KevB

Most of the bands that are tribbed have managed to price themselves out of a lot of people's pockets for gigs and/or don't tour that often. The tribs are just filling a demand in the market. If people didn't turn up to see them they wouldn't exist.

After last weekend stormer this Sat's gig was a bit of an anti-climax, weather keeping punters away but also there had been a change in door staff at the venue we played and it sounds like they have been a bit over zealous in turning people away since they got the contract so I don't think the venue is quite as popular as it was. We were a bit loud in the first set and a couple of folks had a gripe and left after the first few songs, we turned it all right down but it was difficult as the drummer hasn't got much volume control. Hey ho, a lot more punters turned up for the second set and we got a good few dancing but we've had better nights there. Two more gigs coming up this weekend so it's all water under the bridge. I think I may have triggered a speed camera on the way home so presumably whatever I got for the gig will just get swallowed up in the fine.

I'm pretty sure I've only been sacked once a couple of bands back. Basically when I joined they were looking for imput to improve the band but it seemed whatever legitimate suggestions I made fell on deaf ears and the music wasn't really my thing anyway (at least not the way they did it) so when the band leader didn't even have the balls to ring me and got another band member instead to do it I let him get as far as 'It really isn't working out' and agreed to go straight away. I'd have quit of my own volition in a few months if things hadn't picked up anyway. The guy who rang me (keys) and the drummer were both fired themselves only a few months later and they had been with the band leader a good few years so I think you can see the pattern of this 'band'.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbThYcveszg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbThYcveszg[/url]

Yep, this is my understanding of what the S1 switch does so, as you say, relatively cheap and easy mod and it certainly makes a difference on a jazz (not sure why they bothered with an S1 precision though!).

I'm sorry this just isn't a very scientific point of view. We really need the control data and to have a time machine to send Nige back to have lessons from Jake years ago and [i]then [/i]check to see if he wouldn't have just ended up talking bollocks anyway.

I might be completely misunderstanding here but from what I can read from the dates of this thread and the other one if the guy that keeps posting here under 2 or 3 different names is Larry NJ from the other forum then when he first started posting how good it sounded he wasn't in posession of the bass at all. If he's picked it up as a one off from a trade fair then sure he might have got to play it briefly there but I wouldn't make many sweeping statements about any instrument after a bit of a noodle around at one of those places.

I have an S1 jazz and nearly always have the switch deployed if I want it to cut through. Not sure how much work it would take to rewire and fit an S1 switch to a normal jazz (assuming Fender or someone else sells the switches separately) though.

Doesn't look like that cat's going to give up the bed without a struggle!

Oh yes I'd forgotten Kaipa, I do have some of theirs as downloads, In the wake of evolution's a good track. I'll look into Froberg's stuff too.

For some reason I've now got that Cash tune in my head where he just randomely yells out 'Truckstop!' at the end, followed by a banjo solo...

I wasn't even aware of this solo album though I'm not a huge Flower Kings fan so their side projects tend to pass me by (I have some Karmakanic though) and liking what I'm hearing so I may have to tracks this down on Amazon or somewhere.

Can make a huge difference. How many classic hits in many genres would have been as successful if they had been released as instrumentals? Very few I'd wager. I think as humans we are on the whole wired in to respond to human voices and personally althought I like some instrumental music I much prefer there to be an accompanying vocal. This isn't really answering the OP which specifically mentioned [i]lyrics. [/i]This actually got me thinking as there are some bands songs (such as Yes) where the lyrics are often fairly abstract and not obviously meaningful as prose at all, yet I wouldn't like the whole package as much if they either were not present at all or if they were different. They don't have to be ultra smart or deep. Example (from what I once heard) when Macca on Hey Jude put in 'The movement you need is on your shoulder' as a temporary fill to scan with the rest of what he'd done to demo it to John. John insisted he keep it in saying 'That's the best bit'. In short the right lyric for the right song can make it something special. A bad lyric can turn an otherwise decent tune into something utterly risible. Of course what makes a 'good' lyric is extremely subjective.

I did see them a few years back and had a very brief word with Pete, seems a nice genuine guy. As you say, musically top notch and when they are up to a full compliment with a brass section there can't be a vast amount of money in it. The only thing that I thought was a bit lacking was the lead vocal but it's always going to be a challenge finding someone who can 'do' Fagen whilst also holding down a legit musician's role in the lineup.

Unfortunately I tuned in as Damon Albarn was 'singing' like he does and quickly moved on elsewhere. May revisit the session on iplayer where I can fast forward where necessary.

[quote name='WalMan' timestamp='1372548047' post='2127170'] "Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep" by SPOCK'S BEARD has seen pretty constant rotation since it arrived. The boys didn't disappoint once again. [/quote] Yep, much better than I expected after Nick quit. If you like a bit of modern prog also check out Big Big Train's 'English Electric vol2' which came out this year. I think that vol.1 is a better album but that came out back end of 2012 so technically doesn't count.

First time back at the pub that dropped all their live music when new management took over. One or two of the old regulars badgered them to bring us back to see how it would go so it turned out to be a bit of a 'showcase' gig and we knew we had to deliver. As it turned out we put in a pretty strong performance and the pub was absolutely heaving. So full the 'front line' was encroaching on band territory and making it a bit uncomfortable at times, had to watch when I was doing bv's as people kept walking into my mic stand and belting the mic against my mouth, could have lost a tooth at one point but narrowly avoided it. Very hot with such a full pub (no air con and we didn't use lights) so it was a 2 shirt gig.

Just catching a bit of the highlights over a late breakfast (gigging last night and didn't record it) on iplayer. Considering age and the band have long had a reputation for turning in some mediocre live performances as well as great ones it's really not that bad. They'd be screwed without Jagger though. Proper front man, it's not as easy as he makes it look.

That's me decided then, going to wear mine whilst we set up and sound check tonight...

Bit of an eclectic mix of various stuff but mostly indie based (Arctic Monkeys, Stereophonics, Oasis, Fratellis etc) from the Nathan Wall Band. Next two dates are : Sat 29th June at Plainsman, Nottingham; [url="http://www.viewnottingham.co.uk/pubsandbars/the-plainsman-info-48873.html"]http://www.viewnottingham.co.uk/pubsandbars/the-plainsman-info-48873.html[/url] Sat 6th July at H2O bar Hucknall, Nottingham [url="http://www.h2ohucknall.co.uk/"]http://www.h2ohucknall.co.uk/[/url]

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1372362680' post='2124950'] More to the point, what happened to your HAIR? Have you got it tied back, or did you go for the chop? [/quote] Tied back shell, but it'll have to go eventually. Maybe when I hit 50 next year...The shirt was a cheapo one from Primark, band leader insists on a 'black' stagewear theme. I must admit I had to look up Matt Freeman, don't think there's much resemblence to be honest.

Not a gig but a curious rehearsal last night. The band don't really do rehearsals but the singer found another potential guitarist for future use and we had a bit of a 'showcase' gig lined up this Sat so thought we'd better put the lad through some songs to make sure he was OK with everything. It soon became apparent he was far from OK with everything. From first 5 songs of first set he was already struggling with 2 of them. After another go at one of them he said something had 'gone' in his hand and he was starting to feel it bruising. Singer had a bit of a meltdown. Fortunately one of the other guitarists who plays most gigs popped in to see how he was doing and after a lot of phone calls he rearranged his Sat night out (girlfriend's birthday no less) so he can now do the gig instead of the new boy, huge relief all round. Singer still fuming in the pub afterwards. We basically wasted money hiring out the rehearsal space, the lad clearly wasn't ready despite being given 2 months to learn the set and he seemed to just bottle it, never seen anything quite like it before. So I had a wasted evening really and was out of pocket. Still it made me realise I'd got abit sloppy on one or two tunes and need to sharpen up a bit for the gig on Sat.

Bilbo, you and your drummer look like you've popped out from working in the kitchens to have a jam while you are on a break Forgot to mention - jazz singer just out of shot, chained to the railings in the car park...

I'm not sure about 'essential' but I've always enjoyed the bass on these : Greenslade - Greenslade (Tony Reeves) Ian Gillan Band - Clear Air Turbulence (John Gustaffson)

We are thinking of possibly merging T Rex's 'Get It On' into Oasis 'Cigarettes and Alcohol'.