Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer, Plushgun, Luca Gemma: Saturday UkeTube

22 Comments

1. Ken Middleton October 31st, 2009 4:54 pm
   

   Most things I hear on the ukulele sound playable. Some tunes sound a bit harder than others obviously. But what James Hill is playing on this Billy Jean video actually sounds impossible (or at least very tricky). I wish the camera shot was a bit closer.

2. L.Bo Marie October 31st, 2009 6:00 pm
   

   ken, have you seen the video for James’ version of the “one note samba”? The vid is taken a little closer, and it’s just as crazy.

   I have not stopped listening to Mr.B’s song… sooo funny. thanks for finding that Woodshed.

3. Byjimini October 31st, 2009 6:13 pm
   

   The Anything Goes’ are fantastic, especially since he’s playing a steel uke (which I got this afternoon!).

4. Acilius October 31st, 2009 6:45 pm
   

   I’ll go further than Ken. I’m so far from believing that James Hill is playing that track that I’m starting to doubt Victoria as well, and to suspect that she is the biological father of Billie Jean’s son.

5. PaulC October 31st, 2009 6:57 pm
   

   I sure hope Harry Connick Jr Doesn’t see Ralph Shaw’s performance!

   Seeing James Hill and Victoria Vox together was awesome. Ralph I’m going to have to tease mercilessly the next time I see him…

6. todd October 31st, 2009 7:16 pm
   

   Mr. B!!!! so blinking entertaining! i loved it….

   Michelle Blades has a lovely voice…she was in our local newspaper last year…..she was going to AZ state….wonder if she still is?…..

   loved the peter moss tune as well…..

   fun indeed Al,

   todd

7. Nick Bardy-Chivor October 31st, 2009 8:50 pm
   

   …Mr B is awesome, his cricket take on straight outta compton (surrey) is real class, if you dig cricket and hip hop…Loved james hill, how does he do that?!…anything goes…of course it does when you’ve got a panama and a resonator…good clips Al, cheers…

8. live2tivo October 31st, 2009 9:32 pm
   

   I wrote a little ditty this afternoon to wish everyone a Happy Halloween. I hope it’s okay to link this…it is the UkeTube post.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GdTGepCuc4

9. Ron November 1st, 2009 6:11 am
   

   Note to Ralph Shaw: This is the 21st century & St. Helena, CA is not the Deep South…Note to V. Vox: See note to Ralph Shaw…

10. Aimee November 1st, 2009 1:57 pm
    

    I kind of assumed that James Hill was using a loop pedal? Am I wrong?!
    I love the Bobby McGees SO HARD.

11. Woodshed November 1st, 2009 2:48 pm
    

    Ken: I was wondering how he did it as well. I’ll have to write it up as three parts and then try to figure out how to put them together.

    L.Bo Marie: I can’t take much credit for finding it. It’s been all over the internets. Zym told me about it and Boing Boing featured it.

    Byjimini: And they’re from my ancestral home.

    Acilius: Let’s not start any Lady Gaga type rumours.

    PaulC: Anyone willing to do that in public must be beyond embarrassment.

    todd: Another Arizona uker? That makes two I know of.

    Nick: I think that Mr B song needs a write up.

    live2tivo: Nice song.

    Ron: I didn’t notice Ralph Shaw and Victoria Vox in that video.

    Aimee: Yes, I think he’s playing all that as it happens.

12. Gin Lynne November 1st, 2009 7:43 pm
    

    In Mr. B the Gentleman Rhymer, he’s playing a Banjolele! I want one!!!

13. Ken Middleton November 2nd, 2009 7:10 am
    

    Aimee – I don’t think it is a loop pedal. James Hill has a knack of playing something very hard and making it look easy.

    Al – I hope you do figure it out. I spent an hour on it and got nowhere. The bass and chord parts seem straightforward enough, but the drum beats are what makes it difficult. I am not sure where he hits the uke, with which finger and how he play a note at the same time.

14. CharlesHugh November 2nd, 2009 6:45 pm
    

    Ken – As far as i can work out to get the bass drum sound he is strumming the strings right in front of the bridge, so the note sounds and with the bass turned right up on your amp the drum sound is also made.

15. Woodshed November 3rd, 2009 11:32 am
    

    Gin: Even Mr B can’t convince me to get a banjolele. The spectre of George Formby would never leave.

    Ken and Charles: I’ll have to email James and get it sorted out.

16. Woodshed November 4th, 2009 11:33 am
    

    Here’s what the man himself said:

    “There are absolutely no effects and no loopers involved. That’s what makes it fun! I’m not totally against using loopers… just mostly.

    I’m sure I should keep a bit of this up my sleeve so I’ll just say that the main breakthrough was this (I used the same approach on the One Note Samba routine): I’m flicking the strings very close to the bridge (think booger flick) to get that “bass drum” sound. That way you can get a note (or chord) and the bass drum sound simultaneously (with about 1000 hours of practice…). I came up with this way of playing about five years ago but it’s taken a while to find ways to make it musical and fit it into my set.”

17. Craig Robertson November 5th, 2009 5:44 pm
    

    James Hill is always at the top of our particular heap because of things like this…he’s willing to experiment and try new things and just MAKE THEM WORK. Damn. totally jaw-dropping.

18. alec - howtoplayalone November 6th, 2009 2:18 pm
    

    That Bill Jean move is so good it’s magic, and he should keep it up his sleeve indeed.

19. CharlesHugh November 7th, 2009 6:22 pm
    

    I was more or less right. Boo-ya. Now if only I could do it.

20. Hello Jodi November 10th, 2009 5:11 am
    

    Seeing this a little late but hot damn! James Hill, eh? I gotta see this man live.

21. Woodshed November 11th, 2009 12:25 pm
    

    Jodi: Me too. I wish he’d come over to the UK.

22. byjimini August 24th, 2010 8:05 pm
    

    I was in Whitby with the band (The Trollops) for the Folk Festival over the weekend; busked on the Sunday and got rained off on Monday, so we dived into a pub (as you do…) as we knew there was music on, sat down and played our stuff. I was stood next to a lady who was singing unaccompanied, and it was only when I sat opposite her and heard her sing that I realised it was Mo from The Anything Goes Orchestra featured here! We had a little chat and she asked if I’d play “I’m Yours” for her to sing to.

    Normally I turn my nose up at that request, but I was so stunned to see her that I gladly accepted, and I played whilst she sat 2 feet away belting it out. The whole room loved it, and I got some great feedback for my playing. :D

    *bounces around the room again*