bassicinstinct

[quote name='OldGit' post='212517' date='Jun 4 2008, 02:32 PM']Excellent film, that. I think Free's capability to "do it like the record" was largely dependant on Kossof's prevailing blood/chemical ratio...[/quote] Indeed, although I think "[b]chemical/blood[/b]" ratio might be more appropriate.

[quote name='OldGit' post='212488' date='Jun 4 2008, 02:03 PM']Ah yes .. There are exceptions and that is clearly one. I was most disappointed to hear the Paul Rogers/Queen combo do All Right Now (and various other Free/Bad Co numbers) with the "wrong" drum parts, especially the bass drum. It is so inextricably linked with the rhythm of the vocal, bass and guitar that playing it differently just wrecked the whole track for me. Judge for yourself [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x9M3ZuPFDc&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x9M3ZuPFDc...feature=related[/url][/quote] I agree - that is a truly nauseating clip. Sadly, I don't think Roger Taylor is or ever will be in the same league as Simon Kirke, but that's little excuse for murdering a classic song like Alright Now. On the other hand, I suppose you have to accept that, as Paul Rodgers co-wrote it (I think!!), he's more entitled than most to do with it as he likes. By way of comparison, here is Free doing the same track: [url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2B2clFsLA3w"]FreeAlrightNow[/url] Even this is a slight departure from the original, but certainly in the same spirit as far as I'm concerned.

[quote name='jakesbass' post='211782' date='Jun 3 2008, 01:40 PM']And another thing!! originality is totally over-rated and rarely exists. Aural tradition music (the vast majority of all the music in the history of man) relies entirely on music being re-produced, what makes it different are the individual attributes of the performer.[/quote] Absolutely!! "Original" has to be [b]THE[/b] most overused and inappropriate word in this context. As an aside, Tom Barney who, until fairly recently, had been Steely Dan's touring and recording bassist for many years, had a "day job" playing in the pit orchestra for "The Lion King" on Broadway. Did that diminish his "musical integrity"? I think not!!

Proof positive that this, as most things, is [b]entirely subjective[/b]. Personally, if I had the choice of playing very few "quality" gigs or lots of "cover" gigs, I'm absolutely certain which choice I'd make. I'm a player, so playing is what I do. For me, the ideal compromise is to have an involvement in a busy, financially viable and "credible" (whatever that means) band in paralel with a band which may gig only occasionally but which satisifies any musical itches which may remain unscratched. Works for me anyway.

[quote name='P-T-P' post='211706' date='Jun 3 2008, 12:20 PM']And there, in a few simple words, is the prime key to success in choosing songs for a covers/function band. A full dance floor makes such a difference to the band's perspective on the songs they do. Even the most done to death and/or cheesiest numbers become enjoyable if the punters are lapping it up. It also helps if you're a fan of songs. Just because something like Pretty Woman gets butchered up and down the country hundreds of times a week, it doesn't take away the fact that it's a great song. If you play a song like you have to play it 'cause it's what the punters want, you're just a butcher. If you can tap into the song in some way though - the groove, the soul, the spirit, the mood etc. - you're going to help make it fresh again and get so much more enjoyment from playing it. When all's said and done, a live band is at it's peak when making a connection with their audience. Are the audience there specifically to see you? If so, congratulations you're doing something right and don't need to be reading this. More likely for most of us though is that most of the audience is there either because that's where they and their friends always are on a Saturday (Thursday, whatever) night or because they happen to be attending the function you're playing at. They're (hopefully) there to have a good time and the fact your band is there is, at the outset, not of great importance to them but most will happily open the door to the possibility of you entertaining them. If there's an area for dancing, as there surely will be, there's your meal ticket. It's a bit simplistic but if you play songs that make the girls want to dance, the girls will have a good time. If the girls are having a good time, the guys will have a good time. And if, at the end of the night, you play "Lady in Red" and there's couples melting into each other everywhere you look, you've helped make that happen. Whatever they are feeling is, in that moment at least, real. And as every note you play intertwines with what they are feeling, you become part of that moment too. You can't tell me there's no integrity in that.[/quote] [b]Very[/b] succinctly put my friend. I cannot argue with a single word of that. Brilliant post. IMHO

[quote name='john_the_bass' post='211033' date='Jun 2 2008, 12:03 PM']I've got the Beck, Bogert and Appice version if that's any good? It is after all the best version![/quote] Yes indeedy!! Great track from a great album eh?

Amen to (almost) all of the above. [b]Plus:[/b] Remember, it's "only" music. Nobody's going to die. I once fell off a 3 foot high stage onto a table full of glasses and bottles at a gig. My memory tells me that I didn't miss a note, but I think that may be a touch of self delusion. The point is, I lived to tell the tale and thirty years later, I'm still at it. Gigging that is, not falling off stages. Well, not that often.

+1 on the Celestions.

[quote name='Merton' post='208200' date='May 28 2008, 04:46 PM']Sad to say it happens all the time. If I borrow someone elses rig I will always offer a drink or two as a thank you, common courtesy. I've done gigs with my rig just used without question before and not a single please or thank you, inlcuding one asshole who almost blew all the speaker f**kin about with his fx pedals. Thesedays if it's not organised in advance then it doesn't happen as far as I'm concerned.[/quote] Couldn't agree more. There can never be any justification for [b]pig ignorance [/b]IMHO.

A couple of years ago, I actually offered to lend the support band my rig to save them and us time. My offer was accepted and, when they'd done their set, I never even got a word of thanks, much less a pint for my trouble. Numb nuts. It won't happen again, that's for sure.

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='206773' date='May 26 2008, 08:00 PM']... there's somewhere to play in chelmsford?[/quote] Know what you mean!! From memory, it was quite a big night club type of place on the main pedestrian area. This was in 2000, so no doubt it's gone bust and been "refurbed" half a dozen times since then.

[quote name='16Again' post='206515' date='May 26 2008, 12:56 PM']god, that sounds a bit tiring! [/quote] You could say that - particularly when your 40th birthday was a long gone memory

On a slight tangent, but still firmly on the subject of excessive distance to gigs, the most illogical piece of scheduling I've ever been involved with ([b]ALL [/b]from the same agent) was: Thursday night: Gig in Chelmsford. Friday night: Gig in Aberdeen (that's what teminded me!!) Saturday/Sunday/Monday: Gigs in Belfast. [b]There's[/b] a man who desperately needed an Atlas.

Another update today including a show in October[b] 2009[/b]. Scary.

Mr Washington "burning some rosewood" with Steely Dan: [url="http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RwQu7IyH23Q"]Ready Freddie Washington[/url]

[quote name='steve-soar' post='201454' date='May 18 2008, 11:57 AM']Sorry guy's, it was the first thing that came into my head. He does look like a small Scotish woman, maybe I need help! [/quote] Don & Walt would be proud of you buddy!!

Am I missing something here? I thought it had been established that this was, in fact, a 35 year old woman?

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='200423' date='May 16 2008, 02:01 PM']It’s got to be worth a punt for 3 quid. I can't say I'm really into the Mark King sound/style of playing. I can fully appreciate the skill and ability of the man (he's most likely better than I'll ever eventually be), just not my thing. [size=1]Bass player with an ego on the level of a guitarist’s? (here come the angry responses….)[/size][/quote] Totally agree with you.

To be fair, I'm probably thinking back to the Jackson Five days. I can just imagine Freddie doing Billie Jean, I must admit.

Wasn't that [b]Randy Jackson [/b]of X Factor "fame"?

He took over the bass chair from Tom Barney in Steely Dan and, as someone has also said, plays in the Donald Fagen band and features quite heavily on the Morph The Cat album. FWIW, Freddie Washington and Keith Carlock on Drums are a [b]MONSTER [/b] rhythm section IMHO. They each always employ the principle that their playing should serve the song and[b] NOT[/b] the other way around.

I'm very embarrased to say that I've only just spotted this thread, byt I would like to add my vote of thanks for the donation. I have recently been heavily involved with the Alzheimers Society following the sudden death of my Step Father and the subsquent sectioning of my Mother under the Mental Health Act due to her severe Alzheimers Disease. The advice I have received fro the Society has proved to be invaluable and my only regret is thnat I did not contact them earlier but tried to sort things out alone. A fantastic resource and one very worthy of the support you have kindly shown.

[quote name='molan' post='198247' date='May 13 2008, 08:45 PM']As it happened my wife wasn't feeling great so we sat upstairs - sound was Ok but definitely not brilliant. We got there really early and had front row upstairs seats right above the mixing desk so maybe that helped! Normally I never go upstairs unless I'm really desperate.[/quote] Bugger!! Oh well, pleased you and your wife enjoyed it. Funny you should mention the desk. I thought that I'd get a decent mix from there and actually went and stood behind it and the mix was truly [b]AWFUL[/b]. Unforgiveable at that sort of level IMHO.

[quote name='molan' post='198211' date='May 13 2008, 07:52 PM']Me too - I love both Incognito & Jim Mullen. Both great live (for very different reasons!). Mullen's style & technique are awesome. If they are instrumental I could imagine them falling into the "wonderful musicianship but a bit bland" category though? Anyone see Incognito at the Forum for their big anniversary gig? Must have been 20th I think. Great gig, Randy H-T was back for a few songs, Maysa & Joyce Brown on vocals (plus others) - really amazing atmosphere as well. These days they seem to play the Jazz Cafe rather than the Forum but I always preferred them in bigger venues. I was such a fan of them for a while that I bought Randy's Modulus when it went up for sale after the Jeff Beck tour. Some pics in the bass porn section & my avatar is the inlay on the 12th fret. I'm probably gonna stick it up for sale soon if there are any Randy fans out there![/quote] I was there for that anniversary gig and I'm sorry to say that my entire evening was pretty much ruined by the terrible mix. I couldn't find a single spot in the venue where I could hear any bass other than an indistinct rumble. [b]PLEASE[/b] don't tell me it was fine from where you were standing. On the plus side, I agree, it was a great atmosphere.