dmccombe7

My longest gigs are when we do the full Set list with Glam covers band at 2hrs 40mins. Doing that on a hot night wearing all the glam gear including a hefty wig makes you sweat buckets. On one occasion i was so dehydrated i started to get the shakes on my hands at the break and i had drank 1 litre of water during that first set of 1hr 15mins. Now i have 2 large 18" gym fans one each side of stage and they help a lot. Dave

What a fantastic thing to do. Well done, love the sentiment of it all. Even tho its a sad occasion this post made me feel good this morning @Linus27. Dave

I feel your pain. Only ever happened to me once and like you i muddled thru enough to get decent applause but i've made it clear in every band since that i don't do bass solos and if the band hits me with an unexpected request to solo i would leave the band. (probably won't but it would be considered) Dave

I'll need to remember that next loud gig we do Pete. Dave

very nice indeed. Dave

We've found that soundcheck in an empty hall always sounds louder. Once audience get in they deaden the volume a bit and all is well in the world again. Dave

Its even more sad that i know who Norman Collier is. 3 times in 200 gigs aint too bad to be fair. Mine was picking up a bit of hiss and i never found out why as it always worked perfect at home when i tested it after the gig. Not every gig tho but it was getting worse and maybe every 4-5 gigs i'd get something not quite right. The Shure is expensive tho but for me its been worth it so far to have peace of mind. Dave

I did have some minor noise interference with the Smooth Hound wireless. Since changing to the Shure GLXD i've had absolutely no issues at all. Literally power up, plug in and play, its that simple plus the pedal has a built in tuner meaning one less pedal in my chain. Can't fault the Shure wireless, built like a tank altho i did replace the cable with a right angled jack and slightly heavier cable. Dave

How far is that for you. I always underestimate distances in US. I can go from coast to coast in Scotland in about 80 miles East to West possibly less. Great to see you are back on track again. Dave

I've had a few minor issues with the Smooth Hound wireless and decided to splash out for the Shure GLXD pedal version and i've had absolutely no issues whatsoever with it even with various other wireless kit on stage ie mics, IEM's etc. One of the best buys i've done. It's left me 100% happy and Wireless GAS free now. Dave

Great stuff Daryl and hopefully the feelgood factor has returned. Dave

Playing at the neck gives more movement of the string to get that clank sound from the frets i reckon. I once read that angling your hand towards the neck and using the side of your fingers gives you that Double Bass tone. The more i analyse my own style I find when playing harder i tend to pluck the string across and slightly upwards from the body and for normal playing i play across but slightly down towards the body. I'm deliberately trying to play lighter to stop blistering and sore fingertips mainly because i'm now playing a lot more regularly. Dave

Have a good one Daryl. Dave

Always a stand next to or near my rig. At rehearsals i might prop up in a corner if i don't have a stand but never at a gig. That's scary neck breaking stuff. Dave

Against the front monitor. You can see it on the bottom pic. Dave

I go thru phases where i grow the nails on my my plucking fingers enough to catch the strings. Add a couple of coats nail varnish to the nails to harden them up can help reduce breakage too. Then they break and i go back to finger tips. The more gigs i play the harder the skin gets and i can get a decent edge on my tone. EQ does help too. Dave

I've been playing around 45 yrs now but unless i'm playing songs regularly i just don't retain them. I'll get away with not playing them for a few months and a quick run thru brings it back. I tend to run thru both bands set lists at least once a week to make sure i'm on top of them at a gig and i've been in these bands for 5 yrs and 2 yrs. 😂 Dave

I envy musicians that can remember loads of songs and able to recall them at short notice. Because of my job in engineering i've always solved a problem and moved onto the next problem and the last problem was forgotten. My learning technique for songs is just the same. I learn songs for a band and when i leave that band the songs are pushed back into the back of my mind under forgotten files I seem to be limited to my current set lists and trying to remember songs from previous bands i just struggle with. Dave

Nice Daryl, How did the gigs go this weekend. ? I do bar gigs with the punk covers band and clubs and larger rock venues with the Glam covers band. Hoping to move the Glam show into the Theatre gigs next year as demand is getting better every gig. Dave

Chocolate Starfish is a new one on me. Made me laugh. Dave

For the punk covers band i have to learn :- 1. Nobody's Hero - SLF 2. Gotta Getaway - SLF 3. Dancing with Myself - Billy Idol All great songs. I do enjoy the SLF songs as the bass player is pretty good. Dave

You have the best of both worlds Pete. Think the ELO band is more suited to Theatre style venues. Just seems right. Dave

Pete's band are at the top of their game and playing some of the best gigs in UK. Afraid the rest of us are doing similar things to you Daryl. Other than the HD Museum of course you lucky sod Dave