bluesparky

I enjoyed the Rock School exams. I went straight in and did Grade 6 and then Grade 8 a few months later. What was quite amusing on my part was that a couple of weeks before my Grade 8 exam Rockschool contacted me and asked if I fancied doing a mock exam about a week beforehand as they wanted to get some promotional photographs of candidates playing etc.. I'd get a proper exam, assessment and results but wouldn't count for anything as I'd being doing the exam "properly" at a later date. I said yes, there's no harm in a practice run. In the mock I obtained a Merit and in the actual exam I got a Distinction. What interested me was the fact that I thought I played better in the mock. I think I was the last candidate on the mock day and the photographer said to me afterwards that it was a pleasant change to have someone doing a higher grade as most of the people's exam he'd had to sit through were doing Grade 1 drums. I've managed to earmark some time to do the RGT grade 8 later this year and also thought I'd give Piano grade 3 and Music Theory Grade 5 at the same time too. I like the idea of exams as I'm rarely at home long enough to dedicate time to regular rehearsals and gigging so it gives me something to aim and practice for.

[quote name='megallica' timestamp='1337862767' post='1666529'] Welcome to the boards Matt - nice to have a shop owner taking customer comments onboard regarding stock. [/quote] +1

I wonder who would get the highest score on this out of Mark King, Flea and a Korean transvestite. I did start doing it but my virgin broadband dropped out halfway through, remind me again why I'm paying so much for it??

Gutted.

After accidentally nail-gunning his hand to the woodwork AGAIN, the builder managed to cover it up by getting himself a natty shirt and a pint and settled in for the night.

Ouch, glad to hear all is ok. I've thought about getting hangers but I'm too afraid of that happening, either by equipment failure, the bass getting knocked by someone brushing past it or simply not placing the bass on the hanger properly and it falling to the floor.

Great song, a guilty pleasure of mine.

I've had an aria sinsonido travel bass for ages now and although it's nice to have a bass with me wherever I go I'm now quite bored of it sounding like a metal dustbin rolling down some steps. It currently works via the piezo pickup in the bridge which gives it it's "unique" sound. I'm quite keen to install some "proper" pickups on it so it sounds better, warmer and more like an actual bass guitar. With it being a travel bass there isn't much body to work with and I also don't have the tools to do any major routing work. Are there any options for a low profile and reasonable sounding pickup / combination which may improve things? Thanks all.

I have a Fujistu Siemens PC tablet which I use for work. When I'm away I use it to read my music in hotel rooms etc. http://gadgets.softpedia.com/gadgets/Portable-computing-systems/Fujitsu-Siemens-STYLISTIC-ST5112-Tablet-PC-7695.html I've got my Line 6 toneport GX & my midi keyboard software running through it to play through and i have all of my PDF's of my music stored on it too. I found a USB footswitch pageturner a few years ago which is perfect for the job. http://gizmodo.com/306326/foot+based-usb-sheet-music-turner-pedal It works for me and does exactly what I need it too, but i'm not sure if it's a bit too cumbersome for gigging. Also, as it's a tablet PC it still needs to boot up each time in the same way as a normal PC does.

This one wasn't acutally me, but it was the drummer (my best mate) in a band we were in years ago. At the end of a particularly triumphant gig he decided to kick his kit over and do the most spectacular stage dive I've ever seen. The thing was that at the other end of the stage the singer was coincidentally doing the same thing so the punters at the front went to catch him which left a big gaping hole for said drummer to plummet into and smash his wrist in. Fortunately there was no serious damage done and it's kept us laughing about it for the past 15 years.

I've just voted without reading the 13 pages that have preceded this post. I do feel that having a negative option / dislike isn't the most ideal setup. If I posted a couple of things and accidentally that upset / disagreed with other people's opinions then I'd get a dislike vote purely for having an opinion which wouldn't encourage me to post in the future in case I get disliked again - and i'm a sensitive soul!. I don't think that being negative is the way forward, but the like thing is a good touch.

[quote name='brick' timestamp='1321298263' post='1437524'] Infectious Grooves (Robert Trujillo's funk/rock side project) and also TM Stevens might be worth a listen [/quote] Yeah, great stuff! As mentioned in another thread, Violent & Funky is my nemesis!

[quote name='rOB' timestamp='1321797068' post='1443069'] Ouch. [/quote] Only my pride was hurt!

A long time ago we did Alive by Peark Jam at the end of the set. On the first hit / chord of the intro myself and the drummer used to look at each other and nod for no reason at all. On a particularly small stage I turned my head round to look at him and was promptly smacked the mouth by his crash cymbal which meant I had to do the last song sucking my bottom lip with blood pouring down my jaw. Perfect for an Alice copper cover band, not so perfect for a normal band down the dog 'n duck.

Also the slap solo of Stomp, it's not that hard but it just never sounds "right" when I do it.

Violent and funky by infectious grooves. Sitting I my room practicing it is ok, as soon as we get to a rehearsal and have a run through it becomes an uphill struggle!

I saw them at O2 on Thursday and I loved it. It's about the tenth time I've seen them now and although for me as with many others, my ideal line up had Frusciante at the helm it still rocked. I was amazed at just how much Josh moved / danced / rocked and held himself in such as similar manner as John!! I went with a few friends and my wife and we've been into the chilis for ages, to the point where we complain bitterly about each new album and state "it's not proper chili peppers, and they're forgetting their roots" but end up loving each album anyway. Flea was, is and always be my #1 inspiration for playing bass, he really gets me going and I'd hate to think how much time i've spent over the years transcribing every track, track I can get hold of. The gig was great for me, the kids around me loved the new stuff (some of them stated how they loved the "old school" chili peppers, such as By The Way..... and then proceeded to look at me funny when i jumped around like a loon and sing My & My Friends & Sir Psycho word for word).. On a personal professional note I noted the exact amount and details of the lighting rig and how it was / wasn't used to it's fullest potential yet the effect of the tracking & moving video screen was amazing. The effect created by the movement of the screens was both technically & visually stunning. Very clever & great stuff. I won't be going to the Knebworth gig, I'm just slightly too bitter and grumpy to go to big gigs in fields these days. Arena gigs are ok, Stadium gigs are a pain and festivals / muddy gigs are a no-no... Unless I'm paid to be there of course..

Gutted, I've bought a whole bunch of stuff from Bass Merchant, both really quite pricey (Aguilar, TC & GK rig) & mundane (strings etc). As they were conveniently placed on the A12 i'd often pop in on the way up from my house to see my family in Ipswich. Seeing Stu Hamm play at the Bass Merchant was a lifetime highlight. It's a real shame to see you guys close, I always enjoyed popping in and your positive attitude was second to none. Good luck in all you do in the future, i'm sure we'll all see you again soon.

Ooh! And a mile from my house! I just need to convince the missus that i'm allowed to go, I come home from a tour the day before and leave the next day for another. On second thoughts, I'd better give it a miss, home life is more important this time. Hmm, but then again..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BakEGdgwwDs For me it's this one, right on the button!

[quote name='Heathy' timestamp='1316880973' post='1384025'][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Le-mYN3dl0"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Le-mYN3dl0[/url] I'll get me coat[/quote] He's looking a little bit like a Paul Whitehouse character in that.