Beedster

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1509093012' post='3396505'] I am no stranger to intoxicating substances myself. I am aware that altered states of mind are a major influence on art in general and especially in music. In this context however we are talking about doing a job. Employers generally make intoxication during work time a sacking offence. I see little difference here. May I also point out that there is a vast wealth of creative music out there that was created by sober people. Many of the survivors of the so-called rock and roll lifestyle who have cleaned up their lives say that they wished they'd known earlier that they could still play without help from substances, legal or otherwise. Peer pressure on musicians to get intoxicated at gigs is not such a problem today either. [/quote] I don't disagree, in saying they're was a link I wasn't suggesting the link is healthy [quote name='matski' timestamp='1509097100' post='3396551'] Once upon a time when I was living in Amsterdam, a drummer friend of mine invited to go and play with him and a guitarist he had met with a view to starting up a new band - the guy could play well enough, but he had this unnerving habit of psychotically staring at me directly in the eyes when he was playing solos. I dismissed it at first, but after a while it was really starting to freak me out. Afterwards, my drummer pal mentioned that maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea to play with that guy again as he 'looked like he wanted to kill you!'. [/quote] I played in a band with a singer who did that, he would just stare straight into my eyes as if I had really offended him. First time he did it I said "what?" and he just carried on. I didn't stay in that band long either

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1509083494' post='3396459'] It's sad when someone needs a "sharpener" to boost their sense of self worth. [/quote] We auditioned a singer years ago, he turned up looking nervous as hell. In front of us he shotgunned two cans of 1664, and then knocked out the best version of La Grange I've ever heard, well it was as good as the original (the vocals anyway, we were as crap as usual). We didn't hire him because we were a bit worried about how stable his confidence was going to be if it needed that kind of kick start, but booze and creativity/performance has been a pretty effective strategy from at least as far back as Mozart BTW I still wish we'd hired him

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1509045171' post='3396315'] There is, of course, the possibility of being too good. You might intimidate them by having the ability to play what your imagination tells you is right. Maybe having an imagination is bad too? [/quote] Possibly, I think it's an issue of 'technically good' versus 'musically good', but that's another story of course

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1509004024' post='3395869'] Are you certain there are no bass players out there who never stop practising their slap chops through every minor break in the action? Thankfully we don't get to meet them too often. [/quote] I was sacked by a band a few years ago, largely 'cos the guitarist said I wasn't putting in enough effort. He owned the van, the PA, the singer's expensive mic, and therefore the band. The catalyst to the sacking was my repeatedly playing one note in an Eagles track at odds with the recorded version, no joke. I kept doing it because I preferred it, he got really wound up every gig. Amusingly, I was asked back once they realised that 'lack of effort' equated to "generally playing what the song needed" as opposed to "riffing the f**k out of every song", which was apparently what every other bassist did at audition. I politely declined Key point is that I know one of the bassists that auditioned and he was pretty furious to be knocked back, saying with a straight face that he was a much better bassist than the band were were guitarist/drummer/singer, which was probably true.

50 mins by train

Love it, great stuff, I will catch you live one day for sure, even if I have to get to Leeds. And of course, 'We Are Not Devo' is the only name a self respecting Devo tribute could use

It reassures me hugely that a DEVO tribute act not only exists, but thrives. The world can't be all bad after all

[quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1508437349' post='3392249'] Shame but think they could have found another band who look and sound the same...? [/quote] You'd have thought they'd have the condition under control?

To be honest, there's probably a few relatively non-criminal types who'd half-inch a double bass for the pure comedy value alone. I won't point fingers or name names but many such wags are to be found in our higher education system

[quote name='borntohang' timestamp='1508492830' post='3392520'] Pssh 'do we dress up'? This isn't amateur hour, spud. [/quote] Absolutely brilliant. Do you do weddings?

[quote name='borntohang' timestamp='1507800217' post='3387998'] Can report from personal experience the DEVO tribute is a better runner than you might expect. On the other hand, we don't need the competition so actually it's a terrible gig and you shouldn't even think about it! [/quote] Made my day Would love to see you lot at my local on a Friday night, do you dress up also?

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1508433215' post='3392201'] My thoughts exactly... Welcome from Herts [/quote] Could have been worse, could have been called 'drummist'

Welcome from Canterbury. Hell of a brave username for a bass forum BTW

We put up with it for years and learned to play with a slack drummer, simply because he was also a mate. Think The Who did the same according to an interview I read with Entwhistle

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1507824326' post='3388240'] Or it could be the old trick of when you play a bum note always play it again so people think it's an "arrangement". [/quote] Damn, I thought that was my secret. Did pretty much a whole gig doing exactly that on DB, and was offered a Jazz gig immediately afterwards

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1507809851' post='3388094'] Ahh.. it's jarring to me. I've just checked and he does it on the original, too. It must just be me.. [/quote] Ha ha, there's a track on Street Legal by Dylan where the bass player plays a howler, it drives me crazy, but no-one else can hear it. Which of course means everyone else is just not as discerning as us