Albuquerque-New Mexico Blues Man
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I'll play for fortune or just for love
Anytime, anywhere,
but when push comes to shove
I'll play for nothing
now don't you see -
fame and fortune may come my way
But the Bottom Line
I love to play.
Rock and Roll,Rhythm and Blues
Bebop-swing,anything that moves
A gift from God some might say
But the bottom line
I love to play.
"The Bottom Line"-Stan Hirsch
Short Bio;
Stan Hirsch has earned his living with guitar in hand for over 45 years. Known mainly for his performances and recordings as an acoustic blues based solo act, he has also worked as a session player, sideman, bandleader and as a member of various groups.
Stan has performed in clubs, concerts and festivals across the USA and Europe. He has released three blues CD's "No Room To Reason", "Covered in blues" and "Compelled to play".
For the last fifteen years he has also worked in a duet with the fabulous Eric McFadden. They have released two albums "Live At The Dingo" and ""Captured Alive".
He is well known for his love of teaching. Stan works with private students, in workshops, and has written instruction books.
In his own words; "I love the sounds coming from my hands thru the guitar. I am thankful everyday that I have been able to follow life's path as a working musician. The bottom line- I just love to play."
Marketing and promo
Hirsch, a critically acclaimed master of solo acoustic blues, can drive a fiery bad-ass boogie that sounds like a 3-piece band, or soar with a gut-wrenching, sweet, string-bending slow blues. Together with his commanding vocals, Hirsch delivers a dynamic performance, blending a big full sound with his intimate, personal delivery. Rooted in old-style blues traditions, Hirsch will satisfy the blues purists as well as challenge those who seek something new.
Stan Hirsch
-Bigger Gigs & Recent Work-
Blues Fest.'s
-Guinness Blues Festival (Ireland)--Telluride Blues & Brews Festival--Madrid Blues Festival---Silver City Blues Fest.---Thirsty Ear Blues Fest.----Blues Burner Fest.---ABQ Blues Fest.--Truckload of Blues Fest.(S.F.)---Augusta Blues Week (W.V.)-Zihuatanejo International Guitar Fest. Mexico
European tours
Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland And...Closer to home... New Mexico Jazz Workshop-Soldout concert @ Outpost Performance Space, -And of course, All those "regular" gigs in New Mexico, California, Florida,etc...
Videos
Top of charts music video "Put Yourself in my Place" with Pam Tilles
PBS-"Roly Poly Blues" (documentary soundtrack)
The Arts Channel-30-min. program, "Stanton Hirsch-Solo
Got about a dozen videos up there on you tube-Check them out on the videos page of this web site!
Radio
"Ear to the ground"- one full hour on Hirsch and his music.
"Blues in the Bathroom" w/ John Strader.KUNM-FM
Awards
"Best Guitarist"-New Mexico Wammie Awards (3 years)
"Best Live Performance or Show"-Alibi Magazine(N.M.)
Chosen as talent ("blues player") for Ad campaign (Japan)
Records-CD's
-Four solo Albums
"Stanton Hirsch-Solo acoustic guitar"-1984)
"No Room to Reason"-2000-BFM032)
"Covered in Blues"-2003-BFM031)
"Compelled To Play"-2009-BFM091)
---------------The two Duet Albums
Ongoing collaboration with Eric McFadden (guitarist with George Clinton & the P-Funk Allstars, and Eric Burton) whenever their schedules collide. The acoustic duet has released two CD's-
"Live at the Dingo" (NMW Records -313es)
"Captured Alive"- Doin' Jazz-(Blue Falcon Music -BFM 041)
DVD'S
"Lucky Dozen"-13 Stan Hirsch Videos
Actually "Advertized" Opened for, as a solo artist:
John Hammond---Earl Scruggs--Cephas & Wiggins--Tommy Castro--Gatemouth Brown--Joe Lewis Walker--Foghat--Bob Margolin--Johnny Copeland--Phillip Walker--Anson Funderburgh--Kenny Neal--Little Charley & the Night Cats--Albert Collins--James Harmon...
and all those "big shows" where I had just a small slot... "shared the stage with".-Buddy Guy--Dr. John--Shemekia Copeland--Odetta--Taj Mahal--Rory Block--John Mayers--Odetta--Albert Collins--(you get the picture...)
Styles and Influences
I love to play the guitar. That love has been with me thru thick and thin for forty something years. The true constant in my life.
I am a product of that most wonderful musical fusion of all time. Commonly called Rock & Roll--it was a mid 20th century musical revolution. One unlike any before, anywhere at anytime. The music of an emerging popular culture. The product of an incredible melting pot that was boiling over in the U.S.A.
The label Rock & Roll was used as a marketing term, but a new classification was needed. All these musicians hearing other musicians then creating a different music for a different audience. The main “styles” that made up this Rock & Roll were Blues, Gospel, Folk, Hillbilly, Jazz and pop. (Each of these were made up of dozens of fused styles.)
I would not classify myself as a rock and roll artist per se’, but as a fusion artist--a musician who has been influenced by most all those styles and sub-styles that are part of that same stew.
The 1st. 45 record I bought was Marty Robbins-El Paso. Bought that because the Mexican guitar sound really moved me. Actually any "live" guitar playing I would have heard as a young kid would be the Mexican guitar (in restaurants, or mariachi in Old Town). And country music was everywhere (at the state fair and on radio). So it made sense that El Paso would catch my ear.
I guess that is my "roots"-along with all the Blues and R&B that early Rock & Roll would have brought. In fact, the 1st 45 record I wore out (my dad's)was Rock around the Clock by Bill Haley. That was a 12-bar swing. One of my dads favorite songs was In The Mood by Benny Goodman(his favorite group), which was also a 12-bar swing. So that swing/shuffle was a feel that always came natural to me. Then between Elvis, Chuck Berry and Ray Charles on the radio, I pretty much got the rest.(plus 100's of other great songs and artists).
Now, it was Instrumental "surf guitar" that I cut my teeth on (as far as actual "copped licks" I learned on the guitar go). I had already learned how to strum chords to standard folk songs etc...(I had this big book with all the chords and lyrics--old songs from the 1800's and turn of the century--camp fire cowboy songs--different songs from "around the world", whatever, like 100's of songs.
Back then most folks knew 100's of "folk" songs. All the kids, parents and grandparents would know many of the same songs. That was before
"pop" music had successfully split apart the tastes and sounds of the diff. generations(or decades as now).
My "musical roots" are the sounds I was hearing and absorbing, the actual experiences--not the perceived cultural baggage. Not something your proud or not proud of--just what went into your ears by accident, circumstance or design.
It wasn't till a bit later (mid-60's) that I started hearing the old blues. The folk revival brought back Miss. John Hurt, and Rev. Gary Davis, and Lightnin' and many others. My older brother, David, brought home the Muddy Waters Folk Singer album--that really floored me! I could tell right away how this was the roots of all the much of the rock I loved. I could feel that shuffle groove and follow that 12-bar chord progression.
I guess that gives me my mid-20th century American musical roots. That late 40's, 50's and early 60's American stuff. What a great environment to be brought op as a listener and player!
Performing as a solo acoustic singer/guitarist. the term that would most closely fit my “style” would be Acoustic Blues . From fans and critics alike, that is the most used definition.
I can play most any style of music, but for me Blues is the best entertainer.
It seems to cross more barriers - (age, culture, etc...) than most styles.
In my blues I prefer the simple "stripped down" format, then I can always mix it up different ways. I'll do the slow shuffle and grind or I'll swing it, rock it, and Boogie. I like that talking type of singing more than shouting' or hanging with a melody.
I love to play it all, but like I said--As an entertainer, Blues works the best for me cause it snuck in there everywhere---into country, swing, folk, rock, Jazz and pop. You know, wherever those American grown styles are, your going to find it, (and me).
Anyhow, I love it all---Thanks to all those people who help me do both! -Stan
A history sketch
My first band.....
In the early 60's, some of my friends and I started our first band "THE DELTAS". (I was about 14 years old.) Two elec. guitars, bass guitar, and drums. I was what you call the lead guitar player. We figured out the stuff by listening to the records. Our song list was basic 50's and early 60's rock & roll. Everything from Chuck Berry to Elvis, from Rhythm and Blues to surf. We would play parties for our classmates, get people to dance, whatever. We charged $2 per "man". ($8). We saved the money from our first gig and went and bought matching $1.99 red shirts. (All serious bands had uniforms.) We were a real band now! We entered our Jr. High school talent show and won. I really don't know how much talent we had, but most kids had never even experienced a "live" rock band before, and they really went nuts!
First professional band-1965-67
When I turned 16 I was still playing in "THE DELTAS". We weren't really performing much, but we were learning a lot. Then I saw an ad in the newspaper about a pro band that was gonna be holding auditions for a lead guitarist.
This band "THE MORTICIANS" had a record that was getting a lot of radio play. (In fact that song "Little Latin Lupe Lu" was #1 in our town.) So I called up and got an audition, ----they offered me the job. First they would have to meet with my parents to make sure it was ok to travel, maybe miss some school, and assign the manager as a legal guardian. My parents (God bless em') said ok-------
Now this band was playing about one or two gigs a week during the school year, and maybe a max of five a week during the summer if we were on the road. We still played a lot of local gigs, dances and opening slot concerts, but on the road we were usually the main act, (or we shared the bill).
Needless to say, I gained a lot of professional experience, including writing and recording my first original song, (never released) and obviously got to enjoy a unique lifestyle. (You can check out some pictures and recordings www.stanhirsch.com/blog/catagory/early-music
Goin'Solo -1968-73
The band broke up for a number of reasons-- members started to get drafted (Vietnam), lost our manager, a lot of different directions--whatever.
I could still get gigs here and there in pickup bands. I also traded one of my electrics for an acoustic guitar, and so this was then also the start of my solo performing. Coffee Houses, Arts and Crafts Fairs, opening act, learning a lot of new guitar styles, ("finger picking"--"open tunings"), and song writing.
In late 72' I decided to "take it to Europe". What this meant? I wasn't sure, but it was something I thought I had to do. I found out there were not many decent paying gigs. (At least not for a "traveling thru" itinerate musician.) So I mainly "Did it for tips" or at best "Bar food, and a room above the bar".
But Europe at that time was a gas. The whole Hippie thing happening, things were still cheap, (Europe on $5 a day), and people were diggin’ the music.
Scorin' the gigs, payin' the dues--1973-83
Got back from Europe and got a call. It was the lead singer from the old band. (The MORTICIANS) He was living in the bay area (San Francisco) up in Napa County. Said he had a big house, had learned to play bass, plenty of room, a drummer, come on up and start a band.
I had sold my car and electric guitar to finance the Europe trip, so I caught a greyhound bus. The only guitar I had was the acoustic, but the guy who was acting as our "roadie/soundman" owned an electric guitar and amp. (I made arrangements to buy that on a time payment plan.) We practiced and did a few gigs, but then got kicked out of the "big House" for non payment of rent. The band broke up, but at least I had some "band" equipment and a bunch of new songs and electric guitar licks.
The gigs out there were hard cause the clubs would hire a different band each night, so you really had to travel a lot to play 5 or 6 nights a week. Therefore I decided to head back to New Mexico where bands could play a week or more in each venue.
I started doing the "Bar Band" thing, you know, mostly covers, throw an original tune in here and there. (“Cosmic Charley” “Billy Sands Band” “Graffiti” “Early Rising” and all those band names I can’t remember.) These were mostly in the New Mexico (Southwest) area, although I did move back to California for a short stint. The object was to earn a living just playing. These were 3, 4, and 5 piece groups, playing at least 5 nights a week.
My ear really improved during this period from figuring out so many different kinds of songs off the recordings. (Rock, pop, & country, etc...)
During this period I also took some private guitar lessons--Classical--flamenco--and music theory. The guy I took theory from used mainly Jazz as a vehicle to teach me, so I ended up studying Jazz and "Fusion". We started a band together to play covers in Clubs. But, he also got me interested in teaching guitar--so I started doing that and really loved it. The other benefit of this was it took some pressure off of having to perform so much. So this ended up being about a 10 year period of full time club work.
Now, armed with a lot more knowledge, I started to write again for solo guitar. I kept up the teaching, quit the "full time" bands, (although I still did a lot of "sideman" jobs in "pick-up bands".
Back to solo acoustic again--1984-94
With the teaching, sideman jobs, and some studio work paying the rent, I started concentrating on creativity. I wrote 30 something instrumental compositions for solo guitar, then went into the studio and recorded them.
The result was my first "Solo" album of all original tunes- "Stanton Hirsch-Solo Acoustic Guitar"-1984 During this period I also arranged a lot of "Standards" for solo guitar which gave me a good repertoire for all kinds of gigs. Sometimes soft background stuff for receptions, and restaurants, sometimes as an opening act for bands. I also kept my hands on electric guitar as a sideman in "Casual" bands, but ...I needed to get out more.
Blues Bands, Eclectic Duets, and more solo--1994-2000
I was kinda’ itchin’ to do some "Blues Jammin", and get back into the Clubs. So I started a band "Strat Man & The Mystery Blues Band". Strat Man cause I was using a stratocaster guitar, mystery because I would use different bass players and drummers all the time. (To keep the jamming fresh, and the commitment down.) Everything from the Ventures to Muddy to Jimi---Also a lot of instrumentals, from Honky Tonk to Hideaway to Wipeout.
I started a regular Thursday night "Blues Jam" at a great local blues bar, (The Dingo) that lasted for five years. Also, a few years later, an "Open Mic" on Tuesday night at Club R&B, that also lasted about five years. I also started gettin calls for some local Blues Festivals.
At the Dingo they needed someone to play Friday "Happy Hour" and an occasional "off night". So , I would play some of those solo, and a former student of mine Eric McFadden (Now with Eric Burton (Animals) and George Clinton & The P-FUNK allstars) would play the others.
At some point we decided to play some of these gigs as a duet--the result was fabulous! Two acoustic guitars jamming on everything from Hendrix and blues to McLaughlin and Miles Davis, to all sort of spontaneous originals. As players we were very simpatico, (still are). So we recorded an album --Eric McFadden-Stan Hirsch -"Live at the Dingo" 8/10/97. (NMX Records).
At The Dingo (and some at Club R&B and at festivals), I would open for, and do short "tweener" sets with dozens of traveling Blues bands. I would play acoustic blues on these occasions, (mostly covers). Performing for these larger audiences forced me into developing the driving "Boogie" guitar work I now know how to play. Little by little I started writing and performing my own original acoustic blues material. So being involved in all these blues, the jams, the newly formed festivals, the opening act slots, the "tweeners" etc...The time was ripe for me to then record an album of my Blues tunes.
Solo Acoustic Again-2000-present...
The result of all that "Blues" music I was involved with at the Dingo Bar and at Club R&B was an all original solo acoustic Blues album recorded in 2000. Stan Hirsch-"No Room To Reason" (Blue Falcon Music BFM032).
This CD did really well for me-- I got half a dozen great reviews, so I started touring in support of it. This was about the time everybody was talking about "The Internet" and "Web Sites", so I got myself one of those also. This touring has brought me back to Europe many times, (with far better results than 72’), and has created a lot of opportunity business wise. Since that album was all original songs, I thought I would do a follow up Blues album of my favorite covers.. So in 2003 I went back into the studio-The result; "Covered in Blues". (Blue Falcon Music BFM031). Then in 2009 I figured I would record an album where I stretched out a bit. Still Blues, but by most critics standards probably just “bluesey”. “Compelled To Play” (BFM091).
In 2001 a guy from the Telluride Blues and Brews Fest. came down to hear me. (I was performing at the Thirsty Ear Fest. in Santa Fe.) Anyhow, he ran the Blues Guitar Workshop there. He invited me to teach and perform there, and gave me a real boost. (Have been doing that for the past 5 years) It was a whole new way of doing the teaching thing. So I have recently started doing more of these workshops. (Ireland,[guinness] West Virginia [augusta]etc...)I have also completed a 40 page Blues Guitar Workshop Manual, and a 170 page/69 track Blues guitar instruction book.(with two cd’s)
So,
I am still heavy into the solo performing, and teaching, a bit of "sideman" work, and "jammin‘". Still developing the skills to "score the gigs---mostly bread and butter stuff---sometimes gravy." (and now days, a little more gravy.) Doing some wonderful guitar workshops, private students, traveling, learning....
I am also, on occasion, still performing with Eric McFadden (when we find time). Many of these performances have been recorded, "Live at the Dingo" (NMW Records -313es) We put together another live album in 2004-- Stan Hirsch & Eric McFadden-"Captured Alive " (doin’ jazz)(Blue Falcon Music BFM041).
2011---
I have a bunch of videos up on you tube, so I decided to make a DVD. “Lucky Dozen” 13 Stan Hirsch videos. If you want to “see” me in my prime (at 62) check them out on my video page!
To all the people who in big and small, known and unknown ways, have enabled and encouraged me to continue on this path. Thank you, Stan
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