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My Top Tip is to practice the ending (last few bars, or section, or last minute, or however it's structured...). Long enough to be able to retain it, and feel comfortable with it. Once that's acquired, start practicing the preceding section, and continue through with the ending. As you advance, you'll be playing into territory that's more and more familiar. Continue with this until both sections are done. Now start off, again, with the preceding section... Rince and repeat until you've started from the beginning. Choose the length of each of these sections to be within your comfort zone each. Essentially, start from the end and work backwards in chunks. You'll find that, this way, every song ends with you playing a part that you're very comfortable with, so enjoyment increases as the song progresses. This Tip applies in other domains, for actors learning long lines, anyone doing speeches and more still. Try it and see; you may be agreeably surprised.

I'm always surprised that young people seem to know the words to Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) by Edison Lighthouse. It was fairly obscure back in 1970 (ok, 5 weeks at number one, but still...)

I had two cheat sheets taped to the set list Saturday night. My own "shorthand" that I use. One was for the unique non- standard end section of Mr Blue Sky that the bands plays and the other for One Step Beyond. Both are printed on the top quarter of an A4 sheet, cut off and taped to the set list, or back of a monitor. I've done it for years with various songs. After a few gigs they stick. However, Saturday night I had a little moment during the first bridge of Mr Brightside where I completely forgot where to put my fingers. Last non- encore song of the night, played it dozens of times over the years and rehearsed it last week without incident, then I get the "wtf moment". I probably fumbled half a bar but it felt like the world collapsing. I don't think you can mitigate much for brain facts like that. I practise until I don't get stuff wrong but sometimes we glitch.

I am always amazed how everyone loves War Pigs! Ten years ago it would have been a floor-emptier!

Even if there's cake?

Back at The Crew rock bar in Nuneaton. It has a great atmosphere and I love the framed photos, posters and guitars everywhere. It does make for quite a lively sound though. The stage is under a staircase (leading to Queen's Hall) so the sound reflections can be interesting. Using pretty much the same settings as last night, which sounded great, the guitar had a lot more bite and the snare was like a gun shot where I was standing. I couldn't hear myself that well though as I was right on top of my cab. Anyway we were assured by some of our regular followers that although it was louder than usual it sounded great. This is one venue where I could probably do with some ear plugs. (Moby Dick drum solo) The guitarist had bought his strat along again, and this time it sounded great with the extra volume, etc. I used my usual kit - the Stingish bass into GT-6B into Fender Rumble v3 500. It's not really a dancing venue, but it was great to have the whole place singing their heads off to War Pigs!

If Picasso had made basses... Love the red and white chicken head knobs.

Initially a tuning fork, and then a small electronic thing that made an ‘A’ note which we all used in the dressing room before going onstage. Following that my then girlfriend bought me a Korg GT6 electronic tuner with a dial and meter, which was a game changer as it also made it easier to set up intonation on guitars and basses. Had to stop using it when I played piano on some songs though, as my vintage beige Wurlitzer EP200 wasn’t quite in concert pitch!

I have family there. I visit and its like stepping into a TV primetime soap like Beverley Hills 90210. Everyone is so youthful, buzzy, well dressed and made up that i dont understand how they can keep their hands off each other.

Sharing my Studio P preset in context. Just a simple chain with light comp and Noble block for my bass with flats. It's in the Suite if anyone's interested(chaduplaysbass is my name). The Anagram has been thriving in my setup, I've not coveted on other pedals so far and have been surviving the Gear Abstinence lol

Mauvin’ on up Primal scream

Bq250 is a solid choice

I liked it - and I tried to get a date with the AMP tower tour guide lady. Didn’t work but the crowd laughed

You only move up one room. Just don't bother unpacking.

Just discovered this post...! My bass teacher, back in 1987, Glen Commons told me a story that Neville used to demonstrate how strong the necks were by putting a bass across two chairs and standing on it. It was all very impressive until one day the neck snapped. My teacher ended up with that bass and I played it during a lesson. The crack had been solidly repaired with epoxy cement (not resin, which might have been better) but it was hard to miss visually.

Welcome and ooooft 😱 That’s a lot more metal than mine 🤣

When it comes down to it, I don't see how buying stuff for the sake of it is a long-term solution. Sure, buy the stuff you need and appreciate it, but too much just becomes a burden. I think that Anthony Scaramucci has a good take on it. The trouble is that of the three things he says, the third id=s the most difficult - it is hard to be in a position where you can make any sort of living from something that you love. Great if you can, but unfortunately that just doesn't work for most people. However, the first two points (appreciate the simple things in life and be happy for your friends' / acquaintances' successes) are definitely something that everyone can aspire to!

I'm currently learning a set for a new band. 99% original songs and the band leader/singer/songwriter doesn't always use the 4 bar structure. The stuff you don't have to learn. Where you can feel the changes. Usually learning a set is about patterns but this guy is using different structures, 6 bars instead of 4, sometimes 5!! I'm also contending with double length bridges, half verses, missing choruses and bridge sections that sometimes have rules and sometimes don't! I've written charts from the YouTube and mp3's supplied. The first gig, in 2 weeks, is the audition. I'll either join the band or it was just a dep. Failure is not an option so I'm playing the full set every day. I intend to know these songs better than the guy who wrote them and play them better than the last bassist. IMO it's a good band so it's worth the effort.

I wish I had a super cool picture of a bass to share but I didn’t need one today. We entered the studio to finally FINISH our third album. “Vox Populi” by Deadlight Dance will be out on 20th March. Today I did a couple of vocals but it was more about finishing the songs. Ten tracks of dark delights. I’m as excited as I was over 35yrs ago.

I sometimes use a mandrake

That is one of the best looking basses I've ever seen, lovely stuff. How does it balance on the strap?

Well, let’s put it this way, January last year I got a bit of inheritance money and decided to buy a Sandberg that I found in Denmark Street (which was 99% my ideal spec - colour variant, that’s all). That’s been getting all the playing love since then and I led me to decided to order the above Superlight at the end of August. My Wals have pretty much been sitting in their cases (unheard of) and the arrival of this one almost certainly means that my Mk 1 Custom Series will be going up on consignment in the near future (something I thought that I would never do). They’re fab basses!