casapete

We throw it open for anything - I put request forms on the tables and then we just wait to see what gets asked for. A good percentage of the requests are usually fairly straightforward, but there are always a fair few that challenge us ( and of course one or two that are just people taking the p*ss!). We have lyric / chord parts for thousands of songs using forScore on iPads - lyrics are the main things that we need prompts for. My guitarist partner is also just a phenomenal player which helps tremendously - we can go from Sinatra to AC/DC with no problems! He’s also a massive Steely Dan fan, so ‘Do it Again’ wasn’t actually too bad. My job is to hold down the bottom end ( sometimes a struggle if I’m not familiar with a tune or when he’s soloing in some old jazz standard!) and sing harmony vocals & the odd lead vocal. We’ve been playing together for over 30 years now, so have an almost telepathic thing and know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Not a gig goes by when I don’t realise how lucky I am to be in the duo, it really is a joy. When I retired from my gig with a touring tribute band last year, I knew that I’d be still wanting to keep playing so just hope the duo carries on for many years to come. 😊

We play in the lounge at the front of the pub, so load in through the front door. You’re right about the parking though, can be awkward.

Have just had two really good gigs with the acoustic duo. Sunday we were back in Scarborough at ‘The Lookout on the Pier’. Usual request based early evening gig, and we had some great tunes asked for. Also a few friends in so some particularly good heckling / interruptions ensued making it very funny. A capacity audience in this small venue makes for a very intimate atmosphere, with no hiding place when we stray too far from our (fairly broad) comfort zone, so have to be quite ‘on it’. Just so rewarding when it works well though - got an enquiry for a private gig too. Then tonight we’ve been at a monthly residency at the Anlaby Park pub, on the outskirts of Hull. Really busy with all tables reserved, and plenty of folk standing too. Varied requests included ‘Do it again’, ‘Strangers in the night’, ‘Fire and rain’, ‘Why does it always rain on me’ ‘Penny Lane’ and ‘Highway to Hell’. I used a borrowed Sire U5 short scale for a change, and enjoyed it immensely - has made me wonder whether it matters if I play electro acoustic or not TBH. Going to use it again for our next gig this Sunday to see if it works for us there.

Sounds like the amp is the Yamaha BBT500h? IIRC these amps had matching cabs , which were 4ohm models and therefore good to use either singly ( giving 250 watts ) or in pairs, unleashing all 500 watts. If you use the advice given by @chris_b above you won’t have any problems.

Such sad news, and a beautiful message from his sister. RIP Nick.

I went to see Beaux Gris Gris and The Apocalypse last night at the legendary Adelphi Club in Hull. A friend of mine from Stockport came over to the gig, and as he’s been recommending the band to me for ages I thought I’d go with him to check them out. The band are based in California, and feature Greta Valenti on lead vocals and her husband Robin Davey on guitar. Robin used to be in UK blues band The Hoax, who I saw years ago. The couple use UK players on bass, keys and drums when they tour over here, but I didn’t catch their names. Drummer was ace, very animated and groovy, and the lady on bass was solid as a rock on her 5 string Yamaha. Material was mainly originals with a couple of covers thrown in. Bluesy rootsy rock would probably best describe their stuff. The small club was almost full, so they seem to have a good UK following. Got a bit loud for me though, so glad I’d brought my ear plugs. Worth catching on this current tour if it’s your kind of thing, recommended.

Me too Dave. Had a few no-shows but no out and out nutters. I’ve always been careful to protect my details, preferring meet ups or delivery in person etc. Cash on collection is always good - why don’t I trust bank transfer with people I’ve never met? Oh yeah, I’m an old gimmer. 🤣

Slightly OT so forgive me but sort of relevant - a couple of years ago my daughter was swapping her car and needed to trade her Honda Civic in. After not getting much joy she contacted a couple of the car buying firms regularly advertised everywhere. One was a better quote, so we made an appointment, which the rep from the firm was late for. Looked around it for ages, took it for a few miles drive and then offered her some £500 less than his original offer ( despite the car being mint ). When asked why he just said that’s what his boss had decided / change in market prices ( in 2 days!) and thus wasted a lot of time for all of us. We then went to ‘ We buy any car’ who were then exact opposite - their price was adhered to, quick decision and payment within a few days. Moral being - shop around, don’t accept a reduced offer and if you can be arsed first try a private sale!

You could also maybe try Rich Tone in Sheffield. They buy guitars and basses, and from my recent experience offer fair prices. I sent pics of my guitar and they made me an offer based on them.

I want one! Would it be cool to ask what sort of prices they go for, can’t find any indication on their web page? Thanks.

I love this - a kind of posh Danelectro vibe. Just had a look on their website, and it’s full of amazing basses. Thought I was GAS free until just now.

Indeed - in my old band the monitors were our only real line of defence. We’d often play weddings in venues with no stage, and frequently encountered guests ( and once or twice the bride and/or groom ) falling onto them. A big Laney 300 watt job didn’t budge though! One of the reasons I got used to not using pedals I think. 😆

You could try Neutradol Deoderisor Gel, which works in cars when a smoker has been in them Only a couple of quid so worth a go. Also bicarbonate of soda ( baking soda) can work well, and again isn’t expensive and is easy to get hold of. Put some in an open jar and leave it zipped up in the case overnight. Good luck!

I saw the Hollies doc recently on Sky Arts - really good and very comprehensive. A great band, somewhat overlooked due to the Beatles and Stones I think.

Thanks Dave - in the ELO Experience it was intended to appeal to theatre audiences. We tried to strike a balance between doing the songs justice but also being entertaining and not taking ourselves too seriously and we hopefully achieved that. The cellists worked out some routines that seemed to work and the audience loved them! The band is still going strong too - people want entertainment.

We end up doing a lot of laughing at our gigs, and usually the audience are laughing with us rather than at us ( I think anyway…). We do have our serious moments too of course, and the best gigs are when the balance of the two are just right. We like to think our audiences leave the gig with a smile on their faces. Thinking about this, looking back to gigs I’ve seen over the last 50 years, the best ones are those which made me smile too - usually those when you can tell the band are really enjoying it. I don’t have much time generally for overly serious stuff, happy upbeat music is what mostly floats my boat. 😄

It was a particularly fun gig Dave - this is me after I messed up ‘Duelling Banjos’ would you believe……

Our first gig this year at The Lookout on the Pier in Scarborough harbour. The weather had improved so apart from some patchy fog the journey was fine. Usual full house of diners with plenty of requests, some of which I’d not played for ages. These included ‘Waterloo’, ‘Moonlight in Vermont’, ‘Losing you’, ‘Starman’ and ‘Ever fallen in love’. ( We couldn’t manage ’Peaches’ but swapped it for ‘Golden Brown’ !!). We are there again at the end of the month and it’s always a pleasure to do.

I’m sorry, assumed your iPad was running up to date.

I went to see VM at Hull City Hall in the early 80’s. He didn’t once communicate with the audience and sat on a stool for most of the gig, randomly picking up a guitar or an alto sax occasionally ( and being pretty dreadful on both IIRC ). Thinking he must have been having an ‘off day’ and being a fan of his stuff, I booked to see him again a year or so later at the same venue. He was exactly the same then too. 😆

We’ve used forScore in our duo for years now with no problems. Think it’s £19.99 on the App Store, one off purchase.

My mate in our acoustic duo always brings two electro acoustics on every gig. He has one of those double gig bags, bulky but not that heavy to carry. He has previous for breaking strings, although just lately seems to be on a good streak. From my experience strings usually break for a reason - they need replacing, sharp bridge saddles / tuners etc , being thrashed to death or any combination of these.

I honestly don’t know, but think I may have remembered if it was VH as support. Or maybe not of course….🤣

Black Sabbath, Hammersmith Odeon around 1977/8. The worst noise I have ever heard at a gig of any size, and I’ve seen some shite. Painfully loud, dreadful vocal, the worst mix and also a lunatic crowd. My ex-girlfriend had procured the tickets, and I felt so bad that I had to leave after two/maybe three ‘songs’ but just couldn’t tolerate any more of the assault. We found a nearby pub though with an excellent band playing, so the night wasn’t entirely lost.