In Demand. yay. Let me Tell You Bout HJ

So, there is a long time resident of SD county who is probably not far from my age.  Old, in some books.

He fancies himself, "Harmonica John", and is a big wheel in the organizing of the yearly harp fest in La Mesa.  I think la mesa. Can't always tell where El Cajon ends and other names begin.

Anyway.  People who did not hang in the blues circles and such would call me Harmonica John when I first got here.  I discouraged that.  Since my facebook is under an alias I told them to use that name when they needed to say something in public or at a jam or whatever.  I explained that 1. I would never fancy myself the only John somehow connected with stupid harmonicas, and 2.  that there was cat around town calling himself that and I wanted to avoid the mix up.  Besides, he was here first.

The guy is a very good player but not a ground breaker.  I find him to be very good at what thousands of blues harp players try to play.  Nice, but not really original.  But good.  And he's a pompous $%^&*head.

So, now the marine is back wanting me to play and has streamlined that band, much like I am encouraging Sande to do.  Just makes sense for our likely venues and if the bass is iffy for gigs and can only practice sometimes, do without.  Last gig was only the three of us, Guitar and vocal lady, viola lady, and me.  It was far better than most outings.

Anyway so there are four separate acts who want me playing with them.  That is great.  Now, I do not hang in blues circles or harmonica circles--often the same--since I arrived.  Just not into it.  And not into most of the people.  The ones who don't have to play 50 year old tough guy with all the usual affectations. Or any year old tough guy.  It spans generations.

For some reason though, Harmonica John seems to feel threatened.

I posted an old Memphis video on FB for the benefit of the marine and his girl, because they were curious.

So, they have something nice to say and HJ immediately wants to critique, as if he is the ultimate.  "Well, you are better now but blabla decent then."  ??? No one asked.  I found it nervy and offensive but you do not defend or you give the pompous something to feel ego fed over.

Ha. But then others jump in.  Sande said I was a God.  oh geez.  among other nice praise.  He has to answer, "Well, I wouldn't go that far..etc."  Saying his idea of a god and hers were different. It is crazy.  He is known in this area and I just play without promoting myself much.

Anyway, I tried to end it at the beginning by just saying WTF Friday. Zip..over the head.

So all this god stuff happened and I finally said, The men don't know but the pretty girls understand.  Haha. That shut him up.

He is right, maybe. I think I am better now. Different anyway.  By necessity.  But no one asked.  Should I say he has great tone and technical skill but lacks punch, excitement and originality?   No, I should not.  You didn't ask. I pretended you did.

It has taken all my life to believe that any seemingly competent person would be threatened or intimidated by me in any field or endeavor.  Finally I realized that some people always think they are in competition in odd games that many people don't even play.  But, even smart people can be so screwed up and egocentric that they become petty and small minded.  All in an effort to be elite and superior.  Problem is they freak that maybe they convince no one, or that their competition does not even care.

 Maybe more playing will be good, and more of it will bring in a little bit of cash.

I need every dime and every thread I can touch.  Unstable and screwy times
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