The Blues Man of 16th Street offered to teach me how to bend a note. Usually I carry my own harmonica around, but on this night it was sitting in my desk drawer. When he told him that I’m trying to learn, but won’t ever be able to play like him he quickly replied “Yes you can. Yes you can. You just gotta keep at it.” And then, “always have your harmonica with you, you never know when inspiration will strike you. I always play my own stuff [even though he's demonstrating something different here, just for instructional purposes]. Your music is yours,” he said, patting me on the chest, “it comes from you.”

(Sorry the videos are dark. Unfortunately that’s my dopey voice you hear in the background)

Next, Drake Dillen, who lived on Valencia near 22nd a few decades ago while doing construction work, played me a few of his old favorites. He had a falling out with his brother and had to leave the city, fell on some hard times, got into some trouble, and finally made his way back to the city to, possibly, sing out the blues into the cool foggy nights.

I saw Omer and stopped and listened for a bit at 22nd and Valencia today. We’ve posted about him a couple times now, but no one ever seems to respond, so we thought we’d look for a better picture. Here it is, courtesy of Flickr user balmes. Recognize him yet? Scary as he can be at times, we have all his records and believe him to be a real-deal musical talent. Any stories?

Previously on Mission Mission:

Gorgeous Summertime Sunset (+Omer)

Omer, Bard of Valencia Street