dmccombe7

How do you find the SD Humbucker compared to the original Sandberg one. Dave

Private 60th party in Boness for BLOCKBUSTARZ last night. These events can be hit or miss as not everyone likes Glam Rock. 1st set was odd as we had dancers up on songs that don't usually trigger a dance spree but if it works then go with it. You generally know what songs will trigger the dancers but last night it was just odd. We've played this venue quite a few times now and many had seen the band before so maybe that had something to do with it. Sound on first set just wasn't quite right. 2nd set we all upped the volume a tad and WOW there it was our usual sound. For some stupid reason they arranged the tables with the kids all at one large round table in front of the band and across the dance floor from us. Kids struggle with band volumes and altho we were sympathetically playing at a lower volume i find it reduces the atmosphere a touch if a band is too quiet. The kids soon got used to it tho and were soon dancing with balloons on the floor in front of us. 2nd set was great fun and everyone enjoying themselves. We even threw in a new song Ziggy in 2nd set to see how it would work and as soon as we started we got quite a response with phones out and people watching us with a great applause at the end but no dancers so we moved straight onto Jean Genie that filled the floor again. (weird !) Anyways i decided to go with my Sandberg Marlowe for this one and all was going well until 2-3 songs from the end 1st set i noticed my volume dropped right off. No idea why but switched the comp off and bang the sound came straight back to normal. Comp was set to just a basic limiter to curb over-active fingers. Will need to look at that today altho i didn't really need the comp as 2nd set went perfectly without it so i may just ditch it. Mesa TT800 in Mesa SW210/115 cabs. Lots of appreciation at the end and over-hearing comments of "that band were fecking brilliant" certainly made us feel very pleased as we packed up our gear. Party boy was fair chuffed with the band too. We were offered tea / coffee or soft drinks thru the night and some folks even chapped the small dressing room door and asked if they could buy us a drink which was nice. We were told to help ourselves to the party buffet but we feel a bit odd doing that as we are already being paid a decent fee to be there. They even offered us a doggy back when we were packing up which again was nice. Home by 1:15am so not too bad. That's it for gigs in April. May things pick up a fair bit tho. Been asked about possible future bookings but that was probably just the booze talking but you never know. Dave

I'm always surprised how bands can fit in that particular venue. Great atmospheric pub tho. Dave

As my older brother keeps telling me "i don't eat unhealthy crisps, i eat potato snacks" Dave

On stage sockets is a must. I hate gigs that have 2 double sockets in a corner of the stage. If using valve amps it causes no end of buzzing when everything is being fed thru 4 or way extension bars. Dave

with you on that one Daryl. We need more steps or better still elevators onto stage level but that's just a pipe-dream Dave

Great view out over the marina area Daryl. Dave

Yep that's a good point Daryl. If i make a mistake i usually apologize in the dressing room and the guys do the same but its done in good humour and everyone accepts that sometimes we make mistakes. Its live music and it occasionally happens. When someone does that the rest of us are usually unaware of the mistake as its been such a minor issue. Most of the time the audience never notice a band making a mistake provided you all look confident and just carry on as if it was meant. The Jazz version of a Glam song Dave

100% Chris 4 yrs ago while working in the garden i was so out of breath while digging a hole to bury one of our cats that had passed away i had to stop and take a break. I was just under 15st but covid era just made things worse. I decided i was either very unfit or something seriously wrong. I decided to start the gym and within 3-4mths i had lost 2st and was feeling a lot fitter. Went for 2 yrs to get myself fitter then took on a personal trainer for 10 sessions every 6mths just to push me a bit and give me new ideas to try on my own. (my wife also goes so we work together) A year ago we were asked to attend the ABS class and loved it altho quite hard work, that class changed to a circuit training class which was seriously hard work and then a friend we knew in the gym just thru going 3 times a week became a PT doing weight lifting and we thought we'll go to the first class to show some support for him and loved it. I'm now 12st 11lbs but still love my crisps. Now i do the Barbell Blast class on Monday morning, Circuit class on Wed evening and on a Fri morning we do our own thing which is a combination of everything really. I feel fitter now than i have done for 20 yrs. I dont have any issues doing jobs around the house and lifting gear at gigs isn't a problem now. Yes i do get the aching back when standing for long rehearsals and should definitely sit down more. At a young 65 i'm doing good tho. Dave

If its noticeable to the audience i've seen our singer simply apologise at the end and say "its live music and sometimes it happens" Audience recognise the fun element and laugh with us but that's become quite rare these days. Dave

Now that's a novel idea Chris. I do sit down once i start to feel a bit achy. Probably too late by then. Studio only has old drum stools to sit on and if back's a bit aching they don't really help a lot. I'd be better sitting on the floor against the wall. I would put the stool against the wall but they have guitar hangars etc at chest height but i might just sit earlier next time rather than wait for my back to ache. TBH its not been so bad over past 6mths since i started doing weight training classes in the gym so that must be working. Dave

We tend to have 6hr rehearsals but only 3-4 a year but my back aches after approx 3-4hrs into it. We do stop for a break after 3hrs and have a coffee and sandwich kind of thing. And that's using my VM4 which is my lightest bass. I'm fine with gigs tho, even the longer 2.5hr gigs. Dave

Its a bit more difficult picking faults with a dep drummer. Probably more acceptable when he makes a mistake considering he's not a permanent member of the band and therefore doesn't gel the same and missing rehearsals etc. Its something we don't do. I mentioned it once and it was severely frowned on by everyone. I guess the band just likes the close knit family approach to being in a band. The more a band plays together the tighter they should get. I think if i was doing a gig where the drummer made mistakes in every song i'd have to either raise the issue with him and the band on way home or look for another dep if possible that puts a bit more effort in. Were the mistakes noticeable by the audience or just minor fluffs that only the band noticed. ? I guess the other thing with us is the fact we are all within 10yrs of each other age wise. Maybe not mentally tho . Dave

If we make a mistake whether at a gig or rehearsal we accept it if the person in question is aware of it and it was just a "mistake" rather than playing it wrong and not knowing what was wrong. No point in dwelling on genuine mistooks. If its a recurring issue we would talk about it at a rehearsal or even on our private FB page but that's never really happened. Dave

Very posh. Nice one. Dave

That Stingray looks the part Mart. Nice one. Dave

As long as the fun is there, its worthwhile. 👍 Dave

As much as i liked Bruce Foxton in The Jam i think Ali McMordie was the better player for me. His style suited SLP better. Both great players tho. Dave 200 mile trip home is a fair old jaunt. All credit to you on that one. Dave

Must admit i'd never heard of them before joining the punk band but was pleasantly surprised how great the band were. Dave

I forgot we did At the Edge too. Another fantastic song with catchy basslines. Gotta Getaway is a cracking bassline. Dave

We used to do Ulternative Ulster, Gotta Getaway, Nobody's Hero. All great songs to play. I miss the punk band. Dave

Great to see you are getting busy gigs there Mike. I miss the punk band a lot and a lot more than i would ever have thought coming from a Classic rock and Prog. So much energy and power in the songs i just loved playing them especially SLF. Shame it fell thru. Dave