leschirons

Bum, for the first half a page I thought it was going to be Bilbo.

I reckon it's a whole lot of different things and any combination of those things. It's the science behind the magical 120 BPM which Stock, Aitken etc picked up on as the ultimate dance tempo in the 80s. It's a memorable Melody, it's a middle eight changing to the relative minor or major, it's the key change up a tone to the last chorus, it's a well tried and tested chord progression (just think about how many songs are based around Em G D A) Add to this a great voice and production and maybe you're there.

Good gig tonight ( now last night) it was a dep. Had got in a couple of rehearsals as there were loads of French numbers in the set that were new to me. All went great and even got to play a heavy rock version of "You're the one that I want" Lovely bunch of French guys, got good money, good food and they even paid me extra for doing the two rehearsals. Now that IS a first for me.

It's sad when anyone dies unexpectedly but this is also a serious loss to music. One of the best rock voices ever and my current fave.

[quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1494675470' post='3297769'] I'm starting a shopping list... 1) spare cab 2) bigger car to carry two cabs 3) spare car in case new bigger car fails to start 4) clone of self in case I break down (again!) 5) spare drummer, spare guitarist, spare vocalist 6) spare venue 7) spare audience 8) spare planet I think that covers most eventualities! [/quote] It does, but only if your spare drummer doesn't forget his stick bag like your main drummer 😂

[quote name='NoRhino' timestamp='1494884842' post='3299370'] Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I only got it to increase high frequencies slightly coz I live in a house with three women. I'll take the HA out at gigs and keep using both plugs. [/quote] You've got that the wrong way round mate😂

So, Portugal gets it. Loving the four Ukranian security guards. You just know they're itching to shoot someone. Preferably the winner and, his sister who wrote that song😂 Instantly forgettable. It ain't no Waterloo, that's for sure.

Graham Norton is really not funny. This needs Antoine de Caunes presenting and doing the commentary (Euro-trash)

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1493936674' post='3292058'] Agreed, Leschirons even if your playing and execution is flawless criticism of others is generally not a good idea. Especially if you've joined an established working band and it's your primary source of income. I make plenty of mistakes.There is no way I would ever critisize a band mates playing. Blue [/quote] I didn't join an existing band Blue. It started as a bunch of mates wanting to play the odd charity gig and they were short of a bass player and asked me. I had no problem with any of that as I was already in two other working bands as drums and guitar so playing bass was going to be a bit of fun for me. However, when they suddenly decided to get proper paid gigs as the band were going down well, I pointed out that they would ALL need to up their game, put the work in before rehearsals and deliver a pro performance if they're charging a fee. Unfortunately, because they were getting rave reviews from the locals in the village, they believed their own publicity and all thought we were at the top of our game. Only the keyboard player understood, and the drummer and both guitarists never properly learned 80% of the setlist. Hence, after a gig, I would bring up the subject of performance quality. Not bum notes, but mistakes due to not learning the material properly. This "wanting the band to be better" earned me the name Dr Doom as their attitude was,"if they're clapping and shouting for more, we must be really good" I put up with that for 13 years before walking and they were glad to see the back of me.

In my case, it's a matter of learning not to criticize the bloke who's band it is about his playing😂

Never been sacked from a band but, when I left the function band I'd been in for 13 years (from the start) I later learned that they'd all said "thank f**k for that" So, probably only a matter of time then😂

[quote name='Jacqueslemac' timestamp='1493795551' post='3290638'] I've been living in Normandy for the past year and have struggled to find a single gig (apart from last summer's midsummer festival). At the jam session I sometimes go to almost everyone is in their 50s or older. Where do all the young players play? [/quote] I live in La Creuse in central France. Nearest big place is Limoges. We have everything from Punk to Funk here with everything in between. Loads of jazz, blues and rock etc. For the last three years I've been the head judge in the local battle of the bands. They advertise for six bands and have to turn down twenty. 75% of the bands that apply (not the jazz bands) are people under 25. A lot of them embrace a really wide selection of genres too. If we go to a jam night here, the musos range from 65 year old Johnny Cash clones to 15 year old gypsy jazz virtuosos.

[quote name='RhysP' timestamp='1493732919' post='3290237'] It is if you want it to be... [/quote] Nail.....head😂

Regarding the future of bass playing (and bands in general) in the 13 years I've lived in France, I've sold loads of redundant gear for whatever reasons and every time, without exception, it's been to, or for, a young player who wants to join a band and play live (or is already doing so) I've found it most refreshing to see young people's enthusiasm regarding getting into playing and forming bands. It's not all doom and gloom. They're out there, and they're keen.

Sorry, I thought you said dessert rock.

Instrument-wise, I play in a trio. For me, the important thing is whether the guitarist realises that all those great solos they do sometimes depend on some chord work behind them. Of course, the bass can imply the same thing but your guitarist will have to seriously think about what they do also to avoid a song falling flat and sounding thin. We still manage to keep numbers like Freak out and Blame it on the boogie in our set but that's been down to the guitarist being open to suggestions and change. All said and done though, great fun. Hope you enjoy it.

Despite not being a luthier, I've defretted three basses in the past, two jazz basses and one stingray copy. All turned out great. Lifting frets can be a little dangerous if it's a really old fingerboard but otherwise, not a problem. I bought a cheap sheet of veneer to fill the slots on two of them and simply used filler (plastic wood) on one of the jazz basses. Didn't bother repositioning any side dots as can't really see them anyway at my age. I did however put semi rounds on the Stingray and flats on the jazzes. All sounded superb after a bit of a setup.

Just watched it. All the usual averagely talented bunch like Stevie Wonder, EWF, George Clinton, Average white band, Kool and the gang and Graham Central station and Herbie Hancock etc. Phew! Lucky they also included one of the real heavyweight funk acts like Beck😋

Ramones.... Wonderful world. Lots of fun, well known song, crowd singalong big finish or encore.

This comes to mind😂 Maybe you'll be the Ying to her Yang.

The upside of being an old git in his mid 60s is that I've heard hundreds of thousands of songs over the years. I only play in covers bands so the chances are, I've come across 90% of the songs I'm likely to be asked to play even if I've only heard them once or twice. It's still an advantage. Obviously it depends on the song and a lot of the French songs I get asked to play are unknown to me but I reckon I can do a passable version of anything pop or rock in about 30 mins. At the last gig, we had a request for "I want to break free" Only the guitarist had ever played it and only at home😂 Singer seemed to know the words and the guitarist had learned it in D. We had to up it to E and then went for it. It's not a hard song by any means but familiarity is the key. It was perfectly gig-able and is now in the set.

I would have thought that as you're discussing issues that are "threatening to tear the band apart" a nice meal in a restaurant is not an ideal situation anyway. If it all gets heated and goes 🍐 shaped just before the main course arrives, that's going to feel like a very long and uncomfortable evening.

If the Many worlds theory is correct, there will be a universe somewhere in which Dood wins £80 million quid on the lottery and this thread doesn't exist.😂

Were you playing on the D string around the 3rd to 7th frets? Many jazz basses suffer from dead spots low down on the D string. I have even heard of some people increasing the headstock mass to correct it.

Played a pub/restaurant by the river here a few years back. Usually all closed by 11.30pm. At 1am, we had 100 punters in front dancing and singing, another 50 along the bridge above us. Owner admitted it was the best night and takings in the 4 years he'd had the place and gave us an extra 20% on our fee. Never got another gig as the guy said he wasn't really into covers bands.!!! And there's me thinking he was running a business😂 He's since had original acts that have cost him more who've played to 6 people.