EssexBuccaneer

2 hours ago, dave_bass5 said:

Seems to me this demographic is the hardest to be in.

Middle aged straight men are hardly a demonised demographic. I say that as a middle aged straight man.

I watched it this year as I do every year, because Mrs Buccaneer loves it. It’s trash, we all know it’s trash, so we have a drink and laugh at how appalling it all is.  
 

And yes, the U.K. entry was laughably bad. I’m surprised it received any points at all from the judges. Pathetically bad but also lacking the charm that some other horrendously rubbish entries have historically used to their own advantage.

A mixed bag tonight at the Chadwell Arms in Essex. Set 1 was riddled with issues, which we realised was down to the singist’s radio mic interfering with my wireless. It’s happened before when we’ve rehearsed in a smaller room and the pub was pretty intimate tonight.
 

I wired up for set 2 and it was a million times better. The small crowd loved us, the pay was good and we’ve got a few adds on social media and some pledges to come see us at other local gigs. 

I was reminded why I seldom read these lists after hunting twice for Nicko McBrain (assuming that I must have missed him first time around)

Hi all, some advice would be appreciated.

When being paid for gigs, we don’t take a share each, but the money is ‘the Bands’ for use on a PA, lighting, consumables etc. 

Our gigs have so far been cash-in-hand with the guitarist looking after the money in his safe at home. However we’re playing a gig soon who will pay us electronically via concur - as such we’re thinking about setting up a band bank account. Has anyone experience with this? Does one person control the account and act as treasurer? Are you all signatories to the account? Are there fees for a multiple person account? Anything else we need to know?

Just back from tonight’s rehearsal. Whiskey In The Jar (Metallica version) went faultlessly so it’s slotting straight in the set. Played some stuff we’ve not touched for a while, but it all came together right away. All ready for our first gig of the year next week. It’s been a slog having 4 months without playing to an audience but such is life for a new band, I guess.

1 hour ago, TimR said:

 

No idea. I played with a drummer for several years who couldn't up the tempo gradually because it doesn't work like that. The drummer is human. 

 

I refer you to @dclaassen above. 

The drummer is indeed human. I’ve yet to find a human capable of keeping perfect time, 100% of the time.

The drummer is basically an unreliable metronome. And the rest of the band follow it.

16 minutes ago, TimR said:

 

The drummer can't speed up if the bass player doesn't. 

Imagine you’re playing, in time to a metronome that’s out of sight behind you. No flashy lights on this one to keep time with(!)

Then randomly I sneak in and gradually up the tempo of the metronome, bit by bit.

What is going to happen to your playing? 

8 minutes ago, TimR said:

 

The drummer can't speed up if the bass player doesn't. 

I promise you they can. 

1 hour ago, TimR said:

 

As I say. Only if you let them and continue with the mindset they do. 🤷‍♂️

 

The drummer is just another musician in the band. Everyone has to go along with them for everything to speed up. If everyone else sticks to the tempo, the drummer cannot speed up. 

 

It's a nonsense that so many musicians don't understand, the drummer doesn't control the band.

If the drummer speeds up or slows down, the rest of the band as a rule of thumb will speed up or slow down accordingly. 
 

And if you’re rigidly sticking to tempo whilst the rest of the band speeds up around you, who is going to look like the problem to an audience?

On 19/04/2024 at 09:47, TimR said:

I don't know why drummers insist on counting in the band. 

 

It's not the drummers responsibility to keep the band in time. I wish more drummers and musicians recognised that. 

 

If he can't stay in time with the rest of the band he needs to go away and practice drumming. 

The drummer controls *everything*. If he can’t, it’s time to get one who can.

Venue specific, but I’m also prone to wander around and amongst the crowd as well!

Steinberger L series. I don’t care how revolutionary you tell me they are. 
 

Ugly as sin. 

On 04/04/2024 at 22:35, paddy109 said:

I had a practice tonight with my old band as I am depping for them in a couple of weeks.

The good news is I've finally found my sound that I have been striving for. 

The difference is going back to round wounds after quite a while with flats. Retrovibe T-rod, D'addario 35-95 round wounds, Evo 500 iii, Barefaced 210. 

On return home I told my news to my wife 'Ive finally found my sound' and her reply was 'good perhaps you will stop buying stuff now'. Happy times!

“Well, perhaps I’m mistaken. I might not have *quite* found my sound just yet…”

Some of the greatest guitarists and bass players around are self taught and have little theoretical knowledge - Steve Harris springs to mind.

i never learned theory. I wish I did, and I’ve tried the ‘for dummies’ book but ditched it very early on. When I want to create something I’ll hum it in my head and figure it out from there. Is that common? I have no idea, but it works for me.

29 minutes ago, Richard R said:

Did you get the Beavis and Butthead stickers? 

No! Couldn’t find any that were ‘right’. The search continues 🤣

11 minutes ago, TimR said:

 

If it happened to you and you have evidence. Then complain and use the proper channels.

 

If it happened to 'someone you know', you are just joining the social media inevitable pile on and 'cancel' that may or may not be deserved.

 

It's happened to me with an event I organised. One person out of 450 wrote on a different page about their perceived slight negative experience, and a bunch of Karen's jumped on and basically tore the event to shreds, even though the original poster protested that it was only a comment. Social media at its worst. An event that has been running for nearly 30 years in the same format with full explanation of what the event entails. 

 

If it had taken down my business and I'd lost income (it's not a business) I would have probably sued those involved. The resultant pile on was completely unwarranted from the original comment, as often happens on social media. 

And you’d probably have failed in your efforts. It’s notoriously hard to win a case like that.

10 hours ago, PaulWarning said:

I use green ones all the time, I get far more comments about them than about my  playing 😂, where did you get them from?

I got them from Amazon on a whim 🤣

I love the look, the bass is black with chrome hardware - if I get on with the neon strings I may put black hardware on the bass.

I got a set of Neon Green’s that arrived today. A bit buzzy, but well soon fix that. Not had a chance to try them out properly yet, that’ll come at rehearsal. Love the look of them 😎

11 hours ago, leschirons said:

Just back from the second gig with a band I joined.

 

Audience loved it, pub paid us an extra few quid, other band members had a great night as all they hear and see is the audience reaction and then believe their own publicity. I thought it was terrible and it seems that I'm the only one who can hear it apart from two others in the audience. My wife, a singer and bodrahn player and my brother, a guitarist and sax player.  I need to knock them into shape before the next gig.

I can appreciate the frustration of mistakes, but if anyone in my band turned up at rehearsal with the intention of ‘knocking us into shape’ then I’d imagine they’d be looking for a new band, sharpish.
 

The crowd enjoyed it, job done. Make a metal note of mistakes and work on those sections in rehearsal, without ego. Everyone makes mistakes.

Has anyone built one of these? 
 

https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_bassguitar_kit_pstyle.htm

I’m contemplating buying one, and installing decent pups and pots (assuming the kit ones are naff). Am a bit concerned about the finish though - painting isn’t my strong suit, so maybe a nice varnish/stain.

I’ve got my Orange Crush 100 in my bass corner, with my basses on a nearby stand for quick access. Nice set of cans for quiet practice. Tend to plug in my wireless and get going in a few moments.

I tend not to use my pedals for home practice - only for rehearsal and (obvs) gigs.

8 hours ago, Hobbayne said:

Well, In 40 years of playing, Tonight is a first. We were booked to play The Brickhouse in Slough. The first rock band to play there apparently. Its more of a soul R+B DJ place.

We went down really well with the older crowd, but when it came to paying us, we were told 'Sorry but people have not spent enough behind the bar so we cant pay you the full agreed amount' 

Our singer is practically fuming with rage and trying to sort it out. I have heard of this happening to others, but this is the first time I have been shafted.

I,m having a few large scotches to calm me down. 🤬

I *may* have just submitted a tripadvisor review…

“No problem, we’ll tell everyone on social media what a sh**house operation you are, and use our contacts to make sure that all the bands in the area know it as well. By the way, you still owe us the agreed amount”

On 04/04/2024 at 01:39, Gasman said:

Last night’s gig was one I never anticipated, wanted, but felt compelled and eventually pleased to do. My son died three weeks ago suddenly from a second heart attack a week after having stents for the first one, seems the surgeon did half a job. Julian was 46, three kids, fitness fanatic, my best friend, top DJ and drummer

 

Today was his funeral. His widow had booked an acoustic duo for the wake in the local pub. However, the girl singer had to leave early for some reason; the landlord knew I played and pointed me out to the remaining guitarist/singer suggesting I might help, so as my gear was in my car I played bass and sang with him for the second set.

 

It was good distraction therapy, busking 15 numbers I’d never played before with a guy I’d never met. Despite this glimmer of light in a dark, dark day I’ll never be able to rationalise why I’m still here at 74 to write this while he will never read it. 

 

Parents shouldn’t have to bury their children...

Wow. I can’t imagine the emotions involved there. I’m blown away by your strength.
 

I’m so very sorry for your loss