joeystrange

We rehearse at our drummer’s house. He lives with his mum, who is elderly. We won’t be rehearsing for a good while.

Two shows at the end of the month were both postponed yesterday. Nothing now until the middle of May so hoping it will have calmed down by then and we can go ahead as planned. For me it’s a mild inconvenience but I know a lot of musicians who depend on touring for their main income. It’s them that I feel for. And the venues that may well not survive.

I just remembered this one.

Yep.

Yes! I love Sex Bob-Omb!

Eddie Van Halen played bass on a Sammy Hagar album. I always thought that was cool.

After seeing @TheRev’s post on the 2019 gigs thread about playing a decommissioned nuclear power plant I was wondering, where was the strangest place you played in 2019? Mine would have to be Z-Bau in Nuremberg. Nothing especially strange about the actual venue until we found out that in its original guise it was the barracks of the SS training facility, right next to the Nuremberg rally grounds. Wondering just what might have gone on in those bedrooms made sleeping there a bit difficult.

31 last year. Not a bad figure but I’d be doing a good few more if it was up to me.

I’ve always had high action, mostly due to being heavy-handed. I’ve tried playing with a lighter touch and with lighter picks but it just feels like I’m not really trying so it doesn’t last for long. I’ve also found that, probably for the above reason, I’ve never strived for the perfect setup - action, neck relief, pickup height etc. As long as there’s no fret buzz when I’m playing then that’s fine with me.

I’ve been sadly disappointed the last few years - as with the regular show. I don’t think they’ll easily top The Hives being on in 2012. That said I am interested to see what Stormzy gets up to. I’d like to see the Stereophonics, too.

Isn’t the whole point of Jazz basses that they sound like Jazz basses? If you wanted something that didn’t sound like a Jazz then you wouldn’t make a Jazz.

I’ve been gassing for a Darkglass Alpha Omega pedal after seeing the bass player from Danko Jones using one recently. Managed to pick one up last weekend so 2020 is currently looking clear. Although we all know it won’t stay that way.

Here you go. Now everyone can relax.

There’s a Lemmy and Dave Grohl version too!

I never paid it much attention until the wife was watching Home Alone 2 a few years ago. I wasn’t really paying attention until I suddenly looked up and said “That’s Clarence playing sax!” I had no idea it was the E Street Band until then.

1. Das Bett in Frankfurt, Germany opening for Electric 6 last month. Great venue, great crowd and my favourite show of the tour. 2. Bank Holiday weekend punk festival at the Waterloo in Blackpool. Our new(ish) guitarist was hammered and was just a flipping mess. Starting songs at the wrong time, struggling to set up his gear, a cacophony of random noises that were supposed to be guitar solos. 3. Danko Jones at Substage in Karlsruhe, Germany. We both had days off from our main tours (ours with Electric 6 and theirs with Volbeat) and ended up playing across the road from each other. They invited us over to hang out before the show then we watched their set abs headed back over the road to play our show. They gave our show a plug at the end of their set and a bunch of people came over to see us, which was cool. 4. I went to see a band do an instore at Rough Trade in Nottingham recently to nine people. That wasn’t why it was bad, I just really don’t like them. My wife loves them, however, and wouldn’t have gone alone so I went with her. I did feel bad for them driving from Glasgow to play to that few people though.

Haven’t listened to them a huge amount but I like what I have heard. I’ve seen their keyboard player, Franz Nicolay, live before though. If you like them I recommend checking out The Gaslight Anthem and Dave Hause too.

This springs to mind immediately.

Sims. Yes, their website is awful, as you’ve found out, but they’re very good. Give Martin a ring and have a chat with him about what you want, I’m sure he’ll give you all of the information you need.

I use Allianz, partly for this reason. My gear is covered against theft and accidental damage at home, on stage, in the dressing room and in an unattended vehicle... pretty much anywhere. All worldwide too. Like seemingly everyone else I’ve thankfully never had to make a claim so I can’t comment on that. The price is reasonable though.

Well... He was a heroin addict. Also, their third album is incredible IMO.

I watched a bit of Foo Fighters too. One song to be precise. I used to love them but I find their 20 minute jams in the middle of every song to be VERY boring. IMO they’ve become very self-indulgent and are more concerned with entertaining themselves than entertaining their fans. I don’t have a problem with that. They’ve got to the point in their career where they can do literally anything they want and people will all it up, so why not? It’s just of no interest to me.

Just treat it like any other gig and you’ll be fine. Have fun!

Jerry Only. NOTHING sounds like Jerry Only’s bass. If you’ve ever seen the Misfits live you’ll understand why.