An Interview with Shawn Hall

Around the world with 80 great harmonica players

Sam Spranger Editorial Team

After interviewing chromatic virtuoso Cy Leo last issue, I continued my journey ‘around the world with 80 great harmonica players’, and was lucky enough to speak with Shawn Hall, better known as ‘the Harpoonist’ from the duo The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer. The duo have shown a clear bridge for blues to move from its traditional roots into the 21st century. Purists, for example, will enjoy the 2008 self-titled debut album, while progressives will love their modern blues approach exhibited on albums A Real Fine Mess and Apocalipstick. Based in Canada, Shawn has gigged across the world and was kind enough to talk to me about all things harmonica.

What are you looking forward to post-lockdown?

I just co-wrote a song with Gordie Johnson (from the band Big Sugar), an amazing guitarist and long-time friend of mine. It’s hilarious, as he’s based in southern Texas and I’m in the farthest point in Canada, but we go way back. The song is called Show Me The Green. It’s pretty classic blues, and I’ve enjoyed returning to my roots after my more progressive projects.

I think The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer is the best name ever for a harp/guitar duo, can you describe your progression from traditional blues to your more modern sound?

Sure – we started out as a short-lived coffee house duo with a view of taking our music careers back to basics. Just folk blues, acoustic harp, Gibson hollow body guitar and ‘porch stompin’’ for percussion. We did that for three or four years as we toured through the Rocky Mountains through the chitlin circuit around the whole of Canada (about a 1,500km route!). But the audiences got bigger and louder! So we adapted by adding magnet-based percussion by the fantastic Pete Farmer. I started using pedals (including an octaver, delay, envelope filter, and lone

wolf pedals). Likewise, Matt (The Axe Murderer) ‘Frankenstein-ed’ his guitar to cover bass as well as a variety of other sounds.

Why the harmonica?

Before harp, I played the cello because my mum wanted to keep me out of trouble! I got the harmonica when I was around 13, and I started with Dylan and then Stones records. Finally, I heard a Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcghee record that changed my life. Once I learned that record, I knew all I thought I needed to know. Then I started hanging out around the blues joints and jams in town and went from there. Years later, I met the producer of that Sonny Terry record, Mighty Mo Rodgers, and practically bowed down to him. It is the blueprint for my rhythmic approach to the harp.

Indeed, I think it’s so important to cut your teeth around the bars and the jams!

Yeah, and it’s important to get your ass kicked! I remember going to New Orleans with my dad when I was only 21 and I waited all night long to sit in on the jam, and I got my ass handed to me on a plate! It’s fantastic training grounds!

What else is coming up?

We have a live record coming out in June that we did in Calgary using The Rolling Stones’ original mobile recording truck! It will be accompanied by a video as well. I’m also excited about gigging with my Satellite and the Harpoonist project because the guys in that outfit are absolute monsters! For the whole interview including more on Shawn’s favourite gigs, gear, touring experiences, and tangential conversations on the music industry and our coincidental love of cheesy horror movies, please do watch the full interview online! https://youtu.be/BChjXTIgsIo