Re: [Harp-L] St. Louis



That I know of;
Monday night hosts a fairly decent "jam session" at the Beale on Broadwa. Really just the Shaky Ground Band plays and anyody wanting to sit in with them is completely welcome if able. There used to be a good one on sunday afternoon at hammerstone's, but I've been told by a few prior members that it has gone way downhill due to poor leadership, and most of the members have quit (out of the regulars). Mondays at the Oyster Bar the Soulard Blues Band plays regularely, but from experience i'd have to say that it might be a bit more difficult for a harp player to take part in the weekly festivities since Jim Mclerren left.


But as far as jams are really concerned, you are going to have to track down Eric Mcspadden to figure that one out, in my opinion he's the center of attention on St. Louis blues harmonica. He has this strange tendancy of taking newcomers under his wing and making sure they finda place to play, whether they get paid for it or not. I say this from experience, he is a dear frend, and a true blues master. he used to play mondays with the Shaky Ground Band, you might find him there; other than that I know that he is working alot right now with the Rich Mcdonough Band (my favorite, by far, St. Louis blues group). Keep a close eye on the Soulard area and you're bound to run into him. If not, I know also that the bottoms up blues gang is also always welcoming of a friend to jam with, try your luck w/ them if you enjoy delta style playing (their harp player's adam, or sometimes johnny diamond are also really great. Very nice guys, and both individually talented.)

If you don't necessarily like blues, then try and contact Sandy Weltmann for jazz tips, and where that stuff goes down... sorry though, its been my take that jazz playing for a harmonica plyer in st. louis, usually only comes through invitiation only, but then again myabe i'm looking in all th wrong places.

For rock music you want Jim Mclerren. he used to play with the soulard blues band, so in light of this, you might say he has a pretty good name locally. A few years ago he left the band to go out and do his own thing. Like i said, he plays alot of rock right now.

I did play locally for awhile, (mostly through the jam sessions and musicians mentioned above, but because of that, some on my own as well; check out timsession.com) however I haven't done so since december at least. i'm still finishing out my senior year of highschool. And other than being preoccupied with that, unless I'm w/ someone in the band I already know, it's fairly difficult to get into the blues bars for me to play at all.. seeing as I am a minor. but it's all good times, I know enough people aorund town locally to be able to find something if I try really hard. I find that most st. louis harp- players, and otherwise, are all extremely friendly and open to new musicians, especially if you are young, seeing as it's not as popular now amongst youth as it once was, that and its hard to find a solid harp player under twenty.

Hope this helps! keep posting, or reply personally to me if you need more direction on where to go. Once summer hits you should run into me at least once if you are down in soulard.. i tend to live there when i'm not in school.






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