How was your gig last night?

[dmccombe7]

2 minutes ago, martthebass said:

Yup.....I always think I don't smile enough

Yep me too altho in the last few yrs i have enjoyed it a lot more because i know the songs better and not concentrating as much and can smile more.

Dave

[Cat Burrito]

I returned to the pub I had my wedding reception in for the first time since 2018 last night. It was a lowkey acoustic set as the main part of a newly establishing open mic night (we had the long main set). As with a lot of Wiltshire pubs, a couple of all day drinkers in there who had long gone beyond the point that they should have stopped. I replicated my bass parts on a mandocello and took some lead on the mandolin too. I sung some lead lines and did a lot of the onstage banter. It was just a fun evening. My missus came down to support us and I was amazed how many people remembered me from 5 years back. The pub has a Dr. Who theme due an old John Pertwee episode being filmed locally in 1971. Here we are just before going on. The Dalek didn't come in. There are steps!

 

 

Some of the locals...

 

[dmccombe7]

8 minutes ago, Cat Burrito said:

I returned to the pub I had my wedding reception in for the first time since 2018 last night. It was a lowkey acoustic set as the main part of a newly establishing open mic night (we had the long main set). As with a lot of Wiltshire pubs, a couple of all day drinkers in there who had long gone beyond the point that they should have stopped. I replicated my bass parts on a mandocello and took some lead on the mandolin too. I sung some lead lines and did a lot of the onstage banter. It was just a fun evening. My missus came down to support us and I was amazed how many people remembered me from 5 years back. The pub has a Dr. Who theme due an old John Pertwee episode being filmed locally in 1971. Here we are just before going on. The Dalek didn't come in. There are steps!

 

 

Some of the locals...

 

I'm playing the venue i held my reception in 1995. Its a Xmas gig 22nd Dec. 

Dont think i'll be recognised tho.

Dave

[Simon C]

10 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Yep me too altho in the last few yrs i have enjoyed it a lot more because i know the songs better and not concentrating as much and can smile more.

Dave

Yes to all of the above in this bit of the thread.  I watch myself if people have taken video and watch the streamed church services.  I try to smile but it looks more like a grimace.  I try to look up from the fretboard, but spend way too long looking at it.  I sometimes risk a nosebleed by moving around on stage, but still manage to look like I’ve spent the gig / church service nailed to the floor.  Basically I try to look like I’m having a good time, but don’t really pull it off😀.  I do learn something every time I watch though - onwards and upwards.

[51m0n]

 

Saturday was our first gig since the pandemic. Yeah yeah, it caused mayhem for the band members and family and its been a long hard road back.

 

Great night, rammed venue with many punters super happy to see us back for the first time since late 2019.

 

We played great, for me it was the first time with a p16 for my IEM mix which was cool and the first outing for my EA iAmp Classic which just  kills. 

 

 

Amazing to get out and play again.

 

If course, I only went and got Covid at the gig!

 

Poorly now 🤐

Edited February 24, 2023 by 51m0n

[Lozz196]

Just got in from my first gig on guitar in 15 years. Punk covers band The Dogmattics at The Oddfellows Arms in Hemel doing the regular punk stuff plus a few non-punk but punked up songs.
 

Went well, I made a few minor mistakes but given I’ve only been in the band since January, we’ve only had three rehearsals and we’re doing about 40 songs I won’t beat myself up about it.

 

Thoroughly enjoyed it, plenty of good comments from people who have seen the band before which was nice, and I’d almost forgotten what it was like to get paid for playing in a band, this gig being a nice reminder.
 

Edited February 25, 2023 by Lozz196

[dmccombe7]

3 hours ago, 51m0n said:

 

Saturday was our first gig since the pandemic. Yeah yeah, it caused mayhem for the band members and family and its been a long hard road back.

 

Great night, rammed venue with many punters super happy to see us back for the first time since late 2019.

 

We played great, for me it was the first time with a p16 for my IEM mix which was cool and the first outing for my EA iAmp Classic which just  kills. 

 

 

Amazing to get out and play again.

 

If course, I only went and got Covid at the gig!

 

Poorly now 🤐

Me too, had it since Mon last week but its been no more than a sinus ache and blocked nose. I've had worse colds.

Hopefully you dont get it too bad and good to see you back out again.

Dave

[Paul S]

Gig with my blues/rock trio Toredown last night - the second gig into our monthly 'residency' at the Shamrock in Ipswich.  Set up is getting quicker as we've played there a lot and pretty much know where everything goes, what the levels are like, so we arrive later and just dive in.  Which means I can leave home later by which time the Friday traffic has calmed down.  I managed to get parked just down the road, which is a bonus.  I wouldn't say it was packed but by 10pm it was busy, most of our regulars were there.  We played a couple of new songs that were, frankly, under rehearsed and not as tight as we'd like.  Got away with it but next time they will be on point.  Other than that, we played well, went down well, picked up some new followers.  The staff there love the band, which is great.  Unusually there was a bit of bother and one of the punters, who I hadn't seen there before, had to be escorted out although that didn't impact on us.  This was my first gig with a bitsa 50s Precision with its newly fitted Retrovibe single coil pickup.  Could be a game changer, the tone is just exactly what I want, sat perfectly in the mix with bite and grit.  Also guitarist Alan sat his amp on a stand which made a massive difference to the overall balance - I think last night ws the best we have sounded.  A12 was shut on my return journey, diverted through small roads following a caravan of lorries so it took an extra 30 mins, got home at 2am.  Still, a good gig and £100 in my pocket can't be bad.

[SICbass]

On 24/02/2023 at 09:02, Bluewine said:

 

I learned the hard way with an invisible bear.

 

Blue

I‘ve been meaning to ask, do you and the bear still keep in touch?

[dmccombe7]

On 24/02/2023 at 18:46, Simon C said:

Yes to all of the above in this bit of the thread.  I watch myself if people have taken video and watch the streamed church services.  I try to smile but it looks more like a grimace.  I try to look up from the fretboard, but spend way too long looking at it.  I sometimes risk a nosebleed by moving around on stage, but still manage to look like I’ve spent the gig / church service nailed to the floor.  Basically I try to look like I’m having a good time, but don’t really pull it off😀.  I do learn something every time I watch though - onwards and upwards.

I've found that slower natural moving as if you're doing something around the house looks more professional than simply jumping about like an idiot or a flee on heat.

Sway with the beat, take a few steps forward or back every now and again, If you have a big enough stage walk over to the guitarist for a little status quo style swing. Dont rush about like a demented dog, just take your time and it'll look as tho you know what you're doing.

This is only my own observations i've picked up in recent years. I used to be called a John Entwhistle clone glued to floor looking at my bass neck all the time and so focused. Now i just enjoy what i'm doing, i know the songs well enough i'm not concentrating all the time and i've been using the same VM4 bass for past 4 yrs so i'm used to the neck.

PS I'm no expert in stage movements and if you're in a younger band i'd expect a more erratic style of movement. Age plays a big part. I'm not getting any younger LOL

Dave

Edited February 26, 2023 by dmccombe7

[neepheid]

6 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

I've found that slower natural moving as if you're doing something around the house looks more professional than simply jumping about like an idiot or a flee on heat.

Sway with the beat, take a few steps forward or back every now and again, If you have a big enough stage walk over to the guitarist for a little status quo style swing. Dont rush about like a demented dog, just take your time and it'll look as tho you know what you're doing.

This is only my own observations i've picked up in recent years. I used to be called a John Entwhistle clone clued to floor looking at my bass neck all the time and so focused. Now i just enjoy what i'm doing, i know the songs well enough i'm not concentrating all the time and i've been using the same VM4 bass for past 4 yrs so i'm used to the neck.

PS I'm no expert in stage movements and if you're in a younger band i'd expect a more erratic style of movement. Age plays a big part. I'm not getting any younger LOL

Dave

 

If a song ends on the same notes repeated while the drummer does an ending, I'm fond of a "machine gun the audience" type move...

[Mickeyboro]

19 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

I've found that slower natural moving as if you're doing something around the house looks more professional than simply jumping about like an idiot or a flee on heat.

Sway with the beat, take a few steps forward or back every now and again, If you have a big enough stage walk over to the guitarist for a little status quo style swing. Dont rush about like a demented dog, just take your time and it'll look as tho you know what you're doing.

This is only my own observations i've picked up in recent years. I used to be called a John Entwhistle clone clued to floor looking at my bass neck all the time and so focused. Now i just enjoy what i'm doing, i know the songs well enough i'm not concentrating all the time and i've been using the same VM4 bass for past 4 yrs so i'm used to the neck.

PS I'm no expert in stage movements and if you're in a younger band i'd expect a more erratic style of movement. Age plays a big part. I'm not getting any younger LOL

Dave

Flea on heat… demented dog. Have you been spying on me? 😂

PS VM4 user too. 

[dmccombe7]

10 minutes ago, Mickeyboro said:

Flea on heat… demented dog. Have you been spying on me? 😂

PS VM4 user too. 

I stole it from your vid cliips 

[dclaassen]

I played a four-tune set with my jazz band students on base ( RAF Alconbury) last night. We don’t have a student bassist this year, so it falls to me…good fun and very well received by the crowd. The pub band I play with might have gotten a gig at the same venue as a result as well. 

[steantval]

18 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

Just got in from my first gig on guitar in 15 years. Punk covers band The Dogmattics at The Oddfellows Arms in Hemel doing the regular punk stuff plus a few non-punk but punked up songs.
 

Went well, I made a few minor mistakes but given I’ve only been in the band since January, we’ve only had three rehearsals and we’re doing about 40 songs I won’t beat myself up about it.

 

Thoroughly enjoyed it, plenty of good comments from people who have seen the band before which was nice, and I’d almost forgotten what it was like to get paid for playing in a band, this gig being a nice reminder.
 

I have seen that look before, it’s called effects pedal envy 😄

[Simon C]

7 hours ago, neepheid said:

 

If a song ends on the same notes repeated while the drummer does an ending, I'm fond of a "machine gun the audience" type move...

I’ll try that one in Church tomorrow 😂

[Thor]

Just in from our gig at The Angel Inn, Andover - we had a great night, a few of our loyal following turned up, so that always helps, there was a mix of people, some wanted to sit at tables and watch the band/chat with their pals, others wanted to dance and sing, we even had a young couple that we're heading to the Indian for dinner and were drawn in to the pub and stayed all night (they had packets of crisps and pickled eggs for their dinner, washed down with gin and beer😳😷)

 

Looking forward to a double header next weekend😀

[dmccombe7]

Had a fantastic night in Tinto Hotel Biggar 1.5 miles from my house at a biker rally. Played it last year with Emergency Exit punk band and this year they asked for BLOCKBUSTARZ Glam covers band.

Sound was excellent with just vocal PA being used. I thought we were a little quiet but my wife said no it was just right and it sounded really good out front.

Feedback was excellent with 8 people asking for booking details including an enquiry from a Swedish biker asking what we'd charge for another rally in Sweden. Will see if anything comes from that one. Others were Cumbria bike rally, and one of the Naval bases but not sure which one. One of the enquiries was form a booking agent for several venues so all good.

Usual pleasant comments about an amazing set and the band were first class including comments from the band that used to play it every year but unfortunately their singer guitarist was very unwell and can no longer play.

The Hotel itself was also very interested which would be nice for me.

The organiser said he was stunned when we first came on with all the costumes and gear and spent the first few songs mesmerised and taking pics and vids. Lots of mobile phone vids being taken all night. Dancers up from about 3rd song to a packed dance floor on 2nd set.

Organiser said they were used to the usual AC/DC covers bands playing but we put on a full show and that's what made the difference for him. He has also booked us for his brother birthday party later in year.

Used my Sandberg VM4 into Roland GRGB and into Handbox WB-100 and Mesa SW210/115 cabs. I use the mfx pedal for a Ric style tone in some songs plus a funk-wah sound for mid section in Virginia Plain.

All in all a great wee night. 

Dave

Edited February 26, 2023 by dmccombe7

[Mudpup]

1 hour ago, dmccombe7 said:

Had a fantastic night in Tinto Hotel Biggar 1.5 miles from my house at a biker rally. Played it last year with Emergency Exit punk band and this year they asked for BLOCKBUSTARZ Glam covers band.

Sound was excellent with just vocal PA being used. I thought we were a little quiet but my wife said no it was just right and it sounded really good out front.

Feedback was excellent with 8 people asking for booking details including an enquiry from a Swedish biker asking what we'd charge for another rally in Sweden. Will see if anything comes from that one. Others were Cumbria bike rally, and one of the Naval bases but not sure which one. One of the enquiries was form a booking agent for several venues so all good.

Usual pleasant comments about an amazing set and the band were first class including comments from the band that used to play it every year but unfortunately their singer guitarist was very unwell and can no longer play.

The Hotel itself was also very interested which would be nice for me.

The organiser said he was stunned when we first came on with all the costumes and gear and spent the first few songs mesmerised and taking pics and vids. Lots of mobile phone vids being taken all night. Dancers up from about 3rd song to a packed dance floor on 2nd set.

Organiser said they were used to the usual AC/DC covers bands playing but we put on a full show and that's what made the difference for him. He has also booked us for his brother birthday party later in year.

Used my Sandberg VM4 into Roland GRGB and into Handbox WB-100 and Mesa SW210/115 cabs. I use the mfx pedal for a Ric style tone in some songs plus a funk-wah sound for mid section in Virginia Plain.

All in all a great wee night. 

Dave

Sounds epic Dave! Well done...these sort of things are hard to beat. You've just got the inevitable comedown to deal with at the next gig 😂

[dmccombe7]

18 minutes ago, Mudpup said:

Sounds epic Dave! Well done...these sort of things are hard to beat. You've just got the inevitable comedown to deal with at the next gig 😂

To be fair we've not had a bad gig with this band and with our new guitarist joining last year its just going from strength to strength.  

Our singer mentioned something at the break in changing room that the one thing he's loving about the band is the fun we have and the sense of humour we all have. We can slate each other and not take it seriously but we just seem to be laughing a lot when we get together.

I'm probably quite lucky but both bands are great fun altho its the same drummer singer and bass player in  both bands 

Dave

[Mudpup]

10 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

To be fair we've not had a bad gig with this band and with our new guitarist joining last year its just going from strength to strength.  

Our singer mentioned something at the break in changing room that the one thing he's loving about the band is the fun we have and the sense of humour we all have. We can slate each other and not take it seriously but we just seem to be laughing a lot when we get together.

I'm probably quite lucky but both bands are great fun altho its the same drummer singer and bass player in  both bands 

Dave

I have the same thing with my mob. It's surprisingly hard to find and should be treasured.

[dmccombe7]

1 hour ago, Mudpup said:

I have the same thing with my mob. It's surprisingly hard to find and should be treasured.

Definitely 100%.

[casapete]

1 hour ago, Mudpup said:

I have the same thing with my mob. It's surprisingly hard to find and should be treasured.

I’ve been with my band now for over 12 years and they’ve all been great. That extends to

our tech guys too, always pleased to see everyone. 
I’ve been playing with my pal in our acoustic duo nearly 30 years without ever a crossed word.

Not only is he a diamond bloke but an amazing guitar player too - every gig is a pleasure.

So lucky. 🙂

[Waddo Soqable]

3 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

To be fair we've not had a bad gig with this band and with our new guitarist joining last year its just going from strength to strength.  

Our singer mentioned something at the break in changing room that the one thing he's loving about the band is the fun we have and the sense of humour we all have. We can slate each other and not take it seriously but we just seem to be laughing a lot when we get together.

I'm probably quite lucky but both bands are great fun altho its the same drummer singer and bass player in  both bands 

Dave

See what he thinks when you've Sneaked a rotten fish into his kit bag... 😁

[uk_lefty]

Decent gig for a private party. Great venue, played for nice people who weren't drunken idiots and they sang and danced along. 

 

I think this is the first time I've played my Epiphone Jack Casady for a whole gig, and my forearm knows it this morning! It was also my first experience of a sound limiter and we popped it in the second song, but with the drummer having an electronic kit we just turned him down a bit and it wasn't a problem again.