| Author | Message | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3431 Registered: 10-2002 |
As you'll no doubt recall, I left Big Tuna in July in the hope of finding something more interesting and fun to fill my time. Well, after a few months of pretty intensive rehearsing I'm pleased to say both of my new bands are ready to gig. First off, my Grateful dead tribute 'Wildflower seed' will be performing at a charity fundraiser at the Bruce arms Hotel, Limekilns (in Fife) on friday october 4th. As the newbies, we're on first, playing around an hour long set (and I only have to take one instrument as the backline is being provided by the other bands woohoo!). Songs will include truckin, Big Boss man, Stella Blue, Scarlet Begonias and a few others. There's not a huge 'dead' scene in central Scotland so I think this band will be travelling further afield to get gigs. There's some rehearsal recordings onreverbnation which aren't as bad as they could be - check out the drumming :-) Next, I'm hitting the covers band circuit again with The Signs, an established band who have been a lot of fun to rehearse with - they have no respect for the original material which is great for me as it means I can be a bit more inventive with my parts. (the website is undergoing a refurb so pay no attention just now) We have quite a few gigs lined up already for the end of the year kicking of at the Ettrick Bar, Dumbarton on Saturday 19th October then several more across the central belt in November and december. Playing new music with these two bands after 9 years of the same old stuff has been a breath of fresh air for me. I just wish I'd done it 3 years ago :-) Graeme | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1587 Registered: 10-2006 |
"....they have no respect for the original material which is great...." The only way to do covers! Have fun with both, and keep us posted. Peter | ||
| dadabass2001
Senior Member Username: dadabass2001 Post Number: 1773 Registered: 6-2002 |
I've always loved Scarlet Begonias since I first heard it on Mars Hotel. Have a blast, Graeme! Mike | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3433 Registered: 10-2002 |
A couple more recordings from rehearsals have been put up on our reverb nations site. Ramble on Rose and Scarlet begonias (we segue into fire on the mountain from scarlet but there's an 8Mb limit on each download on the site so it gets missed off ). Looking forward to friday :-) Graeme | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3646 Registered: 6-2002 |
Nice playing Jacko, sounds like you have been doing some studying up on Phil's playing. Which bass were you using? Jazzyvee | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3435 Registered: 10-2002 |
Thanks V. I doubt very much if I'd ever be up to Phil's standard as he had a full classical music education so he has a very good idea of which notes he can get away with - I'm just busking it most of the time. Luckily for me, most of our tunes so far have been pretty straightforward and the rest of the band have been encouraging me to stretch out well past the 12th fret (out of bounds in the last band!). So far I've only been using the Sig Deluxe 5 string with this band while we work up a decent number of songs although I did toy with playing the fretless rogue on Stella Blue. Maybe when I'm comfortable with the music I'll bring the fretless in for some of the less agressive numbers (veering slightly, at last night's covers rehearsal the singer suggested we try Paul young's 'wherever I lay my hat' - now that is a real fretless workout - looking forward to learning that one) graeme | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3647 Registered: 6-2002 |
Well I've spent the past couple of afternoons listening to some dead head on-line radio station and so I can hear where you are going with the bass lines. One of the bands I play in is a kind of folky musically and as it's not stuff I'm normally exposed to as a player i'm still working out what kind of tone I should be using on the tracks. Many of my bass lines feel like they would work better in the music with a fretless so I've been experimenting with the filters to give me some of that sound. So maybe I should be looking in that direction at some point. I'm gonna see if I can get that kind of tone you have on those songs as I think it would work well for some of the tracks we do. It sounds like you are using a pick. Good luck with the Paul Young. I remember being asked to learn Hit me with your rhythm stick for a gig then it got dropped on the night and I spent ages learning it too. Jazzyvee | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3436 Registered: 10-2002 |
Only ever use my fingers V. I don't even try to slap nowadays. Depending on the recording, the amp would either have been a huge peavey rig (but with very limited tone controls) or a really nasty sounding HH 100 watt with a 2x15 cab. In both cases it can take quite a while to get a bass sound that isn't too nasally. i kep telling the studios they need to upgrade their gear. The guitar amps are all Marshall. Graeme | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3438 Registered: 10-2002 |
On this reverbnation link there are a couple of live recordings from the Wildflower Seed first gig - Ramble on Rose and the jam from Scarlet begonias into Fire on the mountain (gets a bit spacey in places). We went down pretty well which surprised me a bit as I didn't think there were that many deadheads in Scotland :-) Graeme | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5556 Registered: 7-2004 |
Graeme: We are everywhere! Bill, tgo | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11195 Registered: 5-2002 |
I liked what you're doing on the transition from Scarlet Begonias to Fire on the Mountain. Phil's is a whole 'nother approach to bass; and it sounds like you're getting into the spirit of it. Didn't hear any harmony vocals on Ramble on Rose; but glad to hear you're doing it, it's a great tune. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3442 Registered: 10-2002 |
So tomorrow night is my first gig with the Signs and BOY! are we under-rehearsed. Should be fun. 10pm The Etttrick Bar, Old Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire. oh - the singer left Wildflower Seed after just one gig. :-( graeme | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 11210 Registered: 5-2002 |
Hope you find another singer soon. Maybe you can get Bill to come over and fill in. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5569 Registered: 7-2004 |
Just send a plane! hehehehe Bill, tgo | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3443 Registered: 10-2002 |
Bill & Dave. If I could afford the plane from SF to edinburgh I'd be using the ticket myself to come back and visit you :-) Great gig by the way. No major mistakes - loads of comments from the audience saying how great the bass sounded - and no-one telling me to turn down !!! Graeme | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3452 Registered: 10-2002 |
Couple of Signs gigs coming up, both on the wrong side of Glasgow 9th November - O'Donnells bar at the Glenhead tavern, Duntocher 16th November - the Ettrick bar, old kilpatrick (with a stand in drummer - should be interesting) Graeme | ||
| edwin
Senior Member Username: edwin Post Number: 1652 Registered: 5-2002 |
Jazzy, I'd suggest looking into Thomastik flat wound strings. They get a very different tone from rounds and even from other flats, more in the classic Lesh mode, but are quite versatile. I think they also respond to filter changes really well. In fact, I find that the filter based preamps are much more suited to flats than rounds in some ways. Great work, Graeme! I'm glad to see someone spreading this music in your area (one of my ancestral homelands). It's a lot of fun for a bass player, as you get to channel Bach and Brahms as well as Jamerson. | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3454 Registered: 10-2002 |
Couple of photos from Saturday's gig. One of the stage showing the amount of gear a 'small' pub band has to drag around and one of the band.   The old act never used to let me get that close to the front :-) Graeme | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3476 Registered: 10-2002 |
Here we are in a brand new year and already the calendar is filling up with gigs for the Signs. 11th january. The Ettrick Bar. Old Kilpatrick 17th January. Behind the Wall. Falkirk 25th January. The Duchess of Kirkcaldy. If you're likely to be in the area drop in and tell all your friends too. Graeme (Message edited by jacko on January 07, 2014) | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3481 Registered: 10-2002 |
Here's a photo of the Bass corner from saturday's gig at the Duchess. Really nice venue with a huge PA and a sound guy capable of using it (he listens to the performers requests too!!) Probably around 250 cuustomers cheering us on.  can't wait to get back there in March Graeme | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3839 Registered: 6-2002 |
Heavyweight rig. Jazzyvee (Message edited by jazzyvee on January 27, 2014) | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3489 Registered: 10-2002 |
Good news - the original Wildflower Seed singer is back in the fold having worked out his demons. We have a few gigs coming up in April and May. Meanwhile, the Signs will be back at O'Donnells in clydebank this saturday kicking off around 9.30. Graeme | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3497 Registered: 10-2002 |
I have a gig with The Signs this Saturday back at the Duchess of Kirkcaldy then on April 13th Wildflower Seed will be playing at the Market arms in Montrose (near aberdeen). Hoping to get a good video with decent sound from the latter. Graeme | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3517 Registered: 10-2002 |
So, without preamble (and I stil haven't figured out exactly why) I was asked to leave the signs for 'personality and musical issues'. Came as a total shock to me.. as far as I was concerned we'd played some storming gigs and were having fun. However, The singer has decided that I'm not 'gelling' and his word is law so I'm now looking for a new covers band to fill the space. Still, I do have a gig this Sunday with Wildflower Seed at the Market Arms in Montrose. 6pm start. Graeme | ||
| oddmetersam
Advanced Member Username: oddmetersam Post Number: 344 Registered: 7-2008 |
Well, first of all, my condolences. It's no fun when there are band conflicts -- especially those that blindside us. For the past 30 years I've followed these rules: 1) I only play in equal-partnership bands that are ruled by committee. If there's a bandleader who calls the shots and I'm not really a full-fledged member, then I have to be on retainer as a hired gun like any other straight job. 2) Unless I'm touring with Seal, James Taylor (a la Jimmy J.) or a comparably badass and professionally established singer, then I only play in instrumental bands. How many bands have we otherwise played in where the singer was actually the worst musician in the group but at the same time the frontperson or focus of the audience? Isn't a band only as good as its weakest link? The last time I played in a vocal band the lead singer asked why I prefer instrumentals. I told him the "vocals are too often unintelligible, unintelligent and get in the way of the music". The look on his face was priceless. Of course, my mouth was smiling. But my eyes were not.... 3) The smaller the band, the better. I prefer trios. More room to stretch and with each successive addition to the group, the potential for conflicts and BS goes up logarithmically (LOL). To say nothing of the expanded band footprint, stage volume, etc. Of course, my instrumental trio, Sizemo, only gigs once every 9 1/2 months, so what do I know? | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 3945 Registered: 6-2002 |
Sorry to hear about that Jacko. I don't imagine it will be long before you get offers to join another band. All the best with that mate. Like Sam, my preference is instrumental bands but I don't object to playing in bands with vocalists as long as they sing well and, if they are the songwriter in an original music band, know how to work their songs. I've left two bands in recent years because the singer songwriter, whilst having decent songs, was unable to stick to an arrangement or willing to take guidance on how to rehearse a band to be it tight from someone else who was more than capable of bringing the songs to fruition. Hence the the bands never settled, the songs never became consistently right, no-one was ever sure where the changes were and I got to the point where I'd had enough. Within days or weeks of me leaving so did other members of the bands fell apart. Jazzyvee | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 5710 Registered: 7-2004 |
Greame: Well you still have Wildflower Seed playing Dead style - I would assume that's more fun for a bass player. Band drama is such a bummer. But, as our beloved brother Paul, tbo, used to say: "there will always be another one". Meanwhile, look at the silver lining - you have more time to tool around in your MG! Bill, tgo | ||
| jacko
Senior Member Username: jacko Post Number: 3518 Registered: 10-2002 |
Thanks for the kind thoughts fellas. I spoke to the drummer on friday evening and he had been as surprised as me that the singer and guitarist had gone behind everyones backs to bring the old bass player back in. He left last august but has apparently been regretting his decision ever since. After he guested on a couple of songs at a gig in January he's been making overtures to the singer to come back. In a way, it would have been less upsetting if they'd just told me the truth instead of coming out with the 'personality' crap. Hey-ho - you live and learn. At least last night's gig with the Seeds was good fun in spite of the 200 mile round trip. Quite a large 'deadhead' contingent turned up and we played a couple of great sets. We even had the organiser for the summer of love festival fly up from London to see what we were like. Hopefully we'll get an invite to play the festival next summer. Next gig is a bike rally down in Dumfriesshire on the 26th - another 200 mile round trip. graeme | ||
| pauldo
Senior Member Username: pauldo Post Number: 1124 Registered: 6-2006 |
Graeme, I fully embrace the ideal of 'being told the truth'. Too bad the ex-band mates were too insecure to be honest with you. For some people having integrity with their words is very hard. But like you said, hey- ho; if anyone has been in more than one band then they certainly have experienced a wide diversity of personalities. Bands can be like dysfunctional families. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 2358 Registered: 10-2003 |
I've been in a few of those situations, Graeme, and it always was something silly behind it. I pretty much play what I want, how I want (but of course try to fit the style and groove, and keep the drummer smiling), and it has eventually worked out. Keep fighting the good fight (grooving the good groove?) and the right musicians will seek you out for your unique abilities and musical personality. Attend some open jams and meet new faces. The gigs will come. John |
