EssexBuccaneer

In their infinite wisdom my band have decided that we’re going to add Muse ‘Hysteria’ to the setlist - a song that is so far beyond my talent level it’s not even amusing. Ok, maybe it is a bit amusing, but still. I’m treating it as a challenge which is going to make me a better bass player. If I didn’t do that I’d just cry 😛

I’m guilty of being a bit lazy. Well, a lot lazy, if I’m being honest. it wasn’t uncommon for me to ignore the bass (or guitar) for days/weeks on end because I couldn’t be bothered to get the amp out, uncoil the leads, get everything setup to practice, and have to put it all away after a session. However, since I joined my band I obviously need more discipline. My saintly wife has sacrificed a corner of the front room to have a wee practice area, and I now have a lovely setup, wireless rig, a 3-guitar stand next to the amp which is always ready to go. I can be playing in under 2 mins. What a difference it makes having a dedicated little practice spot. Well recommended if you don’t already.

If Dave Grohl can take the train to Glastonbury, what excuse can anyone else have? 😀

This thread reminded me of an email conversation I had with a guy (guitarist) on JoinMyBand. Him: ’Do you know of any rehearsal spaces? Because I don’t’ me: ‘Yeah there’s a few locally’ him: ‘Do you know of any other musos who might wanna join us? Because I don’t’ me: ‘No, I’ve lost all my contacts, after 20 years away’ him: ‘Do you have transport? Because I don’t’ me: ‘Yeah, I don’t think this is gonna work out, mate’ 🫣

I saw Dave Grohl at work earlier - at Paddington station. We get a lot of celebs pass through, but very few Rock Legends 🤩

This is gonna be me in a month from now - last gig was Dec 2002. On august 12th 2023 I’ll step back on the stage. You’re bound to be nervous, but I always found that only lasted until the first bar of the first track. Nail it and you’re on your way. Before you know it, it’s time to unplug and get off stage again! Good luck - we’ll see you in the ‘how was your gig last night?’ thread!

If we’re broadening the topic, has anyone used Black Beauties? I’d like a set of black strings for my five-string, but much as I want it to look the bees-knees, I don’t want to sacrifice tone….

We’ve got Facebook, twitter, insta and now tiktok - which is actually the most popular of them all. We show rehearsal clips on there (30-40secs per track) as well as clips of us as ‘people’, gear reviews, what were upto etc. In the grand scheme of things our account is small - but it’s very new, and we’re getting 250-500 views per clip without even having played a gig yet.

Drums are a black art! My old drummer sat me behind the kit once. Maintaining a beat with the kick and the snare was easy enough - “i’m a natural” I thought…. …Until we introduced a third element 🫣

This has probably been discussed already, but are you a self-taught player or did you take lessons? I’m self-taught, from an era before youchoob. Books, mates, and frankly trial and error. Learned to play guitar originally and then switched to bass to ‘fill in’ for a mates band - and never really went back to guitar. The problem is that I have myriad bad habits, I don’t use my pinky, I’ve never paid enough attention to muting, and I’ve never learned theory. All of which I’m now trying to do with ingrained techniques and muscle memory. Finding out to my chagrin that undoing those bad habits is quite a task!… So how about you guys?

I’ve been after a five-string for a while, and tbf I’m still saving for the Schecter I really want - but forgot about some shares I had and used them to blow £130 of the finest English pounds on this wee devil. it looks nice, plays nice. The tuners are *terrible* and the frets need a polish, but at that price I’m not grumbling. New tuners and a little TLC and it’ll be ace.

If I couldn’t cope with mistakes, I’d have had a breakdown at rehearsal last night. Was all over the shop! One of those nights! 🫣

We are living in scary times, and we’re certainly all feeling the pinch. (Well, except for the ones who put us here) On the flip side though, budget gear has never been of a higher quality. I was astounded at how good my guitarist’s Harley Benton Flying V is - for the grand sum of £170. Is it perfect? No. Is it comparable to mid-price guitars from a few years back? Definitely.

I just saw the original Biohazard lineup are in London on August. Am Very tempted - they were the sound of my youth (and the first tattoo I got!)

I’ve just bought a cheap and cheerful Harley Benton five string which will take my total to three. One in E, one half-step down, and the five stringer for the really heavy stuff. I can’t be arsed with retuning between songs.

Joss Stone’s brutal murder of The Green Fields of France is my shout. FWIW the Dropkick Murphys did the best rendition of this ‘un https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8uoBDW-URvw

We’re adding the Beastie Boys ‘Sabotage’ to the set. My chance to shine 😃 Having never been particularly adept at muting strings, I’m learning a whole new skill in the process!

We’re 4 guys in late 30’s and early 40’s our band is called MLC - Mid-life crisis. I thought it was a great name, even though there are some other bands who share the name. Am totally happy. I was contacted by another band to try out with them, they were called Hashtag and the name was enough to make me think seriously about even trying out.

I feel you. Chris Cornell was mine. Still occasional hits me out of the blue. It’s odd, isn’t it?

What do other basschatters think about building your setlist, regarding popular songs vs less well-known? I understand the need to get people up and dancing/singing - that’s how you get rebooked, but so many covers bands have identikit setlists (Sweet Child O’ Mine, livin’ on a prayer, Basket Case et al). Don’t we all want to mix it up a bit? How niche can you go in a pub full of punters who all expect to hear Mr Brightside?

Presently, I have no idea what we’ll be doing - trial and error to see what we can replicate. I’d be happy with anything that comes even close!

We’re adding Audioslave’s Cochise to our set as an opener, will be practicing it for the first time at rehearsal on Tuesday. Killer song.

Well, not a gig, but my new band ‘MLC’ had our first rehearsal with me a few weeks ago - my audition. We clicked pretty well from the off, and I was invited to join half way through! We plan on having regular vlogs as we prepare, and will have gig footage as soon as we get out there! Here’s the first vlog with the new lineup:

It’s a stickerbomb, so all individual stickers. At present it’s not sealed, because I really want a Thundercats, Beavis and Butthead and M.A.S.K addition - (Its only ‘theme’ is retro cartoons).

Not exactly a build, but here’s how I spent my day. The original electric pink is an unbranded cheap Chinese thing. When I get some funds I’ll change out the pickups for something worth having.