Michael Rubin interview

Michael Rubin joins me on episode 95.
Michael moved to Austin as a young man, initially as a blues player. He found that by diversifying the genres he played on harmonica he became much more in demand in the vibrant music scene in Austin. He added to t his versatility by playing different types of harmonica, including plenty of chromatic in addition to the diatonic being his main axe. Michael has also recorded on bass harmonica and the harmonetta.
Michael has gigged and recorded with numerous outfits, with styles ranging from blues to pop, African music, reggae and old time country gospel. Michael released his first solo album in 2022, I’ll Worry If I Wanna. On here he demonstrates his full range of harmonica mastery, including a solo playing in all twelve positions. 

Links:
Michael’s website:
https://michaelrubinharmonica.com/

I’ll Worry If I Wanna album:
https://michaelrubin.hearnow.com/

SPAH tribute to Bob Herndon (great Harmonetta player):
https://www.spah.org/content.asp?contentid=62

Mike Caldwell:
https://www.countrythangdaily.com/mike-caldwell-unleashed/

Album with Christopher Cody Meacham:
https://christophercodymeacham.bandcamp.com/album/ol-time-waddies-blues-2019-lp

Videos:

YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@michaelrubinharmonic

List of YouTube harmonica lessons:
https://michaelrubinharmonica.com/pageVideoArchive.html

Peg O My Heart on Harmonetta:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xfqJNhLoTA

Sophisticated Lady on DM48:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaSKBZqijnU

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

or sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/support

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com  or on Facebook or Instagram 

Chapters

• 1:27 Born in New Jersey, now living in Austin, Texas
• 1:42 Was conceived in Memphis, as parents lived there before he was born
• 2:09 Michael moved to Austin for the music scene there
• 2:19 Spent a year in New Orleans but the famous musicians from Austin drew him there
• 3:11 Has mainly been able to support himself through music, just having a few standard jobs
• 3:33 Did some singing and played some other instruments in early part of his career, but mainly survived as a harmonica player
• 3:53 Texas blues is the main form of blues in Austin
• 4:50 Texas shuffle is a common rhythm played in Texas
• 5:27 Some of the great harmonica players to come out of Austin
• 6:08 Focused on being a blues harmonica player when first moved to Texas, but when he branched out he became more in demand
• 7:35 When Michael was a blues player only he took on some of the business side of the music to ensure he was regularly gigging
• 8:01 Went to Kerrville Folk festival, not too far from Austin, where people saw Michael’s versatility on harmonica and he got hired all time time from then
• 8:43 Diatonic is main instrument, but plays plenty of chromatic
• 10:02 Michael advocates finding one musical partner, and then a band will follow
• 10:48 Doing the business side of a band makes you very appreciated
• 11:27 Selection of songs in the band, and the importance of ordering the setlist
• 12:57 Has learnt different harmonica styles so he can be versatile in what harmonica he can offer
• 14:03 Also works hard to develop own style
• 14:35 Versatility of styles helped Michael get plenty of session work
• 15:21 Plays bass harmonica, and has recorded bass on an album with the Susquehanna Hat Company band
• 17:20 Bass harmonica playing improved significantly when started playing with the band
• 18:28 Had a mic designed for the bass harmonica by Richard Smith, but now uses a Suzuki mic
• 19:13 Michael’s bass harmonica had the low notes in the centre, making it easier to amplify
• 19:56 Played the bass harmonica through a bass amp
• 20:06 Previously playing electric bass helped with playing bass harmonica, but knowing some chord theory is all you really need
• 20:35 Playing simpler lines on bass harmonica is probably advisable due to it’s lack of responsiveness
• 21:02 Doesn’t play much bass harmonica now
• 21:10 Also plays some harmonetta, which is great for chords
• 21:35 Bob Herndon helped Michael on how to play harmonetta
• 22:27 Harmonetta is visually impressive to an audience, but more useful in a studio setting
• 23:21 Early bands were Scarecrow and Foscoe Jones
• 24:59 Played with a renowned blues singer: Ruthie Foster
• 26:11 Worked with Dr Sick, playing punk edged music on harmonica
• 28:11 Played five years with Kalu James, a real Nigerian Prince
• 29:31 Also played in a reggae band for a number of years
• 29:48 Has been part of an old time country gospel band called the McMercy Family
• 31:36 Plays one song in equal third tuning on one of the gospel albums
• 32:43 Also plays with Dylan Blackthorn
• 33:39 Recordings with singer songwriter Christopher Cody Meacham
• 34:22 Stylistic comparisons to Argentinian chromatic player Hugo Diaz
• 35:10 Types of harmonicas used by Michael with different recording projects
• 35:35 Debut solo album, I’ll Worry If I Wanna
• 36:16 Lyrics on album are written by Michael (inspired by Rick Estrin and others) and are mostly humorous with serious undertones
• 38:45 Kama Sutra Girl has a harmonica solo played in twelve positions
• 41:51 Impersonating barnyard animals on harmonica
• 42:28 How Michael developed his unique sound
• 43:13 The three strengths of the harmonica: power, beauty and do weird stuff
• 43:32 Album cover from I’ll Worry If I Wanna was created by a well known album artist
• 44:28 Sings all songs on album, and worked hard at developing his singing
• 46:34 Played on a Broadway show: The Civil War, and how it helped develop his music reading skills
• 48:20 Doing The Civil War showed he could rise to the professional challenge and the importance of understanding music theory better
• 49:59 Has a YouTube channel with many instructional videos detailing different aspects of playing the harmonica, including music theory
• 50:50 Teaches online and at various harmonica camps
• 51:06 Ten minute question
• 52:04 Has played the DM48, but doesn’t use it much now
• 52:58 Favourite diatonic is the Special 20, with any overblow set-up done by Joe Spiers
• 53:07 Favourite chromatic is the Suzuki Sirius, mostly using a bebop tuned chromatic
• 53:27 Has created a tuning: Git Pickin’ Harp
• 54:07 Spent seven years working hard on overblows, now uses them sparingly
• 54:57 Embouchre: uses pucker, tongue block and U-block
• 55:52 Amps and mics: Dennis Gruenling mic with Japanese crystal and Gibson GA40 amp
• 56:25 Future plans include making more albums, plans to run own band and upcoming gigs