mingsta

Hi guys could I get some constructive criticism on a few clips that i recorded of our last gig? We were looking to put together a few clips together of a live performance so that we can give prospective customers an idea of what we are like. The question is, would a recording like this do more harm than good? I've seen some really slick bands play at a few local venues and am concerned that we might look a bit amateurish. So any pointers to improve the presentation would be much appreciated. We don't have the budget for studio time so it'll have to be cheap and cheerful whatever we do (like rehearsing more!). If we are miles off the typical pub standard (I've seen a few very good ones lately, which worries me!) it'd also be good to get that called out with some feedback on what needs to be worked on. In terms of what we are aiming for, we are definitely in the amateur/weekend warrior category and just looking to reach out to some of the local pubs and restaurants to get a more regular stream of low profile gigs in sw london. We are currently playing about once a month on average at a local pub and getting hired for private parties off the back of that and are looking for more of the same. Ta! [url="https://soundcloud.com/mingsta88/mawrats-prenton-park-gig-clips-from-1st-set"]https://soundcloud.c...ps-from-1st-set[/url] https://soundcloud.com/mingsta88/mawrats-prenton-park-2-clips

Bought a Genz Benz 2x12 cab off Mike. Top man. Smooth transaction and he was even kind enough to bring it down to London when he was down on a business trip.

I practice low volume, no effects with headphones. If you can get it to sound good like that, then playing live with all the trimmings is a doddle.

I don't really do any technically challenging basslines as everything I do nowadays is geared towards playing pubs and parties. Truth be told, it ain't like the old days, where I could spend hours as a teenager wood shedding my chops, nowadays I'd rather learn 5 easy songs that I can gig than one really tricky song that'll never see the light of day. But some of the one's that I found quite difficult in recent times... [b]Overture 1928 - Dream Theater:[/b] our guitarist is a DT fanatic and so we humored him on doing this one though we never gigged it, for obvious reasons. Took bloody ages to learn due to all the changes and fast runs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNKjuC2kSPs [b]I was made to love her - [/b][b]Stevie Wonder[/b][b]: [/b]its a busy bassline and lets face it, even if you can play the notes right, anything you do is going to sound a bit cr*p next to the master that was James Jamerson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pYux5-d1Es [b]Kings of Leon - Sex on fire (!!!!): [/b]the bassline is as simple as it gets but I had all sorts of trouble with it and kept losing count of the changes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF0HhrwIwp0

Feck that's lovely.

Hi Mike, I checked out your site, good stuff!!! Where are you based in London?

I loved Randy Hope Taylor's tone on the incognito positivity album.

Cheers for all the replies guys. I'm going to make a concerted effort to look out at the crowd at the next gig...may even get the wifey to video and post on youtube so you can critique/see my sex face first hand! Maybe we can post my month by month progress as I make the transition from stiff plank to flea.

+1 for bassic-bits Mine is still going strong. Great cable and good vfm

Aaah, its starting to dawn on me that i'd definitely be a good idea to start working on the band chemistry thing during rehearsal However, there's some practical issues around this...we rehearse round my house in the evenings to save on hiring a studio. As I have a 1 year old daughter, we're all hooking in to a jam hub in the lounge for silent practice...but maybe we can do our own silent disco type thing. Now I just need to convince the wife for us to have a full wall sized mirror in the lounge. Maybe we can use the one from the bedroom....

I'm in a decent 4 piece covers band and we're getting a regular stream of local gigs now. The problem is, that while our singer is good front man (really good singer, engages well with the crowd), the rest of us are like cardboard cutouts on stage. My wifey went to our last gig and she noted the extreme bass-face that I had on throughout the 3 hours of music...likening it to my "sex-face" that she's fortunate enough to experience first hand every 6 months or so...she said I looked like a weirdo and that it must have been deeply unsettling to the crowd (who were fortunately too drunk to notice). The rest of the band didn't fare much better under her critique...the guitarist is a classic introvert but at least looked moderately "cool" as he nodded to the music under his hoodie. The drummer has is own version of bass face, but at least put on a good fixed rictus grin for the last 2 hrs after wifey suggested to him that he smile a bit. But while wifey probably deserves the "yoko ono" label that she's earnt from the band members for meddling in our affairs (she also happens to be asian), I think she's raised a valid point. We kind of need to get more motion, band chemistry and happy vibes when we're performing and get to something a little more like this: [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPvuNsRccVw"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPvuNsRccVw[/url] The problem is, when I play, I'm practically paralysed with concentration and I find it really difficult to even say short sentences while playing, let alone manage enough coordination to simultaneously dance, smile, whoop and make eye contact with other band members and audience. Its been like this ever since I was a teenager. Anyone got any tips for improving band chemistry/stagecraft and overcoming bassface?

It depends on how big the ring is!!! I'm old skool, so went for a relatively modest 4mm band when I got married. A lot of guys seem to favour much chunkier wedding rings nowadays. It felt weird at first, and I actually took it off on my wedding day when I played (did a short 12 song set with the wedding band at the start of the night). But I got used to it after a while and now I don't even notice now. I also find that wearing your wedding ring while playing helps to ward off the groupies when we play down the local Puke and Bucket.

If you don't need the effects, check out the Phil Jones Big Head.

Now that's my kind of set! I'd love to play in a band that covers that lot. [quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1420214900' post='2646740'] This is our set for tonight's cocktail bar set. We change the set significantly most gigs, tailored to who we are playing for and to stop us getting bored: [color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,]Mr Tibbs - Quincy Jones Let's Stay Together It's a Shame You Send Me - Sam Cooke 1960 What? - Gregory Porter What's Going On? Across 110th Street Pastime Paradise - The Ray Barretto version seque into a New Orleans style 'Gangsters'Paradise'[/font][/color] [color=#141823][font=Helvetica, Arial,]Set 2 Casa Forte - The Yuji Ohno version Another Star - Stevie Wonder Master Blaster No No No Could you be loved? Waiting in Vain 54-46 Set 3 Expansions - Lonnie Liston Smith Funky Nassau Shoot your Shot Mr Doobie - Freebeez and the Honey Horns Is this Love - A funky version by KC Roberts Across The Tracks - Maceo You've Got The Love Move On Up[/font][/color] [/quote]

Great vid and some great gigs and playing.

I've got a 93 2eq H and a 2010 HH. If I could only have one bass, it'd be the HH without a shadow of a doubt. If you already have the other monuments of bass (P and J) then might as well go down the purist route and get an H.

Here's our set list, its a four piece band with drums, bass, guitar and vocals. Its a real mix, which makes things more fun from a playing perspective. We're trying to work in a few more current songs for 2015. Klangkarussell Sun Don't Shine Nirvana Lithium Michael Jackson Aint No Sunshine Lenny Kravitz Fly Away Stevie Wonder Superstition Crowded House Don't dream is over Bronski Beat Smalltown Boy Michael Buble To love somebody Stevie Wonder Signed Sealed Delivered George Michael Faith Seal Kiss from a Rose The Monkees I'm a believer Michael Jackson Billie Jean The Doors Light my fire Culture Club Karma Chameleon Stevie Wonder Master Blaster OutKast Hey Ya One Republic Counting Stars Daft Punk Get Lucky Beatles Hey Jude Prince Kiss Cee Lo Crazy Bob Marley Three little Birds Red Hot Chili Peppers Under the Bridge The Monkees Daydream Believer Lynrd Skynrd Sweet home Alabama Pharrell Williams Happy Ben E King Stand by me Bruno Mars Locked Out of Heaven Al Green Lets Stay Together Aloe Black I need a dollar Emele Sande Next to me

And if you ain't already read it...grab yourself a copy of Standing in the Shadows of Motown (Hal Leonard publication). Lots of James jamerson''s best loved lines. While there were many other great bass players of that era, he is the man to study if you want to get a good feel for playing the genre.

Good call! We used to do that one, but for some reason the singer was never that keen on it, though the band loved playing it.

A used genz contour combo would be in your budget and weight. I got much love for genz kit, crying shame it's now out of production.

Hi all, I'm looking for some ideas to spruce up our set list for 2015. We are looking for some recent songs ie from within the past few years, that will get everyone dancing and which are doable for a four piece (guitar, drums, bass, male vocals). We already do counting stars, get lucky and happy. Have you got anything that fits the criteria which always goes down a treat with the punters?

Yeah something's definitely pushing air differently.

boom! Thanks for the heads up. I've been waiting for this so long I'd given up! What a shock that it's finally out

I'm in a four piece band and we only gig on a semi regular basis, probably once a month next year as we can expect at least 2-3 semi re-occurring gigs with local pub, function things etc. Our guitarist is quite busy with other projects, but knows the material well and is generally reliable though not always available at the drop of a hat. He was ill today which has led to us cancelling tonights gig. The singer/band leader sent me a text saying that we need to line up one or possible two guitar deps for next year. Personally I think this a bonkers idea as who in their right mind would learn a setlist of 30 songs for the prospect of playing one or two gigs in 2015 for the princely sum of £50-80 a gig. Plus the work to get them up to speed and the effect of marginalising our current guitarist, who's a good egg other than being quite busy. Anyway, I think I'm pretty clear in my own min on where I stand with this, but from your experience are there people out who would take a gig like this? What planet do they come from and do they also come with a tourbus and roadies?

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1416810791' post='2613719'] If I buy one, will it make me sound like James Jamerson? [/quote] For $450 I'd expect it to make me sound like Marvin Gaye.