dmccombe7

We started off with the 4 off us making a list each and when we sat down at first band meet we looked at the common songs. Doing a specific era in music it was quite limiting. After that someone suggests a song and if we all agree we have a go at it. If it works we keep it. We don't have a band leader. Its a group decision and if someone hates doing a song then its best dropped. I'm lucky that we all share the same taste in songs with very few songs that we don't agree on. Some songs i've not been too sure about but once we try it i find its actually a great wee song to play. Dave

Always been a huge fan of Sweet. Altho their hits were mostly done by writers their B sides and live concerts included many of their own songs. They did sacrifice their originality for stardom tho but they were at least a very talented group of musicians who could rock with the best of the rock bands of that era. Here's one of my favs

I was looking for the kit. I think you might get a tin tho.

Gerlitz was not available on Amazon so went for the Dunlop full cleaning kit.

Not sure if its the lighting but that's quite an unusual sunburst. Seems to be more colour round the edges. Liking that. Dave

Drummer and myself live out in the sticks but our singer and guitarist appreciate the fact we have to travel further for everything. Also its down to me and the drummer to load and unload van as he keeps the PA and lighting. Too far to expect others to travel there and back again so we do it. The other guys do most at the venues tho so i guess we're kinda lucky we have a decent bunch in our band. Dave

when i was younger i enjoyed the band writing its own songs and seeing a positive reaction from your audience made it worthwhile. As someone earlier mentioned our bands back in the 70's / 80's would play a mix of covers with some originals thrown in. As the band got more recognition the covers were slowly rolled out and you end up with an originals band doing the occasional cover song. At that point its a nice feeling. As i've aged my enthusiasm to play originals and put the additional work, effort and time in is more than i want and covers just suit where i am in life. Youthful exuberance for writing and playing originals does eventually fade away unless you have a decent success with it. I had some local success with a few bands but the bands folded before it was taken to the next level. I also had a full time job i really enjoyed and paid extremely well and i wasn't prepared to walk away from financial stability for a maybe with a band. My choice of early retirement at 55 has shown i made the correct decision. I have a great life now and bands are so much more fun. I've never enjoyed playing in bands as much as now. Dave

Overworked Blue. You need a holiday.

Typically we quote two 1hr sets and we always go over unless specifically asked not to by the venue. In total we will probably do around 2hrs and 15-20mins especially if the audience are having a good time. To go out knowing i had a 3hr set would be soul destroying. For me that's half a shift at work with no lunch breaks Dave

Is that wedding / function band ?

@PJ-Bassist And once the kids have grown up and left the nest you'll be straight back into gigging i bet same as the rest of us.

3.5hrs i'm guessing there was a break in there somewhere Blue.

I would agree with you there. All the bands i've been into over the years started off doing covers and some even did cover song albums. Rush - Feeback album Bowie - Pin-ups Cab bet when all those famous rock . prog bands started off with guys learning cover songs. Dave

Were they a band ?

I did some studio work on an EP last year for a girl and that was the sound she was trying to achieve. I never met her to be honest but the producer mentioned it to me. It was a case of turn up at studio, listen to her basic vocal and acoustic guitar and make a start from there. Drum and main vocal had been done with a basic backing track consisting of acoustic guitar and keys to give us something to work with. Was quite chuffed with the bass lines i came up with. One track a day which i thought was ok considering i'd never heard them before. Oddly enough she fell out with the studio and never came back to complete the songs. She did send me a PM asking if i'd be ok with her using my basslines mainly because it was my mates studio. I had no issues with them being used. I did manage to get the basic tracks for myself tho. Not my usual style of music but enjoyed the challenge. Dave

I'm in a 70's Glam Rock covers band and love playing the covers that first got me into music in 70's plus i get to dress up for the part too. If i enjoy it then its worthwhile. I've done the rock, prog and pop originals over the years and it was good at the time but this is way much more fun lus the band members are all top guys that all get along really well. Dave

Cheers Dave...........ordered tonight be here Sun. Looking forward to this a lot. Dave

That's how i generally play at low end of the neck. I'm not so great further up the neck with one finger per fret and will play what feels comfy whether that's my ring finger or little finger. I have small hands and have adapted the one finger per fet style from when i was taught at lessons to what feels best for me. Where i've gone amiss is more that when playing straight 8ths on same note i've got lazy and curl my thumb round the neck. If i'm playing faster parts across the neck i automatically put my thumb on back of neck. Its really just when i made a point of examining my playing style i picked up on it. Dave

Never heard of it but i'll google it just now to see what its about

I've used it for gigs and i was ok it only seems to be longer spells. Our sets are 1hr long with a 30min inyterval. Altho its a 6hr session we normally are quite chilled and not playing for a solid 6hrs. We sit with coffee and cake and discuss the band and where we are going with it etc. We live quite a distance apart so best time for a band meet is during 6hr rehearsal. Dave

Where are you with your tendon issue ? Dave

Oddly enough i used to drink water throughout rehearsals but when we moved to a 6hr session i started drinking Latte from the machine and no water. That's a good point so i'll drink water this weekend see if that helps along with getting my technique back on track. Dave

@hiram.k.hackenbacker i'ts only a self diagnostic. It certainly feels like cramp and has that dull ache afterwards. It might well be tendon related but at this early stage i'm not convinced. I don't seem to get it when using thumb on neck technique (probably the correct way) but i need to see how it goes this weekend at rehearsals again. I also don't seem to get it with my narrow slim Jazz neck so i'm kinda ruling out the more serious conditions at this stage I don't generally play with my wrists at weird angles. Bass sits around my waist at belt area so not too low or too high in my experience. I'm not playing as hard as i used to and i'm not gripping the neck tightly. @SH73 Could well be dehydration as i wear 70's Glam Rock outfit including the big hair wig and we do get very hot and sweaty. I do however go thru about a litre of water during a gig sometimes more if a hot day. I never need a pee tho so after two 1hr sets with 30min interval i reckon i must be sweating that out which is an indication of dehydration i guess. Dave

Recently during long rehearsals (6hr) i've found i'm getting cramp in my fretting hand little finger. Never had it before and was a bit surprised. After a bit of thought i think i found the issue. It appears to be a combination of things. 1. new bass (Sandberg VM4) has a wider / thicker neck than the Fender Jazz i'm used to. 2. more of the songs i play are at the low end of the neck 3. most important factor - i've been getting lazy with my technique and I've been curling my thumb around the neck rather than on the back of the neck. I knew i did that occasionally however when i examined my playing i found i was doing it a lot more than i thought. Solution :- 1. i could go back to my Jazz bass which is thin and more slim neck and doesn't seem to bother me in same way. I do like my Sandberg tone tho. 2. i focus on my technique again which seems to be working. If i keep my thumb on centre line of back of neck i don't seem to experience any cramp. 3. short scale bass might help with reducing finger stretch 4. perhaps age is catching up on me and i may have to rethink my playing if at all. Hopefully not yet. Dave

No matter what, Burke will always be the legend that is Budgie. In For The Kill is one of my fav songs. The energy when the bass and then vocals kick in is immense. Love it. Dave