Derby Open Mic

[SpondonBassed]

I'm going along to tonight's open mic night at the Horse and Groom in Derby.

[url="http://horseandgroomderby.co.uk/"]http://horseandgroomderby.co.uk/[/url]

I'm bringing bass and combo and hoping that I can get something going with the regulars. If you come along, please say hello, heckle, throw fruit or whatever. I'm the one with the Buster Merryfield beard.

[attachment=236657:BusterMerryfield.png]
Not me - I never earned a medal in my life!

Gawd help me.

[Huge Hands]

I used to live just along from there when I was a student, roughly 20 years ago!

Good luck with the open mic. I wish I'd got out and about more and got involved in more live music back in those days....

I feel a dream sequence coming on.....

Edited January 26, 2017 by Huge Hands

[PaulWarning]

let me know how it went, been thinking about trying this one out, I play acoustic guitar and my partner limited drums for open mics, got something else on tonight though

[SpondonBassed]

Cheers chaps.

It was a quiet night. Only a handful of people there. January bites. Although I had my own kit with me and I had turned up before time, the music had started early and so I didn't feel it wise to set up while the stage was occupied. I got called up to play the "house" bass. It was a Fender P of some description or other and I didn't really have any affinity with it.

I stood and played for a bit with the singer-guitarist organiser but we didn't have any common ground on song titles. No matter. The twelve bar blues served well enough. Chatting afterwards we've arranged a few numbers to have in hand for the next time there is a quiet night.

It's a weekly thing so in fairness I should attend for at least a few weeks to get an idea of what the "busy" nights are like.

More to come. Give it a week or two maybe.

[Phil Starr]

Good luck. I drift in and out of the open mics. It's a great way of meeting up with local musicians and networking. In any case I'm such a tart for an audience I'd play anywhere that'll have me. The standard is so variable it's almost funny but it usually means anything a bit different and well performed goes down well. Trouble is every time I get back into it a band comes along.

I'm planning a weekend of open mics with an old university mate starting tonight. Think we might be mixing Cake by the Ocean with Donovan's Intergalactive Laxative that'll surprise them. Not a pretty image

[PaulWarning]

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1485476609' post='3224340']
Cheers chaps.

It was a quiet night. Only a handful of people there. January bites. Although I had my own kit with me and I had turned up before time, the music had started early and so I didn't feel it wise to set up while the stage was occupied. I got called up to play the "house" bass. It was a Fender P of some description or other and I didn't really have any affinity with it.

I stood and played for a bit with the singer-guitarist organiser but we didn't have any common ground on song titles. No matter. The twelve bar blues served well enough. Chatting afterwards we've arranged a few numbers to have in hand for the next time there is a quiet night.

It's a weekly thing so in fairness I should attend for at least a few weeks to get an idea of what the "busy" nights are like.

More to come. Give it a week or two maybe.
[/quote]you are a braver man than me, I'm way out of my comfort zone playing stuff on the fly, or 'winging it' they never seem to play songs that I know (how to play, that is), at these sort of Jam sessions the same songs do seem to crop up a lot

[Geek99]

I usually pick something on the night with my acoustic guitarist chum and we rough it out in the corridor then wing it. Someone in the audience asked where we find the time to practice **
"practice?" I said

** more down to their low standards I suspect than any innate talent or skill or indeed adherence to musical norms

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1485503756' post='3224375']
I'm planning a weekend of open mics with an old university mate starting tonight. Think we might be mixing Cake by the Ocean with Donovan's Intergalactive Laxative that'll surprise them. Not a pretty image
[/quote]

Is that the one with a long drawn out brown note solo? Hahahahaha. Funny enough we jammed Mellow Yellow last night. I have to say I wasn't quite in the zone to do it justice but once requested, always remembered.

I am glad you mentioned the opportunities for meeting other musos. I prefer it that way than using social media.

Edited January 27, 2017 by SpondonBassed

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1485506217' post='3224391']
you are a braver man than me, I'm way out of my comfort zone playing stuff on the fly, or 'winging it' they never seem to play songs that I know (how to play, that is), at these sort of Jam sessions the same songs do seem to crop up a lot
[/quote]

Yes. It isn't something I'm comfortable with yet. I would have loved to have played some of the songs that I've practised as play alongs, just to bring them to life. Out of my list of 21 songs, none of them were familiar enough to the singer/guitarist for him to feel comfortable so I tried to brace his songs as best I could with very rudimentary lines. Lots of bum notes, odd moments of blind panic, that sort of thing.

The "audience" was a party of three women; two were celebrating their friend's 72nd birthday with shots! At one point the old girl was doing the Can-can from her seat. I am so grateful that she wasn't facing the stage.

For me the "discomfort", for want of a better word, is exactly why I'm doing it. At 54, if I don't take my axe out the bedroom now, I ain't never gonna get no wood chopped.

Edited January 27, 2017 by SpondonBassed

[DaytonaRik]

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1485506766' post='3224393']
I usually pick something on the night with my acoustic guitarist chum and we rough it out in the corridor then wing it. Someone in the audience asked where we find the time to practice **
"practice?" I said

** more down to their low standards I suspect than any innate talent or skill or indeed adherence to musical norms
[/quote]

This exactly - I play a semi-regular rock acoustic night with a guitarist and people have often commented favourably. I'm regularly stunned by people's low expectations...if it sounds vaguely like something they know then it's usually well received. Phil & I have often commented how good it *could* be if we actually rehearsed some of the tracks together!

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1485506766' post='3224393']
I usually pick something on the night with my acoustic guitarist chum and we rough it out in the corridor then wing it.
[/quote]

I had hoped to do that but as I said, despite turning up well before the official 9pm start, the organiser was already on stage doing his thing and there was no-one else to do ensemble with. I am given to understand that last night is not typical of the venue. Being a weekly open mic and being in Derby, it has good catchment and I reckon it is worth sticking with for this phase of my development.

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='DaytonaRik' timestamp='1485511001' post='3224426']
This exactly - I play a semi-regular rock acoustic night with a guitarist and people have often commented favourably. I'm regularly stunned by people's low expectations...if it sounds vaguely like something they know then it's usually well received. Phil & I have often commented how good it *could* be if we actually rehearsed some of the tracks together!
[/quote]

I have Dancing in the Moonlight under my belt, so to speak. Lizzy and Phil were heroes of mine. I may do more as things unfold. I'm chuffed to see you have a tribute band. I looked you up and I will check you out soon seeing as you're often playing quite near according to your 2017 diary.

Keep up the good work!

[Phil Starr]

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1485510917' post='3224423']

For me the "discomfort", for want of a better word, is exactly why I'm doing it. At 54, if I don't take my axe out the bedroom now, I ain't never gonna get no wood chopped.
[/quote]

Hey, go for it! I didn't play a note until 55 went through the feeling foolish stage and within a year was playing with a band and paid gigs a year after that. Nearly ten years on I've been terrorising audiences all over the South West for seven years. Still feel as if someone is going to tap me on the shoulder and say 'come on you don't really know how to play that thing' but until they do....

[radiophonic]

If this is your bag, I can recommend the open mic at Matlock Bath, which isn't far away I guess. I can't remember the name of the pub, but it's billed as an evening with Molly May - she organises it and sometimes plays. We did it as a band (they don't usually do bands though) just after new year and there was even a good/friendly crowd even then. Good sound guy too. I was pretty surprised by the turnout.

[PaulWarning]

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1485510917' post='3224423']
Yes. It isn't something I'm comfortable with yet. I would have loved to have played some of the songs that I've practised as play alongs, just to bring them to life. Out of my list of 21 songs, none of them were familiar enough to the singer/guitarist for him to feel comfortable so I tried to brace his songs as best I could with very rudimentary lines. Lots of bum notes, odd moments of blind panic, that sort of thing.

The "audience" was a party of three; two women celebrating their friend's 72nd birthday with shots! At one point the old girl was doing the Can-can from her seat. I am so grateful that she wasn't facing the stage.

For me the "discomfort", for want of a better word, is exactly why I'm doing it. At 54, if I don't take my axe out the bedroom now, I ain't never gonna get no wood chopped.
[/quote]If you want to check out our FB page https://www.facebook.com/PaulandWendyWarning77/ there's 3 videos of us 'performing' at open mics, if it's your thing we could perhaps have a go at meeting up at an open mic, no Thin Lizzy I'm afraid

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1485513059' post='3224461']
If this is your bag, I can recommend the open mic at Matlock Bath, which isn't far away I guess. I can't remember the name of the pub, but it's billed as an evening with Molly May - she organises it and sometimes plays. We did it as a band (they don't usually do bands though) just after new year and there was even a good/friendly crowd even then. Good sound guy too. I was pretty surprised by the turnout.
[/quote]

I have a friend who sometimes plays there with Agent Utah. Cheers. It's now on my list.

The Fishpond
http://www.thefishpondmatlockbath.co.uk/?event=a-night-with-mm-60

Edited January 27, 2017 by SpondonBassed

[Geek99]

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1485511474' post='3224439']
I had hoped to do that but as I said, despite turning up well before the official 9pm start, the organiser was already on stage doing his thing and there was no-one else to do ensemble with. I am given to understand that last night is not typical of the venue. Being a weekly open mic and being in Derby, it has good catchment and I reckon it is worth sticking with for this phase of my development.
[/quote]
It takes time to find people - I had several weeks where I couldnt find anyone as everyone seem to be in a clique already, or that I had no confidence to do a solo spot (I feel bass IS an ensemble instrument), once people noted how bass filled out a performance (I really enjoyed upstaging those weedy solo acoustics), and once performers got a better response, it was easier to find people to play along with. Be patient is my advice, leave your bass out in sight of all and someone will invite you.Me? I absolutely loved watching people clapping or tapping or even just nodding. Lots of people told me bass made a nice change to hear.

Edited January 27, 2017 by Geek99

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1485519076' post='3224542']
If you want to check out our FB page [url="https://www.facebook.com/PaulandWendyWarning77/"]https://www.facebook...WendyWarning77/[/url] there's 3 videos of us 'performing' at open mics, if it's your thing we could perhaps have a go at meeting up at an open mic, no Thin Lizzy I'm afraid
[/quote]

Cheers. I have issues with Facebook scripts and can't watch them in real time due to my script blocker. Have you a download site that does not pester please?

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='Phil Starr' timestamp='1485513033' post='3224460']
Hey, go for it! I didn't play a note until 55 went through the feeling foolish stage and within a year was playing with a band and paid gigs a year after that. Nearly ten years on I've been terrorising audiences all over the South West for seven years. Still feel as if someone is going to tap me on the shoulder and say 'come on you don't really know how to play that thing' but until they do....
[/quote]
[quote name='Geek99' timestamp='1485528319' post='3224674']
It takes time to find people - I had several weeks where I couldnt find anyone as everyone seem to be in a clique already, or that I had no confidence to do a solo spot (I feel bass IS an ensemble instrument), once people noted how bass filled out a performance (I really enjoyed upstaging those weedy solo acoustics), and once performers got a better response, it was easier to find people to play along with. Be patient is my advice, leave your bass out in sight of all and someone will invite you.Me? I absolutely loved watching people clapping or tapping or even just nodding. Lots of people told me bass made a nice change to hear.
[/quote]

Cheers chaps. The experience reflects what you have each said. I've been asked to go along to help set up at lunch time for next Thursday's Open Mic where we'll get to run through some stuff. I've also got a promise of some opportunities to practice outside of that. The goal was to play with a fellow living being and break out of endless, soulless play alongs. Score.

Quiet though the night was also was it productive. All in all I'm happy with the results. Not bad for the first night eh?

[KevB]

Didn't know you did a bit of 6 string Paul, PM me your set and if you need a fill in on bass I'll try to learn a few if Spondon can't cover it. Might be an excuse to get my rarely played cheapo semi acoustic bass out if it still stays in tune.

[PaulWarning]

[quote name='SpondonBassed' timestamp='1485528566' post='3224678']
Cheers. I have issues with Facebook scripts and can't watch them in real time due to my script blocker. Have you a download site that does not pester please?
[/quote]try here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjmPz2u6XVKsFdC8QJMCyxg

[SpondonBassed]

[quote name='PaulWarning' timestamp='1485536737' post='3224788']
try here [url="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjmPz2u6XVKsFdC8QJMCyxg"]https://www.youtube....XVKsFdC8QJMCyxg[/url]
[/quote]

Many thanks.

[SpondonBassed]

Update;

I got a kind invitation from PaulWarning to join him and his wife Wendy at last night's open mic at the Horse and Groom. During the week, I'd been jamming along to their YT clips of three numbers; 500 Miles, Should I Stay or Should I Go and New England.

Thankfully, there was a better turn out there than of late and there were four or five little sets played by various people including ourselves. It turned out that Paul and I each had "The Letter" by The Box Tops in our repertoires and happily, played them in the same key so it made a total of four numbers that we performed as a trio. I got through with a few little hiccups but much better than I thought I would. Paul and Wendy continued on with a few more and got up again later to round the night off.

Very enjoyable. I think I'll be doing that again. Cheers both.

[PaulWarning]

no problem it was a good night, we'll do it again sometime

[SpondonBassed]

I did another Open Mic last night at the Holly Bush, Marehay.

Mistakes were made and lessons learnt. I must apologise to anyone reading this who may have been there and suffered a proper earholing. I hear there is a FB clip up already. Perhaps someone can point to that in a reply here?

This was my PitBull Bass kit's first outing. I was not let down by it. Rather I let myself down by not discussing arrangements better before dragging a drummer, guitarist and vocalist into my set.

Next time I'd look for a better position from where I can hear the guitarist too. Alan is a cracking guitarist but he sets his sound behind everyone else. His cab was as far from me as it could have been and I had no line of sight to it. It meant that a lot of his sound was lost before it got to me. Mick's vocals were strong but I was mostly hearing them after they'd been through the lounge and back. I could not hear actual words even though I know Mick sings them well.

The drummer wasn't phased by it at all and he was about the only one who kept it together throughout. Thanks Lozz, if you are reading this.

I enjoyed the experience. With Paul and Wendy earlier this year and now this event I have doubled the number of times that I have been on the spot in my whole life. Shame it had to take thirty years before I came back to it.

My main reason for getting back to bass recently is that I can no longer ride motorcycles and I wont have another car. Bass has been my saviour in that I had something to occupy my time while I was stuck at home. This year I've had to really push myself to get out more. The last few years of my life were not really my own given that I was looking out for an elderly relative all of the time. Despite lots of play along practice with clips and recordings my playing had stagnated due to mainly to my not getting to play with others.

On the plus side; I've achieved a start on networking. I've been to a couple of gigs after a couple of decades of stopping in of a night.

This year is good.

Edited September 13, 2017 by SpondonBassed