How was your gig last night?

[Greg Edwards69]

21 hours ago, Obrienp said:

 I knew it was going to be one of those gigs when he declared he wanted to use one of his new songs for the sound check, which involved standard tuning (we normally play a semitone down to aid other guitarist’s vocals). It also involved him playing a 12 string acoustic.

I would have nipped it in the bud right there.  Unless the song, and more to the point, the 12-string will feature heavily in the set, there's no point using it as a reference for sound check. Some people don't understand the difference between soundcheck and rehearsal!

[Woodinblack]

21 hours ago, Obrienp said:

 Also I think of the hours we have invested in this band over the last 5 years and wonder if I want to throw that away, and start again, especially with gigs lined up.

 

Investment is not really a thing in a band, it is time spent, more than an investment, unless it is getting you a very large sum of money. You would be surprised how quickly a new guitarist can get up to speed (and how many of them there are, especially in norfolk), and if you have a guitarist already, they don't need to do it all in one go.

[Woodinblack]

Yesterday, was actually the day, not the evening.

It was a pub, not too far away in the deep country. Mains lead going across the road, playing in the village square, which seems to belong to the pub, next to a little stream, sunny, under a gazebo, pretty rural.

Lovely afternoon, we dialed down the rockiness, I persuaded the group that we didn't have to do 3 hours, and it made for a chilled and well supported set, with a roast in the middle. Audience were very supportive and I love the outdoor gigs as its just so much easier to do the sound - just turn everything up, although it has to be said, with the 2x RCF Evox 8s outdoor, we were flat out with nowhere to go. Luckily, we didn' tneed anywhere to go, but if we had that would have been it. But it was clear and no complaints from anyone.

Landlady loved it too, so free drinks and part of the roast!

[dmccombe7]

2 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

I persuaded the group that we didn't have to do 3 hours, and it made for a chilled and well supported set,

Same here. I finally got the message across that 2 x 1hr sets is the way to go especially when wearing all the Glam gear and it gets very hot and tiring. Sat nights gig was a lot easier than the 2hrs 45 mins we normally do.

Dave

[BigRedX]

On 11/08/2024 at 11:51, Obrienp said:

Our lead guitarist /vocalist is a difficult person. Extremely good but very intolerant of other peoples’ errors and has absolutely no filter in his comments. We think he is mildly autistic and generally just try to tolerate his behaviour. I knew it was going to be one of those gigs when he declared he wanted to use one of his new songs for the sound check, which involved standard tuning (we normally play a semitone down to aid other guitarist’s vocals). It also involved him playing a 12 string acoustic. I fetch backup bass which I keep in standard tuning. Then 12 string can’t be heard. Why? He is not going into front of house like the rest of us, because he brought an amp without a DI and didn’t bring a mic to put in front of his amp. I go and fetch a DI box from my car. Then there is interference from his wireless system. I fetch a spare guitar lead. We finally get the DI working. By this time I need to retune back up bass. Next thing I know, lead guitarist disappears with his 12 string and puts it in his car. I turn to the others and ask what’s up: “I guess he doesn’t want to do it after all”. 

 

Bands who want to use an instrument for just one song that requires extra setting up and additional sound checking is a massive bugbear of mine.

 

I suppose if you are the only band on and have plenty of time to set up and sound check it's OK, but in the musical world I inhabit unless you are playing last having more than 20 minutes for set up and sound check is luxury and even if you are "headlining", every unnecessary minute your band spends on the soundcheck takes that time away from the other on the bill and IMO makes you come over like petulant prima-donnas. I been able to cut down on the amount of gear and hence set-up time one of my bands uses and talk various band members out of bringing additional equipment that's only going to be used for a few minutes in a 30-45 minute set.

 

I know we all think that everything we do and all the equipment we use is absolutely essential, but I can guarantee that most of the audience would never know the difference if a song was played on a six string or 12 string guitar, and any tuning differences could be compensated by using a capo or just singing a semi-tone lower.

[Dad3353]

9 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

...I know we all think that everything we do and all the equipment we use is absolutely essential, but I can guarantee that most of the audience would never know the difference if a song was played on a six string or 12 string guitar, and any tuning differences could be compensated by using a capo or just singing a semi-tone lower.

 

This could be said of the use of exotic 'boutique' instruments, instead of the tried'n'tested 'staple' ones. Necessary..? We all define what this means. I could (but won't...) reduce my drums to a bass drum, snare, hi-hat and cymbal. Would the audience notice..? I don't know, nor care. I play what I want to play, end of. 

[JPJ]

We were up in the wilds of Northumberland again plying our Americana trade. Great gig, well attended and received, which is all the more note worthy given it was about 25C and sunny outside. For the first time, we had the drunk punter, an older guy who ‘wanted to get up and play a song he’d written’. No amount of explaining that we couldn’t do that, that the audience were there to see us and not him etc could dissuade him. Fortunately, shortly after the start of the second set he got the message and left. 

[dmccombe7]

Forgot to mention in my gig post but we had a guy celebrating his 70th and was a pro singer when he was younger and still does the occasional gig. He had spoken to us a few times before at this venue so we thought we would get him up for a song and he did a great job of Lets Stick Together. I was fair impressed considering he had never sung the song in a long time and never with us. We do play the song exactly as per the single so that makes it easier.

Dave

Edited August 12 by dmccombe7

[BigRedX]

2 hours ago, Dad3353 said:

This could be said of the use of exotic 'boutique' instruments, instead of the tried'n'tested 'staple' ones. Necessary..? We all define what this means. I could (but won't...) reduce my drums to a bass drum, snare, hi-hat and cymbal. Would the audience notice..? I don't know, nor care. I play what I want to play, end of. 

 

The drummer equivalent would be if you had a second kit with metal-shelled drums that you wanted to play on a single song.

 

Besides I used to be in a band whose drummer had a single rack tom and no other toms at all. Just by listening to his playing you wouldn't think that it wasn't at least a 2-tom kit.

[Dad3353]

47 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

The drummer equivalent would be if you had a second kit with metal-shelled drums that you wanted to play on a single song.

 

As I now use an e-kit, this is a very simple matter. 

 

47 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

Besides I used to be in a band whose drummer had a single rack tom and no other toms at all. Just by listening to his playing you wouldn't think that it wasn't at least a 2-tom kit.

 

But would he thank you for taking away his single rack tom as being superfluous..? Maybe; some drummers go without.  

 

[SuperSeagull]

We did a corporate thing on Saturday afternoon, a manufacturer of road sweeping equipment had their annual summer do for employees and their families. We did an hour in the afternoon, nothing particularly remarkable other than it is the first time I have set up in a Sweeper Test Area. New vocalist settling in well and this sort of low pressure, short gig is good for building confidence between us all. 

[Bluewine]

Back at The Harley Motor Bar & Restaurant this Saturday! Enjoy the *bourbon and BBQ specials and we’ll provide the tunes! 
5:30-8:30pm

 

Daryl

 

*Seriously,  who drinks bourbon in Wisconsin? That's a down south thing.

Edited August 13 by Bluewine

[Bluewine]

14 hours ago, dmccombe7 said:

Forgot to mention in my gig post but we had a guy celebrating his 70th and was a pro singer when he was younger and still does the occasional gig. He had spoken to us a few times before at this venue so we thought we would get him up for a song and he did a great job of Lets Stick Together. I was fair impressed considering he had never sung the song in a long time and never with us. We do play the song exactly as per the single so that makes it easier.

Dave

 

That's cool Dave.

I've seen a couple of local singers well into their 70s that are still fronting bands and singing well .

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

10 hours ago, SuperSeagull said:

We did a corporate thing on Saturday afternoon, a manufacturer of road sweeping equipment had their annual summer do for employees and their families. We did an hour in the afternoon, nothing particularly remarkable other than it is the first time I have set up in a Sweeper Test Area. New vocalist settling in well and this sort of low pressure, short gig is good for building confidence between us all. 

 

Cool

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

15 hours ago, JPJ said:

We were up in the wilds of Northumberland again plying our Americana trade. Great gig, well attended and received, which is all the more note worthy given it was about 25C and sunny outside. For the first time, we had the drunk punter, an older guy who ‘wanted to get up and play a song he’d written’. No amount of explaining that we couldn’t do that, that the audience were there to see us and not him etc could dissuade him. Fortunately, shortly after the start of the second set he got the message and left. 

 

I struggle with stuff like that. I don't like it.

I'm not even that big on folks sitting in. Usually it's initiated by the band leader. The rest of the band members are a lot more generous about sit ins than me. I'm a lot better with it than I use to be. It's really not a big deal. Most of the time it's local guys that are good. However,  I think there are some gigs where it's not appropriate  

 

Daryl

[Chienmortbb]

4 hours ago, Bluewine said:

who drinks bourbon in Wisconsin? That's a down south thing.

In one sentence you have really added to my knowledge of US geography. I had no idea where Wisconsin was/is although I had a feeling it was central-ish. 
 

I did not realise how far north it was, so close to Canuck land. The only downside to Wisconsin for a real ale lover seems to be “what made Milwaukee famous”. 

[JPJ]

4 hours ago, Bluewine said:

 

I struggle with stuff like that. I don't like it.

I'm not even that big on folks sitting in. Usually it's initiated by the band leader. The rest of the band members are a lot more generous about sit ins than me. I'm a lot better with it than I use to be. It's really not a big deal. Most of the time it's local guys that are good. However,  I think there are some gigs where it's not appropriate  

 

Daryl

I know what you mean. We had a couple of sit-in’s on Sunday, both of whom are capable players/singers, but it does make you think what’s the point of rehearsing when the band leader just gets his old mates up and shouts ‘twelve bar in A’ at you and off you go. Having said that, the locals loved it 🤷‍♂️

[casapete]

5 minutes ago, JPJ said:

I know what you mean. We had a couple of sit-in’s on Sunday, both of whom are capable players/singers, but it does make you think what’s the point of rehearsing when the band leader just gets his old mates up and shouts ‘twelve bar in A’ at you and off you go. Having said that, the locals loved it 🤷‍♂️

With our duo we have a policy of never letting people get up at all - once you do then you’re forever 

getting people wanting to have a go. 
In the blues band I play with, it’s a touch more relaxed - had a couple of drummers get up with us at

the weekend ( see previous post above) , one who was pretty grim and the other bloody amazing -

ex Status Quo drummer Jeff Rich. Lovely bloke too. 

[Bluewine]

7 minutes ago, JPJ said:

I know what you mean. We had a couple of sit-in’s on Sunday, both of whom are capable players/singers, but it does make you think what’s the point of rehearsing when the band leader just gets his old mates up and shouts ‘twelve bar in A’ at you and off you go. Having said that, the locals loved it 🤷‍♂️

I can definitely handle sit in singers, blues harp and guitar. I get the willies playing with an untested drummer. Lol

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

1 hour ago, Chienmortbb said:

In one sentence you have really added to my knowledge of US geography. I had no idea where Wisconsin was/is although I had a feeling it was central-ish. 
 

I did not realise how far north it was, so close to Canuck land. The only downside to Wisconsin for a real ale lover seems to be “what made Milwaukee famous”. 

 

We're about 90 minutes north of Chicago.

 

Theres still a thriving gigging scene in Milwaukee and the surrounding counties.

 

Daryl

[MacDaddy]

1 hour ago, Chienmortbb said:

 “what made Milwaukee famous”. 

 

Alice Cooper?

 

 

 

 

[dmccombe7]

6 hours ago, Bluewine said:

Back at The Harley Motor Bar & Restaurant this Saturday! Enjoy the *bourbon and BBQ specials and we’ll provide the tunes! 
5:30-8:30pm

 

Daryl

 

*Seriously,  who drinks bourbon in Wisconsin? That's a down south thing.

No amp there Daryl ?

Dave

[dmccombe7]

1 hour ago, JPJ said:

I know what you mean. We had a couple of sit-in’s on Sunday, both of whom are capable players/singers, but it does make you think what’s the point of rehearsing when the band leader just gets his old mates up and shouts ‘twelve bar in A’ at you and off you go. Having said that, the locals loved it 🤷‍♂️

I personally don't agree with it. My worry is that every time you play that venue the same guy will want to sing a song again or taken to extreme your audience get to know that you'll allow audience members up to sing with you and hey ho you get every numpty trying to make a name for themselves.

I think its a bad idea for ours type of bands.

Dave

[dmccombe7]

59 minutes ago, casapete said:

With our duo we have a policy of never letting people get up at all - once you do then you’re forever 

getting people wanting to have a go. 
In the blues band I play with, it’s a touch more relaxed - had a couple of drummers get up with us at

the weekend ( see previous post above) , one who was pretty grim and the other bloody amazing -

ex Status Quo drummer Jeff Rich. Lovely bloke too. 

I'm not sure why but it seems more acceptable to have a famous person come up to play with the band. We invited a friend of the band who sings with Hot Chocolate and he was brilliant but we know him pretty well thru our guitarist.

Maybe its a bit like name dropping 

Dave

[casapete]

13 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

I'm not sure why but it seems more acceptable to have a famous person come up to play with the band. We invited a friend of the band who sings with Hot Chocolate and he was brilliant but we know him pretty well thru our guitarist.

Maybe its a bit like name dropping 

Dave

Guilty as charged m’lud! 😆

 

I think it’s more a case of knowing that ‘famous’ people will generally be guaranteed to do a great

job and not make your band seem incompetent. Having said that, over the years we’ve had one 

or two names (who were probably a little bit  ‘tired and emotional’ ) get up to play who on 

reflection maybe shouldn’t have! All good fun though.