grumpyguts

I would like to be good enough to play a decent solo, but when the bass drops out of a tune for a solo the bottom drops out of the song. The groove disappears and it makes you realise why we are such a crucial element to a band. To play a great solo and retain the heart of the groove at the same time is going to a level of ability beyond most - best not to bother! Guitarists can widdle away in the knowledge that the rhythm section is still providing the foundation of the song.

So.. I'm aware that as an old fart I'm not the target audience of either of the following but... Sigrid and Olivia Rodrigo were both excellent; great tunes and both were backed by bands doing their stuff really well.

Bass on the Sigrid set is rather lovely.

Last night was our first gig since March 2020; wedding do at the Brighton Beach Club. Load in was far from ideal, park in a side street on the other side of the road that runs along the beach, carry pa (2x15" Peavey + ancient 15" monitor) plus my bass rig across the road then down a set of steps to beach level - eek! However the gig was great, lovely to be out again and see peeps enjoying themselves. Dep guitar we hadn't met before the gig was bang on, I was ok (I think) aim is always to keep tight and play the song. Got some free nosh from the buffet - nice. Didn't get off till after 1.00 then 1.5 hour drive back to Hampshire, try not to make too much noise unloading the car then cup of tea and a bit of toast - rock n roll!

Wake Me Up Before You Go Go; special request for a wedding - so probably a one gig wonder.

Last gig was the Saturday before the first lockdown. Next on will be Sept 3rd - looking forward to it. 😃

Painted necks Those chrome things on old Fenders Zero Frets Headless Single Cut Stingray 5 string pickguard White pickups Anything that looks like a bit of antique furniture Knobs with numbers on Tort and Pearl Pickguard Fanned Frets - never played one though Warwick Thumb - that top horn looks a bit.... I leave it to you to guess. The original Wal body shape Short scale necks - come on it's a bass! Gibson EB

Powerage - no better set of hard rock n roll ever in the history of all mankind. Riff Raff & Gone Shootin - epic.

Joss Stone.. Me on bass - I wish!

You will have to move in with the drummer😂

Locked out of Heaven - Bruno Mars Go Down - ACDC

AC/DC - Powerage - just the best collection of raucous hard rock n roll ever. Riff Raff and Gone Shootin - epic. I got stuck trying to get out of Reading when we had that load of snow in late 2010, left work at 5 got home at 11.30 (20 miles) I had this on most of the time in the car - made the whole thing rather enjoyable. Stevie Ray Vaughn - Couldn't Stand the Weather.

Excellent, looking forward to next year! I've seen him a few times, really like his style. I was a student at Portsmouth Poly as it was then and got to see BB King at the Guild Hall - probably 1988, fabulous he was too.

Robert Cray at Pompey Guild Hall - next week. Now next year..

Croissant...a bit flaky.

Mate at school sold me his Kay SG Bass for £5, I just worked it out with help from a guitarist friend and this book..https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bass-Guitar-Gregory-Harvey-Vinson/dp/B0023846E8 I really had no idea before this what a bass player did, still working on it!

Tower of Power - Credit. The quick octave thing is causing some issues.

It didn't make any sense at the time but it is a 5 string Sire Jazz, probably a bit heavy for him.

A couple of weeks ago, on the Sunday morning after a rather good gig, I woke up and remembered a dream; this is unusual for me. It went like this.... Arnold Schwarzenegger was in my house, he picked up my bass, dropped it and the neck snapped...That's it. Given that Arnie has clear links to the end of the world as we know it perhaps someone was trying to tell me something?

What long term damage is this is going to do for live music in pubs, social clubs etc? Are we prepared to gig for less money or even free for venues that will have lost so much revenue by the time this is all over? It's possible that the damage done will reduce further the venues available for bands, I don't have a good feeling about any of it.

How can the bloke on the Guitar not be rolling on the floor, that's possibly the most amusing thing I have seen for a while. However I do laugh at fart noises...

Gig last night at The Cannon in Guildford, played there a few times - normally a good crowd - last night was a bit sparse. Played ok for the most part. The band did get a bit loud, the drummer broke a stick - we were looking at the guitarist - wasn't me gov! Gig on Friday (different band) was a multi band thing at the Railway in Winchester. We were first on and did 1/2 hour then followed by four other bands. Slightly odd cos we do function band dance, soul, pop etc - not quite sure why we were there - other than hoping for more work. The other bands were young chaps doing noisy stuff - but rather entertaining. We appeared to go down quite well in an environment and audience that were not really there for us.

Get the Funk Out!

I had the mid 80s dream team of a Cobra 90 combo and Westone Thunder 1a. The Cobra was sold many years ago, still have the Westone. Yes, the green Carlsbro logo was a bit TE, I wonder if they sold a few on that basis alone.

George Ezra has done some good tunes. Trying to get my lot to do Dont Matter Now, a good tune for some audience participation.