casapete

Blimey, respect for doing 2x90s then. That’s a lot of playing and songs to get through. If I go to see a ‘name’ band gig, I’d probably be well chuffed if they did more than say 1x90 min set plus encores, maybe 2 hrs if you’re lucky. Just hope they’re paying you well up there!

I think this topic has surfaced before not long ago, but anyway - Pub bands round here generally do 2x45 to 2x60 min sets. My old theatre band used to do 2x55/60 min sets with a 20 minute interval. We found this an optimum playing time, especially for older folk who’d had a couple of beers before the show ( and the audience too!). I think doing 3 hours even with a break half way is usually too much for band and audience, unless you’re someone like Springsteen with a massive back catalogue and adoring fans who expect it. Personally I prefer to do one long set, say 90 / 100 mins - it’s easier to develop a strong set with variety and pace that keeps the crowd more involved & engaged. (The old saying ‘leave ‘em wanting more’ is very true IMO.) Also saves them wandering off after the bingo / meat raffle / happy hour etc…..😆

That’s a nice SG. A friend of mine had an almost identical model in one of the first bands I played in, sounded ace even through his HH amp! Does yours have any neck dive?

I think we need pics please…..😊

They are great instruments. Hard to believe they were built as beginner’s models in the 1950’s, so versatile too. Can be quite ‘Fendery’ yet still have that great midrange thing. Best other 6 string I played was a mate’s 54 Fender Esquire, that used to belong to Mick Ralphs from Mott the Hoople and Bad Company. Single pickup Tele really, but with such tone and the best neck I’ve ever tried.

I’m torn between a few. Love Strats and Teles, been selling a couple recently though as I’m not using them including my lovely red 335.🙁 However, my go to would still be my 59 Les Paul Junior, which I’ve owned for over 30 years. I actually used it for the first time in ages on a gig last Saturday and it is just one of those guitars that ‘fits’ me. No frills one P90 pickup, one vol/one tone and a nice fat neck which I always go for on any guitar. Will be with me till I can no longer play.

Saturday night I was playing with blues band The Alligators at Burton Agnes Jazz& Blues Festival, just on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds near Bridlington. I was originally asked to dep for their long standing bassist ( another Pete ) who was having some health issues, but as he declared himself up for the gig I was then persuaded by my old pal and band leader Tony to join them on second guitar. I haven’t played guitar on stage for many a year, but was told it would be good fun so thought I’d give it a bash. On the day the weather had turned horrible, so rain and mud everywhere. We set up on a small stage in the beer tent, and then watched some of the other bands until our set (as the closing act ) started at 11pm. By this time the audience were well lubricated and just wanted to dance, so we obliged with mostly uptempo stuff. Towards the end of our set we were joined by Simon ( owner of the wonderful venue / estate ) and friend Ben on saxes which really made the night. Finished around 12.45am, packed down in the cold and rain and just got my car out of the field without getting stuck in the mud. Home around 2.15am, absolutely knackered but certainly a gig to remember. Pictures show Pete with his fretless Wal / MarkBass set up ( and me with my 59 Les Paul Junior straight into my Fender Deluxe Reverb 65 reissue for any guitar nerds.)

Two gigs for me this weekend - a local jazz and blues festival on Saturday, where I was depping with blues band ‘The Alligators’ (hopefully more on that one later). Then last night we played in Scarborough at The Lookout on the Pier ( Milestone acoustic Duo). The usual full house of punters at this super harbour side cafe, where we juggled our two sets of audience requests around a bit to finish at 7.45pm so folk could get off home and watch some football match or other. Nice varied requests including ‘I wish I knew how it would feel to be free’, originally by Billy Thomas and made famous by the BBC as the theme to ‘Film …..’ Other tunes included ‘Take it easy’, ‘Waterloo Sunset’ and ‘Flowers’ (which was a nice change from the more usual older stuff). We declined ‘3 Lions’ but relented on ‘Sweet Caroline’ as as a token footie reference. Not back there now until September due to the influx of holidaymakers, but have been promised two gigs a month from then so all good. (Ibanez PCBE12MH into a Fender Rumble 100v3 / DI into house PA for anyone who’s interested.)

I forgot I’d played the Mean Fiddler - the original one and I was playing guitar for a US country singer ( sorry). Had a great gig there, they had some rather splendid dancers on and it was a very jolly evening. Also forgot to mention The Robin in Bilston, Mr Kyps in Poole and The Flowerpot in Derby - all great live music grass roots venues.

I’ve been fortunate enough to play many of the venues I went to see bands in when I was just starting out with bands myself. Favourites have included Sheffield City Hall, Liverpool Empire and Newcastle City Hall, all wonderful places full of band history. I’ve also done a gig at The Royal Albert Hall ( a corporate do with an orchestra too!) as well as most of the top hotels in London. Hometown gigs at Manchester Palace and Opera House along with my adopted hometown gigs at Hull City Hall and New Theatre were also significant for me, although my most memorable was maybe the Victoria Hall in Hanley (Stoke). I was telling my dear old dad about it when it came up on my gig list, and he said he’d sung on that same stage as a choir boy in the 1920’s. Was hard to concentrate on the gig when we did it, wondering if I was standing on the same spot as him.

Exactly this. It’s just finding the right balance of band choices / audience pleasers. The two aren’t mutually exclusive of course. 😊

I'm playing at our regular gig in Scarborough. Normally finish at 8pm, but bringing our last set forward so those who want to can scurry off home to catch the kick-off. And no, I won't be listening to the match on the drive home.

I think the point is that if the audience(s) don't like it then the gigs will soon dry up? * If that's the case them maybe stick to rehearsing for your own enjoyment etc? * Of course if they do like it then everyone's happy ....... 😄

I don’t move around like Flea but not always a standing still guy either, and never had an issue in over 45 years with Grolsch type washers or the Dunlop Lok Strap washers. As you point out there will always be exceptions that prove the rule. I’ve been in bands where people have had Straplocks fail too, c’est la vie. 🙂

Same for me - my 63 P bass means unfortunately too much to me to risk losing it on such events. Festivals in particular always a worry, that’s why this weekend I’ll be taking a P-Lyte along to one such event. ( I do use the 63 but only when I can keep it close at all times.) Always wondered if I was being over protective with it when touring theatres. Then a few years back a name US band was playing Hull City Hall, and after soundcheck went out to grab food before the gig. When they came back all the guitars had been filched, and they only managed to do the gig with stuff borrowed from local musos. My band had an opportunist nick our iPad from the FOH desk at a gig in Essex once, and no staff at the theatre noticed why he was there before the show.

I’m playing with blues band The Alligators this Saturday at the Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival. Situated in the Yorkshire Wolds, Burton Agnes Hall is an Elizabethan Manor House. The festival is an annual event and this will be it’s 17th year. http://burtonagnes.com

I agree - also from my experience I can make a neater job of the windings using my string winder than I can just doing it without. Got mine years ago after seeing one being used in a music shop ( remember those? ). Also good with bass restrings but even more useful with guitars ( again IME). With slotted tuners I can do my bass in probably 5 mins using the winder, so a no brainer for me. ( Which reminds me, better go and put some new strings on today, got a big gig at the weekend.)

Played our now monthly gig at the wonderful Sun Inn in Beverley. ( Milestone acoustic duo) It was Armed Forces day in the town, so instead of the usual acoustic guitarist who plays before us, they had booked a female singer ( with tracks) to do some wartime songs - Vera Lynn / swing stuff. Unfortunately this didn’t appear to be what the regulars wanted, so by the time we arrived to set up (an hour later than usual) most of them had departed. Anyway, we cracked on with our usual request format, and did 3x40 min sets. Had some great requests, including one from a couple who had just got engaged and asked for ’Stuck in the middle’ which got a laugh. Hardest songs of the day ( for me ) were a fast version of swing standard ‘Cheek to cheek’, (so many chords!) and then also a request for some Mark Knopfler stuff, so we played ‘Why worry’, which is a beautiful song written with the Everly Brothers in mind. It has a tricky count in a few places, but we managed it okay and you could have heard a pin drop in the room. Finished the gig with a singalong during Bowie’s ‘Starman’, the audience helping out with the ‘na-nas’ on the outro. Had a couple of booking enquiries after we’d played, so still a useful gig!

I’ve had the D’Addario winder / snipper combo for years and it still works spot on. Great thing which makes string changes a doddle.

Starman Milestone (Acoustic duo) The Sun Inn, Beverley Ibanez acoustic bass into the PA

I think your stance is entirely reasonable As soon as your agreed time playing with the band is over then you should be able to leave with all that’s yours, or the monetary equivalent anyway.

But surely that’s part of their appeal for many people?

When I first used them, certainly round here at least Grolsch wasn’t that popular! Fortunately I liked it enough to supply me and some pals with the washers.

Absolutely this ^^^ Beats me why folk mess with strap locks - the expense, faff, etc. I’ve never had a Grolsch washer fail yet, in well over 30 years 😊