Bloke at Newcastle Monument today

[Herbsley]

Anyone know who the dude was who was laying down some solo jazz noodlings in the open air at the monument in Newcastle city centre today?

Was he originally there with a band and then hung back to show off a bit?
Or did he just have the balls to simply turn up in a busy city centre with his bass (and loads of pedals) on a Saturday afternoon and set away on a improv session?

Perhaps we'll never know.
But anyway - good work that man. Was pleasant outdoor coffee-drinking accompaniment.

[cd_david]

[url="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=200017634088&v=app_2392950137"]You mean this guy?[/url]

[Herbsley]

Aha. The very man.
Although those videos clearly don't do the lad justice.

Had a really smooth jazz type thing goin on this afternoon - and it took me a while to figure out where the playing was coming from.

Can't make out what bass he uses either.

[Mr. Foxen]

Headstock looks like a Peavey, but nothing else does, random knobs and Schaller 3d bridge, plus the finger grub on the body, indicates it has been stripped and not refinished well if at all, I reckon its a a cheapy heavily messed with.

[Herbsley]

Well - judging by this afters, the lad has some good skills.

Someone donate that chap a bass.

[AndyTheBassBison]

The man is a legend! He makes me feel somewhat inferior. He needs to get himself an unreal drummer and an original vocalist and they would rule the world...

[AndyTravis]

i may well have wittnessed my own future.

i'm pretty uncomfortable with that admission.

[YouMa]

[quote name='Herbsley' post='904384' date='Jul 24 2010, 10:49 PM']Well - judging by this afters, the lad has some good skills.

Someone donate that chap a bass.[/quote]

And a bath!

[AndyTheBassBison]

I met him at a bizarre but enjoyable gig at Leazes Park (I think) bandstand and he is a gentleman. We shared the same wierd bill and were followed by some kind of Bhangra act. Don't let his appearance fool you - he owns a car and lives in Whitley Bay I think!

[Huw Foster]

Amazing! Just as I was seriously considering having a go at busking, this guy shows up for some inspiration.

(Although I could always 'sell out' and play with a singer. Joe Public loves a singer. Solo bass doesn't always go down well.)

[yorks5stringer]

I spoke to him a couple of years ago, it is a Peavey which he has stripped down and modded.

[Chris2112]

Aye, his name's Steve and he's from Manchester. From the conversations I've had with him, I recall he said he was in a band but now prefers to do his own thing, which is exactly what he does! And he's very good at it too! Most of our conversations end up with us talking about my Alembic, but I always stop and say hello to him.

[Musicman20]

He's a very good player. I dont blame him using an old bass for busking! He seems to always draw a crowd.