How was your gig last night?

[Stub Mandrel]

10 minutes ago, StingRayBoy42 said:

There's a heavy metal band that insists on having everything on stage set up in *exactly* the same way at every gig... they're called OCDC.

 

Their rivals are utterly chaotic.

AD/HD.

[Franticsmurf]

I played a charity gig with the Hulla band last night at Rhossili village hall (that's right on the windy end of Gower and last night was very windy). It was in aid of Brain Tumour Research (organised by someone whose daughter has recently been diagnosed) and well attended for such a stormy night. The hall has a proper stage but as a thirteen pieces, we manage to fill the space of most stages and tonight was no exception. I was stage left as usual but at least I had a small off stage area that my headstock could fit in. The set was a mix of rocky stuff, a bit of C&W and Stones songs, requested by the organiser. Pizza and drinks were supplied for the band, which was very thoughtful as we had an early setup and little time to eat. 

 

Lots of dancing, some tears at the speeches, more dancing and some dodgy (but great) audience singing. We had a 'mare during 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' when, for no obvious reason, the arrangement went jazz on us and I found it hard to get back to some kind of normality. Later, the singer/guitarist jumped off the stage (about 3 feet) and as he landed, the battery pack for his wireless guitar setup fell off the strap and bounced across the floor. He was set to solo and instead I had to fill in the gap with some bass runs while the crowd picked up the pieces and handed them back to him. That seemed to clear the jinx and the rest of the set was fine. The inevitable 'one more song' chant led to an extended encore and a later finish that we were expecting but everyone stayed to the end and I was home by 12.30. 

 

Kit last night was my Fender P Bass going through the Behringer TU300 tuner (I can't get on with clip-on tuners) and my Behringer BDI21 which fed the desk from it's DI and my IEM from the jack socket. I was trying to keep things simple as I knew there wouldn't be much space on stage. Footwear was a pair of black no brand boots.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[neepheid]

Still buzzing from last night's gig with Nine Lives at the Harbour Lights in Peterhead.  Yay, a stage!  Yay, a sound engineer and house PA!  So we found ourselves in the unusual position of being ready to go about half an hour before show time.  It was pretty busy, certainly the busiest I remember it being at this particular venue, there seemed to be a constant, but varying level of 30-40 folk in the bar at any one time.  I worried that we'd be a bit rusty, being the first gig since the beginning of December, but we played really well, a few minor bloops here and there but nothing showstopping.  And boy did I feel frisky - I went on three wireless walkarounds during the gig (or was it four?).  General shape throwing/posing on stage and I'm feeling pretty creaky today.  But all in all, cracking night, got some great comments and chit chat with a few of the punters.  Had the obligatory drunk guy thus:

 

Punter: "Can you play some Metallica?"

Me: "Sure, in a couple of songs"

...

*band plays Enter Sandman*

...

Punter: "You said you'd play Metallica!"
Me: "Umm, we did?"

Punter: "Aww, I missed it"

*I shrug*

 

Well, we're not going to play it again, are we?  FFS!

 

Anyway, apart from that, cracking night, loads of folks up dancing, a new song in the set went without a hitch, got some great feedback, got paid (and got told that we could up our price next time), reduced load in/out due to not having to provide PA.  Just all kinds of good really.

 

Gear was the Cort Curbow then the Ibanez ATK into the usual toan cubes (which weren't doing that much, mostly just providing the feed to the desk, had a wedge in front of me)

 

[dmccombe7]

3 hours ago, StingRayBoy42 said:

There's a heavy metal band that insists on having everything on stage set up in *exactly* the same way at every gig... they're called OCDC.

Used to roadie for them 😂

Dave

[peteb]

7 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

100% Pete. I started going just after covid altho i've been an on/off gym goer over the years but this is the first gym i've stuck at 3 times a week.

I started light with the weights and would start at 8 reps and work up to 12 reps. Once at 12 reps i upped the weight and back to 8.

Its not always about how much you can lift either. The technique is more important with slow negatives offering more benefit than simply rapid up/down movements. I went for 2 yrs just doing my own thing in the gym but needed to move it forward and took on a PT for 10 sessions (2 1hr sessions per wk). Did that every 6mths - year just to push us and learn correct techniques. Then started taking classes in ABS training then HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) currently doing proper weight training class and body sculpt class. Two different styles of training in the gym. I don't struggle so much lifting PA cabs or kit these days and not out of breath when walking up stairs or even just lifting heavy objects. Went from just under 15st after Covid to 12st at the moment. Dropped from 36" waist to 32", from a Large T-shirt back to a Med. I'm now wearing same size clothes as i di in my 30's. Not bad for an old guy at 65.   

Dave

 

That's more than I'm doing and when I've got anywhere near that level, I've aggravated old (mainly football) injuries and had to stop training for a while. 

 

However, I wouldn't want to put people off. You can do a lot less than Dave and still get tangible benefits. The main point is to build a bit of core strength and to halt muscle decay and maintain bone density. All of this is very important once you hit your fifties. To achieve this, all you need to do is lift medium weights on a regular basis.

 

As far as improving your core goes, I have a displaced vertebrae in my back as a result of doing too many sit-ups once in my thirties and then playing football the day after. This could have quite a serious affect on me, especially at this time of year when the weather gets cold. However, when I started going to a gym in my late thirties, I started doing moderate weight exercises to strengthen the muscles around my spine and I have never had a problem with my back since. How many people here complain about back issues stopping them from lifting cabs, playing certain basses, etc. A few months of doing simple exercises and I went from being in agony whenever the weather got cold, to having no problem with my back at all. You can do similar things to alleviate shoulder problems as well. 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by peteb

[Lozz196]

After a tiresome few years my osteopath has just advised me to start going to the gym again, as I’m now pretty much pain free. But she’s said the very lightest weights only, and machine-weights only, no free weights. So whatever machine I use one of whatever weight is on it, with the intention of now building some strength back to protect it going forwards.

[dmccombe7]

24 minutes ago, peteb said:

 

That's more than I'm doing and when I've got anywhere near that level, I've aggravated old (mainly football) injuries and had to stop training for a while. 

 

However, I wouldn't want to put people off. You can do a lot less than Dave and still get tangible benefits. The main point is to build a bit of core strength and to halt muscle decay and maintain bone density. All of this is very important once you hit your fifties. To achieve this, all you need to do is lift medium weights on a regular basis.

 

As far as improving your core goes, I have a displaced vertebrae in my back as a result of doing too many sit-ups once in my thirties and then playing football the day after. This could have quite a serious affect on me, especially at this time of year when the weather gets cold. However, when I started going to a gym in my late thirties, I started doing moderate weight exercises to strengthen the muscles around my spine and I have never had a problem with my back since. How many people here complain about back issues stopping them from lifting cabs, playing certain basses, etc. A few months of doing simple exercises and I went from being in agony whenever the weather got cold, to having no problem with my back at all. You can do similar things to alleviate shoulder problems as well. 

 

I know it sounds like a lot but its only 3hrs a week, occasionally a bit more.

I found classes just pushed me a bit more than being in the gym on my own.

My lower back has always been my weak spot and i've been specifically working on that area

As Pete says a couple of sessions a week with lighter weights will produce surprising results quite quickly. 

Dave

 

[dmccombe7]

25 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

After a tiresome few years my osteopath has just advised me to start going to the gym again, as I’m now pretty much pain free. But she’s said the very lightest weights only, and machine-weights only, no free weights. So whatever machine I use one of whatever weight is on it, with the intention of now building some strength back to protect it going forwards.

No pain is great news for you Lozz.

 

Dave

[Lozz196]

Thanks Dave, I still can’t do much but I’ll take that any day of the week compared to where I was 2/3 years ago. Pain free and pretty decent mobility, if that’s as far as I can go will suit me.

[dmccombe7]

12 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

Thanks Dave, I still can’t do much but I’ll take that any day of the week compared to where I was 2/3 years ago. Pain free and pretty decent mobility, if that’s as far as I can go will suit me.

I know we talked about this stuff before and you were in a bad way with the pain so this is huge.

Dave