How was your gig last night?

[dmccombe7]

9 hours ago, tauzero said:

Boxing Day gig for The Bonnevilles at the Anker Inn in Weddington, on the borders of Nuneaton. Rather empty when we started - and it was an early start, at 6pm. We had a guest singer to do the inter-set break - she's become a regular fixture at our gigs, through doing open mics that our BL runs. She used backing tracks off her phone until the last song, when we accompanied her for "Creep". The second set had rather more of an audience, with a few of them dancing. Our guest singer came back on towards the end of our set to do "Sweet Child O' Mine". It was during that that I noticed that my wireless was showing battery low, so while she was getting back off the stage (it might only be 15cm high but it's a real stage) I switched wirelesses. Then we had a couple more songs, and into the final one, "Tulane". We were about 3/4 of the way through when the guitar cut out. The drummer and I carried on playing, singer carried on singing, guitarist was going over his pedalboard and amp trying to find the problem, singer did the band introduction for all of us, and then, just after he'd introduced the guitarist, the guitar suddenly burst back into life (guitarist told me afterwards he had no idea what had happened, it just started working again) and we finished off.

 

 

Antoniotsai dragon 5-string -> Lekato and M-Vave wirelesses -> Zoom MS-60B+ -> Tecamp Puma 900 -> GR Bass AT212. The usual Caravelle memory foam trainers.

Just curious but do you all ride Bonnies ?

Dave

[ezbass]

38 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Gorgeous looking bass.

Dave

Thank you. It is my original, Maruszczyk, custom build (33" scale, passive). It fell out of favour for about the last 3 or 4 years, as I was not digging fretless (except upright) at all, especially that MM fretless tone. However, I took it to rehearsal as I was feeling a bit sorry for it and, in a band mix, with some drive, it sounded awesome, bordering on Ric like. Since then I've used nothing else live. It's the easiest neck to play of all my basses and with the drive always on, I just ride the tone control for different tunes for everything from reggae and Motown, to full on The Jam, treble heavy, aggressive tones. I'm (currently) a very happy bass player.

[Obrienp]

3 hours ago, ezbass said:

Thank you. It is my original, Maruszczyk, custom build (33" scale, passive). It fell out of favour for about the last 3 or 4 years, as I was not digging fretless (except upright) at all, especially that MM fretless tone. However, I took it to rehearsal as I was feeling a bit sorry for it and, in a band mix, with some drive, it sounded awesome, bordering on Ric like. Since then I've used nothing else live. It's the easiest neck to play of all my basses and with the drive always on, I just ride the tone control for different tunes for everything from reggae and Motown, to full on The Jam, treble heavy, aggressive tones. I'm (currently) a very happy bass player.

I’m a Maruszczyk fan boy too. My Elwood 4a 32” is the nicest instrument I have ever owned and the neck is amazing. If money wasn’t an issue, I would have a Jake 32” in a flash. A Mensinger with a MM style pick up would be next. Just great gigging basses.

[tauzero]

4 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Just curious but do you all ride Bonnies ?

Dave

 

Just me, the BL has downsized to a Speed 400 from a T120, the guitarist is a former biker but I think it was mainly two-strokes. In the other band, Dirty Roses, two of us have Triumphs - it was three but the guitarist sold his T595. Still, I've got two Bonnies and have had four previous ones so the average Bonnie ownership across the two bands is 0.75.

[Leonard Smalls]

1 minute ago, tauzero said:

Bonnie ownership

But is it Real Bonnie Ownership?

I mean the sort that had chocolate electrics and leaked oil all over the garage floor, none of that It Just Works rubbish!

😁

I speak as owner of a bike that desn't leak, but had chocolate electrics until I changed 'em... Though I did become an expert in roadside carb-dismantling!

[tauzero]

Just now, Leonard Smalls said:

But is it Real Bonnie Ownership?

I mean the sort that had chocolate electrics and leaked oil all over the garage floor, none of that It Just Works rubbish!

😁

I speak as owner of a bike that desn't leak, but had chocolate electrics until I changed 'em... Though I did become an expert in roadside carb-dismantling!

 

The first three were Meriden Bonnies, the last three were Hinckleys (plus a Scrambler 900 which is part of the Bonnie family). I improved the electrics on the old ones by putting silicon bridge rectifiers in to replace the dodgy originals, and once I seated the pushrod tube seal properly there were no leaks.

[dmccombe7]

23 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

The first three were Meriden Bonnies, the last three were Hinckleys (plus a Scrambler 900 which is part of the Bonnie family). I improved the electrics on the old ones by putting silicon bridge rectifiers in to replace the dodgy originals, and once I seated the pushrod tube seal properly there were no leaks.

Side-tracking the thread here but one last quickie question. Are modern Bonnies ok. Gonna sell the Harley next year for something a bit smaller and Bonnie was on my list.

Dave

[dmccombe7]

1 hour ago, Obrienp said:

I’m a Maruszczyk fan boy too. My Elwood 4a 32” is the nicest instrument I have ever owned and the neck is amazing. If money wasn’t an issue, I would have a Jake 32” in a flash. A Mensinger with a MM style pick up would be next. Just great gigging basses.

This is one i quite fancy but new car has put a hold on any new basses for a bit altho i'm about to sell off some of mine.

[ezbass]

3 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

This is one i quite fancy but new car has put a hold on any new basses for a bit altho i'm about to sell off some of mine.

Mmm, a Waluszyczk.

[tauzero]

1 hour ago, dmccombe7 said:

Side-tracking the thread here but one last quickie question. Are modern Bonnies ok. Gonna sell the Harley next year for something a bit smaller and Bonnie was on my list.

Dave

 

Yes - try before you buy though, there's quite a few variants and you might find a Speedmaster or Bobber suits you better than a T120 or Speed Twin. The 1200 engine has plenty of torque.

[Greg Edwards69]

The Cricketers in Westcliff last night. Not a bad night at all considering it’s the Saturday after Christmas, the weekend before payday, and miserable weather. It would have been nice if it had been busier, but we had a decent enough, appreciated crowd (including my mum who’s flown over from Spain to stay with us over Christmas who rarely get’s to see us play).

 

The lovely Hazel was stepping in Jenny’s shoes with co-lead vocal and did a great job as ever. It was also my first one since Halloween due to afore mentioned shenanigans. I was a little apprehensive at first, and indeed a leading up to the gig and whether I should do it or not, as I need to avoid getting ill, considering I start radiotherapy in a week's time. But I've felt a little niggle in my throat like something's brewing for a few days, so doing this gig wasn't going to change anything. If I get a cold, it won't be from the gig. Besides, I'm being mindful of who I mix with and obsessive with hand sanitizer! It was a good job I didn't do last week's gig, as half the band had the lurgy at the time!

 

Set up and soundcheck was painless and we played well - I was quite chuffed with myself considering I haven't played in earnest for a couple of months. The end of the night after our planned set had finished got interesting. People wanted a Xmas one, so muscle memory got me through Slade that I hadn't played for 12 months. Then improvised our with through 'My Girl' and 'Don't look back in anger' that we'd never played before. You'll be plaased to know I turned and faced the corner in shame during the latter whilst playing it. 

 

The next gig is at the same venue in a month's time. I'm still aiming to do it if I'm well enough, but after that, it's in the lap of the gods.

[Woodinblack]

Quite local pub last night for an early evening gig (or 7-10). Setup and found I forgot the iPad so dashed home to get it, seeing as I had already setup everything. Looked like it was going to be a quiet night, there were actually 2 people in the room when we started!

Luckily after a song, another group of 6 people came in and then some more afterwards. By song 5 it was actually pretty busy, although it is a fairly small room. 

The drum kit lights had broken so I put my aliexpress bar light across the front and it worked really well.

 

All in all a good gig and the last we need to do christmas songs for!

[martthebass]

20 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

Dave, I think going into 2026 blues rock is going to become more and more of a challenge.  I doubt I could pivot to a top tier party cover band.

 

Daryl

Never say never Daryl, I was playing post-punk stuff before joining a Glam band. Joined as a dep for 6 weeks - still here 9 years later 

[dmccombe7]

1 hour ago, martthebass said:

Never say never Daryl, I was playing post-punk stuff before joining a Glam band. Joined as a dep for 6 weeks - still here 9 years later 

And that's how it grabs you and then you're hooked for life. 🤩

Dave

[Bluewine]

3 hours ago, martthebass said:

Never say never Daryl, I was playing post-punk stuff before joining a Glam band. Joined as a dep for 6 weeks - still here 9 years later 

 

I'll be 72 next month.

Dave, I'm just not sure I could handle the amount of night gigs or trying to do 2 and 3 gig weekends. I wish I could. However,  I still want to see more consistent packed rooms and lots of dancing. You can't get that with blues rock.

 

It's a bit of a downer playing " Red House" and watch the audience fall asleep.  I wish we would dump that song.

 

Daryl

 

 

[12stringbassist]

Ours was quite good.
 

 

A slight goof as we get this song tight. But were having a lot of fun....

 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by 12stringbassist

[bassbiscuits]

My final gig of 2025, with the Elton John tribute, at Bibi’s in Leeds. The usual matinee and evening gigs, both really well attended with the audience up for singing and dancing.
 

Its a long day with travelling and a gap between sets so I came prepared and had a nap in my car between sets.
 

As ever, plenty of good food, good vibes and a lovely way to round off my year musically. 
 

The usual rig of P bass and Yamaha basses (for the different 70s and 80s sounds), Markbass Traveller cabs, Little Mark II head and effects board. Just about managed to cram it all, along with the drumkit (and drummer) in my car. Long live old Volvo estates. 

 

[martthebass]

10 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

I'll be 72 next month.

Dave, I'm just not sure I could handle the amount of night gigs or trying to do 2 and 3 gig weekends. I wish I could. However,  I still want to see more consistent packed rooms and lots of dancing. You can't get that with blues rock.

 

It's a bit of a downer playing " Red House" and watch the audience fall asleep.  I wish we would dump that song.

 

Daryl

 

 

We’re not spring chickens Daryl. We only do 1 per week now and limit it to 36 gigs per year.

[Obrienp]

11 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

I'll be 72 next month.

Dave, I'm just not sure I could handle the amount of night gigs or trying to do 2 and 3 gig weekends. I wish I could. However,  I still want to see more consistent packed rooms and lots of dancing. You can't get that with blues rock.

 

It's a bit of a downer playing " Red House" and watch the audience fall asleep.  I wish we would dump that song.

 

Daryl

 

 

I’m 2 years behind you and I play in a blues/rock band, and a covers band. I perhaps get more musical satisfaction from the blues/rock stuff but the covers are much more rewarding from the audience participation perspective: dancing, singing along, etc. We do throw in a few originals too but they largely go unnoticed, people think they know them but can’t remember who charted with them Lol! 
 

I would worry about the multiple gigs per weekend scenario when it happens. You are doing really well when you can get that many gigs! Train up a dep and cherry pick the gigs you want to play, when it gets too much.

[dmccombe7]

19 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

I'll be 72 next month.

Dave, I'm just not sure I could handle the amount of night gigs or trying to do 2 and 3 gig weekends. I wish I could. However,  I still want to see more consistent packed rooms and lots of dancing. You can't get that with blues rock.

 

It's a bit of a downer playing " Red House" and watch the audience fall asleep.  I wish we would dump that song.

 

Daryl

 

 

That's the bit i  don't understand with some bands. If we find a song isn't working or the audience all of a sudden sit down because we started a song then we have a discussion on whether to remove the song or put it on standby. The full band will feel when a song isn't working.

What i find over here is that the Glam bands can be great party night fun but with Blues / rock then a lot of people will be watching and admiring the musicianship rather than as an overall show so its swings and roundabouts really. Its different audiences for different styles.

Dave

 

[Norris]

It's not always easy to know what is going down well sometimes. We play a variety of venues: some like to dance, some places It's nigh on impossible to get anyone on the floor. However we nearly always get positive comments, which sometimes comes as a bit of a surprise when you think you're not going down that well.

 

I guess all you can do is enjoy this fleeting existence and hope some of the joy rubs off on other people 😁

[Woodinblack]

3 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

but with Blues / rock then a lot of people will be watching and admiring the musicianship

 

Pah, speak for your own band

 

[warwickhunt]

INXS UK playing Newcastle City Hall, Christmas Rocks 2025 with a guest vocalist; Jen from Alanis - Jagged Little Pill.

[peteb]

3 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

That's the bit i  don't understand with some bands. If we find a song isn't working or the audience all of a sudden sit down because we started a song then we have a discussion on whether to remove the song or put it on standby. The full band will feel when a song isn't working.

What i find over here is that the Glam bands can be great party night fun but with Blues / rock then a lot of people will be watching and admiring the musicianship rather than as an overall show so its swings and roundabouts really. Its different audiences for different styles.

Dave

 

 

People want different things from music, bands and entertainment in general. I would imagine that many people go to your gigs to relive a part of their youth, maybe dress-up, have a few drinks and dance around the proverbial handbag. Nothing wrong with that, they're having fun and being entertained by you. But for many, it could just as well be a UB40 tribute or watching Mama Mia! 

 

Plenty of people love watching blues bands and are probably more connected to the music than they are music from their past. I'm not saying that dancing never happens, and it is always good if any band work on entertaining the audience, but you will have a different atmosphere to a glam band gig! Still people are there enjoying it, so it's still all good. 

 

23 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

I'll be 72 next month.

Dave, I'm just not sure I could handle the amount of night gigs or trying to do 2 and 3 gig weekends. I wish I could. However,  I still want to see more consistent packed rooms and lots of dancing. You can't get that with blues rock.

 

It's a bit of a downer playing " Red House" and watch the audience fall asleep.  I wish we would dump that song.

 

Daryl

 

 

 

With the best will in the world, I don't see your BL going onstage and knocking out Wig Wam Bam anytime soon! But that's cool - just work with the band you're in and be as good as you can within that remit. I've played all over the UK playing blues festivals and had great fun - I would jump at the chance to do something similar again! 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by peteb