Stub Mandrel

We've got a first festival gig coming uo for Bendricks Rock. 1hr spot. Bike weekend in support of blood bikes Wales, supposedly 100,000 over two days but I doubt our audience will be that big! Next day we close one of the local venues for Caerleon festy, pub marquee so much smaller. Played early last year (after the morris dancers) to 40 odd people in the rain.

Sorry to hear such news @WalMan.

Could you make the songs a little more obscure? And add some welsh bands. ChatGPT Of course! Here’s a revised setlist with some deeper cuts and Welsh bands included: Set 1 (45 minutes) "Whiskey in the Jar" – Thin Lizzy "Radar Love" – Golden Earring "One of These Nights" – Eagles "Run to the Hills" – Iron Maiden "The Boys Are Back in Town" – Thin Lizzy "Since You Been Gone" – Rainbow "Go Your Own Way" – Fleetwood Mac "Holiday" – Scorpions "Delilah" – Tom Jones Set 2 (45 minutes) "Rock Bottom" – UFO "Love Spreads" – The Stone Roses "Dancing in the Moonlight" – Thin Lizzy "In a Broken Dream" – Python Lee Jackson (featuring Rod Stewart) "Don't Believe a Word" – Thin Lizzy "Nantucket Sleighride" – Mountain "Roadhouse Blues" – The Doors "Love Removal Machine" – The Cult Welsh Band Feature "Juxtapozed with U" – Super Furry Animals "Dakota" – Stereophonics Encores "Rock and Roll" – Led Zeppelin "Hey Jude" – The Beatles This setlist blends some lesser-known classic rock songs with notable tracks from Welsh bands, creating a unique and engaging experience for the audience.

ChatGPT. Sure! Here's a suggested setlist for a Wales-based classic rock band, with enough songs for two 45-minute sets plus encores: Set 1 (45 minutes) "Back in Black" – AC/DC "Living on a Prayer" – Bon Jovi "Rock and Roll" – Led Zeppelin "Sweet Home Alabama" – Lynyrd Skynyrd "Highway to Hell" – AC/DC "Don't Stop Believin'" – Journey "Smoke on the Water" – Deep Purple "You Really Got Me" – The Kinks "Born to be Wild" – Steppenwolf Set 2 (45 minutes) "Another Brick in the Wall" – Pink Floyd "Free Bird" – Lynyrd Skynyrd "Sweet Child O' Mine" – Guns N' Roses "Hotel California" – Eagles "Bohemian Rhapsody" – Queen "Comfortably Numb" – Pink Floyd "Paranoid" – Black Sabbath "Whole Lotta Love" – Led Zeppelin Encores "We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions" – Queen "Hey Jude" – The Beatles This mix includes a variety of classic rock hits that are sure to energize the crowd and keep them engaged throughout both sets and the encores. Enjoy the gig!

Arguably an AI concert would sit somewhere between a live gig and a DJ. To argue against myselfit's the human dj who provides the connection to the audience (at least a good one does). It's worth bearing in mind that many radio stations use AI generated playlists and don't even have djs.

Might be interesting to share some setlists? This was ours for last Saturday, with appended notes... with two exceptions these are songs WE want to play, rather than chosen to please an audience. War Pigs ... (sort of mashup between the original and the shorter Foo's version) White Room What is and What … (only works when you know you have a 'rock' audience. Pressure & Time Wishing Well Cross-Roads Devil Woman All Along The Watchtower Simple Man Black Night Hungry Like the Wolf ... (In the style of Reef's version, but the whole song) Sex Bomb ... (In the style of Mystic Prophecy i.e. 'German power metal band') Paranoid 20th Century Boy We Gotta Get Outta This Place ... (In the style of Alice Cooper's version, but the whole song) Sex on Fire ... (Just to keep everyone happy) Saturday Nights All Right ... (Well it was Tyson v Usyk afterwards, but we love this anyway) Rock and Roll Dakota ... (we're in Wales, at least one Phonics song is obligatory). Sympathy for the Devil Crazy Little Thing Called Love ... (we ran out of time as we'd already gone past the 11.00 curfew) Interesting how 9 songs = 45 minutes, I think we'll fit another one or two in as we get slicker with the changes, this was the first gig for this line-up and only our 3rd gig. Pub's reaction "Thanks guys sounded amazing.. we look forward to having you again. Xx" 🙂

A Point of Order. Rockin' All Over The World is a John Fogerty song, and therefore it is totally legitimate to play it 🙂

One thing AI can do is write music that humans can't play. This certainly already applies to sequencers DAWS already, but is AI more likely to come up with, say, shred guitar solos that are physically impossible even with an 8 or 10-string guitar. Scarier still, is AI going to be able to come up with melodically satisfying shred guitar solos that are actually listenable?

Yes, to be fair APF were in the Utilita Arena, while Thin Ice were in the Ex-Servicemens' Club.

Comparing the two Pink Floyd tributes I've seen in the last year, one was Australian Pink Floyd, 'nuff said. The other a local band with multiple keyboard players, a woman on keys and main vocals. Two guitarists, one of whom looks like Roger Waters(!) The other keys players doubled on sax and bass. Now the interesting thing is, I enjoyed the local band more as it felt more like a real gig, they clearly enjoyed being there and that was infectious. APF was like watching a musical to the extent it felt like a pastiche to me, and there was almost no audience interaction. I've also seen an excellent new Steely Dan tribute. They had ten people, eight of whom were wearing check shirts. They can't have eight Donald Fagens...

I would, but modern powered speakers with monitor tilt handles are too wobbly.

Something that surprises is the Rival Sons Pressure and Time is in F but is easier to play in E. True confession, I just improvise all the (abundant) bass fills.

Personally... tortoiseshell 😁

Very broadly speaking, bassline complexity is inversely proportional to the age of the song.

Vinyl wrap is 100% reversible.

Just got back from first hig at my local. Was booked last weekend to replace a cancellation, finish at 11 in time for the fight. Third gig with Bendricks Rock and polar opposite of the second one. We now have our new permanent lead guitarist. Numbers were good, the upstairs room was pretty much rammed. The vocalist and I had hammered Facebook and it seemed to pay off woth numbers. Lots of friends and also some fans of Bluesfire who played nearby last week. We all brought loads of gear just in case so we had lights everywhere, even three lasers (count 'em) and the new pickup. Although we knew we were rough,no-one noticed. First half was just cheers, bit second half lots of dancing. Saturday Nights Alright for Fighting was an inspired choice. Second encore was sympathy for the devil and went on forever... rest of the pub was full for the boxing, but most of our audience weren't interested. We are definitely a Barry (or nearby) band and this was our first 'home' fig so hopefully we've started to establish a good reputation. Some photos sent to me by a friend.

Not a gig announcement, but we got a pullup done 🙂

Both bands we are all pretty sensible, one beer then onto the Guinness or Thatchers zero. The alcohol free drinks today are way better than the days of Barbican.

My rule is one beer ahead of first set. Well beliw limit but even so after about three hours that's more or less metabolised regardless.

I chose my car partly on having a decent load space, biggest in small estate class. But my 2x15 pa speakers weree so bulky they made it very hard to fit things around them. On monday I picked up a pair of 1x15 Peaveys from ebay that are more efficient and short enough to stand up so they will occupy much less than half the space and be able to fit in much more flexibly. No more jamming bass cab in front seat.

Jam nights are a brilliant way to develop your skills. Yes there's the odd hiccup, but it's more than made up for by times when you know you've really been able to lift a performance.

Don't faff about, just come, bring basses, amps cabs and be prepared for an ace day with great food and top company.

You better had not Generallisimo Franco! Or I shall get Ms. S. to sort you out.