77s Message Board | Print: Any other instruments, Mike?

Posted by Doctor Love on 11-21-2009 at03:26:

RE: Any other instruments, Mike?

Played all but the dobro on the new album .... actually not bass, but I've played that a lot over the years and enjoy it very much. Mandolin is hard! Don't really know what I'm doing but I just fiddle around with it till I get a part -- not much room for my stubby little fingers ~~ Tongue

Have played mando a fair amount on records over the years. The closest I've come to dobro is a resonator guitar, which I played on Holy Ghost Building (Stranger). I wrote Hobo Messiah on the resonator also, but chickened out and just played spanish on that one.

I have also played piano and keyboard a little on some stuff, which is amazing since I still don't even know where middle C is Roll Eyes

Of course, everyone knows I play the mouth organ (harp, harmonica) but again, I really don't have a clue what I'm doing. I can play drums too but no one (myself included) would ever let me near a kit on a record session (thank God)

I would give my left nut (and a ton of other bodily organs) to know how to play piano like Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis or Dave Brubeck, or alto sax like Paul Desmond or trumpet like Chet Baker, but all this would take several more lifetimes and I sadly don't believe in reincarnation. Even if it did exist, I'm not sure I could stand going through childhood and adolescence (not to mention adulthood) again just to be able to do those things and starve to death. The folks I mentioned made good livings doing them, and their sound and feel are all wrapped up in their personal souls -- just because you can play like someone doesn't make you that someone.

Maybe in heaven we will get to do all these things, but I doubt we will care about them then. I would imagine that once you stare into the face of God, that's jazz and rhythm and blues incarnate ~~

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Salad
I'm wondering if Mike ever fiddles around with other instruments? Banjo, mandolin, bass, dobro, ukulele?

Posted by Nailtatt on 11-21-2009 at07:52:

RE: Any other instruments, Mike?

quote:

Originally posted by Doctor Love
Of course, everyone knows I play the mouth organ........

El plays that also!

Posted by Cynthia on 11-21-2009 at09:26:

I thought I saw a ukulele was played on the Rising Sun album, but I couldn't pick it out on the songs. What song was that played on?

Posted by 77 bc on 11-21-2009 at12:30:

RE: Any other instruments, Mike?

quote:

Originally posted by Doctor Love
Played all but the dobro on the new album .... actually not bass, but I've played that a lot over the years and enjoy it very much. Mandolin is hard! Don't really know what I'm doing but I just fiddle around with it till I get a part -- not much room for my stubby little fingers ~~ Tongue

Have played mando a fair amount on records over the years.

quote:

Originally posted by Carl Salad
I'm wondering if Mike ever fiddles around with other instruments? Banjo, mandolin, bass, dobro, ukulele?

Uh, well, thanks to you, and your mando solo on "Blue All Over", I HAD to have a mando to learn to play. I suck at playing it, but have a blast every time. I have been playing it in the worship band at church, this past month, which mostly consists of two finger chords. Shocked

Posted by Doctor Love on 11-21-2009 at21:19:

RE: Any other instruments, Mike?

The mando solo on "Blue All Over" was actually played by Michael Gregory, whom you may have seen with the Safe As Milk band at Cornerstone '97. This performance also appears on the 77s DVD as a bonus selection.

Posted by 77 bc on 11-22-2009 at07:57:

RE: Any other instruments, Mike?

quote:

Originally posted by Doctor Love
The mando solo on "Blue All Over" was actually played by Michael Gregory, whom you may have seen with the Safe As Milk band at Cornerstone '97. This performance also appears on the 77s DVD as a bonus selection.

Oh, GREAT! Now the good Doctor's mando credibility has gone right out the window!