Yank

I'm doing a gig on St. Paddy's and decided to do a couple Irish tunes a set.  Gotta do Danny Boy and When Irish Eyes are Smilin',  even though they prob aren't Irish tunes but every one knows and expects them.  I'm back them with Star of the County Down and The Auld Triangle and Whiskey in the Jar and The Minstral Boy.  I'll wear green,  but what I WON'T do,  is drink green beer and sing with a stupid faux Irish accent.  

Depression  seems to suck the joy out of life.  I'm so sorry you're in this place.  Try to find something that brings back the joy.  Try walking in beautiful places and be truly thankful that you're alive to observe the day.. Find someone who cares that you can talk to/ unburden your heart.  Do something nice for someone today.

I remember as a kid,  seeing old clips of Cab Calloway.  The band was hot and Cab just dared you to take your eyes off him.

Do the gig.  Come dressed like Bootsy Collins.

He didn't pack his whole kit.  Just a few pieces,  took maybe 10 minutes,  I'm assuming.  That's not long if the guy was whizzed.  Probably something else going on.  Some people you have to handle with kid gloves.  The question is,  do you enjoy his drumming enough to deal with this facit of his personality.  Some are worth it for the greater good.....some ain't.

No,  I wasn't laughing at you for not being able to deal with snow.  I've been in Virginia when 1" of snow shut everything down.  It can be horrible when you're somewhere where they don't have the infrastructure to deal with it.  Just trying to inject some humor.  Hopefully it'll warm up to where you all can get back to normal weather........rain. 

I learned on a fretted,  but quickly switched to fretless.  Fretted didn't get used so sold it.  15 years on,  still only play fretless.  So much more expressive.

Maybe I should come over the pond and dep.  I can deal with snow.

I figure so much influential music has been created on the 4 string bass,  before some felt the need to imitate a synth bass in the 80's.  I have no desire to ever play more than a 4,  or play a synth bass.  Call it "Trad bass".

I define myself as a musician as opposed to a "bass player",  "guitarist" or whatever.  I play multiple instruments.  If I'm not gigging,  I'm learning new stuff on other instruments.  Keep the learning going.  Investigate new instruments or styles.  It's not just about gigging.  Make new friends in new sandboxes.

Probaly some guy got caught having a ciggie break out back by the pallets of completed cases.  

The state of Maine is maritime.  We get sun,  we get rain,  we get snow.  Sometimes in winter we get what the Scots call  "full conditions".   

It can be frustrating when the band has practiced a song at a certain speed,  then for some reason,  the singer is feeling it slower on a given night and it takes the snap right out of a song.  Speed or feel is subjective and it's hard to convince the perp that they are dragging.  

I like the options on a passive bass.  A tone knob.  You can turn it up or down.  I turn it down.

I use only flats on my two fretless basses and won't play one with rounds.  I don't like the feel or the sound. Don't play fretted, either. Addicted or discerning?

The Faces were my favorite band back then.  Them and Humble Pie.  Amazing the talent that came out of that period in London.

Their "prize" was getting a record contract and getting to spend their lives making music. This is just one more thing to stick in their mansions for the maid to dust.

I've got "The Bass Book" by Tony Bacon and "How The Fender Bass Changed The World" by Jim Roberts.  Great reading and wonderful pictures to gawk at.  

Form a new band.  Get out and network.  Make something new happen. Gig your old band while it's available but put all your energy into the new one.  Use the money from the old to fund the new.  A new piece of gear you've been wanting, perhaps.  Never throw away gigs!  Use them like a rented mule.

Watch out for the "girl's vacation" groups some of who's members are on the prowl. Folks at resorts are there for a good time.  Play songs everyone knows.  Put out a tip jar.  Try and get a ski pass comped.  Get the crowd drinking and dancing and you're golden.

Bass doesn't matter.  It's just the fat guy standing in the back.  Everyone knows it's all about the singer and guitar player. 

Mono single for practice and Reunion Blues double for gigs.  Money well spent.  Both will last my lifetime.

Congrats!  But just remember,  they might have been on their best behavior.  In anouther month,  you might find them total jerks.

I can appreciate the talent but I am not a fan.  I started as a drummer and he wouldn't make my list of top 10 favorites.  Irrespective of style,  I'd rather listen to John Bonham or Roger Hawkins any day.

Just remember,  sometimes who they pick has nothing to do with who's the best player.  Good for you getting out there.  Good luck.