EssexBuccaneer

To an extent, yes. You have to keep the crowd happy. But also you have to enjoy what you play. One of the things I looked for in my current band is that the setlist isn’t a carbon copy of every other covers band’s setlist. Yeah we play Guns N Roses, but not sweet child o’ mine. Yeah we play Green Day but not Basket Case. The band has to be interested and invested in the songs they play - not simply acing as a playlist chosen by the punters.

Just back from rehearsal. Targeted a few songs that are nearly there rather than running through our set. Are You Gonna Go My Way (for some reason we couldn’t nail the timing coming out of the solo) and You Could Be Mine (GnR) are now gig-ready. Numan ‘Cars’ and AC/DC ‘You Shook me all night long’ are homework for next rehearsal.

Every band I’ve been in has rehearsed weekly or fortnightly, regardless of gigging schedule. Are you guys telling me that isn’t the norm? 🤔

Middle aged straight men are hardly a demonised demographic. I say that as a middle aged straight man.

I watched it this year as I do every year, because Mrs Buccaneer loves it. It’s trash, we all know it’s trash, so we have a drink and laugh at how appalling it all is. And yes, the U.K. entry was laughably bad. I’m surprised it received any points at all from the judges. Pathetically bad but also lacking the charm that some other horrendously rubbish entries have historically used to their own advantage.

A mixed bag tonight at the Chadwell Arms in Essex. Set 1 was riddled with issues, which we realised was down to the singist’s radio mic interfering with my wireless. It’s happened before when we’ve rehearsed in a smaller room and the pub was pretty intimate tonight. I wired up for set 2 and it was a million times better. The small crowd loved us, the pay was good and we’ve got a few adds on social media and some pledges to come see us at other local gigs.

I was reminded why I seldom read these lists after hunting twice for Nicko McBrain (assuming that I must have missed him first time around)

Hi all, some advice would be appreciated. When being paid for gigs, we don’t take a share each, but the money is ‘the Bands’ for use on a PA, lighting, consumables etc. Our gigs have so far been cash-in-hand with the guitarist looking after the money in his safe at home. However we’re playing a gig soon who will pay us electronically via concur - as such we’re thinking about setting up a band bank account. Has anyone experience with this? Does one person control the account and act as treasurer? Are you all signatories to the account? Are there fees for a multiple person account? Anything else we need to know?

Just back from tonight’s rehearsal. Whiskey In The Jar (Metallica version) went faultlessly so it’s slotting straight in the set. Played some stuff we’ve not touched for a while, but it all came together right away. All ready for our first gig of the year next week. It’s been a slog having 4 months without playing to an audience but such is life for a new band, I guess.

The drummer is indeed human. I’ve yet to find a human capable of keeping perfect time, 100% of the time. The drummer is basically an unreliable metronome. And the rest of the band follow it.

Imagine you’re playing, in time to a metronome that’s out of sight behind you. No flashy lights on this one to keep time with(!) Then randomly I sneak in and gradually up the tempo of the metronome, bit by bit. What is going to happen to your playing?

I promise you they can.

If the drummer speeds up or slows down, the rest of the band as a rule of thumb will speed up or slow down accordingly. And if you’re rigidly sticking to tempo whilst the rest of the band speeds up around you, who is going to look like the problem to an audience?

The drummer controls *everything*. If he can’t, it’s time to get one who can.

Venue specific, but I’m also prone to wander around and amongst the crowd as well!

Steinberger L series. I don’t care how revolutionary you tell me they are. Ugly as sin.

“Well, perhaps I’m mistaken. I might not have *quite* found my sound just yet…”

Some of the greatest guitarists and bass players around are self taught and have little theoretical knowledge - Steve Harris springs to mind. i never learned theory. I wish I did, and I’ve tried the ‘for dummies’ book but ditched it very early on. When I want to create something I’ll hum it in my head and figure it out from there. Is that common? I have no idea, but it works for me.

No! Couldn’t find any that were ‘right’. The search continues 🤣

And you’d probably have failed in your efforts. It’s notoriously hard to win a case like that.

I got them from Amazon on a whim 🤣 I love the look, the bass is black with chrome hardware - if I get on with the neon strings I may put black hardware on the bass.

I got a set of Neon Green’s that arrived today. A bit buzzy, but well soon fix that. Not had a chance to try them out properly yet, that’ll come at rehearsal. Love the look of them 😎

I can appreciate the frustration of mistakes, but if anyone in my band turned up at rehearsal with the intention of ‘knocking us into shape’ then I’d imagine they’d be looking for a new band, sharpish. The crowd enjoyed it, job done. Make a metal note of mistakes and work on those sections in rehearsal, without ego. Everyone makes mistakes.

Has anyone built one of these? https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_bassguitar_kit_pstyle.htm I’m contemplating buying one, and installing decent pups and pots (assuming the kit ones are naff). Am a bit concerned about the finish though - painting isn’t my strong suit, so maybe a nice varnish/stain.

I’ve got my Orange Crush 100 in my bass corner, with my basses on a nearby stand for quick access. Nice set of cans for quiet practice. Tend to plug in my wireless and get going in a few moments. I tend not to use my pedals for home practice - only for rehearsal and (obvs) gigs.