Frank Blank

Mine too. I blundered drunkenly into the wrong rehearsal room one afternoon and rather than the band I was working for I ended up in the Banshees rehearsal room, empty apart from Budgie. Being emboldened by the booze I asked him to play Land’s End (a drum pattern I much admire) which he did in exchange for a swig of Mezcal, top dude.

John Grant, excellent as always and with Budgie on drums, double treat.

It was a hilarious disaster essentially.

Christ that gig is a legend.

Do it, do it now!

This. Unlike the eminently sensible @seashell I waited almost forty years before I had lessons and I regret every day I missed out on learning with a teacher. Now I do just that and it is excellent. Everyone previously has given sage advice but I will reiterate that playing with other musicians will get you playing better quicker. As has been said you don’t have to play in a band, just play with other folks and don’t be worried about playing with musicians who are more experienced or advanced than you, jump in and you’ll soon find yourself on the same level. ...oh and welcome.

But then orders would flood in.

I want that bass.

Sounds like a description of some of the greatest music ever.

It was insane, just insane.

No worries, happy to meet you half way or whatever you wish. Nothing annoys me Like an instrument that isn’t getting played.

Sorry again Sir.

Oddly enough the Line 6 was donated by me too! I’m afraid I thought there was a PSU but once I’d sorted them all out I realised there wasn’t and forgot to amend the list, sorry. This was the one I got to go with it but I’ve mislaid it somewhere.

Human League (first two albums), Heaven 17 (first album, John Foxx, Simple Minds (Life In A Day - New Gold Dream), loved Propaganda, huge fan of Yello, all of it. DM had their moments but never consistently got on with them, Violater is good. I'm not sure I ever heard Secret Wish. All of these albums are still on serious rotation with me (along with Kraftwerk, obv) apart from Propaganda, just going to look into sourcing some right now so thanks for the reminder.

You Sir were quite obviously listening to precisely what I was listening to, those first two Human League albums, Penthouse and Pavement, Empires & Dance, Metamatic etc. couldn't really see the appeal of Soft Cell.

Nail on head, there.

Oh man, I had a go on @bassace's DB that was so cool, it felt like I was trying out the real thing!

Thanks Nik. Just looking at adding a fretted version to the collection for the next Bash. I was unsure if anyone would be interested in it TBH so I was genuinely surprised and chuffed at the interest and responses.

I will be KING of great little basses, oh yes! My first Bash, I had a great day meeting lots of new folk, everyone was ace! I spent half my time discussing @Jabba_the_gut‘s superb builds with @TheGreek and the other half of the time just wanting to nick one of them. I want a version of that dark semi acoustic so much. Another highlight was playing an upright for the first time (thanks @bassace) and particular thanks to @cetera for making me welcome right at the beginning when I was wandering around wondering where to set up and actually considering legging it, cheers Sir. Great day, excellent company, can’t wait for the next one.

Live and direct from the Bass Bash, white board instructions follow, that is all.

Don’t do what I’ve done and arrive without an extension lead.

I have this version of Take Five, from the excellent TV programme Jazz 625, stuck in my head at the moment. As Steve Race explains at the beginning of the clip it’s unusual inasmuch as Dave Brubeck takes a solo, a solo I am pointlessly trying to transcribe to play on the bass, there is something about the simple beginning of his solo that really puts the hook in me... ...just as an aside I was watching this evenings episode of The Art of Drumming (excellent series btw) on Sky Arts and this lead me to ponder who is, in fact, my favourite drummer. Usually I’d say Sigtryggur Baldursson (well, attempt to say it and fail) but in light of the programme I was considering my dislike of drum solos, unless they are drum solos played by Joe Morello who manages to make them interesting and cool, I’m rambling, in summary... Joe Morello = coolest drummer.

I enjoyed this last night...