EssexBuccaneer

I started playing guitar at 13-14, teaching myself with books borrowed from the library. My best mate was a lead guitarist (and a great one at that, one of those annoying ‘naturals’ 😀). He joined a band with some dudes I didn’t know when we were 17, and after their first gig they asked me to join as rhythm guitarist. It didn’t last long because he had to go away to uni but I was out most weekends watching and befriending local bands - one of whom had a sudden need for a bass player. I had never played bass, didn’t own a bass and knew nothing about bass. So obviously I joined! Learned bass ‘on the job’ by following what the guitarist was doing, then growing in confidence and adding my own flourishes.

Broadening this topic, because that’s what my brain does to everything - what importance does an identity have to covers band? We could play all the generic hits all the time, and probably please a large number of people whilst also alienating a chunk of the public who loathe pop music, and also probably playing a load of stuff that the band itself don’t like. Or alternatively play niche material that appeals to a smaller fanbase which will potentially be more loyal and travel to see you. Would probably be a more fulfilling/satisfying band to play in, but at the risk of fewer gigs. Personally speaking I don’t think I could play in a wedding/functions band - it’s just not my thing, regardless of how good the pay is or how solid the summer bookings are. It’d just drive me nuts to play a load of stuff that I don’t enjoy.

We have AIC in our set, which is predominantly 90’s and 00’s rock/metal. We have our little niche, and the idea of sticking in something purely because the punters will enjoy it is anathema to me - it’s got to be a song that the whole band want to play. That’s not to say that the audience reaction isn’t important, it definitely is. Green Day’s Longview is on the bubble at the moment because the crowd seems to lose a bit of interest during it - so we may replace it. Now we could easily play Basket Case instead and get a guaranteed crowd reaction - but that would make us like every other covers band in the world, so we’re not doing it. You have to enjoy what you’re doing, because (IMO) money isn’t enough to get me out of the house and onto the stage. I’ve got to love the songs I play, and that translates into a better performance, which in turn gives your crowd a better night.

Mate, that’s great news! Would love to get in there! (I’m sure it’ll happen, we’re in danger of running before we walk - we’ve only played 4 gigs). Congratulations! I’m on-call that week, unfortunately so can’t get down - but sometime soon.

I’ve got 3 gigging basses for 3 different tunings in our set. I don’t yet have a tech to bring me the next bass, but maybe one day 😆

I’ve been told that I’m not like most bass players, because I’m “not the boring one standing around looking serious”

Well it’s not last night, but I’ve learned this evening that we’ve been booked to play at The Pappillon in Southend on Dec 1st. It’s one of the more important venues to get your foot in the door in the area, and it’s a pretty hard gig to land, so we’re all stoked! Not expecting an enormous crowd on Southend seafront in December, but if we can impress the owner/booker then maybe we’ll be able to swing a night or two next year!

What do you guys do with the cash? Do you split it for pocket money? We stick it in the band kitty, currently saving for the PA, but broken strings and stuff all comes from the ‘band money’

Pubs round this way pay 300-400, we’ve played a charity event for free, and had a couple of ‘cheaper’ nights as a favour to a friend of the singer (around 150 per night) so we could get some good footage for social media. Moving forwards we’ll be asking the going rate with the exception of charity events. It’s not about the money as much as it is not undercutting anyone else in the area. Musicians deserve to get paid adequately for their labour.

We’re called MLC (mid-life crisis) and our set is full of 90’s-2000’s rock/grunge with some metal thrown in. Stereophonics, Green Day, The Offspring, RATM and Metallica all make an appearance! We’ve tried to stay away from doing a setlist of *all* hits and gone niche with soem artists but we may have to rethink a couple. Example: we play Green Day ‘Longview’ rather than American Idiot or Basket Case, but on its first outing last night it was clear that the audience lost a wee bit of interest before picking up again with Nickelback ‘How you remind me’ Its a fine line in creating a set that doesn’t sound identical to other covers bands, whilst also keeping an audience happy!

Had a great gig at the Chadwell Arms in Essex last night. Had the option of playing their hall or the pub and we opted for the pub as it was more intimate and the crowd was enthusiastic but small. Totally the right decision, felt like a proper pub gig with the punters just a couple of feet away. We went down a storm and the landlord wants us back 3-4 times in 2024. Our first full length set (90 mins) and were asked for an encore. Am still buzzing this morning!

I remember laying down a demo many years ago. My guitarist was getting stressed out because he couldn’t nail the timing on an intro (came in on an off-beat, and was generally a bit weird tbf). Anyhoo, time was ticking on and he was getting more and more worked up. In the end I picked up his guitar and laid it down myself while he went for a smoke. He was over the moon that I’d done it for him. I can’t think of anything more mortifying than someone else laying down my part in a studio 😲

I’m distinctly average. I’m technically poor and I make mistakes unless I’ve practiced a song a zillion times, but I can keep time and do the basics that I need. One thing that being in a covers band has done, is taken me out of my comfort zone. In my originals band I wrote basslines to my own (low) ability. Playing ‘pro’ bass players lines has definitely improved my playing.

Had a decent rehearsal last night, one of our newbies (Stiltskin - inside) is ready for Friday’s set. The other two aren’t far behind. Wanted to add a little clip as a tickle but the file size is too big!

I worked for the British Boxing Board of Control for a wee while, was great to get ringside seats for any show I chose. Met loads of boxers including several world champions. Pete Waterman thanked me when he got off of the train i’d just driven to Paddington. Matthew Pinsent once asked me if I was the train driver and after replying in the affirmative, told me I had a cool job. (Well yeah, but it’s not as cool as being an Olympian, Matthew)

I mean getting paid does take the sting off of a near-empty room a wee bit, but (and perhaps this is because I’m only just back into the scene), without the crowd it’s hard to enjoy the night. That’s why we play live, right?

Yeah I agree 100%. Ironically I played as well as I ever have, but watching the videos back I’m definitely not my usual self, I’m not bouncing and moving around, not stamping my feet like an idiot. I guess we all play off the crowd to a greater or lesser degree.

It looked like there was something down there in the corner, yes! It was a bit cold to venture out, if I’m being honest! You know you’re getting old when you’re inside and commenting on passing students saying ‘They’ll catch their death in that!’

We played in Southampton at ‘The Hobbit’ on Friday night, and a social club called ‘The Martin Club’ on Saturday. Annoyingly we had to shorten our set on Friday due to time constraints, but had a great time with a small but enthusiastic crowd. Saturday however was nothing more than a paid rehearsal in front of the other band (Mutiny on the Beach) - I felt bad for them because they invited us down and we’re embarrassed by the poor turnout. We made the most of it though and had a great laugh all weekend. Mutiny on the Beach are gonna head up to Essex to support us at some point, so it’s great to make new friends if nothing else.

MLC - Mid Life crisis (yes, one of many 😀)

The Hobbit in Southampton on Friday 13th, and Martin Club(?) on sat 14th.

Looking forward to rehearsal on Tuesday. 3 newbies to try out. Inside (by Stiltskin), Slither (Velvet Revolver) and Higher (Creed). With travelling gigs next Friday and Saturday in Southampton and Bournemouth (yes, we’re calling those two dates a tour 😀)

I’ve got 3. A five string Harley Benton in standard, 4 string Ibanez in drop D and a 4 string unbranded custom thing that’s half a step down. I chop and change throughout a gig.

SPLITTERS!!!

I started playing in my early-mid teens. Originals only, because that was what music was about. Making your own material and putting it out there. Hoping to make it. I put my heart and soul into a couple of bands in the hope of being the next big thing. That generally took the form of playing gigs to anywhere between a dozen and two hundred people, for barely any money, and a lot of sunk hours in writing and rehearsal, not to mention studio time and money. Now I’m a lot older (43) and accept that I’m never going to tour round the world and have platinum albums. So what can I do to enjoy my music? Play in a covers band. The crowds are bigger, the money is better, and the gigs are more fun and far less stress.