Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Community => Gigs => Topic started by: edwardofhuncote on January 03, 2019, 04:30:21 AM
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Nothing to see here yet...
...but I got an email yesterday evening from Gabe, the Harwell-Grice Band (manager/bookings) wanting to know how I was doing and when I thought I might be ready to return. So I gave them the update, and told them I'd like to try a couple low-impact jobs in February, and see if I can hack it, then maybe some longer nights. Figure I'll know pretty quick what my physical limitations are going to be by how I feel. Got myself a Hover Harness system, that should take all the weight off my shoulders and neck. http://www.hoverharness.com/ In between sets, or just for general purposes, I got this nice, comfortable stool to play from. Even taken some steps at lightening up my gig-rig by going more modular. I've been rethinking just about everything... I sold a couple basses, got a couple more to go. Gear is only the beginning, and everything is on the table when considering doing whatever it takes to keep playing.
Musically, I'm ready to play. Physically... we'll just have to see how this goes. I really miss playing music with the guys, and durn it, I miss performing. Hope it works out so I can pick up where we left off.
It's Alembic's 50th year, and mine... let's get it started.
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What’s your traveling situation amp wise? I took my SWR Redhead to be serviced recently and the guy told me technology has changed the way they are making power modules, getting rid of tons of weight. I’m sure I’m way behind the curve because once I got the RedHead, and a Bayby Blue for small rooms, I quit fooling with amps. These are both tube and have really served me well. It’s funny, one time I was playing a swing band job and rolled in the Redhead and a guy said “you bass players and your huge amps.” I thought... you would rather I bring SVT 8x10 refrigerator I used to use?!😊
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My main rig has been a Mesa WalkAbout in a Scout 15 radiator combo-cab. When docked together, they are about 75 lbs. I've never once been dissatisfied with it. This thing absolutely KILLS, but getting it from the house to the car, and from the car to the stage is a problem I don't need. So I put it up for sale, (locally) and will be using my backup/upright rig, which is an Acoustic Image Clarus II, a small 2 channel, 300w (@ 4 ohm) Class D amp with a nice DI that carries in a shoulder bag, and a pair of Bag End SD cabinets, each weighing 25 lbs or less. Once the Mesa sells, I'm considering a Quilter Bass Block 800. https://www.quilterlabs.com/index.php/products/bassblock-amplifiers/bass-block-in-depth
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Nice rig . I have been using my little GK MB150S as my little bass amp for about two decades . It makes a great coffee house rig. Ron Carter once recommended it to me when I went to attend a performance of his back in the mid 1990s . I have replaced the aging speaker in it once with an OEM replacement from GK .It was an easy task .
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I recently picked up a Quilter 101 mini reverb guitar head. Two pounds, 50 real watts, class D power section, (there goes most of the weight!), and it keeps up with a full band and sounds quite good with headroom to spare. It really is a little tiny magic box! If their bass block is anywhere near as good, you'll be very happy with it. They also have several light matching cabs. I got the 1x10 for guitar and it weighs only 15 pounds. I'm waiting for delivery on the 2x8 which supposedly sounds as full as a 4x12 while weighing 25 pounds!
Bill, tgo
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Thanks Bill, Wolf, and Allen... it's all the fun, academic part now, just looking at what's out there. Hopefully somebody around here will take that WalkAbout/Scout 15 offa' my hands and I'll flip the funds into something more user-friendly.
Bill, one of the guitar players I work with turned me onto the Quilter product line... he also uses the 101 Mini-Reverb, and a single 12 cab he had a guy build for him specifically to simulate a certain thing... like an open-backed Fender but not quite. Anyway, I like the simplicity, the lightweight build, clean power, with plenty of headroom, and a decent DI out. It ticks all the boxes. I'm a little bit worried about how many are showing up on the used market, but I think what makes the Quilter BB 800 attractive to me may actually be a turnoff for some - not enough knobs. Maybe?
Anyway, the first round of 2019 gigs just rolled in, and I have accepted them. The first one confirmed is on 2/23.
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Gregory, are you worried about too many or too few on the used market? There are currently 3 on reverb and only 1 used on eBay. One thing that stands out to me is that across the line-up, used Quilters seem to hold their price quite well, usually only around 20% off the new price. I did notice that the 800 employs the Quilter two-knob tone stack. It seems a little weird to me - that's one reason I grabbed the 101 Mini Reverb, it has a more traditional bass/mid/treble tone stack, albeit with the mid being active. I have talked to a few players who have the Quilter tone stack. They tell me that, once they got used to it, it worked for them.
Bill, tgo
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May I suggest that you check out the Mesa D800. It absolutely kills. http://mesaboogie.com/amplifiers/bass/subway-series/subway-d800/index.html
5.5 lbs and it comes with a carry bag. Since 2 new Mesa Subway line heads have been released since the D800, some are going used on Talkbass classifieds for $500 to $550. Probably more amp than you will ever need, but an excellent amp.
Many small lightweight cabs to choose from these days. A favorite seems to be the Audiokinesis Hathor 1203. http://www.audiokinesis.com/hathor-1203.html
A little pricey, but what good thing isn't?
If you'd prefer a combo, the GK stuff is great as well; 30 to 39 lbs, depending on how much power you need.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MB210-2--gallien-krueger-mb210-ii-2x10-inch-500-watt-ultra-light-bass-combo-with-horn
As always, playing anything before buying is recommended.
Good luck in your recovery and getting back to playing.
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Greg, glad to see you are back at it! I have a GK MB200, small, 200W, and only two pounds. I use it for practice, but it would work well for small gigs too. -Rob
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Glad to hear you will be back playing for the public soon! So anyone else just have a hard time trading the tubes for lightweight and convenience? Or I guess a better way to ask... those of you that have gone to the ultra lightweight amps... do you miss the tubes at all? Age old debate I guess, that I’m sure has been discussed hear. Maybe it’s in my head, but I’m missing the “feeling” of the tubes when I play a solid state. My back is much better, Greg, than when we spoke last week. I think I’m ok to lift, it’s the twisting and bending for long periods that gets me. And by the way, met a guy today that wants me to play swing band with his group, so I’ll get those pics of the upright to you soon. (I know... been saying that for a while now!😊
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Gregory, are you worried about too many or too few on the used market? There are currently 3 on reverb and only 1 used on eBay. One thing that stands out to me is that across the line-up, used Quilters seem to hold their price quite well, usually only around 20% off the new price...
I think what I've probably seen Bill, is the impulse-buy gear junkies that grabbed them quickly and then decided it wasn't for them. The ones I've seen have been in the TalkBass Classifieds almost weekly. (or maybe it's the same poor unit, over and over?! ;D No quibbles on the used price though... they seem to be, as you say, holding their own. And I don't care that much about resale. I tend to just keep stuff forever... I still have the Crate Acoustic 125 I toured with back in the 90's believe it or not. A capacitor or something in it somewhere flakes out every so often, so I don't gig it anymore. Can't bring myself to pitch it, and nobody's had any luck fixing it.
@soflbass (sorry, can't remember your name... was it Ken?) the Mesa D-800 and the Plus model is on my list too. I really don't have any particular gripe with the WalkAbout amp, and I could just pull it out of the combo-cab and use it, but then I'd be kinda' stuck with trying to sell/ship a 50-some lb. weird cab with a passive radiator that doesn't work too well with much else. It is absolutely violent with that WalkAbout amp docked in it though. FWIW, Mesa now has an 800w version of the WalkAbout sorta' mixed with the D-800.
And Allen, anytime man... I am actually working in my shop again finally. The first big job, coincidentally, is an American Standard upright, with what I believe is probably a busted neck block. Must confess, I also came into another DeArmond Starfire II recently, that I will probably convert to fretless once Mica gets the Custom pickups and mounts done for the other one just like it. I have discovered that short-scale hollow-bodies are quite comfortable to play, especially when seated.
Thanks for the encouragement fellas - much appreciated!
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After a very long break from live music, I played my first gig of 2019 last night; the first since last September. The Harwell-Grice Band was at a Fire Department fundraiser in the big auditorium at Franklin Co. High School, so I got to try out the new Mesa D-800/Bag End rig in a pretty fair test. (I'm quite pleased with the results!)
Also, this was my first gig with a Series bass... I had the lighter Starfire along for backup, and my chair backstage too, but it was just one set. I just couldn't put it down... will have more reflection on this later, but suffice to say I have a very deep appreciation for the comments about these things that led me here. :)
*Somewhere on someone's device, there exists video of a fan-requested, Dead-inspired "Deep Elum Blues", from last night's show that will perhaps be posted publicly somewhere... I'll ask about that, and post a link back here if possible. It was a pretty good jam. :)
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The bass looks good on you!
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Lookin’ good! Cool looking Starfire too, have you covered up the F holes?
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Yessir, love my Starfire too... the short scale, lighter weight, and that big hollow body makes them very comfortable to play, especially if I'm tired and needing to play seated. I got that one locally at quite a bargain, as it was supposed to be a factory second, but there was no apparent flaw, and it isn't marked as such either, so who knows. The stock Guild Bisonics on these Newark St. models sound fantastic. I have another DeArmond Starfire with the Westerly pickups, and there to me they are different as night and day. There are qualities in both that I like, but these new Bisonics are quite good.
I think maybe what you're seeing Rob, is the camera flash making the f-holes appear lighter instead of dark. The green is also a bit more subtle IRL than it appears here... more of a deep forest green. ;)
The bass looks good on you!
Thanks Dave! ;)
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Couple more pictures from Saturday night. I don't get photographed a lot while playing... usually I just get one of the guys to take one with my phone before or after a set. Someone else caught these. Josh makes us all laugh, and occasionally cringe. (he's the reason I had those breakaway 1/4" cables made for my Alembics, by the way) ::)
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Our neo-oldtyme band, New River Bound https://m.facebook.com/NewRiverBound/ , joined by Dancemaster Scott Sarver is playing at an annual charity dance for the Addy Grace Foundation tonight. https://addygracefoundation.com/
The Barn Dance fundraiser has turned into a fairly popular community event in the last couple years, so much that we've had to move it to a much larger venue last year, and I wouldn't be surprised if there were a sellout crowd again tonight.
It's a long day... load-in at 3:30, soundcheck at 5:30, downbeat at 6:00 and we're on until 9:00. I am looking forward to playing though... I feel good today, (amazing what a couple 70° days can do!) and it's always a blast when we get to work with Scott. Now, which basses do I take...?
*I should have some action shots of us to post tomorrow, as there are always a bunch of photographers there.
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New River Bound, joined by fiddler emeritus Kat(herine) Maness, and Ted McAllister on rhythm guitar, had a fine time last night playing for the Addy Grace Foundation fundraiser. There was a huge turnout, and thanks to a matching sponsor they got to a $40,000 milestone.
Kat -if you remember- filled in with us last year while Caleb was in the throes of courtship and subsequent matrimony, and she now has walk-on privileges with the band anytime she feels like it. Two fiddlers are always better than one in our view. Ted came up and joined us for a few tunes as well, adding to the rhythm. A Virginia Reel can go on for 15 minutes depending upon how many couples are in the set, so a tune can be a matter of endurance. Thankfully, we get a few minutes rest between each dance to recover.
I decided since the old Series I is getting new frets this week, to squeeze one more gig out of the originals... I split the show evenly between 77-621 & C14588. I continue to be amazed at how much alike they are... 40 years and a generation apart, yet there it is. I made no adjustments to the amp settings at all switching from one bass to the other. Generally had the same filter settings I always do. They just sound freakishly similar.
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Curious about the direction you faced the cabs.
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Curious about the direction you faced the cabs.
The Wall Of Sound guys got the blueprint 90° off one time... I was attempting to recreate the moment. ;D
Nah, the FOH guy had me direct, so the cabs are just my stage monitor. He specifically asked that I not have them pointed at that large-diaphragm condenser mic or the audience. That somewhat narrowed my options... but it sounded very good up there at a relatively low-medium volume. I was sending him a pre signal from the D-800, and running everything basically flat except for the 'voicing' knob.
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Ah!
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The Harwell-Grice Band is playing Saturday evening at Hammer & Forge Brewing Co. in Boones Mill, Virginia, so if any of you happen to be traveling the U.S. 220 corridor drop on in for a cold frosty one, but be careful - Boones Mill is an infamous speed trap. 45 mph is not merely a suggestion.
https://www.hammerandforgebrewing.com/
(I'm serious about that speedtrap thing...)
https://www.roanoke.com/news/local/franklin_county/boones-mill-retires-police-muscle-car-feared-by-speeders/article_bee4a9ce-8a82-5e68-9a3a-1d4ecf81d434.amp.html
I'm thinking about taking along 81D 1986... it's been sounding mighty sweet in practice this week, and there's just something about playing a Distillate at a distillery that somehow seems fitting. I'm thinking the Guild Starfire II will ride shotgun.
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HGB had a BIG time playing for Hammer & Forge Brewing Co. yesterday evening, as they celebrated their second year. The craft beer industry is alive and well here in Virginia, which is also good for the live music industry... Hammer & Forge, like many other local breweries, has become a regular gig for bands like us. We shared the day with two other bands yesterday. It's a good thing that's going on.
With Josh on vacation (or something...?) our buddy Ernie was in on resonator guitar, which is always a treat. Gabe can carry the frontman responsibilities just fine, and did... finishing up the first set with a seat-of-the-pants call going from Bill Monroe to Talking Heads - "Wheel Hoss" > "Burnin' Down The House", then to close out the night he took us from "Deep Ellum Blues" > "Women Are Smarter".
I played hard yesterday, played well, most importantly - played smart and took a break when the band did... had my chair right there next to my rig, and used it! Felt a lot better afterwards for it too.
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:)
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Hey, I think I recognize that pedal board?
Bill, tgo
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Yessir, that be the the one Bill... it's with me at every gig nowadays. ;)
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Harwell-Grice Band played a standing gig at the Phoebe Needles Center in Calloway, Virginia last night for a wild-game cook-off. We play for those folks every year, and look forward to the warm welcome. If you're into swapping recipes, there's plenty of them, and for fixing anything imaginable. (and a few critters I don't even want to imagine fixing)
Old #77-621 is still waiting in line for some frets, so I brought it along last night. That bass is so special... they're all special, but I have bonded so quickly and firmly with that particular one. I brought a DeArmond Starfire for backup and 3rd set relief for this really long night. Mica has the pickups of my sunburst one out there at the Mothership with her R&D team working on the alpha-set of DeArmond drop-ins. I think this one may end up with some Alembic activators eventually too, but it somehow got a set of Westerly, RI factory pickups put in it. They sound okay... if a little muddy. I sometimes wish it had Bisonics. I sold the green Guild Starfire that had those. Oops. ::)
But I digress... Calloway, Virginia was absolutely beautiful yesterday evening, and the Phoebe Needles Center is a nice venue. That room can be a little hateful to get the sound dialed-in though. Brian had us squared away by two songs in. The band ate first, then played for three hours, taking only one break. I did try the homemade ice cream. I did not try the strange drink in fruit jars that came out later in the evening, but everyone said it was really good. It was hard to understand them later. :D
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Nice shots of the countryside. The room may be tough to EQ, but the one shot of it looks nice.
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I really like playing at Phoebe Needles'... in spite of the challenges that room presents, the venue and setting more than makes up for it. And not to sell him short; Brian is really good at finding the troublesome frequencies and coaxing the most he can out of our PA. It's a tough night on the rare occasion he's absent.
I didn't take this one, it's from their booking site, but here's the outside of that building. Sometimes they have us playing out on the wrap-around deck. :D
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Ah, a conference center.
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Harwell-Grice Band is playing the Pulaski Radio Show tonight at 7:00. http://www.nrvregionaltheatre.org/the-pulaski-radio-show/
There's a live podcast, but I don't know if you can access it through that link or not... that may just be archived shows. Anyway, the show is structured to play kinda' like thd old Prairie Home Companion show, with a variety of comedy, storytelling, and music. I like the on-your-toes action... you really have to pay attention to the script and the cast and watch for cues to play. Since you're on-stage with a live in-studio audience you really can't have much discussion with the band about what's going on either. They have really nice FOH sound there, and a great crew to work with too, and a cozy Green Room downstairs to hang out in after load-in and soundcheck are done. My nephew might be riding along (roadie?) so maybe those elusive action pics happen tonight/tomorrow. :D
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The show had a couple bumps, but generally went okay... lots of adrenaline, and nerves in-play at the start, and we were missing Brian last night, but Ernie stepped in on resonator guitar. Everyone settled down after a few minutes. Nice thing about the radio show, there's lots of down-time, so I like to just chill out in my chair between tunes. I split the show last night between Series I #77-621, and a '67 Guild Starfire II #BA-1407, both from Club Members here. :)
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Watch out! In that fourth picture, someone set a banjo down on the floor right behind your feet! Pretty sure that's against the rules.
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Watch out! In that fourth picture, someone set a banjo down on the floor right behind your feet! Pretty sure that's against the rules.
;D banjos and trampolines... gotta' be a joke in there somewhere!
True story... that banjo got knocked over out of its stand at a Holiday party we played some years back, and snapped the headstock off. I fixed it, but now Stewart refuses to put it (or his main banjo, a '34 Gibson RB-3) in a stand ever. The banjo in the picture there is a Stelling "Virginian" model, made not far from here. Geoff Stelling is a fairly small builder, but his banjos are extremely high quality instruments.
http://www.stellingbanjo.com/
Stew got his Stelling new back in the early 1990's. I think he just assumed it was safest near me. ;D
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So many stories lead to other stories... my Gig Thread is really just about me playing music with my buddies, so what the heck... Stew and I go back almost 30 years, so we've got a bunch of them on each other. Here's one:
The Stelling "Virginian" came with a fairly detailed inlay of a cardinal on the headstock, this being the State bird of Virginia. I can't remember all the circumstances of the time, but Stewart somehow got in a hurry on the way out to a gig, and backed his pickup truck over that banjo in the driveway once. Worse still, it was in a brand-new case his girlfriend at the time had given him. Turned out the case saved it. The only damage to the instrument was one of the pearl knobs on the tuning machines cracked and had to be replaced, which just seems unimaginable to me, even today. The case was utterly destroyed, but the banjo inside it was basically unhurt. Stew on the other hand, was a wreck... had nightmares for a month, woke up in a cold sweat thinking that beautiful pearl cardinal had turned into a bright yellow Tweety-Bird. His mistake was confiding that information in me. Of course, the first chance I got to put a Tweety-Bird sticker over the cardinal... guess what happened?! ;D
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hehe...waiting with baited breath :P
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Harwell-Grice Band played a standing gig for Antioch Church in Franklin Co. yesterday evening. Although they try to have the annual cookout and bluegrass gospel concert at the amphitheater right next to the picnic shelter, seems like every year we play there, violent thunderstorms roll in, forcing the event indoors. Sure enough, right on time, yesterday evening the rains came. Everyone still had a good time, and we had brushed up on our gospel set just for it. I took along my first Alembic, 89P5559 a Persuader five-string, and the '67 Starfire again this week for backup.
The day started really early for me; we celebrated my Grandmother's 98th birthday down in Pittsboro, North Carolina about 3-1/2 hours South of home. Got to visit with the other bass player in our family, my Granny's Cousin, Buddy Yearwood, who was quite the weekend warrior back in his day. My Dad has his old 1951 Kay bass now. Buddy thought it was great to see my car all loaded up to go play a show! Granny is sharp as a tack too. She is very hard of hearing, from years of working in cigarette factories and being around noisy machines, but if you're close and she can see your face, she loves to talk. I'm 49, and I can't imagine what it must be like to be twice this age. 98. Wow. If I could have the wit, clarity, and health she has, (which doesn't seem likely) I'd be all-in. On the other hand, she has outlived most of her friends, and almost all of her family. My Dad and his sister, and her Cousin Buddy are about it.
Anyway, load-in for the HGB show was at 5 o'clock so I had to hit the road (I-85 through central piedmont N.C. is more like a racetrack anymore!) by 3 o'clock to have time to get back to the gig. After it was over, I still had an hour to get home. It was a long day, but a very good day.
Next weekend we play a local Strawberry Festival. :)
*and I have been put on notice; my new tune, "Peggy-O" is in the set... I moved it to the key of E to suit my voice better, and left in lots of 'Phil'. ;D
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... I-85 through central piedmont N.C. is more like a racetrack anymore!
Yes; I don't enjoy driving that section of the highway, you really have to be watching what all the other drivers in all the other lanes are doing. Seems that the section around Burlington is the worst.
Nice shot of your grandmother!
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The ice cream was sweet, the strawberries were ripe, the weather was perfect, and the music was delightful. Harwell-Grice Band closed out the night at the Rocky Mount Strawberry Festival, following the all-chic bluegrass and oldtyme band, Canned Biskits, and the Praise Team from the Franklin County Inner-Faith Fellowship. A great time. I'm hoping someone caught some pictures of us too... I was a little bit busy. ::)
https://www.thefranklinnewspost.com/news/strawberry-festival-to-be-held-friday-night-in-rocky-mount/article_45dd1b43-fe54-5f09-a099-da267d48e6de.html
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Harwell-Grice Band has a doubleheader today, so I started early with hydration, medication, and nutrition. This will be a real test... we're on 2-5 at Chaos Mountain Brewery for their 5-year Anniversary party. http://chaosmountainbrewing.com/events/event/5th-anniversary-celebration/
Once again, splitting the day with our fellow hometown favorites, Fiddlin' Billy Hurt, and Five Dollar Shake. Always a blast with those guys around! Wish we could hang out with 'em, but we gotta' load-out and roll to a private party the next county over, set up again and play from 8-12. I haven't played that long a day in a long time.
So, I may be a while on the thread update tomorrow. :P
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Good Luck! ("Doubles", as we used to call 'em, can be tiring...)
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Have a great gig !
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That was a very looooooooooooonnnng day!
Fiddlin' Billy Hurt was on when we got there. He's got a couple new members in his current lineup, but the band sounds fantastic. I've known Billy, and played music with him for years, and can tell you, there's not a finer example of somebody carrying on the art of fiddle music anywhere around here. Billy has lived it, literally grew up in it. Here's a sample from his latest:
It's unusual for all 6 of us to be on-hand for a gig, but our regular go-to sub, Ernie Power was there yesterday with his resophonic guitar, and jumped right in.
After we played our slot at Chaos Mountain Brewery, HGB had to tear down and hopscotch across the county to play for a private party. I got home well after midnight, brought my Alembics in and went to bed... didn't bother unloading the rest of my gear from the gig-mobile until mid-morning. That last picture from the party gig kinda' says it all. :P
*as an aside; my new tune, a Grateful Dead inspired "Peggy-O" is quickly becoming a high point in the set. The bass part is borrowed heavily from Phil's on the 9/3/77 Englishtown, N.J. show. Transposed from A to E. Add a dash of fretless. ;)
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Well done!
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:)
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Thursday night, Harwell-Grice Band is opening for Love Canon in Floyd, Virginia, at a pretty cool outdoor amphitheater venue there in town.
https://m.facebook.com/harwellgrice/
https://m.facebook.com/lovecanonmusic/
http://visitfloydva.com/event/small-town-summer/ (http://visitfloydva.com/event/small-town-summer/)
We met these guys last year, and got to jam some at FloydFest 2018. BIG fun coming later this week. I just heard Gabe unfortunately can't make the gig this time, so we'll be down a guy, but Josh can carry it just fine.
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Unfortunately, (and fortunately at the same time) our gig got moved indoors last night as the rains came to Floyd Co. They opened up the local High School auditorium and moved the show right down the street. Everyone still had a great time, and no plastic bags were needed to keep my bass rig dry. ;D
I just fall in LOVE with my Custom fretless "Chain-Links" every time I put it over my shoulder and plug it into that Mesa D-800/Bag End stack. Golly that bass is special... I swear it's just ALIVE. Got big compliments from Darrell Muller, who plays bass with Love Canon. He was well aware of Alembic, being a huge Stanley Clarke and Phil Lesh fan. He had met my Persuader 5-string last year at FloydFest, but not her fretless counterpart. I enjoyed recounting the story of how it all came together to another bass dude - one that gets it.
...and finally, somebody sneaked a picture of us from the audience. I'm in my happy place there behind Ernie. Not sure what tune this was, but he absolutely killed on "Deep Ellum Blues" last night.
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Nice shot of the band on stage.
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We seem to have made a name for ourselves as radio personalities... Harwell-Grice Band has been asked back as special musical guests of the Pulaski Radio Show for the June 20th show next week, which is apparently going to be taped live, at an outdoor venue rather than the shows' regular home in the restored Pulaski Theater. Not sure what that's about, but it sounds like fun. (though it may be a scramble getting from Roanoke to Wytheville that quickly after work on a Thursday.)
http://www.nrvregionaltheatre.org/the-pulaski-radio-show/
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Gregory . congratulations on the radio show gig !
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Nice photo of the band, Greg, and the radio show sounds fun!
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The New River Valley Regional Theater posted a few pictures on their FB page from yesterday evening's show at Wytheville's Chautauqua Festival, with Harwell-Grice Band and Gate 10... as usual, me and Ol' #77-621 are in the Witness Protection Program or something... ::)
https://m.facebook.com/pg/nrvregionaltheatre.org/photos/?ref=page_internal&msite_tab_async=1 (https://m.facebook.com/pg/nrvregionaltheatre.org/photos/?ref=page_internal&msite_tab_async=1)
I did catch a picture of Gate 10... man, those young 'uns can play! We all got up on stage for a big jam together. There are a couple pictures of that. I got one of all the guys too, in between songs while the broadcast was underway.
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I like how each of the PA columns has a little umbrella over it; 'cause it's the thought that counts.
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I like how each of the PA columns has a little umbrella over it; 'cause it's the thought that counts.
That was hilarious! ;D
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Harwell-Grice Band has an interesting gig Friday evening; we're playing a show where the concert area is... water. From what I gather, folks paddle up on canoes, inner-tubes, pontoon boats, or I guess any watercraft for the show. Also looks like I'll need some serious sunblock.
https://www.virginia.org/listings/Events/ConcertsbyCanoeonPhilpottLake/
https://www.thefranklinnewspost.com/news/concerts-by-canoe/article_cb39e994-d490-5d2a-b366-3e26c9a658d0.html
Downbeat is 6:30 pm. (or 18:30, if you'd rather) ;D
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Hope you have Row Jimmy on the set list.
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It was 95° at load-in on Philpott Lake yesterday afternoon for the Concert By Canoes show. We were playing on a boat dock, completely exposed. Being the old soldier I am, I'd had the foresight to pack not only lots of water and nutrition, but some SPF 60 in an aerosol spray, and polarized sunglasses like they give you after eye surgery.
When I got there, Josh was already setting up. "Dude, we're gonna' cook out here tonight....are you ready?!" I figured he wasn't really expecting me to comment either way, so I just got to work rolling my stuff out this gangway. We've got a running joke about how many times Josh ends up in whatever body of water we happen to be playing near. Doesn't matter... duckponds, kiddie pools, rivers, streams, lakes, and a chemical toilet once. It's Josh... just expect it. Have your phone ready to record. I'm thinking to myself... "This is too easy... we're surrounded by water... there's no way he can miss!" ::)
But the show went great. We all got loaded in and set up. It was a lot harder than usual getting the sound right out on that floating dock... all kind of weird resonance. Plus we were playing around one large diaphragm condenser. (I don't know why) When you play there, because there are also folks watching/listening from the shore, we had to project the sound 360°... not only in front, but behind us, and to the sides. That's tricky. I ran my Mesa D-800 and pair of Bag End S15 X-D's for the stage, and patched the DI to the house mains. Let me tell you the critical flaw here. That rig is on a casterboard. When boats come in and dump their throttle off, there's sometimes a pretty sizable wake. Imagine a pair of Baggie 15's and a Mesa amp rolling into a lake, while hooked to a scrawny bass player holding an Alembic bass. Let that soak in. Yeah... I shoulda' left the casterboard in the car. :o
It was great having the whole band together too. Seems like we always have someone out. We were joined by guest resonator guitarist Ernie Power for the full-on 6-piece effect, and we pounded out two good sets for the Canoe Crowd.
Oh, then at the finale', Josh did a back flip offa' one of the mains, into the lake. None of us were surprised. The Park Rangers were less amused. :D
*There was a guy there with a humongous camera taking pictures for the event all night, and he promised to send us some... meantime, here's my little pictorial diary. I had a good time playing last night, and I really needed one. It's been a rough patch lately. Felt good to cut loose and play. :)
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Nice pics; looks like a beautiful day. And yes, I've played a few of those gigs on floating docks where you're concerned about your rig getting dumped in the lake.
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HGB has a nice-n-easy wedding gig this afternoon at Keswick Vineyards, just outside Charlottesville, Virginia. https://m.facebook.com/keswickwinery/
My itinerary says we're to play 30 minutes of instrumentals before the ceremony, three requested songs during the ceremony, then finish up with a cocktail hour set. It's supposed to be pretty hot here in Virginia today, maybe 95°, so that may enter into the equation, but it sounds like an easy load-in and out, with a fairly low pressure job in between. Gabe always prices these jobs so they're well worth the 2-hour drive. I've had to learn a couple of the requests this week, and enjoyed the experience of a new fence to swing for.
Now comes the hard part - figuring out which Alembic to take! ;D
*wasn't really a gig to report on, but last week I went to the Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax, Virginia for a couple evenings. I backed up my nephew, Tim, in the Fiddle competition, and the two young ladies I play in another ensemble with, Kat and Liz, played in their respective contests. My buddy Ted (a 40+ year Galax veteran) backed me up as I played in the mandolin category, and covered Kat too in Fiddle. Then Friday evening we sat around camp in the musicians village and played for the pure fun of it. Some of the people I run into at Galax, that's the only place I ever see them, so it's like a reunion. I really missed camping there the whole week this year, but was thankful for at least a little piece of it. And the unbroken streak continues... I've been a contestant since the 52nd Annual Old Fiddlers Convention; this was the 84th. For Kat, Liz, and Tim this was their first time across the Galax Stage as contestants.
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Nice T-shirt!
Stay hydrated today.
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I was worried when we started loading-in at this beautiful house at Keswick yesterday... because there were fountains and pools everywhere... and Josh Grice has a freakish gift for ending up in water at gigs. And I know deep in my soul he wanted to, 'cause it was hotter than dad-gummit yesterday in Charlottesville. Luckily for us, it was shady under the 300 year-old oaks they had us staged under. It was a nice day, but very hectic... we had to rush getting from the ceremony location to where the cocktail hour set was to be played, and we couldn't carry all our stuff through where the wedding party was taking pictures. I took along my custom fretless 5-string "Chain-Links", but spent the day playing my old '67 Starfire, for the very simple reason I just didn't have time to switch instruments (!) - we dashed from one spot to the next and played straight through until the wedding party was announced under the reception tent. A shame, because I was really looking forward to some quality time on that fretless bass yesterday. Not that old BA-1407 is anything to be disappointed in by any means. Sometimes I think that thing is perfect for my gigs, and I should just have a serious conversation with Mica about a full-on Alembicized Starfire.
Anyway, the guys were ON yesterday. We had fun, got paid a goodly sum to play some new-grass/jam-band tunes, and still got home before midnight. I call that a win.
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2/3rds of the way through a 3-night run here...
Harwell-Grice Band played for a wedding rehearsal dinner followed by one fine party in Wirtz, Virginia last night, that ran on close to this morning. Unfortunately, I have to work today, then we're on the 'Harvester' stage primetime tonight at the Franklin Co. Agricultural Fair down in Rocky Mount, playing for the home crowd. :D
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Couple pictures of the HGB boys at the Franklin Co. Ag-Fair yesterday evening. It was a great evening weather-wise for playing outdoors... cooling off nice as the sun went down. Plenty of our hometown crowd came out to enjoy the last days of Summer with us.
I had a good time, but a little bittersweet... this was the last gig I was committed to for the season. Until some of these health issues get sorted out, (or hopefully solved altogether) I'm going to have to step back from the gigs. I can handle the easier stuff okay, but the ones that run into 3+ sets are really tough anymore. I just don't feel right about cherry-picking only the easy jobs... it isn't fair to the guys or my subs. We talked about it, and they're cool with whatever length of time I need to get healthy again, the job is mine when I'm ready to return to duty. In turn, I let them know if they're in a jam for a bass player, I'll be there, just may not be at 100%.
I read where a lot of guys are in bands where there's just stress, aggravation and drama... I've never had that with this bunch. I'm going to really miss playing with them again this Fall.
Anyway, here we were in Sontag, Virginia:
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Sorry to hear you're having to step aside from the band.
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Me too, Dave. I've had such a good time playing music with those guys. I'm hopeful this frustrating season will pass, and I can get back at it. Learning to be a patient patient is harder than it sounds, and explaining to doctors that playing music isn't like collecting stamps... you don't just find another way to spend your time. Things are moving the right direction I think... it's the timetable I'm most unhappy about.
In the meantime, there is one last job on the calendar to play that I had forgotten all about... our neo-oldtyme band, New River Bound hasn't done much this year, just a couple formals and one beans-n-cornbread social, but we are playing a standing gig for Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway this weekend. https://friendsbrp.org/event/roanoke-sunday-night-concerts/ It's supposed to be nice and (finally!) cool this Sunday evening when we take the little amphitheater stage at the Roanoke Mountain Campground. Always a bunch of friends and family there, so I should get some action pictures.
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Sorry as well to hear you are having to step aside. Have you ever considered paying sitting down? I tend to do a combo of standing and sitting while playing. You can get a padded stool with back support about bar stool height. Might be something to consider. Although 3+ sets is a lot in one night. Hope it all works out. :)
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Thanks Rob, I did, and it got me through most of this season. (you can see the Bass Throne in a few pics, usually on one side or the other of my rig)
I probably could go on a while longer by resting between tunes, but as things have slowly gotten worse, it's become harder. As I get tired out, I play poorly, when I play poorly, the attitude becomes an obstacle... think- BEC. (B**** Eating Crackers) It's not unusual for HGB to play 75 or 90 minute sets, and I'm just not up to it anymore. It was a good time to step back and work on this osteoarthritis thing awhile.
*and as if on cue, my rockstar neurosurgeon Dr. Harron called yesterday and scheduled me for an appointment to have a good look at C7-T1. (cause y'know... I dropped four flights and cracked my spine...) ;D
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Yesterday evening, New River Bound took the little stage for Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway... such good chemistry between this group. We haven't played much together this year, but right from downbeat it was a perfect lock-in. It felt so good we even took a few chances, trying out new tunes on an audience.
My Custom fretless 5-string was backed up by the old '67 Starfire, and for this more-or-less unplugged ensemble I only needed a half-stack of Bag End boxes... hard to go wrong here!
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:)
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Haven't had anything to post here since stepping away from gigging this past Fall, but I got a call the other day about playing a Christmas program. It's just four songs, and very low-impact... I can sit, stand, whatever I'm comfortable with doing. Thinking I can hold it together long enough, and I'm really feeling like I need to play out somewhere. Plus, two of these are original tunes, that only I would know. The core of this group has been doing a Christmas Concert together for almost 30 years now, and I didn't think it was going to happen this year, but the bandleader got the original members all together for this abbreviated, unrehearsed, somewhat low-key performance.
So tomorrow evening, in this tiny, 120 year-old community church in Lithia, Virginia... we'll give it a go. I'm really looking forward to playing again. Been missing the stage terribly.
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Sounds like it will be a fun show in a nice venue! :)
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Enjoy!
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Hard to deny the desire to perform live... have fun!
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Thanks fellas. I didn't play too badly, and it felt good to play a few Christmas Carols with old friends. For what it's worth, a Series I bass through a Mesa WalkAbout/Scout 15 is a beautiful sound even if you do drop a couple clams. :)
Looking ahead to 2020 with uncertainty, but a good attitude for now. Last week, I had a follow-up appointment with my rock-star neurosurgeon. There's going to be another fusion surgery in my future, from C7-T2, (just below the last one, kinda' down between the shoulder blades) but he says I'm not there yet, and it's better to go with alternate treatment rather than to be in there twice. This fusion he says, will have to be done directly on the spine from the back, (can't go through the front like last year) so the recovery/rehab is a little tougher on the 10-scale too. Not necessarily longer time-wise, just more tissue to heal up.
So week after next, I'm being sent to get the first set of ESI's that we hope will get the feeling back in my fingers and get me out of the upper-back spasms keeping me off the music scene. This doctor administering these injections happens to be a musician, and he totally gets it... the whole thing of why this is so important, and perhaps more importantly, he feels some degree of confidence this will work. So I feel really good about the prognosis. Though I gotta' say, I'm not looking forward to those injections too much!
I'm in a 'wait-n-see' mode for the 2020 gig season, but man... I sure would like to get back out there. :-\
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Thanks for the update; hoping for the best.