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Tonight’s gig was at The Paramount at Penistone, a community theatre and cinema near Barnsley. We’ve been playing here every year since I joined the band, and get really well looked after by Brian and Amanda who run the venue. Home made lasagne and cakes for all the band and crew is something we all look forward to, and it’s rare we all eat together before a gig so a nice change. Venue holds around 350 and it was full tonight. Despite me having bass issues the gig went well, with lots of people dancing at the front during our second set. It was our last gig this year, so have a break now until January - most of the theatres we play have pantos on in December. (Instead of the usual stage pic I thought I’d show our band and crew just after we’d eaten!)

Lovely gig on Friday in Debenham, Suffolk, at the Community centre. After a horrible 11/2 hour journey cross country we were really well looked after with BLTs and tea by the team there. Nice stage and excellent sound, courtesy of pro sound engineer Peter and his wife running the house rig plus some of his monitors. It’s a big room with a high ceiling but Peter really did a top notch job. A decent sized crowd, packed dance floor and overall a very friendly place to play. It’s only the third music gig that they’ve put on and they deserve to do very well. Lots of nice comments afterwards from the audience and on social media. https://www.facebook.com/thegrayprojectband.

Fun gig in Southend on Friday night. Goth club " Cult 13" right by the pier. First live outing of the '73 Rick

Good gig last night at The Leathan in Portlethen with Nine Lives. We were well looked after, the band area was already cordoned off with a couple of tables which were labelled as reserved for the band (that's a neat idea!) and were swiftly removed to allow us to crack on and get set up. I went up to order a few cans of Coke for us and the landlord gave us them gratis (and repeated this at half time, came over and offered us a drink, nice one!) Gig went well, it wasn't super busy and it's an odd layout, it's almost like there are two bars. I could see a bunch of people through the doorway in the "other" bar enjoying the music but too shy to come through for a dance, ahh well, as long as they're having a good time that's all that matters. We did have an enthusiastic gang of dancers who were up for most songs, so that helped. They left about half way through the second set, but were replaced by a couple of guys who were into the heavier stuff we tend to gravitate towards at the end of the night, so it was rewarding work all night. I played the Harley Benton HB-50 through a Markbass rig (Mini CMD121P IV + New York 121) and it was sounding really good - I actually got compliments on my bassing and its sound from folk. Had a fine chat at the end with a young bass player who said that my bass tone was really clear and coming through strong. Oh no, says I, that means the mistakes were coming through loud and clear also Anyhoo, great night, really enjoyed it, and smugly played a bass no-one can buy until 2024.

Warmoth PJ body Fender American neck and tuners Fender highmass bridge EMGx PJ set Dunlop straplox

Played a gig on Friday at The Edinburgh Art Fair. It was held at a local conference/gig venue and the organisers thought that people having the chance to see some bands, after a long day of wandering around looking at art, would be a good idea. Unfortunately they didn't sell very many tickets and by the time we got to the stage there wasn't much of an audience left. The picture below shows the majority of them.

First time out with new band, Aero Twenty, plenty of mistakes, not used to IEM and boiling hot but plenty of positives. People seemed to enjoy it and the pub asked us to sort 2 dates for next year.. Happy with that.

Good one last night, although it was a shocking on stage bass tone via a house rig, but apparently it sounded fine out front.

Just back from playing a birthday party in Nuneaton. Personally was looking forward to it as a chance to test drive my recently-acquired Yamaha BB604 number 2. Fun crowd who were right up for it, and a tasty spread of food. Oh and the Yamaha sounded great too.

First country gig in about 40 years depping for Stevie Daniels at The “Rooster” in Warrington. Great pub, easy load in, happy dancing punters and complimentary drinks. Low ceilings made the mix challenging but got mostly sorted. Lovely time with some great guys.

A bitter sweet gig. Beautiful room, stage monitors were great, comped drink and meals , we sounded good and we had a lot of fun. Unfortunately the turn out was disappointing. Daryl

Wee afternoon charity event today 1-6pm with BLOCKBUSTARZ Glam covers band so home by 7:30pm Sold Out gig and dancers up for it from the word go again. The organiser wants to book us again for another charity event so we will give the discounted rate. Had a few requests to book us for birthday parties in 2024 but unfortunately our calendar for next year is filling up fairly fast. DJ that was in the venue said the feedback from everyone he spoke to was WOW just WOW what a show. He's never heard that about any other band that's played there. He's also on the club committee so that was good. All in all a great wee afternoon and we even got sandwiches and hot sausage rolls provided at break with coffee and tea. "Lubbily". Those sausage rolls sold it for me. We even got paid before we even started. How confident was the organiser altho she did see us play their for a birthday party 6mths ago. Happy Days No gig pics but here's our "ready to go" pic from the tiny changing room. Dave

Buxton “Old Clubhouse” , actually a nice little venue, I honestly cannot remember what the amp was, I’ll try and find a photo. It was a head and 4x12 DI’d into the PA, so out front it was ok, but onstage it was really quiet. We were support, so I didn’t want to start changing the settings on it, but I did turn up the master, which made no real difference to me. I really missed my Ashdown, but of course it makes life easier at the end to pack up and leave. The band, “Crisis’, we’re celebrating our 40th year this year, original heavy rock, 3pce, I’m the singer too. Three old men masquerading as relevant 40 years later.

Just got in from tonight's gig. We had a 30 minute opening set for punk / metal crossover legends Hellbastard. I struggled with nerves a bit tonight, I think the thick smoke didn't help. I couldn't see the audience so didn't know how they were reacting. I had a couple technical issues. I think my compressor died and just gave me a horrible noise. Then I stood on my lead and pulled it out. We survived and had a lot of positive comments. A couple local bands said they'd like to play with us and the promoter wants to book as again so we must have sounded alright. Watching Hellbastard afterwards was just brilliant. They are absolutely relentless, their drummer is an absolute beast. They were heavy, tight and fast and a nice bunch of blokes and they were loud. As a bonus, It was walking distance from home do I could have a few adult beverages.

Double bass and 60s Burns bass action yesterday in Bristol. Good fun, but played 3 x 50 minute sets and my hands are hurting!

Great night with the Glam Band last night at the Old Masons Arms in Oulton. Second time we’ve played this boozer and again the crowd are second to none. Well looked after by the manager and staff too which is always a bonus. Hopefully they’ll be a return in the new year.

The neck is substantial on a Talman. I saw some mods someone had done and decided it would be a fun project. I still plan to change the tuners and the pots. It has some weight , and the neck is somewhat chunky , but it’s enjoyable to play. I liked the body shape , it reminded me of the Combo guitars Paul Barth designed for Rickenbacker in the late 50’s.

Loved my Trace rig, best sound I have ever had, the downside was the hernia I had through lugging it about, especially the 4 x 10 cab, after this I moved over to the lighter MarkBass rig.

When the active circuit dies mid gig and you're checking to see if it's 9v or 18v. 😁

Abuse? Well, you did ask. Hold my beer. I think it's really insecure (not to mention dishonest) to try to pass off something inexpensive as a "posher" item. Be secure in yourself - most gear you can buy today is competent, what does it matter what brand it is? I gigged a Harley Benton last night and got the most praise I've ever had for my bass tone. Don't pay the slightest bit of attention to brand snobs, they're even worse than what you're proposing!

I... don't? I'm flattered that you think my live playing might even be slightly controlled. Oh wait, you're talking about throwing shapes on stage. I dabble. It doesn't come naturally to me, so what little I do feels quite outlandish to me. I think the most exuberant thing I do is sometimes indulge in a bit of machinegunning the audience - now that's 'Arry's influence on me. Also I often do a bit during Highway to Hell - due to its lengthy portions with no bass, I get up to nonsense like pretending to sleep, or grabbing a chair, putting it in front of my amp and having a seat, or if the cable's long enough, going and joining some punters at their table. It is evolving - at one of the venues we play, there's a darts area behind the band area - I think I'll put the bass down and throw some arrows while I wait for my services to be required. Props might also be added, a copy of the Beano, perhaps, see if people get the reference...

'If you read my answer properly, you would see that...'

Black Classic Vibe 60’s Jazz basses are down from £395 to £276.50 on Fender.com https://www.fender.com/en-GB/squier-electric-basses/jazz-bass/classic-vibe-60s-jazz-bass/0374530506.html Nice bargain if you’re in the market 🙂

How Am I Samosa Live Without You - Michael Bolton

You don't buy a Thunderbird to not hold it aloft like an offering to the gods, do you?! There's no right or wrong, so just let it rip and have fun. Or stand still and have fun. I like the former, because let's face it, this: ..is cool.

The OLP licensed copies still crop up second-hand from time to time. They look the part and are good platforms for pickup upgrades and adding an EQ.

I once proudly held my bass aloft, to be covered in the dust and detritus from the ceiling panel I had just put my headstock through.

Practice enough so you don’t have to think about playing the instrument. Live playing should be purely the interaction between the band and the audience

Well @smithy, very sorry for the delay but I finally got the HB-50 out to a gig last night. It did not disappoint. Ironically, despite my tinkering and wiring, I used it in parallel mode - not a bad idea, because that's what you're going to get if they release it as per the prototype. Felt like series was a bit much last night, and I was worried about feedback if I gave it too much beans. Speaking of which, there was none, the centre block doing its job no problem last night despite standing in front of my amp about a metre behind me. Even though it has a centre block, this HB-50 is not overly heavy and it was comfy all night. No problem to throw a few shapes on stage with it. It was sounding really good last night, a decent heft to the sound but with plenty of mid bite to cut through the mix. Strong output, didn't need to drive the amp too hard to get a good, punchy sound. It's pretty responsive, when I dug into the strings for a big finish it gave me more oomph in a pleasing way. No issues ergonomically, no neck dive that I could discern, I forgot my wristband but the body binding isn't too sharp edged or harsh so this morning there are no red marks on my forearm (hey Epi Jack Casady, I'm looking at you...). If I had a complaint, I felt that the sound was a little weak on the D and G strings versus the E and A, but perhaps I can balance this out a bit by lowering the E side of the pickup a tad. Or grow the F up and start using a compressor... At a not particularly busy gig, I got three separate compliments about my bass sound last night - very unusual! OK, one guy was wasted, but the other two seemed reasonably coherent. Now I don't know how much they're complimenting the bass itself or the rig, but I'll take it!

Penistone. Seriously? Spares are those things you never, ever need right up until the moment you do. Having broken strings and had an amp blow before now I always take spares.

Back home super early from an afternoon/early evening gig for a birthday party. One of the regular attendees at Nine Lives gigs booked us to play her 70th birthday. Proper, old school social club. We were on in the middle and the last band (Scottish Quo - guess which band's music they do?) were kind enough to let us use their backline to make for easy changeovers - much appreciated! We got in on time to catch the first act, a solo singer with backing tracks. We only had to do an hour and a half, then we stayed back to watch Scottish Quo - seemed only right after we borrowed their gear! They were proper good too - it wasn't wall to wall Quo, they threw in some other covers too. Bass player was playing 4 and 5 string Statuses (Statii?) and put on the light up fret markers near the end, bloody showoff Nah, it was sound and I enjoyed listening to them. Main thing was that the birthday girl (ha, she's 70) had a good time, and she certainly appeared to do so, plenty dancing going on. A very pleasant afternoon/evening. Because it was a special occasion, I hammed it up to the max - wore a stupid shirt and a hat, played the Epi Explorer... EDIT - someone actually remembered to take photos AND tag us!

Full House! That's basics covered. Next stop will be some more exotic top shelf material.

Notifications <insert name here> commented on feedback for Paul S

I don't think it's helpful to deal in absolutes. It's not just random notes is it? There's also interaction between band members - the nods, the winks, the "ha ha you made a mistake" knowing look, the "hey, we're doing the same thing at the same time" move. Some thought surely must be going into actually playing the intended song, even if it is to a degree a background process. I don't think that live playing should be purely anything, it's a mix of show and musicianship, neither have to be perfect, just enjoy what you're doing and that positivity will get across to the audience.

“You’re a no good red neck trump supporting hillbilly” oh no wait that’s Talkbass 😁

Maybe guitarists need more convincing? Their bass market feels like it's probably pretty well established already. If that's generating a lot of business without much effort, it might make sense to focus on their guitar stuff to grow that revenue stream.

Having suffered an amp failure mid-gig I now take no chances and have spare pretty much everything: bass, amp, leads/cables, strings (a used set for emergency use) and as many plectra as my holder will hold. The only thing I don't have a spare of is an XLR cable, as the DI is usually the last resort in the size of venue we normally play and I haven't had to use the one I have yet fortunately (touch wood).

Funnily enough Dave we tried the jumper lead thing but it wasn't that! On tonight’s gig we narrowed it down to my bass preamp misbehaving, so that will be getting seen to in our time off now. Had to use my backup Precision-a-like, which is okay but a tad heavier than the P-Lyte as you might expect! However looks like the GK is blameless as I’d hoped, so some consolation. Thanks. I’m a big believer in spare stuff, and have a double of everything apart from carrying another 410 cabinet. I’ve been really fortunate over the years in little going wrong, but when it does it’s good to have options.

I have to admit, that live, I really struggle to stay calm and focused with my bass playing. Yes, I’m the singer/frontman, but, in rehearsals I’m calm and enjoy my playing a lot more than during a gig, where the adrenaline kicks in and frankly my technique goes to s***. How do the rest of you control your live playing?

Pre EB Stingray with a perfect excuse for purchase.

What Becomes Of The Broken-Sharted — Jimmy Ruffin

Full houses are always good, but I’d get annoyed with the silver top on the Bass Driver ha ha. It needs to be matchy matchy or not at all he he 😝🤪

..." This is absolutely THE best, most fantastic ever thing I've ever owned without a doubt it is just so awesome... selling to fund a new best thing this side of the universe"

I just try to relax and enjoy it for what it is - entertainment and fun. I get a lot of nervous energy before a gig but I try to channel it into giving it some welly once we go back onstage. Being prepared in terms of knowing the material as band helps; it’s not fun to be distracted or worrying about someone making a mistake or not playing a bit the way you want it - so ironing those things out in the rehearsal room mean you can enjoy the moment more onstage. Physically trying to relax a bit can be hard - I can feel the tension in my shoulders and forearms and hands sometimes which then just impacts on my playing, so really focusing on unclenching those is good. I used to do a lot of jiu jitsu and still use many of the warm up stretches before a gig to loosen my neck, shoulders, wrists and hands. And if things go wrong, don’t stress too much. It’s live music at the end of the day - every gig will have some wrong bits in it, whether it’s the sound onstage, the crowd, fluffed lines etc, not all of which you can control. But if you do your homework and be tight and confident as a band, those other variables will have less chance of derailing you. You’re a frontman with a T-bird - that’s a pretty cool situation yeah?

I think the hate comes from Gibson (USA) being run by utter cockwombles for god knows how long now, and also their utter disdain for bassists in general. This is coming from a former Gibson owner and long time apologist for them, but these days they do absolutely nothing for me. I don't hate them, but I pity the fools.

"RARE" (nearly always applied to something absolutely, in no way whatsoever, rare). I actually saw yesterday, on Facebook marketplace, a guy describe his standard 2006 Musician Stingray as 'RARE' because he hasn't seen another 2006 Stingray for sale - therefore his must be completely one of a kind. What a world we live in.

Indeed. I always take a spare bass that is tuned up and waiting on a stand next to me 'just in case'.

Have you considered a full scale bass rather than a short scale? You're looking at this from a guitarist's perspective, they're different instruments and using a full scale bass might help reinforce that with your subconscious. From my bassist's perspective, when I want to record some guitar parts, I don't string a 6-string bass with guitar strings, I use a guitar.

As soon as you can. You learn so much more playing with others than just playing on your own (fnar).