Blues Hat
Jan Miller
I'm searching for the ultimate 'Blues Hat' to wear while playing in my
band. The store in my town don't do this sort of hat, all do the same 'in
style now' design. What do I mean. Well, hard to say, an 'Old Man's Hat',
in a way, but with class, a Chicago Bluesmans Hat...
Any help appreciated!!!
Jan..
The older you get, the more you learn to see what you've been taught to
see. When you're a kid, you see what's there. -- Steven Wright
Jim
Rgds...Jim
------------------------------------------------------------------
jwe...@iadfw.net
www.geocities.com/big_jim_wells
Bronxharp1
I'm searching for the ultimate 'Blues Hat' to wear while playing in my
band. The store in my town don't do this sort of hat, all do the same 'in
style now' design. What do I mean. Well, hard to say, an 'Old Man's Hat',
in a way, but with class, a Chicago Bluesmans Hat...
Any help appreciated!!!
Jan..<<
I hate to burst your bubble, buddy, but there is no such thing as the "ultimate
Bluesman Hat".
A hat expresses character, personality. What works for you? Or are you looking
to borrow someone's personality as your own? This will not make you play any
better. Nor will it make people think you are more authentic. I personally
think it was the Blues Brothers who made the "Blues Hat" a must-have accessory
for the white wannabee Bluesman. (before you gag...)think about it... Does BB
King wear a hat on stage? No. Did Muddy wear a hat on stage? No. Did Howlin
Wolf wear a hat on stage? No. Did Sonny Boy wear a hat on stage? Well... most
of the time he *came* to the stage with a Derby, but took it off while he
performed. Did Little Walter, James Cotton, Carey Bell, Buddy Guy, Albert King,
Freddy King.. awww the list will go on and on.. did they wear hats while they
performed? NO.
There are but a few known for their hats on stage... John Lee Hooker and his
Homburg immediately come to mind. It works for him. Will it work for you?
Maybe. Or maybe people will mistake you for a funeral director or a mortgage
banker trying to play the Blues. Earlier in his career he did not wear hats all
the time, or wore different ones... like fedoras. Or "old man hats". Or floppy
hats. But don't even *think* of dressing like the Hook unless you have black
socks with white stars on 'em.
Jr. Wells was most often with a hat on stage in the later part of his career.
He also wore a hairnet and garish red and yellow PIMP clothes. Would you like
to adopt that style of dress? I'd think not. You will look particularly garish
and stooopid in it, especially if you are a white man.
Now, if you are a guitarist playing an electric rockin style of Blues, no doubt
you'd want to have the ultimate "Stevie Ray" Hat. Because if you don't, you
aint sh-t.
Forget about the hats Jimi wore, with the long flowing scarves. This isn't the
60's when Flower Power ruled. You may be able to get away with it, however, if
you're gigging in the west part of Greenwich Village. But wear baggy-assed
jeans to offset the possible unwanted consequences. By the way, I just saw a
large exhibit of Rock N Roll clothes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.
They had Jimi's Hat with the long scarve and a few other of his outfits. Great
exhibit. I highly recommend it.
When you see old photos of Lightning Hopkins, Bukka White, Furry Lewis, Son
House, Hammy Nixon etc playing guitar while wearing hats, understand that for
the most part these pictures were taken outdoors. They were wearing it for
functional purposes (sun glare comes to mind). Look at pictures of these gents
at indoor concerts... for the most part they went hatless then. I don't think
these men wore hats because it was a "Blues Thing To Do".
But after the Blues Brothers epitomized the image of the Bluesman as one who
wore a dark suit and a dark hat, a new flock of blues musicians (mostly us
white guys) decided that in order to look like a real Bluesman (or worse.. to
*be* a real Bluesman), you had to wear a hat. Notice that the newer generation
of black blues cats (and some old timers) aren't scrambling to the "Blues"
haberdasherrer. Hey... Lonnie & Ronnie Brooks, Gatemouth Brown, Smokey
whats-his-face and a whole slew of others are wearing COWBOY HATS (as did
Lightning Hopkins 1/2 the time when he played outside in the hot Texas sun).
Yep.. they are searching for the ultimate Country Singer Hat. Go figure....
Still wanna wear a hat while you play? Why not! Knock yourself out!
Hey, look... I aint saying hats are wrong! Its COOL to wear hats on stage,
regardless of what type of music you play. Just wear something that works for
you. Something that allows your own personality to shine through (unless you
NEED a hat cuz you have no personality, but let's hope that isnt the case). *I*
love to wear hats on stage. And I have a great collection of hats... here's a
brief synopsis of the more spiffier ones...
A Derby (of course, I am a harp player). However, as a white guy who is only
5'8", I sometimes feel more like Jiminy Cricket when I wear it than Sonny Boy
Williamson! the crowd loves, it though.
I also wear a Black Pork Pie Hat. The audience REALLY loves this one! Although
I would have to say it looks more like a jazz hat... (Lester Young) than a
Blues hat. Or the guy in RUN DMC.
I have a Black Fedora. This is one that you could imagine John Lee Hooker
wearing. In fact, I took a photo of John Lee wearing this type of hat at a show
in the mid 80's. However, if I had a long white beard, you would think I was
Menachem Mendel Schneerson (not a Bluesman, but he may have influenced more
people).
I wrote a song about this last hat.. a true story. I recorded it on my CD. The
song is called "Funky Black Hat", and the chorus goes like this:
Now I got this Hat.
It's funky and Black!
and it makes me look like a real Bluesman, too!
You lent me this hat
Now you wannit back...
Well, baby, you know what you can do-oo-oo!
I'll never part with it,
It's a trophy in my hall closet.
And it's not just another fly-by-night-thing like you.
Yes, I'll give you the funky black hat, baby...
I'll give you the Funky Black Hat baby Blues!
© 1994 Mark The Harper/Midnight Muse Publishing-(BMI)
I also have a couple of 40's style hats (brown and dark gray). You may have
seen photos of people like Lefty Dizz with this one. But it's more associated
with Elliot Ness and the Untouchables.
Then there's the white straw pork pie with the black band. A coolass hat for
the summertime Blues gig or Blues cruise! (Did someone say "ska"??? or "Coney
Island Huckster?" Whatdya mean?!?!? It looks good on Taj Mahal!)
Berets. Of course.. we can't forget the Berets! Lottsa white men be puttin on
de shades and popping on de berets.. perched jes' right, of course! WITH
SUNGLASSES, PAL! DONT FORGET THE SUNGLASSES! Aren't we REAL Bluesman now? Or
Beatnick wannabees? Hey... only Sugar Blue and Nate Armstrong (harpist w/ Big
Daddy Kinsey) can get away with the berets. Oh, and Big Paul LaRonde (of Little
Georgie's Shuffling Hungarians, & formerly bassist for John Lee Hooker and the
Kingsnakes) can get away with it, too. But he has a French name. Even Kim
Wilson, whom we all love, looks kinda stooopid in a beret, no? (pronounce ze'
"no" wid a Fronch acce'nt).
My advice...
Collect them all! Trade with your friends! There aint no "ultimate Blues Hat".
- Mark The Harper
PS: If you REALLY REALLY want a hat like the one I think you want, go to this
website.. a store in New Orleans has the BLUES HAT you may be seking. Here's
their URL:
http://www.shushans.com/twentythreepage.html
And for cryin' out loud... Don't buy one used! but if you HAVE to (or inherit
or find one), get the sucker steam cleaned!! Lots' of little Blues buggies
hiding out in them thar threads! And they'll be more than happy to dance the
Blues on your funky little head.
Good luck.
Tune in next week for The Ultimate Blues Sunglasses.
(Please note that if you want me to take notice of any responses to this post,
you must send them to me by e-mail, as I have wisely stayed away this list for
a few weeks, and will probably go back to that practice. Thanks).
Robert Dirk Lockard
vogue, they fit better and come in a variety of bright colors. Stylish and
functional for the NEW Blues musician, this chapeau will look great on, and when
you take it off, people will still know you wear one. You can even place your
favorite musicians window stickers to the hat to let folks know who YOU like to
listen to. And on those nights when you have to play when those nasty viruses are
going around......
Well, anyway, It's just a thought.
Dirk Lockard
www.btrblues.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Jan Miller <janfm...@compuserve.com>
To: <BLU...@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU>
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2000 3:40 PM
Subject: Blues Hat
> May seem like a strange question, but...
> I'm searching for the ultimate 'Blues Hat' to wear while playing in my
> band. The store in my town don't do this sort of hat, all do the same 'in
> style now' design. What do I mean. Well, hard to say, an 'Old Man's Hat',
> in a way, but with class, a Chicago Bluesmans Hat...
> Any help appreciated!!!
> Jan..
>
maxdog
> Wilson, whom we all love, looks kinda stooopid in a beret, no? (pronounce ze'
> "no" wid a Fronch acce'nt).
Yeah but that turban was cool!
--
maxhatlessdog
HAS...@aol.com
<<When you see old photos of Lightning Hopkins, Bukka White, Furry Lewis, Son
House, Hammy Nixon etc playing guitar while wearing hats, understand that for
the most part these pictures were taken outdoors. They were wearing it for
functional purposes (sun glare comes to mind). Look at pictures of these gents
at indoor concerts... for the most part they went hatless then. I don't think
these men wore hats because it was a "Blues Thing To Do".
>>
Not that it matters, but Henry Qualls almost always wears a hat when playing,
it's just what he likes. I personally love his 'Firestone' winter cap and his
wide brim fishin' hat. I think what Bronxharp is saying is do what you like
and feel comfortable with, be yourself, it is much easier than trying to be
someone else.
HB
maxdog
> Even Kim
>
> > Wilson, whom we all love, looks kinda stooopid in a beret, no? (pronounce ze'
> > "no" wid a Fronch acce'nt).
>
> Yeah but that turban was cool!
> --
> maxhatlessdog
Other famous turbans:
Eddie Kirkland
http://www.unr.net/~maxdog/maxdog/Eddie_Kirkland.htm
http://members.tripod.com/~bluesfest/EK.htm (ok, it's a doo rag)
Sonny Rhodes w/ Ace Moreland & Warren King
http://members.tripod.com/~bluesfest/more-Night-Daves-2.htm
--
maxdog
HAS...@aol.com
<<Other famous turbans:
Eddie Kirkland
http://www.unr.net/~maxdog/maxdog/Eddie_Kirkland.htm
http://members.tripod.com/~bluesfest/EK.htm (ok, it's a doo rag)
Sonny Rhodes w/ Ace Moreland & Warren King
http://members.tripod.com/~bluesfest/more-Night-Daves-2.htm
--
maxdog>>
How about Chick Willis(where Kim got it from)?
HB
Peace Kenneth
>> a hat when playing,
>> it's just what he likes. I personally love his 'Firestone'
>> winter cap and his
>> wide brim fishin' hat. I think what Bronxharp is saying is
>> do what you like
>> and feel comfortable with, be yourself, it is much easier
>> than trying to be
>> someone else.
After seeing too many European white wannabes I always wanted to call my
band "Strictly no hats".
Ken
maxdog
BigBl...@aol.com
<< I hate to burst your bubble, buddy, but there ain't no such thing as the
"ultimate Bluesman Hat". A hat expresses character, personality. What works
for you? Or are you looking to borrow someone's personality as your own? This
will not make you play any better. Nor will it make people think you are more
authentic. I personally think it was the Blues Brothers who made the "Blues
Hat" a must-have accessory for the white wannabee Bluesman. >>
Of all the ways to start off a New Year. Gettin' this serious over a
question asked in the spirit of joviality! Just sittin' here, readin' the
thread. RockinRalph, P.W., Maxdog, things goin' well playin' right along,
then BAM! Mark, the Bronxharp! Hash and Maxdog come back a little lighter,
and buffer guy from the burrow. A much welcome change from the way to which
Marks comments could have been responded.
I'm not pickin' on you Mark. I quite agree with the "do your own thing"
philosophy. I myself wear a red beret on and off stage. Got a few pins in
it: POW/MIA, Harley Angel, a howling wolf, and a silver bearclaw with a
turquoise stone in the center. I had a few more, but I either gave them
away, or they were pilfered away, or lost.
But back to "do your own thing". A lot of us pick up something done by
someone else, try it and if we like it, often modify it to suit our own
personalities. So, in my opinion, go for it. Try the porkpie. Hell, try a
beret or a turban, if the notion strikes ya'. Whatever you end up with, even
if it's nothing, will still, in the long run, be you.
dog
chuck n.
>
> <<Other famous turbans:
>
> Eddie Kirkland
> http://www.unr.net/~maxdog/maxdog/Eddie_Kirkland.htm
> http://members.tripod.com/~bluesfest/EK.htm (ok, it's a doo rag)
>
> Sonny Rhodes w/ Ace Moreland & Warren King
> http://members.tripod.com/~bluesfest/more-Night-Daves-2.htm
> --
> maxdog>>
>
> How about Chick Willis(where Kim got it from)?
> HB
I think Hash just mistyped that...it should be Chuck Willis
(king of the stroll).
If I ever had a club I'd have a two beret per stage limit
(except in Paris Texas).
chuck
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Joe Lempkowski
> A hat expresses character, personality. What works for you? Or are you looking
> to borrow someone's personality as your own? This will not make you play any
> better. Nor will it make people think you are more authentic. I personally
> think it was the Blues Brothers who made the "Blues Hat" a must-have accessory
> for the white wannabee Bluesman. (before you gag...)think about it... Does BB
> King wear a hat on stage? No. Did Muddy wear a hat on stage? No. Did Howlin
> Wolf wear a hat on stage? No. Did Sonny Boy wear a hat on stage? Well... most
> of the time he *came* to the stage with a Derby, but took it off while he
> performed. Did Little Walter, James Cotton, Carey Bell, Buddy Guy, Albert King,
> Freddy King.. awww the list will go on and on.. did they wear hats while they
> performed? NO.
They didn't wear sunglasses either. You can't be a California bluesman unless you
wear sunglasses.
> Jr. Wells was most often with a hat on stage in the later part of his career.
> He also wore a hairnet and garish red and yellow PIMP clothes. Would you like
> to adopt that style of dress? I'd think not. You will look particularly garish
> and stooopid in it, especially if you are a white man.
>
You may not have liked his clothes, but he looked good and he wore them well.
Junior had a unique presence. Junior was cool and he always looked classy
regardless of what he was wearing.
Jinx...@aol.com
>>Did Muddy wear a hat on stage? No.
Wrong. I have the photo to prove it.
>Did
>Howlin
>> Wolf wear a hat on stage?
Wrong. I have the photo to prove it.
Dick Waterman
Oxford, MS
B.B. Bean
wear a hat most of the time (to the store, riding in your car, out in
the yard, etc), then just wear a nice one to play in. You already know
the drill.
But if you're not already a "hat guy" then you'll just look like you're
wearing a costume. Better to focuson something you're more familiar
with.
BBB (hat wearer since my mama tied one on me as a baby)
-
B.B. Bean - Have horn, will travel bbb...@beancotton.com
Peach Orchard, MO http://www.beancotton.com/bbbean.shtml
Adrian Spidle
> (except in Paris Texas).
What about turtlenecks? 'I tried wearing turtlenecks, but they made
me look French'
Peace Kenneth
Ken
Fred Dabney
Subject: Re: There aint No "Ultimate Blues Hat!"
> Even Kim
>
> > Wilson, whom we all love, looks kinda stooopid in a beret, no?
(pronounce ze'
> > "no" wid a Fronch acce'nt).
>
> Yeah but that turban was cool!
> --
> maxhatlessdog
Sonny Rhodes also does the turban bit.
Fred D.
SFGILTEDGE
Middle Eastern Blues Shiek would wear. Modeled by James Solberg.
http://www.bealestreetbluesphotos.com/jamessolbergband.html
Steve
http://www.bealestreetbluesphotos.com/
chuck n.
that new age afro-pillbox lid.
chuck
>
> > Wilson, whom we all love, looks kinda stooopid in a beret, no?
(pronounce ze'
> > "no" wid a Fronch acce'nt).
>
> Yeah but that turban was cool!
> --
> maxhatlessdog
Eric Paul-Hus
news:4.2.2.20000103...@pop.compuserve.com...
> May seem like a strange question, but...
> I'm searching for the ultimate 'Blues Hat' to wear while playing in my
> band. The store in my town don't do this sort of hat, all do the same 'in
> style now' design. What do I mean. Well, hard to say, an 'Old Man's
Hat',
> in a way, but with class, a Chicago Bluesmans Hat...
If you are after the Junior Wells hats's look ;-) There is a store on
Maxwell Street next to Jim's Original or a couple of doors up that have some
.... And I've been to the New Openair Market and seen those every time:
Bright colored, crossed between Joe Friday's and a Mellon ... I do believe
there is a photo on the web of the Boutique front ...
Yep! from my vault:
http://www.december.com/places/chi/images/hats.jpg
It could be a thrift store I don't recall but I saw something similar last
February...
Maybe Chicagoans 'zellers can fill you in ... Twist, Steve, Thomas, Fats ?
....
> Any help appreciated!!!
> Jan..
>
> The older you get, the more you learn to see what you've been taught to
> see. When you're a kid, you see what's there. -- Steven Wright
PS Over here the most common Blues hat is a "bald head with a pony tail" ;-)
.... If you feel like surprising everyone get an Australian "crocodile
Dundee" hat and (note that you may induce some heckler to yell "SRV Rules",
I've seen it once, and it wasn't even a Blues band ;-) ...
Joe Griffin
local Salvation Army that is made from woven cloth instead of the usual
felts. Very light and breathable. The store stamp on the inside of the hat
was from a store that had been closed since the mid fifties. It's a great
hat, but I rarely ever wear it on stage. After about two songs any kind of
hat starts driving me nuts.
Grif
Terry Groff-Montgomery
news:E7FBEA76AA7DD311BC4...@greendale.labsystems.com...
> I've got a turtleneck and I'm not talking about items of clothing.
>
> Ken
LOL! My brother from Chester,U.K. That's the first time in a very
long time that something on this list has made me laugh.
You shouldn't be so hard on yourself though : )
--
Terry Groff-Montgomery
The Hash Brown Band
http://welcome.to/hashbrown
RealAudio "Mistreatin' Blues"
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/2888/real/ramfiles/tisfortexas.ram
Bronx...@aol.com
<<Of all the ways to start off a New Year. Gettin' this serious over a
question asked in the spirit of joviality! Just sittin' here, readin' the
thread. RockinRalph, P.W., Maxdog, things goin' well playin' right along,
then BAM! Mark, the Bronxharp! Hash and Maxdog come back a little lighter,
and buffer guy from the burrow...<<
well, m'friend... youre so far the only one who thinks this was a dead on
serious post , and failed to catch the humor in it. Too bad... So far I've
received a lot of mail on this, all a result of smiles wiped onto their faces.
>>A much welcome change from the way to which Marks comments could have been
responded. <<
sourpuss... have a thing against creative & humorous posts? sheeeeshhhhhhhhhh
>>
I'm not pickin' on you Mark>>
Sounds like it! Happy New Year to you too!
Mark
Jsb...@aol.com
playing guitar for, gave me his grandfather's hat who used to play guitar and
sing blues in juke joints around Aberdeen, Miss. at the same time as Howlin'
Wolf and Bukka White.
BTW, it was a great and rewarding experience playing guitar for the show
that I was in touring prisons in Ohio and Kentucky. I learned a lot about
performing and the inmates really dug us. I'll be doing it again in February
for Black history month. They especially liked Aberdeen singing and playing
the harp along with me and the band on "Big Boss Man"" and "Hoochie Coochie
Man".
The band leader/pianist from the show is continuing to work with me and
show me stuff. He wants to pass on what he's learned over the years. His name
is Tommy Thomas. He's 67 years old, originally from New York, and has played
all over with all kinds of famous entertainers (Chubby Checkers, Wynonnie
Harris, Maxine Sullivan, John Lee Hooker, and a bunch of others). He's got a
lot of stories about the old days and is one of the funniest people I've ever
met. He used to play guitar and used to learn from Nat Cole's guitarist in
New York, named John Collins I think, until John moved to LA.
Later, JB.
cookieholley
great......very uptown! ; )
-----Original Message-----
From: Jsb...@aol.com <Jsb...@aol.com>
To: BLU...@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU <BLU...@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU>
Date: Tuesday, January 04, 2000 9:09 PM
Subject: Re: There aint No "Ultimate Blues Hat!"
> I like the hat Guitar Gabriel used to wear. Aberdeen Slim, who I've been
>playing guitar for, gave me his grandfather's hat who used to play guitar
>
> Later, JB.
>
Jan Miller
for all the traffic this post generated, only two folks offered any
suggestions where to look for the hat. The rest are dissertations on hat
topology, appropriateness, design, color, to hat or not to hat, etc.
Gadzooks, I'm just looking for a hat i like!!!! (Perhaps I'll grow a
ponytail!)
Jan....
BigBl...@aol.com
<< I don't think these men wore hats because it was a "Blues Thing To Do". >>
Hey my friend! I really didn't intend to dis you in any way. As a matter of
fact, the comment I made regarding how your post was handled by the rest of
the list was intended to be complimentary! No one started cussing and name
callin' and all that stuff, was what I meant. And, we both know, that
previous posts regarding anyone's opinions have been met with great
dissension, especially from two *gentlemen* I can think of, maybe three!
Also, the line above, quoted from your post, for some reason is where your
post stopped on my computer, honestly! I don't what happened. But, when I
called up the "incoming saved mail", there was like a ton more below that
which I didn't see. I apologize if you thought I was jammin' you.
michael
BigBl...@aol.com
<< Why don't you get one of those Russian fur hats, like Big Walter used
to wear?
-Steve >>
Or, one of those furry hats like Guitar Gabriel used to wear.
Michael
Rory McQuillan
>The amazing thing is:
>for all the traffic this post generated, only two folks offered any
>suggestions where to look for the hat.
Jan, I got my blues hat in a neat little hat shop in Quebec City, but I
thought it might be further than you wished to travel for a hat. Then
again, maybe you want it really badly. I'd suggest going during Winter
Carnival (a northern Mardi Gras), but at this point you'd probably have to
sleep in your car.
Bronxharp1
and they sho had it covered... derbys, homburgs and elwoods!
mth
IronMan Mike Curtis
whatever that trick may be. It doesn't matter if I think it's silly
(or Mark, for that matter :-) (Right, Mark?? Mark???) It's YOUR
head that the thing rests on, and YOUR music it will affect.
And hats do have an effect on ones persona. Put on a ten gallon
white Stetson hat sometime and see if you don't start drawling just a
little, or swaggering like John Wayne. Or a Stan Laurel derby. Or a
Viking helmet. Or put on a cap like Gallagher and get that
irrepressible urge to smash watermelons with a large hammer.
Regarding hats, if it makes you feel good, wear it. If it makes you
feel more like a bluesman, go for it. It's only a lousy hat :-)
We all do things to help our music. Most of us set up our gear
according to a certain ritual. We tune our instruments according to
a ritual. We wear certain things, do certain things, say certain
things, and the whole ball of wax. Why? Because it gets us into
that "prime" frame of mind, where we can leave our off stage
existence behind and take on the whole planet from our vantagepoint
on stage.
If a hat helps you, great! It's cheap enough, and a whole lot
cheaper than a year at the shrink. It's also a lot less obnoxious
than getting drunk to play - and a WHOLE lot easier on your liver.
I never criticise other peoples attire. I know that, however
ridiculous it looks to me, some time earlier that day, they stood in
front of a mirror, did their best "Fonzie with the comb" bit, and
said:
"...ALRIGHT!"
- IronMan Mike Curtis - Clickable RealAudio songs from my CD "Doin' It All Myself":
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/6945/NextTime.ram Next Time You See Me...
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/6945/Rogaine.ram Rogaine
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/6945/MoulinRouge.ram Moulin Rouge
RoxyP...@aol.com
iro...@ironmancurtis.com writes:
<<
And hats do have an effect on ones persona. Put on a ten gallon
white Stetson hat sometime and see if you don't start drawling just a
little, or swaggering like John Wayne. Or a Stan Laurel derby. Or a
Viking helmet. Or put on a cap like Gallagher and get that
irrepressible urge to smash watermelons with a large hammer.
>>
lolololololololol you kill me! A good tip for the folks who don't want to
be blind in the near future is to wear tinted sunglasses. Not the kind you
can't see your eyes through but enough shade to protect you from those stage
lights that are usually too damn close.........you'll burn your retinas out
kids.
Dave Morefield
> The amazing thing is:
> for all the traffic this post generated, only two folks offered any
> topology, appropriateness, design, color, to hat or not to hat, etc.
> Gadzooks, I'm just looking for a hat i like!!!! (Perhaps I'll grow a
> ponytail!)
> Jan....
Jan,
I've been pleased with a couple of hats that I've bought by mail from the Stark
& Legum, Inc. catalog. They have a web page, too.
It's http://www.menshats.com/ .
Personally, I like the highly ventilated Kangol models. They aren't too hot on
stage, and they soak up sweat, which can be washed right out. (See
www.stilettorain.com . Check out what the fat guy is wearing in some of the
photos.)
As a mere bass player, I figure nobody in the audience cares what I look like
anyway. Unless the occasion (like a wedding or New Year's Eve) or the setting
(outdoor cafe at 50 degrees F. -- cold for SoCal) dictates otherwise, I've
settled into a habit of wearing cowboy boots (so I won't look quite so short
behind my 6'4" son), black pants, a Hawaiian-style short-sleeve shirt, and
either my black or tan Kangol.
BTW, did you ever notice that when a blues artist who is black wears a cowboy
hat, people figure he does Texas-style blues, but when a white guy wears one,
people figure he does so-called "Country", i.e, Nashville pop? I like wearing a
gambler-style cowboy hat, but whenever I do, we get requests for Garth Brooks
songs. <G>
Yours truly,
Dave Morefield