mikel

20 minutes ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

I don't remember ever seeing a careers officer at my school, which probably wouldn't have made any difference. I didn't know what I wanted to do at 17, I still don't know what I want to do at 47, and I've hated every job I've ever had. More often than not because of the bellends I had to work with rather than the actual job. I'd even hate to be a full time musician. Getting dragged all over the place and having to put up with the great unwashed doesn't appeal to me at all. 

All I wanted to do after school was be in a band with my mates, and make our own music. I got a toolmaking apprenticeship, but that was merely a way to make money to buy equipment. Gave up toolmaking after I finished the apprenticeship and for two years gave the band everything. It didn't work out, we weren't good enough and the songs weren't good enough, but I wouldn't have missed those two years for anything. I have played in covers bands over the years and enjoyed it, but It never came close to the feeling of taking on the World with my mates, playing our own music. 

10 hours ago, Grimalkin said:

Pubs that should be classed as small clubs, without sound reinforcement apart from the DJ, with whom you are competing. You don't want it to drop flat as soon as the band starts up.

 

It's better to have it and not need it, than it is to need it but not have it. That I do know.

Just use a 100 watt valve amp. Sorted. 

On 20/09/2022 at 09:28, Barking Spiders said:

The Stranglers..... prog?!!??? 😲😱. Don't hear it myself. Sure the keyboards are reminiscent of the Doors. While the sound wasn't ever really punk, in the early years their attitude definitely was.  Some of their best tunes are from their mellow more pop phase with gems like Always The Sun, Skin Deep, La Folie, Life Shows No Mercy as well as the ubiquitous Golden Brown. Incidentally I've always considered Hugh Cornwell's guitar playing very overlooked. Many of their songs contain tasteful, melodic and pointful solos.

Agreed, Iike them but prog? never. 

Wish someone wanted a drummer in North Tyneside. Sadly I am not under 25, or into death metal, nor do I double on trombone. Doh. 

On 22/09/2022 at 11:01, tegs07 said:

Robert Smith is still managing to headline festivals and play incredibly good (and lengthy) live shows even whilst looking like an overweight dinner lady after a drug fuelled weekend. I don’t think appearance matters if they can still cut it live.

Of course not, it was a personal observation. I don't claim they can't play, I simply mean that for me it looks like some fat blokes doing covers. 

Ian Anderson, one of my all time greats from the late 60s to the 80s, should have given up quite a few years ago. He can't sing any more, his voice is shot, and it pains me to see the Tull legacy tarnished. 

9 hours ago, Count Bassy said:

It worked for BB King.

BB was Blues, and beyond rock star. And that shape for most of his life. So he doesn't count. 

Just listened to "A great day for freedom" by Dave Gilmour, from the Live in Gdansk album, again. Never fails to tip me over the edge emotionally. How can a guy playing the guitar conjure up so much raw emotion? 

1 hour ago, Barking Spiders said:

 

Yup, absolutely though there are BCers who'll disagree. There should be spectacle as well and TBH i don't wanna see sex/sept/ox/non-ogenarians hobbling about on stage or sitting down for a breather mid-song. Few things more dull than watching people on stage just standing while playing an instrument.

Agreed. If I want to see a bunch of old, fat, bald blokes playing covers I can go down the local pub on a Saturday night. 

Highway to Hell. 

5 hours ago, chris_b said:

Years ago I was on a festival and Wilko was on the bill. This was before he got his all clear, and he was dire. Didn't keep in time with the band and just played badly. He filled the room and kept the audience until the end! The band looked very unhappy.

 

Exasperated musicians and happy audience. . . . why stop if people still want to pay to see you.

Well, I saw Focus a couple of years ago. The music was great but Van Leer looked like a fat bald roadie. I thought he was when he first came on stage. May as well have stayed at home and listened to the albums. Aive gig is about more than just the music. 

22 hours ago, Happy Jack said:

Listened to some of the tracks a few days ago - the remix, not the original.

 

I've loved that album since I was nine years old and I know it backwards and inside out. The remix sounded like ... well ... Revolver.

 

Yes, it's now in stereo. Yes, the bass is slightly more prominent. But it still sounds better on vinyl and played in mono, because that's what it's supposed to sound like. 🙄

Agreed. Some early albums were re released in faux stereo and were not a patch on the original mono. I am far from a mono is best freak but the originals seem to have more depth and punch. Revolver and Rubber Soul their best albums for me. 

For me, when they get fat. The Stones can, or could, rip Charlie, pull it off cos they still look like rock stars. A big fat legend just doesn't work for me. 

Are they wired series ot parallel? 

8 hours ago, fleabag said:

There's fack all art in copying someone  else's  guitar / bass lines.  Fun though.  I  do that very thing meself.

The kiddies are talented, yes,  clever too,  but ultimately a zzzzzzzzzzz fest

 

The magic comes from the mind of the original composer.  When the embryos eventually compose something worthwhile, then i'll be impressed.

 

 

This. Copying something, perfectly, takes patience and technique, and is fine if that's what you want to do. If you have the instrument and the hours to spare most can do it. I have learned by rote a couple of guitar solos from tab and can knock them out at will. Ask me to come up with a solo myself and I am lost. 

7 hours ago, Crusoe said:

If it's a covers band, then I'd say the occasional "thank you very much" between songs along with the odd "are you having a good time" would be fine, apart from when one song runs into the next obviously. If it's an originals band, then maybe a bit more chat between songs - introduce the band, give the song titles, that sort of thing. For a tribute band I'd expect it to be similar to what the actual band do.

Has anyone ever heard a festival crowd say no, when asked if they are having a good time? And if "Are you having a good time" Is the best the singer can come up with, I wouldn't bother. 

6 hours ago, BigRedX said:

Playing music is not a competition.

 

IMO instrument ability and technique is only important if the lack of it gets in the way of being able to play the songs.

 

Ultimately it's the songs that are important, not any individual musician's technical prowess.

This. There are many,  many guitarists who can now play like Hendrix. But he was the original and came up with that style and those songs. You can be an obsolute virtuoso on an instrument, but coming up with great music is the trick. 

If you only have half an hour just play the music. It's different for headliners, they have the time and the audience have, in the main, come to see them. More so if you are a covers band. 

On a personal note, I would much rather stumble on a cheap bass that sounds and plays superbly, and gets loads of positive feedback from other musos, than a top end super expensive "Name" bass that does the same. Because I would expect the top end bass to sound great, and so would everyone else. Nothing beats a one in a thousand cheapy blowing the doors off. 

7 hours ago, Richard R said:

The extreme top end may be unaffected. The rest will have to out up prices to cover costs, but as discretionary purchases they will be hit and sell fewer.  Which is not good for any businesses. 

Agreed. I assume the top end is where workmanship and man hours, for want of a better phrase, impact much more on the finished price. The low end will suffer more from timber and component price hikes. 

Living in the Past. Glen Cornick. 

33 minutes ago, Ricky Rioli said:

If you buy a cheap instrument and spend your money and/or time getting it just how you want, then it's not a cheap instrument any more.

 

How my used Squier P plays and sounds now I've invested £££ in it bares no relation to how the Squier I took down from the wall in gear4music plays and sounds.

 

If the factory producing Squiers put the same time, effort and attention into every instrument they make as my tech has put into mine, then they would be selling at a very different price point.

Of course, but one bassists perfect finish and setup is not the same as the next bassist. The guy I use sets up or mods the instrument to suit the player. 

Sorry, I read that as "Importing a bass from Neanderthals". I thought it was a rant about stupid sellers. Carry on. 

Same here, but more so in 1970. Three chords, write some songs, get mates to learn another guitar, and a bass, and pray for a mate daft enough to buy some drums that he can only play at band practice cos they are far too loud to play at home. Now? , I have 3 basses, 3 guitars, two amps and cabs, a drum kit and an E kit. Finding people to play with is considerably harder. 

I wouldn't even class Kisss, Journey or Mellencamp as Rock. There is so much to chose from, even if you stick to 60s 70s 80s. The list is almost endless, I would love a slot on PR.