JapanAxe

I don’t do New Year resolutions as such but I do review my goals periodically in my Bullet Journal. This will require some reflection, which I have yet to do because of (1) NYE gig, (2) house guests. However I have sacked off the predictable pub covers gigs to leave space for: (1) Bowie tribute; (2) Glam covers startup; (3) Rockabilly/country covers/originals; (4) Anything else that seems fun and/or interesting.

Final 2025 dep gig on lead guitar with a pub covers band. Ticketed NYE pub event with family members on the guest list. All went really well and had to remind myself that a lot of the gigs can be grim with a really late drive home. Looking forward to 2026 with at least 3 happening band projects!

Country music is massively popular in East Anglia. There is a (somewhat weird) fan-run country music club scene with a good number of clubs in that region. If you’re comfortable with strange requests, brown food, and ingrained racism, have at it!

The VVT control plate arrived yesterday but, despite being used, it is considerably shinier than the relic’d stack-knob plate. I intend to attack it (gently) with some fine wire wool before treating it with acetic acid fumes from white vinegar. I also could do with some raw sheep’s wool from a fence as the lanolin is apparently good for dulling bright metal.

As a recent Jazz-itch-scratcher, I congratulate you!

Both pickups on full is definitely my favourite Jazz bass sound.

Just re-read your OP and noticed ‘read tab fluently’. I think that’s quite unusual, but unfortunately not that useful (in this context). With one tribute band I have had the keyboard player send me the ‘bass pad’ in standard notation, to learn before the gig; otherwise I’ve been expected to learn the set myself.

Yes there are some 'genre' tributes but I think it can be trickier to pitch. For instance, if you did a Britpop show, you would somehow need to differentiate your act from a thousand pub bands knocking out covers of Oasis, Pulp, Blur etc. It's important to have a unique selling point (USP). If all this sounds very business-oriented, that's because it is!

Be aware that is a long and expensive road. You need to pick an artist with enough well-known material (with maybe some album 'deep cuts') to fill a 2-hour show, and a strong enough base of diehard fans and/or well-heeled (usually mature) punters to pay for tickets. Some acts really require lookalikes as well as soundalikes. If the material is heavily produced/orchestrated, you may need synched tracks to fill out the sound. Then you'll want a professional-quality showreel for you or your booking agent to send out to venues. If a venue already has a tribute to your chosen artist, they may not wish to take a chance on an alternative. Just some things to think about...

It’s about who you know really. I dep on rhythm guitar (mostly) and bass (occasionally) in a Dire Straits tribute that plays theatres and arts centres all over the UK. I met the BL through a mutual friend who was putting together a scratch band for a wedding - not something I recommend btw!