casapete

Totally agree with you re RyanAir, absolute tw*t of a company. If your daughter does fly to Nice though, it's only around 12 miles to Monaco. There are usually plenty of coaches from the airport (Bus 80) or take the train from Nice centre - both should take only 30 mins or so. ☺️

Played at the Ipswich Regent Theatre last night with The ELO Experience, my penultimate gig with the band. Bit of a nightmare journey of around 200 miles each way - one of our vans broke down on the A1 en route to Ipswich. Clutch master cylinder was to blame, so RAC summoned to trailer the van back home whilst a replacement LWB hire van was found in nearby Grantham. This resulted in us being nearly 2 hours late arriving at the venue, so a mad set up and sound check with little time to eat etc. The Regent is a big Grade 2 listed theatre built in the late 1920’s. With a capacity of around 1500, we had it just over half full. Was a slow start but they warmed up into the second set - maybe took us a while to settle into it after the rush to get there. Used my GK800RB into the Neo 410 cabinet - last time with this cab for me as I sold it after the gig! It’s been a great cab, never missed a beat. (For my final gig with the band this Saturday I’ll be using my trusty Loud 4x10.) For once a drive home with no diversions, but still got in around 2.30am. Must admit I won’t be sorry to see the back of these long gigs - driving over 400 miles in total and two long sets is getting a bit much for me. Easier drive to Birmingham tomorrow though, so looking forward to it.

That's why I've drifted over to Boom Radio . They play the oldies you've maybe forgotten rather than the obvious stuff which gets very tedious. Give it a try.

Final one of my four gigs this week, played last night at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury. Opened in 2009, it is situated right on the riverside and holds around 640 people. One of the best theatres we visit, it has a great sound, superb backstage facilities and staff as well as being in a lovely town. We got there early after only driving up from Redditch, so had chance for a wander round. ( I had probably the best pizza ever at a place called Dough & Oil in the town centre, highly recommended! ) Gig went really well, one of our best for a while. Apparently Limehouse Lizzy were playing in the smaller adjoining theatre, so lots of people around. Long drive back home, got in around 2.30am so glad I’m not gigging tonight. My last two gigs with the band this coming week are in Ipswich and Birmingham, so hoping they’re as good.

Second two of 4 gigs this week for me. Thursday was at my local pub with the acoustic duo. Got there at 7pm to find it full, mainly diners. Plenty of requests, including ‘Man who sold the world’ and ‘Starman’ - they still like Bowie round here! Free drinks for us, so as I walked to the gig I availed myself of a couple of pints, unusual for me. Home before midnight, and another gig arranged there later in the year. Last night I was at Redditch Palace Theatre with The ELO Experience. A small Grade 2 listed theatre with a modern facade but original(ish) auditorium, first opened in 1913. Capacity of 420 so a sell out gig. Great appreciative crowd as always here, most people up on their feet for the second set. Since I sold my GK 1001RB amp last week, I used my GK800RB head and it sounded fine into my GKNeo410. Small very raked stage meant not much room but we managed ok. On to Shrewsbury today for a gig at The Severn Theatre tonight.

Very underrated basses IMO, but don’t tell everyone as they’re priced about right at the moment. Cool as f*ck too IMO, but many disagree.

After being a long time Radio 2 listener, recent presenter changes have led me to Greatest Hits Radio. However, their playlist is somewhat limited to mainly 70s/80’s/90s so I don’t get to hear newer stuff. Another +1 for Boom Radio - some presenters a bit staid now but the choice of music is good for my demographic, with lots of songs I haven’t heard for years rather than the usual obvious oldies played by GHR. They also play a smattering of new stuff too. Just a shame they’re only on DAB, as our band bus doesn’t have it.

I missed out on a Jerry Jones Longhorn a few years ago, big mistake.

I absolutely love this tune. Just over 2 minutes of brilliance, especially the bass part (Tommy Cogbill?). Taken from what is often regarded as one of the best albums ever, ‘Dusty in Memphis’. Good that we all have diverse views on this topic though. 😄

It’s a beaut Dave. The action is a tad low for me so need to sort that a bit, but it plays great. Only one sound but it’s a good ‘un! Light as a feather too.

Got a call from a friend yesterday afternoon asking if I could dep at a local social club last night. They have a rock’n’roll night on Wednesdays which is quite well attended, and I’ve depped there before. Just a 3 piece band (guitar, bass, drums), and when I arrived I found out it was a dep drummer too, who turned out to be an old mate who played with me in the same band years ago. Had a cracking gig, both musically and socially. Two 45 minute sets, nice people and well paid! Used my Danelectro Longhorn into a Fender Rumble 500 combo. Home before midnight too, so happy days. Tired today though, and got 3 more gigs this week - tonight at my local pub with the acoustic duo, then Redditch tomorrow / Shrewsbury on Saturday with the ELO Experience.

Sounds horrible - hope you get it sorted soon.

Damn, I’m in Shrewsbury that night Mart - I will get to see your band soon though! Service Station isn’t a big place but they put on lots of bands, as you say mainly rock so hope you shake them up a bit! Am sure you’ll be great, all the best. Pete.

As is often the case in these discussions, I’ll get the elephant in the room out of the way before anyone else chips in. I love this design, beauty is in the eye of the beholder etc….

Where / when are you playing Mart?

Our acoustic duo played another gig at The Lookout on the Pier in Scarborough last night. Usual full house and dozens of requests, this time including ‘The thrill is gone’, ‘Moon river’, ’Unchain my heart’ and even ‘Waterloo’ which I don’t think I’ve ever played before. Nice bassline too, although a bit more limited due to dropping the key so two blokes could sing it! We have one more gig there at the end of this month before a bit of a break until July. Picture taken as we were loading out, a beautiful evening over the bay.

Just back from seeing Tommy Blaize at Ilkley Kings Hall. Am guessing not many folk on here may know Tommy - he’s one of the singers in The Dave Arch Band who perform each week on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Certainly one of the best singers I’ve seen in a long time, he has worked with so many other people ( Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, Queen, Diana Ross, Beach Boys ) and also plays piano, guitar and ukulele! A great selection of songs with truly amazing vocals and piano playing, and a few stories too. Cracking gig, highly recommended if it’s your bag.

In my old function band we had a 3 piece brass section, some of whom were teachers and couldn’t always make the gigs so we got used to having a fair few deps in. If the gigs were in London we’d have deps who could only do the gig if near a tube station, and they would turn up already dressed in a dinner suit carrying their instrument. No mic or music stand etc, and would never help with anything other than just playing the notes. They’d be off like a shot after the last song too - became quite funny really. Had some great players though, absolute pros who probably gigged most nights. When we were doing 3 or 4 sets during long days at weddings, we would change our stagewear. We had some pretty loud suits for the evening sets, and when having them made we thought we’d better get a spare for any deps. As most of the brass guys were often shall we say on the more generous side, the dep suit was made as an XXL. I shall never forget doing a society wedding in Ireland with the dep trumpet player (5 feet 6 tall and skinny as anything) dressed in this suit, looked like we had a schoolboy standing in. A few days afterwards we saw him playing with a band on Later with Jools Holland, looking very cool and hip. Could have made a fortune if we’d had some pics of him playing with us.

Started my final run of gigs last night with The ELO Experience at Milton Keynes Theatre. As you’d expect, a large modern theatre with great staff, load in and backstage facilities. It has a capacity of 1400, think we had just over 1000 people in so felt quite full. We haven’t played for 3 weeks, so were all a bit on edge hoping we would be okay. Didn’t start well at soundcheck with a few tech issues, but with the help of our guys we got it sorted eventually. We were just leaving the theatre to find somewhere to eat and bumped into Warwick Davis passing by -nice bloke and a favourite of our lighting maestro Rob who got a selfie. The gig went well, lively audience in good voice. We all got through it without any major problems, although I was quite tired. 170 mile drive back home as the gig was a stand alone, have been having a quiet day today.

I use a stool just like this one, works well and the guitar stand bit is very handy. Most of the acoustic duo’s gigs I do are seated, although some do get to that point where standing may be more appropriate.

You could then stand up for the key changes, Westlife style!

I’d say if none of the band members mind then just do it - am sure they appreciate you being there whether seated or not. Possibly set up closer to the drummer so at least there are two musicians roughly the same height?

Not sure Mick - Gerry did mention Rory a couple of times, and from what we were chatting about in the restaurant before the gig I’d say he still has immense respect for him.