StingRayBoy42

MONDAY AFTERNOON! (Sorry I'm late again) The Sax Pistols in a bandstand somewhere in Stratord-upon-Avon. Seven-piece funky brass band playing everything from Bruno Mars to James Brown to the Pulp Fiction theme tune. It was cold, rainy and horribly windy, so there was hardly anyone watching. The wind meant my music wouldn't stay on the stand, so I gave up after the second tune and did it from memory/busked it. I was not entirely unsuccessful. We played pretty well and sounded good! We were all dancing about to try and keep warm and complaining (good-naturedly) between songs. Those that were there really enjoyed it, lots of confused-looking foreign tourists filmed us (presumably for evidence) and we went down well enough. It's really good fun stuff to play, and they're all good players - the new Tenor Sax player is absolutely cracking. BL has got really good banter/spiel between numbers, which helps keep the spirits up when you're freezing your proverbials off! Highlight was the Trombone in 'Just a closer walk with thee' (New Orleans style hymn) - Monet (BFNBJLHMDJT - see my previous post) has total free rein and... it's an almost religious experience. Back to BL's canal boat afterwards for a much-needed cuppa! Played the Sousaphone, wore the offensively glittery Converse.

FRIDAY NIGHT! (Sorry I'm late.) Jones Jazz Orchestra 'Tribute to the Rat Pack' at The Cameo Suite, Coleshill (near Brum) 20-odd piece big band playing Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, Dean Martin type stuff. A 6pm start on bank holiday/half term Friday meant I turned up half an hour late, sweating like an inappropriate similie (I went on a rubbish date with a girl called Similie... I don't know what I metaphor) as I was suited and booted and carrying a Double Bass, which was a good start. I had to set up as the band topped and tailed a few bits, I got done just in time to join in on the last bit of tailing. Just enough time to grab a lime & soda before doors, the singer from the rock band and his other half came, as well as my current squeeze... good to have a few friendly faces there. (CS & singer's OH became instant besties, which was nice) We had a dep trombonist who I'd found on facebook and a dep Bass tromboner (friend of the BL) who were both fantastic - the Bass Trombone has got some cracking parts that we never hear as we don't usually have one, and this guy was REALLY belting them out! The dep (normal) trombonist was really good too - sight read the whole set (!) and sounded great. We sounded really good! We had four singers who chopped and changed, a few duets, BVs on a couple, and all four of them for the last number (New York, New York). (One of the singers (Zak) is barely old enough to drink (the others call him 'babyface' (affectionely!)), but he's got an incredible voice and he's been on the telly a few times (singing, not on Crimewatch or anything) and recently sang in the garden at 10 Downing St as part of the VE day celebrations - clearly got a bright future ahead of him. I hope he remembers us...) It was our lead trombonist's (Monet, Birmingham's finest non-binary, Japanese, Lindy-Hopping, Morris Dancing, Jazz trombonist (they're such an utterly awesome player.... I may have mentioned them before)) last (big) gig, so the BL gave a little speech about how much we'd miss them and I presented them with their leaving present from the band, then (totally unexpectedly) had the mic thrust into my hand and was told to say a few words... thanks, Boss! I didn't disgrace myself or embarrass Monet too much, so... all good. We played really well, we sounded great, we 99% nailed all the tricky stops and tempo changes and stuff, we went down a treat (there were about ninety people there I think... all friends and family, so a friendly crowd) and everyone in the band enjoyed it. Highlights were Lady is a Tramp, Orange Coloured Sky, New York New York and me not *totally* cocking up the little solo bit at the end of I've got you under my skin. Played the Double Bass -> Fishman Platinum pro EQ (the old one) -> Thumpinator ->MB 802. EDIT: Midnight Blue DMs with neon orange laces. It was the first time in absolutely ages I've played DB live.... I did OK. I'd done plenty of practice, so no blisters or torn tendons or anything. I was *right* on top of my amp so had loads of feedback and couldn't really hear myself, so much of it was guesswork but enough people said I sounded good, so... I'll take that. Current squeeze loved it (I mean... she's not going to say it was rubbish is she, but... y'know...), singer from the Rock band and his OH were blown away (they're used to seeing me play rock stuff in a 4 piece covers band, so a very different vibe!) so a good night all round. A short video is attached - please don't mock my awful posture, face, hair, Mr Mackie glasses or piss poor Double Bass technique. Thank You. WhatsApp Video 2025-05-25 at 18.36.17.mp4

What rubbish news, Hiscox are the only cases I use. On the plus side, I've got five so that's my pension sorted.

And they say it's not a glamourous business!

Des bought my personal monitor thing - great comms and quick payment, an absolute pleasure to deal with all the way.

You get a cupboard?! Luxury!

It was a Feta-ccompli!

Remember a cople of weeks ago when I said "For every decent gig I do, there's fifty rubbish pub gigs that make me think "Why do I bother...?""? Well, I did TWO of them this weekend with the Cantina Band. Friday was the Meathead's Arms in Sutton Coldfield, hardly anyone there, we played well, my current squeeze came to see us for the first time and loved it, which was nice. Saturday was a Rugby Club do - we assumed it would be a great gig and it was for the first five songs, then everyone started drifting away and by the end there were about ten people there. The highlight was going for a wireless wander (out of boredom) and discovering the cheese table at the back - I played half the last song one handed while eating celery and Red Leicester. Ho hum, paid rehearsals!

I sold Paddy a VT Bass pedal - he was an absollute gent to deal with all the way. Top Basschatter, highly recommended.

The Bass is nice, too.

SATURDAY NIGHT! (I know that's not last night) Depping with Manchester Ska Foundation at The Empire in Rochdale. I play with them about once or twice a year, but hadn't for a while so I was looking forward to it. I love playing with these guys as the gigs are always good and they're all cracking musicicans - I really have to raise my game! Early get there (6:45), I had to drive down actual cobbled streets to get to the venue which my crappy Hyundai i10 wasn't happy about! Bit of waiting around as the sound engineers were covering for the usual guy, so there was some confusement about channels, stage boxes, phantom power and such and such... All setup evetually, soundcheck all normal then lots more waiting round as we weren't on until 9:30. (I popped over the road to see the Town Hall, which is "widely recognised as being one of the finest municipal buildings in the country" apparently. It is rather grand.) The place was pretty full when we went on for the first set - a decent mix of people who'd come to see us and random Rochdalians (Rochdalers?) who were in there anyway. We cracked through the first set and sounded great. Highlights were 'My Girl Lollipop' which I absolutely LOVE playing and 'Ghost Town' (one of my favourite songs EVER), especially the trombone solo... Goodness Gracious, that girl can play! Oh, and 'Nite Klub' (Bass Solo!) which I did well on - I got a 👌 from the Sax player after my solo, which I was happy about! 'Hands Off, She's Mine' (The Beat) was a new one for me but I did pretty well (It's pretty straightforward to be fair) I'd done my homework so I was happy with my playing, right up until I completely (and I mean COMPLETELY) buggered up the 'coming back into the slow bit' bit in 'Special Brew'... I wanted the stage to open and swallow me up. I apologised profusely to the band at half time, they laughed and said "You did it better than Al (the usual Bass player) normally does" and blamed the drummer, so no harm done. Quick Lime & Soda and (Strawberry Jam Firerose) vape break and back on for the second set. The place had filled up nicely and the crowd were loving it. Second set highlights were 'House of Fun' (RELENTLESS Bassline! Lots of fun!), 'Too Much Too Young' which is a blast to play, 'Message to Rudy' (there's about four notes in it, so I just went on autopilot and enjoyed myself), 'Our House/Wings of a Dove' Mashup which is pretty complicated (all modesty aside... I'd put a lot of work into that, so I smashed it) and 'One Step Beyond' which always goes down a treat (except I forgot about the 'Swan Lake' keyboard solo in the middle and had to busk it (badly)... cue more laughter from the rest of the band and an amused 'Gotcha!' look from the keys player). We end with 'Night Boat to Cairo' and everyone gets a solo... my solo was... perfunctory at best... (It's over F and Eb minor... can't get my head round it!) but it went down well enough. The band were grateful for me stepping in and I feel lucky to play with them, so everyone was happy. Decent payer, quick packup as we didn't have to take down the PA, twenty minutes back to my dear old Ma's place for a bottle of Henry Weston's Signature Vintage (6.8% ABV). Played the StingRay (I'd taken the P as well, but... couldn't resist the 'Ray) -> Small board (I only used the chorus for the 'Nite Klub' solo) -> 'secret weapons' board (Thumpinator -> VTDI) -> MarkBass 802 -> PA. Shoes were the Black and white leopard print Converse (Peach Pink sparkle don't really go with the whole 'Two Tone' vibe...). An absolutely fantastic night all round. Apart from 'Special Brew'.

You absolute Monster!

I'd watch that!

They're few and far between for me, too! For every gig like this, there's fifty "Why do I bother?" pub gigs... something most Basschatters can probably relate to!

They should get Ringo on Drums and Paul McCartney on Bass and call themselves 'The Whotles'

What a terrible day to have eyes.

That's awful news... she was lovely. RIP Sam

I'll have you know they're PEACH pink sparkle Converse! 😀