Nicko

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life, 12" version

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1424003280' post='2691345'] I don't play bass unless I'm learning or rehearsing songs for a set. I don't play it solo, it seems a bit pointless. Bass is not a solo instrument in my view and those who make it so do it very deliberately and are generally good at it. I'm not such an animal - I'm a team player me, and I don't think a bass fulfills its proper potential unless it's heard in the mix, as has been said in another thread. I'm not a fantastic technical player - I do what I need to get sounds I think are good - but the most important thing for me is to play to support the song and do as much as possible to enable everyone else in the band to come across as best they can. This is a totally different skill from practicing scales and so forth. Practice scales if you want to be good at playing scales and play in a band if you want to be good at playing in a band. Though they're not mutually exclusive of course. All IMHO. [/quote] I think thats what I meant to say!

I was at Ebow's gig on Thursday and Mark Potter definitely had a cheat sheet. It was discreet but definitely there! Its not like any of their songs are complicated.

I once wrote and recorded a song on a 4 track in the 90s, and Pulp released somethig that sounded exactly the same a few months later. I never knew how Jarvis got hold of my tape. Do You Remember The First Time also sounds pretty much like New Generation by Suede, although Pulp released their's first.

I always think I sound crap when I practice. When I get with the band I feel a bit better (mostly). I'm always surprised how good things sound wheneverI get recorded. It seems the more I practice the more critical I get.

[quote name='Brother Jones' timestamp='1423943045' post='2690746'] Took me five years to figure that out - before t'internet. [/quote] I'd actually forgotten there was a time before the Internet.

Not convinced there's a huge choice, and my experience of most stuff in Holland is more pricey than London. I dont mean to be flippant but your best bet might be Eurostar to St Pancras, then a short trip to the Bass Gallery or Wunjo.

Must say I wasn't convinced by Black Rivers. I kept almost hearing something great and then it disappeared. I think their sound man needs to take a good long look at himself.

Was lucky enough to see Elbow at Hammermith yetserday. Not my all time favourite band but they put on a great show and the atmosphere was brilliant. What surprised me was Pete Turner sat down and played the bassline for One Day Like this on a synth. Given the amount of effects he used on other songs I dont think this was for the sound, and from listening to the song it's not a complicated line so I couldn't figure out why.

[quote name='ubit' timestamp='1423819299' post='2689295'] I must say, I am slightly jealous of all the players who can choose which " good " songs to play.If we played the songs we liked, we would get hauled off and never get another booking. I was told years ago, you have to play what the people want to hear. We ignored this advice and played songs we liked. Over the years we gradually learned which songs to drop and which went down well. It's amazing, the rubbish that people want to hear again and again, especially at functions. What we have to remember is, some of these people don't get out much and don't have the " pleasure" of hearing these songs over and over and over, so they demand brown eyed girl and they dance to it and we have to put up with it. [/quote] I 100% agree, but I cant help feeling I should daw a Venn diagam here.

[quote name='Old Man Riva' timestamp='1423765969' post='2688844'] I found this guy's video really helpful.. [media]http://youtu.be/-vc7HS2c1rE[/media] It's just as tricky slowed down, mind! [/quote] Slowed down is not too bad, full speed is a challenge, but the 130 bpm is just incredible.

Does Blood Sugar Sex Magik count as classic?

[quote name='dadofsix' timestamp='1423700026' post='2688191'] I missed a band practice one time back in the 70s and came to find out that I had been "fired" as the bass player and elected to front the band as the lead vocalist. lol [/quote] Aw, thats harsh! Apparently I got off lightly. I understand they were gonna suggest Summer of '69.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1423679753' post='2687901'] Why? Because I have an option that differes from others in this thread. Is it only bass players that have this high and mighty attitude I wonder? I understand some people hate certain songs, I have no issue with that, but why do some make blanket statements that something someone else likes is crap? What gives certain people the feeling that they know better than others? If these songs weren't so popular we wouldn't have to play them. But then the general public are idiots and have no idea what they should like aren't? No having a go at you personally, it just gets my goat when I'm told by someone better than me that what I like is wrong ;-) [/quote] Blimey Dave! Of course you're entitled to an opinion but so am I. I'm not suggesting that mine is better than yours, but II can't stand middle of the road "dad" rock, and I'm really not keen on C&W, so this song is complete anathema to me.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1423670008' post='2687741'] I love those two songs. They are great songs to listen to and play. They always get the audience up and dancing (which is what we get paid to do after all). [/quote] [quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1423672940' post='2687798'] Well yes, but we get paid to get audiences up and dancing, and they too seem to love these songs so i dont see how they can be as bad as you say they are. [/quote] I honestly thoght you were being ironic in the first post, and then you went and blew it!

[quote name='steve-bbb' timestamp='1423658873' post='2687506'] we were recently asked for a special request at a wedding rita coolidge - all time high got to be a serious contender for worst song ever recorded [/quote] You're right. Kinda puts mine into context.

I wouldn't mind so much but its so far off our other stuff it'll stick out like a sore thumb.

So I was thinking about songs I'd played. I was in one band who's set list included: Cant Get You Outta my Head - Kylie Lyin Eyes - The Eagles The band included Brits, Yanks, a Jap, a Phillipino and a Russian and the audience was even more diverse and seemed to enjoy this rubbish. God I hated playing those songs. Anyone got any similar skeletons in the closet?

I missed rehearsals yesterday and just got a text saying the next song on our playlist will be "Knocking on Heavens Door", G&R version. So no, I my set list is no longer my playlist. I think they're punishing me for not turning up. Surely this is against the Geneva convention?

[quote name='seymourfluid' timestamp='1423598071' post='2686916'] You will learn 10 times faster and more on a stage than in your bedroom. :-) [/quote] +1

Just a few observations on this topic: 1.I think people compltely misunderstand Fender's heritage. Leo's origial concept was not high end. What he did was take a product that was very time consuming to build and invent a more efficient way to do it. The "premium" image basically came about because of the sound and playability. Those things remain in some way. 2.I have a mexican Telecaster (mid 90s) which was OK, but is now fantastic since I changed the pickus for some aftermarket jobs. I also have a US special PB which I am still in love with. The fact these have F logos matters not one jot to me. But when I tell non musicians that I play they always ask "is it a Fender". I say yes, but my main guitar is a Patrick Eggle and they're eyes glaze over. The brand has value outside of its market, not inside the market. 3. I totally agree that the range is far too complex, but the idea of different manufacturing plants for differrent price points is good business sense. Its gone too far and is now totally confusing. If you have a guitar built in the US it shoud be more expensive, because labour in the US is more expensive. It doesn't make it better though. 4. They do use different components depending on manufacturing location, and speaking from experience quality control in China is something that hasn't fully caught on. What we saw in the 90s with the Jap Squires was completely the opposite. Japan was where quality control mattered, and in the US they didin't give the proverbial s*** about what went out of the door. Ultimately I think you need to view Fender more like Volkwagen. They're good and reliable, but they aren't Bentley. Oh, sorry, dont VW own Bentley? Yes, and thats wherre the custom shop comes in.

You missed the boxes "Pubs near me are mainly shut down" "Moving to open mike nights"

[quote name='inthedoghouse' timestamp='1423582856' post='2686608'] Have you got a FB and/or YouTube page you could sent to prospective gigs so they know what to expect? [/quote] We have a FB page witha few tracks, but the recording quality's not great. Theres a link to some YT vids of open mic nights with a simillar quality issue. We could invest in a day to do a properly recorded demo in the studio if its not chucking time and money away for nowt.

Inspied by this thread I have been attempting Rhythm Stick. Seems like my right hand technique will need some work to get it to race pace, and my left hand needs work on that Gsharp pinkie stretch. I need a lie down

Thanks, helpful stuff and polite too!