blue

I use to take rehearsal space for granted and now know for many bands resourcing a space isn't always easy. So the fact that these guys have a space is a big plus. Blue

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1498283928' post='3323592'] The odd thing is that if you put a Queen song in the kids all know it, if you put some chart stuff on from ten years ago they haven't got a clue. I don't think kids are disconnected around here at all. I was in a minority growing up as I was into the sex pistols and iron maiden when my mates were listening to Duran Duran, nothing much has changed from what I can see. [/quote] I get that. Me Yards Birds and Fleetwood Mac, friends were into Paul Revere & The Raiders & Mitch Ryder. Blue

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1498283781' post='3323591'] Very much both, we have two bands and about a dozen more individuals. The bands are both five piece in traditional line up of drums, bass, 2x six string and vocalist. The dozen individuals are four bass players, seven six stringers and another vocalist, no more drummers mostly due to lack of spare kit. We have to limit numbers, we could have more kids but couldn't fit them all out with equipment but are gradually building stuff up. We alternate over two days as it is. Both bands were involved in a charity event locally on Thursday and played short sets. All of them are 12-15 years old. Locally the live music scene is very active, a lot of covers bands but a lot of young originals bands as well. The non mainstream music around here is split between dance (non guitar) and rock/ alternative (guitar based) ,apologies for the simplification, and is biased very heavily in favour of the rock/ alternative. Most of the dance stuff seems to be geeks in their bedrooms on an iPad. [/quote] Well that's certainly encouraging. Blue

[quote name='gjones' timestamp='1498266290' post='3323572'] My niece is in her mid twenties and she would disagree. She and her friends love guitar, based, bands. She loved Johnny Marr, and John Mayer (very different styles), when she was growing up. She also loved Courtney Love and her band Hole, which were very guitar based. She loved guitars so much that she stole her dad's and formed her own band. Her band is doing pretty good and she plays to sold out venues in the UK and Europe (she's toured the US too, a couple of times). She's now one of the 10 acts that have been shortlisted for the Scottish Album Of The Year awards 2017. Hopefully she'll inspire a whole new generation of kids to get themselves an electric guitar. I know it was the best decision, the 16 year old me, ever made. This is her...........guitar bands rule!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1Jx2iXgYCM [/quote] Very cool indeed. However, I would say your neice and her band are the exception. Blue

Take a look at this one; " esoteric covers but our focus is entirely on originals. You should have appropriate gear and a strong willingness to improvise. Our practice spot, with attached recording studio, is in Walker's Point - close to MKE Brewing. We're looking for someone who is tight with a variety of rhythms and can switch timings efficiently - essentially someone who can go from jazz to metal in the same song. We're in our mid-20's with jobs that pay for our creative expressions. We are hoping to tour and all. But we don't expect art to pay for our individual lifestyles. If we end up making money, that'll be awesome. But our philosophy is art for art sake. We practice twice a week. Usually in the evenings. Some artists we're currently jamming to: Boris, NEU, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Porcupine Tree, Snarky Puppy, Thelonious Monk, Wes Montgomery, Earphunk, Earth, Gorillaz, LCD Soundsystem, Riverside, Spock's Beard, Primus/Les Claypool, Russian Circles, Kamasi Washington, Camel, Thundercat, The Black Lips, Brad Mehldau, Pink Floyd, P-Funk, Madlib, Busdriver, Kendrick Lamar, Run The Jewels, Flying Lotus, Battles, Flatbush Zombies, Galactic, Gojira, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Leprous, Caligula's Horse, Opeth, The Pineapple Thief, Sunn o)))), Vulfpeck, Xiu Xiu, Yes...and many more. If interested in trying out, shoot us an email with your interest and availability. We'll send you our new demo. Cheers." Very long ad, however I think it's a perfect opportunity for a young guy that merely wants to play. Blue

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1498255170' post='3323531'] The thing with Gibson is that they have relied so much on their name for so long and the quality of their new stuff is so poor for what they charge, that anyone with that sort of money will buy from the many other guitar builders that offer better pieces at much better value. There is still interest in electric guitar based music and there are still plenty of kids who want to play, BUT... young people have so many other other alternatives for entertainment (both musical or otherwise) that it is never going to regain the importance that it had in he latter past of the last century... [/quote] Several good points here. I remember when we were 16, 17 years old crowding into The Filmore East to see all the great underground rock bands of the era. Now young people are completely disconnected from the rock I know and love. Must be the way my Dad felt when he realized big bands were never going to make a come back. Blue

I wonder how Mark is doing on the tour with UB40 and Al Anderson & The Original Wailers? Any of you guys seen this show? Blue

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1498253379' post='3323505'] I think the problem is having too many made and not enough people. There are so many manufacturers, and with cnc machines etc, everything is quicker and quality better resulting in longer lasting guitars. It is easier than ever to learn to play an instrument now [/quote] Good point. Blue

Summerfest 2017, largest music fest in the world. 2 weeks of artists from all over the world. Not much electric guitar driven stuff. Peter Frampton, my band and maybe a few blues bands. Outside of that, nothing. Blue

They mention the decline in electric guitar sales. Rock and Pop music certainly isn't driven by electric guitar the way it was 40 years ago. Look at Gibson, only 30% of their sales are from electric guitars the remainder is from electronics. Acoustic orientated pop and rap are the only genres making it to the top 100 on Bill Board. Ed Sheeran & Taylor Swift, both acoustic not electric. Blue

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1498251426' post='3323478'] Nah, they just last a long time. There may be an issue with some youngsters wanting quick and easy game style satisfaction but the club I help run for kids is one small example of how kids are still getting involved in live music. The Internet also makes learning a hell of a lot easier than it used to be, [/quote] Are they interested in live music or the electric guitar? Blue

Found this article in the Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/lifestyle/the-slow-secret-death-of-the-electric-guitar/?utm_term=.9ed6facd5c6d I recommend you read it, were included in this. Blue

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1498245948' post='3323432'] Taking a wild guess about this, considering the following; -specifically looking for someone "level headed" -cautioning against "attitude, egos and weirdness" -not sharing the band name or links to material when it would be easy to do so I suspect their last bassist doesn't know they're leaving yet! [/quote] Yeah, for any existing band that's giving the axe to their bass player and they have to publicly advertise for a replacement it can be risky if the bass player is still in the band. I'm thinking the last bass player quit. Blue

There's no bigger Stones or Macca fan than me, however I have no interest in their new material. I'll keep buying their 60s material. Blue

[quote name='No. 8 Wire' timestamp='1498223919' post='3323262'] I found that too - with one click. Clearly where Blue got the text from. One more click (on the email address supplied) gets me to the band FB page, with all sorts of info on the band (including video) and its current members (won't go into all that detail here but you could click through to their personal FB pages, work details etc). spoiler - could be a married couple in there... Another click and I see their reverbnation page https://www.reverbnation.com/loveliesbleeding1 Which gets me even more info like upcoming shows, demo tracks, etc. I don't really get the need to go into infinite kremlinology of the text of the ad itself when there is all this info about. Bit of internet sleuthing training for Blue required Equally its baffling why the band didn't put these links in their ad (unless the site blocks it) as it makes it look like they don't have any material or an online presence when they clearly do. [/quote] I listened to the audio clips. The audio would certainly make it easier to decide if it's a guys thing or not. Not much need for bass guitar from what I heard. And you can imagine what the material sounded like to this 64 year old Woodstockian 70s rock guy. Blue

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1498225248' post='3323280'] It was me what done it. It was a critique of the ad, not the thread. The fact I posted on the thread is evidence I find it a useful discussion. [/quote] Agreed, Even if the opportunity is questionable the ad could have been written better. Interesting that the reference to "level headed" was a red flag to many of us. Blue

[quote name='Yank' timestamp='1498208382' post='3323092'] I think it's a good exercise in decoding ads through use of the English language. Somebody took some time composing said ad, so each sentence must have some meaning. "Fun gigs" means you will play the singer's sister's birthday bash for free beer and food which will be a bag of chips (crisps) and some storebought dip. Maybe burgers on a grill, but I doubt it. Endless practicing to "get it tight". Yup, 20 somethings. Been there, done that, I'll pass. [/quote] Agreed, That's probably how many experienced guys will read the ad. Blue

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1498177440' post='3323008'] Well, there is a search function if people want to tap into the already-posted opinions. Creating topic after topic on the same subjects makes it harder to use that search function without simply turning up the same opinions from the same people, not a range of opinion which I'd venture is preferable. If you really want people to benefit from your knowledge, I'd shy away from repeatedly posting topics on the same subject. YMMV of course. [/quote] Ahpook, Point well taken. I sort of get where your coming from. However.I think the opinions from Bass Chatters on this thread are unique, diverse and invaluable. The purpose of this thread is by no means a vehicle for anyone to benefit from my knowledge exclusively. I'm not sure I have any real knowledge and if I do it's probably dated. My comments are soley my opinion just like the others who have posted here. I respectfully disagree. Blue

[quote name='Iacopo San' timestamp='1498177343' post='3323007'] Are you replying to an ad and ready to jump into a situation/band with their ideas and contexts, whatever they are, or are you looking for your exact type of band? If it's the latter, you should probably post your own ad instead of looking for existing ones. [/quote] Iacopo, I'm not replying, I'm not on the market. I've been with the same working band for the past 6 years. This thread is merely an exercise in reading into these ads and how we interpret the opportunity. If I was on the market the only thing I would be looking to jump into is money. Blue

There might be a disconnect with guys that never have to audition or rely on the want ads for opportunities. Guys that are networked and get their opportunities through word of mouth. You know, the guys that get calls. I've never been one of those guys. In most cases I've had to rely on ads which really puts you at a disadvantage from the start. I have to hustle all my opportunities. I'm almost sure I'm not the only bass player in this position. I've made mistakes and didn't always know how to read between the lines of ads or spot red flags. And it goes both ways. There was a time when I might not have been able to spot opportunities that would have been good for me. There must be some newbies on bass chat where this type of discussion is useful, right? Blue

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1498153070' post='3322853'] Wow, you mean this isnt the first of this type of thread? What a pathetic thing to do. It used to be a friendly, helpful place here until a few years ago, and now we have threads like this where everyone wants to bitch and slag other people for no reason other than sport., Its pretty obvious Americans think and talk in a different way to those in the UK (otherwise we would nt have this thread ;-) and picking out every other word and analysing it gets us where? No wonder the old crew dont post on here anymore. [/quote] Are ads for bass players in the UK presented differently? The purpose of the thread is not to instigate negativity. It's purpose is to invite and share intelligent fair commentary on how we look at and interpret ads. Blue

[quote name='Nicko' timestamp='1498151413' post='3322842'] How the hell can you be "somewhat" level headed. That word in the sentence would put me off completely. Other than that there is nothing to encourage a response. If these guys are writing original music why can't they come up with an ad that sells the band. Worst ad you posted for a while Blue [/quote] The ad doesn't tell much about what type of opportunity they're offering. I plan on posting examples of all sorts of ads from bad to very good. The other thing you have to understand is how poor the originals band scene is in Milwaukee. Blue

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1498147669' post='3322812'] Why? [/quote] They seem to generate interest and provide interesting comments and insight from bass chat members. Blue

Ok, my spin on how the ad was written. It really doesn't tell us much. No reference to a web site or YouTube clps. I am going to assume this is a band where the mean age is around 25, I could be wrong. The ad tells me they have had problems with imature members in the past. Is that all they were able to recruit, guys without a level head? "We have some fun gigs coming up."Fun gigs"? All gigs should be fun, what kind of gigs are we talking. They might have some cool festival gigs booked, who knows? Would I be alone if I say the "fun gigs" are private house party gigs hosted by friends? Nothing wrong with that type of gig but I'd want to know specifically what kind of gigs they're talking about. Blue

[quote name='Kev' timestamp='1498074811' post='3322413'] I don't know, would a young guy looking for his first band not be a little intimidated by writing and having equal voice, rather than just go with the flow a bit at first and find his feet? [/quote] Kev, Depends on how you define writing and having a voice IMO. Blue