How was your gig last night?

[Jackroadkill]

  On 04/03/2025 at 20:42, garyt said:

Last weekend’s gig was great with a covers band that I’ve been gigging with for the last 6 months.  But then I got the bullet 2 days before this weekend’s gig, completely out the blue, no warnings. 

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Blimey - how come?

[dmccombe7]

  On 04/03/2025 at 20:42, garyt said:

Last weekend’s gig was great with a covers band that I’ve been gigging with for the last 6 months.  But then I got the bullet 2 days before this weekend’s gig, completely out the blue, no warnings. 

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WOW who does that.

Had you any idea at all that things weren't quite right. ?

Hopefully you get another band with higher morals than that.

Dave

[Mickeyboro]

  On 01/03/2025 at 22:09, HeadlessBassist said:

A very late end to three hard days, after two days away teaching in the Cotswolds/Wiltshire, I continued onto Petersfield in Hampshire via a night in a Travelodge at FourMarks near Alton for a gig at the Petersfield Festival Hall with the three tribute act live show I play for. Excellent gig, sounded fantastic in the Festival Hall, but a long 180 mile trek home to Derbyshire afterwards. Getting home at 3am isn't getting any easier now I'm getting older.

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Tell us more about your show - interesting!🙏

[casapete]

  On 04/03/2025 at 17:23, Len_derby said:

 

Pete, as you’re doing regular spots at this, and other venues, do you have the opportunity to store gear there between gigs?

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Afraid not Neil. We do three regular monthly gigs, and only the gig in Scarborough ( The Lookout on 

the Pier) has a PA we can use. Storage wouldn’t be an option for us anyway, as we need the gear 

for other stuff - my guitarist mate in the duo works an average of 5 nights a week I reckon, and

I do some stuff in a blues three piece. 
It’s a pain dragging PA around, but at least my Rumble combos are fairly lightweight. 

[garyt]

  On 04/03/2025 at 22:01, dmccombe7 said:

WOW who does that.

Had you any idea at all that things weren't quite right. ?

Hopefully you get another band with higher morals than that.

Dave

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I honestly didn’t have a clue, and the gigs were great.  
Apparently I had been saying things at rehearsals that didn’t go down well, you know the usual things like focussing on dynamics and timing.  It was all a bit much for some of the band members.   Honestly, never had this in my life, and quite unprofessional to be unable to sort things out and mainly to waste my time. 

[HeadlessBassist]

  On 04/03/2025 at 22:11, Mickeyboro said:

Tell us more about your show - interesting!🙏

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We play mainly at Warners Resorts and Theatres, with a live show consisting of an Everly Brothers Tribute, a Buddy Holly Tribute and a Jerry Lee Lewis Tribute. I've been with them for about six years. 

[Mickeyboro]

  On 04/03/2025 at 23:58, HeadlessBassist said:

 

We play mainly at Warners Resorts and Theatres, with a live show consisting of an Everly Brothers Tribute, a Buddy Holly Tribute and a Jerry Lee Lewis Tribute. I've been with them for about six years. 

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Is that with the same group and different frontmen, or the same singer/s? Sounds fascinating. Bet you don’t play a headless… but do you play stand-up bass too? Picture please!

[HeadlessBassist]

  On 05/03/2025 at 08:11, Mickeyboro said:

Is that with the same group and different frontmen, or the same singer/s? Sounds fascinating. Bet you don’t play a headless… but do you play stand-up bass too? Picture please!

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Same four singers - two brothers do the Everlys, one older guy does Buddy Holly, and another does Jerry Lee Lewis with all the stunt piano stuff. Add to all that the Bass and Drums and you have a nice regular six piece for a combined Live Show. (Players typically come from all over the country - Brothers and myself come from Derbyshire, Buddy from Norwich, Jerry from Ross-on-Wye and drummer from Milton Keynes!) Case of the best players for the job!

 

I'm a classical Double Bass player by trade, so I could use upright, but I use Fender Jazzes for these jobs (even though the Jazz wasn't technically born until 1960!) The "Headless" part comes from one of my two Status basses and a Cort Space Bass 5 that I use on other jobs.

Edited March 5 by HeadlessBassist

[Woodinblack]

  On 04/03/2025 at 20:42, garyt said:

Last weekend’s gig was great with a covers band that I’ve been gigging with for the last 6 months.  But then I got the bullet 2 days before this weekend’s gig, completely out the blue, no warnings. 

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Does that mean they had someone else on standby already?

[mikebass456]

  On 05/03/2025 at 08:26, HeadlessBassist said:

 

Same four singers - two brothers do the Everlys, one older guy does Buddy Holly, and another does Jerry Lee Lewis with all the stunt piano stuff. Add to all that the Bass and Drums and you have a nice regular six piece for a combined Live Show. (Players typically come from all over the country - Brothers and myself come from Derbyshire, Buddy from Norwich, Jerry from Ross-on-Wye and drummer from Milton Keynes!) Case of the best players for the job!

 

I'm a classical Double Bass player by trade, so I could use upright, but I use Fender Jazzes for these jobs (even though the Jazz wasn't technically born until 1960!) The "Headless" part comes from one of my two Status basses and a Cort Space Bass 5 that I use on other jobs.

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That's a cannon of a bass drum there......😲😎🤘

[Gank Bass]

  On 04/03/2025 at 22:36, garyt said:

I honestly didn’t have a clue, and the gigs were great.  
Apparently I had been saying things at rehearsals that didn’t go down well, you know the usual things like focussing on dynamics and timing.  It was all a bit much for some of the band members.   Honestly, never had this in my life, and quite unprofessional to be unable to sort things out and mainly to waste my time. 

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Some people can't rise above their ego unfortunately! I'm having the same problem with my current band. The drummer is passionate and professional, we dissect every gig and practice on the drive home for the purpose of continuous improvement, egos removed. Yet the singer and guitarist get their knickers in a twist and take any suggestion as a personal attack. Very frustrating and I hope you find a group that respects your commitment to the craft 🤟

[Stub Mandrel]

  On 06/03/2025 at 11:44, mikebass456 said:

That's a cannon of a bass drum there......😲😎🤘

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With Jerry Allson's mythic symbol on the skin too... 😉

[basexperience]

  On 28/02/2025 at 00:14, Andy_L said:

My first gig ever, at the age of 54. Wow, what a buzz

 

Brickmakers Arms, Norwich 

 

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Dude, I’m stoked for you! I’ve been gigging since I was 19, now I’m 54 and still gigging, and it’s a rush, isn’t it? Nothing better. Enjoy mate. 

[Bluewine]

Maple Road, we're returning to The Twisted Pair this Sunday, 3-6.

 

Daryl

[Andy_L]

  On 07/03/2025 at 19:57, basexperience said:

Dude, I’m stoked for you! I’ve been gigging since I was 19, now I’m 54 and still gigging, and it’s a rush, isn’t it? Nothing better. Enjoy mate. 

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Thanks

[dmccombe7]

First gig tonight since 2nd Jan with the Glam band at Dalkeith. Large venue with big raised stage area, lights and PA all there.

Still not sure whether i'm retiring or not. Band were a bit gutted and disappointed when i told them especially weird when we met at a rehearsal.

They've asked if i had any doubts whatsoever then hold off and they'll wait until i'm 100% sure before looking for a replacement.

I expect i'll know for sure after the gig tonight whether its still for me or not.

The extended break since New Year has allowed me to do other hobbies and have really enjoyed the break from it all.

Dave

 

Edited March 8 by dmccombe7

[martthebass]

  On 08/03/2025 at 08:40, dmccombe7 said:

First gig tonight since 2nd Jan with the Glam band at Dalkeith. Large venue with big raised stage area, lights and PA all there.

Still not sure whether i'm retiring or not. Band were a bit gutted and disappointed when i told them especially weird when we met at a rehearsal.

They've asked if i had any doubts whatsoever then hold off and they'll wait until i'm 100% sure before looking for a replacement.

I expect i'll know for sure after the gig tonight whether its still for me or not.

The extended break since New Year has allowed me to do other hobbies and have really enjoyed the break from it all.

Dave

 

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Maybe just cut back a bit Dave? I think we’re similar ages and we’ve cut back to 25 gigs or so this year and knocked back most of the big travels. I’m finding I’m enjoying the gigs more and finding time, like you, for one of my other neglected pastimes.

[dmccombe7]

  On 08/03/2025 at 09:29, martthebass said:

Maybe just cut back a bit Dave? I think we’re similar ages and we’ve cut back to 25 gigs or so this year and knocked back most of the big travels. I’m finding I’m enjoying the gigs more and finding time, like you, for one of my other neglected pastimes.

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Think taking on the 2nd band from scratch was just a bit too much but there were other factors that now seem to be poor communication within the band. Just got a bit pissed off with it all and having the extended break since last gig just made it worse.

On average we only do 1-2 gigs a month with Nov & Dec being busier.

Will see how it goes tonight and on that i better go get started on sorting my gear into car. 👍

PS i think i might be a bit older than you. 65 this month but still feel 30 ish 

Dave

Edited March 8 by dmccombe7

[martthebass]

  On 08/03/2025 at 13:54, dmccombe7 said:

Think taking on the 2nd band from scratch was just a bit too much but there were other factors that now seem to be poor communication within the band. Just got a bit pissed off with it all and having the extended break since last gig just made it worse.

On average we only do 1-2 gigs a month with Nov & Dec being busier.

Will see how it goes tonight and on that i better go get started on sorting my gear into car. 👍

PS i think i might be a bit older than you. 65 this month but still feel 30 ish 

Dave

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62 this end mate, I’d like to think gigging keeps me young but at 2am after a crap strip down and load out I’m not so sure 😂😂

[Bluewine]

  On 08/03/2025 at 08:40, dmccombe7 said:

First gig tonight since 2nd Jan with the Glam band at Dalkeith. Large venue with big raised stage area, lights and PA all there.

Still not sure whether i'm retiring or not. Band were a bit gutted and disappointed when i told them especially weird when we met at a rehearsal.

They've asked if i had any doubts whatsoever then hold off and they'll wait until i'm 100% sure before looking for a replacement.

I expect i'll know for sure after the gig tonight whether its still for me or not.

The extended break since New Year has allowed me to do other hobbies and have really enjoyed the break from it all.

Dave

 

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Dave,

I have to come up with a good hobby. I need something to do after my band days are over.

 

Its the driving thats a concern for me. A few nights ago I was driving to Wal Mart and I made a wrong left turn into oncoming traffic.  I've had several of these driving incidents over the last few months. Fortunately I didn't hit anyone. 

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

  On 08/03/2025 at 09:29, martthebass said:

Maybe just cut back a bit Dave? I think we’re similar ages and we’ve cut back to 25 gigs or so this year and knocked back most of the big travels. I’m finding I’m enjoying the gigs more and finding time, like you, for one of my other neglected pastimes.

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I'm 71 and we're still doing 65 shows annually.  It's definitely a struggle. I'm at the point where I'm playing sitting down for our last set.

 

I wonder if I'll pull the plug on gigging or will they pull it?

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

  On 08/03/2025 at 15:35, martthebass said:

62 this end mate, I’d like to think gigging keeps me young but at 2am after a crap strip down and load out I’m not so sure 😂😂

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I hear you loud and clear. And add in  freezing cold weather to the list.

 

Daryl

[ezbass]

Halfway through tonight’s gig. We’re sharing the night’s ticketed event with a pair of DJs, so a good break until set 2. Everyone is well up for it, lots of dancing and general appreciation. Small, hollow and slightly floating stage, so on stage sound isn’t the best, but I can hear everyone else just about. I’m using my custom, Maruszczyk Elwood L, through my usual Phil Jones rig. Shoes are modtastic suede affairs.

 

 

[moley6knipe]

First gig since November. Private party in a church in the middle of nowhere.

 

Bloody awful. Stinking cold, long drive, shit get in, freezing, hours of hanging about, long drive home.

 

Bugger this: counting the days until my last gig of the year in November and then the whole sodding lot’s getting sold.

 

Better things to do on a Saturday night than this!

[dmccombe7]

  On 08/03/2025 at 15:35, martthebass said:

62 this end mate, I’d like to think gigging keeps me young but at 2am after a crap strip down and load out I’m not so sure 😂😂

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We finished tonight at 11:15pm and on the road 12:00pm altho heavy fog in Edinburgh was slowing me down a bit but cleared when we left Edinburgh area home for 1am.

Just backline for us tonight so it was a really fast clothes change then gear packed and loaded..

Dave