BrunoBass

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I believe Nigel Godrich did, when producing ‘Chaos and Creation in the Backyard’, and hasn’t worked with McCartney since. That’s a strong album though, Godrich was clearly a positive and productive influence.

I thought his last album was the best work he’d done in quite a while. It had a couple of duds on it, but he’s never been the best at self editing.

I’d have kept the first four, I can live without the rest. Interesting that you kept ‘Don’t Pass Me By’.

It’s not the same.

Next (planned) gig for me is Easy Life at The Roundhouse at the end of March. The tickets arrived over the weekend but I’m fairly certain it won’t be going ahead.

Tonight I’ve been offered a solo gig for next week, strangely. One of the three acts on the bill has pulled out, so I got the call. I’d be amazed if it even goes ahead. It seems odd to be booking shows when everything is closing down.

Exactly the same here. Jazz player for a very long time, joined a Britpop covers band just after Christmas and it was apparent immediately that the J wasn’t right. My P however sounds great and suits the material perfectly. I haven’t touched the Js in months.

The Rockin’ Gazelles of course! Madame Gazelle back on the Strat following a spell as bassist with a Rick 4003 (4m 24s)

Frank Turner last night at the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury. Just him and an acoustic guitar, he was on top form and the crowd was totally up for it. I’ve seen Frank many, many times and he never disappoints. The atmosphere was celebratory; I think we all know there won’t be nights like this for much longer, for a while. I’ve got tickets for other gigs later this month and further, and I’m not expecting any of them to go ahead.

Good advice @neepheid and @Reggaebass - thanks both.

I’m soon to start a project that involves me refinishing my MIM 2005 Precision and changing the bridge and the scratchplate. The screw holes on the replacement ‘plate don’t quite match up with the original holes on the body, but no matter - as I’m refinishing the body I’ll just fill the original holes and drill new ones. But what to fill the holes with? Can anyone recommend a good wood filler for instruments please, that won’t shrink over time, will finish well and is easily accessible? Cheers.

Continuing the ‘I almost saw’ theme, a friend of mine was trying to get me to come and see some American guy that he’d heard of and was really into, with him. This was early ‘94 and the guy was on a short tour of the UK. My pal had tickets for the Birmingham date, some little club in town. In the end I didn’t go, I can’t remember why as I was / am always up for seeing, but I ended up missing seeing a then barely known Jeff Buckley in a tiny venue. I became a huge fan subsequently and still regularly kick myself.

On A Friday. I saw them a couple of times at the Jericho, probably around 1990-91.

Reminds me, I saw The Stone Roses in Stratford-upon-Avon at the Town Hall, summer 1989. There was a real buzz about them and I’d loved all of their singles up to that point (they hadn’t yet released their album). My lasting memories are that they didn’t play for very long (it felt like they were only onstage for twenty minutes), and that they weren’t actually that good. But it was more about the excitement of the time and seeing them that made it an occasion.

I saw Oasis at the Northampton Roadmender in early ‘94 on their first tour. I think they’d just released their first single. Probably 100 people there if that. Twenty four months later they did Knebworth, amazing how big they were, like them or not. Also at the Roadmender, this time in 1995, I saw a band called 60 ft Dolls of whom I was a fan, some of you may remember them. Supporting them was a then unknown Feeder, who absolutely blew them away. Midweek gig, no more than 50 people in I’d say.

For sure. I’ve never done it again. My caveat was that I was never going to play far flung gigs that involved ‘approximate’ details ever again. It was a laugh when I was 19, less so when you’re knocking 50. Probably one of reasons they sacked me haha 😂

’No Moët, no show-et. No Chandon, no band on.’

Bah...

Played a wedding near Aberystwyth having driven from Oxfordshire. We were promised overnight hotel accommodation, which turned out to be one twin room. There was six of us. At another wedding, in a marquee in the Lake District (I live in Oxfordshire). ’We’ve arranged bed and breakfast accommodation very close to the wedding venue.’ And indeed they had. A tent in the field behind the marquee, with bed (well, a groundsheet) and breakfast (packet of Aldi croissants). I slept fully clothed that night with my bass, and vowed that that was the last time I’d ever do this again.

Taking a booking for a wedding gig where we were the second band of two, with a DJ set in between. Wedding planner: ‘You can use the first band’s PA, mics and shell kit, I’ve checked with them and it’s ok. They’re happy to stay, have a drink and pack up later.’ Arrive during the DJ set at the appointed time to find the first band fully packed down and already loading out.

I can see a use for this; half of my band’s songs are pick songs which are more comfortable played with the bass quite low, and the other half are fingerstyle which I prefer to play with the bass higher. Therefore my bass is set at a compromised height somewhere between the two positions which is manageable but not really ideal. The ability to change strap length could be useful.

The Age of Instant Gratification. I want it, therefore I must have it. Now.

I work in sales, specifically interior products for hotels (wall coverings, furniture, fabrics etc). My clients are architects, designers, and hotel groups such as Hilton, IHG (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza etc), Marriott et al. I’ve worked in this sector for about fifteen years, initially as an area manager, through to national sales manager level and most recently for an American company managing the business throughout EMEA. I say until recently because I’ve just quit and am now off on gardening leave for the next month. The money was good, but money isn’t everything and the pressure, stress and the increasing amount of international travel became unsustainable. I did twenty eight overseas visits in 2019 and 2020 was shaping up for more. In January I was presented with my March travel schedule; Dubai, Turkey, Russia, Saudi, Malta, Hungary, Poland. That really was the decisive moment and I started looking for alternative employment. As a middle aged man with a young family it just doesn’t work, and it’s not the job I originally signed up for. I start a new job with a different company, same sector but UK only, in April. Before that I was a photographer, doing weddings, fashion shoots and latterly family portraits, and before that I worked as a metal fabricator for a long time, which if I’m honest was the best job I ever had, or the most enjoyable at least. I’m not a career guy. All I want to do is write and record songs, and play bass in pubs at the weekend. Unfortunately this doesn’t pay the rent; I work to live, not live to work. Somehow I managed to find myself in a fairly senior position that the single, 30 year old me would’ve loved but the 51 year old me struggled with. I always felt a bit out of my depth in a senior role and always felt a bit of ‘imposter syndrome’.

Looks great 👍🏻