T-Bay

Just been on YouTube and that is them all right. Thanks for that, it’s bugged me for years. At the time they were ‘the band you had to see’ so such a lacklustre performance really stood out. Therapy? And silverfish were amazing so still a great night.

Bloody hell! I think you are right! How did you know that!

Sadly I can never remember the bands name but I saw the same at Rock city years ago, I went to see Therapy? And Silverfish but there was another band on the line up who were being tipped as the next ‘big thing’ and loved by NME etc. The singer never faced the crowd and the set was terrible. They disappeared shortly after. Annoyingly I have never been able to remember who they were, it would have been in 1991 or possibly 92.

I am amazed that people think they can’t see past their likes or dislikes to decide if someone is over rated or under rated. There are some amazing performers out there that just aren’t for me, doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate their talent. Equally there are some bands I love that I realise are from demonstrating musical genius and can see that they don’t deserve the status they have when compared to other bands.

Another vote for Bowie as over rated and throw in pet shop boys for good measure - bland euro pop Under rated - Bob Mould, an amazing multi talented musician, supreme lyricist and all round music god. Yet most people outside of music circles have never heard of him or Husker Du, Sugar etc

Probably the same with most music teachers I would imagine, word of mouth is important I imagine.

He has got back to me and doesn’t have any spaces at the moment unfortunately and has a waiting list. Nice to be popular! He said he charges £15 per half hour, not sure how that compares to other teachers. He said the best way to find someone if you are interested it to look on saxophone cafe which is a UK based sax forum, sorry I can’t be more help. Good luck.

I have no idea if I am honest as he very kindly doesn’t charge me (we have know each other for twenty odd years and I fix all his music stuff for him). I will ask him and let you know.

Just had my first lesson from my mate over face time (a first for both us) and, apart from some quirks where face time decided my playing was noise and cancelled it out, it went very well. I have some great exercises to work on over the week. Next week we are going to look at some bits from one step beyond as a simple pentatonic practice. Very happy.

That seems a common business model for this sort of thing. I have to admit to have used the free bits of Yousician, Scott Devine and others and never paid a penny so perhaps I should support them a bit more.

I have come across the Scott Paddock ones and like them. Nige McGill is offering a free two week trial (with lots of pressure to join no doubt, but that’s fine) so I may well give that a go once I have the basics down.

I am having a lot of fun. I have no interest in Jazz, but love that dirt Ska sound. I don’t see it as something I would be likely to do in a band situation as it doesn’t fit the bands I am in. Just looking to have something else to enjoy and keep me occupied in these weird times.

One of my best mates is a saxophone teacher, first proper lesson tomorrow on face time. Added benefit that it will be free! Already watched a few YouTube videos and signed up for a free two week course. Very early days but please with progress in a few days. Making a much more consistent noise already.

When you do the T T T bit, does your tongue touch the end of the mouthpiece or is it just bouncing off the roof of your mouth?

I must be lucky as two days in I am getting quite a nice tone and have been practicing simple scales which sound quite nice according to the wife. It feels very weird and the number of keys is daunting. I am having to use the garage as it’s VERY loud. Might be getting ahead of myself but looking into how to get that dirty ska tone. Several videos mention ‘tongueing’ but unfortunately do not explain it well and there is no way I am typing ‘tongueing a saxophone into the search bar!

I have a black one, I don’t know how they make them so nice and so cheap.

Just agreed to buy a mates Tenor saxophone, it’s and Elkhart series 100. I have no experience whatsoever, play no woodwind instruments (can get a tune from a harmonica but don’t think that counts). Any tips from our resident sax experts?

I quite like it........ I’ll get my coat.........

I believe he was dragged on stage with seconds to go, hence his very embarrassed looks. They also played footy on stage as well I seem to recall.

I agree 100%, last year we were in Russia and had the chance to see a virtuoso violin player of international reputation. I thought what the hell, you only live once and all that. It was two hours of my life I will never get back. The lady was a superb musician without doubt but it still sounded like the death throws of some poor tortured creature. Never again.

Another vote for Warwick Reds, dirt cheap, sound great, last well, nuff said

Oddly enough I find that works for each and every gig I have ever been to 😘

One of favourite bands, The Last Internationale, are presently stuck in Portugal due to the Covid outbreak. I was supposed to see them in Birmingham last week and was disappointed to miss them. I spotted that they were doing a live acoustic set on a website called stageit which I have never come across before. I missed the first one but caught them last night. You pay $5 for a ticket (I guess prices are variable, but not looked around much) and when the time comes you get live access to the feed and also a .wav file of it a couple of days later (not sure if all bands do that). Its a bit strange in that you are sort of expecting to hear applause when the songs finish but other than that I loved it. I know you can watch stuff on YouTube but it’s not the same and this seems a great way to support our favourite bands in these difficult times. It could also be a great way for small bands to promote themselves.

I think it’s very possible to see something as uncool but still like it. I certainly don’t think Phil Collins solo work is ‘cool’ but I find it hummable enough.