urbanx

We mulled over video ideas for months, storeyboarding stuff out, arranging models etc. But nothing worked out. Our singer suggested "Shall we just get drunk?" So here's the vid, a feel-good band pub crawl and a gig, it really captures the spirit of the band, its a bit of a silly song too.... 😛

Yes please, I've been very good this year! I know there's a lot of love for Mustangs on BC. This is my second fave colour - I'm still holding out for Fender to do the right thing and make it in Daphne Blue! https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/fender-american-performer-mustang-bass-satin-surf-green?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInOTvuemN3wIVFJ7VCh03-QO6EAQYASABEgKRnvD_BwE

If that happens, simply replace the "www" in the URL with "mbasic" it will open up the mobile site on your desktop, then you can right-click save from there.

We've been looking forward to this one for a while: We were so grateful to be asked back to play the John Peel Centre. Shortly after arrival the exited manager tells us its sold out! We knew we were in for a good one! Sound was awesome, crowd were awesome, no technical hitches. Why aren't they all like this?

What an awesome night! There's are video stills from the camera at the back of the stage behind me. I'm sure there's more to come out of it! The stage is lava... Me: "I promise I'll play the bass part straight, I wont show off or showboat" Also me: Me in crowd - bass solo, drummer on his phone...

The gain is fairly sensitive, but never a problem to balance it with volume. Not had any actual clipping problems, I think the clipping LIGHT is very sensitive! I don't think there's any settings where the light isn't permanently on when I'm playing, but the sound is perfectly clean, even at high volumes. Oh, I play an ACTIVE Jaguar bass.

Apart from no soundcheck and the middle band having some politics with the venue it was a good one. One tiny faux-pas.... I'm wireless now, so thought "I know what would be really cool! If I wander out into the crowd and stand on a chair while busting out this bass solo like a God, everyone around me will gasp in amazement at my super human bass ability. Literally nothing can go wrong with this plan" It didn't fail in the way you think... I just couldn't find a free seat and I really couldn't bring myself to ask someone to stand for a sec while I amazed the rest of the crowd, so I just wandered around a bit like a lost usher before returning to the stage.

The unfortunate truth is most promoters and venues will gauge someones success / popularity on that number on their FB page. Usually bands tell the venue they've barely sold any tickets, while pocketing the cash...😂

I've just taken delivery of a BQ500. Tested it briefly in the garage (just to make sure everything's working) and it's chuffin' loud compared to my Hartke HA3500. Will keep you all updated to the finer nuances of sound quality after a rehearsal. In the garage it rattled everything :p The aux in sound wasn't great, although I'm putting a lot of that down to a 410 cab not being designed to play music from an iphone. The knobs on the front do not alter the aux-in sound, only the bass guitar.

Hi Guys, thanks for your help. I have decided in your wisdoms not to upgrade. As a few of you mentioned a few extra watts probably wouldn’t make any difference in those situations anyway. Just a little more background on the two festivals mentioned - We ‘headlined’ both, and were also the only ‘full band’ to at each: The first was my home city’s first ever Pride Festival – a cause close to my heart. I was so thrilled to be accepted to play, I would have played it whatever the conditions. It is a completely free festival. The ‘sound man’ was a volunteer who owned a PA. Act before us was a choir, whom he used 5 mic’s for. “Happy days” we thought, “Two for our vox, two for our amps, and one on the drums”. Unfortunately when it came to our turn to play he could only get ONE mic working, and none of the monitors! Much fiddling, crowd getting ansey, so we just had to start playing. The second one was very similar: Festival at a hospital, essentially a party for staff and patients, few stalls other bits and bobs etc. ‘Sound man’ was a staff member who was in a band, and had access to a PA. Again he didn’t want us meddling with it, but also couldn’t seem to be able to get sound from our cabs to the PA. Neither ideal, I’m now a lot wiser about what gigs we’d accept, and what to expect. Would I play these two again? Absolutely.

Here's the story: Current rig: Hartke 350w head - Marshall 4x10 (600w) The Band: One guitar, one bass, drummer singer. Loud, brash, rap metal / grunge. The Problem: OK my rig is overkill for 99% of our gigs where decent venues run it fairly quiet on stage, and loud out front, that's fine. BUT (and that's a big 'but') We've played two outdoor festivals this week where they have been unable / unwilling to DI or Mic any of the amps. Yes really. One was a headline slot at a 5,000 person festival, just played through amps alone. I know how crap this is. I'm wireless and was in the crowd by the first song - on my side of the stage the maxed out amp was all you could hear, a few steps over and it was pure guitar. Awful mix, but the volume just wasn't there. 6 days later, headlining another festival, exactly the same. The situation is far from ideal, and I know a lot of peoples reactions will be "Concentrating on playing better organised events than getting a bigger amp" But the fact is a struggling originals grunge / punk band cant be choosers. It's happening more and more and more that that we're playing through amps alone. I need to move more air. The constraints: I own a hatchback, I cant get an 8x10 in. Solutions: This is where I need your help. Ideas so far have been: Use a 6x10 Add a 1x15? Upgrade to Hartke 500w head, my cab can take it. Will adding a few watts even help? Bite the bullet - 800w TC Electronic head & Hydrive 1000w 410. I love the idea of this rig, it'd fit in my car, but would it even really be much louder in an outdoor festival situation? Help! I know all you ol' hands will say to try and improve the situation, but TBH the nature of our band / gigs really doesn't match that model. Our guitarist just bought a SM57 and mini mic stand this morning in the hope that might encourage sound men / women to mic him! Argh!

We were honoured to be asked to headline our cities first gay pride event this weekend. Fantastic weather, and 5,000 people in a good mood. It was the first time I got to bring my two year old son to see us too, was awesome to get out and dance with him for a bit. We threw in YMCA and ‘Gay Bar’ because why not! After we played, a 7ft drag queen closed the festival by singing “I am what I am” whilst stripping appendages. I was crouched behind my stack unwiring everything when I got hit by a prosthetic boob, very disorientating as I didn't know she was stripping. The next thing I heard was my two year old shriek “NOT a lady!” Top day.

"I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a covers set today" etc.

We played an 'end of term' party for staff at a school. Lovely evening so we set up outside. The staff had been on it since getting rid of the kids at 15:30 so were suitably merry. Finish the first song and about half the staff disappear giggling, -not a good sign....Only to return a fee minutes later in fancy dress. They're raided the drama studio, lol! 😂 Best one was the inflatable sumo suits,! Next song, I spy the climbing frame, and manage to scale it to the top without missing a note, big jump off as the chorus drops. Three songs from the end, the head takes a call of a noise complaint and the news that the Police are on their way. We run through them quickly and save 'YMCA' til the end, so that if the police do turn up at least it'll be funny. Weirdest, but funniest one in a while!

Digging up an old one I know.... We done this at the weekend, absolutely fantastic day, would recommend it to anyone, thanks to NJ for sharing it originally

Filmed on a GoPro at the back of the stage last night (17.03.18) at The Portland Arms, Cambridge <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HqktM9zXOb8" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

It seems last gig the singer and I were competing in a 'Jump off'! Singer: [URL=http://s1121.photobucket.com/user/urbanxphotography3/media/18834760_10158717610725257_802426659_n_zpszdtmykap.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l514/urbanxphotography3/18834760_10158717610725257_802426659_n_zpszdtmykap.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Moi: [URL=http://s1121.photobucket.com/user/urbanxphotography3/media/18699881_10158700672915257_1269278821040998877_n_zpsifjell8t.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l514/urbanxphotography3/18699881_10158700672915257_1269278821040998877_n_zpsifjell8t.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Bit mad.... Four songs in a gang of "Do-what-you-likee's" burst in and start raiding the audience. My Go Pro was on a ledge of a column halfway into the audience, I assumed that was the last I'd ever see of that... it got knocked off in a tussle between security and a young scallywag, but a helpful stranger rescued it. I gave him a T-shirt after the show. Oh, we didn't miss a beat BTW...

I would have like to have been plugged into a blood pressure monitor this weekend when we found out a gig we were booked for turned out to be a pay-to-play!

Our first song, of our first ever gig I'm wireless so wandering around the crowd as I start playing, I even nip off to the loo before getting to the stage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK9AceCeD_M

Only our second gig so come and show some love! We sound like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdOfdFgEPlk

I had always assumed it was something to do with this... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handkerchief_code

Lol, I'm guessing when the promoter said "Backline will be provided" what they mean is "Backline will be provided....by you"! lol. There's no way I could operate on borrowed gear. I'm not very fussy and I still spent days researching and atrying amps to get what was perfect just for me. Do the gig, it's a good learning curve - Knowing what you now know about the 'promoters' organisational skills, you should be a lot more prepared for how the timings on the night will probably go!

[quote name='interpol52' timestamp='1438204180' post='2832587'] I usually play bits and bobs of some of the songs that the band will be playing on the night. It helps me get an idea of what the room and PA sounds like. [/quote] This. Normally with my volume knob on about 90% so I've got something in reserve

Have you suggested having 3 bass players yet?