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My daughter was two years old when I joined Basschat, played her first gig last night at sixteen. She hasn't been playing long, but has picked it up remarkably quickly. Must be in the blood. Proud Dad moment.

Gig #2 of the weekend was a hot sweaty punk rock all-dayer in Cambridge with Youths. Great venue, loads of bands, lovely promoter and a brilliant sound engineer all made it a joy. We played well I think, had a laugh and lots about half our body weight in sweat. Bass was my first ever bass (Vester jazz) direct into the PA via my Laney Digbeth pre. Sounded ace from where I was. Shoes were some tired black Etnies which are super comfy but maybe a bit heavy for such a hot day - lesson learnt 😄

I haven’t posted in this thread in a while! Played a local bar on Saturday night. First time for the American Jazz and first time trying to play the set live with a pick! loads of compliments afterwards. Burned 600 cals according to my watch haha! Managed to keep ahold of the pick until the last song, have a gnarly bruise on my middle finger now. only issue was that my ACS in-ears are away getting repaired again so was using KZs from Amazon. Didn’t hear things quite as well as I’d liked! Got some pics and a video, it was live streamed but we haven’t got that yet. cfc5ed86-8502-438b-a48b-12c3ef413f55.mov

Last year we lost an institution in our local blues scene , Barry Cook. Piano player , had been dealing with various health issues , the doctors had described his heart as a time bomb , and home after a great gig , it gave out. We did a memorial gig for him Friday night in the old blues dive downtown. The core band was mostly bandmates , unfortunately a featured guitar player was unable to attend because of previous commitment , a replacement was quickly secured. There were a good number of people that played with Barry in various projects that were up to play and sing. The night went quickly. Nice appreciative crowd. Great playing. Wonderful to see some great singers and players. Everything unfolded as we had hoped , I hope we’ll do it again next year. Nice to feel the sense of community.

Back from my gig already, even after a cheeky post-gig burger with the boys. We did 7:30 to 9:30 - the landlady prefers the Saturday revellers to go elsewhere to get rat-arsed and cause trouble. That was fine by us, especially as we do this gig "acoustically". I love playing the EUB. It just makes me want to put in comical fills and slides. We had a whale of a time. I forgot to take any photos though. Stagg EUB direct into my Rumble 500. Vans footwear. Funnily enough due to a slight mix up in the diaries we are back there in 2 weeks time. That will be a Sunday afternoon outside if possible, so I hope the weather is good.

Back at the Cow & Telescope last night, one of our favourite haunts. Bit of a mixed one. I had developed a cold with a cough a day or so before and had a weak voice before playing. It was totally shot by the time we finished - good job I was only singing backing vocals. We really struggled with sound as well. We pulled up the the previously saved mix and it sounded muddy, a dull - like blanket over the speakers. And the bass drum mic was ringing badly. I couldn't work out what had changed. So during soundcheck, I ended up pulling a load of ≈100hz out of the bass drum mic, pulling low mids out of the mix and adding a bit of presence. It sounded better and good enough to get through the gig. But it wasn't until we got to the second or third song in the first set that I realised the frequencies around F# were getting rather excited, but it was too late by then and just had to muddle through until the break when I could look up the exact problem frequencies, (92.5hz and 185hz) and notch them out. Started out second set and the problem was still there but not as bad. No-one in the audience seemed to be bothered, but it was bugging the hell out of me. Just as we started the the third song in our second set I noticed the hpf switch on the DXR12 in front of me was set to off i.e. full range. I should be set at 100hz, so I quickly flicked it over and the problem disappeared! Oh well, lesson learned. I usually check the volume setting on the speakers as these usually move during packing and setting up, but I never thought to check the switches. I quickly checked the other one and that as 120hz. So both of them were wrong. Annoyingly, I remembered this morning that our mixer has a feedback filter that we've not tried using yet - we've barely scratched the surface of what it can do. So we really need to investigate this feature and learn how to use it properly. I probably would have cured this issue instantly. Otherwise, it was a good night. Some of the regulars, some friends, some who had come especially too see us and a big birthday party who wanted to have a good old boogie, which always livens up the atmosphere. I was done by the end of the night though. Not feeling 100% took it out of me. But I was glad I packed some vocal zones and a hip flask of single malt.

I alternate between finger and pick dependant on the song in my current band. However, in my old band, for some reason, I decided to play the odd set all pick. It was a revelation and a nice change. A friend of mine who, before he retired, owned a sound reinforcement company (and is the best FoH engineer I have ever heard) and also plays guitar and records with numerous folks, said that he loves the sound of a pick on bass, as it focusses the sound and can make it fit the mix better. Certainly something to break out every now and again to ring the changes. I can do that. This was recorded during lockdown... Probably the thing I'm most proud of in my playing career (doesn't hurt that it's my favourite tune of all time).

Not actually my gig, and nor was I playing So I had a lovely evening going to see and support my mate who I've been playing with in a trio for over thirty years. Paul is an amazing guitarist, but plays bass for the 'Beat Club', and was playing one of my Jazz basses. So I had a highly pleasant evening of being an 'Audient', sitting and listening and drinking my blackcurrant and soda water. C2B0436F-F3D3-42F8-BA6B-500CF3A614FA.MP4

Just got in from a Knock Off gig (my old band which I’m standing in for) at The O2 Academy, Islington. Was a Vive Le Rock event with a load of great bands, being headlined by Cocksparrer. Load in was 5pm, had our own dressing room and refreshments, then on at 6pm for a short sharp shock set of 30mins. We played well, no errors, backline was provided and it was Blackstar amps - for bass was a Unity 700H & Unity 410C that my trusty JMJ Mustang & Behringer BDI21 went through, with both DI and miked cab. Was quite touched to hear a good few people calling my name out when we were setting up, and afterwards caught up with some people I’ve not seen since I left in 2019. Again the black New Balance trainers got the job, might not be particularly punk but neither is having sore feet!

Weekend report time! On Friday night, playing with Nine Lives at O'Donoghues in Aberdeen. A late one - 11pm-2am, and just as well because it was dead when we arrived to set up, not a soul in the place. Ooft. First half had quite the "paid rehearsal" feel about it, but it did start to fill up towards the end of the first half and into the second it was a damn sight better. Curiously, at the break, this lassie came up to us, told us that she was on a work's night out, complimented us as a band (thanks!) then asked for our autographs! Only the drummer and I were around at that time, but we played along and briefly felt more important than we actually are, lol. Gear was Sire D5, then Squier Jag H (with Ibanez CAP double humbucker) into the usual Markbass ISO Standard bass player's rig... But soft! There's more! This afternoon, we played outside on the back of a lorry at the Ellon Gala. Second year we've done it, nice to be asked back. It's a freebie - for the community, innit? Makes me feel a little less mercenary. Supposed to be playing at 4pm, well did a monsoon not chuck itself at the earth around 2pm? We had to close the side tarp of the trailer, and feared the worst for the gig from a health and safety perspective. Thankfully it rained itself out and the sun eventually burned through the clouds. By the time we started, it was glorious again - god bless the Scottish weather, schizo as it is! As you can see, gear was a delectable G&L Tribute SB-2 into the most boring bass rig in human history. Noise making evidence...

ill go first

My 16 year old suddenly decided he wanted to try the old electric drum kit - perfect for the recycled Trace cab! I would have killed to have this in my room at his age!

Here's the track for Don't Give Up, no video Fretless in the choruses and outro.

Not a last night, an afternoon, multi band event. House FOH and backline. On stage volume absolutely, way too loud, painful at times. I wore the same hearing protection as last week, which was fine then, but felt like it was doing nothing today 😖. Couldn’t go anywhere near my mic, because of the monitor volume coming back and the guitarist’s amp behind me (he turned it down twice, but was battling with the monitors). I hid adjacent to the guitar amp, just in front of the bass rig, which I had already turned down, but sadly right I. The firing line for the snare and crash cymbal. Lots of compliments from other bands, which was really nice. Best thing was I only needed my bass and pedalboard.

Took my 15 year old daughter to a gig at rock city Nottingham last weekend. She suffers from Cystic Fibrosis so as a treat id arranges with their manager for her to go to soundcheck and meet the band. they were great. Friendly and chatty with her. She’s made each of them a bracelet and they wore them for the actual gig. Then after they were meeting fans, signing stuff, and recognised and said hi to my daughter. I find it rare that bands are that accessible to fans. It really made her day.

Back home now with the BG250 115 combo. In almost unused condition, came with a lovely padded leather cover and I think I got it for a great price too.

Another top night of Ska classics in a little boozer in Bromsgrove. This is just so much fun. Crap clip but you get the idea ScreenRecording_06-01-2025 10-01-51_1.mov

It didn’t feel like I’d been away at all Dave, even when playing material written after I’d left. I was with them 2013-19 but had kept in some form of touch with them. Overall was really good, and great to hear some good-hearted “send him back he’s rubbish” from some of the old crowd.

I hope not too many people turn up expecting the original event today… All others going to the reorganised stuff, have fun!

not Gibson but close

I've never before had a rig that has a sound that gets so many positive comments. I've got some amazing amps full of bottles that I love dearly but a "proper" 😉 Spector into a Cali76 then into the big GK Fusion 550 through a Barefaced (or two) is where we've got to.

13A mains cable is way more than required. You could run a space heater at 5m on it. Your biggest hassle is going to he soldering the big wire onto your plugs, and hoping the strain relief holds.

These months just seem to fly by, but then, we get get to hear the great new jazzfunkpunk from @Leonard Smalls who has been on fire again. So its time to fire up the DAW once again and show how the following picture inspires us. "Here's a pic. it's of some UFOs I saw while on a plane to Geneva a few years ago." I guess that is just out of this world! ✅ Entries must be <5 minutes and recorded between now and the deadline. ❌ No illegal samples, copyright infringements or other snide goings-on ❌ No Bagpipes, Please , please, will no-one think of the children. ❌ No voting for your own entry. We'll know. And we'll shame you.. Deadline-wise, we will go for Midnight on the 24th June ... Which of course, in reality, means tea time on teh 25th A line or two of blurb as usual for the vote thread will be super duper smashing lovely. Good luck, Have fun

In some cases, it's definitely not in the blood. My daughter is an awesome bassist. If I try really hard, I could almost be described as someone who can wear a bass. It's great watching your kids gigging. My daughter is always out gigging now. It's a very proud parent moment seeing a venue packed with people there to be entertained by your offspring and them having the best time absolutely smashing it. Keep encouraging them and supporting them. Here's XFR Jr playing at The Cheese And Grain in Frome with her band, Butane Skies. You can tell they're used to a smaller stage

I would take absolutely nothing from my technique! It involves quite a lot of looking at the dots on the side of the neck and playing fretboard twister to get a finger in the right place 😂 Great bass stance!

It's always a buzz when people come because of your reputation.

It sounds like you haven't been sacked from your band, in reality it sounds like the guitarist they auditioned, recruited them for his own Rock/Blues band. it sounds like the drummer, singer and new guitarist, have formed a totally different band, in a different genre, with different members and (I assume) with a different band name. A band that you wouldn't want to be in, even if they had asked you. If I were you, that's how I would look at the situation.

The Thighs of a Cow ~ The Wonder Stuff

Yes, some backing vocals and lead vox on Spellbound by Siouxsie and the Banshees. 🤯 indeed!

Here is your certificate and a download link BC cert May 25.pdf

Latest incarnation of my board, transplanted onto a Pedaltrain Metro 20 kindly supplied by our own @spacecowboy. This will probably be the last incarnation of the doubling board (for electric, acoustic, EUB, and double bass). If I acquire any more pedals I’ll probably split between an electric board, and a second board for the acoustic, EUB, and double bass gigs.

Second gig of the Katy Hurt album release tour (we’ve taken to calling it “Gimme A Tour” after the album’s “Gimme A Break” title). Bath Chapel Arts Centre this time - what a great venue. Ed the soundman was ace, we even had a lighting engineer who was making sure we all had a spotlight on us. Great crowd, one of Katy’s biggest fans in the front row singing along to every word - I spoke to her afterwards and she has been cramming the album all week in preparation. I reckon she knows the songs better than me 🤣 I didn’t play as well as the week before but it was still a great fun gig. Next up for Katy is Chelmsford on Thursday; next up for me is my pop/punk band Youths tonight in Cambridge. Yesterday’s choice of footwear was some black leather Chelsea boots which made my feet hurt 😆

Generally, our audience is people who happen to be at the pub, some people that go to the pub because they see a band (any band) is going to be on, friends/family, or they've heard us play at their local before....but last night was the first time there were a notable amount of people that had heard us before and specifically travelled to hear us - which felt like a bit of a 'next step'.

No reply from my WhatsApp group message to the band, which suits me just fine. I banged out a "bassist available" ad on one of the Facebook musos groups and I got this reply: "Hi there, Firstly it’s great to know that there is a Soul, Funk & Groove style bassist in the area, Most are Rock or blues influenced. I, and many of my musician friends have been looking to get a really good funky soul Band together for a while, without much success as decent bass players are very rare, And finding a soul/funk/groove influenced bassist has been like searching for the holy Grail. We are all knocking on a bit (60-63), and have had lots of experience in various bands Playing various types of music, but we all like soul, funk, jazz, groove influenced music Where bass and drums are the driving force, the engine room of the band, so to speak And everything else fits in around that groove! I hope that this could be something that you might find interesting, and maybe consider getting involved in." We're going to meet up for a chat. One door shuts and.....

LOVE the personalised pedalboard!

I think it’s because our “low” behaviour is mostly on our basses.