musicbassman

Well, it sounds about right, but I have one question - why ???

I did post this story on BC a while ago, but I'm posting again as I think it still proves that truth is stranger than fiction. In 1975 I was playing on the island of Jersey with the remnants of a 60's pop band called Love Affair. (Remember them?) We were doing some sort of cabaret show at a big hotel there. We'd finished our set in the main ballroom, and then picked up word that Robert Plant and John Bonham were in the bar. Went and had a discreet look, and it certainly looked like them. Plant was on crutches - I knew he'd had a car crash recently. Bonham looked completely out of it. They were surrounded by a posse of hangers on and music biz people by the looks of it. Next thing we know, everyones cheering, and Plant and Bonham are heading towards the stage. Plant stops and talks to our drummer briefly, and then our drummer points to myself and the guitarist, and indicates we should go up on stage with Plant and Bonham. The rest was a bit of a blur, quite honestly. Bonham was clearly more than a bit worse for wear but started fiddling with the drum kit. Then someone fetched a stool for Plant to perch himself on, and Plant suggested over the mic that we played 'Red House' Sorted out the key, and we were off. I was doing my best, but was only one step back from pissing myself with fear, god only knows what it sounded like. Luckily our guitarist was an excellent player and carried things along, as Bonham was hardly able to keep time, let alone play well. We played two lengthy numbers, half drowned out by whooping and cheering from the crowd, possibly undeserved. I cannot remember for the life of me what the second number was. Most unexpected thing that's ever happened to me at a gig.

Oooh, I didn't know there was a deluxe omnibus edition of this. It really is absolute perfection. Dog's reaction is the crowning glory.

So true. Doubtless, some well meaning person from the council will tell you that everyone should be walking or taking a bus or cycling........... Walking? - usually too far. Bus? - unreliable or simply non-existent unless you're in a big city. Cycling - your bike will definitely not be there when you return. - and as for musicians doing gigs in city centre venues, must be almost impossible sometimes. I used to play function gigs in Central London back in the '80's, it was extremely difficult then, so I can't imagine how musicians manage now. Anybody on this forum do this kind of work? How do you manage it?

Was that The Silver Barracuda from Wapping Pier, by any chance ? Used to do that one quite regularly with a trio back in the '80's - and yes, the gang plank was absolutely lethal if the tide was out, especially when it had been raining. And the keyboards player had a C3 Hammond and a Leslie, to add to the fun. Absolutely crazy. Health and Safety ? - I don't think so. But a different world back then.

Holy sheet ! - that's a tough listen, @Leonard Smalls I managed a minute or so of each, but then my head exploded.........😵

Hi Simon, hello from Chichester. This is (with the rare exception) a very polite and friendly forum, long may it remain that way. Enjoy 🙂 PS - I can hear your rig from here, and I'm 20 miles away..........

That's an interesting looking venue, Mick, but somehow I suspect the acoustics would have been a bit tricky ?

A new name to me, Japanese band Koenji Hyakkei playing at the Lexington. Wish I'd been there 🙂

I worked 'pro' from 1973 to 1977, which was very exciting to begin with, but chugging up and down the M1 and staying in cheap hotels soon became tedious. Ended up taking any gig on offer just to pay the rent. However, I did meet and work with some great people and have many great anecdotes from this time. It was a hard way to earn a living then, would guess it's pretty well impossible now.

Barcelona is the home of the St Andreu Jazz Band, one of the finest schools for young jazz players in Europe. You might get lucky and find there's a concert on somewhere, but maybe this would be a bit off the mark for your students. Barcelona is a great city, sure you'll be able to find plenty to do 👍

Oh Lord, here he is again. His technique reminds me of Doug Johns, but not quite the same.....

Yes, some of it is great, some of it cheesy beyond belief ! Not to be confused with Brazilian House, which some say is a direct descendant from this. Isaac Varzim has a lot of lengthy mixtapes of Brazilian House and similar on YouTube which are great to noodle along to, my current go to for keeping my chops up. If anyone's interested, here's an introduction to Tropicalia:

Likewise. Bass players seem to fall into two camps - there are those whose equipment seems to be more important to them than the music, and those who put the music first and their equipment is really anything half decent. I fall into the latter camp - I don't spend hours agonising over minute EQ details or striving for the 'perfect sound' as I know only too well that any live sound is going to be so influenced by either the whims of the soundman or the acoustics of the room. And , let's face it, hardly any punters are going to care what bass you're using. It's all about the notes and the feel. So, I'm very happy to look at anything online that examines a piece of music or looks at particular bass playing techniques, but endless gear reviews whether in magazines or online leave me cold.

That's Finland, by the way............

Well, that is some notable achievement, @stewblack, especially for NYE. How depressing. But I'm guessing it's the pub management team that has the serious issues that need looking at here, nothing to do with the band whatsoever.

Well, why, of course - I mean, bass is so easy, anyone can do it. There's only four strings for a start, and all they do is play the first note of each chord 😬👍

Getting ready for a gig tonight and decided to clear out one of my lead bags. Here's a selection of set lists I've been given for dep gigs I've done over the last couple of years. Not sure whether it will be fully legible, but all kinds of everything on there, you name it, I've maybe played it.................

I'm surprised this topic hasn't attracted more comments and opinions - it's a fascinating concept. Both Jacob Collier and Adam Neely have put up videos with fairly clear explanations of the musical mechanics of this idea, but maybe the easy win would be for harvesting fresh songwriting ideas. How about this negative harmony version of the rickrollers favourite.

I make no apologies for reposting this simple lesson.

@Owen, thanks for posting this, absolutely excellent. Composing bass lines on the fly to accompany these tracks is easy when you have such a creative force as this. 🙂👍

Well, I wasn't quite sure when the band had actually started 'playing', but I think it's a couple of minutes in from the beginning. No bass player, so there's obviously a gig going there............ 😳

Declining an invitation to audition for a backing band for a new up and coming artist in the late 70's, as it clashed with my long awaited driving test. .....and that person was Elvis Costello.............. 😳