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I’m Coming Out - Diana Ross

We played our first full gig last night (we did a short set at a charity event few weeks ago) We couldn't of hoped for better. The venue is outside but part covered... it's a bit different which makes a great place to play. We were all worried that we'd have problems with the mixer like at rehearsal, but all was good. There was a decent sized crowd with added benefit a hen do were there (big tick for target demographic there). It was our singer's first ever full gig and she was fantastic. She was insanely nervous to begin with, but after a couple of songs she was loving it. The manager told us it was the best attended night so far this summer and we'll get booked again, definitely. Also a guy from another band said he'd drop our name to a really good venue with good rates. A 10 out of 10 night.

Breakout - Swing Out Sister

Breakdown - Tom Petty

The Machine Stops - Level 42

So just in from an absolute belter of a gig. Used my Senheiser IEM100’s in combination with my X-Vive U4 and due to getting there nice and early I had time to tweak my in-ears mix as well as eq them better with the result that I think I’ve just had the best gig ever on a difficult stage sound-wise.

Hey BigThumb. Sometimes ,despite everything we as performers do to ensure a good sound at our gigs , the world of construction materials and reflective surfaces make it an un-winnable fight. Don’t be so hard on yourself. All these factors add to the stress of having new/returning members and new songs and therefore impact on the performance. Your next gig should be based on things that you can control and not things that you can’t. Upwards and onwards (or is that Buzz Lightyear’s saying?). DLTBGYD!

Gig 2 of 3 this weekend. This one was at the White Hart in Ashby de la Zouch. It can be a bit hit and miss sometimes. It was pretty much empty when we arrived, but before too long more and more people came in and we had the whole place jumping. I'm not sure if bands really do drum solos any more (?) Moby Dick went down an absolute storm! Ideal time for me to grab a quick photo. Note the security staff and the local pastor team at the window. You can also see my "stingish" Sub5 and Fender Rumble there. The bass has been promoted to the better gig bag - the one with the band cards in it 😁 So anyway, the really strange bit. We play "dad rock" - pop, rock and prog rooted firmly in the 70s. We usually attract old blokes to our gigs. Ashby is a bit different - it's a really buzzing town on a Saturday night, lots of pubs, lots of transient crowd. So there's more of a wider mix of people than normal and we're getting them to linger - all good stuff. Half way through the night four stunningly gorgeous young ladies came in, dressed in their underwear by the look of it. They grabbed themselves a pint of Guinness each and then started dancing right in front of the band singing along loudly to pretty much everything we played. Not only that, but after we'd played Oh Well they asked for another early Fleetwood Mac song - Albatross! - Then danced along to it. There were a few people in the crowd that found it quite amusing watching us trying not to stare at the gyrating ladies, although we did make a few more mistakes than usual. What a great night. I love it when the room is in full swing. Most important though... ...the purple suede Gazelles

Doing so would also make up for half the bass only entertaining the area behind the tent. I pity the drummer's right foot though.

The Last Time - Rolling Stones

That was one gig to forget and move on! A regular venue where we've had some really good gigs in the past. Always a good crowd and decent sound, but not tonight. They have made a stage area which dose look smart but it's buggered up the sound good 'n proper. Bass sounded horrible just boom and more boom. Spent the gig fiddling with EQs and repositioning the cab but it made little difference. I used the Sandberg in the second set which sounded better but still not brilliant. Not so many in tonight which added to the pain. Some were enjoying it but it seemed a long hard slog with plenty of mistakes thrown in as well. It's only the second time we've played with our new (and old) guitarist. He left the band earlier in the year but agreed to come back when his replacement has other music commitments. It's all a long and complicated story! So mistakes were to be expected as the set has changed quite a lot since his departure. So overall a pretty crap gig but we know what songs to practice and focus on the next gig in a couple of weeks time. Here's a pic of two basses, an amp and a cab.

One More Time - Daft Punk

I listened to the acoustic version first then the electric one. The electric version is fantastic and such a cracking video! I listened to it a few times and the re-visited the acoustic version. My mind started filing in the drums and other parts from the electric version and it seemed to make the acoustic version go to a different level. Excellent song and well played. Loved it!

Again and Again - Status Quo

This is the final goal:

We did start to go down that route... but there's no record at all of any of these being made in anything other than the 3 competition colours at the time, so it must've been fully stripped!

The one you that makes you want to pick it up and play it. They are very different but both quality affordable basses. Try them and see which one speaks to you.

If you can remember computers that colour, you predate the Internet.

Over And Over - Hot Chip

Just got back from a gig with Bendricks Rock in Newport. Overloud DJ/karaoke distorting and making setting up hard and soundcheck impossible. Town was quieter than last time, but we had an enthusiastic reception. My bass was very boomy and I had to cut bass and >gasp< boost mids to get a decent sound. Forgot my mic stand and really missed doing bvs, although there wasn't really much room for another mic. My usual rig with the AVII Precision. Quecha approach shoes which give my dodgy ankle excellent support. Got a band selfy for once!

Hearing Aid Beige, definitely one for the Fender colour wheel 😂