toneknob

my Prog chums The Far Meadow, followed by the brilliant A Formal Horse, at my local The Bedford in Balham, last Sunday. Look them on facebook to see my photos from the event! next recently Steve Hackett, Snarky Puppy, Zappa Plays Zappa, Steven Wilson. coming soon: Jaga Jazzist, Dave Matthews Band.

[quote name='cytania' timestamp='1446373040' post='2898795'] Has a tribute band ever been mistaken for the original band? Surely this would make them the best... [/quote] I was once asked to sign some original memorabilia of the band, but in my own name. Odd.

Xanadu by Rush, 5mins instrumental intro on an 11m07s song. 45% intro.

[quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1446148886' post='2897390'] Off to see The Book of Genesis tomorrow night. I've seen G2 (they're really good) and ReGenesis. Missed The Musical Box last time they were over but they're definitely on the list. [/quote] Let us know how it goes. Seen the others, not for a few years though. My first TMB gig was mid-90s in Atlanta, really enjoyable. Ditto years later at the Royal Albert Hall when Steve Hackett joined in for a bonus Firth Of Fifth encore.

[quote name='stuckinthepod' timestamp='1446209156' post='2897727'] I second Doors Alive. Saw then recently and was very impressed. Managed to conjure an atmosphere as well as a solid performance. [/quote] Agreed, I'm biased though - their keys player previously auditioned for a band of mine, and of course was offered the job because he's hugely talented. He had to turn me down eventually for a better paying gig (ie a gig that paid anything), but a couple of years later when I said I'm on the way to the Islington Academy with 5 mates to see their Christmas show, he said no problem I'll get you all on the guestlist. What a star! Props also to bandmates from the same band who are also now vocals and guitar respectively in Supertramp trib Logicaltramp.

[quote name='operative451' timestamp='1446212765' post='2897783'] The BSW does make some totally unusable noises! If you want to be bootsy collins or do 'uptown funk' its great. Its also quite good for being the Human League but the knobs are very sensitive (arf) and its easy to from 'cool sound' to '70s Dr who monster' and then not be able to get back again. I got it cheap and wanted something that would split my signal and have an octaver on it. The floor pedals are Joyo - 'Voodoo Fuzz', Fuzz with octave up, tremelo, and 'California sound' aka a copy of the sansamp California. And a behringer 'vintage phaser'. [/quote] Thanks! I don't think I've got any pedals that don't make unusable noises come to think of it. Agree having a built-in splitter is very useful.

[quote name='stuckinthepod' timestamp='1446209358' post='2897732'] There is an art to getting a good sound out of the Bass Synth Wah. I found the best I got out of it was the clunk it made as I threw it in the cupboard. [/quote] I'll have it then. if it's no good I'll sell it back to you

I want a Bass Synth Wah now. What are the pedals on the floor?

[quote name='Davo-London' timestamp='1446195653' post='2897576'] So when I see pedals with 4 or more knobs I lose heart. Just saying. [/quote] That's 10000.

Dig deep enough on the Bedford's website and you'll find this: http://www.thebedford.co.uk/EventView.aspx?ID=0250dfbe-fdb3-4230-bf8b-baa85aa6893d ("Gabriel era 1970-75" says the flyer)

Not yet, but often considered it. I've got things that arpeggiate: Sonuus Wahoo, Moog T3, Death By Audio Robot, and a looper. And too many fuzz and bit-crusher pedals, and a Boss LS-2 and an amp for "bass" and an amp for "distorted". Also there's a Stylophone itching to get in on the action as well. What annoys me about the RB bloke is that he has to try to be bassist and guitarist at the same time. Just make your sound and get on with it, if you need a guitarist then get one.

Here's their 2015 tour trailer. Pretty good, but something odd is going on in Cuckoo Cocoon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLfJ_yW3500 And the Rutherford is playing his double-neck sitting down by the looks of it. Awkward.

[quote name='KevB' timestamp='1446023368' post='2896187'] They are also doing a few UK dates in November this year with a more 'general' Genesis set (I think). Saw them a few years ago and though I'm not much of a genesis officianado they sounded very authentic to me. The lineup changes a lot though, singer is only person who has lasted through all the versions of the band. They exist as an originals band as well as a tribute, though the 'original' music sounds, almost inevitably, like early Genesis much of the time. Worth seeing if they play locally to you. [/quote] Agreed - I've only seen them once, at The Peel in Kingston a few years ago, but they are certainly among the best of quite a crowded Genesis tribute scene, especially when it comes to doing the fiddly early material.

Tour dates are on The Watch's website at http://www.thewatch.it/test/?page_id=48 - they're playing my local! (who are notoriously bad at promotion)

Something by Curve. No idea if they were any good but you know, Toni Halliday.

And similarly Fiona Apple/Across The Universe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXE1C--WezU

A cover of Belly's cover of Are You Experienced http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4i9M_2X86Gg

As an aside to the aside, I've just remembered this email from RS from an exchange I had with him in 2006 after seeing him at the Coventry Jazz Festival. I'd asked about the mods he'd made to his bass. Hope it's of interest. "RS Fender Fretless is an ash body made by my Dad in 76. Just recently I had to change the neck as I had worn the fretboard out. It now has a Japanese Fender Fretless Jazz neck, 2005. Electrics as Jazz Fender set up with Demarzios PB and JB. Schaller bridge and machine heads, (prefer the machine quality of these to the Fender ones), Roto Sound Jazz strings. it is strung now with my last set of JB roundwounds from my 76 to 79 period. Roto Sound supplied 90 sets durring my Camel performance period, and I only used a few then on tours, so its taken till now to exhaust this supply. The latest Roto Sound strings not so good tonally. String making is more refined now, so I will be searching and researching for a new brand that have the right tension and PING! Time for a double bass me thinks. Other extras to Mr Leo Fenders design are an extra string retainer for the A and D string, to make the angle more acute over the nut, this gives a firm seat to the strings, (no possible vibration so strings tension better); Plate that holds neck on is larger with 6 neck bolts (makes neck solid to body to help resonance). Still struggling with the perfect string PING! from the now exhausted Demarzios, thinking of changing them to Jazz pickups made by Knuckles GB. The bass instrument hunt goes on. Hope to set up workshop in Puglia this year. Happy Bass ends up, Richard"

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1445524123' post='2892134'] What would James Cameron's Avatar have been without Roger Dean?! [/quote] About two hours shorter

Murray & Davis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czb5GmVU4gA

Pastorius & Erskine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuAMSE_xck4 (includes footage of the famous Zawinul "backwards keyboard", 0m50s for example)

He's great (Relayer is my favourite), but in the ultimate prog album cover showdown, Hipgnosis wins.

[quote name='Shonks' timestamp='1444759917' post='2885733'] i think you need one when using a Jazz bass with a volume for each pickup, otherwise you can't turn up or down without changing your sound [/quote] Very good point about Jazz bass volume. I use Ernie Ball VP Jrs in my set up, it makes a lot of sense as both a Jazz player and being in a line-up with a lot of voices (guitar, sax, trumpet, keys, drums) and having fade-ins and -outs. Volume swells are a nice-to-have as well. I've heard of a couple of others which would be of interest to me if I upgrade in future: the Dunlop Volume X can double as an expression pedal as well (I've persuaded a VP Jr to act as an expression pedal but it's ugly cable-wise), and the Visual Sound Visual Volume pedal comes with an array of LEDs to show how loud you are - handy if you need to play at 11 for a certain song for example, http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/visual-sound-visual-volume-pedal

TC Ditto X2 has stereo ins and outs, and loops can be stored to PC or Mac directly via USB cable. Score 1.5 out 2.

My band does a version of John McLaughlin's "Follow Your Heart". There's a smokin version (that introduced me to Kai) on the Mahavishnu tribute album "Visions of an Inner Mounting Apocalypse" with Kai, John Abercrombie, Vinnie Colaiuta and assorted other jazz blokes. Kai takes a solo and as the tune is in 11/8 it gets outside pretty sharpish. Great stuff. I'd link to it if I could find a version online!