+15 'musicians'

[theikon]

For those people who work downtown, what do you think about the guys playing 'music' in the +15.

The Big Band guys are great. Sometimes they even have that girl singing with them.

Then there is 'amp guy,' who plays about three chords on his electric guitar. He makes me want to kill myself everytime I pass by him.

[northcrunk]

I used to see the amp guy in the +15 to energy plaza, he is horrible. I will give cash to a busker if they are good but if they suck I just walk by.

[red sky]

The Big Band guys are excellent. Everyone else... not so much.

[Hockeyguy15]

The guy with the guitar and harmonica isn't bad.

[PsYcNeT]

Not a hard and fast rule, but the best buskers are typically musicians who do it for fun in their spare time.

There are a handful of unemployed/homeless buskers in Calgary's history that aren't terrible, but typically if the busker looks bad/smells bad/plays bad/sings bad, they fall in Category 2.

[EverfresH15]

Good or not it is annoying. Take it outside.

[BurningYears]

I like that piano they have just for public use in TD just by the Shoppers Drug Mart. I've seen the same guy on it a bunch lately. adds some atmosphere.

[polak]

Hate them all.

I was actually going to post a GMG post about it.

[Ducay]

Dont mind the whistling cowboy, but man, the amp guy is terrible.

[TheyCallMeBruce]

Is the spare change guy still alive? He used to sing the best songs about spare change!

[northcrunk]

The dude with the banjo who sits in front of Scotia centre is good, I saw a group of 3 people with a dholak who were excellent but I have not seen them again over there. I cant stand the dirty kids with the guitar who sit in front of the bay and play/sing horribly.

[Bill Bumface]

Anyone remember the African-Canadian senior citizen lady (boo-yah.... political correctness!) that used to sing really really horrible songs in her horrible voice on 8th avenue about Jesus loving you?

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Anyone remember the African-Canadian senior citizen lady (boo-yah.... political correctness!) that used to sing really really horrible songs in her horrible voice on 8th avenue about Jesus loving you?

HAHA do I ever

[nik-]

What about the flute dude who knows like half a scale and just plays it over and over?

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

Is the spare change guy still alive? He used to sing the best songs about spare change!

Yes. He recently got a new coat. Spare Change's tunes are full of expletives though.

[northcrunk]

Some videos:

Bad busking



Epic banjo guy at scotia centre:

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by nik-

What about the flute dude who knows like half a scale and just plays it over and over?

Greasy Zamfir. He used to be by the entrance to that one parkade near the 5th Avenue Club. Haven't seen him in a while.

[Minnie]

If they're good, I don't mind listening to them. Beats the elevator muzak they pipe in generally.

Years ago, there used to be a guy who set up and played a Zither at the Chateau in Lake Louise. Loved listening to him. People seemed to enjoy him - there were always huge crowds gathered around. Wonder what happened to him? Haven't seen him there in a few years...

[Muffins]

Originally Posted by fredr123

Greasy Zamfir. He used to be by the entrance to that one parkade near the 5th Avenue Club. Haven't seen him in a while.

Haven't seen him for a while as well. His flute playing was annoying and terrible, but the random stuff he would talk about before playing was pure gold.

[goodyear]

I usually walk through the +15 from TD to the Intact building and have seen a few different guys there. They aren't bad but good or not, I'm usually just walking through so I don't pay much attention to it.

I guess if these guys have permits than it's all good to me!

#ByLawUndercover