casapete

I’ve always found jazz basses tricky on a stand, let alone leaning against the wall.😆 (Should add that I use K&M stands which have the bass resting on the stand supports, not one of the ‘hanging by the neck types like Hercules ones etc.)

It’s not as if SGs (and Les Pauls) have a bad rep for neck breaks though is it? 🤣 A stand is an essential item wherever you use a bass or guitar in my opinion. I keep a compact one handy in my gig bag and always use it.

I remember trying an ABM 4x8 cab, thinking it must be worthwhile carrying something so heavy - wrong! Farted out quite easily, and even paired with another one wasn’t that clever. Shame as they were a good looking compact cab, rated at 600watts. Think they did an updated version with Neo speakers which presumably made them a bit lighter.

Traffic ( IIRC?)

Agree with you Paul. Saw the original AWB line up many times in the 70’s / early 80’s, and then a few with various line ups up until recently, so one of my favourite bands. They still sound great, but never have had that magic vibe they had when Hamish was with them IMHO. I also saw Hamish with his band probably the same time as you mention, at a pub in Leeds ( The Duchess?) and they were indeed awesome. Think it was around the time Hamish was in Paul McCartney’s touring band. The AWB have recently announced their final UK tour for spring 2024. I’ll probably be going if I can. 😊

Love the fact that Steve Lukather is using either a Gretsch short scale or then what looks like a SquierJaguar SS , both inexpensive basses. Maybe they belong to Hamish though, who is no stranger to a shorty himself. Maybe just an AB pedal for swapping instruments or something?

Feel your pain. We lived in an end terraced Victorian house where the neighbour’s son played a full acoustic drum kit every night. Eventually had to threaten them with council intervention, following which they never spoke to us for years. They were a nightmare family - 4 teenage kids, grandma and both parents living in a small house. We eventually moved to a cottage in a quiet village, where we’ve settled so well in a peaceful environment with lovely neighbours all around.

Played an afternoon / early evening gig on Sunday with my acoustic duo at a great pub ‘The Sun Inn’ in Beverley. A new venue for us with a landlord who promotes and appreciates a lot of live music. He remembers me and guitarist Gary from our days playing in a previous band, and has been brilliant in pushing the gig. His work paid off - the place was rammed with people, including many local musicians we haven’t seen for years. The gig went really well - we played 3 x 45 mins sets, finishing around 8pm. Our small Bose / Yamaha PA was perfect for the venue, and I used my Ibanez short scale acoustic into my Fender Rumble 100 and had some nice compliments on my sound. We tried to play as many requests as possible, which ranged from relatively obscure stuff like ‘Besame Mucho’ through to ‘Livin on a prayer’! Probably the best gig I’ve done for a long time, with a great audience cheering us on throughout. The landlord has already been in touch wanting some more dates too, so happy days.

Didn’t see them to be honest. That’s a bit odd. Maybe for early arrivals or something?

Looks like our band are the only tribute playing at this festival. Bit scary!

Whilst loving doing venues like Sheffield CH, I’d always be be more chuffed if I was doing them with an originals band like a lot of people on here. We’ve been fortunate in that there are still lots of people who want to hear ELO’s music and the theatre environment seems to suit them ( and us!). We do the occasional festival too - e.g Camper Calling at Ragley Hall in August - but theatres are our mainstay really.

Cheers Dave, we never take doing great venues for granted though. The band has now been going for over 17 years, and I’ve been with them for over 12. During that time we’ve done a fair few dives and places we’d rather forget, so it is nice to be able to play gigs which are better suited now to a bunch of old geezers ( not including our string section in that of course!). Having said that, I’m playing at a nice old music pub in Beverley later today with my acoustic duo. Still get a massive buzz from doing small gigs where the audience are near, and can see myself doing that for as long as I continue playing.

What about Spinal Tap’s appearance at the ‘Live Earth’ benefit gig in 2007, which featured them playing ‘Big Bottom’ with ‘every bass player in the known universe’. Brilliant.

Did our final gig last night before a 3 week summer break at Sunderland Empire theatre. It’s another great old place, opened in 1907, which has retained all of it’s period charm in the theatre itself whilst having modern backstage facilities, making it probably my favourite venue we are lucky enough to visit. The crew and staff here are the best , and always a pleasure to work with. The theatre has a capacity of nearly 2000 (seated over 4 levels), and we had around 1500 in so a good atmosphere, especially since a few punters had been to the nearby football stadium to watch their team play in a friendly match against Majorca, and had a few drinks afterwards. The gig itself was fine, good sounding room and band played well too. Back home for 1pm with no travel issues, getting to be a rare occurrence.

It’s one of the most impressive theatres we play. Built in 1912, it later lapsed into being used as a bingo hall- unbelievable! I’ve attended a few gigs there since it reopened in the early 80’s, best one being a Steve Winwood concert recorded for the BBC. You know it’s got history when it has special rooms allocated for stuff like this -

Just don’t play at all - will probably only need doing once, next time you’ll get a count in. 😆

It would have been a slap fest of a different kind had I been in that band. 🤣

I would love to try that Aguilar rig, would imagine it sounds awesome.

Last night we played at Manchester Opera House, which is a magnificent Edwardian theatre right in the heart of the city centre. Had a nightmare journey up from Swindon - a major accident turned the M6 into a car park - so arrived very late after a five and a half hour journey. Fortunately our sound and lighting guys had got there on time, having travelled up the night before. Had a fairly quick sound check, despite having more PA than usual due to the size of the theatre (around 1,900 seater), and sounded fine. Lots of bass bins meant I was very happy! The gig went well - had over 1,400 people in so it felt quite full. Lots of audience singing and dancing which is always a good sign. People doing this in the upper balcony looked quite dangerous from the stage! Got another big theatre today at Sunderland Empire so looking forward to that one too. ( just noticed our PA guy Rik photobombed the 1st pic - looks like he’s praying!)

Absolutely unprofessional or even cool. Ask them if they’ve attended major gigs where this happened? Smacks of amateur hour big style for me - I’d get them to knock it on the head pronto. If they feel the current band is not where they’re at, then as you say get them to get their metal rocks off somewhere else.

All gone now, cheers.

Bit of a trek down to Swindon Wyvern Theatre today. Air con in the band bus a bit intermittent but we managed to get there without too much grumbling. Good gig to a full venue, hot on stage though even with two big fans on full. Up to Manchester tomorrow, so hope it’s a bit cooler.

I think so Mick, different times and all that? As for Mr BS, I concur! 😆

Our duo is playing at The Sun Inn, Beverley this coming Sunday. It's a new venue to us, although I've played there a few times with other bands. It's a great place, proper music pub so looking forward to it. Think we'd better be ready for an onslaught of Dad Rock requests.......😁

I saw them at Hull City Hall around that time, great gig. They had a great run of singles that were all stylistically different, yet retained their unique sound. I didn't like 'Dreadlock Holiday' which for me signified the end of their good stuff. Eric Stewart was a great player with a nice old LP Standard, as well as Lol and him using tasty LP Juniors.