Oneandfive

[indent=4] My band The Wood Demons are playing the Jolly Gardeners in Mortlake, SW14,[/indent] [indent=1][color=#000000][font=garamond,]on Sat May 18. This one matters a lot because it's also a benefit for thebridge, a local charity that helps children with autism/Asperger's/ADHD. Anyone local in SW or W London, it would be great to see you there.[/font][/color] 'The Wood Demons play music inspired by late 60s psychedelia and early 70s prog rock. [/indent] [indent=1]The songs aremostly our own, plus a couple of early Pink Floyd covers. And a Radiohead song we like.[/indent] You can dance to some of it. Big tunes, surging rhythms, ringing guitars, spacy soundscapes. Songs about loss, the passage of time, esacapism, the corrupting effects of civilisation, tortured relationships, and a bloke who thinks he's turning into a giant frog."

I'm pretty sure it was the Coloursound Tone Bender. A superb player.

"It's not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand ....." John Cleese, 'Clockwise'.

I can recommend Guitar Aid near Putney Bridge. Very good, nice bloke, reasonably priced.

Ohhh yesss ..... One Soundblox Pro bass Envelope filter. Family chipped in. Better than socks ...

OK - [u]Gone[/u] Guild Star bass Egmond 8 Columbus Jazz bass Shaftesbury Rick copy [u]Kept[/u] Guild B-302 Warwick Corvette Rockbass Squier VM fretless jazz G&L L-2000

I've been in there a couple of times in recent weeks, and the attitude of the staff is unrecognisable from how it used to be under the previous owners. They were chatty and friendly and actually encouraged me to try out whatever instruments I wanted. Once I'd recovered from the shock, that's what I did. I didn't come away with anything, but it's only a matter of time ...

Until I get something better, my i-phone is doing a sterling job.

Wednesday 11th April. The George IV, Chiswick. The first ever gig for my alt/psych/prog combo The Wood Demons, and it went brilliantly. The stage sound was a bit tricky, but judging from all the nice things people were saying, it wasn't too bad out front. The audience ranged from 18 to 80. People were really complimentary about the material, both our own songs and covers (like Astronomy Domine and Arnold Layne). The evening wasn't all about us, though. The two other bands, Shakespeare and the Bible and The Kitchen Drinkers, were superb, and great people too. It was the kind of gig where all the musos helped each other out. The evening also raised a reasonable chunk of dosh for thebridge, a charity which helps children with autism. The venue is great and the staff were really helpful. Now, of course, we're looking to do more gigs. If there's anyone out there inhabiting similar musical terrain (alt/psych/prog) and location (SW London, reasonable distance from), I'd be happy to discuss the possibility of teaming up for a gig. Oneandfive

Bump for this one. Three good bands, a cause worth giving money to, and a handy place for West London BCers to convene. Anyone thinking of going? Cheers, Oneandfive

This is the first ever gig for my band The Wood Demons. [b][i][u]The event[/u][/i][/b] The gig is a fundraiser for thebridge, a charity which supports children and teenagers with communication disabilities (such as autism and ADHD). The bridge provides sport and drama to improve their communication skills and help them integrate into education and work. As things are, many people with these difficulties can become marginalised and incapable of working or forming relationships. Wednesday April 11, The George IV, 185 High Road, Chiswick [u][i][b]The music[/b][/i][/u] The Wood Demons - alt rock inspired by psychedelia, early prog and other less mainstream stuff from the late 60/early 70s. And by later bands who inherited that tradition. Think Barrett's Floyd, Gabriel's Genesis, krautrock, West Coast psych, Byrds, Velvets, Television, Soft Boys/Hitchcock, Primal Scream, Radiohead. Shakespeare and the Bible - Folk/punk, shades of Joe Strummer and Shane McGowan, great songs. The Kitchen Drinkers - very accomplished folk/bluegrass outfit with great harmonies It should be a memorable night, and thebridge is worth giving money to. Best, John

I play music because it helps to keep me mad.

Jack Bruce Chris Squire Mike Howlett JJ Burnel and, at the risk of ridicule, Roger Waters. (Well, when you're starting out playing, you don't want to set the bar too high...)

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1322338400' post='1449695'] The one & only time I've been completely blown away by a bassist using a Precision was watching Gordon Rowley of Strife. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po6WITsWDK4[/media] He's the one in the middle of the pics; had the most genuine battered bass you ever saw in your life. Caught them first at Accrington Bold St Working Men's Club, where I later - as an underage drinker - caught an early Motorhead. Gordon went on to form Nightwing; then became ill & went into production, he later lost a leg & sadly died a few years ago, but he was an immense bassist & had an awesome ability & stage-presence. [/quote] I saw this band in 1975 at the Watchfield free festival, and this is the first time I have heard any mention of them since then. As I recall, they did their bit to gee up a chemically lobotomized early evening crowd, playing like they meant it. They were good.

First bass - Egmond. 1972. 24-fret neck, too heavy for the body, perfect 10 for diving every time. I didn't know any better then, so I loved it. Go-to - G&L USA L2000 Signature - G&L USA L2000

I saw Gong and Hillage loads of times in 75-76, always inspiring and inventive. The music still holds up today, even without the chemicals. I think it's true to say that they were the link between psychedelia and the rave scene.

[quote name='wez' post='1346691' date='Aug 20 2011, 08:42 PM']Keep a spare battery handy and when it sounds like youve blown a speaker in the amp its time to change it (thats what mine sounds like anyway)[/quote] Absolutely. When the battery in my Rockbass gets a bit run down, it starts to make a peculiar farting sound. Rather like the bloke who plays it.

Hi from SW London, just joined. I first picked up a bass nearly forty years ago, played with dedication for the next ten, quit for the next 25, now I'm into my bass playing renaissance, a term I prefer to 'mid-life crisis'. I have an ancient Guild B-302, a budget Warwick Corvette, a Squier fretless VMJ, an Ashdown ABM 500 2x10 combo and a Boss ME-50b. Currently looking for other instruments, serious case of GAS. I play in two totally different bands. I love them both. One, as yet unnamed, is for psych/early prog and generally alt-ish rock, covering songs by early Floyd, Family, Youngbloods, Dr John, Radiohead, with some originals creeping in. The other is my workplace band, a 12-strong menagerie which plays everything from James Brown to Pink to White Stripes to Amy Winehouse to ... you get the idea. It's like being a session player without the pay. Must go and play now.