| Author | Message | ||
| applejuice
Junior Username: applejuice Post Number: 27 Registered: 1-2006 |
....playing drunk is hard to do. discuss. | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 907 Registered: 7-2003 |
Easy to do...impossible to do well. | ||
| joram
Junior Username: joram Post Number: 37 Registered: 5-2004 |
Just tonight the guitar player in my band said to me: "I could take another beer, but when I do that, I'd better leave my amp on standby..." | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 795 Registered: 9-2002 |
This could easily devolve into "Best Drunken Bandstand Stories by the Sober Survivors" . . . any takers? J o e y | ||
| emjay
Junior Username: emjay Post Number: 43 Registered: 3-2005 |
Playing drunk is hard to do... Playing stoned seems easy to do, but it's hard to remember the song I started playing.... Playing on speed could be easy to do, if only I could only get the damn bass in tune within the next hour or so....... Playing on coke would be easy, if only I could relax with that guy in the front row looking at me strangely. I bet he's the one that's been following me around for the past two days..... | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 344 Registered: 2-2006 |
I've been on both sides of that fence. I've been the drunk and I've been the sober one. That part of gigging I don't miss at all. Best Drunken bandstand story.....I have so many to choose from.... | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1323 Registered: 7-2004 |
Try tripping. Bill, tgo | ||
| bigbadbill
Advanced Member Username: bigbadbill Post Number: 234 Registered: 10-2003 |
I tend to find I play better after a few drinks, and no, I'm not deluding myself! I have the recordings to prove it! I've always suffered quite badly with nerves when playing and I find a few drinks relax me. I find when if I don't have a drink to relax I'm so tense I fluff everything. Once, in a previous band, we were playing a fairly high profile gig and upon finishing the last song our guitarist turned to me and said,"have we been on yet?" Turned out he'd been so nervous he'd been drinking all night (there were several bands and we were last on). And yet I have a video of that performance, and you'd never know he was drunk... | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 820 Registered: 12-2002 |
Iv'e played high on everything in the book!...now adays i find a half pint of Brandy is a way to get me funkin!................but, aint nothin like a good Ol-Fashiond JOINT! | ||
| richbass939
Senior Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 635 Registered: 11-2004 |
I backed up a guy once who thought that drunk was okay but even a little bit stoned was a big no-no. No problem with the 6 double-shots the club would provide you free over a 5 hour gig. But go on after a couple of tokes and this character would come uncorked. I was just careful not to let him know. I never had any complaints from the other band members that I was playing all over the place, so I guess I did okay. Rich | ||
| applejuice
Junior Username: applejuice Post Number: 28 Registered: 1-2006 |
I was messed up last night. I couldn't stand for hours, never doing that again. | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 822 Registered: 12-2002 |
How many times have we said that before?.......Being f#cked-up on stage is part of being a Musician!..............I look forward to a good "Buzz"! | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 726 Registered: 10-2003 |
A wee bit of Grand Marnier or a decent dark beer to nurse through the set sometimes helps the night go way more smoothly. Sometimes not. Kind of depends on what kind of day I've had, and it's always a bad idea if I'm really tired. That bass gets awfully heavy, as do the amps at the end of the gig! Can't justify the expense (and potential expense!) of drugs worth doing. I'm always stone sober by the time I drive home, regardless. Seen too many dead young people when I was a photojournalist back in the day... John | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1326 Registered: 7-2004 |
Of course we are all discussing non-alcoholic events that happened at least 3-7 years ago, depending on the relevant statute of limitations in your state/province/country. LOL As Grace said: FEED YOUR HEAD!!!! Bill, tgo | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3877 Registered: 5-2002 |
Keavin stated "being [intoxicated] on stage is part of being a Musician!". Of course Keavin was not making a statement of fact but merely relating his own personal experience. I'm guessing Yoyo Ma isn't doing qualudes. Bill quoted Grace Slick, and both, I believe, were probably speaking to the fact that most people are constricted by an illusory view of the world that their Self has programmed through habits of thought over a lifetime of experiences in order to "survive" in the world, and that "feeding your head" can provide one with an alternative interface with one's environment that the Self might otherwise be unable to "see". Personally, I have found that a daily meditation practice also provides that "alternative interface", and I have found that meditation before going onstage enhances one's ability to be "in the zone" where the music is the totality of experience and there is no separation between you and your instrument, you and the other players , or you and the audience. It's like the best of all worlds; totally relaxed, totally into the music, the people, the atmosphere; and no hangover in the morning! | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 345 Registered: 2-2006 |
I have another source for getting "in the zone" but I'll refrain from preachin'. | ||
| bracheen
Senior Member Username: bracheen Post Number: 1018 Registered: 11-2003 |
Joe, That is a lesson many never learn. Good for you learning it early. I have seen and heard musicians in all the above mentioned states and believe me Dave's and Oliver's zones are the most pleasing from this listener's perspective. I don't mind a wee recreational buzz and I certainly wouldn't be the one to tell someone else how to live. But in my humble opinion if a musician is going to step on stage as a professional that musician needs to conduct himself or herself in a professional manner. Stay up for a week if you want after the gig but during the gig one should be focused on the job at hand. Again, just my opinion. Sam | ||
| grynchin
Junior Username: grynchin Post Number: 37 Registered: 1-2006 |
Scenario. My doctor comes in and says that its time to remove my left leg. A few hours later I'm recovering and doing fine. I look down only to see my left leg is there and my right leg is gone. I am upset with the doctor until he says, "I know that you're paying me very well to do this JOB, but I was a bit nervous because I don't do this surgery every day, so I got drunk, and or high, and took the wrong leg off by accident". Sure, this sounds a bit far-fetched, but if a town has musician's that can play well and put on a great show(whether sober or not), that doesn't leave much room for karaoke or dj's. How many of these are in your town? There are way too many in mine. | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1179 Registered: 3-2004 |
Well, I suppose that if you're doing the jam band thing. a little something might work. On the other hand, I couldn't imagine trying to execute a Rush set down a few brain cells. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1327 Registered: 7-2004 |
Enhancement. Expansion. Awareness. Spirit. Sensitivity. Creativity. Flirting with the Muse. or Sloppy. Forgetful. Off Tempo. Slow. Foggy. Isolated. A fine line, maybe. But a line nevertheless. Bill, tgo (Message edited by lbpesq on May 28, 2006) (Message edited by lbpesq on May 28, 2006) | ||
| grateful
Intermediate Member Username: grateful Post Number: 134 Registered: 12-2004 |
Cannabis does not cause "intoxication": it is the least toxic substance on the planet bar none. Cannabinoids emulate the neuro-transmitter anandamine (meaning happiness!). The lower parts of the brain that control the autonomous nervous system: i.e. that keep your body functioning have no receptors for anandamine, thus are unaffected by cannabinoids. Doesn't cause cancer either: three separate scientific studies show cannabis has anti-cancer properties. Not to mention Webster's 1905 dictionary has no mention of "marijuana": Sorry, any excuse to spread hard cannabis facts I find irresistable. Mark | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1328 Registered: 7-2004 |
Mark: Right on! By the way, there is a reason why you won't find "marijuana" in the 1905 Websters. Up until the mid 1930's, cannabis was usually referred to as "cannabis", "hemp", or "India hemp". When Harry Anslinger, (new chief of the Bureau of Narcotics - forefather of the DEA), decided to convince the states to outlaw cannabis, he catered to racially based fear and ignorance in the Southwest states against Mexican migrant workers. He and Randolph Hearst engaged in a campaign of pure false propaganda, spreading "reefer madness" stories about how these Mexicans smoked the evil narcotic, "marihuana", and raped the farmer's daughter, then hacked up the farmer's family with a hatchet, etc. It doesn't say much for the intelligence of our species when a natural product that has been scientifically proven to help a myriad of illnesses and has an unlimited number of industial uses - uses that can help save this planet - and is virtually harmless, (1100-1500 people die from aspirin poisoning each year in the U.S. In the entire recorded history of man, not a single person has ever died from cannabis poisoning. It is estimated that the fatal dosage level of cannabis would require a person to smoke a joint the size of a telephone pole in 15 minutes!), is treated as a pariah by the gov't. It is nothing short of insane that the U.S. gov't continues to not only jail it's own citizens for possession of this amazing herb, but plays bully to the rest of the world on this issue, threatening other nations, most recently Canada and Mexico, when they try to approach this issue in a more reasonable manner. Of course, in the U.S., putting humans in cages is a major industry, not to be trifled with. We're number 1 in both numbers of people in jail, and percentage of population in jail and we're kicking ass - number 2 ain't even close! Like you, Mark, any excuse to spread the truth. Bill, fhtffotmapoi (Former High Times Freedom Fighter of the Month, and proud of it!) | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 448 Registered: 2-2005 |
As I sit here in my hemp cloth shirt I have always been of the opinion it would be better to legalize and regulate pot the same as alcohol (which is actually very toxic). While I haven't smoked it since my early 20's I don't see why others can't make their own choice in the matter. I have also seen first hand how it can help with AIDS wasting as it helped my younger brothers appetite after he contracted the disease. Back to the subject at hand, I no longer drink before or during gigs or at rehearsals anymore. I don't feel I play as well and I think it has a moderating effect on the others I'm playing with. Now a Sunday afternoon jam is a different story. Break out the beer and we'll have a real good time. Keith | ||
| bassman10096
Senior Member Username: bassman10096 Post Number: 908 Registered: 7-2003 |
Jeez... For the record, a light (really light) buzz does me a little bit of good - loosens me up, lessens racing mind and other distractions. But the law of diminishing returns is a harsh consequence. Too far over the line and I never get back (at least in time not to regret it). Wow. I guess a few decades in the "straight" workforce, raising kids (whose "experimentation" can scare the shXt out of you) and being away from a culture where mind alteration seemed important (Your mind is still your mind, and your chops are your chops, regardless of additives) has totally screwed up my perspective. How could I have forgotten how much being stoned added to my life? (LOL!) Absolutely no offense intended to anyone else in this conversation (seriously). All I'm trying to share is how much my perspective seems to have changed, and how natural the change has been... Peace Bill | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 903 Registered: 6-2002 |
I don't mind people getting a buzz from any poison they like, and I don't mind if I do myself, sometimes. However, living in a country where cannabis consumption is not at all illegal, I can testify that there are simply too many members of the general public who take cannabis like others would take alcohol, with very similar results. Habit easily becomes addiction, and cannabis is worse than tobacco in the sense that it not only expresses itself as a physical craving. | ||
| joram
Junior Username: joram Post Number: 38 Registered: 5-2004 |
I second Adriaan here. Also, the dutch cannabis ("nederwiet") is a league of it's own. Often, it is grown in a highly controlled atmosphere (use of artificial fertilizers, 24/7 electric lighting), which leads to extremely high thc-levels, up to 25%. The way some people here in Holland use it, it's like drinking scotch per pint. (Message edited by joram on May 28, 2006) | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 904 Registered: 6-2002 |
No to mention that despite the aura of peace & love, criminal elements are heavily involved in the production and distribution of cannabis - yes, in Holland too. | ||
| mpisanek
Intermediate Member Username: mpisanek Post Number: 163 Registered: 1-2005 |
Had a bad experience this past weekend. Our guitar player who normally drives to gigs, came to the gig with our lead singer. For this reason he thought he could have a few beers. By the end of the night the solos were sloppy, the endings were rough, and the overall polish that we had worked so hard to achieve was completely gone. I certainly don't mind a beer or two on a gig, and I am certainly not one to judge others on what they do or do not drink, but when the whole band suffers from one persons' overindulgence I feel that drinking is quite bad. Professionalism should be one of the things that we hold in the highest regard, and unprofessionalism should be held in the lowest regard. Getting drunk and affecting the entire bands performance in a negative way, in my humble opinion, is very unprofessional. In this case there might well be longer lasting effects from having a few beers than just a buzz on the night. | ||
| joram
Junior Username: joram Post Number: 39 Registered: 5-2004 |
Which also has to do with the front door-back door policy: while buying cannabis up to 5 grams is totally legal, so it can go through the front door, buying large quantities, to supply your 'coffee shop' is illegal, so it has to go through the back door. Growing cannabis also is restricted to a small number of plants (5, IIRC). Result is both the import and industrial growth of cannabis is totally illegal, which is a small step to criminal. IMHO, Holland would be better off legalizing the whole lot. Some control, payed for by some nice tax will do the rest. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1330 Registered: 7-2004 |
Adriaan brings up "criminal elements". Joram has it right. Legalization, regulation, taxation is the only logical solution. When alcohol prohibition in the U.S. was repealed, organized crime got out of the beer business. Bill, tgo | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 907 Registered: 6-2002 |
Bill, While I sympathize with attempts to bring 'soft drugs' under a less strict regime, I wanted to point out that, like with alcohol, there will be cannabis abuse. To me it seems like cannabis advocates want to stress the similarities with tobacco usage, and underplay those with alcohol intake. | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 347 Registered: 2-2006 |
I have but one thing to say here..... .....how 'bout those MAVS! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1331 Registered: 7-2004 |
Ah, but cannabis abuse costs society substantially less than alcohol abuse. To paraphrase former Republican governor of New Mexico, Gary Johnson, we've all been to the party where over there in the corner is the guy who's had too much to drink. He's loud, obnoxious, throwing up, and starting fights. Over in the other corner is a guy who's had too much to smoke. The only threat he represents is to a bag of doritos. Consider also the problem of driving. While I don't condone driving when impaired on any substance (even allergy medicine), studies consistently show that alcohol impairs driving far more than cannabis. Alcohol results in people driving faster and taking more chances. Under the influence of cannabis, people tend to drive slower and take less chances. Many studies have found that, among experienced cannabis users, drivers tend to overcompensate, pay more attention, and have emergency reaction times that are as quick or quicker as when they are straight. As for tobacco, no comparison. One is a deadly poison with few redeeming qualities that makes humongous piles of money for friends of the president. The other is a non-toxic substance with numerous medicinal qualities and other advantages (paper, fuel) that can't be patented - no $ for the billionaires. IMHO the gov't has no business telling me whether I can use either one of these products, as long as I do so responsibly and don't infringe on others (and I mean don't infringe on other's lives, not merely on their sensibilities). One final thought: Not all use is abuse. Bill, tgo | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3897 Registered: 5-2002 |
I'm torn between hoping this thread dies and wanting to continue it since on the one hand this is one of those socially devisive subjects that can quickly go beyond the bounds of civility and rational discourse and on the other hand is an important issue about which we can all benefit from learning additional facts, experiences and opinions beyond our own present data set. Since so far the discussion has been very civil and informative, I'm continuing. <g> Adriaan and Joram especially have a perspective that we in the US can learn from. Just recently I received a form letter on this very topic from, of all people, Walter Cronkite. I'm guessing folks outside the US probably don't know Walter Cronkite, but here in the US he is a very highly respected patriarch in the field of journalism. Walter was writing in support of, and is an honorary board member of, the Drug Policy Alliance. The site has a wealth of information for those who are looking to increase their knowledge of the subject. On Adriaan's points. I agree that there will be people who will abuse cannabis, and a large portion of the taxation Bill mentioned will go toward treatment centers. My guess is that many of the people in the US who will abuse cannabis are probably currently abusing much more destructive drugs such as meth amphetamine, crack cocaine and alcohol; i.e. people who are predisposed to such behavior. And it would be my guess that recovery from cannibis abuse is more likely to be successful than from meth, crack and alcohol. Additionally, my personal view from information that I have read is that tobacco and alcohol are both much more destructive that cannibis. Tobacco is highly physically addictive; it's very hard to quit and over time it will slowly and painfully kill you. Alcohol is quite destructive to the liver and other organs and it effects areas of the brain differently than cannibis. For instance many people become abusive and even violent when drinking alcohol. In my view, cannibis is much more benign than tobacco or alcohol. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 908 Registered: 6-2002 |
Bill & Dave, all good points - as long as you're not talking about the 'industrial grade' stuff called nederwiet, which is what will be flooding the market as soon as cannabis is legalized - since there is an established (though illegal) industry producing and distributing the stuff as-we-speak. | ||
| grateful
Intermediate Member Username: grateful Post Number: 135 Registered: 12-2004 |
Sorry, I didn't realize I would stir it up this badly! As a liberal humanist, I will add one indisputable fact. It is hard to quantify the "dangers" of any drug, but leaving the supply of drugs in the hands of criminals increases these dangers astronomically. If junkies were provided with pharmaceutical quality heroin, none of them would ever die from their addiction. Bill: I've read "the Emperor", my point was to add credence to his claims about Hearst. Finally, I'm not encouraging illicit drug use, In an ideal world (I wish!!!) nobody would feel the need to take any drugs. Mark | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 909 Registered: 6-2002 |
Mark, If you say "leaving the supply of drugs in the hands of criminals increases these dangers astronomically", it sounds to me like you claim the opposite would also be true. Decriminalizing the distribution of the substance does not decrease any risk in substance abuse. Also, I don't think you want pharmaceutical quality alcohol to enter the market. There was a local pharmacy where I grew up, where the pharmacist's teenage children had found their way into the 'poison cabinet', and had soon become terribly addicted. And let's not forget heroin was created for dentists. And less than 100 years ago opium was a pretty normal prescription drug for all ages, under the name laudanum. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1908 Registered: 9-2003 |
Good God, and you guys were miffed that my Steely Dan thread turned into a bike thread? LOL! While migraines and aging have found my partying days many moons behind me, I say smoke 'em if you got 'em! Just do us all a favor and don't ride/drive if you do, please Cheers, Kevin | ||
| grateful
Intermediate Member Username: grateful Post Number: 136 Registered: 12-2004 |
Adriaan, Heroin in the UK is often cut with sand, one of the major causes of death amongst British junkies. You seem to be claiming our current drug policies are lessening abuse. They quite clearly aren't. I feel great compassion for some one who has found life so bad they have to obliterate themselves on drugs. I know Bayer created heroin in the hopes it would be less addictive than morphine. Mark | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1333 Registered: 7-2004 |
Adriaan: Based on your statements about "nederwiet", I suspect you yourself do not indulge. First, the Netherlands doesn't have a monopoly on high grade cannabis. British Colombia and California are equally known for high potency production. The U.S. gov't has been spreading propaganda about it, ominously claiming "this isn't your father's marijuana", and that "today's marijuana is 10 to 30 times stronger than in the 60's". Claims are also made that B.C. Bud is "over 30% THC". Of course, gov't's used to claim the world was flat. The truth is that selective breeding and more scientific methods have yielded more potent cannabis, but not on a scale of 10 to 30 times more potent. Also, the result is that people use less. In high school I drank beer. We even used to drink it warm through straws because we thought you got drunker! Now I occasionally have scotch or a gin gibson. Still alcohol, but about 20 times stronger than beer. Guess what? I don't pour a 12 ounce glass of scotch and chug it. Same thing with more potent cannabis. People just take less inhalations. And for medical use, it is preferable. As for the fear that legalization will result in a wave of cannabis use overwhelming us, guess what? In places like the Netherlands and California, it is effectively legal and the sky hasn't fallen yet. In fact in places like these, teen use is lower than in places where strict prohibition is enforced. People who want to smoke cannabis are, for the most part, already doing it, albeit illegally. The number of people who are sitting around thinking "boy, I really want to get stoned, but it's illegal. I can't wait for them to legalize it so I can get a big bag of buds and get blitzed" is quite small, IMHO. Bill, tgo (Message edited by lbpesq on May 30, 2006) | ||
| tubeperson
Junior Username: tubeperson Post Number: 15 Registered: 5-2005 |
Are those migraines related to sperm retention headaches? Seriously, for migraines Fioricet works well, but you would be too numb to play. Relpax works without the numbing effect. Most importantly, in a paying gig, patrons deserve quality playing, as do your fellow bands members. We don't get that time back (the price of living), so why would anyone want waste it? Here's to great tunes and more Alembics for all! | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1334 Registered: 7-2004 |
"sperm retention headaches"????? That's a new one on me! Does sperm retention cause the headaches, or is it someone else saying "I have a headache" that results in the sperm retention? LOL Bill, tgo | ||
| dibolosi
Junior Username: dibolosi Post Number: 37 Registered: 1-2004 |
I have to chime in. I played while tripping the second gig we ever had at Gazzarri's. The first gig ever was the audition to get into Gazzarri's. From spinning in a circle I'll never forget catching out of the corner of my eye my brother screaming at me from across the stage. Of course I could not hear him so I walked over to him and implored "what?" "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE SINGING" whoops. It happens | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 910 Registered: 6-2002 |
Somehow I can't fail to notice we all kind of agree on president Reagan's old slogan - what was it again? | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1909 Registered: 9-2003 |
Ah, NO! DSB is NOT one of my problems, LOL! Zomig is my remedy of choice, thank you very much. I'm sure it's destroying my eyes, liver, kidneys, etc., but when I get that stabbing pain behind my eyes and my head feels like it's in a vise, nausea, etc., I really could care less. The migraines are life-long (they've been with me since early childhood), and even heavy-duty Botox injections in the face, head, neck, etc. four times/year don't do much. Thanks to Astra-Zeneca and all those nerds^* that didn't sleep thru chemistry/biology classes, LOL! Cheers, Kevin ^* I'm an Electrical Engineer...remember, you can't spell GEEK without EE, LOL! It's a joke! LOL! | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 912 Registered: 6-2002 |
Bill: Correct, I do not indulge in cannabis. And much like you, I don't like governments patronizing the population. And I agree: governments do appear to tell a lot of lies. What I am observing is that in my country you see some people driving their car with an unmistakable cannabis-enhanced cigarette burning. It's too easy to guess the demographics for these members of the general public, but what CAN they be thinking? I'm all for legalizing what benefits can be gained from cannabis use, but never at the expense of letting the public think cannabis, alcohol and tobacco are similar stimulants. (Message edited by adriaan on May 31, 2006) | ||
| grateful
Intermediate Member Username: grateful Post Number: 137 Registered: 12-2004 |
A UK Home Office study into the affects of cannabis on driving arrived at the conclusion that no matter how "stoned" on cannabis one becomes, one is still a safer driver than somebody who has consumed just one glass of wine. This is why it was never publicised. In the UK, there are still people who think drinking and driving is acceptable. These people are a bigger menace than any drug users, and cause more deaths! Mark | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 913 Registered: 6-2002 |
Moderation is an art that not everyone will master. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1336 Registered: 7-2004 |
Adriaan: you wrote: "I'm all for legalizing what benefits can be gained from cannabis use, but never at the expense of letting the public think cannabis, alcohol and tobacco are similar stimulants." The only one of these that might arguably be called a "stimulant" is tobacco/nicotine. Certainly not alcohol which is a depressant. I agree, proper and truthful information dissemination should not lump cannabis, tobacco and alcohol together. Tobacco and alcohol are far more dangerous than cannabis. Nevertheless, responsible use of any substance should be encouraged. Bill, tgo | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 1181 Registered: 3-2004 |
Gentlepersons- In order to keep Dave sane with regrad to this thread, it might be best if we stuck to the original topic. That had nothing to do with the legalization of various substances, but rather the pros and cons of playing while under the influence of them. | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 351 Registered: 2-2006 |
I agree with Bob, the post was about pros and cons of playing under the influence. I can think only of cons, no pros at all. If one argues that "I need it to get into the zone" or "to calm my nerves", I ask whom are you trying to convince (fool), me or you? This also sounds like a dependency to me. I do agree that it is your bussiness of what to do to your own body but you'll never convince me that you can perform your job better under the influence. Would you show up to court to represent a client, or operate on a patient, or operate heavy equipment under the influence? | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 915 Registered: 6-2002 |
Bill - I was trying to find a word to cover all three, and 'stimulant' is probably not the right one. Other than that, I respectfully disagree that it would be any safer to be under the influence cannabis than to be under the influence of alcohol, while going out on the road. If it gives you a buzz, you shouldn't be driving a car or operating heavy machinery under its influence. As to medicinal use: most pain killers come with the same warning. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 916 Registered: 6-2002 |
... and sorry for all the diversions ... I totally agree with mpisanek's point about professionalism. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1337 Registered: 7-2004 |
I certainly agree that one shouldn't drive or engage in any other critical activity while under the influence of anything that impairs performance. The fact is that numerous scientific studies from the U.S., Great Britian, and Australia, among others, have consistently found that cannabis does not impair driving nearly as negatively as alcohol. Every credible study I'm aware of that has looked at this issue has come to the same conclusion. I cannot ignore science in the pursuit of "morality". As for use of mood enhancers in non-critical situations? If someone wants to, and nobody gets hurt, why not? With all due respect, I'm not going to get stoned or drunk and run over anyone with my Alembic. Not everything works for everyone. Have I experienced musicians whose playing went downhill upon ingestion of some substance or other? Absolutely! (Though, mostly the debilitating substance has been alcohol). Have I experienced musicians for whom the ingestion of such substances had no negative effect on playing? Absolutely! To each his or her own. Bill, tgo | ||
| groovelines
Advanced Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 287 Registered: 4-2003 |
“stimulating” discussion, cough arg wheez My guitar player was fond of “between-set attitude adjustments”, usually with benign effects. One night, we’re back and into the first song in the last set after “just a brief sojourn to the parking lot” and he’s soon wandering around the stage checking his gear and looking at first bemused, annoyed and then spiraling to critical mass. While he’s doing this, he’s half-assed playing his parts and forgetting that he’s supposed to be singing, too. I make my way over and ask him what’s up, he tells me his sound is “!@#$%^ up”. Well, yeah. I know it, the crowd knows it, the owner knows, geez even the drummer has figured that out. So I take a quick look around his set up and then notice something odd. He’s left his wha pedal on from the last song of the previous set. I stomp on it, give him a “God love ya, you moron, now play!” look. He rolls his eyes, sheepishly mouths “thank you” and then didn’t miss a lick the rest of the set. I’ve never seen the goober concentrate so hard before - that’s one way to kill a buzz. What I thought was so funny about this is that he'd mess with everyone else by randomly stomp on your pedals during a gig, pay back is sweet. | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 356 Registered: 2-2006 |
My old guitar player was a firm believer in the "between set car visits". It always showed in his playing and not in a positive way. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 796 Registered: 9-2002 |
So I was playing with this little band at a community center gig every Saturday night: Grandparents, little kids, everybody. Food and soft drinks, period. Well, my drummer and guitar player (as well as half the crowd) would make 'car visits' on every break for a some Smokestack El Ropo and a couple of Buds. Fried in just a few sets. Well, the guitar player always kept a list of the birthdays in the house, and he'd call the names and we'd play 'Happy Birthday'. I'd finally had enough, cause their playing just went steadily south as the blood alcohol level arced into ticket range, much less on top of the buzz from the pot. So while they were out in the car I added one more name to the Birthday List: A new person, none other than Mr. Jack Mehoff. You got it: After he called each name to be recognized, he called out for Mr. Mehoff . . . over and over and over, just couldn't find him . . "Did he leave? Somebody go see if Jack Mehoff's in the Mens' Room!" Me and the fidlle player were literally crying we were laughing so hard, the crowd just about lost it, EVERYBODY got it EXCEPT HIM. Finally, the little light went on after two or three minutes of this, then he gets mad as he thought his bud the drummer did it to him!! J o e y | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 360 Registered: 2-2006 |
I've got one for ya'! I was playing a gig at a club called Cowboy Country in Van Alstyne, Texas, looks like a scene right out of the movie "Road House". Imagine a 150 redneck "bubbas" full of long necks and tequila. Well our guitar player and lead singer head out to the van for a "break" and a fight breaks out in the club. The local police show up and a squad car pulls up right behind the two while they are tokin' away. I go outside to let them know the police are on the way, only tooooooo late. The cop has them spread eagle against the van and they just know they're going to the can. About that time the cop turn, looks at me and says "Olie, is that you", I do a double take and respond with "(name deleted to protect the officer) what the heck are you doing up here". Turns out the cop is an old friend of mine. Well he lets my buddys go and we finish the gig, but not before he makes them dump their stuff and makes me promise to drive home that night. True story. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1340 Registered: 7-2004 |
Food for thought: Without musicians experimenting with mind expansion, there would be no Grateful Dead. Without the Grateful Dead, there would be no Alembic. Without Alembic, we'd all be playing Fenders. Bill, tgo | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 918 Registered: 6-2002 |
Hm, if I may add: quite a few victims fallen down that road, too. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 662 Registered: 10-2002 |
Indeed. I only found out yesterday that Ramrod Shurtliff had passed away on the 18th May and Hamza El Din on the 24th. A very sad month indeed. Graeme | ||
| keavin
Senior Member Username: keavin Post Number: 828 Registered: 12-2002 |
In 1969 San Francisco was the birth of ALEMBIC @ the height of ACID trips etc,,,,i just wonder what was it that Ron (wickersham)was on when he came up with this whole alembic thing?,,,and is there any more of that sh!t still around??? | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 663 Registered: 10-2002 |
Must be some. According to Rorys visit thread http://alembic.com/club/messages/449/28633.html?1149161678 Ron had a smile on his face while susan 's away ;-) Graeme | ||
| phylo
New Username: phylo Post Number: 9 Registered: 10-2005 |
Let this be a lesson to all of you! http://www.archive.org/details/supergroup2005-09-10.flac | ||
| crgaston
Advanced Member Username: crgaston Post Number: 218 Registered: 11-2005 |
Ummmm..... Wow. Nice mix, and everybody has great tone, that's for sure. Thanks for sharing, Jon. What was the "enhancer" of choice that evening? Great band names, BTW. Charles |
