.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Pan on February 07, 2013, 06:07:34 AM
Wow! Powerful stuff indeed! Thanks for posting, Frankie!

Cheers

Pan
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Parlor Picker on February 07, 2013, 06:23:40 AM
Excellent as usual, Frankie.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Pan on February 07, 2013, 06:56:31 AM
Some guys have all the luck talent!  ;)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Mr.OMuck on February 07, 2013, 10:12:52 AM
Great Frank :) !
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on February 07, 2013, 03:20:30 PM
thanks, you guys. that means a lot coming from all of your ears!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: uncle bud on February 07, 2013, 07:15:49 PM
Yup, that's the real deal. Nice job, frankie!
Title: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Bill Roggensack on February 07, 2013, 07:30:04 PM
Your singing moves me. Thanks Frank.


Sent from Mr. Page's iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Rivers on February 07, 2013, 07:52:32 PM
Wonderful Frankie. I thought you were cheating and using a straight pick there for a moment, decided it must be a thumb pick when I saw your thumb fly out a couple of times. Really great singing man. What's the guitar, actually?
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Slack on February 07, 2013, 08:13:17 PM
Superb Frankie!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on February 08, 2013, 01:53:10 AM
hey - thanks, guys. FP - that means a lot to me. I've been thinking a lot about meeting and watching the Campbell Brothers way back in 2001. It seemed to me that their whole way of playing could be summed up as "play until their asses are OUT of their seats! Then play some more!"

Rivers - if I could play a song like this with a flatpick, I probably would! The guitar is a Fraulini Felix and I've had it a couple of years, now. A keeper.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: blueshome on February 08, 2013, 03:31:27 AM
Great!
 Shame you couldn't find a live audience, that guy on the shelf looks a bit past it ;)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on February 19, 2013, 03:58:27 PM
uncle carmine over there gets to hear a lot of my playing. it's obviously had quite an effect on him.

this was a request of sorts:

http://youtu.be/6ACy_BkfqXg (http://youtu.be/6ACy_BkfqXg)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Laura on February 20, 2013, 02:22:15 AM
Let the battle of Rev. Gary Davis commence!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: uncle bud on February 20, 2013, 04:59:29 AM
Sounds great, frankie. Plus we get to watch the hands.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Mr.OMuck on February 20, 2013, 11:29:05 AM
Another fine one Frank! :)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on April 18, 2013, 07:01:26 PM
one take mode strikes again:

http://youtu.be/y4QKXkyBNcU (http://youtu.be/y4QKXkyBNcU)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Mr.OMuck on April 18, 2013, 08:09:57 PM
Great Frank! The spirit done gotchoo! One of the things I love about hearing and seeing you do Rev. Davis' songs is that you make them a little more accessible and comprehensable. With Davis its always as if its the actual voice and hands of God playing, and they feel almost supernatural. the fact that someone else can play and sing them really, really well, brings them more into the world if you know what I mean.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on April 19, 2013, 02:26:35 PM
thanks, O'muck. I hope someday to be able to return these songs to some semblance of their former inscrutability!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: uncle bud on April 23, 2013, 06:45:44 PM
Good one, frankie. I always love the way this song embraces the dissonance. Nicely done.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Le Trompeur on June 01, 2013, 08:56:57 AM
AWESOME!  Loves it!!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on April 12, 2015, 07:40:07 PM
Been away from Rev. Davis and the guitar for months and months now...  a visit to a friend ended up in a guitar coming home with me on basically a permanent basis, so I figured it was time to re-acquaint myself:

http://youtu.be/LydoHY8KgRE (http://youtu.be/LydoHY8KgRE)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: EddieD on April 12, 2015, 08:24:02 PM
Great stuff Frankie!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: joe paul on April 13, 2015, 01:32:43 AM
Really, really sweet, thanks Frankie !
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Parlor Picker on April 13, 2015, 02:03:27 AM
Just brilliant!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Pan on April 13, 2015, 05:47:05 PM
Excellent indeed!

Cheers

Pan
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on April 13, 2015, 05:49:34 PM
Thanks, guys! Feels kinda weird to have all those strings...
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Kokomo O on April 14, 2015, 06:49:03 AM
Frankie, as the others have said, great work. Your playing maintains the Reverend's feel, and also has much of yourself in it. Your singing is all you, and, while I've come to like Davis's singing quite a lot, that was a journey that took some time, and there's much to be said for approachability.

That looks like a J-50 or the like. New or old? Sounds old, which I recognize is to a great extent your hands, but even so, if it's new, someone's done a nice job.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on April 14, 2015, 11:22:19 AM
Thanks, Kokomo. I love Rev. Davis's singing, too, especially his note choices, which often complement rather than double the melodic line articulated by the guitar...  if I can get on my soapbox about it, this is something that I feel a lot of current day players (even some famous ones) kinda miss. His tone is great too - tough and not easy to listen to, but full of expression and personality. I try to honor those qualities when I sing, but he's got a much different toolkit and level of confidence and ability than me (understatement in the extreme...). What comes out of my mouth is stuff I can usually live with, so I guess that's ok.

The guitar is a bit of a mystery...  definitely a Gibson, definitely a J-45. Year? well...  my buddy thought it was from the 60s but it looks newer to me than that. There's no serial number on the headstock or neck block, and the logo is inlaid pearl (looks right, but something that belongs on a J-200 or Les Paul!). There WAS a period during the 80s when they put the serial number on a decal (thinking this could be easily removed).

The J-45 underwent scary changes in the 60s and this one is closer to vintage specs, at least structurally...  in the 70s they went to a square shouldered design (*shudder*)...  so....  in the mid 80s, Gibson apparently made a couple of short runs of "vintage constructed" J-45s, so I'm guessing it may be from that time period. It does sound and play good..... a welcome guest!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Mr.OMuck on April 14, 2015, 12:18:18 PM
Nicely done Frank!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: uncle bud on April 14, 2015, 08:02:07 PM
Sounds great, Frank. Agree about the singing. Lots of rewards in there.

The 80s - a new golden era of vintage guitars...
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Gumbo on April 15, 2015, 02:52:02 AM
Been away from Rev. Davis and the guitar for months and months now...  a visit to a friend ended up in a guitar coming home with me on basically a permanent basis, so I figured it was time to re-acquaint myself:

http://youtu.be/LydoHY8KgRE (http://youtu.be/LydoHY8KgRE)

Yes +1 on the feel. You have that lovely Davis 'lope' to your playing. Also great to see your skull has some friends back there :)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on April 15, 2015, 05:40:09 PM
Thanks, guys.

That's right, Gumbo. Uncle Carmine has found a couple of buddies hanging around...
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Bald Melon Jefferson on April 16, 2015, 09:29:17 AM
Boy...I could sure live with that voice if it came out of my mouth! If only.
Nice, all the way around Frank.

  Gary
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on April 16, 2015, 06:02:29 PM
Thanks, Gary!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on April 23, 2015, 08:04:27 PM
One take is all I get:

I Can't Make This Journey By Myself - Reverend Gary Davis (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dxw5jrkLZ64#ws)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Mr.OMuck on April 23, 2015, 08:19:17 PM
One take is all it took! Terrific Frank!
Title: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: uncle bud on April 24, 2015, 01:58:58 AM
Nicely done,  Frank. Guitar, vocal, all sound great. Bet the guitar is great in the rain too..

I've been delving into the Rev. in A recently (not posting level delving yet and I definitely need more than one take!). Boy, it sure is satisfying for me to have even some of it fall together.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Prof Scratchy on April 24, 2015, 02:20:35 AM
Great singing and playing as usual!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: harvey on April 24, 2015, 03:28:17 AM
wow ! ... really enjoyed that thanks Frankie ! 
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on April 24, 2015, 05:08:34 AM
Thanks, all of you. Glad you liked it - I always loved Rev. Davis's spoken introduction to this song on the Stinson record:

"I let this song answer for prayer when I get to a place where I can't pray."

That kinda confirmed everything I ever suspected about his music.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: banjochris on April 24, 2015, 09:36:16 AM
Beautiful number!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on April 24, 2015, 02:23:40 PM
Thanks, Chris! I do love that one.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on May 25, 2015, 04:56:14 PM
Just had to get this out of my system...

http://youtu.be/Vgzyj1Mwvds (http://youtu.be/Vgzyj1Mwvds)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: uncle bud on May 25, 2015, 06:25:34 PM
Great! One of my all-time favourite tunes, played wonderfully. I keep taking baby steps towards this one, and now I have more video to steal from. 8)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Mr.OMuck on May 25, 2015, 06:35:33 PM
Lovely Frank
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on May 26, 2015, 08:08:21 AM
Thanks. A song like this is a complete course in humility.

"A man has got to know his limitations."
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: EddieD on May 26, 2015, 03:32:42 PM
That was very well done Frankie. Children of Zion is one of the few songs I don't listen to as often in Davis' repertoire. But I gladly watched your whole performance.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on May 27, 2015, 03:24:54 AM
Thanks, Eddie. It's an interesting song - kind of equal parts spiritual and work song. On top of that, you have the guitar stuff, which is fiery and unique. A friend of mine who plays music and is not overly familiar with Rev. Davis's music found this one harder to listen to than other things I play.

As a singer, I felt like this required a lot of me. There's not much happening melodically and the accompaniment is kind of stark - just leaves you right out there - so you have to put of much of yourself into the singing as you can dredge up.

My favorite recording of Rev. Davis doing it is the one on the Biograph LP. When I first heard the record years and years ago, I thought he sounded kind of tired, and I do think he was feeling pretty sick by then, but his musical imagination was still in great form. Listening again, being older myself, I now hear the depth and commitment in his voice. I tried to honor some of that.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Kokomo O on May 27, 2015, 02:01:30 PM
Another great reading, Frankie. Well played, well sung.

I know exactly what you mean about the song--it has a certain starkness to it that I think even Death Don't Have No Mercy, on its face an equally cheery song, somehow lacks. While I'm no singer, I imagine that takes a fair amount out of you to both sing and play a tune like that.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on May 27, 2015, 03:38:13 PM
let's just say that, in even approaching it, one is forced to confront all of one's native jivey BS.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Zoharbareket on May 28, 2015, 05:40:49 AM
Wow, Frankie,  what a great performance of the song!


Thanks for posting!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Pan on May 28, 2015, 06:52:19 AM
Excellent!

Cheers

Pan
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on June 05, 2015, 09:37:56 AM
Thanks, Pan & Zohar.

This kinda bubbled up outta nowhere the other day. I didn't spend a whole lot of time figuring it out, but sometimes you have to play just what's in you to play.

http://youtu.be/zpFH5tAe27o (http://youtu.be/zpFH5tAe27o)
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Johnm on June 05, 2015, 09:45:56 AM
That's beautiful, Frank, so still.
All best,
Johnm
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Kokomo O on June 05, 2015, 01:52:34 PM
Another winner, and you're getting a great tone out of that guitar. You ought to consider making it, or one like it, a permanent resident.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: uncle bud on June 06, 2015, 07:32:04 AM
Super nice, Frank. I prefer RGD's use of this accompaniment style for this song over Cocaine. Much more suited to it, IMO. I've had the same spontaneous bubbling up of the song before myself. Suffice to say yours is way better!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Parlor Picker on June 11, 2015, 03:24:57 AM
Superb.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: eric on June 11, 2015, 08:05:05 AM
Really nice, I agree with Uncle Bud that the accompaniment works well with this song.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on June 11, 2015, 10:18:57 AM
thanks, all! There's undoubtedly more going on in that one than I got to, and I did cop the little interlude from Ernie Hawkins - I heard him play that in the context of Cocaine Blues years and years ago. I asked him about it and he said that Rev. Davis had played something like that for him...  it was nice to honor that in some way.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on October 27, 2015, 06:19:35 PM
The J-45 is back from some surgery, and its reappearance is definitely distracting me from the fiddle hole I've been in. This song was in the guitar when it came back:

https://youtu.be/9bq1vHWh-DM
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Parlor Picker on October 28, 2015, 02:47:55 AM
Magnificent, Frank!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Prof Scratchy on October 28, 2015, 03:56:16 AM
What PP said!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Pan on October 28, 2015, 06:49:11 AM
Excellent!

Greatr singing on this one! And the guitar's surgery appears to be a very succesful one!

Cheers

Pan
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on October 29, 2015, 04:15:51 AM
Thanks, Parlor Picker, Prof and Pan.

For those interested in the details - as it turns out, the guitar is a 1961 J-45 that was apparently re-topped some time in the 70s. At that time, the logo on the headstock was likely replaced as well. The bridgeplate that was put on in the 70s was extremely thick and scored. At some point, the guitar was also fretted with lamentably flat and wide frets - the kind of thing you'd expect on a Les Paul in about 1984.

The surgery consisted of a neck reset, refret and bridge plate replacement with a smaller, thinner example - all of this essentially returned the guitar to a state much closer to its original and it plays and sounds wonderful!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Kokomo O on October 30, 2015, 11:16:49 AM
Yes, Frankie, more real good stuff.

I've commented before on those serious looking mics on the edge of the screen. Would love to see you put up more material on Bandcamp.
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: rjtwangs on November 04, 2015, 12:08:50 PM
Frankie never disappoints....great playing AND great VOCALS!!! Really great Frankie....


 Rick
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: frankie on December 08, 2015, 04:04:00 AM
Thanks, Kokomo and Rick.  I'll have to organize some things for bandcamp - I was doing ok with it in the beginning, then I had a kind of dry spell (turning out to be seasonal, in hindsight), but when I started back up again I wasn't being as organized as I could have been...  Time to change that!
Title: Re: some guy playing Rev. Gary Davis
Post by: Zoharbareket on December 29, 2015, 01:41:02 AM
Great take on an absolutely beautifull song!
SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal