Author Archives: Elwood

Jason Ricci Needs Help

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Elwood

My, what a good time for an album review Writing about Jason Ricci has been on my agenda more or less since I started blogging on the Harp Surgery. It’s odd, really, that he doesn’t get much airtime here, considering … Continue reading →

Posted in Apprenticeship Series, CD Reviews | 11 Comments

Learn How (Not) To Play Harmonica

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Elwood

Hey Negrita’s harmonica player teaches our Apprentice a lesson about tasteful playing Some time back I got my hands on this acoustic single, “Burn The Whole Place Down” by the British country blues band Hey Negrita, which features my friend … Continue reading →

Posted in Apprenticeship Series, CD Reviews | 1 Comment

Our First-Ever Blues Harp Albums (Part 1)

Posted on April 1, 2010 by Elwood

Which record got you hooked on blues harmonica? This week the Harp Surgery team goes back to Original Spin… Elwood’s choice: I’ll never forget the day I decided to take up blues harmonica. I was 18 years old, doing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Apprenticeship Series, CD Reviews | 6 Comments

Son of Dave: “I’m not really a very clever harp player”

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Elwood

Last month we interviewed the Son of Dave. Here’s the second half of our chat with the beat-boxing harmonica man: this time, he rants about drum-machines, America, nun-raping pop songs, and why he wears sunglasses indoors. …So I asked some … Continue reading →

Posted in Apprenticeship Series, Interviews | 2 Comments

Son of Dave: Same Old Sound, Maybe New Sunglasses

Posted on March 7, 2010 by Elwood

An interview with blues harmonica man Benjamin Darvil Son of Dave found his coolness through the only legitimate means available to us skinny white guys: Wearing your granddad’s clothes and a creepy grin, and making bizarre, gut-busting music that goes … Continue reading →

Posted in Apprenticeship Series, Interviews | Leave a comment

Interview with Christelle Berthon

Posted on February 19, 2010 by Elwood

Elwood the Apprentice in conversation with the undisputed harmonica queen of YouTube. By turns bold as hell and surprisingly self-doubting, Christelle Berthon is one of the most closely watched harmonica players on the web (over 2 million pairs of eyeballs, … Continue reading →

Posted in Apprenticeship Series, Interviews | 5 Comments

Harmonica Links: The Best And The Worst

Posted on February 10, 2010 by Elwood

Talk about the blind leading the blind! Elwood the Apprentice has a rant about amateur hour out there on the Internet It’s not in the Harp Surgery’s nature to be negative. The reason for that is the Good Doctor: he’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Apprenticeship Series | 5 Comments

Harmonica Podcast: The Kids Are Alright

Posted on January 23, 2010 by Elwood

Download the podcast (19.7MB) As the world stumbles into a new decade, we at the Harp Surgery find ourselves contemplating the future. But we’re not thinking about jetpacks or three-course meals that you can take as a pill. No, we’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Apprenticeship Series, Podcasts | 6 Comments

London Harmonicas

Posted on December 26, 2009 by Elwood

Last Wednesday Elwood the Apprentice attended a year-end performance with London Harmonicas, the informal collective that meets every other Tuesday at The Torriano Pub (7.15pm for beginners, 8pm for intermediates). What he saw was a glorious vision for the socialist … Continue reading →

Posted in Apprenticeship Series, Gig Reviews | 1 Comment

Happy Birthday Junior Wells

Posted on December 9, 2009 by Elwood

The Hoodoo Man would be 75 today. Harmonica great Junior Wells was born December 9th 1934. It’s remarkable to think that someone who played with Muddy Waters in the early days would have been so young today (he was 19 … Continue reading →

Posted in Announcements, Apprenticeship Series | 4 Comments