solo4652

If you have the musical talents [i]and[/i] the performance talents in the band, then you're there! All you have to do is be a little flexible about who does what. Lead singer, lead guitarist don't [i]have[/i] to be band fronters. If other people in the band are better equipped for the role, get them to do it. This happened in a band I was in a couple of years ago. The out-front people were very able musicians, but not showpeople. Myself and the drummer were the more extrovert ones. So, we traded roles, but not instruments. Drummer at the front-side of the stage, side-on to the audience. I was across the stage at the other side. Lead guitar and lead singer were centre stage, but would take a couple of steps back between songs so they weren't responsible for chat and song intro's. Certainly looked different from the audience's perspective, and that in itself created interest in the band. Years of work as an Occupational Psychologist made me realise that if you have a square peg in a round hole, it's often much easier to change the shape of the hole rather than change the peg.

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1481219155' post='3190732'] Jeez you lot there's a simple calculation for this, beard score. Members of band wearing a beard; 0-punk or classical. 1-Pop or Rock. 2-Rock or funk. 3-Acoustic or dull (coldplay etc). 4-Jazz. 5 or more including the women-Folk. [/quote]

[quote name='razze06' timestamp='1481211854' post='3190622'] Seriously, my band started getting loads more gigs once we dropped the overall volume, I started playing double bass as well as electric, and started doing more jazzy/swingy/folky stuff. We don't call ourselves anything like acoustic, but I can say that we do jazzy/swingy/folky covers... [/quote] Sounds like our bands play similar stuff. When somebody asks you; "What sort of band are you?", what do you say? Thing is, our guitarist is keen to include "Acoustic" in the band name. I'm not, because (1) I don't think we're are an acoustic band (but I'm not sure now!), (2) labels such as Acoustic, and semi-acoustic mean different things to different people and (3) including Acoustic, or some other band-type in a band name could easily become a hostage to fortune, especially as the band is a start-up.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1481206056' post='3190527'] Why is it so important? Just call yourselves "Aliens drive Winnebagos" and have done with it! On second thoughts, don't - I might use that one myself! [/quote] Sure, it's not of earth-shattering importance! However, when you walk into a venue trying to get a gig and you're asked "What sort of band are you?", there are times when you have to think about how you reply, surely? Potential gig at Dog and Duck pub, "We're a full 4-piece pop band with drums, two singers and bass. We have our own PA system, so you don't have to supply anything..." Potential gig at a smart wine bar on a Sunday afternoon, "We're basically an acoustic set-up playing cool neo-soul at sound levels that mean that people can still talk to each other..." Adjust the band description according to who you're talking to. I still think we're a semi-acoustic band. That covers most things, I reckon.

My new covers band is trying to come up with a band name. 4-piece band line up; lead singer, miced through PA, guitarist playing an electro-acoustic through the PA and singing BV's miced through PA, myself on electric bass through my own backline, drummer playing a stripped-down kit tastefully with rods. Songs by George Ezra, Caro Emerald, Beautiful South, Amy Macdonald. The guitarist refers to this as an "acoustic" band to the point that he wants "acoustic" in the band name. I'm not so sure. Got me thinking - what does the term "acoustic band" mean nowadays? I think we're a semi-acoustic band.

Still no short scales? I'd buy one.

Does this count as Jazz Funk? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0Fs8IFTFDE

https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/very-rare-maybe-only-one-in-uk-late-70s-soviet-union-orfeus-bass/1200133916

I don't have a smart-phone, so I don't know how emails and texting works on them. When I'm texting on my dumb-phone, I turn the predictive texting off. Surely that's possible on a smart-phone?

Stop press: I've just received this email from guitarist: "We would like very much for you to join us on this new project if we haven't traumatised you too much with the key changes!" I've said yes.

Finally got to play with these guys today. The drummer sent me some videos of guitarist and singer rehearsing some songs, plus a list of songs and keys. All good, apart from guitarist was playing one song in Cm on the video, but saying it was Bm on the songlist. I queried this, he replied that they did it "as per the video, in Bm". I rechecked the video and, trusting with my ears, convinced myself he was playing Cm. Having never met these guys, and fearing I'd be labelled a pedant, I carefully, politely, asked the guitarist to re-check the song key. Email thread, all before we'd met today: Guitar: "Oh yes - sorry - I am playing it in Cm on the video, but after that we changed it to Bm." Me; "Ahh, right. So shall I practise it in Bm, then?" Guitar: "Yes, please" Me: "OK - no problem. I'll tell you what, I'll practise it in Cm and Bm, then I'm covered both ways" Guitar; "Fine. See you Saturday" Got there for the first meeting/audition. A few songs in , we got to the song in question. Guitar; "Right. Let's do [the song]. We'll do it in C#m" Me: "Pardon?"

Bugger. Sharon Jones had battled cancer for quite a while. I thought she'd beaten it, but no. I first came across her on Live at Daryl's House. Check this out for energy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK0LEpyM0oQ&list=RDAK0LEpyM0oQ#t=16

Possibly. Pissably. Piss a brolly.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1479331806' post='3175793'] Let me tell you what it means. It means...find someone else to form a band with. If the guy can't list a handful of his favourite songs, it does not auger well, for good communication if/when you did get a band up and running. [/quote] Yes - you're right. I've already crossed him off my "possibles" list.

Aha! That's it! He plays bass, guitar and drums. When he said ;" U boy Jaco Pastorious. I'll bring acoustic guitar...", he meant; "You be Jaco (in his clumsy email-speak, this becomes "U boy Jaco.."), and I'll play acoustic guitar". Yep - that sort of makes sense. Serves me right for being too literal.

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1479317598' post='3175619'] So, why didn't you reply to his email, asking precisely that ? [/quote] I've already done that, actually. Here's the message thread for you, starting with his reply to my question; "What songs would you put onto a blank setlist?" Him: "U boy jaco pastorouis . I'll bring acoustic guitar . Play few riffs pointless saying influences as there's thousands lol. Give ya no. I'll call you have a chin wag . Peace" Me: " “u boy jaco pastorouis” Sorry – not quite sure what you mean." Him: "I was saying my favourite bass player is jaco pastorouis am crap at emails etc . Especially on blumming phone ." Me: "OK. I’m still not sure what you mean by “u boy”. Googling doesn’t help me to understand. Apologies for my ignorance." No reply.

[quote name='Bolo' timestamp='1479301706' post='3175427'] Is he South African perchance? [/quote] No idea. Why do you ask?

Hmm, that's a possibility. Pity we have to try to guess what he means.

I've been swapping emails with somebody about possibly setting up a soul/funk/blues covers band. To get a feel for what sort of music he's into, I said "Here's a blank songlist. What songs would you[i] really[/i] want to see on there?" His reply: "u boy Jaco Pastorouis" I don't know what this means. I thought u boy might be a Jaco song, but it seems not. Could it be some sort of reference to Jaco playing on Ian Hunter's All American Alien Boy album, perhaps? Googling "U boy" throws up lots of stuff about boy-girl dating, but I can't see what that has to do with soul/funk/blues music at all. Have I missed something obvious? Am I an old fart who should know what/who U boy is, but doesn't?

How about this ad, then: http://www.joinmyband.co.uk/classifieds/asap-base-player-t924396.html

I am not joking when I say this; The Harley Benton Shorty is [i]phenomenal[/i] value at £70: [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbp90bk_shortscale_ebass.htm?glp=1&gclid=CjwKEAiA0pDBBRCFtoPyguTh8AUSJADNWeux4j4ShHsVem04TOXU9FDNIMtcj_xxYeeYRfFQO4AgXBoC_m_w_wcB"]https://www.thomann....4AgXBoC_m_w_wcB[/url] I wanted to try short scale and bought the HBS as a no-money try-out. I dropped some Entwistle PBXN pickups in there and I got a lightweight, nicely balanced P-bass that's really kind on my neck and shoulders. 41mm nut width too, so doesn't feel too narrow for a P bass player.The Entwistle pickups are pretty hot and punchy and cut down a fair bit of the traditional short-scale muddy thudiness. My band said it was the best-sounding bass they'd heard me play. Total outlay = under £100. I still missed a J pickup for a bit of bite. So, I bought an Ibanez Talman TMB-30 for £170: [url="http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Ibanez-TMB30-BK-30-Short-Scale-Bass-Guitar-Black/1G9H?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+GENERIC&adgroup=GENERIC&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=67733d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=255341176042&gclid=CjwKEAiA0pDBBRCFtoPyguTh8AUSJADNWeuxzhONRk4YVSWdgZcV-Fjr7MKhFfaiPATgdHyFhDN8TRoC813w_wcB"]http://www.gear4musi...DN8TRoC813w_wcB[/url] The neck pickup solo is a little more mids-forward than the HBS, and IMHO, stands right up there with any Fender P I've ever had. Mix in the bridge pickup and you have loads of sounds available. It's a bit heavier than the HBS, and the body is a little bigger, so the Ibanez isn't [i]quite[/i] so easy for me to play. 41mm at the nut so, again, not too narrow for my paws. Absolutely no hesitation in gigging either bass. Don't know where you live, Zummerbass, but you're welcome to come round anytime for a noodle. I'm in Stockport.

....or, the opportunity to play with a decent covers band! Thanks, Steve Edit-update, 6th December 2016. Looks like I'm sorted for now - I've joined a (semi) acoustic pop-soul band.

[quote name='MisterT' timestamp='1478249493' post='3167806'] Lettuce [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5mWN8z3Xxk[/media] [/quote] Never heard of Lettuce. Just listened to the first couple of minutes of that live set. Tight as you like. I'll finish the hoovering and settle down with a cuppa to listen to the rest.

A couple of years ago, I was involved in a start-up band that was aiming for a blues-funk-soul vibe. Here's the initial songlist: Ain't no love in the heart of the city – Bobby Bland [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcF8A"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcF8A[/url][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcF8Aos4XDA"] [/url] os4XDA[/u][/color] Shaky ground – Etta James [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbCWP5iW654#t=29"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbCWP5iW654#t=29[/url][/u][/color] Lonely boy – Black Keys [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_426RiwST8"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_426RiwST8[/url][/u][/color] My oh my – Sad cafe [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K75Q-0wMgn0"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K75Q-0wMgn0[/url][/u][/color] Something to talk about – Bonnie Raitt [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ58TVYNFro"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJ58TVYNFro[/url][/u][/color] China Grove – Doobie Brothers [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udSHItTjWyQ"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udSHItTjWyQ[/url][/u][/color] Play that funky music – Wild Cherry Cuddly toy – Roachford [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbscx0S3jcY"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbscx0S3jcY[/url][/u][/color] Long Train running – Doobie Brothers Without you – Doobie Brothers [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bn_to1uNVg"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bn_to1uNVg[/url][/u][/color] Bohemian like you – Dandy Warhols [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU3mc0yvRNk"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU3mc0yvRNk[/url][/u][/color] Ain't that peculiar – Various covers e.g. [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOgMHWI5XT4"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOgMHWI5XT4[/url][/u][/color] Roadhouse blues – Various covers. Good one is The Doors with John Lee Hooker [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xzFWm9uXJo"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xzFWm9uXJo[/url][/u][/color] Chill out – John Lee Hooker and Carlos Santana [color="#000080"][u]<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv0NyWoO0R4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wv0NyWoO0R4[/u][/color] Inner city blues – Marvin Gaye [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57Ykv1D0qEE"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57Ykv1D0qEE[/url][/u][/color] Pelvis Pusher – Vintage Trouble [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMCutWGTHSU"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMCutWGTHSU[/url][/u][/color] Jezzabella – Vintage Trouble [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FVM88Xu-mI"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FVM88Xu-mI[/url][/u][/color] Vintage Trouble + Beverley Knight [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utke4s0dbm8"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utke4s0dbm8[/url][/u][/color] Roll On – J J Cale [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Umeco1Z-j4"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Umeco1Z-j4[/url][/u][/color] River runs deep – Clapton + J J Cale [color="#000080"][u][url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4LekkGu9n8"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4LekkGu9n8[/url][/u][/color] Other J J Cale songs; After midnight, Call me the breeze, Bringing it back... stuff by B B King, Robert Cray Pretty much anything by Albert Collins