lowregisterhead

Saw them a few years ago at the Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford, and unfortunately Norman was absent (out with Wilco) but it was still pretty good. 'Derek the Draw', on the other hand, was profane and just plain offensive with none of the charm that Ian Dury possessed - he just came across as a loudmouth pandering to the Oi rentamob who sadly were in that night. Disappointing. A couple of years later I was fortunate enough to be on the same bill as The Blockheads at Rewind in Henley, and it couldn't have been more different. Norman and Dylan Howe were cooking up a storm, and Phill Jupitus fronted the band admirably, with more than a hint of the essence of Ian Dury, despite being visibly stoned out of his head! Got to meet Norman backstage as well. A real gent.

[quote name='The Dark Lord' timestamp='1364246205' post='2023869'] But seriously, have a look at this band's website ....... may give you some ideas [url="http://www.jukeboxfunctionband.com/"]http://www.jukeboxfunctionband.com/[/url] [/quote] Blimey. They were clearly paying attention during the 'Business Development' module of their ACM/BIMM/LIM course. As impressive as the website is, sadly I find the actual musical part of their product very limp and sterile. As the Jam lyric goes, 'the public wants what the public gets'.

[sharedmedia=core:attachments:131204] My Streamline 5 - now for sale in the classifieds, sadly

I just bought Steve's Yamaha BB615 - a very pleasant and friendly transaction, buy/sell/trade with confidence. Thanks Steve!

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1363944951' post='2019803'] Whilst I broadly agree with this it is probably because I am closer to your age. Things may well change in the future. As technology becomes cheaper and with traditional pub venues closing all over the place could we see a time where bands play from a room which has cameras installed and the sound is streamed live to pay per view type audiences sat at home watching it on their computers? Without that audience interraction it wouldn't be the sort of gig I'd find much fun to play personally but it would change the whole dynamic of bands going 'out there' to play live. Bedroom players forming bedroom bands and playing bedroom gigs to millions of bedroom fans. All a bit weird but it could happen one day. [/quote] Oh dear god, no. I think I and a million others would storm the seats of government before that happened.

[quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1363944040' post='2019781'] I've regularly got good gigs out of doing a bad gig, good bands have grown out of bad bands and I've met up with many good players. If you're out there gigging you're in with a chance of progressing. Sit at home and you go nowhere. [/quote] I was just sitting here thinking that the gig I did last night in a little bar to try and showcase the new band and get some better gigs was too bloody hot, too bloody loud, and worth only pennies - why the hell did I do it? But then I read the above - well said sir. A much-needed dose of positivity!

Good morning and welcome! I seem to be the first out of bed today, but as you're several hours behind the UK, you may have already headed for yours... I hope you can bring a bit of sunshine with you when you post - I've just been watching the weather forecast, and we've got snow on the way over here. Looking forward to your contributions.

I play with both covers bands and original bands and artists. I do it for the fun, for the money, and to be able to occasionally bask in the reflected glory of some of the incredibly talented people I've been fortunate enough to share a stage with. On the down side, my personal experience is that although many a cover band member can be guilty of posturing and preening in front of an audience, bands and artists playing original material are too often far worse offenders in this respect. I've done the rounds of the London originals gig circuit over an extended period, and despite the fact that many bands and solo artists are impressively well prepared with posters, flyers, CDs, websites, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter feeds, the general standard of songwriting and performance tends to be inversely proportional to the smugness of too many of the individuals involved. There are exceptions - one singer songwriter who went on to achieve national radio airplay and big-name support tours really impressed me when the band I was in played on the same bill as him at a small West London venue that used to be a public toilet. Some of you will know where I mean! I was so impressed I went up to him afterwards and asked for a copy of his EP, which I was quite prepared to pay for. "Cool" he said, and went off to get one without further comment, and on returning, looked around and said loudly and sarcastically "Where's my sale??". He hadn't even taken the time to take note of what his potential customer looked like. Despite his subsequent brush with fame, he has since vanished without trace. All this has served to make me acutely aware that what to the performer may be artistic expression, can often simply be public masturbation, regardless of who wrote the songs played. I'm not suggesting that any of us should stop performing, but maybe just give some thought to what we do and why, which I hope is what the OP intended when he started this thread...