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San
Diego's Mr. Natural….
As we sat down to talk, in the back of my head, Monty Python keeps repeating, '…and now for something completely different….' Let's go back to the beginning. Did your blues originate on the East Coast? "No, I didn't start playing blues till I moved to the West Coast. My cousin turned me on to blues when I lived on the East Coast, when I was a kid. And that was the end of that, you know?" Who were some of your earliest harp influences? "The first real harmonica I ever saw, my memory… it was twenty years ago now, it was like, either Rick Estrin or James Harman. And after that it might have even been a fellow that I thought was equally hip named, Hook Herrera, (Greg Allman, Richie Sambora) who I really enjoyed and he was cool. It was all at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach." Talk a little about when you came west. Your original plan was just to visit some friends who lived in LaJolla? "He was a civil engineer for the Navy and he lived a block away from Windansea. His mom was a realtor and she had a really killer pad and I wound up staying there for like… two months, and I NEVER went home. I got a pad in Pacific Beach and that was it, I never went home. I stayed on the West Coast."
Today San Diego has a huge core group of blues players, who were some of the musicians you got to know when you first got to town? "The first guys that I really enjoyed playing with were 'The Blues Pharoahs.' They turned me on to blues, I have to say… and the Mississippi MudSharks. These guys were all influencing each other and hanging out. Another guy named Chris James and the Blue Four, they were all pals. So, hanging out with them I got to meet Nathan James, but several guys that were really great friends to me… Eric Lieberman, (Blue Largo, Rhumboogies) Brad Karow who's a dear friend and a great blues drummer and Tom Mahon, on the piano. We had a million laughs together with Flaco Medina (Johnny Dyer, William Clarke) on the bass and Nathan James (James Harman, the Rhythm Scratchers) on guitar. And that's what kind of launched my career as far as playing blues. They were the guys that got me on the right path, listening to the right kind of blues." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "I would have never guessed
that I would be a harmonica player. —
Billy Watson
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * * *
You mentioned Estrin and Harman, I saw you recently on the bill at the Golden Sails Harp Blowdown with Estrin and before that, in the vineyards with James Harman. "Yeah, they're good buddies. Rick I don't know that great, he's so busy, but he influenced me 'cause it was like watching Groucho Marx on the harmonica. And that's what Candye Kane always says. But when I saw a guy clowning around on stage and having FUN with it and not just trying to act like some serious blues guy, I was hooked. And another guy who did the same thing, believe it or not, was William Clarke in his earlier years when he first started. I saw him at the Belly Up with Charlie Musselwhite and William Clarke was this jovial, fun-loving guy and I don't think very many people remember that or focused on that. They remembered he was a dark character. William Clarke was dark, we used to kid around, 'Clarke is dark.'" (Clarke was only 45 when he passed away in 1996 from a bleeding ulcer) Billy shakes his head, "Poor guy."
What is it about harp players and short life spans? So much talent…lost too soon. "I don't know, maybe the instrument, it's one of the only instruments you play where you breathe through it. And there's a lot of demons involved with it. It can be sad. I love the Rod Piazza story where he calls the harmonica repair guy, a big name guy at Hohner. And he goes, 'Hi, my name's Rod Piazza, I'm a harmonica player.' And the guy says, 'My sympathies.' (laughing) "I always thought that was the greatest story. Rod told me that, 'you're a harmonica player? My sympathies.''' (laughing) How would you describe your style of blues? "It's based on blues, but I honestly don't think I'm very much of a bluesman. I just play a variety of music based on a progression that is solid and then the rest of it is improvised similar to jazz. Not that we play jazz, but it's similar to freeform, improvised music which is kind of like jazz. I'm not really a guy trying to act or cover blues numbers from ancient times. I like that music and I listen to it but my show is designed to entertain a person who might not know anything about blues and that's my niche." (laughing)
Your music does seem to incorporate differing styles? "Yeah that's what I like to do. Honestly, I'm not very much of a historian, I know about a little of it. It's easy enough to go to a book and look at it. I mean, you punch a guys name in Google and you can get all the information you need, but I just like playing it." You uphold the age old tradition of 'journeyman.' Playing with multiple musicians sometimes as a band leader, other times appearing as a sideman. "Yeah, it's easygoing. I enjoy that. I always kind of dreamed of traveling and seeing different places and hanging out with people. I've always liked the idea of being in a band and entertaining people. I think that's something I've wanted to do since I was a little kid, but never really had the focus. My idea of entertaining people is just to get them to smile and get up and react and have fun and everyone wants to be loved, that's all." We talked before about your admiration of Howlin' Wolf. "Yeah, when I saw him I realized that he was like from outer space compared to all the other blues giants everyone else tries to emulate. And Howlin' Wolf… lot's of people try to imitate him, even myself and you wind up hurting your voice and you'll never be like him. And no one will ever be like that guy. When you say Howlin' Wolf… Oh yeah, Howlin' Wolf. THAT'S IT! There is no comparison with this guy or that guy."
You have any favorite venues, places you really like to play? "I like all the places I play now, but my favorite ones are like Miramonte winery. Wineries are fun because people are drinking and having a good time. And Iva Lee's in San Clemente and anywhere the music makes sense. Where there isn't a TV over your head…blaring. An area that resembles a stage and the people are there to see music, those are my favorite gigs. The Coyote (Carlsbad) is capable of that. Anyplace that has an arena like environment, that's what I want." Looking ahead, what's the future hold for Billy Watson?
"It is unknown at this point; I kind of like to keep it open like that. You can't really control it. I would have never guessed that I would be a harmonica player. I went to school to be an artist and graphic designer and that kind of tanked. The only thing that I use that for is designing my record covers and silly little posters I make on Facebook. That's about all I ever got out of that. So you can't really control your destiny, I really believe in that. You just gotta' go with it." Having seen Billy play dozens of times in all types of venues and band configurations, I've can honestly say no one leaves his show without a smile. It just won't happen. You can catch Billy Watson and his co-conspirators at numerous locations up and down the West Coast. Check out his website for dates and times on your planet. If you can't make it to a live show, just check out any of his nine releases. The latest project is entitled, '9 Lives, Madcap Blues Harmonica.' It's an excellent addition and 'something completely different' to enhance your blues collection. Related Articles: |
magine that 1940's bandleader Spike Jones and Alfalfa of the Little
Rascals had a child together. Then envision that child being raised
and nurtured by Rod Serling and Curly Howard. Well, that kid would be
considered normal compared to Billy Watson. Widely known as a harp player
with masterful technique, Watson's performances can be simultaneously
fun-filled AND manic. He's well-versed in the tradition of blues (Your
Funeral My Trial), yet he still takes great pleasure in the unexpected
(Elevator Music in a UFO). Seeing this guy play live is like
watching an episode of the 'Twilight Zone' starring Howlin' Wolf and
'Spanky' McFarland. The response is always immediate and undisputed,
'Whoa… didn't see that coming.' The man even pays
homage to Stymie and the 'Our Gang' alum by calling his own group, 'The
International Silver String Submarine Band.'
Let Tim know what you think about his traveling adventure.
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