Raymondo

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1465572627' post='3069390'] Here's an article which gives a bit of background to how it came about... [url="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/tom-willis/uks-best-parttime-band_b_10394152.html"]http://www.huffingto...b_10394152.html[/url] [/quote] An interesting little article. I have a new found respect for Mr Jazzie. I quite liked the first one, although I agree that there seemed to be a bit too much Rhod ( whom I think is fantastic by the way, I love his sense of humour) and not enough music.

Back in 2005 I went to see a band in Ilfracombe with my mates (I was on me hols!) and went to see a band called "The Food Fighters"....they were not a foo fighters tribute band They were an excellent covers band though....we all had a fabulous night to the OP ...I am sure that you will have a great gig ....flying by the seat of your pants is always the best way

An Audition P bass copy from Woolies for £29.00 in 1973. It was Sunburst but obviously I soon spray painted it black! In !974 I bought an Arbiter ric copy and have no Idea what happened to the Audition...I really cannot remember, how sad is that?! It was a crap bass though

It was a standard night in the Seventies and Eighties Kev ,never mind the Nineties!

What,What? what did he do?

I've been trying to connect to your diary page since the 25th; via my saved bookmark, your links and searching via wordpress. I keep getting a" sorry we can't find that page" message......is there a problem with the web site?

Our singer has a great voice but she will not interact with the audience. I do all the babbling at gigs. I have certain phrases that I use a lot of the time. For example, when introducing Whisky in the jar, "this is our version, of Metallica's version, of Thin Lizzy's version of an old Irish song." The rest of the time I try to find out what the audience laughs at and play up to that. Although nobody has ever complained I do feel that it looks better when the singer does the talking as they are the focus of the band. I guess what I am saying is, if the singer is a good singer, then by all means do the talking; if he's not, then replace him.

Not me, I still have my own hair and don't drive an Estate. I also don't own any Vanderklay cabs. I do smile occasionally and used to live in Highbury vale though so not a complete miss.

Ha ha I've never thought of frogs that way! I was inspired to search for pics of Wayne and his guitar...I found this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB_zDJwTO4k

Hi Mark ....loving the diary as usual. I am intrigued by the "Frog" bass you mention that your new friend has....Is it actually frog shaped or is that something you share on the SBL site? I know of only one frog shaped bass, it belonged to Wayne Evans who was/is a member of the Nottingham band Gaffa....he also plays with, The last pedestrians and is a bit of a local hero (certainly to me). I haven't seen him with the frog bass for many years....I must ask him about it the next time I see him! Oh well just musing. I look forward to you writing more on your journey to superstardom.

I don't think so.

I went to see Fun Lovin' cri9minals at Rock city Nottingham last night ..... It was incredible one of the very best I have ever seen ..... At 58 yrs old I have seen a few!

If you can wait that long....I am driving to the lake district on 27thFeb for the weekend and would happily drive down to you when I get back? I am not working so it would be a short trip out to Northampton for me

I thought I would let you know that I am enjoying reading about your exploits.

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1453542588' post='2960373'] Blue? Whats a car note, and why don't you carry one? Sorry, just a bit confused. [/quote] In the USA it's common for people to get a car on finance when young and just keep renewing it,much like we have mortgages for houses.....that's why you see a lot of young "kids" driving newish cars. I am guessing Blue means that he owns his car outright.

In t' olden days I remember dialing my own phone number to get the engaged tone...... that was a G note......then I got them there new fangled pitch pipes.

Playing my Local pub. First time they have had a band on and the layout after a massive refit this year is somewhat challenging but everyone is looking forward to it. It will make a change for me to be playing near home ....the rest of the band can travel from Birmingham for a change! Should be fun and the landlord has offered free beer for us all night ....on top of decent wages....I will be able to make the most of if

He replied that the shop has not been open long so he doesn't know it's reputation but it does exist.

I have a very good friend that lives in the area ...he is in Lanzarote at the moment so may take a while to get back to me ....I'll post when I get a response!

When has any one advertised a bass as "truss rod works well" ? The guy probably had no idea that there was anything wrong. I have never adjusted a truss rod in 40yrs of playing bass,maybe I've been lucky or maybe I am just rubbish and don't know what relief is(I don't by the way so there's your answer ) I hope things work out for you but as you can probably guess from the above ....I would have just accepted it as part of life's rich pattern.

Another, well done and respect for being so brave, message from me Mr It takes guts and a lot of hard work but I am sure it will be worth it. Carry on carrying on as the saying goes!

I've just discovered it today......I really must visit the gig guide more regularly I thought it was brilliant and have shared it on my Facebook page.

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1445513058' post='2892014'] I used to have his book "Views" (I think it was called) No idea where it's gone to. [b]I preferred his Budgie album covers to the Yes ones. (might be because I prefer Budgie to Yes)[/b] +1 from me on that [/quote]

[quote name='TimR' timestamp='1442873388' post='2870236'] We played an RBL club twice in six months. The second time; the committee had changed and the audience was made up of completely different people. [/quote] I played social clubs for ten years and many of them three times a year your experience compared to mine is worlds apart At some in Sheffield you even knew who was going to start the fight before the evening started.

[quote name='ivansc' timestamp='1442649511' post='2868405'] PaulWarning: Having worked both sides of the Atlantic, I would have to say the standard of players I saw & worked with in the USA absolutely obliterated most of the pub and club bands I see in the UK today. Part of the problem is the number of people like yourself, who do it for the love of playing with no thought to the money aspect. You crowd out a lot of the bad bands, but also reduce the number of paying gigs a professional player can go after. There is a whole other level above lightly-rehearsed amateur bands where a good 4 hour show is perfectly do-able IF you put the time in to get road-hardened. Not easy, but then if you are working at that level it IS your job And 40 songs? When I was working solo in the UK I would play about 50 from a selection of over 300 I had rehearsed up well. Depended on the gig. Life is tough if you decide to make a living at music. FWIW I was making the same or better money as a 4 piece band when working solo, which is WHY I went solo. Paid the mortgage, but very hard work. [/quote] I don't know Paul personally by the way...... Where in his post does it say how much he earns? maybe he earns twice as much as you per gig but wants to enjoy the music,maybe not. The point is this is a forum for BASSPLAYERS ...not PROFESSIONAL BASS PLAYERS ONLY.... I have earned a living from my bass and i have played part time for fun too. I don't hold with this " amateur bass players are taking gigs away from the pros'" nonsense....I've never taken a gig off john Deacon by offering to play Wembley for free ....I would have mind given the chance