mikel

Have you contacted the Guinness Book of Records yet? This has to be the longest set of auditions in musical history. Only joking.

On 29/10/2020 at 20:09, MrCrane said:

 

A voice that drills straight into my soul. And of course Eva Cassidy. So much emotion and soul, without the vocal gymnastics that pass for "Feeling" in popular music at this time.

My lovely wife. She has perfect pitch and is incapable of singing a bum note. She sings in a choir but refuses to sing solo. She did agree to sing guide vocals in a band I was in when we had problems getting a singer. We asked her to join the band but she was horrified at the thought of standing at the front and singing to an audience. Shame. Wish I had her vocal talents cos I love singing but my voice is passable at best and I need to hit that first note before I have any confidence.

The Unthank sisters, wonderful Northumbrian vowels.

12 hours ago, Mykesbass said:

OK, but that sounds like a bit of a spoof. Not so noticeable on their better known stuff was it?

It was when George too lead vocals.

11 hours ago, MrCrane said:

Kate Rusby

 

Aye, good old Kate. Her version of Village green preservation society is wonderful. I lover her accent when she sings "Donald Duck" in that song.

Realising that the bass is only part of a song always worked for me. Learn the lyrics and the melody so you are playing the song not simply the bass lines. Singing the song in my head always keeps me in the moment and in the right place in the music. In other words link the bass lines to the rest of the music, dont just think of them in isolation.

I was in an originals band with my brother. He is 10 years younger than me and we have never had a cross word. My bro was a 17 year old drummer at the time but we needed a new bassist as the existing left two weeks before a long standing gig. He left in a strop but said we could use his bass gear if we were stuck. I asked my bro if he fancied an audition on bass before we cancelled the gig. I gave him a cassette of a live recording of 23 of our original songs. Learn 6 of them and we will see you next Tuesday for a run through I said without much hope. The following Tuesday he had all 6 down perfectly, oh, and the rest of the 23. Originals, and from a wobbly cassette???? Impressed? You bet we were, and after one band practice we did the gig the next week. I secretly hate him for having so much talent, he obviously got my share as well. He now plays keyboards as well as bass and drums, oh and guitar. Git.

1 hour ago, AndyTravis said:

We recently advertised for a guitarist and singer.

We didn’t specify a gender/age, but made clear mention that we were in our mid-late 30’s and had family commitments to consider.

We had a few younger applicants who were obviously interested but realised that We wouldn’t be sat in the back of a transit up and down the m6 drinking beer and partying til all hours.

Eventually got people in a similar age range and it turned out to be 2 blokes.

We had a couple of women get in touch and send demos, but they didn’t come back with anything after the initial interest.

 

/\This. Nothing to do with equality more to do with being sensible. A 16 year old, in most instances, will not fit with a band of grandfathers, and vice versa. Most older musicians don't expect to make money out of gigging, its as much a social thing as about the music. Its not saying you are not welcome but If I see an add in JMB that wants a bassist for a band, current age range 17 to 19, I would not waste their time or my own by answering. I have clothes older than that. All thats needed is a little common sense.

3 hours ago, Barking Spiders said:

They say laughter is the best medicine. Just sit me in the front to get the best view of Este Haim's bassface and I could fight off covid and all his chums together

 

Yep, Este on stage  Chris Squire on my right and Glen Cornick on my left. I could even pass on some tips.

There is a guy busks on bass in Newcastle sometimes. No backing tracks just wigging out on a 6 string bass. He is very fast. I think he wanted to be a guitarist.

Most instruments sound different in the mix of a band. What sounds great in isolation can be completely wrong for the sound the band makes, or the competing frequencies in a mix can rob an instrument of its impact.

That is lovely, and short scale too, my favourite. Dont tempt me.

3 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Oddly enough that's how i listen to Yes lyrics. More as a melody than a storyline. When i was young i was able to imagine all sorts of weird and wonderful stories behind the lyrics but i guess that was Wonderous Stories 

Dave

I was informed by some publication, back in the day, that Yours is No Disgrace was about the Vietnam War?????

6 hours ago, dmz said:

Not an original composition but Lordy isn’t Chris’s tone and playing off the scale good on this track. Wonder if it’s his 21 fretter Rick on here ?

Steve Howes’ playing not too shabby either - well worth a listen.

Play LOUD ☺️

I love this version. Chris and his bass sound and his high harmonies. Superb.

Yes broke the mould really. They had a little skinny reedy voiced singer when macho hairy chested  screamers were the vogue. Steve Howe used a semi acoustic and a Fender combo rather than a Marshall stack and a Les Paul. They had a jazz drummer rather than a heavy 2 and 4 thumper, and Chris with his Rick and scooped tone.

Depends on the song, some have bass lines that almost carry the song whereas others the drumming pushes the song or pulls the music. Conversely lots of live music is good because of the push and pull between all the instruments, that's when the magic happens.

Well that explains why he was called Liquorice. The rumour back in the day was that he auditioned for the Shadows and when asked what he could play he said "Allsorts"

4 hours ago, chris_b said:

They are two sides of the same coin.

Really? Explain.

White Line Fever, Motorhead.

1 hour ago, Beedster said:

Odd post Mikel, it's exactly because people (like you) say things like the first paragraph above that I made what you clearly see as the error you describe in the second. If it is the ultimate prog album, I want to understand why. And to clarify, I came at it with exactly the right attitude, and given that like so many people in this thread I love the music of Rush, it's certainly not a genre issue.

I didn't like Miles Davis at all (did everyone sense Bilbo's attention being drawn back in just then?), I seriously had to try to like his music. Reading about it, listening to it with people who love it and could describe why in emotional and not mechanistic terms, and trying to overcome prejudice (musical, not colour I hasten to add) based on my musical experience and preferences to that point, all mean that much to my daughters' annoyance, Sunday PM in the kitchen tends to be Miles Davis time for Daddy, replacing Sunday morning which tends to be Taylor Swift. 

So, I reserve the right to try and like something that previously I didn't. 

The first paragraph was in response to another poster thinking Yes were trying to sound like other bands. I was not suggesting you should not broaden your musical horizons but I read it as "I must try and like this". Probably my mistake.

On 04/10/2020 at 08:53, simon88wilson said:

Interesting question and I’m sure a lot of people will have a better idea than me but I have always seen sustain as a by product of quality craftsmanship. 
 

I couldn’t give two hoots over how long a bass sustains for but I have noticed the better put together basses seems to acoustically sustain more or so it seems. 

This. Or do people confuse more sustain with more or better tone?

On 03/10/2020 at 16:36, ahpook said:

I know what you mean. I'm very partial to some prog, but Yes just don't do it for me.

They sound like a band trying hard to sound like somebody else, but failing...it's the only way I can describe it.

Hey, each to their own. But considering Yes started in 69 is it not other bands trying to sound like Yes. For me Close to the Edge is the ultimate prog album. Back in the day The Yes Album was a complete game changer where rock music was concerned.

Back to the OP. If you have to "Try" to listen to something you either come at it with the wrong attitude or you dont like the genre anyway. Music is music, you either like it or you dont.

3 hours ago, Bolo said:

This is one way to accrue some fame I guess. Not saying she's wrong, just saying she's insignificant.

 

Agreed. Classic Troll. Say something that will garner an angry response from fans of a long standing artist  to achieve notoriety. Cheap and unnecessary. Who are these people?

Billie Holiday. Limited range but so much tone and timbre, so much emotion. Kate Rusby. I like singers who use their natural accent rather than putting on an American accent.