EssexBuccaneer

I’m distinctly average. I’m technically poor and I make mistakes unless I’ve practiced a song a zillion times, but I can keep time and do the basics that I need. One thing that being in a covers band has done, is taken me out of my comfort zone. In my originals band I wrote basslines to my own (low) ability. Playing ‘pro’ bass players lines has definitely improved my playing.

Had a decent rehearsal last night, one of our newbies (Stiltskin - inside) is ready for Friday’s set. The other two aren’t far behind. Wanted to add a little clip as a tickle but the file size is too big!

I worked for the British Boxing Board of Control for a wee while, was great to get ringside seats for any show I chose. Met loads of boxers including several world champions. Pete Waterman thanked me when he got off of the train i’d just driven to Paddington. Matthew Pinsent once asked me if I was the train driver and after replying in the affirmative, told me I had a cool job. (Well yeah, but it’s not as cool as being an Olympian, Matthew)

I mean getting paid does take the sting off of a near-empty room a wee bit, but (and perhaps this is because I’m only just back into the scene), without the crowd it’s hard to enjoy the night. That’s why we play live, right?

Yeah I agree 100%. Ironically I played as well as I ever have, but watching the videos back I’m definitely not my usual self, I’m not bouncing and moving around, not stamping my feet like an idiot. I guess we all play off the crowd to a greater or lesser degree.

It looked like there was something down there in the corner, yes! It was a bit cold to venture out, if I’m being honest! You know you’re getting old when you’re inside and commenting on passing students saying ‘They’ll catch their death in that!’

We played in Southampton at ‘The Hobbit’ on Friday night, and a social club called ‘The Martin Club’ on Saturday. Annoyingly we had to shorten our set on Friday due to time constraints, but had a great time with a small but enthusiastic crowd. Saturday however was nothing more than a paid rehearsal in front of the other band (Mutiny on the Beach) - I felt bad for them because they invited us down and we’re embarrassed by the poor turnout. We made the most of it though and had a great laugh all weekend. Mutiny on the Beach are gonna head up to Essex to support us at some point, so it’s great to make new friends if nothing else.

MLC - Mid Life crisis (yes, one of many 😀)

The Hobbit in Southampton on Friday 13th, and Martin Club(?) on sat 14th.

Looking forward to rehearsal on Tuesday. 3 newbies to try out. Inside (by Stiltskin), Slither (Velvet Revolver) and Higher (Creed). With travelling gigs next Friday and Saturday in Southampton and Bournemouth (yes, we’re calling those two dates a tour 😀)

I’ve got 3. A five string Harley Benton in standard, 4 string Ibanez in drop D and a 4 string unbranded custom thing that’s half a step down. I chop and change throughout a gig.

SPLITTERS!!!

I started playing in my early-mid teens. Originals only, because that was what music was about. Making your own material and putting it out there. Hoping to make it. I put my heart and soul into a couple of bands in the hope of being the next big thing. That generally took the form of playing gigs to anywhere between a dozen and two hundred people, for barely any money, and a lot of sunk hours in writing and rehearsal, not to mention studio time and money. Now I’m a lot older (43) and accept that I’m never going to tour round the world and have platinum albums. So what can I do to enjoy my music? Play in a covers band. The crowds are bigger, the money is better, and the gigs are more fun and far less stress.

I’d just like a powerful bass amp that doesn’t require a forklift to move from home-car-venue and back again. One day I’ll invent one and make my millions.

Hi guys, I recently bought a Harley Benton 5 string stingray-like thingy and I’d like to change out the pup for something a bit better. Most likely a Seymour Duncan or suchlike. My question is will the new pickup be held back by the existing (presumably budget) wiring/pots etc? i.e will the sound quality be held back by the weakest part of the electrical gubbins?

I’ve not experience what you have, OP - but I have been known to enter a strange state that I call ‘the zone’ - I become hypersensitive to what I’m doing, be it writing, playing bass or suchlike. Basically outside noises and distractions reduce to a hum. Voices, music etc all become irrelevant. I remember it happening in an exam once where I could clearly hear my pen noisily scratching across the paper as I wrote. When I’m playing in this zone I have time to think about every fret I’m fingering in real time, and hear my basslines above the rest of the band clearly. It seldom lasts for more than a few minutes, in fact I think it stops as soon as I consciously become aware of it. It’s a strange but not unsettling feeling.

I’m a big fan of leaving it alone. Guitars and basses are *meant* to be used, they *will* get dings and scratches. They’re what makes it yours and yours alone.

I’m not gonna lay into anyone who’s brave enough to put their singing/playing online. I’m far from the greatest bass player/guitarist or singer out there but I enjoy what I do and that’s all that matters. if social media had been a thing when my first bands were on the scene I’d probably have been shamed into giving up music altogether. Be kind.

Been waiting a long time to post on this thread! Last night we made our debut at Rock Against Leukaemia at The Steamboat Tavern, Ipswich. We played a 50 minute set, with a bit of everything from Oasis and Stereophonics to Metallica and RATM. The crowd seemed to enjoy it, with a far better reaction than I ever got in an originals band. We weren’t perfect, far from it, and the pre-gig nerves were immense, and near debilitating - I screwed up the opening track which didn’t help matters! But from then on it went well enough and we had a blast. I ended up standing on a table during Killing in the Name, fist bumps all round and the venue would like us back as a stand-alone. Couldn’t have gone better! We’re made up! fe551fb2-7620-427f-89df-30df3fb2284f.mp4

As a rare British NASCAR fan, I’m impressed with the stage backdrop 😎

Thanks all for your kind words and advice. I have gigged before, but that was 20 years ago when I was full of sweat and arrogance 😀 I am looking forward to it greatly. And also to posting on ‘how was your gig last night’ on the follow day!

If I’m driving, it’s Metallica ‘fuel’. And I hope the policeman will accept that as my excuse if I ever get caught 😜

I wonder if anyone is familiar with what my band are feeling at the moment. We’re making our debut in Ipswich, at the Rock against leukaemia bash in August. Our set is ready, we know our stuff inside out. We think we sound pretty decent in rehearsal and have had good feedback on socials and from friends, family, work colleagues etc (not exactly unbiased sources though!) But until we hit the stage in front of an audience for the first time, we have no idea if we’re actually up to scratch. It’s a really mindblowing and frankly nerve-wracking sensation.

Hey, like I say. I’ve never come across a band that expected payment for equipment bought prior to them joining, and you might think I’m the a-hole for not doing it, but that’s the bottom line. Maybe you’ll find someone with enough cash to throw around on a project that they’re willing to commit to stumping up the cost of a mid-range instrument on a band before they’ve even played a gig with them, horses for courses eh? In my band we’re looking at getting a PA shortly. I’ll chip in my share and I’ll assist equally with the upkeep - but if I leave I’ll expect no share back. It’s a sunk expense as far as I’m concerned.

And once I’m a member I take on that responsibility happily, and pay my equal share as part of the band collective. But once again, decisions made prior to me joining are not my responsibility. Would I pay my continued share of upkeep for the PA? Yeah, course. Would I pay upfront for a share of the product that I didn’t buy, nor have any say over? No. I don’t think my position is particularly controversial, nor unusual. In fact, I’ve never heard of a band member being asked to stump up their share of equipment prior to joining. Ever.