SpondonBassed

Nah. It's summat to do with that Peaky Blinders' themed gig that @Les attended recently.

You might be having a hard time because of that. Very little in so-called civilised society is actually real. We live our lives with a thin veneer of civility that barely conceals our embarrassing animal urges. This is as true in the 21st century as it has always been. BTW, you needn't search for the Waltons' cover of Sex on Fire, it hasn't been officially released yet.

Do something completely different for a bit. Deliberately ignore your instrument and try to engage in something that is of interest at the moment for you. You will miss the bass after a while. If you don't, cosmically speaking, it is of no consequence and you will have given it a go but maybe it's not for you after all. I think you are going to miss it sooner than you think.

Because it reminded you of this?

I've been hoping to corner a local drummer just to do drum and bass sessions for practice. No luck yet. I've had a few false promises though.

Gosh, snippy.

Which? The Waltons or Mumford and Sons? I like the Walton's version of Sex on Fire.

I'm wondering how you're all going to get away with performing Oh Danny Boy in Arriba Mexican Restaurant on St Patrick's night. I'd watch out. Just be sure those green enchiladas aren't just last year's masquerading as Irish.

Aw. I thought this was a follow up to KFC's chicken shortage last month!

Something about that makes me think of Ian Curtis of Joy Division. I mean he must have been under a lot of pressure to put on a bit more of a show than British audiences were used to for the tour he never went on.

Seconded.

A bushel of fags washed down with alka-seltzer?

Sorry mate. I don't deal in perishables since the public health scare in '07. I'll throw in a couple of used slacklines though if you're really wanting to wow the crowd

It would remind me of evenings sat watching the Rolf Harris show on t'telly. Are you sure you want that effect in your target audience?

If you really like it. I'll let you have the intellectual rights for a modest fee plus royalties.

PMd

I especially like the way in which you almost but not entirely managed to convince yourself with that statement. My swaying is usually a result of altitude sickness from standing up too quickly. I'm not so sure as you on that one Lozz. I am now thinking that my fantasy band should have a gibbon in a monkey suit playing a Gibson and fronting the band whilst doing gibbon stuff between killer licks. In fact it's such a USP that we will be playing our debut on Saturday night in Town of Gibbons.

Good ole Cab.

Does the invisible bear support your statement? Heeheehee. Us dads should not be allowed to dance. Grandads are cool though.

You will have to explain his appeal to me. I get that the overall sound works for the band. What I don't get is how someone who sings as if straining on the potty can get away with it. I shouldn't single Axl out for this. It seems to be a desirable quality for the genre. I've never seen him with a bass however. Shall we include vocalists in this discussion?

Crikey Blue. I almost spat my tea out when an image of you in platforms with tartan cuffed cut-off jeans and scarf popped into my mind! I bet you could shang-a-lang with the best of them too. OT: If the question is Where do you stand on stage presence?, I can't honestly claim to have any. A presence is necessary, I know but I've not got much stage experience to have developed one. I am envious of the fourteen y/o kid at our local public jam who shreds guitar while doing all of the showman moves. He brings his performance to a climax by running into the main dance floor with his wireless to end up spinning on his side yet still keeping the groove. His dad and brothers are all musos so he's come from a greenhouse environment where his abilities have been encouraged and grown. Musically he's pretty good too. You can forgive the odd misplaced pick stroke given his energetic routine but you don't have to do that often. I expect him to go far. Compare that with me; a fifty five y/o born again bassist who doesn't get out much. My only moves are to walk on the spot or head bob (badly). I don't want to dance with my lines but I think I shouldn't be anchored to the spot either. One's own personality and stage appeal are difficult to perceive from the audience POV. If it's something one is trying to cultivate one would need to trust the opinion of someone who attends your performances, not necessarily a fan, and who gives concise feedback on how they perceive your act. I think that a few lucky musicians don't have to do this because they have natural charisma but the rest of us have to work at image a lot more. It can backfire too when the image is bigger than the music. Not an easy path to tread. You might have a goal to achieve but life has a way of making you score goals that you wouldn't have chosen for yourself. If you are lucky you can go with it but sometimes you can get displaced from all that you love just to fill the image and keep earning. I am going to enjoy reading the responses to your topic.

Welcome Colonel Saunders. Still no chance of getting your secret recipe for fried chicken I suppose? I wouldn't worry about not knowing how the forum works. We had an overhaul of the entire forum (software and host) recently so nobody else does either! Glad you have another string to your bow given that you had to stop playing brass and woodwind. You're in excellent company you know. Lots of horn players crossed over to the fundamental strings and became accomplished bassists. Nate Watts for one.

The first time I read that it made my eyes water!

I dramatically reduced induced noise from the PS in the analogue output from a laptop using a ground loop isolator: One of the first search results here

I was more in mind of Cosa Nostra. Your suggestion is more musical so I'll go along with it, thanks.