theplumber

Played two gigs this weekend with my band Ruff Edge. One in McSorleys Glasgow City centre on Friday evening and as usual busy night,great punters and the band went down a storm! I have 3 more gigs to do with this band then I am leaving so it's been nice that the last few weeks have been so good. Nice to end on a high. Contrast with Saturday night in Mavrix.Sports bar in nearby Hamilton. Usual leftovers from watching the football when we start up and it settles in to about 24 punters in the first half. We have a break and start back as a few more punters leave....ends up the last hour playing to 7 folk plus 3 bar staff. This is not the first time this has happened in this pub and before we started we spoke to a guy at the bar who actually plays this pub with his band and say's that's just the way it is with things! Well thankfully I won't be back in that pub. That was our 4th or 5th gig in the place so we gave it a good shot. Sadly and it seems the same for some other pubs we have tried recently,they look after you and the punters that are there say we are the best band that they have seen in the pub. Thankfully they are putting live music on but for how much longer. The band have decided to stick to a few of the better populated venues next year even if it means going out a lot less. I hopefully will be back out gigging after a break but to be honest if I see any of these venues that we have played in there diary it may well put me off!

Yes thinking that. I will have a look around and see if anyone is looking. I have some dep work coming up with another band so that will keep my hand in. Stopping on 1st November and have cancelled some gigs in and around that time to let us wind down. The band intend to carry on and already taking bookings for next year so hopefully the right folk come along. Who knows maybe in about 6 months I may get a call asking me back lol

Yes getting the gigs was pretty easy and yes now that we have tried some of the so called lesser gigs it does seem a better idea to stick to the decent ones. I don't rely on the gigs for money. I am retired so doing 50 plus gigs a year is fine with me. The fact is that we are all in our 60's and our keyboard player has decided that he will not change the set that the band has been doing for over 7 years. Or should I say he can't!. At times,and he does admit himself that he struggles with our set as it is at times. It's classic rock so it does not really matter to the punters as we shift around a lot anyway,what we play. If we added some new songs they would be at least 30 years old anyway! Our drummer is leaving as well. He has been playing in the band over 7 years and I think he is a fantastic drummer,great singer and really nice guy! I can't imagine playing with a differant drummer in that band. They have tried out a new bass player and drummer which has not worked out due to them not really putting the work in to the songs for the audition! I suppose it's hard and I should know. It took me at least a couple of months practice with the band before I got out gigging! There are other issues which I won't go in to so it's better I bail out and leave what has been a great band or me. No falling out and we have agreed an ending date which is 1st November.

Been playing with current band for over two years. Great guys,decent songs and the band is super tight! Recently found myself daydreaming or something like that during gigs! Most gigs we do and currently this year it numbers over 50 from Jan through to Dec,are well attended and we tend to go over well and have punters come to see us from other venues. But in making the numbers up and keeping us busy I have booked a few pubs that just don't seem to have enough folk in to make a decent night. I know....paid practise and all that! But after storming a city centre venue and having a brilliant night we end up in gigs in the suberbs playing to folk who are standing with their backs to the band,watching 4 televisions or playing pool.....tumbleweed blowing between tunes lol. At first we took it on the chin but after a recent gig with at one point 4 folk in the pub I started thing I might be better off going for a walk on a Saturday night! In fact there are maybe more folk out on my local canal path than in some of the venues! It had been pointed out by members of the band that if we don't turn out and support these venues that thankfully at least try and put on music it may well an ever decreasing spiral of gigs going forward! Anyone else in similar situation? I put my notice in 3 weeks ago and will be having a meeting with the guys at the break today to arrange a date to finish with the band. The drummer is also going. The funny thing is that yesterday we played a well know Glasgow City centre venue in the afternoon and it was brilliant! The band on top form! Looking to bail out in about 8 weeks time . Did enjoy being off the last 3 weeks and it did revive me somewhat so maybe 3 to 6 months off might be a good idea and start looking for something else in the spring. There are a number of other reasons to stop,not just the gig situation....no new songs in the set for over two years,no one else from the band booking the gigs or looking for new venues and the usual.....Can we not do so many gigs,can we not go out in the winter,etc etc....moaning over! Run out of steam!!

Tried out a Fender Nate Mendel in Merchant City Music Glasgow a while back. Terrible neck. Fret sprout everywhere! I mentioned it to the salesman who said yes a few mexican made Fenders have been like that recently. We will get our tech guy to sort it out before it goes out the door! I had just purchased a second hand Squier Classic Vibe for £200 and it was loads better in every way! By the way I wasn't going to buy the Nate Medel bass anyway.....it's too expensive and I am skint/too tight!!

Superb news mate! Loving mine as well! maybe I should have kept both lol!!!

Sorry to hear Steve Harley has passed away. Loved the early Cockney Rebel stuff.

Yes during the day is murder. We manage to get parked in and around The Swan ok anytime but things are changing. Back in Glasgow next weekend at Mc Sorleys and that will be a laugh!!

Out in Paisley last night with Ruff Edge. We played in The Old Swan ,Paisley and although not packed we had a cracking night with good banter and feedback from the punters. Always made to feel welcome at this venue. Great load in at the front and we were able to leave our cars outside the pub unlike a couple of weeks back on a Saturday afternoon when the wardens were out and some poor sod got a ticket (not us lol)

Before the divorce.....

Thanks Dave very nice to finally visit your country home for retired bass guitars! Mind keep the cats out the room they like a wee jam on the bass....or something like that lol! Cheers mate!

Found this on that Facebook marketplace. Now that the band is finished it seems Mike Rutherford is selling off his old gear....