peteb

It should be noted that bars in Europe are probably closer to the States rather than the UK - bar bands generally play three or four hour shows over three sets.

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1459789867' post='3019667'] Oh, there are too many to list: Tony Levin on Red Rain, Pino on Tear Your Playhouse Down (although pretty much anything these guys play on is amazing to my ears); the usual suspects really. But someone who, IMO, doesn't get enough kudos is Roscoe Beck. The walking line on this track, with its skips and ghost notes, is just lovely and then there's the two-handed, chordal stuff that starts under the guitar solo @2:00 onwards. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8itrVCVrtNM&list=PLXYKzslrntw3LmWYDEBWLxVt8yb-7M9WP[/media] [/quote] I've seen so many ace bass players who were all great in different ways, but one who does stand out was seeing Roscoe Beck live with Robben Ford. I had never even realised that he was playing the two handed comping stuff until I saw him do it live (I had assumed it was an organ in the record) - stunning player...!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1459378094' post='3016069'] The old I have a job, so I'm better than you full time musicians. Lame. Blue [/quote] I don't think that he means that at all. Obviously, if you don't rely on gigging to pay the rent then you can afford to be choosier about what projects you do. However, getting paid does put a definite value on any musical endeavour. Of course it is not the only value, or even (necessarily) the most important one, but if someone is prepared to pay you to perform then there is a certain validation whereas if you never get out of the bedroom / rehearsal studio then who is to say objectively that what you are doing is any good or not.

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1459318451' post='3015336'] Bands, especially originals bands are really a case of how much your prepared to compromise to make it work... If every member sticks rigidly to what they want then the band will never work. I am a case in point as as I absolutely refuse to be told what to play under any circumstances... hence I am currently bandless [/quote] You see I’m the complete opposite – people ring me up and ask me to play bass on their projects and if I think it will be fun / good and I have the time then I say yes! Money is nice but not the most important thing and I don’t care if it is original material or covers. I wouldn’t consider anything where they want me to be a completely different type of player but beyond that I can come up with my own basslines or they can tell me exactly what to play (as long as it is going to work). [quote name='blue' timestamp='1459312584' post='3015328'] If I made you think that it's solely about money I apologize. There is nothing about performing, even at the bar band that leaves me cold. To me there is nothing more fulfilling than the fun and opportunity to play rock and roll and getting paid.It's not all there is to it but it's a big part of it. I've invested a life time to this and I'm not giving it away. I mean even for originals bands I would think you'd get more from hearing the applause from a crowd after one if your originals is a bigger thrill than playing it alone in the bedroom. Blue [/quote] Absolutely, getting to play rock and roll with a decent band in front of an audience is one of the things I live for. Getting paid is good, but I’m quite excited about the possibility of putting together a one-off scratch band with a great guitar player mate of mine, just to be the house band for a new blues jam night. No money in it but just the chance to play with some friends who haven’t played together for a while in a different context…

We've had this debate on BC many times before and unlike others here I would say that there is a small but noticeable (to you) difference and you will get a little more sustain. Whether that is what you want is another matter! I have changed the bridge on every Fender that I have ever had, with the exception of the P bass I currently own whose previous owner saved me the trouble and kindly fitted a badass before I got it...!

Where I Find My Heaven - Gigolo Aunts Drops of Jupiter - Train Semi Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind Latter two one hit wonders only in this country...

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1457899647' post='3002858'] I always rather liked this. And she seemed like a really nice person. I too wonder what happened to her. [/quote] Not a lot is the short answer (local girl from around this neck of the woods), However, the guy who wrote Sleeping Satellite has had a bit of success (most notably producing and writing for Corinne Bailey Rae).

Gin Blossoms - Hey Jealousy

I always thought that Oasis were great - a good rowdy rock n'roll band with plenty of energy and loads of great tunes! Sure, some of them were a bit derivative and they were not the greatest players but so what? The last band in this country to inspire loads of kids to pick up a guitar, all good in my book.

Can't help thinking that one man's set of meatheads is another man's idea of a great rock and roll crowd...!

[quote name='neilmurraybass' timestamp='1457432071' post='2998382'] I can see I'll have to do a note-for-note demonstration! Neil [/quote] Now that would be brilliant...! I have been listening to that bassline for pretty much as long as I have been playing bass - it's pretty much part of my musical DNA! I have played various versions of FFYL in a number of bands, but I am not convinced that I have ever managed to get your version 100% right. It would be fascinating to see exactly what you played, especially with you actually showing us how you did it.

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1457228874' post='2996600'] Excellent point, good money making opportunities are never advertised to the general public. Blue [/quote] It's not just about money, it could just be a band that is going to play pubs twice a month for fun! But the point remains that IME the best bands rarely advertise in this way, but tend to recruit thru recommendations from a network of their musician mates and friends of friends, etc.

I think that all four of the adverts in the OP are fine – all clear and realistic in what they are looking for and potentially good opportunities (depending on how good they are) for a suitable candidate. Personally, I would not consider Band 1 at the moment as they are not going to play out but if I was too busy in my day job to commit to regular gigging and wanting to keep my hand in, or if I was new to an area and wanting to make connections then they might be ideal. Again, I would have no interest in Band 4 (nor would they be interested in me) but it may well be a perfectly viable band for someone into that type of thing. However, I kinda think that this is missing the point. If any band has to resort to putting out adverts for musicians that they don’t know, then it is a pretty good indication that they are not plugged into the local circuit and do not have the connections with the local good players (or are not good enough to attract the guys who normally get the better gigs). Most good bands recruit from recommendations from a network of established players who all either know each other or know of each other.

No one has mentioned Oasis - first song on Morning Glory quoting a Gary Glitter song...!

If your diary isn't packed with gigs for the coming year and it looks like it will be fun / make a few quid then why not?? Looks like the drummer is not going to be up to playing for a while and the current bass player doesn't fancy it without him. Having said that you can always be prepared to leave if you find them untrustworthy going forward...!

How about 'Drinkin' My Blues' by the excellent Lance Lopez (former Buddy Myles protégé) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8G9vijt_do

[quote name='AlpherMako5' timestamp='1456086963' post='2985307'] Bradford used to be ace for gigging. Now it's rubbish. You could gig twice a week and not play the same place twice in one year. I'm going back a while mind you.... [/quote] Remember the Ring O’Bells, that big pub on the roundabout at Eccleshill?? Fifteen years ago they used to put rock bands on every Thursday night. It was a decent crowd every week (often rammed out) and it was like the start of the weekend for a lot of us. If I remember correctly we used to play there 4 or 5 times a year (as did you). The brewery saw how successful it was and decided to invest in the pub and ordered a complete refurb and then reopened featuring MOR acts from a booking agency three times a week. Eighteen months later the pub had closed (obviously the crowd watching rock bands every Thursday had no interest in 60s tributes on the weekend) and now it has been demolished and the site is a mini-supermarket…! The live scene isn’t dying by any means but it is not as healthy as it was 15 years ago. There are still gigs and an audience for a decent band but punters have less money and tend to pick and choose more when they venture out. Pubs generally are doing worse and loads have closed down, whether they feature live music or not. And of course, breweries have made so many bizarre business decisions to ruin successful pubs (like the example above) that it beggars belief…

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1455971403' post='2984081'] If you don't like people, bands might not be for you. Do solo projects or the hone studio thing. You shouldn't have to quit all together. Blue [/quote] If someone genuinely doesn't like other people I would suggest that they probably have issues that they need to address that go beyond music or playing in bands.

[quote name='Woodinblack' timestamp='1455455844' post='2979206'] strange as it would seem, i don't think that liking people in an essential, or even that important for being in the entertainment business. [/quote] I would disagree, especially in bands where you have to travel and spend a lot of time with other musicians and have a pretty direct relationship with your audience. It might be different for film actors, but the same definitely applies to the theatre. I know a very good drummer locally with a decent CV who no one will play with any more, basically because he is a bit of a sociopath. People have put up with him for so long because he's good, but now people have had enough and no one will touch him.

To the OP - if you don'et like playing gigs then just don't. There are plenty of other people who will welcome the opportunity to take your place.1 If you don't like other people then being in the entertainment business (basically what playing live is about) is probably not for you...

[quote name='Len_derby' timestamp='1455449415' post='2979119'] This is an interesting one. As a bar visitor both sides of the Atlantic (but only as a customer in the USA, not playing) my observation is that generally the American side is less rowdy and less downright rude. There seems to be increasing inability for Brits to hold their drink. [/quote] I have very rarely played a gig where the crowd is overly rowdy or unfriendly, even in towns that have reputations for being, shall we say a little rumbustious! The very odd occasions where it has happened are so rare that they have become the source of legend, or at least stories recounted in pubs by groups of musicians... I don't know what gigs some people here are playing, but I don't come across them.

[quote name='wombatboter' timestamp='1455266151' post='2977548'] Well played but the arrangement takes over the song... [/quote] TBH I kinda think that's the point! I enjoyed the clip but would never actually buy it...

The late Phil Kennemore of Y&T was a really nice bloke. A couple of us were drinking at the bar after a Y&T show while one of our geekier friends was trying to get autographs when Phil came to get a drink. We ended up chatting and drinking for an hour or so, talking mainly about travel and his love of Britain rather than music or Y&T, whilst he drank the bar dry of dark spirits! The rest of the band made an appearance later and all seemed nice enough guys but didn't really get the humour (we were taking the mickey a bit by this point) but Kennemore just had a laugh and chatted like we were all old mates!