Mickeyboro

7 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Went to the Earl Haig jam night and did a few songs with James Oliver, none of which I had heard before. "Do you know Nadine?" "Never met her!" I have jammed with him before, but still a bit intimidating as in the last month he's done gigs with Horace Panter and Norman Watt-Roy on bass 😱

 

Went ok though!

James is hilarious! Was he looking okay? Hasn’t been well of late.

The enigmatic Crowded House/Fleetwood Mac/Split Enz frontman profiled in a fascinating and substantial 250-page book. 

Condition as new - £11 posted UK. 
 

Newly released Lee Kerslake: Not On The Heep documentary, also featuring Kiss, Ian Paice, Mick Box and more… not Ozzy for obvious reasons!

New, still sealed. £10 posted UK. 

A three-band bill of folk (State of Undress), blues (my own Otis Jay Blues Band) and Americana (World Gone Wrong) at New Milton’s Forest Arts Centre. Capacity audience of 125, which is gratifying.

Sound technician Alice did a brilliant job considering the variety of instruments involved. A super fun evening, and though we had a few duff intros - new drummer’s first gig - no one seemed to mind.

Photos show me having foolishly raced to the top of the theatre with Sandberg in hand, and descending rather more gingerly…

Love to take this package to other venues - suggestions gratefully received.

It’s all looking good at present. Only 12 out of 100 tickets to sell before Thursday. Fingers crossed!

Lindisfarne. Original bassist Rod Clements the only survivor - now on guitar - but Dave Hull- Denholm, the late Alan’s son in law, to right of pic, was the star. 
 

18 minutes ago, casapete said:

Not sure Mick - Gerry did mention Rory a couple of times, and from what we were chatting about

in the restaurant before the gig I’d say he still has immense respect for him.

I am sure he must, Pete - but I know his book upset Donal Gallagher so wondered if there was any legal undertaking… seems unlikely, but people can be petty!

What I didn’t expect about Band of Friends was that not once in the evening was Rory’s name mentioned! Any idea why?

7 hours ago, neepheid said:

First gig with a new singer last night for Nine Lives, at the Balaclava in Fraserburgh.  It was a good gig!  Our new singer has put a lot of work in to get the songs together and she did great, if she was nervous she didn't show it. I'm really chuffed with how it all went - change is always difficult for all concerned but we all handled it like champs. Pub was lively, maybe 40-50 folk in there at the peak with plenty dancing and 1 face plant that someone is definitely going to feel today!

 

Kit used - the Soloking's first live outing (which also did me proud) and the Yamaha BB1200, all into a Markbass Mini CMD 121P IV plus New York 121 cab.

 

 

Good to see Keith’s cab serving you well!

I have one of these. They're great. GWLTS. 

I have just put together an ‘Evening of Folk, Blues and Americana’, happening at a local arts centre on Thursday.

I chose two other acts I felt were compatible with my own Otis Jay Blues Band. We shall see how it all works - no idea if they have sold any tickets. 
 

Any tales of doing this kind of thing?

8 hours ago, Gasman said:

Last night’s gig was one I never anticipated, wanted, but felt compelled and eventually pleased to do. My son died three weeks ago suddenly from a second heart attack a week after having stents for the first one, seems the surgeon did half a job. Julian was 46, three kids, fitness fanatic, my best friend, top DJ and drummer

 

Today was his funeral. His widow had booked an acoustic duo for the wake in the local pub. However, the girl singer had to leave early for some reason; the landlord knew I played and pointed me out to the remaining guitarist/singer suggesting I might help, so as my gear was in my car I played bass and sang with him for the second set.

 

It was good distraction therapy, busking 15 numbers I’d never played before with a guy I’d never met. Despite this glimmer of light in a dark, dark day I’ll never be able to rationalise why I’m still here at 74 to write this while he will never read it. 

 

Parents shouldn’t have to bury their children...

I lost a brother called Julian - but losing a child is another dimension of grief. Sending warmest wishes from Southbourne. 

2 hours ago, Simon C said:

 

Well it could be the venue.  I’d like to think it is “Precious Harley Benton” though.😀

It is the venue, the Poole Hill Brewery! have edited to make clear. 

Central Bournemouth show at the Poole Hill Brewery, one of the best live venues. First of three bookings this year for the Otis Jay Blues Band.

Sparsely populated to start with (playing 3-6) but fuller later. Had our original guitarist come visit - he isn’t in the best of health now - and was good to see him.

Audience changed halfway with an influx of would-be dancers so had to change set 3 to suit, but few noticed the repeats!

Played my Flea through an Elf and two Barefaced One10. While I’ve played the venue with one cab, the sound is so much better I’m a two-cab man now!

43 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

I have the VM4, Fender PJ active and a Godin PJ but i'd have to say the Fender and Godin are far deeper sounding than the VM4. I prefer my VM4 to be honest as the active circuits means i have more variety and range of tones but it doesn't have that deep warm P tone the others do.

I'm not a fan of the VM4 in passive mode tho as it just seems so weak. 

Dave

I like my VM4 passive, though the last but one gig I did I went active at half time to boost the bass after an audience request. My 71 P with flats is the deepest bass I own. 

Excellent recent autobiography by a true bass-playing history maker. Very well written. 

Founder member of the Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Steve Stills Manassas, Desert Rose Band. 
 

Perfect condition. Price now £9, includes UK postage. 
 

A seamless transaction - fully recommended Basschatter!

PM incoming Alan!

Played a village hall ‘Pub Night’ in the wilds of Dorset with the Otis Jay Blues Band.

The audience came to eat, but were in decline numbers wise thereafter which is always difficult - you’re not the main attraction! But some nice comments from those who stayed.

And what a stage! I hardly knew what to do with the room I had.

Acoustically, brought my MIJ Jazz ‘Sonic’ and GK MB200 through two Barefaced One10. Sound was so boomy I used bridge pickup exclusively, but seemed to work ok. Image is pre-gig, obviously!

10 hours ago, Jonesy said:

If he's a good drummer and everyone gets on with him then I'd probably have him back. It kinda depends a bit around his initial decision to quit too. He's admitted he made a mistake, but was there any specific reason he left in the first place? If there was and it's still an issue (eg. Doesn't like the set, too many/not enough gigs, doesn't get on with everyone) then he'll likely end up leaving again unless something changes.

I said I would prefer local gigs to ones that involved too much travelling. He interpreted this as an insult to him - how I don’t know, cos he never got us a single gig anywhere! Maybe I am just not ambitious enough…

We do have other options but this would be the easy one.

2 hours ago, Simon C said:

We had a good night last night: plenty of dancing and singing to 3 of the 4songs we did.  The exception was “Everything but love” by Jaime Kyle.  It’s a banging tune but I think the 4 of us were probably the only ones in the pub who knew it - now we’ve played it once hopefully a few remember it for next time we do it.  “Price Tag” and “Perfect” (the one by Fairground Attraction) are good singalongs, and my bandmates covered my cock ups in “Perfect” well.  I thought we might struggle with “You can call me Al” but we played it well and the crowd seemed to enjoy it.  We had plenty of positive feed back afterwards.

 

We performed for the 1st time with a band name: "In Progress" 

 

The video is less than 40s.  It’s the only footage my mate took, but he managed to catch the bass solo in “You can call me Al” (not the original recording version, but something I could fit into 2 bars).

 

I used to hate the approach of that solo… gave me the willies! Well done for bluffing it.

1 hour ago, Woodinblack said:

If the reason they quit is still present, you can't rule out them quitting again.

It’s yours truly😮

Keep em coming chaps, thanks!

Funny how drummers keep cropping up. It is a drummer, he quit without notice but now his replacement has moved in he is suggesting he might have made a mistake. We are using him as a dep initially but the future divides our band. One wants him in, one is undecided. And there’s me!

If you have experience of re-enlisting a former bandmate, please feel free to share. 
 

Has it worked for you?

Do previous problems recur?

If someone quit without warning would you trust them again?

Ta!

And another successful transaction with this trustworthy Basschatter!🙏