Len_derby

Mixed. Playing at church, attendances have gone up. The secular gigs have probably been similar in number (2 a month average), but I would say attendances there have gone down. The latter have been in pubs, playing a mixture of original/covers/traditional material

'What's with the attitude?' 'Well it fell of the policeman's head, and he's a well trained dog' Eye-thank-yoo

I'll keep my eyes and ears open in Derby/Notts area.

Doesn't this sort of thing make you glad that YouTube, Facebook etc wasn't around when you were a kid? It does me. I've got my brothers and sisters to remind me what a t**t I was. Thank God there's no video evidence.

I've got a Ritter double gig bag. I've been very happy with it. Sufficient padding and plenty of external pockets for 'stuff'.

Welcome - at last!

I think really it's hats off to you for recognising this. Sometimes it takes a jolt and a reality check for us get the push to improve. It might feel a bit uncomfortable, but you wouldn't really want to be one of those smug gits who think they've got it all nailed would you? I'm sure you're being hyper-critical of yourself too. A last thought. Those classy and subtle basslines he was playing. Have you considered that maybe he didn't compose them?

Welcome Bluejay.

I've got a double gig-bag. They're great for hiding all sorts of things. A mate of mine, a guitarist tried this one. After promising his wife that he wouldn't buy anymore guitars he found he still had that 'old itch that can't be scratched'. Being a crafty devil he got round his promise by buying the component parts separately and assemblying the guitar himself. His claim was that he hadn't bought a guitar, he'd bought bits of one. I don't think they spoke to each other for about a week when she worked it out.

[quote name='apa' timestamp='1319996965' post='1421047'] You should have popped in for a cuppa after your trudge up the Tor Everyone is dressed up for Halloween at the moment. In other words exactly the same as every other day A [/quote] Cheers for that. Likewise if you're ever up my way (Derby). The drive back up the M5 was horrendous. Luckily we'd got the new Tom Waits 'Bad as Me' to listen to.

I was down in Glasto' last Thursday. It rained all day and I saw nothing half as beautiful as that.

Don't let it get you down Mel. Take a deep breath and walk away from it for tonight. There's a good chance someone will come up with a workable solution for you, or you'll think of one yourself. I carried on working on a cocked-up modification I was doing to a Tanglewood acoustic bass I had and I got so steamed-up I jabbed a big screwdriver through the body in a fit of anger. Have a cup of tea.

Hiya Grum. Welcome aboard. 'The search for the 'Killer Tone' is a life-long quest Grasshopper'

I think the dentists round your area will be busy next week replacing the all fillings that you've shaken out. My BF Bigone scares my band enough. If I showed them this and said I was thinking of getting one I reckon they'd sack me.

[quote name='cytania' timestamp='1319872397' post='1419477'] Swaying towards Roland, Ok there's no DI. [/quote] Another +1 for the Roland Cube. Overall, it's probably the best bit of kit I've ever bought (and I've bought lots ) Mine is a cube 100 and it does have a DI out. Plus the internal speaker stays on when you use it, which makes the combo an excellent stage monitor. Maybe the smaller wattage models don't have DI. The 100 is still quite compact and a one-hand carry, so I'd recommend you take a look if you're interested in a Roland.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1319881384' post='1419554'] I saw them live last time they were touring, and it was great. I like the way Daevid Allen is still really going for it, but doesn't try to look like a young man. A good example for other aging musicians to follow! [/quote] I saw them on that tour too, at a packed Leadmill in Sheffield. Yep, it was inspirational to see a man in his seventies 'leading the line'. One story I've heard is that the slides Daevid and Steve H. use for the glissando guitar technique are surgical steel implements designed for use in male uro-genital procedures, Eye-watering.

Welcome Tom. Boyfriend of Susans

[quote name='Rasta' timestamp='1319835450' post='1419270'] I personally love my Gong...some fantastic bass playing from Mr Howlett...but i'm sure this should be another thread!!!! [/quote] Start that thread! In the meantime I'll have a cup of tea, lovely cup of tea.

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1319831304' post='1419214'] Saw Humble Pie a few weeks later at the same venue, much more my cup of tea. [/quote] Now they were a band and a half. Greg Ridley and Jerry Shirley were one of the great un-sung rhythm sections. 'Live - Rockin' the Filmore' is one of my all-time favourite albums. Back on-topic, I saw Hawkwind at Derby in (I think) 1974. 'Space Ritual' was their current album for that tour. Stacia's were the first pair of real boobs I'd ever seen. Happy days.

Anyone heard a drum solo that was more than just an opportunity for a fag/toilet break? Just wondered.

The whole world has got noisier. More traffic (road and air), more gadgets etc. means that the ambient background noise we all live with has gone up steadily over the years. The increasing infantilism of our culture means that cocooning loud noise is seen as a comfort. To shut the F*** up and listen to someone else needs a sympathetic maturity that's beyond a lot of people it seems. One day only the very rich will be able to enjoy silence. Got out of bed the wrong side this morning? Moi?

Isn't it the often the supply and demand laws in action? For reasons set out above, fewer people play the drums. As a result, it appears to be possible to hold down a place in a band with a lower level of ability than it would be for bass. In the land of the blind the one-eyed man in king.

Magnificent.

There's a dvd by Jack Bruce called Golden Days. It contains 2 shows, the first with a band the second is solo at the piano. Currently on sale at Amazon. [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jack-Bruce-Golden-Days-DVD/dp/B004X6U82M"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jack-Bruce-Golden-Days-DVD/dp/B004X6U82M[/url]