hiram.k.hackenbacker

SOLD.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1465828139' post='3071325']
As a covers band I think we'd be putting a stop to it right at the '200 mile round trip for 40 minute slot' point.
[/quote]
Probably should have said there was a little more to it than that. As mentioned previously, initially it was an hour slot, before the headline, with a promise of a club gig the night before and we would be put up somewhere overnight for the Saturday gig. This was as a favour to one of the band members who's brother organises the festival. Unfortunately the Friday blew out as I couldn't get the time off work. The majority were keen to do it and who I am to argue. I'm the dep after all.

More apologies from the management have been received today. However they managed to get themselves into the situation, it's a little annoying that the band before us and the one after allegedly had to cut one song each and we had to lose three. It's a shame as our lead had the audience in the palm of his hand getting them to engage and sing along. What's done is done I guess, but it's always a pleasure playing to that sort of crowd, so who knows, we might be back :-)

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1465737866' post='3070605']
Yep - we had one a few weeks ago. A big do, and... no stage manager. Complete chaos, and it turned into a war of attrition between everyone involved. No fun.
[/quote]
There was stage management there. Loads of them in fact. They just weren't doing a very good job.
Behind the scenes - brilliant. Up at pointy end - rubbish. Different people I think though.

So, a band that I dep for played the Witney Music Festival yesterday.
We were booked for an hour slot prior to the headliner in September last year.
As time went by, we were bounced down a slot and a month or so ago were informed that we now only had 40 minutes instead of an hour.
Given that it's a 200 mile plus round trip for us on the day, what enthusiasm there was had started to wane.

So, we all get there in very good time despite driving through intermittent rain showers all the way and it's overcast on arrival, but mainly dry.
Access, parking, gear storage, toilets, VIP area etc were all faultless.

Surprise surprise, the show is running late. We are supposed to go on at 1940hrs and we're now on at 2000hrs, but "Don't worry, you'll still have your 40 mins'. Yeah right.

So we start at 2000hrs and almost immediately we're told from the side that we need to drop one song. OK, so out goes one of the two new ones and we carry on.

20 minutes later, halfway through a song with another two to go, we're told we have five minutes left. So, we finish that song and start the next one thinking we'll stop, the crowd will ask for more and we will oblige as the bands before us had. No problem. Wrong. We start the penultimate song and the stage management kill the PA and tell us to get off. Our lead makes it quite clear what has occurred and the crowd boo the stage management. By this time the band have the right hump and there's no going back, so off we go.

To put this in some kind of context, the band before us were a really good outfit called [url="http://www.crowdcompanyfunk.com/photos-videos/"]Crowd Company[/url], but ironically the crowd did a bit of a disappearing act when they came on which was a real shame. I thought they were great. Nice Sadowsky by the way if you're on here my friend. Being an 80's covers band, it's fairly easy to whip the crowd up again in preparation for the last two acts of the night, which I think we succeeded in. The last thing you want is a negative moment for the crowd but the stage management delivered that spectacularly.

Once we were off stage we had 101 people tripping over themselves apologising to us to the extent that the organisers acknowledged the stage management had f***ed up big style.

How difficult is it to stick to a schedule? I've been in the middle of it time and time again and it very rarely happens how it should.

Anyone else had similar problems?

Anyhow, here was the view from my office mid-set yesterday, before it went all Pete Tong.

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1464676677' post='3061244']
I'm a huge Bowie fan and that was excellent. Like someone said i was to busy listening to the music that the VID just seemed to work so well it flowed. All worked very well together and band sounded tight.
Can't fault it and at zero cost to band there's no downside whatsoever.
Well done to all

Dave
[/quote]
Thanks Dave. I'll let Sophie and Louise know.

[quote name='vmaxblues' timestamp='1464520747' post='3060020']
Excellent on all fronts!
[/quote]
Thanks very much.
The You Tube video has been viewed just over 500 times in less than a week due in no small part to many hits from Basschat.
The deadline for counting is next Monday (6/6/16) so keep 'em coming if you can

[quote name='silverfoxnik' timestamp='1464509420' post='3059868']
Fabulous version!

As a life-long Bowie fan (and still in a state of mourning to be honest), that has brought a smile to my face this morning.. Particularly because it's a Bowie tune that doesn't get much attention compared to all of his hits .

Whereabouts are you based by the way?
[/quote]
Thank you so much. I'm really pleased that a fan feels we did that song justice.

We're in Essex, but have plans to journey further soon.

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1464457484' post='3059639']
Thanks for that. I've enjoyed it a couple of times now. A highly respectable tribute to the late great man himself.
The video should prove to be excellent promotional material for your band too. Tell them to focus on your hat a bit more next time though. Heeheehee.
[/quote]
You know, I should have taken a photo of the mountain of clothes we took to the shoot. I actually took two hats and forgot to wear even one of them until right towards the end!

[quote name='silverfoxnik' timestamp='1464431997' post='3059403']
Really good band, IMO.

Bowie 'crooning' off to a tee, good rhythm section, and the Adrian Belew guitar parts done really well!

I didn't really think about the video much, but maybe that's a good thing as I was just concentrating on the band and the music.
[/quote]
Thank you for taking the time to listen and your kind comments.

If you like the Belew slant in that, then have a listen to this which was straight off the desk from our last gig....

[url="https://soundcloud.com/warren-byatt/what-in-the-world-final-mix"]https://soundcloud.c...world-final-mix[/url]

[quote name='YeastieB' timestamp='1464428922' post='3059367']
Great job.
[/quote]
Thank you.
[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1464430886' post='3059392']
That guy makes it all work..?????
[/quote]
Yes, he is rather good isn't he

[quote name='grenadilla' timestamp='1464405581' post='3059267']
Good tone on Let's Dance. Now I must get a real Ray to add to my Ray 34. Those Beatle boots look great! Ask the singer if they hurt his feet? Where can I buy some (I am Stateside) ?
[/quote]
Thank you and yes, definitely get another 'Ray
You can never have too many of them IMHO!

Regarding the boots. I have made enquiries and they are very comfortable apparently and were purchased from here....

https://underground-shop.co.uk/product-category/footwear/winklepickers/

They have quite a selection!

[quote name='YouMa' timestamp='1464397048' post='3059258']
the lead guy on fashion mate,brilliant apart from that.
[/quote]
I didn't notice. I'll have another listen, not that there's much we can do about it now. Thanks for your kind words.

[quote name='YouMa' timestamp='1464396475' post='3059251']
awesome but i think the guitarist needed to tune and turn down a tiny bit.
[/quote]
Which one?

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1464363273' post='3058883']
Very Nice all round
[/quote]
Thanks lojo.
[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1464372405' post='3059021']
For no money, you have to be pleased with the result.
If you take out the very critical eye you put the video to... and which 99.9%
of your normal audience wouldn't get at all... you would be fretting over
very little details.
[/quote]
Yes, absolutely. We're fortunate to have been asked, but to get something of this standard out of it is a bonus.
[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1464372742' post='3059024']
Thumbs up...
Should I visit it again(and again)?
[/quote]
Thank you. I'm not sure how the counting of views on You Tube works, but feel free to revisit
[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1464379660' post='3059097']
Love it, great work, comments and likes added
[/quote]
Thank you Oops. Sophie and Louise will be thrilled.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1464359513' post='3058847']
Liking those licks on [i][b]Let's Dance[/b][/i] ... mind if I nick a couple?
[/quote]
I'm not sure it's me you should be asking Jack, but feel free
[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1464359907' post='3058852']
Made the classic mistake of not zooming in on the bass player enough but other than that very impressive.
[/quote]
They are but young. They will learn in the fullness of time [color=#222222] [/color]
[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1464362459' post='3058869']
Good work one and all.
Slightly OT - what model Charvel is the guitarist on the left of the picture playing? It's given me GAS!
[/quote]
Thank you very much.
[color=#232323][font=Helvetica]I enquired regarding the guitar and i[color=#4A4F56]t's a [/color]Charvel USA Custom Shop San Dimas Mahogany apparently.[/font][/color]
[color=#232323][font=Helvetica]Catchy name for a guitar if you ask me [color=#222222] [/color][/font][/color]
[color=#232323][quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1464362715' post='3058874'][/color]
Very impressive, Warren. Lovely job.
[/quote]
Thanks Paul.
The next one is 29/7 @ The Bassment in Chelmsford if you're free? Would be great to see you again.

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1464353160' post='3058764']
Excellent video, well performed, expertly cut. 'Like' left (a first ever, from me, for anything..!) and congratulatory comment, too. My thumb is up.
[/quote]
Thanks Dad. High praise indeed. Thank you for taking the time to watch.

[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]Esteemed members of Basschat,[/color][/font][/size]

[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]I would like to make it clear from the outset that this is not for the benefit of myself or ChangesTwoBowie, but for Sophie and Louise being the two young ladies responsible for putting this video together for us. The band will make good use of it at a later date, but the link below is purely for them.[/color][/font][/size]

[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]In early 2016 we were approached by a friend of a friend to see if we would be willing to participate in a video shoot to assist Sophie and Louise with part of their course work for their BTec examination. Apart from our time, it was a no cost option to us as the venue was local to all. The understanding was that once they were done with the finished article, we could use it for whatever promo purposes we wanted. Deal.[/color][/font][/size]

[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]So one evening in March we got together and played the two songs back to back for what seemed like a hundred times over whilst the girls busied themselves shooting us. Two months later they turned this in and I have to say I’m very impressed by their work. They are aware that there are a couple of syncing issues which they did try to iron out, but overall I think they’ve done brilliantly.[/color][/font][/size]

[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#000000]As an aside from their BTec grading, there is a departmental competition for the submission that gets the most VIEWS on You Tube. So could I ask you to take a few minutes out of your time to view the video. Obviously any encouraging comments for Sophie and Louise on You Tube would be very gratefully received.[/color]
[color=#000000]Thank you all ever so much.[/color][/font][/size]

https://youtu.be/SazOSzOLHl4

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1463648602' post='3053020']
I always used nickel wound strings on my Zons & my Bogart as I found the more mellow tone helped to counteract some of the brightness that is inherent in carbon fibre necked basses.
[/quote]
Ah, but I quite like the brightness so probably wouldn't want to mellow that out myself.

[quote name='darkandrew' timestamp='1463658534' post='3053135']
Rotosound roundwounds are are particularly abrasive apparently.
[/quote]
OK cool. Might explain why Geddy has been through a few frets and at least one neck on his beloved Jazz :-)
Of late I have been using Super Brights more often, so maybe I'll stick with those on my jazz at least.

[quote name='darkandrew' timestamp='1463639646' post='3052934']
I too used to use Rotosound Swing Bass strings until I noticed that my frets were being eaten by them - apparently they have a bit of reputation for this. I wouldn't put them anywhere near any of my current basses.
[/quote]
Is that the same for most roundwounds or is it Roto's that have that rep? I've not heard that before, but I'm really not well informed in that area.

[quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1463614242' post='3052899']
Ha, liking the Blackadder reference... 😉
[/quote]
Thank you, but what about the strings ;-)

Many moons ago I bought a Status Empathy 4 string which instantly became my #1 and remained so for many years. It really is a fantastic bass and is the only I've owned that I can rely on being in tune straight out of the case. I then went through a Stingray phase and moved from them to Fender Jazzes and so on.

I recently broke the Empathy out of storage for old times sake and although, as usual, it was still in tune, the strings are deader than Speckled Jim.

I can't honestly remember what strings are on it. The last time I re-strung it was way before I started leaving the string packet in the case to give me a clue!

So, is there a particular string that works better with graphite necks or would I be better with going with what I currently use on my other basses which are either Dunlop Super Brights or Rotosound Swing Bass strings. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Bump.

Bump.