Leaderboard

Just home from Gig in Beat Generator, Dundee. Horrendous drive home in rain with a lot of standing water. Gig was a bit quieter than last time but owner reckoned it was a bank holiday weekend and lot of folks away. Sold about 80 tickets tho and hall was approx half full so not too bad. This was a reschedule gig from just after Xmas when singer lost his voice so a lot of people there had tickets from Xmas. Enthusiastic audience up for a dance and having fun with the band. Owner loved it and wants to rebook us again. 3 flights of stairs has absolutely killed me tonight and a 2 hr drive home didn't make it any better. Sandberg VM4 Shure Wireless Keeley Bassist comp Handbox WB-100 amp Barefaced 212 cab that i bought last week. Sounded great on stage. PA support supplied by the venue. I need to tweak the amp EQ settings as its quite a different tone to my Mesa cabs. The Mesa 210 gives my tone a little more mid edge but thats just down to EQ and all should be ok. Have to say the Barefaced cab sounded fantastic. Very similar tonal quality to the Mesa rig but one cab made it an easy lift in. Dave Forgot i took these pre-show.

Our first outside gig this year. Good gig, why? We were tight. The dep drummer kept great time and actually learned most our set. Not a lot of technical stuff and crazy fills he just provided a great foundation for me to play in. I was very impressed and pleasantly surprised. The opening act was really good. A solo singer song writer with good material. I was so confident I actually got into some on stage banter with Jenny. Not much for pics. Daryl

Played at Fryshuset Klubben Stockholm yesterday. 300-400 in the audience (Emergenza Stockholm and Swedish final). 14 bands, so hectic with only line checks. I brought my Warwick $$, Mesa Carbine M6 for the backline and a TKS W2128 cab. I plugged in my Quad Cortex, which was overkill, as our 20 min set didn’t really need any bass tone changes. I could have gone straight. Had a great time and had several people come up afterwards and say how much they liked the performance. Cherry on top was we were among the audience top four picks.

Got another dep outing yesterday, helping to open proceedings at the Sheffield M2TM competition final at Corporation. To say that the doors opened at 13:30 and we were on at 13:40, there was actually a decent crowd pretty much straight from the start. I think some of that was possibly initially helped by there being 4 other guest bands and 5 competition bands on the premises at the time, but a crowd's a crowd and there were definitely increasing numbers of paying public there, too. Played well, enjoyed the gig, got positive feedback from people who'd seen us, and a box of lager from the band as a thanks for jumping in last-minute. Played my Rockbass Streamer LX 5 (which I bought as b-stock, fettled, gutted and re-wired passive) through a couple of new bits of kit which I bought as an aid to travelling light; a Fender Telepath wireless system and a Tech21 Bass Fly Rig v2. Went straight into the PA from the Fly Rig, and also into my Markbass Nano 2 on top of the house Blackstar 115 cab - pretty unnecessary if I'm honest, given the foldback on the main stage. The Fender wireless seems to be decent - perhaps functionally no more decent than any of the much cheaper 5.8GHz alternatives, but it feels solid and it performed flawlessly so I'm happy with it. The Fly Rig v2 sounds much better to me than the original version I had a few years back ever did - definitely keeping this one for when the full pedalboard isn't practical. Same black boots as usual.

The first live performance with my new band, we did a half hour set at a 'Party in the Park' event. We couldn't of asked for a better start. Great reception/response from those there, we even have a potential booking. It was great to be playing live again after a gap of 7 years.

Back from our one hour slot at the Folk & Cider Festival. Local gig, only 15 minutes drive from home, plus an easy load in and out as it was PA provided, and had my two Uke basses in a double case, small pedalboard and monitor in a gig bag. The set consisted of a mix of Levellers songs plus other covers in a similar acoustic folk style - went down well, with dancers for the most part. Didn't manage to get a pic of the full setup, as we were quick setup and breakdown due to others playing either side of us on the bill, but got a crowd shot and my corner.... Captured the gig on my Zoom Hn4, so that's my job for tomorrow.....

Half way through this afternoon’s gig. Slow start as keyboards refusing to work, but all good after. Parking is an absolute nightmare and it’s all gone up in the pay and displays by about 30%! Still, appreciative crowd, which is nice.

Played at Moor Beer last night. We organised Temple of Doom. A 7 band doom lineup. Unfortunately due to a major medical incident about an hour and a half before the gig, the first band had to drop out. We did message around, but couldn't get anyone to fill in at such short notice. So, we upped the next two bands sets to 40 minutes which they were both happy to do and it all went off without a hitch after that! We'd only sold about 20 tickets by last Saturday, but the ticket sales thing told me it was 89 on Headfirst and then we probably did another 10 on the door, so it was pretty packed by the time everyone showed up! My gear was my Dingwall Combustion, GX-100, Mojo Mojo, Bass Big Muff, Laney Digbeth. We all agreed that we dropped some clangers, but it didn't seem to matter. People really enjoyed our set and we sold 7 or 8 t-shirts! The other bands were also really good. An excellent time was had by all! But then we did organise a pissup in a brewery, so perhaps not unexpected 😅 I've downloaded someone Instagram story to share as I didn't take any pictures. AQM7SFrKQmv2jHBOSDZBwCh8bgI9tA2Zc4UvuquCIqmRAnWo51lpy_AfHXfWWTLSqAQx5T-KdOPpDZTag6p_toQDWZgFChcjR5wg49A.mp4

Epic solo acoustic / vocal gig at Bar Dos Hermanos in Leicester. A group of friends had come down from Sheffield to see me. Inviting family/friends always seems to be the kiss of death for me and guarantees a rubbish gig. But not so! It was awesome. Enough very vocal audience members wanting to sing along that the second half was just one long home straight of singalongs and hands in the air shenanigans. Exactly the right behaviour for a Saturday night. Back of the net. (Equipment - Yamaha FG512SJ acoustic with Seymour Duncan woody in it, flask of earl grey tea, Allen and Heath desk and a couple of Mackie SRM350 speakers.

Just got in from a Spacewasters gig at The Water Rats, Kings Cross, London. 4 bands on, with us in main support slot. Used my JMJ Mustang bass through the provided Ampeg Venture head and cab and the sound was great. We only had a line check but that’s no problem for us, we played well, with a nice groove and the set was well received. I wore my Skechers trainers and my foot is hurting, darn plantar fasciitis!

Super Ska gig in Birmingham. Crowd were great. My Fender Rumble filled the space and the floor rumbled. Had a great time. I just love it when the crowd are up enjoying themselves. Makes it so much more enjoyable

Played the inaugural Lanark Country Music Festival yesterday. One of five acts we arrived at Midday for setup and soundcheck. As usual the soundchecks were in reverse order from performance so first up was the fantastic Eagles tribute band, Hotel Caledonia. Due to some technical problems with the PA this took way longer than expected and we had a very short soundcheck. We had brought our own setup so we provided our own in-ear monitor mix and provided separate feeds for all our instruments and vocals with our XR 32 and splitters. Great organisation from the promoters with an entertainers “green room” with a fridge stocked with drinks (including beer and low alcohol verities) and trays of sandwiches. Every band had a their own take on country and Americana music and the whole event was a great success. Japanese Fender Precision, wireless to various pedals and Sansamp into the aforementioned XR 32. In-ear monitoring with X-Live and Behringer PM-16s. Footwear handmade Portuguese cowboy boots! (What else can you wear in a country band?) Horrendous weather on the journey home on the same roads and probably just a few hours before dmccombe7 (see earlier how was your gig posts) travelled on them. A few photos and a bit of phone clip from the back of the room. AQMyImm4sqAtMgabHtbBDAg22pDg5KQz0TZ9TzGLyz2qXAmPJ_7ztcI63Ewot8UUy7xZzv-ugEwI3jJ4I0aFpPpsLLS_njf9jBuMGrIG5EHViyL2WA.mp4

As my bass tech once said to me in 2002 when I was 32, my record deal had ended and I was giving up, he very angrily said to me, "how dare you give up, you're an amazing bassist, you've been given a talent that others can only dream off, don't waste this gift you've been given, that would just be selfish, go out there and use it, not everyone can play bass or do music." That kind of stuck with me and to this day, I'm still playing and still having some of the best musical experiences in my 39 years of playing. Looking at some of you older chaps, I'm still a youngster at 55 and massively admire those of you who are in your 60's and 70's still playing, that in itself is an incredible achievement. I've had periods where I'm sick of it, can no longer see the point, feel like I'm flogging a dead horse and I make the decision to retire, to then get an incredible opportunity come my way. It literally comes out of the blue and is simply too good to resist. It has happened to me about 5 or 6 times over a 15 year period and even this year, when I'd decided to retire at the end of this year, an amazing opportunity came my way and I'm having an incredible year of music. I joke with my wife that it's my dad looking down on me and saying, "like hell are you going to stop, here's something new to keep you going". She always says that things happen to me for a reason and if something doesn't come my way, then there's a reason for it but its because there's something else much better around the corner and it does usually work out that way. I've kind of gotten used to that's just how my life works, things just tend to happen for a reason, even if it's not obvious at the time. So I'm now resolved that this is me, I'm a bassist and a musician, it's what I do and have done for the last 39 years and I'm not allowed to stop. I've had an incredible career in music, a lot of success and achievements and fortunate to have played with some big artists and some incredible venues. I just make sure that these days, I enjoy and cherish every moment and be grateful to be doing something I love, something I perhaps I took for granted previously. I make sure I get the maximum enjoyment out of it, put in 110% effort and try to not get stressed or frustrated about anything. I no longer fight it and I approach it as if I'm a session bassist and make sure I see the positive in absolutely everything I do or have done. As my friend and bass tech said to me all those years ago, "don't waste this gift you've been given, go out there and use it". That is exactly what I'm doing and on my terms.

Love this tune, always makes me smile. Back in lockdown I used the Emma Electronics Okto Nøjs to make a fairly convincing little version of this.

So this is where we are now - The neck joint is fully trimmed and VERY tight fitted - it's gone back to the correct depth leaving exactly 27.6mm of overstand as per the original. The underside of the fingerboard end to belly is also exactly like the original - this is testament to my grandfather and father's advice measure a job twice - have a cup of tea - then measure twice again - then have another cup of tea to think about if you are actually doing what you need to be doing: the four measure/two tea method (or coffee if that's yer bag). So the possible order of the the list of jobs still to do: 1. Scrape a small amount from the bass side of the neck heel face to correct the slight wonkiness of the original neck pocket that had the fingerboard way off centreline. 2. Bore the pilot holes in the neck heel out to 8mm and cut the wider area to sink in the cap head stainless bolts and washers. 3. Shoot the face of the neck with a sharp hand plane to prepare it for the fingerboard. There is a verrrrrrrrry slight back-bow ... but I will try to leave a bit of that in to pre stress the neck back a tad to resist string tension. 4. Glue the fingerboard to the neck - hot hide glue, properly warming the neck and fingerboard to extend the 'open time' - and I'll co-opt an assistant for that job as it has to be done fast and right! 5. I'm pretty set on an access hatch in the treble side cutaway - so that will be next probably. 6. Making the neck inner clamp plate - yep I'm going to try that method: a plate bored and tapped M8 and secured to the inside of the neck block 7. Fitting tuning machines to peg box and some much needed final neck shaping ... the replacement neck is like a tree trunk! Then technically speaking the neck can be bolted on, the end pin, wire and tailpiece installed, the bridge shaped and fitted, the nut fitted - the sound post re installed ... And if I want to I can whack a set of strings on there to see what I have! Yep I'm going to refinish her ... but I think it's worth putting the old girl back under tension for the first time in I believe over 40 years to make sure she doesn't go BANG before I spend a lot more time making her look beautiful!

One motivator for me is obviously the money, as I do this for a living, but I do have to say that as I've gotten older, it does get harder. The pro live tribute shows are one thing, but I still get a real buzz out of live trio jobs where I can play what I want and really stretch my stuff. Most of all, whatever the situation, I get the biggest kick out of entertaining people. The people that come and thank you at the end and tell you it's the best show they've seen in years make it all worth it.

When you start you can't stop. If I didn't play gigs, I just wouldn't play. Gigs are the motivation and discipline to play, and the buzz. I've got my first live performances in 7 years in about 2hrs time. I thought about selling everything about 5 years ago, but here I am, back in a band ready to play again.

It's very heartening to read all of these reasons we have for doing what we do. They're all very personal to us as individuals, yet they also speak to the collective. Man.

As has been said by others, I gig because I love playing live music. I love the camaraderie of a band on stage (the 'us vs the world' vibe) and some of the funniest and most enjoyable moments I've had with bands have been with friends on stage or in the studio. I've never lost the buzz I get from a successful gig or a good performance. I'm fortunate not to need the money (although it funds my GAS) and the current band I'm in plays solely for charity, which gives me another little buzz when we do the end-of-year distribution accounts. I've learnt so much from other, better musicians. In the early days I developed a self confidence which I was able to take back to other parts of my life. I'd like to think I've brought some fun to other people along the way.

As a longtime fan of the show, and the theme, this was a bit of a gem that I just found … https://www.dwtheme.com 'The Definitive Guide to the Doctor Who Theme Music' Mark

My band Shreds. are headlining in Manchester at the Star & Garter on Friday May 30th. Tickets here: https://ticketlab.app/event/31718#/ Maybe see you there!

… And then, it arrived yesterday, of course. I‘m not complaining, though! Without further ado, here is the catalyst for my shattered intentions: That’s a 2010 Ernie Ball Classic Sterling in coral red with a beautiful birdseye maple neck - and the new stable mate to my 2011 Classic Sterling in natural with birdseye, too, but a rosewood board: I really do enjoy the idea behind these: A smaller body than a Stingray, but slab. The classic 2-Band EQ, but a series ceramic pickup. Beautiful necks, one piece bodies, and the absolutely fantastic bridge with mutes. So rare to catch even one this side of the pond … I couldn’t keep them apart. So, I‘m out - but not too sad about it. To the rest of you, keep up the good work and don’t let me drag you down!

For me, nothing beats the enjoyment of a good gig. The absolute best is what’s sometimes called the ‘flow state’, where all the years of practice and preparation come together and the music almost plays itself. That doesn’t happen all the time, but even the bad gigs have a cash reward that can be put towards new gear to enjoy making music with. As regards attitude, I’m with you Daryl. I do a lot of depping and I want to be thought of as the guy who helps to make it all work, from learning my part properly and getting the right sound, to stepping in with spare cables and batteries when needed.

I’ve been playing in bands for over 50 years, of which over 30 were to earn a living. It’s so ingrained in my life that I just couldn’t imagine not doing it. I’m 67 and still in reasonably good health, although some days feel like 77! I’m currently in two regular set ups - an acoustic duo with my best mate, and a blues rock trio with other friends. I chose to leave my last pro gig mainly to wanting to be more at home due to Mrs CP having some major health issues. Fortunately she is doing well, and I now do mainly local gigs with no overnight stays. I refer to myself as ‘semi-retired’. My gig money, although not essential, is a welcome addition to our finances, and although I enjoy all the gigs I do it’s still nice to be paid well for them. For me it’s also about the camaraderie ( all my friends are musicians who I often meet up with for coffee / lunch etc) and just getting out there. I’ve been blessed with doing something great for a job rather than slogging away for years in an unhappy work situation, so I never take it for granted. I have no plans to stop playing music live until I’m unable to do so, so fingers crossed!

As someone who doesn't really like crowds, playing in a band is perfect for me... During the day I can go climbing on some crag in the back of beyond, wallowing in the virtual solitude of just me and my partner. And at night me and my bandmates can go out and make a racket somewhere safe in the knowledge that it will be empty. Heaven!

I've been playing bass in bands for 33 years. I didn't know I was autistic when I started playing, I just knew that I struggled in social situations and being in a band was a conscious effort to overcome my fears as I'd been reading a lot about confrontational therapy. Being in a band also meant I had a way of appearing somewhat outgoing, but I could distance myself from people if I needed to by disappearing backstage. That social anxiety and general confusion also meant I also gravitated to quite aggressive music, emulating bands like Joy Division, Amebix and New Model Army. Cut to the current day, and I still have the same motivation albeit informed by an eventual diagnosis of having Asperger's Syndrome. So every concert I play is still a mix of exhilaration and terror - amazing myself at being able to overcome my fears and get up on stage, but always at the edge of panic.

Playing bass is what I do. Playing in a good band to an enthusiastic audience is the biggest buzz I've discovered so far. That never gets old. Even playing in an average band to 3 men and a dog is pretty OK, as long as I'm with a good drummer. You don't retire, you stop when the phone stops ringing.

I'm 62 and have been playing since I was 16. The first 10 years I was playing in originals bands trying to get a record contract. That ended when I realised we just we're good enough. At that stage I fell out of love with music and I thought my time as a bassist had ended. Then, about 4 years later, my sister started dating a guy who was the singer and guitarist in a Blues band and he needed a bass player! Even better, he ended up marrying my sister and he couldn't then sack me. We played up and down the UK for the next 10 years. Then he and my sister fell out and that meant I had no choice but to leave the band. At that stage I fell out of love with music and I thought my time as a bassist had ended. But then the old drummer, from the Blues band, called me and said the new band he was in needed a bass player. I've now been in that band for 23 years, other bands, over those 23 years, have come and gone and have disappeared without leaving a trace but the Blues band keeps on going. The singer is now 66 and the guitarist and drummer are in their mid 50s. We've had to take a break from gigging, as the singer and guitarist are married and are involved in complex family matters (think of the Godfather part III) which prevents them from gigging. At this stage I think I may have fallen out of love with music and I am thinking my time as a bassist had ended. Hold on there seems to be a pattern developing....... Of course I don't want to be a old fart, in a band full of old farts, playing to old farts. But as long as we don't look too ridiculous up on stage and I can still project energy into playing, then I'll continue on until I can't. Oh by the way, my sister and my brother in law got back together and I still occasionally play in his Blues band, when his new full-time bassist has something better (or more lucrative - wedding gig?) to do.

I've pondered packing it all in, but then I'd miss the gigs, I won't miss is the band hassles, loading my car up, all the setting up and breaking down, I don't look forward to gigs like I used too, but once I'm up there playing I still enjoy it, I'm lucky in that I don't have any health problems I suppose when I do that'll be the time to give it all up

61. I struggle to find people interested and able to play the kinds of music I love but, even so, I love the gigs, large or small. I don't see the point of playing without performing live with other people. I know musicians who never gig. Doesn't make sense to me at all. There is the social aspect of the playing that is welcome part of it but, mostly, I just want to play music as much as I can. Money is not really a consideration. The music is what matters

There’s joy that an appreciative audience brings to the gig. On a great night you almost feel the entire floor lift. And we’re coming into the season where things get hot and sweaty. There’s nothing quite like playing in a great room to a great crowd.

Just got home from seeing the wonderful ELO Experience with @Hamster & @Kebabkid at Epsom Playhouse with our very own @TPJ on bass and backing vocals! A fantastic show, great bass playing and so many great songs! Catch them if you can! 🎶🎸😎

First night of the Katy Hurt album release tour tonight, at the gorgeous Square Tower in Portsmouth. An almost packed room, my first ever guitar and bass teacher in attendance and the second gig I’ve had with my gorgeous new ACG bass. All in all it was a cracking way to kick off the tour, roll on Bath on Friday 😎 White leather Converse, pristine at the beginning of the evening but now bearing their first (minor) battle scars.

Good question. The company of band mates. The working out arrangements with band mates (even through the arguments and frustrations). Standing on stage playing while people in front of you are having a good time from something you've crated. But, I still get a viseral feeling from the weight and power of the bass that I love. Even on headphones, I love the sound of the bass, that slightly out of phase from a Jazz, that 'mwaw' of a filter or crunch of a distortion. The drive of 8's or the harmonic weave of a melodic line. It's why I'm a bass player, not a guitarist or keyboard player. I stopped playing for many years (to work in music) and still have time to make up.

I just love playing music, if I’m honest I don’t really like all that comes with a gig anymore, but playing I just love. I’d be happy to only rehearse and record nowadays.

A superb blowout of joint winners in April, all on the money with excellent tuneage from Chiliwailer, Leonard Smalls, Upside downer and Jean-luc Pickguard. By a marvelously community spirited resolution , Jean-luc Pickguard has provided us with a lovely image .... "Ralph the Bulldog" A very talented Ralph by all counts, talking of counts, I'll add them up to find the winner when you have applied your 2 votes to the entries below. 1 @Baloney Balderdash Take 1 of a free improvisation with some minor post production edits in a simple Wav editor. 2 Lurksalot a bit of Electric piano in a smooth stylee , Paws for effect 3 @Chiliwailer That puppet dog looks like he’s had a few scooby snacks - so we dusted off the keyboard, went electro, and got that canine and chums on the mic. 4 @Leonard Smalls I got a touch confused... Rather than Bulldog I went for Bulgarian! 5 @Jean-Luc Pickguard Here's my entry for this month: Woof! by Jinky Fuzz featuring Ralph. 6 @upside downer Ralph, bored of guarding pedal boards and snoozing, decides that it's about time he got his groove on, so he leaps up, hits the keys and gives it his best Clint Boon impression. Ok that's your lot we'll say pick your favourite 2 from them Voting will close at midnight on May 31st Best of luck , enjoy

I'm just home from a gig, I'm 69 next week and I love it as much as I did when I first gigged age 21. We played to a full house today, the band played pretty well and getting the youngsters up dancing knows it has gone OK. Long may it last.

Oh and absolutely this too!

Yet another Salisbury Live gig but proper old school Salisbury Live...we're playing the same night as a bunch of other bands are playing boozers around town. Not sure but we might be the only originals band on that night so we'll have to push a little harder to get an audience that usually want something familiar sounding. Hopefully the Muppet image will help 😂

Our next show has just been pushed back a week but thankfully I hadn't plugged it with the wrong date on here. The amended poster is here.

It's in my genes and I couldn't imagine stopping.

Man what a cool shot. Love the lighting and the crowd. I wish we could get a photo like this. Daryl

We did do 15 Years! We DIDN'T do Beautiful Day though...... Cholera Well, Forgotten Ground and One Way went down really well......😎

Recording today 9-4… first up…a BB into overdrive into amp. Magic.

Ace! Did you do Fifteen Years? *And don't say "No, it was only an hour-long set"!

I'm even closer, near Sandhurst. Send me a PM if you want to try my Monaco!

Like @msb, I’ve been gigging since the mid ‘70s. What keeps me at it? Force of habit certainly has something to do with it. If I didn’t play with others, what else would I do? I’m not sure I’d actually keep playing much at all. Maybe that’s it, I keep playing because I play.

I’m 73 , I’ve been playing in local bands since the mid 70’s. Mostly blues bands , years ago I decided to stop travelling , and today I mostly stay in town. We were caring for my 99 year old mother-in-law for some years and I did cut back on the gigs I was taking , she has passed , I’m available to do more now but I’m not looking , if things pick up , they pick up. I’m retired , I’m not dependant on the money. If I don’t feel there’s going to be some fun , I decline. Still do a weekly blues jam every Sunday , I’ve been in the house band for around 27 years now in the main blues dive downtown. A good Sunday gig has both extremes , some absolute misery , some absolute joy. I still love that feeling when things are working. I still practice every day. Some days I even think I’m improving. All the reason to keep at it. Never thought I’d be still at it at this point , still capable of feeling absolute joy playing. Still nerdy about gear.