Len_derby

It’s a tough one. Drummers and singers seem the hardest to replace. Here’s three ways bands I’ve been in have tackled it. Each has its own challenges, pros and cons. 1. Do without a drummer. Use a drum machine. 2. Someone in the band retrains as a drummer. Tip - it always seems possible to find a guitarist 😉 3. Approach local colleges. This has to be done carefully with tact, but my current covers band found a really enthusiastic 17 year old drummer this way. She’s now joined the police and stepped back from gigging due to shifts but we got two great years. Good luck with your search. Drummers who are not already over-committed are tough to find where I live, which is the densely populated Derby/Notts M1 corridor.

There’s something about this area that makes you spend money 😉😆

Postman Pat - stupid hat. Particularly relevant for bass-players.

Just back from playing at The Old Star in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire. It’s a pub that consistently supports live music, has a proper stage and friendly, obliging staff. But……bands play outside in a courtyard area. By the end of the second set tonight it definitely felt chilly. Time to get the hand warmers out again.

It can be very sad to see favourites past their best but I wonder if some of them can’t afford to retire.

No, I don’t think it’s worrying. Fashions come and go. The low frequency notes in music don’t have to come from a bass guitar. The average music listener doesn’t know or care (or need to know or care) which sounds come from which instruments. To me, it’s all about making music that people want to listen or dance to. If one of the bands I play with tell me they don’t want a bass guitar I don’t thing I’d struggle to find other options.

I do, and I’ve just had a double-check by trying it on. I’ve found it comfy enough, and I try to avoid using my car where I can so I often have a decent walk - I’m a skinny 6’1”, if that makes any difference to the fit. I guess the point is to try a bag if possible before committing.

Yes, the M80. I’ve had it more than 10 years. It doesn’t show any significant signs of wear.

I’m sure others will be along soon to give their suggestions, but my favourite, which has served me well for years is the Mono Classic gig bag for bass guitar. Not cheap, but ticks the boxes.

I’m probably a bit too east for the best route but I could do the Notts/Derby M1 corridor up to theSheffield area.

Yesterday we made our third visit to The Crossroads Tavern, Alfreton, Derbyshire. It’s the old town post office converted into a bar, and their slot for live music is Sunday afternoon. We enjoy playing there, the crowd is always lively and enthusiastic. By the time we finish, 6.30 ish, most of the bar is bladdered and singing along. But, within 15 minutes most of them have gone. Some to the curry house next door, some on busses back to Derby and Nottingham and others just shamble off into the distance. Another fun afternoon, only mildly spoiled by a wheel falling off my trolley.

I have inherited a large collection of books about India. My farther-in-law was a lover of India and things Indian. He made several visits. I thought I’d see if any one else interested would like them. I’m prepared to deliver or meet-up within and hour or so of Derby.

On Bank Holiday Monday the covers band took part in a charity festival at a local pub. It was to raise money for the local Air Ambulance. It was the first time our newish drummer, Guido, had taken part in such an event. The multi-band setup requiring quick turn-arounds, no sound-checks and borrowed kit freaked him out a bit. I think he got used to a much more leisurely, comfortable way of doing things in his native Sicily! Not to mention the dusty trailer soiling his immaculate jeans 😆. He did well, though. Hopefully plenty of money was raised. The flying blood wagon does a lot of business around here, what with the outdoor activities of the Peak District and the motorcycle hot-spots.

Well done to you and the band for having a professional attitude, making the best of it and putting on a good show. There may have been someone in the audience who was inspired by you to become a musician and start their own band. Little knowing what the reality is sometimes 😆

If it can make it to the Derby/Nottingham area (junction 25 M1), I’ll do the last leg. I know where the wolves and brigands frequent.

Commercial Meths includes a substance called pyridine, which imparts the foul smell plus also a purple dyeing agent. I used to get involved in the manufacture of it when I worked for BASF. Colloquially, we were told it was to discourage drinking it!

“Sociopathic bass-player quits making passive-aggressive complaints about band-members”. Now, THAT would be breaking news. 😆

My at-home playing is mostly on a short-scale Stagg acoustic bass guitar. It’s always out and ready to be picked up.

HB short-scale P bass. Excellent straight out of the box. Everything left stock. Amazing value for the £89 I paid in 2020.

It seems pretty good in my area. Having a university with an active and un-stuffy music faculty in the town helps. For example, the university has entered into a partnership with a local recording studio and rehearsal rooms business. Dubrek by name. I don’t know Cornwall very well, but could the lack of young bands reflect the demographic? Fewer young people living there as they are priced out of accommodation, resulting in the average age of the region moving up?

A similar happened to me on Friday night. For the first time I heard someone else play through my rig, Markbass/Barefaced. The EQ settings were the same as I’d used earlier and from about 12 metres away he sounded great, much better then when I’m standing right in front of the cabinet. Disclaimer: I fully accept that it might not sound that good when I use it. Wherever you stand 😆

Took part in a 4 band charity evening at a local pub. Due to other folk’s commitments we had to play with a scratch band, me and the drummer from our own plus a guitarist we know but have only played with at jam nights. We shared vocals. We chose a 40 minute set of songs we all knew and managed one rehearsal. It was good to play in a trio, Robin Trower’s Bridge of Sighs being a particularly fun one to do. The best part of the evening for me concerned my rig. The bassist of the Tomkatz used my Markbass LM3 and Barefaced Midget T. Playing a Fender Sting signature precision with a pick he sounded really good. The setup more than held its own with a vigorous drummer too. The photo is me with my Harley Benton shorty. Sad to report that the only people who felt it necessary to wear hats indoors were in my band. 🤔😆

Great. That bloke with the narrow boat is a real hero. I played on it about 4 years ago with 5 Hills Out, the punk-folk band I was in at the time. There was five of us playing in there, including an accordion player who needed to move her elbows in and out. Mostly into my ribs. I don’t think I’ve complained about a small stage since then 😆