lozkerr

We've managed to bag a college theatre for a rehearsal tomorrow - first one in the best part of fifteen months - but I won't be in the least surprised if things shut down again because of it. It's spreading like wildfire. On the upside, the f---ing Tattoo's been cancelled again. Every cloud, and all that...

I'd have three rooms - first, a rehearsal studio with all our instruments in it - PA, backline, four basses, six guitars, two keyboards, drum kit, euphonium, baritone horn, trumpet - with black walls decorated with classic posters, a few vintage neon signs and an illuminated Route 66 petrol pump. Plus a vintage Wurlitzer jukebox complete with bubbler. Cliches perhaps, but I like them. Second, a performance space with a stage and lighting rig. Ideally with doors to the rehearsal studio so I could just wheel kit between the two. Performance space would also double as a home cinema, complete with proper cinema seats. Third, a recording studio. That, plus a library with rugs on a stone floor, a huge fireplace, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, well-stocked drinks cabinet and an armchair with wings that you just sink into and a matching footstool would be my ideal.

+1 for this. When the Police first appeared, 'chronic' was the politest term I could think of. The Stranglers, the Clash, the Adverts, Ultravox!, Blondie and the Boomtown Rats were my bag at the time. But since last summer I've been having lessons in singing while playing bass and I've got on top of two Police songs - Every Breath You Take and Roxanne - and I've realised just how good they were. If only I could put the clock back...

I have a modern copy - an XT25 that I bought from Gear4Music a few years ago. I just wanted a travel bass, and it's great for that - light, small and easy to lug about. Nice tone, too. On the downside, it's an ergonomic nightmare. Horrendous neck dive and an awkward playing position even with a strap extender fitted. Back in the years BC (Before Covid) I used to take it to London on work trips and use it to work on new songs, which I'd then polish up on my Jazz when I got home.

Same here. Wife plays keys and has an absolute belter of a voice and husband plays rhythm guitar. There's never been any hint of a them-and-us vibe. Maybe we're just lucky?

I think the Ex Pissholes deserve an honourable mention.

We've got our first full one next Thursday and I mustard mitt that I'm cacking it. Three of us had a wee get-together outside a few weeks ago and it went reasonably well, but this one's the real deal with all of us present. I think we'll be OK, given that it'll be fourteen months since we've played ensemble and we've all admitted that we've got some ground to make up, but the nagging doubts won't go away. I'll doubtless be kicking myself savagely for every wee slip-up I make. But it's got to be done.

I really should drop in there more often... been neglecting it for a while now. The WhatsApp group's gone quiet, too...

Woho, does it ever... that rig pushes out some serious air!

I think I meet that criterion:

True enough - we got a bit of stick for not playing Suffragette City at our last gig, even though it's hardly an eighties staple. I don't doubt we'll have to introduce some selections from the cheeseboard at some stage, but we're keen to be seen more as primarily a post-punk indie outfit rather than general 80s pop, if that makes sense. We already have Don't You Want Me on the go and we know we'll have to include a good sprinkling of floor-fillers if we're going to be asked back anywhere. So far, the balance seems about right, but I expect it'll evolve over time.

We're an 80s band and we hit the same problem. We narrowed it down to everyone's general preferences for indie and post-punk stuff, so no Bananarama, Bucks Fizz or general cheesy pop. That has meant omitting some songs that a few of us like, but it does ensure that the set lists hang together fairly well.

We're planning an outdoor get-together - I'd hesitate to call it a rehearsal - this weekend. I'm more nervous than I should be, but I'm guessing so is everyone else. If things more-or-less hang together, I'll count that as a win.

Depends. If it's dad rock or bluesy type stuff, my other half might come along, but otherwise I'm quite happy going alone.

What @Lozz196 said. If you're playing through a practice amp, you might hear a very different sound to that from a gigging rig. I've run into that problem, although I'm using Ernie Balls roundwounds. My practice amp is a wee Eden EC8, and the B string sounds very muddy through the speaker - it's only a single 8" driver, after all. It's slightly better through headphones, but not much to write home about. Gigging backline is an Eden Metro combo with a 118 extension cab. The difference is astounding, although I have to fiddle with the crossover settings a bit.

I think the Passions' I'm In Love With A German Film Star deserves an honourable mention. I've had their three albums on the go back-to-back this afternoon, and it's like nothing else they've recorded.

Another shou' ou' for Bass Direct. I finally heard earlier this week that my local dealer wouldn't be able to get hold of the Eden WTP600 I ordered the day before lockdown last year - great timing there lassie - so I morosely headed over to BD's website to ogle the eye candy.... ...and found they had a nearly new WTP600 for sale... ...which is arriving Monday. Yay!

That would put me right off buying one. Thankfully my MacBook has an ethernet socket, but when I need to replace it, I'll have to think long and hard whether I'll be prepared to dispense with that. It's bad enough only having two flippin' USB sockets - it feels like form over function is going a wee bit too far.

Flippancy aside (sorry @Teebs), I've found my motivation's been all over the place recently. Periods of highs - making progress with the EUB, learning to sing [1] while playing bass, cracking on with transcribbling, trying my hand at writing replacement lyrics for some well-known songs, getting another band up together, giving in to GAS, getting to grips with Jamulus, wasting money on books I'll never read - followed by some intense lows. That's got worse recently. I expect it's a touch of SAD plus work - I'm stuck inside all day in front of a laptop working on clinical data sets that contain an endless stream of heartbreaking stories and enduring shite weather when I can get out for a walk - but I'm really demotivated right now. Things will improve, I know - but the last few weeks have been the toughest for me since last March. [1] for very small values of 'sing'

They are the next level of Zen towards Nirvana, young novice. Even Lord Pastorius never managed to master that fine instrument. 🥄 😉

Surprised this... thing... hasn't made an appearance yet.

Judging by their expressions and slack bobbing about, the dancers aren't exactly impressed either. That really is dire.

Aye. I hated the stuff. I was actually very grateful to for ditching it. I know, I'm a bad person 😧 But I was very young, m'lud.

Hi Si, Many thanks. I've installed it OK and you're right - it doesn't make any difference to JamKazam. I think it's a problem with JamKazam, as the crackling and noise I was getting there doesn't occur with Cubase or Audacity. I'm still fiddling with settings, but if I can't get it to behave I guess we'll need to try something else. The volume's pretty low though, but it seems to be a Mac-specific thing - I've just tried it with my work machine running Windows 10 and it's plenty loud enough there. From a root around tinterwebz, it seems to be a common problem on Macbooks when you try to use self-powered USB audio interfaces. It's not the end of the world, though - if all else fails, maybe a separately-powered USB audio interface taking signals from my Boss JS10 might be the way to go. It's a twin-channel job, with separate volume controls for mic and bass. Thanks again! Laura

You're a star, Dad. Thank you so much! No idea why I couldn't find it earlier. Thanks again!