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Karl Monetti
`Olu`olu
USA
756 Posts |
 Posted - 11/17/2005 : 9:48:32 PM
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I just realized that all my whining the past two years about not having anyone to play slack key with are now over. My good friend Fred, with whom I have played guitar and sung for years, has taken a real liking to slack key. In fact, I think he is a gonner!
I have played slack for him for the past few years, he said he liked it, might want to learn some day, but nothing came of it. This summer, though, I began playing slack key in a coffee house owned by a friend at lunch time. She was putting on nightly free gigs at a local (the local) theme park and asked me to do some slack key tunes. OK, says I, but I will need some help.....someone else up there to ease my fears. Fred has always been the man to lend a helping hand.
We practiced a few tunes, me in G, he in standard or on bass, and we did two gigs, with another friend joining in on mandolin (no uke players here) and guitar. Three slack tunes, a couple slide, some cowboy stuff, etc..
Then the same lady asked if i would do some freebie lunch gigs this winter. This time she wanted all slack key. So i got Fred again, but before i did, i gave him a copy of John Keawe's instructional video for his birthday. And, I included a home made CD of me doing 14 slack key tunes. That hooked him. I saw him a few days later. I came over at night and found him in front of the computer playing Mama's music Box in taropatch. Said he'd been there for four hours (recently retired, he has lots of time on his hands)!!
We practiced for a dozen hours over the next week, he learned two slack key tunes and backed me up on standard tuning for the others.
These little gigs we are doing are REALLY LITTLE. THe program is not well funded, very little advertising, the venue is not the most convenient to get to, and the audience has to bring their own nlunch to boot! So, the first day we had 5 wiliing folks, all of whom worked in the building, plus the organizer was having a meeting that day and chose to have it off to the side of ouir little playing area, doubling the audience. Well, after the first song we had people asking for CDs! Not bragging, we are really not very good, they just liked the soothing music. (Gee, I hope this doesn't catch on, or everybody will be doing it!)
After we were done, several folks stayed and mentioned how much they liked it, how relaxing it was, can we put our names down for a CD if you ever make one, where can i buy this music. That happend at both gigs, and THAT is really what blew Fred away. He has been playing music in this town for 30 years, and for the last 2 years doing up to 5 paying gigs a week, and he told me he has never had anyone come up after a show and show the appreciation that our little audiences have.
Since our last event on Tuesday, I have called him three times, and each time I have heard the DVD in the background and he tells me he has been practicing for severl hours. Today he told me "This music is so relaxing to play. I should have taken it up sooner"
So, I got me a pickin' partner at last. So he lives 40 miles away, big deal. That's better than 4,000!
My next task is to get him on the 'patch.
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Karl
Frozen North |
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Pua Kai
Ha`aha`a
USA
1007 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2005 : 04:34:05 AM
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WooHoo!!
Imagine having ki ho`alu in North Pole!! Way to go Uncle Karl - I'm so glad you're having fun!!!
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Ray Sowders
Akahai
USA
96 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2005 : 06:49:10 AM
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Aloha Karl,
Good for you brah! It's hard to beat having a partner who is what you describe. I hope it turns into a long and healthy musical thing for you guys.
Ray
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Karl Monetti
`Olu`olu
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2005 : 08:21:56 AM
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Ray,
Fred and I have played music on and off for at least 20 years already, and it will only get better! Fred is the much better all-round guitarist. I just love the stuff he adds to my playing, and he really spices up the slack key stuff. In fact, on the two songs he has learned so far, he has already come up with several variations and twists of his own.
Another neat thing is how much you grow as a player when someone else is now alternating playing the melody/theme of the song; it has given me a chance to break away from the tune and fiddle around somewhere else on the neck, come up with harmonies, etc.. Lots of fun.
Pretty soon it will be me accompanying him! |
Karl
Frozen North |
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Kapila Kane
Ha`aha`a
USA
1051 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2005 : 02:24:04 AM
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Good show Karl.
I wish I felt I had enough to do a Mini-show...
a low key, casual place at the north pole might be perfect.
But I'll look around here.
I also have recruited a friend who works in standard...
and it keeps the flow when mine is off, and adds very nice Hawaiianesque turnarounds and texture on a sweet 12 string...
I've been doing some church appearances...good, but usually only 2 songs...so I'm not pushed enough.
Repertoire needs growth.
congrats on your courage to jump out and share.
Maybe I'll try the laid back, low pressure coffee house where we can explore and develop.
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2164 Posts |
Posted - 11/21/2005 : 05:49:57 AM
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| Grief shared is halved, joy shared is doubled. Music is communication. Performance is fun, but jamming is the ultimate. Keep turning the rocks over, you might find a ukulele player, maybe even a steel player. Like Keola says, "Hold on to what you love with an open hand." |
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Sarah
`Olu`olu
571 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2005 : 05:40:16 AM
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Karl, you have been truly blessed.
aloha,
Sarah |
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slkho
`Olu`olu
740 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2005 : 10:32:25 AM
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K,
Way to go old man, so good to hear you formed a great slack key duo. Go knock 'em dead. Any cool names for you guys?
-slkho |
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Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2005 : 4:18:02 PM
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Yukon Kikas
Kanikakodiak
Nahenahe Grizzlies
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E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
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slkho
`Olu`olu
740 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 08:44:00 AM
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LOL...
Crusty Mooses
-slkho |
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Karl Monetti
`Olu`olu
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 1:32:55 PM
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Haoling Wolves?
Northern Haoles
The Cold Mothers
Still Standing Band
Graying Graylings
Tortured Trout
Pickled Pike
Ice Cream Sunday
Midnight Sun
Noon Moon Loons
Alaskikas
I like Nahenahe Grizzlies a lot!
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Karl
Frozen North |
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HeartOTexas
Akahai
55 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2005 : 4:23:28 PM
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Karl, I hope y'all can record "Rubba Slippahs in da Snow" for next year's CD! Can't wait to hear it! Does it still need words?
Howz about "Ki Ho Achoo"?
H.O.T. |
Frank
Deep in the Heart of Texas |
Edited by - HeartOTexas on 12/06/2005 4:33:47 PM |
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Karl Monetti
`Olu`olu
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2005 : 08:38:03 AM
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H.O.T
LOL
yeah, it still needs words.... |
Karl
Frozen North |
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slkho
`Olu`olu
740 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2005 : 08:14:38 AM
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Cold Mothers gets my vote. LOL
(hard nipples sounds great but wouldn't get past the censors)
-slkho |
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Karl Monetti
`Olu`olu
USA
756 Posts |
Posted - 12/09/2005 : 09:59:52 AM
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Rik
well, you've seen me, and my buddy ain't much to look at either, so we also thought of the Mugly Others, you know after the wicked stepmother in Archy Campbells version of Rindercella, with her two Sad Blisters , her Mugly Other, the Pransome Hince at the Bancy Fall, where she slopped her dripper....surely you remember??? Well, you are sort of young. I say, i say, Son, you remember Hee Haw? |
Karl
Frozen North |
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slkho
`Olu`olu
740 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2005 : 09:50:41 AM
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Mugly Others it is. Sounds cool. BTW, I'm quite old...ha ha
You might of heard of my band, 'Hunched-back Goth Chicks with Terets', we play of lot of Gansta- Jamican-Amish street rap.
-slkho
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