Low End Bee

[quote name='charic' timestamp='1364907890' post='2032428'] I find any kind of "uniform" helps me both times I've been part of the band in terms of dressing up in some way I've come out of my shell majorly. Other times, not so much [/quote] Yep. We took somebodies sound advice this time last year and bought some cheap shirts, suits and skinny ties. We went from three individuals to being a band overnight. Our confidence levels all got raised a notch. It really helps post gig with people who want to buy CDs or fluff your ego too. Obviously it's all about context. Wouldn't work for every band or genre admittedly.

I do what I can. I always try to get a bit of eye contact with the audience and interact with our singer/guitarist. I took advantage of the 30 foot curly lead to leave the stage have a wander around the audience at our last gig. That was fun. I need to perfect that. Nothing sends me to the bar quicker than 3-5 stationary band members looking at their shoes.

During a gig and in a single song I seem to be able to manage the following. Wondering whether I locked the back door at home, rough backing vocals, checking the clock to see if we can fit all the set in, glancing at the set list to see what's next, watching the door to make sure someone's on it and not letting in anyone for free, catching the guitarists eye to see when we're ready to go into that half time thing and remembering to get some milk from the petrol station on the way home. Then I wonder why I ****ed up that half time bit that we'd decided we'd drop last week.

I'm only frustrated in that I'd like: More people to come to our gigs=money in the band kitty=record more songs. I'm more on BRX's wavelength in that writing songs and being in a band who can present them is miles more important than musicianship to me. Playing the bass is fun too of course. I can't watch the Steve Vai vids as I find him unsettling for some reason!

Joe Gibbs and the Professionals - African Dub Chapters 1-4 are essential. Vital Dub - Well Charged. Great versions of the Mighty Diamonds Right Time LP Scientist - Dub Landing. On see through purple vinyl preferably The 3 Trojan Dub box sets collections are brilliant. There's a 3 CD King Tubby box set called Father of Dub I think that is a bargain whatever it costs. Stick that needle in the red, turn the bass to 10 and echo...[size=2][size=3]echo[/size].....echooooooo......[/size]

I've been very lucky I think. Even my first WEM 15 watter was good enough for me. I've only had two issues. IA rehearsal roon we used to go to swapped from Trace heads to Behringer ones for a couple of monhs. I could never get any sort of decent sound out of them.I gigged a little Ashdown Electric Blue combo for a couple of years that was fine ( well with a sansamp in the effect send it was ) until it caught fire unexpectedly. 2 years for £180 was value though I guess.

I'm bolloxed if people don't like it simple.

I never knew this existed. Some nice chap put a link up on the Mojo forum. It's an amazing time capsule and very said to see how poor old Gene was pretty much washed up by 34. I'm guessing purveyers of epheremal tosh today don't get treated as shabbily as a rock n roll legend did 44 years ago. Not being able to find Be Bop A Lula so the band could learn it on the cassette player at the rehearsal studio in Croydon is among the many great bits. What's that prehistoric looking thing the Wild Angels bass player is playing? [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuYfqJMIiyk[/media]

Some people call it a tug bar. I wouldn't buy a beer in one of those.

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1363830048' post='2018412'] I really don't recall when the distinction became so important or so imbued with 'meaning'. I must have been out of the country at the time. [/quote] June 3rd 2002 was when the great schism occured. You were probably with the Maharishi.

[quote name='xilddx' timestamp='1363794637' post='2017784'] But that's film music, and the musical director will tell the composer what they want and the composer will supply it. Nothing like a composer just composing for art's sake. They can't afford to rehearse and pay for an orchestra to play their music can they. [/quote] But wasn't Mozart churning them out to order to get paid by the Emporer bloke who was in Beetlejuice?

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1363794222' post='2017771'] I must confess I've been surprised that in 7 pages this hasn't turned into a big old bun fight. We're all different and want different things from bands. Seems pretty straight forward to me. Personally in 25yrs my bands have almost always been original bands but then I've been fortunate to work with some very gifted writers. I'd rather play covers I like then work with a bad writer. Not really experienced these arrogant musicians everyone is going on about, they tend not to get past audition (if that far!) on the rare occasions I've stumbled upon them. I'd never knock or claim to not understand someone wanting to do covers. I can see strengths in all types of bands as well as disadvantages. [/quote] Too true. It's all about context.

If there are any techno kraut rock nerd bands out there you're welcome to [b]World Of WarKraftwerk[/b]

I don't know how being in an originals band is more difficult? I'm too lazy to learn anyone elses lines.

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' timestamp='1363781391' post='2017431'] When I was gigging ,all but one of my bands were covers . My first gig was not until my 30th birthday party( I was still 29;) Too old to do originals. [/quote] I was 46 when we formed the Jetsonics.

Nothing wrong with a standard bent bit of tin. I've got a bad ass II on one Precision and a BBOT on the other. I've swapped them from bass to bass and found bugger all difference apart from the extra weight. I'd just go for something like a Wilikinson at £14 and spend the rest on beer.

It drives me me mad too. A 30 foot curly lead has solved my problem.

Stupid Smartphones

We've just moved over to bandzoogle in the last few days. We're concentrating on the structure before the appearance but it's very easy to update and keep the content fresh which was a right pain to do before with all that html brain ache. The ease with which you can flog stuff is great as well. As I said early days but it looks OK to use to me already.[url="http://thejetsonics.com/fr_home.cfm"]http://thejetsonics.com/fr_home.cfm[/url]

Ken Barlowes Karma Band

Rigid Dirigibles

the Bass Nerds....

Why do I gig? My ego likes a little stroke now and then. It's generally fun. I get to meet other people who are passionate about music.

Excellent song and some lovely lady gardens. Look forward to hearing it live......