12stringbassist

Fender P and Jazz copies by companies like Lakland and Sandberg et al. Why don't they have the imagination to do their own body shape designs?

I just went for the Ian Hunter 2LP set.

Blackstar. Utter garbage bass gear.

The new Ian Hunter album.

I've had that happen years ago. It was in a pub with really old and beautiful etched glass windows. I mentioned quite pointedly that if they kept doing that to bands they were very likely to lose them. He promptly went upstairs and found the cash.

Don't get me started...

I'm extremely sad to say that Chris Allen (aka Chris Cross) of Ultravox passed away on March 25th. His bass guitar and synth parts were always fabulous.

There are loads of bands I just don't get - and therefore not their bassist, but I wouldn't post who they are. It's the listener's problem, not the band (or their bassist).

I've had experience of taking an old drummer and an old guitarist back after splits in the past. The old drummer was fired because he had an ego the size of St Paul's Cathedral and getting back with him didn't work out and I'm happier not to speak to him these days. The guitarist worked out better (not perfect as he has his moods at times) and we're 8 years or so into this round.

Brewdog, until they pay their workers a living wage. And it's really painful to me to do this... https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/business/finance-strategy/row-brewing-as-brewdog-backtracks-on-wage-pledge

We've just had two weekends of not gigging (except for the weekly Sunday jam night that we host). The pub in Bolton that we played at made us set up in an inadequate little alcove last time, but this time they moved a few tables and let us set up in the spot we are used to. It's amazing how quickly some rust creeps in, even though we're usually out all the time. Our guitarist flubbed a line of lyrics in Purple haze and just came out with something phonetic to keep the tune going. It was hilarious. I played part of a bass line in the wrong key partway though one song, as my mind was totally elsewhere. I gave my bass a look as if it was the bass' fault and some people laughed at that. A nice, relaxed evening and not too far from my house.

You're going to get the odd place that might seem a bit of a challenge at first. We tend not to knock venues back as we have 'a work ethic' of sorts and we are quite fond of getting paid. I think we're on 110 bookings so far this year. I don't think that any of them are at places where the setup is awkward. We had a great night, even under slightly cramped conditions, and our return will see us at the other end of the room, which will be ok.

THE BASS PLAYER IS ALWAYS RIGHT.