casapete

The music shop my teenage self used to hang around in during the early/mid 70's meant I used to pick up useful tips that I've never forgotten. Some were probably bollocks, but many have stuck with me. I remember making speaker leads from the orange cable that came with many Black and Decker type products. The good thing was that you couldn't mistake them for guitar leads which back then were mostly black (or coiled!). Still got some somewhere.

Agreed, although even back then we knew that using guitar leads for connecting speakers wasn't a good idea.

How awful for you. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

@Chienmortbb on here is good for cables. Look for those with good quality cable ( Van Damme , Sommer etc) and Neutrik connectors. IMO avoid stuff like cheaper Fender, Planet Waves, and pay a bit more for good stuff - if looked after they will last years.

I think there isn’t a ‘standard’ policy i.e. all insurers will vary in what they will or won’t insure so best to check. Mine covers stuff that isn’t being used to make a living, but not items which are for instance. Just like motor insurance for musicians, it’s a complicated scenario.

The Toploader version was actually a cover -previously a hit in the early 70’s for King Harvest in the US, with the original being recorded by Boffalongo . Both of these had fade outs too! I don’t mind the song, Toploader version. In my function band it always went down well when we did it. I can think of a lot worse. 😊

This ^^^ I have cover for my gigging instruments, and have my stuff I don’t gig with down as named items on my home insurance. Works fine for me, although ( as is the norm with any insurance cover) be sure to check all the small print.

On Saturday I’m going to see ‘Band of Friends’ featuring Gerry McAvoy on bass. Saw him with Rory Gallagher in the mid 70’s, so hope it will be an interesting evening.

Thanks Rob, but we are currently using a Yamaha EMX512SC mixer amp which gives out 2x500 watts. The cabs are Bose tops and some bass bins. We’d be looking at something at least that output again, possibly class D powered cabs such as RCF / QSC etc. I have an Allen and Heath mixer with FX that we could use with them. You could maybe try listing your Fender PA on here?

Cheers, will do.

I was absolutely done in after our acoustic duo gig at the weekend! I'm 66, and lugging a PA into a venue is getting more of a PITA for me, ( especially as don't have to do this in the theatre band I'm in! ) Although a seated gig, I found it very full on and a touch stressful, which isn't what I was thinking of in my pending retirement! Most of our gigs are quite laid back, so a rammed pub on Easter Sunday was probably an exception. I can't blame my own kit (Fender Rumble 100 combo) either! Think we'll be looking for a more lightweight / easier to manage PA soon. It's crap getting old!!

Our acoustic duo played last night in Beverley at The Sun Inn. We weren't sure if it would be busy with it being Easter Sunday and all, but when we arrived at 4pm the place was getting quite full. It's a lousy get-in with parking difficult, and the pub is on a blind corner which makes unloading a bit scary but we got it all in just before the heavens opened. It's an old pub dating from the 16th century - stone flagged floor, beams everywhere etc (see pic) so the sound can be a bit challenging. Due to the number of people in we didn't get a good soundcheck but just cracked on anyway. Did 3 x 40 min sets of requests, usual broad range of stuff from Ray Charles to Taylor Swift! At one point they had someone on the door having to turn people away as the room was rammed with punters. Plenty of faces we hadn't seen for a while, so great to catch up. Gave away a few business cards so hopefully will pick up some other work too. Landlord Paul is a top bloke, and we've just agreed to play a monthly gig there now for the rest of 2024. 🙂 http://suninnbeverley.co.uk

Just back from Scarborough where we saw ‘Fire and Rain’ at the YMCA theatre. Some friends of ours put the band together to play James Taylor material ( with a smattering of Carole King tunes ) and they were absolutely brilliant! A near capacity crowd loved every song, and the band played them just superbly. Vocals were sublime, and all the players performed so well, especially Tom Townsend on guitar and vocals, and our friend Bob Walker on bass. A great evening of classic songs, highly recommended.

Although I don’t have anything to do with it, our band has used Facebook quite successfully for marketing our theatre gigs. We’ve used national newspapers in the past, but have found using FB is more cost effective and easier to target our demographic. Whether that works for younger bands / audiences I honestly don’t know though.

Is that Chris Spedding? He’s doing the WOTW tour I believe, great player.

It does the opposite for me - a wonderful joyous record, that was so important for being the first time many people in the UK were aware of ska/bluebeat. Great feel, I love it.

I’d probably agree with most of your other choices, but have a listen to the original version of DITS by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - pure pop magic, and 60 years old this year.

I agree, something definitely changed. I don’t expect the audience to sit there in deathly silence - it’s a pub after all and their drinking pays my wages! It’s just the few who spoil it for others that get to me, and then at the end they even come over and try to be your best mates. I can’t help but think we won’t be there much longer, which is a shame as the nutters win. Probably best we start looking for an alternative venue, and hopefully our core audience will go with us.

Just back from a monthly pub residency with the acoustic duo. Was just one of those gigs where I never got settled for some reason. Don’t know if I’m getting old but audiences in some pubs which were previously okay now seem to be getting more ‘lairy’, for want of a better word. Tuesday evening and they were battered by 9.30pm, loud and annoying some of our regulars so much that quite a few of them left early. Hard when you’re playing acoustic stuff to compete with them, and hard to hear any definition from the PA so I struggled sound wise too. Just glad to get home TBH, but at least we got paid so not all bad. Next one is at The Sun Inn in Beverley on Easter Sunday, one of our favourite venues so hopefully should be better than tonight.

We supported Les Gray’s Mud in the late 80’s. Les was a lovely bloke, very funny and put on a good show despite not looking in the best of health.

I’d say probably yes - equivalent to just under £120 here. I haven’t tried the Rumble 40, but if it’s anything like my Rumble 100 then it will be fine. The 100 is a great sounding amp, and I’ve used it for many small gigs with no problems. If you could run to a s/h one of these it would be more future proof than the 40 - over here they go from around £150 to £200 second hand (around 190 to 250 dollars). Good luck!

We’re going to see Jools and his band soon - saw them years ago but it was the presence of Imelda May as one of the guest vocalists ( along with the magnificent Ruby Turner) that swayed me this time.

Another of our semi-regular acoustic duo gigs at The Lookout in Scarborough this evening. Took two basses with me ( Taylor and Ibanez) to compare, but somehow managed to leave my holdall behind which has all my leads, stand and mic in it! Disaster averted though by my guitarist pal having spares, and the venue having a euro lead for my Rumble combo. Anyway, a full house of diners and shed loads of requests. Along with the usual kind of stuff you’d expect a duo like us to play, we also did some we hadn’t done before / for a long time - such as ‘Sir Duke’, ‘Mr Bojangles’ ( which I really don’t like) and ‘Little red rooster’ with my mate using a half pint glass as a slide for his guitar. Ended with ‘Come up and see me’ in tribute to Steve Harley. We return there in three weeks time, when I’ll make sure I have a full compliment of kit with me.

Back in the mid 90's I used to play a Friday lunchtime gig with some friends in a cafe bar in Hull. It was always a great time, especially if some or all of the guys playing didn't have an evening gig afterwards! One of the band knew Albert Lee, so when he was in town he persuaded him to sit in with us. Needless to say he was wonderful, and yes we did play 'Country Boy' with him too. Over the years I've been to many gigs where Albert was playing, including Eric Clapton, The Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings and of course with his own band Hogan's Heroes, so I was a bit starstruck. He's a lovely guy, and now 80 years old and currently touring the UK! (Tahnia was the name of the ladieswear shop next to the cafe bar, not the band!)

Chris bought my Jazz bitsa. Lovely bloke and a great player! Nice easy transaction, recommended buyer. Hope you love the bass Chris! cheers, Pete.