blue

[quote name='martin8708' timestamp='1454190010' post='2967459'] What will take the place of gigging ? There has always been a small percentage of people ( musicians / actors / musicians /comedians ) who feel the need to perform in front of people . There has also been a large percentage of people who feel the need to be entertained . Since medieval times ,and even earlier , jesters , jugglers , minstrals and acrobats have entertained the crowds ,the very same thing goes on in Covent Garden today . Take football for example , few people actually play it , but millions watch it on TV . I don't think gigging will ever go away , good bands with good showmanship will always be in demand . As a frequent visitor to the Isle of Wight festival ( it's on my doorstep ) , the best gig I ever saw was Tom Jones , purely for the showmanship ,professionalism, interaction with audience , he just had the audience eating out of his hands . Tom is no spring chicken , but he knows how to put on a show , something the younger bands with their sulky sullen faces can learn from . [/quote] I always come off sounding like a pr**k. So don't take this the wrong way. Tom is a once in a life time performer. A true soul man and one of the few left. There's no one like him. I'll add that he has become better with age. Now here's where I'll catch grief, it would surprise me if the younger bands even consider this master relevant no less be interested in learning anything from him. To be honest,what Tom has can't be taught. I believe the man was born with a gift. Blue

[quote name='Sausages' timestamp='1454175529' post='2967292'] I have to say that I think the sound of a Jazz bass is cool. I don't tend to fetishise basses for their looks. As others have said; if it sounds good and is played well, it's cool. [/quote] Looks and name brand are important to me as Well as playability and sound. I like the classic look of my Gibson Custom Shop ES-335 as much as my German made Hofner limited edition Club Bass. Big picture, if a bass has proper intonation, and good action your 99% of the way there. Blue

[quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1454169034' post='2967193'] Saw them last year in Aberdeen at the Lemon Tree. Great band! [/quote] They are in a class of their own. I've seen them several times. These Scottish guys are no BS, these guys get down to business like nobodies business. The real deal. Blue

[quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1454142795' post='2966800'] Although I can't define it, the look of a bass is very important to me. If I don't like the look of a bass, I won't enjoy playing it. Eg, I don't like the look of a Status King Bass (too blocky) but I do like the look of a Ritter. [/quote] It's very important to me too. I have several basses that I think look cool but others wouldn't.All the classics look cool to me. My Gibson Gold Top Les Paul bass and my 1991 Gibson Thunderbird. Blue

I like it here,I have to learn to dial my rhetoric back a bit. Blue

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1453973947' post='2964742'] Blue, having to got to know something about your taste in music, I heartily recommend the Keith Richards documentary, 'Under The Influence', and the Wrecking Crew film mentioned above. I think you'll enjoy them [/quote] You bet,I'll be looking for that one tonight. Thanks Blue

I've seen a few all maple basses but not ebony. Blue

[quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1454052118' post='2965738'] [url="http://www.foxreno.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/jefferson-airplane-founder-paul-kantner-dead-9378.shtml"]http://www.foxreno.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/jefferson-airplane-founder-paul-kantner-dead-9378.shtml[/url] Not normally my style to do these kind of threads, but this man and his band were a major part of my teenage years. Slightly lost for words right now... [/quote] They were a big part of my teenage years too. One of the coolest bands on the planet. RIP Paul. Blue

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1454059832' post='2965811'] Just realised I'm 33 this year. Starting to get gray hairs too. I really believe in staying fit, weights and cardio. And so it does slightly annoy me all this talk of lighter gear although I can understand why. I'm using older TE gear and it's a pain in the arse. But a man should really be able to haul heavy gear without injury and I hope I will still be able to do just that long into old age. I do worry that not as many younger people are taking up playing instruments in general. Oh that's reminds me a few years ago my friend Carl got turned down for a band as he was too old, he was 28! Haha. Turning away from guitar he now does music production and dj's etc. [/quote] I've hauled SVTs and a huge GK rig. About 6 months I started gigging with my GK combo. Amp in one hand, bass in the other and pedal board on my left shoulder.It's a 1 trip load in. I'll be 63 next month, the days of hauling big rigs are over for me. Plus were primarily a bar band and big rigs are not really needed. Blue

A cool bass is whatever you think a cool bass is. Blue

My band has been together for 10 years. We know instinctively where each other us going and what were trying to do. Blue

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1454069220' post='2966015'] Hearing something I'd written played on the radio was the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me musically. Incredible feeling. [/quote] Interesting in what drives us. I know several talented musicians that don't connect with the stage. We've had some of our original stuff played on the radio. I never bothered to listen. I'm was probably thinking, " when's the next gig". Blue

[quote name='leftybassman392' timestamp='1453974951' post='2964754'] 63 in May. I agree with Blue's comment about age not needing to be a factor:[/quote] I think if your dealing with musicians with a lot of experience and value experience. Bands that have it together and have work, age is not a factor. But guys over 60 need to have it together. You can't go to an audition looking and sounding like you have been out of the game for years.Or taking too long to set up your gear. Bands will spot that quick and rush you through an audition to get rid of you. Tip for those over 60 and auditioning, don't talk about the old days or anything that's not relevant to the younger generation. Absolutely no noodling in between songs. There are a lot of low end bands that have never been anywhere and will never go anywhere, they can get hung up on age. These are bands that usually have nothing to offer that you would want to stay away from. Blue

Now, in the States you can run into the busy money making functions band. If the average age is even say 40, the chances of them hiring a 60 year old is not good. Even if you auditioned flawlessly they are probably going to go with a younger guy, even if he sucks. Blue

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1454013115' post='2965511'] Yes, we know the history of the band but it's still not rock. Using a blues based scale does not make something rock. [/quote] Not rock,but contains elements of blues. Blue

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1453979811' post='2964829'] I doubt that's even true in the USA but for the UK it is total nonsense. And either way, reggae and other Jamaican genres are not 'rock'. In the UK, of course, Jamaican migrants were busy listening to Jamaican music and at the same time became a source for some white people who were listening to Jamaican music from 1964/65 (blue beat and ska had a massive mod and skinhead following, Prince Buster and later Desmond Dekkar, Max Romeo etc. - where I came from you were nobody if you didn't have a nice collection of Trojan label singles and better still if you'd laid hands on some real Jamaican releases). Jamaican music is a very important part of 1960s UK youth culture and it is seen by many as in total opposition to rock. Skinhead versus hippy. When [i]007[/i] and [i]Whiter Shade of Pale [/i]were both in the charts few people were buying both. I remember buying [i]007[/i] and dancing around the living room with it on my Dansette while my mother is asking 'why didn't you buy that one with the nice tune?'. Marley arrives on the scene at the end of that 1960s period specifically when the band was still called The Wailers and Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston were involved. No Al Anderson. No 'Bob Marley and'.[/quote] Albert came after Peter and Bunny, however he has worked with both. Albert joined the band in 1974, That's Alberts blues based guitar solo on "No Woman No Cry" Albert is still touring and is the band leader for The Original Wailers. There are 2 Original Wailers bands. The other Original Wailers is run by Aston. I have been friends with Albert since grade school, he lived across the Street from me. His older brother Mel drummer for the original Twisted Sister line up, he was the older guy with all the cool records. He was very generous with them. Blue

[quote name='Tonteee' timestamp='1453967337' post='2964670'] Hi Blue, Your reggae fact is not true for the UK, which has enjoyed reggae high within its popular music melange consistently since at least 1967... Did you guys not get Trojan Records? [/quote] No, however I do believe Desmond had a hit record over here. I also remember a record called " My Boy Lollipop " (Millie Small) that had a sort of ska foundation. There was "I Can See Clearly Now" , by Johnny Nash that I guess was sort of POP reggae. I never considered Eric's "I Shot The Sheriff" Blue

[quote name='Tonteee' timestamp='1453967337' post='2964670'] Hi Blue, Your reggae fact is not true for the UK, which has enjoyed reggae high within its popular music melange consistently since at least 1967... Did you guys not get Trojan Records? [/quote] Well, I can't speak for the UK. My point was the popularity of reggae grew when Bob added blues based guitar to the band. Blue

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1453939860' post='2964600'] So, 'rock music' does not mean rock music at all then. That's totally confused and bizarre. [/quote] Here's an example, reggae music didn't become popular with t he western kids until Bob Marley hired Al Anderson , American born blues rock guitarist. When Al played down blues riffs on top of reggae it worked like a charm. Blue

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1453933092' post='2964494'] There has always been kids who are not interested in seeing live music. In my youth they would have headed for the nearest disco! You are right that there is a new 60+ market for live music. The rock and roll generation(s) have grown up but they have no intention of growing old... [/quote] True, I have a 56 year old brother who has no connection to rock music. He's never been to a concert and has no interest. Hard to believe with all the music that came out of my bedroom when we were teens. Things had already changed, even the 56 years olds are too young to understand or to have participated in what happened in 1964. Blue

[quote name='Sausages' timestamp='1453926863' post='2964388'] 52 here. Haven't been playing all that long either. have strummed amateurishly on guitar for years, but bass much more recent. Great fun though. Out of interest, how do you older guys (older age bracket, not older than me ) get on with finding people to play with; I am struggling a bit. [/quote] For serious working bands,age is not that much of and issue if you maintain a decent stage presence. The bands that specify. Must be under 40 years of age are usually bands with no work and a waste of time. Blue

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1453938837' post='2964584'] As someone who plays the blues circuit in the UK, try telling that to some of the blues purists...! [/quote] I won't. Lol 😀 Blue

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1453938925' post='2964587'] So are blues cruises and some of the classic rock holiday events. [/quote] Yes, and I see that several bands are teaming up touring and sharing the billing this Sumner. Joan Jett is going out supported by Cheap Trick & Heart. Very cool Blue

For what me and my band are doing, I think I will make it to age 75, around the same time my demographic will no longer be able to get out to shows. A little white haired guy, 71 in great shape approached me during a break and told me he went out and saw 56 local bar band shows last year. God bless him. Blue

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1453938737' post='2964581'] When I was saying 'rock music' I was meaning in its most encompassing definition, including blues, soul, reggae, etc - album orientated popular music of the time really. [/quote] Agreed Blue