A special free offer with today's St. Patrick's Day edition. Sláinte. Mimicry: the action or skill of imitating someone or something especially in order to entertain or ridicule. (Oxford Living Dictionary) The harmonica is well known for it's imitation of the steam train, the hounds of the fox chase, sirens, chooks and babies crying for their … Continue reading Mouth Harp Mimicry
Hello Riff Raffers, “Well I remember when I was young the world had just begun and I was happy. I used to wonder about the earth and how it moved around the sun so snappy.” (Matt Taylor) Back when I was young you could venture down to the local milk bar and purchase sixteen aniseed balls … Continue reading Humpo Bompa (with a dadada da da over the top)
A timeline of Australian models (an attempt), as promised a while back. An up-to-date remastered version is out now. Just click here Remastered. 1896-Woolloomooloo Warbler (Seydel/Alberts) originally had a patent bone lip protector, Kangaroo Chalmer (Seydel/Alberts)-Later that year King Billy (Seydel/Alberts)-two sided & another with bells maybe later at 3s 5d, The Federal Harp-(Ernst Hess/J Hess & … Continue reading Aussie Harmonicas – Timeline
Hi Riff Raffers, Greg Foster is more than an accomplished harmonica exponent and yet for some reason he goes under the radar when we discuss the best Australian harp players. His extensive body of work with Jazz super group 'Galapagos Duck' alone is testimony enough to his proficiency as a musician, songwriter, performer and particularly … Continue reading Ah! Fosters-He’s Got The Flavour
G'day Riff Raffers, Here's a story about how the humble harmonica improved a racehorses temperament and with it his performance, aided by a coffee or two. (Brisbane Telegraph, 21st January, 1950) (Brisbane Truth, 3rd December, 1950) Piccolo Pete having admitted his guilt, of sorts, said his conscience was clear. He accepted the stewards findings and … Continue reading NFSCD #2-Horsin’ Around
Hello there Riff Raffers, “ My mother said I was an animal for my wild and wicked ways. My father said I was an animal cos I would not wash for days. My girlfriend said I was a dog and I guess she oughta know. A man's best friend in human form I'm a D-I-N-G-O." (Ross … Continue reading By Dingoes
Hi Riff Raffers, Legendary axeman Kevin Borich only knew him as Uncle. When the 'Kevin Borich Express' played gigs in Adelaide, Kev would invite Uncle on stage to jam, such were the skills of this long haired, bearded man with wild eyes, on the most owned instrument in the world. In 1977 the stars aligned … Continue reading A Man Called Uncle
Hello Riff Raffers, "The singer's song will not be heard if the applause is much too loud." (Glenn Shorrock) Some tunes are never destined for greatness if the measure is by chart success or record sales. Without airplay what chance does it have to be a 'chart buster'? I'm always bemused by the critics' label … Continue reading Auditory Perception
Hello Riff Raffers, Recently I acquired somewhat fortuitously, a ‘Cobber’ harmonica tin. The top of this once colourful tin has a three dimensional graphic of the harmonica that should lie within. However the harp inside wasn’t a ‘Cobber’ and it's name had been incorrectly identified by the seller (maybe a Dawg Blawg down the line). … Continue reading Cobber & Co.
“The Jean Genie lives on his back. The Jean Genie laughs in his daks.” Another mondegreen, a misheard lyric by yours truly on David Bowie's 1972 hit, 'Jean Genie', that features David blowing a bit of sixties style harp. Now that I have your attention I'd like to pass on a story about a young … Continue reading The Gene Genius
Harmonica Riff Raff 