One-Man-Band (The Kazoo Cowboy!)

A cowboy with a drum on his back! Making a ruckus!

This video was filmed at Canal City, a big shopping center in Kyushu, Japan. I performed there for a full month doing three sets a day in the summer of about 2007. It was so hot and muggy every day that after each 30 minute set, I was drenched in sweat.

I build this one-man-band rig to be as light and easy to carry as possible. It was built for roving performances only and has no microphones or pick-ups for connecting to a sound system. It's all acoustic.

The idea behind playing this particular one-man-band rig was mainly for appealing to kids. The name of the character is the "Kazoo Cowboy" and this character never talks, he only toots on the kazoo and makes a lot of noises with bells and whistles.

This same rig can be seen in a "sit-down" format after I rebuilt it and began busking with it. An audience member posted a video of me performing Hotel California on this rig in Ueno Park in Tokyo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQU13H96PuY

In the above video (Hotel California) you can see the same set of flags and the same drum rig behind my back. But I mounted the whole thing on a stool and put microphones in the drums and mixed the sound through a PA system. I also added the larger crash cymbal on the right side that is played with my right arm.

But as the Kazoo Cowboy, this was only a "walk around the mall" acoustic rig.

The instruments used here are:
1) kick drum (played by right foot)
2) snare drum (played by left foot)
3) small splash cymbal (cable from left upper arm)
4) guitar
5) harmonica
6) kazoo
7) vocals
8) whistle
9) various bells and horns

Incidentally, the flags where not chosen, but came in a set representing various countries. I did not choose the countries, it's just how they sold the set of flags. There are nine flags representing USA, France, China, Brazil, Japan, Australia, Germany, Italy, and Britain. My apologies to people from other countries not represented. But if you think about it, there's no way to fit over a hundred different flags on my back, so please stop complaining that your flag is not there! (The Hotel California video link above has many such comments!) Actually, I would have put every flag of every country on earth on my rig if I could afford it, and could get my hands on so many flags, but "ce la vie".

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• one-man-band
• kazoo
• cowboy
• Japan
• Canal City
• hotel california
• flags
• musical instruments
• one
• man
• band
• kids
• entertainment
• street
• performer
• kyushu
• Tokyo

[JecS6]

Hey Daniel! You forgot the Mexican flag =(

[OneManBandCareer]

@JecS6 With about 195 countries in the world, I'm too skinny to carry that many flags! But Mexico is one of the few countries I've actually visited, so if I could, I would put a Mexican flag! But I bought that whole set of flags at a novelty shop and there were no choices. Thanks for watching and commenting! And "Go MEXICO!!"

[vinuto9]

It is easy to tell you love music and what you do. You may look silly and clown-ish in the outfit, but you put so much into playing and putting on a show but most of all you simply love doing what you do and getting people involved. That is what I get from this video. Well anyway I'm just a guy blown away from your skills and how much of a people person you are that may or may not be sounding like an idiot right now. In short I respect you and what you are doing with music!

[OneManBandCareer]

@vinuto9 Thanks for the nice comment. I do enjoy making people feel happy and at ease. And yes, the outfit does look silly and clown-ish but that's what they wanted and what they paid me for. And since I'm at ease in my own skin, it doesn't bother me. For me, smiling and fooling around just comes naturally. But I do enjoy playing more serious music too. Thanks again.

[JecS6]

@OneManBandCareer It's ok men, i'm just kidding... =)

Awesome work you're doing out there, keep it up!

[MrElmoDouglas]

i hope they pay you well people find it hard to play 1 instrument but you play 10 so you should get paid 10 times more!

[pbsurfdude]

I hope they pay you well. There is a one man band in Croatia that has a tip bag, and people just throw money at him. Anyhow, your are a true talent and make people happy. That has to be satisfying.