Pete Academy

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1351712242' post='1854564'] I had a load of Guitar Player mags from the 80s and 90s, they were the sort of magazines you could reread many times with great joy, and I did. Tommy Tedesco's studio log was an incredible column, as was Larry Coryell's and various others. The interviews were brilliantly informative, as were the transcriptions, news, and other bits and pieces. It was a very high quality read. I'm afraid BGM feels like reading a start up mag, there's just no magic in those pages for me. It's a shame, maybe it's just my age. [/quote] I see your point, Nige.

I've signed for a two-year subscription. It's impossible to please everyone each issue. I still look forward to receiving it.

[quote name='OzMike' timestamp='1351670606' post='1853874'] The band I'm in just got a new drummer, a guy that is way better than the previous member - for Estonia, he's A-level whereas I'm a more C-level player. So my previous "hey, I'm still better than the drummer with only occasional work" practice routine has become a much more structured one. Now I play daily for 45-60 minutes, and feel that our material would suffer through lack of precision otherwise. I can never work out how people can play really well without regular practice or at least time on the bass; I guess some people are much more talented than me, or that the 'decay' of their playing happens at a much slower rate. For me, if I'm not playing everyday, it's harder and less fun to play in rehearsal or at gigs. [/quote] I've played our set a lot of times, so I generally don't have a problem remembering the tunes. My main problem is losing some dexterity and muscle power.

I do about two gigs a month. However, I find I can't be arsed to play my bass between gigs. I sell basses for my day job, so that doesn't help. Anyone else have this problem?

I absolutely love Cameo.

Amazing stuff Nige. Gorgeous vocal. Lovely and tight playing. Loved it.

Mark King is an amazing bass player. He picked up playing the instrument in record time and became proficient very quickly. His slap style is unique, and his fingerstyle playing is sublime. If you go on YouTube you will find a recent gig where he plays Love Games.

Amazing.

An unbelievable musician, Victor is a true virtuoso. Could this prove he isn't just a one trick pony at trade shows ?

[quote name='urb' timestamp='1350936348' post='1845364'] "Groan, not another VW video" I hear you say - well I enjoyed this and there's no slapping on it - actually I think it shows just how human and raw Vic's playing can be as he's reaching for stuff, and making mistakes, as if he's jamming alone at home - plus I think it's actually woth quoting the description to give you the context of where and why he's playing (from the uploader): "Bass Clinic at MaKo Music, April 23, 2012. Filmed by Jason Werner, Audio by Scott Griffin Victor put on this clinic at a local music school in Mechanicsville, Va. He and the school's owner had worked together at several of Victor's music camps, including one that was flooded by a storm which resulted in all kinds of mayhem! He decided to put on this free clinic at the school, and this is one song from that day. It should be pointed out that this was at 8am Sunday morning, and during a torrential downpour. Victor showed up, picked up the bass, and absolutely shredded for about 30 minutes straight. Then he answered some questions from the crowd, and was just a great guy all around. He also signed a bass I brought." and if you listen on headphones you can hear the rain hammering against the tent - anyway it just made me feel good listenin to it - not for any other reason that it's played with such a great groove and feeling.... the bass line half way through is the best bit I think [media]http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=eynnYLXW3Fo[/media] [/quote] Amazing! Victor is the man!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1350901566' post='1844736'] This thread has gone on for 4 pages and no-one appears to have pointed out that the establishment in question is in Stoke - hardly a hot bed of musical activity... ;-) [/quote] Yep, that's Stoke...crap bands, rubbish musicians. You'd feel at home here.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1350901566' post='1844736'] This thread has gone on for 4 pages and no-one appears to have pointed out that the establishment in question is in Stoke - hardly a hot bed of musical activity... ;-) [/quote] I think I might disagree with that statement.

Sorry, something went wrong with my editing.

[quote name='Pete Academy' timestamp='1350842830' post='1844152'] Aja was well worthy of being on the Classic Albums programme. [/quote]

[quote name='pietruszka' timestamp='1350841029' post='1844119'] I love Gaslighting Abbie! It was a firm favourite of my dad's to, those low D's sound wonderful. The Aja album is an early memory of visiting my dad in London and always reminds me of it. I remember seeing that cover and not knowing what it was exactly, still don't if I'm honest! I was always drawn to them 'cos my name was on the cover! That album in particular always struck me as 'one of those' albums, it's difficult for me to describe but the kind of album that knew what it was. If that makes any sense? Home At Last and Josie are fantastic pieces of music and I'll never tire of them. Hey Nineteen is great to. Dan [/quote] Aka was well worthy of being on the Classic Albums programme.

[quote name='MacDaddy' timestamp='1350822919' post='1843805'] IMO it's because there are no 'characters' on bass in the newer bands, to inspire kids to take up the bass. [/quote] This is mainly what my thread was about. You can knock Flea but at the height of the Chilis, a load of kids wanted to learn his style and therefore turned to teachers. In our shop I constantly have people say they've heard bass is easier than guitar, and I have to be truthful. You can play along with a root note, as long as it's in time. Would the majority of an audience care if that's what you played all night?

I also quite like the later albums. Two Against Nature, especially. Gaslighting Abbie is a bass masterpiece and was a nightmare to learn.

I think it might be more to do with the clinical production.

I'm finding that on gigs we're getting more and more younger people turning up, who find Steely Dan quite hip.

[quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1350748105' post='1843022'] going to see Pete (Nearly Dan) next month in gloucester, looking forward to it Pete... [/quote] Sat 17 November at The Guildhall in case anyone's interested.

Earned me a bit of money over the last 15 years.

Across the road from our music store is a music school. They teach guitar, bass, piano, vocals, sax, etc. However, the bass side of tuition has been very sparse for years. Why is this? My main theories are that the bands kids are into these days have relatively easy bass parts, which can be picked up fairly easily; there isn't a bass hero around, like Flea, for instance; YouTube provides whatever lessons they need for free. The guitar teachers are busy enough. So what's the problem with bass?

I was thinking about posting a thread called: Is Mark King Cool Again? He's not everyone's cup of tea, but he's an amazing player. And please listen to his non-slap playing, as it's as good as any player out there. His slap playing is just sublime.

We use two different drummers and they are both great. A few year's ago i went to watch my mate's Bryan Adams tribute band. The drummer overplayed and f***ed up the whole gig. Absolute twat.

Listen to the opening track, Children Of The Night, on Wayne Shorter's High Life album. The bass part is remarkable. Marcus said it ran to fourteen pages of manuscript and was a real challenge. It is a great part.