How was your gig last night?

[super al]

 

 

Played a Salisbury Live gig on Friday at the same venue as @Cat Burrito played last weekend.

The room is quite big with a dancefloor in front of a low stage and there are tables and chairs on a gallery area up some steps (this is on the same level as the rest of the club).

There were three bands and we were headliners. Our drummer was drumming in the first band and singing in the second band so it was a little weird but we got to see another side of him and both bands were good.

There wasn't a lot of audience throughout the evening but enough for it not to be embarrassing and consider it a 'paid rehearsal'.

I'd say the fact that there seemed to be very little promotion apart from what the bands put in themselves, the venue is out of town and there's loads going on in Salisbury this weekend contributed to a low turnout.

Having said that, the evening was great fun and we got another gig out of it later this year...with a guaranteed audience 👍🏻

Back to my Airwalk Ones (worn out soles but comfy!)

Spoke to the other bands' bassist and we had a connection to a local band from the early 90s so that was cool.

Short video from the outro to Butterflies (slightly cut short 😬)

[Franticsmurf]

The Hulla band played a 50th birthday party last night in what is becoming a regular venue for us in Port Eynon on Gower. We've played inside and outside the hall, in teepees and marquees there and, for the first gig I played with them, open air outside the fish and chip shop on the sea front back in 2022. That day we were paid in food. 😀

 

The stage was cramped but  I wanted to play my new 5 string Ibanez. I was aware that it might not be possible without repeatedly stroking the guitarist's lower back with my headstock (not a euphemism) and took my headless shortscale Ibanez as an option. But I managed to find a little spot between drums, keys and guitarist that I was able to make my own. I had planned on using the onstage monitors rather than my in ears but the cramped conditions and proximity to the drums and the guitarist's amp meant that I ended up with the IEM. Our sound man had brought the PA subs and during the soundcheck my bass was booming away but once the hall filled up and he'd EQ'd properly, the sound was good. I kept the board to a minimum - Zoom MS60b giving me a noise gate, compressor and tuner and my Ampeg Classic preamp going into a DI box and into the desk. IEMs were through my Behringer P16 via Ultranet from the desk and a pair of KZ ZS10s earphones on which I've replaced the silicon buds with foam ones for much better isolation. Footwear of choice was the lace up black Skechers which have become an intergal part of my sound.

 

                                                        

 

This was my first gig playing a 5 string for several years and there were a few string faux pas but nothing the derailed the night and overall I was happy with my performance, and with the 5 string. I love the narrow string spacing and neck, which suits my hands perfectly.

 

As usual, we had a lot of fun on stage and the audience were up and dancing from the first number.

Hiding behind the guitarist.

 

Edited yesterday at 08:51 by Franticsmurf

[neepheid]

Played at the North Bar in Peterhead last night with Nine Lives.  Bit of a weird one.  A venue we've never played before. An area so wide, but with paths customers will take across where the cables to the PA speakers have to go, so I spent most of my time sticking cables down with gaffer tape. Really going to have to investigate using wireless bugs to get the signal from the desk to the PA speakers for places like this in future. Rushed setup as a result, and we were a bit late starting. And after all that effort, it was pretty sparsely attended - in the first half we ended up playing to 4 (four) folk plus the bar staff. "Paid rehearsal" came to mind, but thankfully some people came in later on and it was better in the second half. On the plus side, the sound was good, and the SB-2 performed admirably, with the Wunkay seeing out the second half. I do love my G&Ls. MFD FTW.

 

Gear was the fantastic MFD brothers (G&L Tribute SB-2 then Wunkay) into the usual Markbass cubes of low frequency.  Please excuse the terrible photos, my phone was having a 'mare focussing, it would seem.

 

[Stub Mandrel]

A rugby club up in the valleys on Sunday early evening. Modest attendance but enthusiastic reception for Bendricks Rock.

 

I'd driven to London at 1:30 am,  got four hours of non-sleep from 5-9 then drove back for 1pm. About 20 minutes of fitful nap, eat, shower lots of tea, then picked up by vocalist for 50 minute drive.

 

I was amazed that not only did I not eff-up, I had a good gig. Nearly dropped off in the car back.

 

Now I'm going to sleep early, goodnight.

 

[StingRayBoy42]

1 minute ago, Stub Mandrel said:

A rugby club up in the valleys on Sunday early evening. Modest attendance but enthusiastic reception for Bendricks Rock.

 

I'd driven to London at 1:30 am,  got four hours of non-sleep from 5-9 then drove back for 1pm. About 20 minutes of fitful nap, eat, shower lots of tea, then picked up by vocalist for 50 minute drive.

 

I was amazed that not only did I not eff-up, I had a good gig. Nearly dropped off in the car back.

 

Now I'm going to sleep early, goodnight.

 

You absolute Monster!

[Bluewine]

4 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

A rugby club up in the valleys on Sunday early evening. Modest attendance but enthusiastic reception for Bendricks Rock.

 

I'd driven to London at 1:30 am,  got four hours of non-sleep from 5-9 then drove back for 1pm. About 20 minutes of fitful nap, eat, shower lots of tea, then picked up by vocalist for 50 minute drive.

 

I was amazed that not only did I not eff-up, I had a good gig. Nearly dropped off in the car back.

 

Now I'm going to sleep early, goodnight.

 

 

Driving home, our old drummer

" dropped off " after a late night gig and ran into a fence.

 

He announced he was leaving the band at the next gig. His wife was not happy with the event.

 

Daryl

[Bilbo]

I did a little jam session thing yesterday, second gig in three years and I had no amp so went through the pa and sounded dreadful. There were poets and the usual string of lunatics but watching the tiny crowd watching enjoying themselves was life affirming and I realised that life is not about how I experience things but how WE do so. For that reason, it was a triumph. One lady who was celebrating her 70th birthday yesterday sidled up to me and said she had been volunteering at Rock Festivals for decades and had never heard anyone play bass like I did. She said, '...but I got it. I really did'. Made my little day. 😊

[Burns-bass]

1 hour ago, Bilbo said:

I did a little jam session thing yesterday, second gig in three years and I had no amp so went through the pa and sounded dreadful. There were poets and the usual string of lunatics but watching the tiny crowd watching enjoying themselves was life affirming and I realised that life is not about how I experience things but how WE do so. For that reason, it was a triumph. One lady who was celebrating her 70th birthday yesterday sidled up to me and said she had been volunteering at Rock Festivals for decades and had never heard anyone play bass like I did. She said, '...but I got it. I really did'. Made my little day. 😊

This is why we do it!

 

I played a gig at a marina bar. Blues and funk covers and was going through the motions really (as double bass is my favourite instrument to play) and I looked over a guy in a Led Zepplin T-shirt rocking out like it was the best gig ever.

 

All packed up and home by 10pm and he told us we were brilliant, etc.

 

Some of the gigs we play I wonder why I bother, then you do one like this and it becomes a bit clearer.

 

Doing a run of 4 next weekend (is that a tour?). Hope they’ll be as good

 

[casapete]

1 hour ago, Burns-bass said:

This is why we do it!

 

I played a gig at a marina bar. Blues and funk covers and was going through the motions really (as double bass is my favourite instrument to play) and I looked over a guy in a Led Zepplin T-shirt rocking out like it was the best gig ever.

 

All packed up and home by 10pm and he told us we were brilliant, etc.

 

Some of the gigs we play I wonder why I bother, then you do one like this and it becomes a bit clearer.

 

Doing a run of 4 next weekend (is that a tour?). Hope they’ll be as good

 

This ^^^ 100% !

 

We had a similar gig yesterday, our regular slot at The Sun Inn, Beverley. It was pretty full by the time we

arrived at 4.30pm, then absolutely rammed by the time we kicked off at 5.30pm. Obviously the bank 

holiday had a fair part to play in the amount of people coming in, but we managed to keep them from

moving on to other local drinking places. 

We did our usual request thing, and probably the most we’ve ever had. ‘Dad rock’ was the main theme

on a lot of them , so we hit them up with ‘’Smoke on the water’, ‘Highway to Hell’ and ‘Stairway…’. 
These were intertwined with ‘Copacabana’ , ‘Don’t dream it’s over’ and the awful ‘Hi Ho Silver lining’

Drink does appear to affect a lot of people’s preferences it would seem. 

Funniest thing was when a group of young lads came in, with a trophy held high as they’d just won it

at a local football tournament. As they were about to be served one of the bar staff asked what the team was

called, to be told it was a village under 18 side!! A swift exit followed …..

 

No pics taken, except for the lovely Beverley Minster as we were loading out.

 

 

[neepheid]

What a cracking gig last night.  Played with Nine Lives in a wee pub in a wee village (specifcally the Pittendrum Bar in Sandhaven - a small village just along the North Sea coast from Fraserburgh).  Funnily enough, we had played in this village a few years back, in their village hall on Hogmanay just before the COVID hit (so 2019, I guess?  The "before times").

 

One of the advantages of playing a small place is that you don't need many folk as long as they're up for a dance or a singalong.  There were 20ish folk in but they were a musically omnivorous bunch and seemed to be up for just about anything, which makes our job a bit easier.  Anyway, long story short, we had folk up dancing to most of the songs, and a few head bobbers at the bar, so can't really ask for more than that.  The pub said that they want to book us again, so that's what you want to hear.  Easy load in/out - side door onto the street right next to where we're playing.  Really was a fantastic wee gig.

 

Gear was my "cheap night out" basses - Gear4Music bass with Lace Aluma-P then Epiphone Em-bassy with Entwistle PBXN Neodymium, into the usual Markbass modular nonsense.

 

 

Also because yesterday was May 4th, I geeked out a little.  R2-Neep2?

 

[neepheid]

Also - bonus video!

 

 

 

[Norris]

 

Last night was a joint 60th and 40th birthday, but in an open pub. This is about the smallest place we play, crammed into the corner. I always prefer to have my amp on the floor, but had to put it up on the seat for this one. Our regular drummer is still down with bronchitis, so the seat was filled by Rob Hewins, a musician I really admire - he did a great job drumming, filling in harmonies and taking the lead vox in a couple of songs. He's a pretty mean guitarist too!

 

As usual the place was rammed, so I hovered in that thin line between having my teeth knocked out by the crowd knocking my mic stand and being stung in the back by a cymbal crash 😂

 

Sire P7-5, GT-6B, Rumble 500, burgundy suede Vans

[Stub Mandrel]

2 minutes ago, neepheid said:

Also - bonus video!

 

 

 

 

I was thinking why are the band so far from the drumkit...

[neepheid]

2 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said:

 

I was thinking why are the band so far from the drumkit...

 

Drummers smell funny, innit?

 

(Joking, Chris, love ya!)

[basexperience]

3 hours ago, Bilbo said:

I did a little jam session thing yesterday, second gig in three years and I had no amp so went through the pa and sounded dreadful. There were poets and the usual string of lunatics but watching the tiny crowd watching enjoying themselves was life affirming and I realised that life is not about how I experience things but how WE do so. For that reason, it was a triumph. One lady who was celebrating her 70th birthday yesterday sidled up to me and said she had been volunteering at Rock Festivals for decades and had never heard anyone play bass like I did. She said, '...but I got it. I really did'. Made my little day. 😊

I recognise this feeling so much. I've played a lot of jam nights in the last 2-3 years, and they can be just like that. One particularly rough pub in Reading yielded occasional moments of inspired stuff, truly eclectic song choices and some hair on the back of the neck moments. Random people telling you they love the bass and normally it doesn't get a chance to shine - when I hear that, I just know someone really heard what I was doing. That's when the house band fee feels like it's worth the candle.

 

I hope you get that feeling as often as possible - it's the feeling of having actually entertained someone. 🙂 

[StingRayBoy42]

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'.

[Angelus]

Sunday evening gig in a local, with a new guitarist and new drummer. Slimmed down setlist, of which we’d only run through half together on Wednesday afternoon. Vocalist/guitarist and I have gigged together for the last eight years, so fit well together. Drummer and I gigged together for 12 years in the late 80’/90’s, he dep’d with us for one gig in 2022, so I trust him and he’s brilliant. New lead guitarist has some brilliant vocals, especially with the couple of Cult songs he’s brought, gigs with another Band and does his one man show too, so he’s fitted in well. New line up gives us four ( well three and me ) lead vocals and an awful lot of gigging experience. 
 

Cant help but think this might be the start of a good thing. 

[AlexDelores]

Saturday night was a wedding at a new venue for us in Lincoln. 

 

Long old day with travel included. We performed the ceremony, drinks and evening + DJ which is fairly regular package for us. But when we have a few hours travel on these as well they are killer days. Woke at 6am… Left the house at 7.30am and got home at 3.20am. Worked out at around 20hr day (ish). Still, just the one gig this week so not too bad. This can get relatively regular in the Summer so taking it as a nice easy week. 

 

All round a really good day. Lovely couple and group of people which were well up for it in the evening and a good sound with no limiter! Good first dance too. ‘Silver’ by The DMA’s which we smashed (if I do say so) 

 

Although, we are going through a few weeks of technical frustrations. Struggling quite a bit with something causing an intermittent cut out/ crackle in our IEMs. Thought we’d cracked it but it appeared again for a couple of songs... Sometimes wonder whether we’d be better with corded IEMs but with only 1 aux feed sending to 2 IEMs I don’t know whether this is achievable…? More investigation needed

 

Also struggled with a horrible grounding type issue on my bass in soundcheck. Noise gate and reducing the gain on my pedal seemed to fix it but strange it’s never been an issue before. I’ve gone back to the Zoom B3 after having a few gigs using my new Laney Digbeth pedal. But, I really missed the cab sim within the SVT patch so not sure whether I’ll just stick with the B3 or try and find a way to make the Digbeth work as it does sound great. 

 

Anyway, the important bit…

 

Brown Asda boots that I picked up on the way to a gig a few months ago after the guitarist let my Dr Martens fall out of the van on his drive without realising.