Nothingman

Think we are going to try a sneaky cover tonight at practice. We’ve actually taken some inspiration for name ideas for our new project from a couple of the dong titles. Our WhatsApp group is a hive of activity today!

Oh man. Less than a week ago, one of my bandmates decided to announce that he discovered the work of The Bevis Frond. He found them via Teenage Fanclub covering one of their songs. And I can see why Fannies cover them! All week I have been on a deep dive into their back catalogue. They seem to be a mash of lot of my favourite bands with some beautifully crafted songs. If anybody is into them, then please let me know. Can't believe I have lived without knowing of these guys. 2020 is blooming great.

This week I’ve been listening to nothing but beautifully morose alt Indy songs.

I like that. Shambolic Lo-if indie Slacker at its best. i’ll give you Devo 2.0

Haha. I couldn’t do the weekends.

Is there a word for feeling disgusted but in awe at the same time? 🤣

Last gig was September. I played 3 sets with 3 different bands at an all dayer. Tried to quit one of those bands after the show, they didn’t let me (best mates and all). Didn’t want to do one but couldn’t get out of it, not playing with them now. Then the third one was my band so all rosey. Pointless bank story there. As an almost 40 year old alt/punk kid, who is doing this for fun, it’s frustrating not to gig. But like so many others, as it’s not a revenue stream so I’m not too phased. I’m spending the time writing for a new project that I’m very excited for. Our first practice was a huge success and we are going at this with the main aim of making some really good recordings, not worried about gigging at the moment. A very fortunate position to be in. My heart bleeds for people that need to make a living out of this stuff. Venue staff, performers, techs and engineers. Things won’t get any easier for a while as those small gigs and venues will be hardest hit. However, when they are back (bigger, better, stronger) I’m going to love and appreciate them even more. I look forward to playing live again.

Absolute banger, start to finish.

Your spoilt for choice with blue tooth/wireless for listening. But avoid going down that route for playing/recording instruments. Terrible latency. I have spent a lot of time trying to find what you’ve described. You MAY be able to do it but at a pointlessly phenomenal cost. Get good studio cans for playing. Get decent wireless for popping to the shops.

This week I am fully immersed in Band Of Horses. Easily in my top 5 bands* of all time. Loved Bill Reynolds on bass and now Matt Gentling (former Archers of Loaf) is a a solid dude. So I decided to go on one of my 'journeys' and decided to try and learn as much of their bass lines as possible. Not that easy with my lack of talent and inability to hear bass via digital. but hey, they seem pretty straight forward. Got through about 17 songs in 3.5 hours last night, wasn't a complete disaster. Do it up, ya'll! *not just animal based band names.

Loved fist album and pinched some droney bass chords off them in my playing. I used to knock about with the live drummer when we were teens. Both in different bands.

Now admittedly, not my amp. But when I got my Roost cab made, it was straight down to the studio to go through a lovely Selmar.

That's really helpful, thanks!

Right, I need the excellent hive mid of BC here. I first picked up the bass in my early teens, had a few lessons but generally worked out how to make a variety of punk rock sounds on my own. I have never learnt to read music, no nothing of any type of theory and as far as I am concerned, a pentatonic is used to summon Satan. A few years back I sold all my gear when I had a wee bit of a dark period. However a couple of years ago I got back on the horse, got some new gear and started a noisy band with 2 of my best mates. But in theory I have been playing for about 25 years on and off. During this period my youngest took a shine to drums. So for her 8th birthday we got her an electronic drum kit and she started lessons at school. 2 weeks back we submitted her debut exam to RSL for grading and currently waiting to hear the result. Anyhoo, since lockdown her drum lessons have gone online, so I have become default technician setting up the sound and video for her lessons during this time. As a result I have had quite a bit of dialogue with her teacher and immensely enjoyed sitting in on the lessons. It has really inspired me. She got her first bass yesterday from a BCer and I have been showing her a few things, but I am kind of stuck. Without telling her to pretend to be Lou Barlow, smack on the gain and strum like a guitar, I don't think I can do too much. I really need to learn to teach and do it properly! So, I was thinking, should I learn theory/read music and understand what actually sits behind this plank of wood and wire? I am one of those annoying sods who just loves to learn new things and quite fancy doing this. Has anybody been through a similar experience where they have learnt how to 'play properly' after years of winging it? Also, if I was to go through grading etc, would I need to start from scratch or can you jump in higher up the food chain? Where does one start? Love to hear some thoughts. Cheers

I'm the fatty on the right. 8 year old is mastering the drums and now starting on the bass. Pound shop Peter Hoot and Jack Bates...