How was your gig last night?

[Norris]

  On 27/01/2025 at 22:39, Bluewine said:

Using all house gear except a few vocal mics and lights, drum kit provided as well, just needs to be brought on stage and mic'd up.

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Yeah, I'd still sling my gear in the trunk (hey - get me with the Americanisation!) if I could

[Bluewine]

  On 28/01/2025 at 01:06, Norris said:

Yeah, I'd still sling my gear in the trunk (hey - get me with the Americanisation!) if I could

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I'm going to " old school" it and bring my GK rig and pedals. 

 

Daryl

[SICbass]

  On 27/01/2025 at 22:52, Bluewine said:

We haven't played a late night gig in the city since last summer. …..I'll probably sleep in until about an hour before they pick me up. Lol

 

Daryl

 

 

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Oh, I hear you.

We have a club gig we do about once a month. First set starts at 10:30 and we‘re usually done around 01:15.

I used to look forward to it, back in the mid-90s - the club was full and they’re all there to dance. But now, around 9:00 I start thinking, “Oh man, really?”. Once we get on stage, it’s fine, but that mid-evening hump? I guess I’m not 30 anymore, huh?

 

[Bluewine]

  On 28/01/2025 at 07:07, SICbass said:

Oh, I hear you.

We have a club gig we do about once a month. First set starts at 10:30 and we‘re usually done around 01:15.

I used to look forward to it, back in the mid-90s - the club was full and they’re all there to dance. But now, around 9:00 I start thinking, “Oh man, really?”. Once we get on stage, it’s fine, but that mid-evening hump? I guess I’m not 30 anymore, huh?

 

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I'm 71. When I arrive at these clubs and the staff are all under 25 it gets to be a little tough. Once, I'm almost sure I overheard heard a young sound lady say to another staffer " oh boy, what are we going to do with this guy"

 

Daryl

 

 

[SICbass]

  On 28/01/2025 at 07:41, Bluewine said:

 

I'm 71. When I arrive at these clubs and the staff are all under 25 it gets to be a little tough. Once, I'm almost sure I overheard heard a young sound lady say to another staffer " oh boy, what are we going to do with this guy"

 

Daryl

 

 

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Our drummer is turning 70 in a couple of weeks. He still plays great, in fact he’s my favourite drummer by a country mile, but after a gig he looks truly exhausted. 
That thing with the youngsters behind the bar resonates. It makes me smile, but I’m a spritely 58. Let’s see how funny I find it when I’m 70. I still love playing, which is a good thing considering the state of my pension 😱

[mikebass456]

  On 28/01/2025 at 09:35, SICbass said:

Our drummer is turning 70 in a couple of weeks. He still plays great, in fact he’s my favourite drummer by a country mile, but after a gig he looks truly exhausted. 
That thing with the youngsters behind the bar resonates. It makes me smile, but I’m a spritely 58. Let’s see how funny I find it when I’m 70. I still love playing, which is a good thing considering the state of my pension 😱

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I'm starting to appreciate the luxury of a weekend off - especially this time of year! I should go out and see more local bands, but you know what it's like when the log fire's been lit..........

[SICbass]

  On 28/01/2025 at 09:40, mikebass456 said:

I'm starting to appreciate the luxury of a weekend off - especially this time of year! I should go out and see more local bands, but you know what it's like when the log fire's been lit..........

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That is exactly my thought process at about 9 pm before a late gig.

[SICbass]

  On 28/01/2025 at 07:41, Bluewine said:

 

I'm 71. When I arrive at these clubs and the staff are all under 25 it gets to be a little tough. Once, I'm almost sure I overheard heard a young sound lady say to another staffer " oh boy, what are we going to do with this guy"

 

Daryl

 

 

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My best buddy is a trumpet player (now there’s a sentence you don’t hear every day) from Rochester, N.Y. - as he puts it, “Those looks we would have occasionally gotten back in the day have been replaced by benevolent ones.” 🤣

Edited January 28 by SICbass

[dmccombe7]

  On 27/01/2025 at 22:39, Bluewine said:

The scoop for this Friday. I'm concerned be cause The Anodyne only books signed national touring bands so I'm not sure how we got booked to headline there.

 

Second our fan base is out in the sticks. We're not a Milwaukee band. Lastly it's a pay at the door show and that's not our thing either.

 

Instructions from the top:

 

"Hey all! Here's the scoop for Anodyne this Friday:
Load in anytime 5pm or after, we'll be there by 4:30 to set the stage. Daryl you can ride with us and I will coordinate with you later in the week. Using all house gear except a few vocal mics and lights, drum kit provided as well, just needs to be brought on stage and mic'd up. There is a loading zone area at the main entrance. 
All sound checks need to be done before the doors open at 6:30, including the opening act, a duo of 2 vocals, guitar and electric fiddle. 
Big green room with a beer fridge. 
I think that covers it😎"

 

Wish me luck.

 

Daryl

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A skoosh for you guys. Sounds great to me. All very well organised by sounds of it.

Enjoy and have fun.

Dave

[Bluewine]

  On 27/01/2025 at 23:03, mep said:

Sounds great Daryl, especially the beer fridge. Good luck. Lookin forward to hearing all about it.

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And no deps. Our drummer is playing this one.

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

  On 28/01/2025 at 09:35, SICbass said:

Our drummer is turning 70 in a couple of weeks. He still plays great, in fact he’s my favourite drummer by a country mile, but after a gig he looks truly exhausted. 
That thing with the youngsters behind the bar resonates. It makes me smile, but I’m a spritely 58. Let’s see how funny I find it when I’m 70. I still love playing, which is a good thing considering the state of my pension 😱

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I was in the best shape of my life when I was 58.

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

  On 28/01/2025 at 10:26, dmccombe7 said:

A skoosh for you guys. Sounds great to me. All very well organised by sounds of it.

Enjoy and have fun.

Dave

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Thanks Dave,

 

I'll  let everyone know how it goes.And hopefully I'll get some pics.

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

  On 28/01/2025 at 10:04, SICbass said:

My best buddy is a trumpet player (now there’s a sentence you don’t hear every day) from Rochester, N.Y. - as he puts it, “Those looks we would have occasionally gotten back in the day have been replaced by benevolent ones.” 🤣

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It happened so fast. I use to walk into a gig as the new young shiny thing. Now, when I arrive at a gig people are placing bets on when they think I'm going to keel over. Lol

 

Daryl

Edited January 28 by Bluewine

[Norris]

  On 28/01/2025 at 09:40, mikebass456 said:

I'm starting to appreciate the luxury of a weekend off - especially this time of year! I should go out and see more local bands, but you know what it's like when the log fire's been lit..........

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I'd just arrived at our gig on Sunday, loaded the kit into the pub in a wet gale, when my wife sent me this...

 

[Bluewine]

  On 28/01/2025 at 10:26, dmccombe7 said:

A skoosh for you guys. Sounds great to me. All very well organised by sounds of it.

Enjoy and have fun.

Dave

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I really appreciate being driven to this one Dave.

 

Daryl

[dmccombe7]

  On 28/01/2025 at 19:12, Norris said:

I'd just arrived at our gig on Sunday, loaded the kit into the pub in a wet gale, when my wife sent me this...

 

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Wicked sense of humour your wife. 

Dave

[Stub Mandrel]

  On 28/01/2025 at 16:42, Bluewine said:

 

I was in the best shape of my life when I was 58.

 

Daryl

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Apparently 60 is the time you ho through a second phase of rapid ageing (the other is early 30s). I feel that's happened to me.

[casapete]

Have just had two really good gigs with the acoustic duo. 
 

Sunday we were back in Scarborough at ‘The Lookout on the Pier’. Usual request based

early evening gig, and we had some great tunes asked for.  Also a few friends in so some

particularly good heckling / interruptions ensued making it very funny. A capacity audience

in this small venue makes for a very intimate atmosphere, with no hiding place when we 

stray too far from our (fairly broad) comfort zone, so have to be quite ‘on it’. Just so 

rewarding when it works well though - got an enquiry for a private gig too.
 

Then tonight we’ve been at a monthly residency at the Anlaby Park pub, on the outskirts of 

Hull. Really busy with all tables reserved, and plenty of folk standing too. Varied requests 

included ‘Do it again’, ‘Strangers in the night’, ‘Fire and rain’, ‘Why does it always rain on me’

‘Penny Lane’ and ‘Highway to Hell’. I used a borrowed Sire U5 short scale for a change,

and enjoyed it immensely - has made me wonder whether it matters if I play electro 

acoustic or not TBH. Going to use it again for our next gig this Sunday to see if it works

for us there. 

[Bluewine]

  On 29/01/2025 at 01:13, casapete said:

Have just had two really good gigs with the acoustic duo. 
 

Sunday we were back in Scarborough at ‘The Lookout on the Pier’. Usual request based

early evening gig, and we had some great tunes asked for.  Also a few friends in so some

particularly good heckling / interruptions ensued making it very funny. A capacity audience

in this small venue makes for a very intimate atmosphere, with no hiding place when we 

stray too far from our (fairly broad) comfort zone, so have to be quite ‘on it’. Just so 

rewarding when it works well though - got an enquiry for a private gig too.
 

Then tonight we’ve been at a monthly residency at the Anlaby Park pub, on the outskirts of 

Hull. Really busy with all tables reserved, and plenty of folk standing too. Varied requests 

included ‘Do it again’, ‘Strangers in the night’, ‘Fire and rain’, ‘Why does it always rain on me’

‘Penny Lane’ and ‘Highway to Hell’. I used a borrowed Sire U5 short scale for a change,

and enjoyed it immensely - has made me wonder whether it matters if I play electro 

acoustic or not TBH. Going to use it again for our next gig this Sunday to see if it works

for us there. 

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For our acoustic offering our lead singer plays her Fender Strat.

 

Daryl

[mikebass456]

  On 29/01/2025 at 01:13, casapete said:

Have just had two really good gigs with the acoustic duo. 
 

Sunday we were back in Scarborough at ‘The Lookout on the Pier’. Usual request based

early evening gig, and we had some great tunes asked for.  Also a few friends in so some

particularly good heckling / interruptions ensued making it very funny. A capacity audience

in this small venue makes for a very intimate atmosphere, with no hiding place when we 

stray too far from our (fairly broad) comfort zone, so have to be quite ‘on it’. Just so 

rewarding when it works well though - got an enquiry for a private gig too.
 

Then tonight we’ve been at a monthly residency at the Anlaby Park pub, on the outskirts of 

Hull. Really busy with all tables reserved, and plenty of folk standing too. Varied requests 

included ‘Do it again’, ‘Strangers in the night’, ‘Fire and rain’, ‘Why does it always rain on me’

‘Penny Lane’ and ‘Highway to Hell’. I used a borrowed Sire U5 short scale for a change,

and enjoyed it immensely - has made me wonder whether it matters if I play electro 

acoustic or not TBH. Going to use it again for our next gig this Sunday to see if it works

for us there. 

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Yay - we've played the Anlaby Park a few times. Great crowd, but a bit of a bugger for parking if I remember! Fortunately we usually travelled light for those gigs so could park down the side and load in through the small room and into the main room at the back 😎👍

[SICbass]

  On 28/01/2025 at 19:12, Norris said:

I'd just arrived at our gig on Sunday, loaded the kit into the pub in a wet gale, when my wife sent me this...

 

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Now that is just ice-cold, there’s simply no call for that.

[SICbass]

  On 28/01/2025 at 16:42, Bluewine said:

 

I was in the best shape of my life when I was 58.

 

Daryl

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I wish I could say that.

[SICbass]

  On 29/01/2025 at 01:13, casapete said:

 

 

Then tonight we’ve been at a monthly residency at the Anlaby Park pub, on the outskirts of 

Hull. Really busy with all tables reserved, and plenty of folk standing too. Varied requests 

included ‘Do it again’, ‘Strangers in the night’, ‘Fire and rain’, ‘Why does it always rain on me’

‘Penny Lane’ and ‘Highway to Hell’. I used a borrowed Sire U5 short scale for a change,

and enjoyed it immensely - has made me wonder whether it matters if I play electro 

acoustic or not TBH. Going to use it again for our next gig this Sunday to see if it works

for us there. 

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Wow, Steely Dan as a request? That’s fairly tricky harmonically to play spontaneously, it’s not exactly Mustang Sally. Do you provide a list to choose from or just jam whatever people ask for?

[casapete]

  On 29/01/2025 at 05:31, mikebass456 said:

Yay - we've played the Anlaby Park a few times. Great crowd, but a bit of a bugger for parking if I remember! Fortunately we usually travelled light for those gigs so could park down the side and load in through the small room and into the main room at the back 😎👍

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We play in the lounge at the front of the pub, so load in through the front door.

You’re right about the parking though, can be awkward. 

[casapete]

  On 29/01/2025 at 07:21, SICbass said:

Wow, Steely Dan as a request? That’s fairly tricky harmonically to play spontaneously, it’s not exactly Mustang Sally. Do you provide a list to choose from or just jam whatever people ask for?

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We throw it open for anything - I put request forms on the tables and then we just wait to see what 

gets asked for. A good percentage of the requests are usually fairly straightforward, but there are 

always a fair few that challenge us ( and of course one or two that are just people taking the p*ss!).

We have lyric / chord parts for thousands of songs using forScore on iPads -  lyrics are the main

things that we need prompts for. My guitarist partner is also just a phenomenal player which helps

tremendously - we can go from Sinatra to AC/DC with no problems! He’s also a massive Steely Dan

fan, so ‘Do it Again’ wasn’t actually too bad.

My job is to hold down the bottom end ( sometimes a struggle if I’m not familiar with a tune or when

he’s soloing in some old jazz standard!) and sing harmony vocals & the odd lead vocal. We’ve been 

playing together for over 30 years now, so have an almost telepathic thing and know each other’s

strengths and weaknesses. Not a gig goes by when I don’t realise how lucky I am to be in the duo,

it really is a joy. When I retired from my gig with a touring tribute band last year, I knew that I’d be

still wanting to keep playing so just hope the duo carries on for many years to come. 😊