Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Community => Gigs => Topic started by: speicky on September 24, 2006, 11:02:26 AM
-
After fourteen years of stage absence, I am honoured to be part of a charity concert on October 1st, 2006 at the catholic church in Hofheim/Wallau near Wiesbaden/Germany with three fellow musicians who asked me to gig with them a few months ago. Here is a photo we took yesterday:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/31777.jpg)
Please keep your fingers crossed for us, and ever better: join if you're around !
Christian
-
Christian,
Congratulations. Charity gigs are all well worth the effort, way to go. What kind of music will you be playing?
Mike
-
We are just another piece of the whole cake. There will be choirs singing traditionals, there will be groups performing gospels, and there's also a string quartet.
We will play four songs right at the very end of the event: start with Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, go on with Summertime from George Gershwin, followed by an own composition Elements... last song will be Bangin' Man of Slade, that shall empty the house ;-)
man if it only was Sunday already, I feel like a racing horse in the box !
Christian
-
Stairway to Heaven is the perfect song for Peggy I guess, nice picture and good luck!
-
Stairway to Heaven at church, well I never....
-
Yeah... hmmm, many people here do not care too much about the lyrics, but it's a great song of the '70s that many people know and like to hear. I am not too happy with it because we are the amateur band #12,798 in Germany performing STH.
For now, we are playing the songs that folks love to hear. We are playing together since June and you gotta start somewhere. In the future, we want to create selfwritten noise :-)
Flip: Peggy will attend !
Christian
-
amateur band #12,798 in Germany performing STH. That's pretty good, who hasn't covered LZ? We didn't do much Zep, maybe How Many More Times? or Thank you.
Ah, selfwritten noise, gotta love it. Good luck, I hope you wow the crowd.
Ist Wiesbaden im Rheinland-Pfalz Bereich? Sein eine lange Zeit gewesen seit damals. Mein Vater war im US Milit?r. Wir wohnten in Deutschland f?r r?ber f?nf Jahre. Einige der besten Ged?chtnisse meines Lebens.
-
Thank you very much, Michael. email sent...
-
E-mail replied to. unforturnately, I can't check my e-mail from work, so response time will be delayed. Sorry for the horrible German, lol. It was a long time ago and there isn't much need for it in Texas. At least not in the Dallas area.
-
Thank you, Michael, I read your reply this morning. Very impressive, very moving. Every day should start with so much positive vibrations.
Your German is very good compared to my Chinese, especially in writing ;-) I appreciated it.
-
Thanks, it was good to reminisce. Europe has a lot to offer.
Back to the post. Banging Man, never heard it and couldn't find a sample on the web.
Peggy...is the infamous JJudge bass?
-
Cool looking group of chaps. Looks like a fun, enthusiastic bunch.
-
Peggy (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8625)
Peggy
(Message edited by fc_spoiler on September 27, 2006)
-
Thank you, Flip, you owe me a computer monitor and a keyboard ;-) I just logged in, checked your links, wondered why they were twice the same, took a mouth full of beer...
and realized the joke !
ROFL ! Thanks again, it was just what I needed after a long day in the office, a really good laugh !
Christian
-
Sorry for the computer monitor and a keyboard... The credits for the joke go to Bill, tgo (http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8334) btw.
-
Well, Bill alright... I'll sue him, hihi. I think it's time to give up the day job, I just cannot spot all the jokes here in time !
-
by the way... what does it take to complete the three big B on this thread ? Can anyone help ?
-
What is the the three big B?
-
What is the the three big B?
Basses, Bikes and Beer. The circle is complete.
Keith
-
So, can you ride a Harley on the Autobahn?
Mike
-
Probably not after the beer though.
-
How in the world did I miss that? Thanks, Keith. The balance has been restored.
Fili mi boni bili selli alis dominos.
-
DANG !
Keith made it, congratulations. The day after our small appearance at church, we are performing a larger gig on a local Harley convention. Strange combi... Sunday in church, Monday with rockers. It will rock, I'm sure. Here's a link: www.harleycrewwallau.de (http://www.harleycrewwallau.de)
I will post pics (if requested, if not, I'll post even more).
Christian
-
I'm not gonna request any pictures....
-
Christian, we have Church on Sunday with a bunch of Rockers.
Thus we are truly HOLY-ROLLERS.
-
Oh, yeah, Olie. Well we....uh, hmmm, you've seen what we do...which leads me to this. A lot, and I mean a lot, of the Christian Rock being played today is unabashedly heavy stuff. Remove the lyrics and it's as edgy, if not more, than alternative rock. I defy anyone to tell the difference. Some of it, such as Manafest, is too extreme for me. But we won't be doing that in church.
FC - that's pretty funny.
-
I'm OK with the hard stuff. It's not what I'd probably listen to but it's the lyrics that IMHO make the tune what it is.
Mike, what you guys do at your church is way cool. A lot of church's would frown on playing secular music in church. To much religion in those churchs. I tell people, I'm not religious I'm a Christian.
Livin' by love not by law.
Olie
TCO
-
Christian, good luck and play well this Sunday. You never mentioned what kind of charity you're supporting. And please honor Flip's non-request request.
-
I just got back from rehearsal half past midnight. I get more and more excited, only 36 hours left...
I have searched for a clip of Banging Man for you, Michael, but I did not get any audio. It was a rather major hit for Slade in '73, at least here in Europe. I'll try to get the music from vynil on to my PC, my bother soldered me an analog/digital transducer, but I only managed to record 60 second pieces of music with Bill Gates' windows recorder. At least, it will give you an idea of the song, though.
Or, you may wait till our Bootleg in Wallau Church is being spread around the globe :-)
Christian
-
Don't go out of your way for the tune. The bootleg version will be just fine, lol. Back in '73 I was a dirty-kneed 10 year old, so it's not any wonder that I'm not familiar with them.
good luck tomorrow,
Mike
-
MIKE! you were 10 in 73, WOW! you're old DUDE.
-
Just as old as others, eh old timer? ;)
Christian, I've gotta tell you I keep scrolling up to the top and gazing at your bass. I'm thinking I want a Spoiler. But alas, you can't have champagne when living on a beer budget.
-
Maybe not champagne but you colud have California Sparkling White Wine.
-
Can you yougsters keep the noise down. us old timers are trying to catch a nap ;-)
Graeme
-
Can you youngsters keep the noise down. us old timers are trying to catch a nap ;-)
Graeme
-
you are ok by me, Graeme, I KNOW I AM LATE ! LOL ! Give you an update of was happening in the past:
Oct 1st: carrying equipment to church, playing, carrying equipment back home, having dinner and a lill good-night drink
Oct 2nd: having fun for eight hours with useless paperwork in the office, carrying equipment to Harley cave, playing our a**es off, carrying equipment back home, having a hardcore booze with hell raisers, dying
Oct 3rd: public German holiday (Unity celebration). still stone-cold, but recovering...
Oct 4th: another day in the office, and finally got home to post you some news...
Glad to be HOME again :-)
Christian
-
Well, I checked the digicam and unfortunately, there are only a few pics that I can offer you... we had a fairly good time playing at church, and the choir behind us was very.... polite und patient :-) Here goes:
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/32072.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/32073.jpg)
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/65124/32074.jpg)
The camerawork was done by my 12-year-old, Christian jr. He has also made a very cool video with the camera, while we performed "Bangin Man". Might be something you're keen on, Mike ? Maybe I put it up on youtube for all to see... I have to go on tomorrow, there's much more paper piles to be moved by me in the office, and a 42-year-old needs sleep sometimes ! Christian
-
Boy, that's a big bass when you see it being worn! I can only see one chorister smiling though - the rest look a bit 'disapproving'- Perhaps they've seen the first fret inlay ;-)
Graeme
-
Aah, Graeme, you got it ! That's why...
I removed the octave strings on the fretted neck and adjusted the neck accordingly. I thought the girls noticed that I forgot to reinstall the TRC...
-
Way to go Speicky! Great pics! (though not requested)
-
awesome!
just out of curiousity, why did you remove the octave strings?
that thing must weigh a ton. do you use a back brace when playing it? (my 5-string weighs in at 14 lbs, so i've taken to wearing one under my shirt on gigs. nobody can tell and now i can play it all night).
-
Christian,
Great pics! Awesome to see Peggy hard at work. I see you're using both necks, too! Very cool...
John
-
Thank you all for your appreciation...
I felt I had to play four string, because my fingers are quite skinny. I had a real buzzing problem with octave strings on. In addition, I like a wider string spacing for my right hand. No offense, Tim, I know you are NOT implying that mylady Peggy may have a weight problem ??? LOL... I love to suffer that way, and with the wide strap it is not a real issue. I already played her for over one hour, and still felt comfortable. It's just that wide strap, I do not need any brace or cushion (yet).
Well spotted, John, I played the first song on the fretless neck, started STH fretless, and moved to the fretted neck during this number. That was really cool, some people in the audience also noticed what was going on.
It moves my heart when some teenager come after the gig, impressed of the bass and the sound, and ask silly questions or just stare... just like me twenty years ago when I admired JAE, Stanley and Mark King, saw the logo of their Alembics frequently, and knew that I would NEVER be able to afford one. And even IF, there is no dealer within a thousand miles ! Nowadays, computer and communication technology make it possible that everybody can search and gather information within seconds, and there is money and goods being moved through eBay... phew !
Once again, thank you all !
Christian
-
interesting about the octave strings. i am a recent convert to 8-string. i have very skinny fingers as well. so far playing an 8-string has not a problem for me. it looks as if yours is set up like mine (bass string below octave). i use pretty much the same fingering techinque as i do on the fretless and nary a buzz. the octave and bass string are very close together on mine (much closer than they appear to be on yours), right hand technique is not a problem and i have yet to get tripped up.
i think the combination of 8-string and fretless sound is killer - i go back and forth between them a lot. it gives the sound guy fits, though, especially when i throw a 5 string into the mix.
-
Yes, Tim, the bass strings are below the octaves, and I like it that way. I did not manage to find out about your current eight-string, I just remember the graphite fretless that dwmark snatched (lucky you, no hole in your head). So, I cannot compare the spacing between bass and octave string on both basses. However, the spacing on Peggy is quite huge, there is not much space between the bass E and octave a and so on. It seems not a double four string, but (virtually) an eight string, with a very much more narrow spacing than Trip Wamsley's Ocean Blue or the Eight String King which are real eight strings.
I want to play Peggy with octave strings with The Fakers, as we are a trio, and I am forced to produce even more noise than in a quartet with two guitar players. I don't when it will happen, let's just see, what future may bring...
Chris
-
this is the 8-string spyder that i bought from oliver this spring. there are probably better pictures of it around but these should give you some idea of the string spacing. it plays like a 4 string...
http://i12.tinypic.com/30ldyxv.jpg (http://i12.tinypic.com/30ldyxv.jpg)
and another....
http://i12.tinypic.com/33c3qf9.jpg (http://i12.tinypic.com/33c3qf9.jpg)
-
Tim, forgive me, I am a nitwit ! Of course it's Oliver's Spyder, I know... well, the Harley party still seems to take it's tolls ;-)
A great bass, I saw it live on stage when Oliver did his first gig with WHO ARE YOU back in 2005. Play her in good health !
-
it's So Cool to see such Rare alembic at work!.....keep beatin the sh#t out of her!
-
YEAH ! Thank you, Keavin, I promise I will ! All the best to you and S/N 12, keep funkin' the world... I sincerely believe that fried ice cream IS a reality !
Christian
-
Christian,
Wow, looks like you've had a busy week, it's a shame that things like work get in the way of livin'.
I must echo FC's thanks for the non requested photos. Peggy looks great. I'm glad to see that you're not letting her idle away her time as a show piece. A bass like that needs to be played and seen.
Mike
-
You are absolutely right, Mike, but I will not show her around like the elephant man or some other circus attraction. I did not play Peggy at the Harley gig... My first thought was cool, two American dreams unite, but the place just was not right. The stage was rather small, and I was afraid I could break her by accident. Also, I knew before about the party after the party...
I believe there are just a very few hundred people in Germany (with over 80 million habitants) who know about the history and the value of Alembic basses and guitars, most of the folks are just curious and interested. wow, why does it have two necks, interesting painting, uh, you mean, it's no paint, what do all the knobs do... The general public does not know anything, and that's alright. They shall enjoy the show. I did not yet meet a music professional who knew the brand or the logo when he saw one of my basses. Well, as long as we all know, I can live with it !