I can't agree with you more! I have seen Rod at least 10 times. First time was at the house of Blues in Hollywood. I used to see him alot at Martini Blues in Huntington Beach, california untill they switched owners. I am going to see him again at the "BATTLE OF THE BLUES HARPS XX" in Long Beach, CA at the Best Western hotel November 26th . Can't wait!
Hi JoeLeeBush You saw Little Walter 'live' in '55? Wow! PLEASE tell us more...(And I love your comment about shouting "Put it on!") Best wishes from a friend of Rod & Honey Piazza and a Little Walter fan since 1964 - still listening to him every day without fail. I need it like food!
I've heard all the great harp players, and Rod is the best of them all. Technique, soul, creativity,taste, he's got it all covered. Don't forget to pick up his latest CD, consisting totally of instrumentals (funny; it's called "His Instrumentals"). No one else alive could have come up with such an incredibly diverse recording. The best blues harmonica record ever!
Good to see Rod on the tube He's white but he's dynomite The Best of the bunch I've seen em all live Clarke, Hummel, Harman, Paul Delay, and more and after I go home an crank up Little Walter and he blows them all away on a CD.
This is a P.S. to my comment two weeks ago. This is from a 'Chicago Blues Jam' DVD which my good friend Terry sent me as a Christmas present. There's not too much more than this on the DVD (Hubert Sumlin gets the major share of the perfomance/interview time) but the quality overall is very good and I think worth having for 'Mellow Down Easy' alone!
Hi bluebirdWANNABOP Mediocre? I've seen Rod play many times since the mid-1980s. It was always first-rate and each version of his band were superb. I like Bharath, sure I do but it seems to me that Rod deserves a lot more respect than he seems to get of late, for his tone, taste, ideas, passion, dynamics, swing and deep blues feel. If you wish to reply, that would be good, as long as we can avoid the slanging match that CZcams forums sometimes become! I'm sure we can. Best wishes
Hi Harpopete. Well, it's a shame that it's the first time because they have played here many times and I've seen them each time - and got to know them all. I doubt they will be here anytime soon in this uncertain economic climate. Anyway, I love the way that Rod plays this just like Little Walter's record (a perfect record) and then takes off into his own stuff. He is still The Man! And this line-up of the band was arguably THE line-up. Regards, Keith
Many thanks for alerting me to the Burnley gig, that's most thoughtful of you. I wasn't aware of it. Damn, i can't go. My friend Hamilton Loomis is there on Sunday night, too. I have gigs on the Isle of Man on both nights.... Best wishes
Sweet early 90's clip of the flyer's. Best I've seen on CZcams. Still has Alex Shultz on guitar & jimi bott on drums, before they picked up Rick Holmstrom & Steve Muggalian. Great clip!
Just a great version and probably my fave version of Little Walter's Mellow down Easy, Making SoCal and the IE proud Rod. Keep Jammin! I will see you down in the OC this week.
Blowingharp comment: thanks, man we truly see eye to eye. I'm on the email list from Miss Honey and unfortunately being west coast-based they don't get out to Minnesota often enough. There is a gig this week at a little old place called The Cabooze, and it's a mini-harp fest with Mark Hummel, Magic Dick, and Kim Wilson on the bill. Not too shabby either!
Hello again JoeLee Bush...I see - now that I've got my copy of the Little Walter biography out of storage - that you've already told the world what you saw and heard, for which, many thanks! Best wishes
@JoeLeeBush Tell him brother! As someone who's known Rod for 25 plus years, I'll add that there is no one who plays Little Walter better than Rod, and he'd be the first to tell you what "Book" these licks came from.
I see that there is a lot up there regarding a UK harp player Wes or West Weston? I saw some of the videos. He's OK, but it's going to take him about forty years before he even begins to reach Piazza's level.
@JoeLeeBush - got to agree with JLB - learning LW note for note is great if you're a jukebox - musicians, while they may play some licks note for note, are musicians because they Don't - get a clue, bluebird
Reply to "bluebird"WANNABOP. Man, you're the kind of guy who'd go to a strip club and yell "put it on". Nobody CARES that he nails the notes lick for lick...they're having fun and working with it. And if YOU cant hit those notes dead on it...then you can't play. Rod's got the best blues group in the country and I have seen 'em all including Walter Jacobs himself in 1955 and all the rest since. Read it and weep, pup.
I guess if I'm playing gypsy jazz it's AOK for me to run around sporting a Bela Lugosi accent? Give me a break. Play the fucking harp, and speak like a white dude from Riverside. It's not a crime.
Awesome...Love Rod and The Mighty Flyers! Long live the BLUES!
Rod and his best band ever, # 1 in my book. Love Honey & Jimi's solo.
Me & Cliff seen them many times.
My dad and I saw this show in 94! And we're in one of the cutaway shots! Blast from the past, thanks so much for posting.
I was at this show!!!
I can't agree with you more! I have seen Rod at least 10 times. First time was at the house of Blues in Hollywood. I used to see him alot at Martini Blues in Huntington Beach, california untill they switched owners. I am going to see him again at the "BATTLE OF THE BLUES HARPS XX" in Long Beach, CA at the Best Western hotel November 26th . Can't wait!
Hi JoeLeeBush
You saw Little Walter 'live' in '55? Wow! PLEASE tell us more...(And I love your comment about shouting "Put it on!")
Best wishes from a friend of Rod & Honey Piazza and a Little Walter fan since 1964 - still listening to him every day without fail. I need it like food!
Mercy!!! He be one of the last kool kats l dun seen fo' while
I've heard all the great harp players, and Rod is the best of them all. Technique, soul, creativity,taste, he's got it all covered. Don't forget to pick up his latest CD, consisting totally of instrumentals (funny; it's called "His Instrumentals"). No one else alive could have come up with such an incredibly diverse recording. The best blues harmonica record ever!
man rod did a whole album of little walter stuff that was great i love to see him doing that man.
Saw this line-up at the Half Moon in Putney in '88 - what a great night!
Good to see Rod on the tube He's white but he's dynomite The Best of the bunch I've seen em all live Clarke, Hummel, Harman, Paul Delay, and more and after I go home an crank up Little Walter and he blows them all away on a CD.
Five ***** Rod is so good and The Fliers too.
This is a P.S. to my comment two weeks ago. This is from a 'Chicago Blues Jam' DVD which my good friend Terry sent me as a Christmas present. There's not too much more than this on the DVD (Hubert Sumlin gets the major share of the perfomance/interview time) but the quality overall is very good and I think worth having for 'Mellow Down Easy' alone!
Hi bluebirdWANNABOP
Mediocre?
I've seen Rod play many times since the mid-1980s. It was always first-rate and each version of his band were superb. I like Bharath, sure I do but it seems to me that Rod deserves a lot more respect than he seems to get of late, for his tone, taste, ideas, passion, dynamics, swing and deep blues feel.
If you wish to reply, that would be good, as long as we can avoid the slanging match that CZcams forums sometimes become! I'm sure we can.
Best wishes
Hi Harpopete.
Well, it's a shame that it's the first time because they have played here many times and I've seen them each time - and got to know them all. I doubt they will be here anytime soon in this uncertain economic climate. Anyway, I love the way that Rod plays this just like Little Walter's record (a perfect record) and then takes off into his own stuff. He is still The Man! And this line-up of the band was arguably THE line-up.
Regards, Keith
Many thanks for alerting me to the Burnley gig, that's most thoughtful of you. I wasn't aware of it. Damn, i can't go. My friend Hamilton Loomis is there on Sunday night, too. I have gigs on the Isle of Man on both nights....
Best wishes
Man, this is just good stuff! Thanks posting.
Sweet early 90's clip of the flyer's. Best I've seen on CZcams. Still has Alex Shultz
on guitar & jimi bott on drums, before they
picked up Rick Holmstrom & Steve Muggalian. Great clip!
Rod and the band play at the Burnley Blues Festival, Lancashire, U. K. Sat.11th April
Hope this helps anyone, Cheers ..John
Just a great version and probably my fave version of Little Walter's Mellow down Easy, Making SoCal and the IE proud Rod. Keep Jammin! I will see you down in the OC this week.
Blowingharp comment: thanks, man we truly see eye to eye. I'm on the email list from Miss Honey and unfortunately being west coast-based they don't get out to Minnesota often enough. There is a gig this week at a little old place called The Cabooze, and it's a mini-harp fest with Mark Hummel, Magic Dick, and Kim Wilson on the bill. Not too shabby either!
Hello again JoeLee Bush...I see - now that I've got my copy of the Little Walter biography out of storage - that you've already told the world what you saw and heard, for which, many thanks!
Best wishes
Muito bom.
2:46 is wigglin'
lord have mercy
Great playinas standard here fukin blues giants!!
@JoeLeeBush
Tell him brother! As someone who's known Rod for 25 plus years, I'll add that there is no one who plays Little Walter better than Rod, and he'd be the first to tell you what "Book" these licks came from.
I see that there is a lot up there regarding a UK harp player Wes or West Weston? I saw some of the videos. He's OK, but it's going to take him about forty years before he even begins to reach Piazza's level.
@JoeLeeBush - got to agree with JLB - learning LW note for note is great if you're a jukebox - musicians, while they may play some licks note for note, are musicians because they Don't - get a clue, bluebird
You know what? You're right.
Anybody knows what kind of and which key harp he's using?
@bluebirdWANNABOP - ok I've listened to the rhythm four - - you'll never convince me that they are better than the Mighty Flyers
what guitar is the guitarist plyn?
Alex Schultz. Very hip.
しゃれたおじさん達！
Reply to "bluebird"WANNABOP.
Man, you're the kind of guy who'd go to a strip club and yell "put it on".
Nobody CARES that he nails the notes lick for lick...they're having fun and working with it.
And if YOU cant hit those notes dead on it...then you can't play.
Rod's got the best blues group in the country and I have seen 'em all including Walter Jacobs himself in 1955 and all the rest since.
Read it and weep, pup.
I guess if I'm playing gypsy jazz it's AOK for me to run around sporting a Bela Lugosi accent? Give me a break. Play the fucking harp, and speak like a white dude from Riverside. It's not a crime.