Dad3353

[quote name='Rick05' timestamp='1499190862' post='3329869']...[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]we would really love to hear any feedback on the songs...[/font] [/quote] Be careful what you wish for..? Just a rapid run-through, so not an in-depth critique, but there's a general trend, to me. Firstly, congratulations on getting all of that down in the first place; a lot of work has gone into the composition and arrangement of those tracks. No, that's not the end of the Good News; the bass playing is absolutely fine throughout (or, at least, all the parts I listened to...), so no worries there. I'd say the same of the drumming, but that brings me to the harder part: the mix. Guitar-heavy, with a very uneven treatment of the vocals, which, although in the vein of the music, varied from low, almost inaudible to raw squealy aggression. Probably fine in the context of a 'live' presence, but difficult to listen to, I found. Muddy, hidden-away drums, with little 'sparkle'; a shame as he's playing 'em well. I think you'd have trouble doing these 'live', unless the singer happens to be a good guitarist too (maybe the case..?). There, that's enough for now, but I'll repeat that you're all to be applauded for the fine effort, and regret that, to me, it doesn't do itself justice in the recording/mixing/mastering department. Good, then, could do better. Bravo. Edit: I've removed your redundant topic, as requested.

[quote name='jacko' timestamp='1499181903' post='3329765']...to stop the speakers farting to death. [/quote] That was their 'technical advice', in exactly those terms..?

I'm not sure that going up or down a tone would bring a Barry White tessiture into Robert Plant territory. I quite understand the different 'voices' we're born with; how does that square with a singer wanting to lower (or raise...) a semi-tone or so..? We're not discussing the same thing, here, I think.

There are probably fewer singers than even bass players who have had any formal training in their chosen discipline, and thus do not have the technical know-how as to how to use their instrument (the voice...). [i]Good [/i]singers can, indeed, choose the range in which to perform, and match their voice to the song (within limits, naturally...). Lessons would solve most, if not all, the issues one has with many singers, I reckon, but try convincing some of 'em of that..!

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1499173811' post='3329678']...but goes bananas when I make a brew... [/quote] I recommend Earl Grey, much better flavour than bananas (although a twist of lemon makes the cuppa perfect...).

In winter, beware just the same of plugging a radiator into the same outlet. There's a couple of kilowatts in that one apparatus. Just sayin'.

[quote name='azfatboy' timestamp='1499102819' post='3329196']...To understand what Mike Kerr is doing with his bass and with his pedals (it's hardly a static setup), all while singing, and to not at least admit the difficulty and uniqueness--seems to be purposefully wearing blinders whether one finds the music itself appealing or not... [/quote] I've no issues with the difficulty nor uniqueness of his prowess, but don't take those alone to be top criteria, that's all. Keith Emerson was skilled in wedging daggers into his keyboard, a quite unique feat at the time, but it didn't make his music more or less valid, just a (good...) showman's trick. I think the same of this bloke's dual-amp rig, which, for however technical it may be, is only putting out distorted bass lines. I'm quite certain that the trombone player is not to everyone's taste (I've heard better, myself...); I was just pointing out that being a 'one-man band' is not as new or original as all that. Keyboard players, for instance, have been doing that since J S Bach and before. Hats off to the fellow for doing his thing; I'll not be vying to copy his pedal-board, and will pass on the CDs. My loss, certainly.

Hmm... Not as easy as I thought. Still, after some reflection and a couple of false starts, here's... [url="https://soundcloud.com/dad3353/slow-slow-quick-quick-stop"]Slow, Slow, Quick Quick Stop. ...[/url] ... for your edification and delight. Enjoy.

[quote name='Barking Spiders' timestamp='1499070371' post='3328876'] Hmm Ed shows why - Eminem excepted - white people, and especially white Brits, should never try rapping... [/quote] Can they still try to play the blues, though..? Or jive dance..? Pick cotton, maybe..?

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1499028643' post='3328739']... Regards Richard Bowtie [/quote] Nice one, Dickie..!

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1498934993' post='3328136'] That sounds bloody awful! [/quote] Part and parcel of experimentation is the possibility of failure..! Or, to paraphrase Longfellow: 'When it was good, it was very, very good, and when is was bad, it was horrid.' It's a concept, and as such will be explored. I must admit to not being enthralled by [i]all [/i]the sounds emitted by the topic's subject, either.

Zzzzzz... Zzzzzzz... Zzzzz... Harrumph... Yaaaaaawwwwn... What what what..? A new Challenge..? I'm on it, folks; don't panic. Now then, where's my glasses...

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1498865527' post='3327715'] Bloody DOH , you sneaked in there Douglas , even 'toute suiter' than I thought [/quote] Bloody panic, mate; I had just finished the washing-up and suddenly realised the time..! Oh, heck..! Why is software so slow to load up when you're in a rush, but darned quick when you've just deleted everything..? Anyway, t'would only be fitting to make lowdown sweat it out a bit, what with his entry being late 'n all..! Where's the next picture, though, eh..? That's what we're all wanting, now..! ([i]Sounds of tired, slow but insistent foot tapping and old arthritic fingers drumming painfully on the skai armrest. Calls for another glass of milk, and maybe a Digestive , despite the sugar content, but nods off[/i]...)

[left][size=4][color="#222222"][font="Arial, sans-serif"][size=4]And the winner is... Lowdown..! [sharedmedia=core:attachments:167486] Here, then, is your Winner's Certificate (download and save as pdf file, then proudly print and frame...) ...[/size][/font][/color] [attachment=248172:BC_Chal_Cert_2017_06.pdf] [color="#222222"][font="Arial, sans-serif"][size=4]... which looks like this (but bigger, of course..!)… [/size][/font][/color][/size][/left]

Many years (no, decades..! ) ago, I attended an Atari show in Paris (I was freelance programming at that time...), and stumbled across a stand on which a lone trombone player was improvising, in many different styles, using a MIDI connection to an Atari. I can't remember exactly the name of the software ('Tangerine' comes vaguely to mind, or something close..?); this software was obeying his MIDI signals and playing a fully-orchestrated accompaniment, entirely in keeping with the genre he was playing, and very nicely harmonised. He would finish his piece, then play a couple of specific 'command' notes to switch styles, and carry on. Ragtime, Big Band, Orchestral Classical, Hot Rock... He had, it seemed, full control over the system with only his Trombone as both instrument and command. In the light of what I saw that day (I remained quite absorbed for quite some time watching the bloke...), seeing a fellow with a bass doubling up on 'guitar' looks quite modest, to me. I'm maybe missing something (and I'm a drummer, after all...), but I have yet to see what the big deal is, musically speaking. Still, it obviously appeals to some, so why not..? Edit: 'Tango', not Tangerine' (well, I was close..!), that was it. I'm looking it up now to understand further... Edit 2: 'Tango' still lives, apparently..! Here's the bloke, using it for a short video (warning: may contain some Jazz content...) ... http://youtu.be/KQgo3Fbmsf8

[quote name='bassbiscuits' timestamp='1498729302' post='3326573'] I'm not sure where this idea has come from that a week before a gig is too late to change strings? Have i missed something? I've regularly changed mine the day before a gig - as long as you keep giving them a good stretch and play them a good bit before the gig they will have settled down and will stay in tune no problem. I did exactly that last weekend. Quite whether the change in sound was appreciated by the punters is a different matter tho! I should have asked them both... [/quote] I don't think anyone is saying 'it's too late', exactly; just that, if they're not causing any problem, there's no need to change 'em, especially for a very first gig, where there are many more important details to be concentrating on. For more experienced players, changing strings (if necessary...) on the night causes no issues [i]per se[/i], but that's changing for a coherent reason, and in full knowledge of what effect it'll have, plus the tranquillity of knowing that the set will go well, whatever. Our OP here is trying his best to get it right for that all-important First Gig, and the present strings are fine, so leave 'em on. Experiment after the gig, certainly, but now is not the time for that, I'd say.

[quote name='dmccombe7' timestamp='1498668758' post='3326256'] Congratulations guys. Is this a first on Basschat. 2 BC'ers getting married. ? Dave [/quote] The first we've been told about; there may well be other pairings that are simply being coy. I have my doubts about Discreet and Leonard Smalls, for instance.

[quote name='lurksalot' timestamp='1498587496' post='3325732']...I have the craic and publish [/quote] To the benefit of us all..!

Any more late entries coming down the pipeline..? No, just sayin', as with the passing of time, my already modest share of the votes is shrinking..! At this rate, I'll be owing votes from [i]last [/i]month..! Yes, I know; if my contributions could be of a higher quality I'd keep a few more votes; don't rub it in, chaps. I'm painfully aware, but the standard of the other entries mounts from month to month, and I just can't keep up (but I'm trying; very trying... ).

A few years ago we had Maceo Parker on the bill of our local summer festival, Les 3 Elephants. His bassist, Rodney (Skeet...) Curtis asked if we could find him a bass; his Lakland had a fault. We lent him our Cort fiver (the least expensive in the range at the time...), he strung it up with his own strings and did the sound check. That evening, he played the show with it, and, guess what..? It sounded like 'Skeet' Curtis behind Maceo Parker..! He handed it back after the show with a smile, and even kindly signed the back of it (it's since worn off, though...). A very nice fellow, and a great player. The moral of the story..? It's true; it's all in the fingers..!

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1498554661' post='3325405']...if Basschat has been entirely responsible for any other marriage in the past... [/quote] Dunno on that one, but I suspect that It may well have been the principal cause of some divorces..!

Ah, I almost forgot...

Well done, you two. Long life, health and happiness.

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1498506711' post='3325139'] NO!... [/quote] ...

[quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1498501985' post='3325078'] The FREE concerts, Rock Festivals in Hyde Park 1968 & 69... [/quote] Ah yes, I remember you from there. Can I have my bandana back, please..? ...