BrunoBass

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1478024001' post='3166132'] In Northampton we seem to have the Charles Bradlaugh (if you can ever speak to the people that handle bookings) The Lamplighter, The King Billy (which is apparently now looking for bands outside of the heavy rock genre) and possibly the Black Prince. [/quote] We're playing the King Billy tomorrow, our second time. The new booker seems more proactive and switched on than her predecessor - decent venue.

I ask because a friend of mine hates Japan (the band, not the country!) but listens to them a lot because he likes Mick Karn's bass playing. That doesn't really make sense to me.

I listen primarily to the song. If I like the bass line it's a bonus. Do you do the same or do you listen for the bass line above anything else?

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1477393654' post='3161887'] And for us in the UK in should say: Fact: If someone is playing Christmas music before November 5th, you are legally allowed to kill them and use their corpse as a Guy Fawkes. [/quote] Sounds fair to me!

Just heard Slade being played in a shop... it's started already!

1. EBMM Stingray - all bases covered 2. Squier Dimension - in case No. 1 fails (hasn't happened yet).

[quote name='Mickeyboro' timestamp='1476778438' post='3157073'] Seem to recall rating the original bass player - Mark Lickley (?) [/quote] Yes, I loved his bassline on Poison Arrow. If it actually was him, it might've been Trevor Horn.

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1476723217' post='3156661'] I always roll my volume back a bit so I have some in reserve for when the guitarist/s start upping his/their volume, I can quickly turn it up until the song has finished, and then I can up the volume on my amp and roll my bass volume back a bit for the next time its needed. [/quote] That's what I do. On the few songs where I use a pick I roll it back a bit.

I'd swap my bass playing 'ability' (minimal at best) to be a great singer. I think I'm a pretty good songwriter and whilst I'm not a bad singer I wish I was better.

Like Bono, Sting seems to inspire utter hatred in a lot of people, which I've never really understood. He's written some great songs and is clearly a fine musician. The Police emerged just as I was getting into pop music, and alongside people like Paul Simonon, Mark Bedford and Horace Panter he inspired me to aspire to think about becoming a bass player. I was a big fan of Sting's playing and I loved the reggae influenced space and economy with which he put together his Police era basslines. https://youtu.be/J9GeWdObMQY I lost interest after The Police broke up and other than the Blue Turtle album I haven't been much of a fan of his solo stuff (I've always found it a bit 'worthy' if you know what I mean). But he is someone that I admire, and has definitely been an influence on me to some degree.

We played at The Bell in Banbury. Same set as last week in Buckingham, we didn't bother rehearsing in the week as it's all pretty tight right now. It was the landlady's birthday too, so lots of merriment in the pub. We played well, and had some friends come down so all good. The only negative was a drunk punter (non threatening, more silly than anything) who was getting a bit too close. At one stage he knocked into my mic stand which pulled the lead out of tuner resulting in no signal and a sudden panic before I figured out the issue. Other than that all OK.

I'm back on Jason Isbell. What an incredible songwriter.

The bass I'll never sell is my Dimension. I've been trying to shift it for ages but no one's interested in the bloody thing!

I've been listening to American singer-songwriter Sarah Jarosz a lot lately and have been impressed with her use of an octave mandolin. Hers is a beautiful archtop that retails for over $4000 but I see Thomann do one (with a more traditional lute shaped body) for about £130. Does anyone play the octave mandolin? Any thoughts?

All of the above really. I don't live in Manchester but I spend a lot of time here for work (in fact I'm here now for the night). The Castle Hotel in Ancoats / Northern Quarter is a great pub / venue. Worth a visit just for a pint but if there's a band playing it's definitely worth looking in. I've seen some really good shows here, also The Band on the Wall round the corner is good. Just across the road is Eastern Bloc records who do wonderful coffee. It's an amazing place, no other city I know has such a great vibe.

I subscribe to the Readly app which is brilliant, £4.99 a monthly for ipad versions of pretty much every magazine I used to buy in hard copy form, including BGM.

Tuesday night I played at Leif Bar in Leamington Spa at a great little open mic night. The guy who runs it is a mate and he asked me to do a 30 minute headline set. Really enjoyed it, always good to play my own stuff to an appreciative audience, and great to play alongside a bunch of really talented people. I used to do open mics regularly but since I joined my band I do them less frequently. I must admit that I enjoy them more than band gigs, no setting up and tearing down, just me and my acoustic guitar - in and out, easy!

Cheers

[quote name='Cato' timestamp='1476188194' post='3152069'] I'm sure there are various agents and record company reps who lobby & pitch to get their 'artists' a slot on Later. I'd be very surprised if any money changes hands, I doubt the BBC would want to risk the scandal. [/quote] Yes absolutely, it's the pluggers job to get their acts on TV and radio. As you say money doesn't change hands but there are other 'favours' that ease the path...

[quote name='Freddy Le Cragg' timestamp='1476009145' post='3150354'] I came within a gnat's crotchet of buying a Rockinbetter yesterday. They had them in Fair Deal in Brum for 399. The black one i tried seemed to be a decent bass for the money. [/quote] Have they got many in there Freddy? I'm in town today, I might pop in...

Back in the late '80s the band I was in released a self financed EP. We used SRT (anyone remember them?) and part of the deal was that the record was mastered at Abbey Road. As a Beatles obsessed teenager the prospect of working there was a big thrill. I still remember the excitement of going through the front door, the history almost tangible as we walked through the corridors, having a coffee in the canteen (with Marc Almond on the adjacent table). Good times.

Later...'s persistent reluctance to give rock music any significant coverage annoys me. Rock has an immense audience. I think Metallica were on once, I stand to be corrected. It's all about the record company pluggers...

Used sparingly or sublely I'm happy with most guitar effects in the right context. I'm not generally keen on gimmicky things though, like Peter Frampton's tube / voice box contraption.

We've been opening lately with Psycho, the Muse song. Big impact, grabs everyone straightaway. It's also our only Drop D song so it gets the retuning over and done with nice and early.

Gigging is my 100% reason for playing bass. If I wasn't in a band I wouldn't play. I don't see the bass as a solo instrument and I have no interest in playing on my own at home. I'm not saying that I think there's anything wrong with that, it's just it's not for me. Whatever makes you happy. I do my solo acoustic singer-songwriter thing when I'm not doing band/bass stuff. If I wasn't in a band I'd have more time to do that.