dmccombe7

I'm sure we all have a song in our set lists that either works or doesn't work. I think we've agreed to keep Sat Nights Alright for rock venues rather than the clubs where dancing is more common. Only other times is when we need to do the full 2.5 - 3 hrs worth but we are trying to keep it down to 2x1hr sets as much as possible now. Dave

Some venues it fills the dance floor but others (most) it can clear the floor altho people will sit and record us on their phones when we play it. Its not really much of a dancing type song IMO. Good to play tho. Dave

Like you my small singles collection includes Teenage Rampage and Ballroom Blitz too. They were the first "proper" band i listened to and then Bowie took over until Station to Station. After that it was Thin Lizzy, Kiss, Alice Cooper and of course Rush in 76. Dave

Now that's a great idea. A before and after sort of thing. We just need the final "after" pic to complete the set 2 gigs in a trot with a long drive kills me these days and i'm not so keen on it altho once the gear is set up and i've been fed and get on stage to play the adrenalin must kick in and i love it all over again until the following morning and i'm completely wiped out. Dave

Thanks for sharing your gear Rich its an interesting set up and being a bass geek its always good to see what others are using. Do you mind if i ask are you using IEM if not using a cab or relying on PA to hear yourself. ? Dave

I can see that fawn coloured shorts are your image hook there. So how was the gig and what gear were you using. ? Yes i am very geeky In both pics you look as tho you are focused on something or other. Pic 1 i reckon you're thinking about what bass to use tonight. Pic 2 "i should have brought the Jazz". Dave

Most people and certainly the younger generation have no idea the work, effort and time bands like Sweet put in touring. These guys learned their trade thru live work before and during The Sweet years. All competent musicians and all excellent trained vocalists hence the amazing backing vocals. Their B side singles were usually a heavy rock song of their own while the A side was written by Chinn & Chapman. If you listen to some of their heavier songs its very much in line with earlier Deep Purple style of music. Very under-rated band and possibly why they never really did much after Sweet. They weren't taken seriously. Anyone of those guys could have stepped into DP and easily covered the set list of songs. Quite a sad story when you follow them. Dave

Our drummer knew the Sweet and had a few lessons from Mick Tucker when he was a teenager. Apparently Mick and Ian Paice were best of friends and used to trade drum secrets with each other so Mick picked up a few things from Ian who was a lefty drummer so he was able to start a drum part with either left or right hand which makes copying his drum parts difficult at times. Mick was a terrific drummer and also an amazing backing vocalist. Dave

We do. Great song. Doesn't work in every venue tho. Dave

Yep our singer does the "are you ready Dave ?" round the band and we all reply in one way or another then we go into the song. Its the first song we do so a great starter. We start with Sweet and end with Blockbuster including the sirens that i trigger from a sampler pedal. Encore or our last song to be honest is Shang-a-Lang by Bay City Rollers with the guitarist doing some Scottish themed songs during the intro before we actually get into BCR song itself. We usually pack the dance floor with that one. Dave

At the end of the Glam gigs we regularly get asked for photos with the band and that's ok but usually i just wanna get off stage and cool down a bit then pack up and head off home as sometimes my drive can be up to 2-3 hrs each way. The furthest was 4hrs each way for a biker festival that the female singer attends every year and knows everyone there. Dave

Not the best sound quality but hope you like it Daryl. Someone posted it from their phone. Dave http://www.facebook.com/marion.harris.10/videos/2356025798119902/?idorvanity=559305587911326

We keep asking for the many folks that take vids to post their clips on our FB page but they rarely do. I'll see if we have it Daryl. To be honest our audience are regularly from an older generation (my age) and not too savvy with technology. Dave

Have to say its pretty poor that the sound guy didn't nail down the feedback fairly quickly. I don't know you or the band but knowing what causes feedback and understanding it can help everyone identify the cause of it on stage. No need to be an expert just a basic understanding. I'm lucky that i worked with a PA hire company back in late 80's and learned a lot from the SE who was also the guitarist in our band plus my age means i've had a fair amount of experience over the years. Dave

Sometimes getting a response from an audience is like pulling teeth. It happens. The best way to look at it is its a paid rehearsal and just get on with doing your songs and enjoy yourself within the band. You'll find that if you are good at what you do and you look as tho you're enjoying yourselves on stage then people will take to it even if not into the same music they'll appreciate a band having a good time and looking confident and relaxed on stage. I always appreciate any band that is decent and enjoying themselves no matter what style of music they play. Next gig you'll knock em dead. Dave

I used to be like that but i guess i just got used to it over the years and now i just tend to ignore most times unless the camera is right in my face when i get a bit embarrassed about it. Dave

Think i'd be ok changing things on a cheap bass and gaining some experience rather than change things on an expensive one. At £150 you don't have as much worry of severe / permanent damage Best experiment on a cheap bass. I like the look of it too. Dave

Yep that's not on and i have to admit i find Rugby Clubs are typically old school ugg mentality but in fairness the ones i've seen have been relatively harmless but very boisterous. With regards @Bluewine at the hunting gig i'm not sure i'd want to take that gig but he is in a different boat from me and gigging is a job for him and he relies on the income because of his lavish lifestyle We're simply not used to the hunting fraternity in UK apart from the deer and grouse shooting which is "licensed" and "needed to cull the numbers on the estate" pivel. Its simply an income and a day out for the snobs of this planet and those that strive to be snobs. Not a fan of hunting for the sake of killing. Dave

Ha Ha that really is funny. If i make a mistake anywhere in our set its that bit of the Blondie song. Its not hard i just seem to keep forgetting how long i stay on B to E right in the middle of the solo. Last few times i've managed to get it ok but that really is my achillies heal. Sorry for laughing but it was just such a coincidence when i heard it. Dave

Well the private function last night with BLOCKBUSTARZ Glam covers was a retirement party that actually turned out a great wee night. Club wasn't full but dancers on and off the first set and almost all the 2nd set and i think at one point everyone was on the dance floor. Smallish stage so i set up bass rig on the floor next to stage and played there. 8:15pm start 9:30pm buffet that we were told to help ourselves and it was very nice with a lovely salted caramel cupcake. Mmmm 10:30 to 12-ish 2nd set. We were requested to play Ballroom Blitz at the end again as the girl that booked us had said her Grandad missed the first song and its his fav song ever. Used the usual Glam rig with VM4 into Keeley compressor and Mesa TT800 (mainly the Boogie channel that i love) into Mesa SW210/115 cabs. We played a little more quiet last night and the cabs didn't quite reach that sweet spot but still a wonderful rig. Packed up and left venue just before 1am and home by 2am altho a lot of mist and fog on country roads but no traffic. Unloaded car into garage and then my usual coffee and 2 tea biccies as part of my post gig routine and then bed for 3am Back up at 8:30am with cats making their usual nuisance noises to waken you. Mrs dmccombe7's birthday so loads of cake planned. I do like cake. Dave

Got a private function tonight with Glam covers band. Not comfortable doing these gigs as not everyone shares the taste in music of the birthday person so it can be a hit or a miss. All else fails its a well paid rehearsal. Dave

Twin drummers, bet that's fun. Dave

So not just me then Dave

I remember buying the music book for The Eagles Greatest Hits and realising there was more to the bass than first thought. I think i gave my young brother a loan of it in recent years and never saw it again. Brothers ....... Huh !!! The one i always thought was tricky was Hotel California. Not hard to play each note but the timing was hard for me for some reason. Great band and i'm jealous of you with this one Michael. Have to say the vocal harmonies are fantastic in the band. All the very best with it. Dave

Superb stuff @wateroftyne. Sounding really good. Dave