wateroftyne

On 9V?

Not sure what the valve is going to bring to the party...?

Thanks for the kind comments, everyone... it's going to be a busy few weeks. Looking at the setlist, definitely both 🙂 Yeah.. I've played the City Hall a few times (not with SfS) and it's incredibly special. Basically the SfS show has outgrown the Hall, both in terms of the amount of people who want to buy tickets, and logistically. The production just wouldn't fit in there any more. Great for the charity though, and the producers work very hard to make the show feel - and sound - more intimate than your typical arena gig. Feedback from 2018 suggests they got it right. Ha ha... there's plenty of opportunities for that throughout 2020... -------------------------------------------------------- Forgot to mention in my last post - the general structure is that the band has four or five days of rehearsals without the lead vocalists, and towards the end of the week we (hopefully, but not always) get an hour or so to run through with them, and make any last-minute tweaks. Then the whole shebang moves into the Arena and we have a whole day prior to show for production rehearsals. We'll run though it with them again, so the crew can work out lighting & camera cues etc. Sometimes the singer(s) aren't available until the day of the show., So, for one of the songs, I've already had a scaled-down acoustic rehearsal with a couple of the guests to confirm they're happy with the key and arrangement. Fortunately all's good - the full band can rehearse the agreed arrangement before the show, and the next time we see them will be at the gig. One down (kind-of) - twelve to go...

Some guitarists are great playing a part that’s right for the song. Some are great at just playing bluesy licks in the gaps. 🙂

Personally I’d run away from the busker. A sign of trouble ahead.

Hey gang! A couple of years ago I played two shows at Newcastle Arena, as part of the house band for Sunday for Sammy. It was lots of fun - two sell out shows of 5,000 each, and I got to play with the likes of Trevor Horn and Ralph McTell. Here's the last diary thread if you're interested. With it being a biennial thing, the time has come around again: 23rd February is the date - afternoon and evening shows, and a slightly larger crowd (7,000 at each show, I think). The shows have basically become a Tyneside equivalent of the Royal Command Performance, with music and comedy lots of local slebs (the Auf Wiedershehen Pet cast, etc.), visits from AC/DC's Brian Johnson, Mark Knopfler amongst others, and more 'national' faces (hence Trevor Horn, Ralph McTell). This is the 10th show in 20 years, and the second to be held at the Arena after 16 years at Newcastle City Hall. It's a HUGE production, which is also shot for DVD release. By nature of the show, plans can be a bit liquid which means it can get interesting, so I'm going to post a diary sort-of thing here as it all unfolds. To complicate things, the line-up is top secret until the last minute so I can't post any details of the show, songs, or names of guests. Apologies in advance. The core band for 2020 is largely the same as 2018 - Bass, drums, guitar (John Ashton, who worked with Arctic Monkeys and The Last Shadow Puppets), 3x female BVs (Including Lorraine Crosby, who duetted with Meat Loaf on 'I'd Do Anything for Love', brass section (headed up by John Waugh from The 1975). One change to the line-up is that Jamie, the usual keys player and MD, isn't available so Alan Clark (Dire Straits) is taking the reins. The band don't exist outside of these shows - I play with the drummer and other sax player occasionally, but that's it. With 3 weeks to go, I'm aware of 13 songs that are in the frame, in keys that are subject to change. I've familiarised myself with them already - some I knew, some I didn't. No nightmares so far. One of the tunes might even need a bit of slap on it. I'd better remind myself how to do that. What I don't know is any specific arrangements... yet. We've got a solid week of band rehearsals before the show, so I'll post more updates & pics etc. when it begins to happen. In the meantime, here's little video from the last gig, and a photo of my little bit of the stage.

I feel vindicated 😄

Exactly. There seems to be a perception that "Not class D = too heavy". This just ain't true.

The Handbox R-400 and Walkabout aren't heavy heads by any stretch.

Here’s an arty shot of my ‘73P...

The ACS I linked to above have a flat response, and because they fill the ear canal they don't sound weird when you sing with them in. They're life-changers for me.

I've been saying it for years. I used to get mocked for it 😄

My stock answer - look no further than here: https://www.hearformusicians.org.uk Custom-moulded ACS plugs, with a flat response, for pennies. Every working musician (full time or *cough* full-time-ish) should know about this.

Yes, within reason.

I realised this about 13 years ago. I've been waiting for car radio amps to turn the corner since, but it hasn't happened yet.

If you want to keep the authentic look, Res-o-lites are almost identical to Fenders, but I think they're even lighter than the Hipshots. (I might be wrong on that).

Sounds like The 1975.

Radiohead supporting Kingmaker at Sunderland Poly in 1992. Less than a hundred in. I'd say.

Worked for me, too. They're amazing earplugs.

By the way, I'd never want to play it anyway, 'cos I can't think of a scenario I'd be in where it would work. But that's 'cos of the song, not for political reasons.

OK. Humour me for a moment. Would you perform a sectarian Irish song at a gig if asked? If not, why not?

Handbox R-400 - similar preamp config to the Walkabout (and Warwick Tubepath).

I think there's a point being missed here. A few posts ago, someone said a reason for not playing it is because it's political. I'm trying to say that, in 2020, it's not. The subject is no longer up for political debate.

I get that, but to label it as 'political' in 2020 does it a disservice, I think.

Areet kidda.