I'm in a band again! 2023 UPDATE: We won the BOTB again!! Come watch me play Beat It…!!

stickyfiddle

As mentioned in the nano pedalboard thread, I've signed up to play in a work band for a charity battle of the bands. High potential to be cheesy and a bit amateurish, but I thought thought I'd go along and see. 

First rehearsal was today and very much not cheesy. The singer (who instigated the thing) is genuinely fantastic, and we have a decent drummer and pianist who are a bit green but just need to gain a bit of confidence. That alone is a massive relief as all of us was (understandably) nervous that everyone else would be rubbish. 

I'm on bass for now, as there is another guitarist joining us next week, though we may negotiate a couple of songs each and switching it up - it is a talent show after all  

As the first time playing with other decent musicians in a very long time it feels goooooooood. 

axisus

Hey super cool! 

Reminds me of back when I was  .... never in a band ... [sad face]

VimFuego

result! Hope it'll be great fun for you.

stickyfiddle

axisus said:

Hey super cool! 

Reminds me of back when I was  .... never in a band ... [sad face]

Go do it!! There is no time better than right now. 

VimFuego said:

result! Hope it'll be great fun for you.

Yeah, it's ace. It's only an hour this morning so far but we had a couple of songs already functional in half that time, which is just great.

Now I need to come up with a decent longlist of songs, and hope to god the other guitarist isn't shite! 

roberty

Sounds promising, good luck to you

richardhomer

Have a great time. Funnily enough, I’ve been asked to join a band this week. I last played in front of an audience in 1994. I think nerves may be an issue!

thecolourbox

Sounds great, good on you. 

I like how you and the others were nervous that everybody would be rubbish, perhaps this is why I don't get on playing music with others because in the same situation, I'd be more nervous about everybody else being too good haha

AsterixTG

Good stuff - best of luck, hope it's fun.

bertie

well done that man.......................  doesnt half help having a k/b-er   in a band

break a whatsit   

stickyfiddle

thecolourbox said:

Sounds great, good on you. 

I like how you and the others were nervous that everybody would be rubbish, perhaps this is why I don't get on playing music with others because in the same situation, I'd be more nervous about everybody else being too good haha

Dude.. this is my first time playing bass outside my own living room - I was bricking it!! 

Adey

Not a Construction Industry Battle of the Bands is it? ......

fretmeister

stickyfiddle said:

thecolourbox said:

Sounds great, good on you. 

I like how you and the others were nervous that everybody would be rubbish, perhaps this is why I don't get on playing music with others because in the same situation, I'd be more nervous about everybody else being too good haha

Dude.. this is my first time playing bass outside my own living room - I was bricking it!! 

Stand on the high hat side of the kit. Then if the mix is muddy you can see the high hat move as a visual guide. 

Land on the “one” always. Everything else is secondary. A fuck up on the one can throw the whole band. A fuck up on the other beats is just improv.

Dont be afraid to cut the bass on the amp. Far too many players just keep boosting the bass making any boom worse. If you have the technology, cut everything under 30hz anyway. 

stickyfiddle

Adey said:

Not a Construction Industry Battle of the Bands is it? ......

No, it's Law Rocks Dubai (I actually work in "professional services" but we have a legal dept now..!)

Are you in one too?   

stickyfiddle

fretmeister said:

stickyfiddle said:

thecolourbox said:

Sounds great, good on you. 

I like how you and the others were nervous that everybody would be rubbish, perhaps this is why I don't get on playing music with others because in the same situation, I'd be more nervous about everybody else being too good haha

Dude.. this is my first time playing bass outside my own living room - I was bricking it!! 

Stand on the high hat side of the kit. Then if the mix is muddy you can see the high hat move as a visual guide. 

Land on the “one” always. Everything else is secondary. A fuck up on the one can throw the whole band. A fuck up on the other beats is just improv.

Dont be afraid to cut the bass on the amp. Far too many players just keep boosting the bass making any boom worse. If you have the technology, cut everything under 30hz anyway. 

Ta - that's all good guidance. I'm used to stage right for basically everything I've ever done, but we'll see. Otherwise 100% onboard with that.  I may well hit you up for more tips as time goes on.

So far we've done I Got You (I Feel Good) and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and I'm pretty ok with those so far. Blame it on the Boogie next week, then we need some more ideas for a solid setlist. We need 22 mins, so I'm keen to get at least 30 and then choose the best setlist

The good news is the studio we've found is awesome - decent AC, decent PA and good kit all round, non-dented mics(!!), high and low chairs, decent soundproofing and they'll even give us a stereo mix of every session if we want so we can play it back and work on any issues afterwards. 

AND it's a work thing so it's on expenses!  

Adey

I'm doing Construction Rocks in London again this year. I think it's affiliated with Law Rocks.

I've done it a few times and got to play at Scala at King's Cross, which was brill.

It's at Chelsea's ground this year because Scala doesn't have disabled access.

I've moved onto bass too because

a) we seem to get through a lot if bassists, and

b) our stand in bassist was a better guitarist than me ! :-(

fretmeister

stickyfiddle said:

fretmeister said:

stickyfiddle said:

thecolourbox said:

Sounds great, good on you. 

I like how you and the others were nervous that everybody would be rubbish, perhaps this is why I don't get on playing music with others because in the same situation, I'd be more nervous about everybody else being too good haha

Dude.. this is my first time playing bass outside my own living room - I was bricking it!! 

Stand on the high hat side of the kit. Then if the mix is muddy you can see the high hat move as a visual guide. 

Land on the “one” always. Everything else is secondary. A fuck up on the one can throw the whole band. A fuck up on the other beats is just improv.

Dont be afraid to cut the bass on the amp. Far too many players just keep boosting the bass making any boom worse. If you have the technology, cut everything under 30hz anyway. 

Ta - that's all good guidance. I'm used to stage right for basically everything I've ever done, but we'll see. Otherwise 100% onboard with that.  I may well hit you up for more tips as time goes on.

So far we've done I Got You (I Feel Good) and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and I'm pretty ok with those so far. Blame it on the Boogie next week, then we need some more ideas for a solid setlist. We need 22 mins, so I'm keen to get at least 30 and then choose the best setlist

The good news is the studio we've found is awesome - decent AC, decent PA and good kit all round, non-dented mics(!!), high and low chairs, decent soundproofing and they'll even give us a stereo mix of every session if we want so we can play it back and work on any issues afterwards. 

AND it's a work thing so it's on expenses!  

For those tunes the new Mark Bass AG1000 amp would be perfect.... expenses you say!  

rocktron

Playing with mates in a band beats practising at home alone.

Battle Of The Bands competition is good fun, but winning it can get serious!!!

Good times to be had by all. 

stickyfiddle

@fretmeister i don’t think I can wangle that, but petrol money is cover, apparently, which is great because the rest of the band are in Dubai! I was actually v happy with my HX setup. Dead simple but sounded suitably classic. P bass with flats, natch.

@Adey sounds like the same org. Seems like a good event, thought this years has been pencilled in for the Grand Prix weekend so far - apparently they’re changing it…

chillidoggy

I think congrats are in order!

DesVegas

Nothing like being in a new band (as long as everyone gets along)

Do you know how the voting / winner is chosen?

I've been in battle of the bands where the winner is basically which ever band brings the most crowd to support them as there was a crowd vote at the end of the day.. not much fun if you live in Cambridge and the battle was in london

stickyfiddle

Yeah, it’s good fun so far and no problem egos apparent just yet. 

No idea on scoring but we think it’s essentially who is the most crowd-pleasing. Our company is about 10x the size of the others, so we’re hopeful of a good turnout