dmccombe7

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1501097608' post='3342544'] I'm pretty sure Chuck came after Phil. Do we have a historian here? Brand X is Booked in a small bar here in Millwaukee next month. Blue [/quote] Googled and he came after Collins right enough late 77 into 78. Barnd X started 75 to 80 and then again 92 to 99 and obviously playing again now since 2016. Think Percy Jones move to New York many years ago. Dave

Where do i find my Cache of pics. Is that the attachments section. Dave

Trying to change my profile pic. I can select the photo i want and it shows in the large box. When i press done it changes in the profile but as soon as i move to another page it reverts back to my original photo. If i open up my profile again and click change my photo the new photo is still showing in the large box with the custom photo selection on it. Tried shutting down etc and waiting as a search found a post that stated you had to wait for it to update. That was earlier this afternon ? Any thoughts ? Dave

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1501088625' post='3342431'] Chuck Burgi, he was with Brand X in the mid 70s. If you YouTube Chuck some of his work with Rainboat should come up. Blue [/quote] Followed them for a while when Phil Collins was with them probably late 70's tho. Percy Jones was a big influence on my playing style back then. Dave

Depending on set list and what amp i use i generally get myself a good amp sound and just vary the tone from my bass between a more treble sound where i need an edge and a more rounde tone that does majority. Usually Jazz tone set half way or thereabouts. Try not to adjust the amp too often. Dave

When i re-read my comment i realised it didn't come out the same as in my head. I was trying to see how Blue went from working to playing full time and how that related to my own circumstances. I was curious to know what the drive was that made him change priorities in life. Dave

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1501066795' post='3342168'] Because it's a huge difference to what he is saying, your income without gigging is similar to what you had when working so you can pick and choose or even not pay ever again if you like, Blue has told us many times that he can't feed himself if he doesn't play almost every night for four hours, those situations to me are the opposite ends of the spectrum. [/quote] My original comment has been edited

I meant having no debts and house paid. Why so pedantic ?

Financially i'm pretty similar situation to Blue in the fact that house is paid, no loans and i have assets. (Edited to clarify) The big difference is I have a good pension and returns on investments that take my income to almost what i was earning while workng. I have the usual unavoidable monthly bills to pay. Life is a good balance at the moment. The main difference for me is that i don't want playing to take over my life like a job. I really don't want to be gigging every weekend and certainly not more than once a week. I have various other hobbies, pastimes and social activities that i also enjoy. If i was playing every weekend it would rule out many events i enjoy attending even watching other bands. Dave

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1501010432' post='3341797'] My point only applies to those working in careers for other people. I'm comfortable and more than happy with my plight in life. BTW, my home was paid for years ago, and one of the reasons I can do this. Blue [/quote] Can i ask how you managed to go from "normal full time job" and being amatuer to being professional. I'm assuming you were gigging weekends kind of thing even when you were workng in normal job. I'm interested in how you made the transition and what were the main reasons and highlights or downsides to it at the time. I've only ever known guys in their teens to early 20's managing to go pro/ Dave

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1501009639' post='3341788'] For the 35 years I was in the work force ,I also had what I would consider a nice salary. I hated every day of it and was a huge pain in the arse. How I lasted 35 years is beyond me Small world, one of my high school band mates and friend played drums with Brand X and Rainbow. He's now on tour with Billy Joel. BTW, if we all agreed with each other all the time it would be a pretty boring forum. Blue [/quote] Who was the drummer in Brand X and Rainbow ? Dave

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1500999859' post='3341671'] Look at the gig schedule. If you can't commit, I suggest turning it down. There's other bass players that want and need the money. Your right Dave, are perspectives are polar opposites. Playing bass in a rock band is the only thing I've ever been interested in. And, yes I have to put a lot into it and not for the reasons you might think. I'm not a great bass player. Even after 50 years it's something I still struggle with. Playing bass is something that never came easy to me like some. I have to practice all the time to stay on top of things. Blue [/quote] i'm having a meet with the function band hopefully this week. Most are already in my Blues Rock covers band but as you say if its too much of a commitment for me i'll back out rather than waste time. Made that mistake last year when i retired with a 70's covers band. I thought plenty of gigging would take up the time lost from workng. What i actually found was it became more of a job to me and too much commitment for me. I took a step back till they got someone else. I had been their 18th bass player in 10yrs Guys were all great and i'm still mates with them and go to their gigs but you are right there are other guys out there that want that level of commitment and obviously the money. I'm not a great bass player either Blue. I'm probably better than average but i'm no Jaco, Victor Wooten or Mark King but i can do a little of most things or enough to get me by. I have always practiced tho even when i had given up bands for approx 15yrs i still practiced at home. Typicaly when i was younger i practiced every day for approx 2-3hrs. I still practice every day even now altho some days its just for an hour or maybe 2hrs max in any one day. I think i was like you when i was younger but then i found that my job was more interesting and i wouldn't give up a good full time job (with great salary ) to take a chance on playing in bands. I knew a few guys that did tho and only one of them did well for himself. Doogie White who sang with Rainbow altho he didn't have a great paying full time job at the time . He's done pretty well for himself over the years tho. I don't have a prob with people not agreeing with me on some things Blue. Its just life and wouldn't fall out over it. Dave

[quote name='RockfordStone' timestamp='1500991844' post='3341545'] the truth is, whether you get paid or not, we are all bass players and no one is better than anyone else [/quote] Agreed Dave

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1500938486' post='3341250'] Good point Tim. I think most that are playing for free are playing maybe once a month or so. Blue [/quote] Agreed that i don't want to be playing as aoften as you Blue and once a month maybe even less kinda suits my lifestyle. The age thing i would also agree with but in the other way. I've worked hard at my full time job until retiring last year at 55 and now i'm chilling mainly because i can and want to do other things. One thing i would say tho is that i was as committed to my full time job as you are to yours and maybe that's the big difference between us. Our main jobs are / were different. For you its a career and for me its a hobby that i enjoy on occasion. I used to think that if i did it full time i might even get to a point where i wasn't enjoying it as much and who knows maybe sub-consciously that's why i've been limiting the number of gigs. I honestly don't think we will ever all agree on this topic 100% but we should agree that we have different views on it. I have a lot of respect for guys that do it professionally like you. In my opinion i feel you have to be more committed to playing, not better at playing but you need to put more into the full package to get the gigs. Personally i don't need to put that much effort in but i can still enjoy the odd gig when i get asked to play them by friends etc That might all change soon as i've been asked to join a function band and they are all in it for the money. Dave

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1500937982' post='3341249'] I get the sense that some think because they play for free they're slightly better than those of us that play for and depend on the money. Blue [/quote] I would have thought that the top pros are leading the way in bass style and expanding its boundaries and are all paid and i tend to rate them as the leaders in bass. Of course there are great pro bassists who are not technically fast or show-offs but can produce a great bass run even tho its simple. It just fits the song. Again i don't like to rate people on whether they are paid or not. Some un-paid bassists i know are just incredibly talented but they have other commitments nowadays and don't play in bands as such. Dave

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1500927651' post='3341164'] But you could argue that is another way of saying that a self taught player will player will play runs that a conventionally trained musician would rarely do. Or, to put it another way, which guitar player would you rather listen to: Mike Stern or Paul Kossoff?? [/quote] Good point hadn't thought of it that way. Can't say i've made a point of listening to Mike Stern. Had to google who he was to be honest but now that i know who he is i probably have heard him over the years with Jaco and few others. Is what you are suggesting that there are good riffs from all sides and its down to individual taste what you prefer. Both competent yet both different styles. ? I would probably agree with that now that my eyes have been opened a bit. I guess we all learn as we go along then Dave

Maybe Fluency was the wrong description of what i was thinking about. I'm not really sure how else to describe what i'm thinking off tho. Musically trained bassists play runs that in my opinion self taught bassists rarely do. I say rarely because there are always exceptions to the rule. As i said the ones i listen to are usually at the top of their game so maybe its the fact they've been playing for many years that they sound more natural and offer fast bass runs that i never hear your average self taught bassist play. Hopefully that explains it a bit more. Dave

Sorry to disagree with people but i don't undertstand why some musicians cant accept that some of us don't need the money and whether i get paid or not doesn't matter to me at all. I have played gigs for free,or very little and i've also played gigs with good money. I've even played good paying gigs and told the other band members to just split the money between them. I didn't need it and they didn't have great paying full time jobs. I've also played charity gigs where all moeney at the door went to a childrens hospital. Does that make me have an amatuer attitude. No it doesn't. Everyone gave their best and none f the 7 bands got paid that day. I put 100% into whatever i do whether its playing bass or when i had my full time job. Its an attitude to give it all i can no matter what i'm doing. I don't go into a gig with an attitude of "they pay sh*t so i'll just give it 60% tonight" I've never let money dictate my life in any way. With regards the point made that if people value your music they will pay for it. Yes that's true if you want to charge them for it. People can still value your music even if you are an amatuer and not paying for it. I don't see the link between ability or attitude and money. I class an amatuer bassist as someone who does it part time or as a hobby. A professional is someone who's sole income is from playing bass. I regard myself as an amatuer bassist but i know people value my playing whether that's an audience or other musicians. I don't recall ever having a "bad gig" where people didn't like the band. If i was asked to play a gig that i thought would be enjoyable to play i would without giving it a 2nd thought money or not. And that would mean i was losing money thru travel costs. Yes i've done those gigs too mainly because i knew i would enjoy them and i did. People need to realise that some people need to make money at playing. That's fine but why criticise those that don't need to make money. I also don't rate musicians as better or worse depending on whether they are professional or amatuer. If they are good that's it for me. Dave

Just a wee update on this. Its started working again on Google Chrome. Haven't done anything apart from some Windows updates coming thru. Weird. Dave

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1500818254' post='3340337'] Bass makes a fantastic solo instrument. It's down to the player and their repertoire. I think this is a very much used and factually incorrect statement. I play very often with a group of musicians who are all classically trained, they're totally able to improvise, in fact they're some of the best improvisers out there. They're not held back by any lack of theoretical knowledge, or by any lack of technical ability. [color=#ff0000]Maybe its just the ones i know and i do admit it's a limited number. As an example tho I know 2 off professional Cello players. One can ad-lib as well as anyone i know while the other is more reliant on the correct notes at the right time and struggles to do the ad-lib or take it out of its box if that makes any more sense. He is more like the other professionally trained musicians i know. [/color] [color=#ff0000]I'm not disagreeing with your comment as you sound like you have more experience with properly trained musicians.[/color] Many non-trained musicians I've played with always fall back on the same trusted and often cliched lines and riffs, lacking the knowledge to play anything else. [color=#ff0000]Think this is the flip side of what i was saying and totally agree, probably myself included.[/color] The classical musician's technical ability is also phenomenal, they've spent years honing their skills, so they can play whatever is put in front of them. They don't get the chance to go away and practice it at home, or watch Youtube videos. [color=#ff0000]This is the bit i've come across. They can play whatever is put down in front of them and usually exceptionally well but take that away and how do they cope in a band that strays of the song or has to cover up a mistake. ? That's a serious query and not a slight on anyone. [/color] [color=#ff0000]I'm guessing that what you're saying is that they learn to express themselves and put their own slant on the music in the same way a non-trained musician does but more technically because of their training.[/color] A lot of playing a classical piece is down to the musician's skill in interpreting the chart. That's what makes one person's performance different to another musician's. [color=#ff0000]Think this kind of answers my question above. [color=#ff0000] [/color][/color] [/quote] Definitely agree that when you hear a properly trained bassist he normally sounds more fluent and effortless. His technique and the various runs he uses are far more interesting than the average non trained bassist and i personally find it more entertaining. I would have to say that usually they are bassists at the top of their game. Not sure what the average properly trained bassist sounds like It is interesting the different take on properly trained V non-trained on playing styles and ability. Dave

[quote name='funkgod' timestamp='1500826689' post='3340415'] if ya want them punching the air, and have everyone and i mean EVERYONE singing along, try this.. It will be the diamond in your set.. are you ready.... ,,,,, ,,,,, ,, Bob the builder. Yea... i knoowwww. iv seen it with my own eyes and........... it was a rock band if you can get some hairy biker with leathers and triumph tats singing that, then you really are a true musical artist Also... if you catch them on vid singing along.... well... kaching........ think of the bribe money [/quote] I like it a lot and i'm a biker too. Brilliant. Dave

[quote name='thepurpleblob' timestamp='1500813792' post='3340306'] Ahh... smallish world. Biggar, good ice cream and we have friends in sunny Thankerton. It's called Midnite Hour - I know, but the band was actually formed in the 70s when that sort of name and spelling was probably cool. I'm the youngest for the first time ever in a band. Next gig is Sunday 6th August (4pm to 7pm) in the Stonehouse Bar in Hamilton. There's a few lined up but now they have a bass player again (!) they're trying to book more. [url="https://www.facebook.com/spanish.tour.1982/"]https://www.facebook...nish.tour.1982/[/url] I still don't know all the bloody arrangements but it's getting slightly less bad [/quote] I actually live in Thankerton buts its usually easier just saying Biggar. Very small world I know the Stonehouse Bar. Might take a wee run over. No pressure tho as i know the feeling of being the new guy in the band. Will check out the link too. You need to add a bit more info on the band Facebook page i think. No mention of who's in the band. More pics or VIDS too would be nice. Hopefully see you there. Dave Cheers Dave

[quote name='thepurpleblob' timestamp='1500799854' post='3340192'] Well, if you're ever around the West of Scotland! We have a very good keyboard player (a.k.a. Gary). I think that's makes all the difference Re. Oasis. At our last gig, we got asked four times if we played any Oasis songs (we don't). I regard a couple of Oasis songs as something to have in the bag. If you encounter a stag party or similar then playing Oasis is required by law! [/quote] I'm from Biggar area. What's the band name and when are the next gigs. I might just come along to one of them jst to hear Supertramp covers. Dave

[quote name='Yank' timestamp='1500808727' post='3340253'] I teach music on the side. When working with students learning to read, sometimes they play the notes in the right place but something is missing. When, for example, playing Bach's "Minuet in G Major" , a beautiful piece, it helps to think of the people of that time in their huge dresses. When dancing, they made small, stately movements. You have to let the piece breathe properly, instead of rushing through the notes. Sometimes a synth doing, say, a flute sound, won't sound right unless the keyboardist breathes like a flute player would. I guess what I'm trying to say is that there's more to playing a part than just the note in the right place, or maybe I'm being too esoteric. Would a punk bass sound right if you play like you're happy instead of angry? [/quote] Think this is quite a good explanation of it. Dave

[quote name='thepurpleblob' timestamp='1500749286' post='3339995'] The band I just joined plays a couple of Supertramp songs, "Give a little bit" and (of course) "Breakfast in America". They're two of our most popular songs. I was quite surprised. [/quote] I'm a big Supertramp fan and would never have guessed that either. Great songs and also chart hits for the band. I just never got into that Oasis thing. I never object to any song suggestion by the band unless it simply doesn't fit our set list or the style of music the band has. If band wanted to do Oasis i would probably go along with it but just wouldn't like the song. Always give it 100% tho if i'm playing it. Even if i didn't like it the audience might. Dave