Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Community => Gigs => Topic started by: edwardofhuncote on January 24, 2021, 07:30:54 AM
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What gigs!? Just a lotta' wishful thinkin'. ::)
A small group of us is getting together on alternate Saturday evenings for an acoustic jam. (Well, okay, I'm plugged-in...) Keeping it quiet and closed, no family or friends or surprise guests, just a circle of musicians trying play a little and not go crazy.
Fun trivial factoid: I'm playing bass through my old Crate Acoustic CA-125. I toured with this amp years ago, and had plum forgot that I had left it with these folks. So I don't even have to carry a bass rig, just pick up a bass and go. That little combo sounds fantastic. I think they are still made, but not the same as they were. Something tells me Behringer started making them... I may be wrong about that. Mine is one of the first-generation models with the JBL speakers, but does not have the DSP option. They came with a 5-year warranty, which was unheard-of back then. It was designed and marketed for guitar-playing singer-songwriters to carry into a Coffeehouse Gig, plug into the instrument channel, plug up a vocal mic and a third channel for whatevs. The instrument channel has a mid-sweep, and even has a notch filter and flipswitchable chorus effect. How cool is that? Anyway, it made an awesome upright bass stage monitor for me... dragged that poor thing all over the Country.
(pretty darn nice for my new weekend jam circle too...) ;D
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I envy you Ed. Over here in Scotland we're not even allowed to get together for a Jam session in our own rehearsal space (we rent a room in a converted farmhouse outside Edinburgh) and because the room is in a different County, I'm not even allowed to pop across to check our kit isn't getting damp. 2021 isn't turning out to be much better than 2020 right now.
Graeme
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Me too, my band has just been offered a live video and studio recording and video filming session for an organisation that has just got some arts council funding to create and broadcast some jazz based music. I'm trying to get it rescheduled for later in the year possibly summer when we are all able to take up the offer.
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I'm sorry fellas. I really hope it didn't come out wrong... I very much hope you can all get back to playing soon. My regular gig with the Harwell-Grice Band is DOA... we have absolutely nothing booked, and no prospects for this year. I'm sure some will come eventually, but Virginia is no exception to anything, lockdown-wise. Like I was telling Joey the other day, that dadgum virus is everywhere.
This little musical get-together was at a private residence though, and not violating any orders. (ironically, Graeme, some proud Scottish descendants - The McAllisters still fly the flag of Scotland o'er their farm in Fincastle, Virginia) Ours is a pretty tight-knit group of friends. Of the seven of us in attendance, three of us (including me) have already had the virus, three more have been vaccinated (health care workers), and the last, a 16 year-old kid who is not sure, but had mild symptoms last Summer. We feel by just exercising some common sense and avoiding being overtly casual about things, it's a pretty low risk group. It feels weird, because ordinarily, our jams are open, and attendees are welcome to bring guests or friends or other musicians... we just thought for now it'd be better to keep it confined to us. It still feels wrong to exclude people, and we will be very glad when it isn't called for any longer.
Anyway... in the absence of payin' gigs, maybe I'll put up a post and pic or two from our little Saturday nite circle.
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I just received confirmation from Harwell-Grice Band management... we have the first two official gigs of 2021 booked.
The first is a private party, set for next weekend. Sure will be nice to see the guys again... don't know if we'll remember how to play anything or not. ::)
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Congratulations and best wishes on the gig ! The new paradigm of rules for public performances is knocking on the door . I have one confirmed at a public venue for 10/15/21 as well .
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Greg, post another pic of the scroll body bass you've been restoring.
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Oh, the Hyak... man, how I miss my shop Keith. All the pics I have taken are on this thread. https://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=25569.0
It really needs a name. And it really needs to get finished. I have all the New Old Stock electronics for it, courtesy of Nick, whose Hyak was outfitted with a set of Alembic 'tronics some years ago. I only changed it to my avatar picture because its 'birthday' is May, 1978.
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Greg, it's looking great. I'm digging the neck veneers.
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I am as excited as a kid on Christmas Day. I loaded up the gig-mobile yesterday evening after sound-checking my rig, and testing each component. (hasn't been used since last October... sitting idle in the trailer all Winter and Spring) After we're done, I'll leave the Mesa-Boogie Diesel 15 in the HGB Truck again. That thing is waaay too heavy for me to carry around. I can easily manage the Gator zip-up rack-bag with an F-1X and power-amp, and a couple bags of cables and whatnots.
The weather is supposed to be cooperative too, (it's been unseasonably cold here in Virginia this past week) and I think the party will be well-attended. I haven't seen the guys in so long, much less played any music.
I picked out bass #1 for today, that was the easy part... gotta' be my Custom fretless. Still pondering the second. Pictures and maybe some video tomorrow. We'll see how it goes... we haven't played in so long. I mostly just want to enjoy the feeling and not be overly concerned about capturing it.
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Update from the 'Music City':
The Metro Nashville Government has dropped all restrictions save for those imposed by individual businesses or employers, everything is re-opening, and I've gotten both vaccine injections. It has been a VERY long year . . . . . . .
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Ahhh, Nashville... that place has gotten a little too big for it's britches, my Mom would say. ;D Good News for the local crash-dieters too, that it's getting moving again. Hard to imagine trying to make it another silent Summer in that town. I remember even in my time it was a love/hate relationship with the tip-jars on Broadway and Printer's Alley.
It was a great time last night to finally play some music here in Virginia. The weather was absolutely fantastic. We set up right on the driveway of our host and entertained about 100 first responders, police, and teachers and their families, from Franklin County and beyond. Nobody wanted to quit when it was time to.
There's another gig next weekend, at our 'home court' of sorts; Chaos Mountain Brewery. It's been a long time since we had gigs to look forward to.
I'm still waiting to see if anyone got any pictures
*Basses: Custom fretless C14588, and Dave's old Series bass, #77-621. Fed into a red-knob F-1X I got from Michael Delacerda, and a power-amp driving a Mesa-Boogie Diesel 15 with a Tone-Tubby Superman hempcone driver, from Rob Vincent. The bass sounded purty-good last night y'all, thanks to some help from the Club here. ;)
*added a couple pictures from the gig last night... accidentally stuck these over on the Showcase Thread. (oops!) Not sure where I was during soundcheck... already done I guess. Looks like I was already set.
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Congrats on playing again!
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It really was a great time Dave. And though I heaped praise on my Custom fretless in the Showcase Thread, your old Series I always delivers. And it was what grabbed Gabe's attention. Maybe I'm not giving his ears enough credit, but he commented twice about the tone "when you're playin' the old one". I was thinking it might just be a combination of the frets and the the TI Jazz Rounds vs. the fretless counterpart with TI Jazz Flats. I don't change anything on the amp, and generally try to fit where I need to with the band, sonically speaking. There is definitely something about Ol' #77-621 that speaks to our Lead Guitarist though.
*I just realized too, I am in that first picture, and playing the Series I, but almost completely hidden behind Gabe and his Dearstone Dreadnaught. Couldn't see it on a tiny screen. ;D
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Ah yes, the Series effect :)
Looks like a great day for a gig, must have been fun playing with a group again!
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Last night, HGB returned to the stage at our hometown stompin' ground, the Chaos Mountain Brewing Co. in Callaway, Virginia to help them celebrate another year in business. We last played here for a Halloween party in 2020. The folks at Chaos Mtn. like most of the microbreweries, are HUGE supporters of the music community in our little corner of the world, and we're sure glad to be back on their stages. I think every one of our fans came out last night too! Wow, was it loud and rowdy... everyone was ready to have a good time.
Took along the old Series I, and my Persuader 5. you know... in case you need to kick a hole in the wall. ;D
It was a little too loud in there later on for most of what I got to be worthwhile, and hey, it still ain't the lost Betty Cantor tapes, but here's my guys warming up at soundcheck with a little bitta' "Deep Ellum Blues".
*couple more from last night...
Brian brought the "Dark Hollow" as heard on the Grateful Dead Reckoning album with Bobby's 3rd verse, that no one else including Bob Weir ever sings anymore, but kinda' ties the whole song together. Brian changed the key to suit him, and added a big Ab chord near the end for effect.
I brought out the Persuader 5 for most of the second set. I love how it sounds on "Atlantic City" here. Persuade? Shoot. That thing changed my life.
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Very nice!
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How great to have a gig!
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It sure is, Rich. I made the most of the time off of gigs by working (like a fool... still doing that) and playing music at home. Revived an interest in playing guitar that just isn't going away either. But man it's nice to play with the guys again... the comraderie, the cutting up, even the work before and after.
We played a private Birthday Party last night at a beautiful log cabin country home. It was supposed to be an outdoor thing, but a line of evening thunderstorms put the kibosh on that. So they pushed all the furniture out of the way, set us right in the middle of the living room with this huge vaulted ceiling, set the main speakers outside, and monitors inside. We threw down right there; studio-style. Everybody loved it.
I took along the older Distillate and the '67 Starfire. I just didn't take pictures because it was a private residence. I sure would have liked to though... that was quite a pad.
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Well, gigs breed more gigs apparently, as things begin to loosen up in our little corner of Virginia.
Harwell-Grice Band is booked at another private party this weekend, a direct result of the last one we played a couple weeks ago. Our next big public appearance is Franklin County's Independence Day celebration, and we're all looking forward to playing to sunset and fireworks and our hometown fans, but always glad to throw down at a backyard bash too.
I blurred this one out (for privacy's sake) but we like to pull "Cold Rain & Snow" into a jam set, and this turned out to be a fun one. Joining us on resonator guitar is our go-to sub, Ernie Power, and subbing on mandolin, Stew Werner IIIrd.
This is my older Distillate, 81D 1986 by the way... I played it all night.
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Well, gigs breed more gigs apparently, as things begin to loosen up in our little corner of Virginia.
Harwell-Grice Band is booked at another private party this weekend, a direct result of the last one we played a couple weeks ago. Our next big public appearance is Franklin County's Independence Day celebration, and we're all looking forward to playing to sunset and fireworks and our hometown fans, but always glad to throw down at a backyard bash too.
I blurred this one out (for privacy's sake) but we like to pull "Cold Rain & Snow" into a jam set, and this turned out to be a fun one. Joining us on resonator guitar is our go-to sub, Ernie Power, and subbing on mandolin, Stew Werner IIIrd.
This is my older Distillate, 81D 1986 by the way... I played it all night.
That video is cool! Just sitting on top of your amp or on a shelf? The mix sounds nice on my computer speakers.
Here in the SF Bay Area things are on the verge of opening up, actually past the verge (officially "opened" June 15) - small groups have been playing here and there, bigger concert bookings have appeared - it's very interesting.
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It was a fish tank, I think Harry... that house was uhh-mazing. But it was a private party, so I didn't want to broadcast anything too specific from it.
The mix ends up being whatever it is. I can't tell the guys, (especially Josh) tape is rolling - it corrupts his whole stage persona. He's naturally very funny, when unforced. So I get what comes out. Mostly I just try to hear how I'm doing with the band, try to improve on my own, week to week. Listen for patterns I like or habits I need to break. Visual cues too, for things I do or don't do. Sometimes I see things I like in these amateur grab samples.
While the tune was a little loose, I love how the bass sounded here. That. That's what I like, right there. That Distillate when dialed-in... you can't get a bad sound.
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Just got word yesterday; there is an open gig possibility/invitation for New River Bound, (neo-oldtyme ensemble) to play in Fincastle, Virginia on 7/10. We haven't played in a couple years now... and there's a completely finished, but unrealeased recording project in-the-can, going stale, so I am excited about the prospect of a reunion. (and maybe resuming a gig schedule?)
*I think this picture may be the last gig we played together. 9/2018
**Just got confirmation from other band members; everyone is on board for 7/10 and a refresher/rehearsal date before - New River Bound rides again! :)
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Congrats!
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A Big Stage for us last night, and man it's fun to be famous in a small town.
Harwell-Grice Band headlined Franklin County's Independence Day celebration last night at Cy Dillon Stadium. Yeah... of course I don't expect you ever heard of it, unless you grew up in Rocky Mount, Virginia where Josh and Gabe did. Stewart and me are transplants in this part of Virginia... I'm originally from North Carolina, and Stew hiked down from West Virginia, but Franklin County is the home of our little band of weekend warriors. The home-folks love us, and couldn't wait to come see us play in town again. Josh is a teacher at the school here, and it was a very cool thing to see all his kids running up to the stage. He and Gabe have had this band going for 18 years now. Stewart is the 2nd banjo-man, and I'm the 3rd bass player. Although technically a first-call sub for a missing man, he's with us so often, that we think of Ernie as a regular band member too, and what a monster on resonator guitar. I've been playing music with Ernie somewhere for nearly 30 years now. He was in for Brian last night, who was vacationing with family, something long overdue.
It was super-fun playing to a big crowd of our hometown friends and fans, especially with sponsors and pro-audio guys making it all possible. It was great to see everyone able to get out and enjoy the event. Strange Truth; I saw a booth set up doing COVID vaccinations right next to a booth with deep-fried Oreos. Now there's a picture you just don't take...
I played the old Series I #77-621 most of the evening, and switched off to the fretless Distillate a few times. My rig that lives in the sketchy-looking Band Truck is an old Alembic F-1X and Crown poweramp, feeding a Mesa-Boogie Diesel 15 loaded with a ToneTubby Superman 15 hempcone speaker. I'm really enjoying not only how it sounds, but not having to carry a flippin' bass rig around anymore. Here's one tune we kinda' last-minute decided to rip. (this is the fretless Distillate...)
Then J.P. Sousa marches played while the fireworks show finished the night off just right, while we were loading out. What a great time.
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Couple more pictures from friends of the band...
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Nice gig; and nice T-shirt!
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So good to see a live gig again, I was starting to think it was gone... Well, in Brazil we still keep waiting things get back to normal, but this lifted me up. Thanks, Greg.
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We thought for sure our return was going to be a rainout, but the stormfront rolled through and after an hour delayed start, New River Bound finally got to play music again. We think it's been at least two years since the last time, and of course there were mistakes and miscues, but even with no rehearsal at all, that magical chemistry was definitely there, and came through. We played late into the night, and afterward we were invited (booked) to play the Fincastle Festival at Summer's end, 9/18/21.
Fincastle, Virginia is the county seat of Botetourt County, and is a fairly old town for the continental United States. Its founding dates to the 1770's. I went to High School and Technical School here back in the 1980's. A lot of the historic architecture is still standing and in use today.
https://www.visitroanokeva.com/blog/post/local-history-fincastle-botetourt-county-virginia/
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Being able to back your car right up to the rear of the stage for a quick get-away is always a plus.
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A last-minute gig opportunity came in for Harwell-Grice Band tomorrow night at a popular night-spot down at Smith Mountain Lake. On such short notice, we'll do something fun and jam-able. I know me, Gabe, and Stew are in, maybe Ernie too. We can surely work that combo for a couple sets.
Nice surprise. It's been a lite Summer season, a few cancellations lately for Fall. Still a few private things on the books, but '21 is winding down about the same way it started.
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Great that your getting a chance to play out. The establishments around here with music other than the big gigs are not really bringing live music back yet. Extreme shortage of serving staff at pubs and bars have led to most owners not wanting to take on another responsibility. The band of a friend of mine here in MN just got a gig because two of the guys have experience as bartenders and agreed to short term “consulting positions” with the establishment prior to and after their sets.
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Has it really gotten to the point where we’ll have to wash dishes between sets to play out? Covid really sux!
Bill, tgo
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Unfortunately, they are personally getting paid at a much higher rate to work as barkeeps for a few hours than they will get for playing several sets over 2-3 hours (though we all know none of us do this primarily for the $$$$).
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If Josh and/or Stew ever find out they can get paid to pour drinks, and play music too... the rhythm section is in serious trouble. If the gig ran past two sets, the Franklin County Clink might hafta' hang out a 'No Vacancy' sign. ::) ;D
...just play every one like it's the last.
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... The band of a friend of mine here in MN just got a gig because two of the guys have experience as bartenders and agreed to short term “consulting positions” with the establishment prior to and after their sets.
We live in interesting times.
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Our little last-minute-throw-together went over pretty well on the patio stage at Hot Shots in Moneta, Virginia last night. They have a nice outdoor, but under roof setup. Plenty of room on the stage and lots of ELECTRICAL OUTLETS! Since my gig-rig is in the HGB band truck, and the HGB band truck is at Joshes place, and Josh himself being absent from the lineup last night, well... I was using the backup rig; Mesa WalkAbout Scout 15 combo, with a Subway+ DI. (sometimes I run that Mesa preamp into the effects return, bypassing the WalkAbout's preamp... it's got a few nice little tweakables I really enjoy) I went with the Persuader 5-string and '67 Starfire for an alternate bass. Two long sets, 7-10 pm, with a break in the middle, and drove home tired, but happy to have 'played one more'. It was chilly down on Smith Mountain Lake, but I cranked the sunroof open and turned the heat up.
I had the weirdest case of deja-vu, or nostalgia, or something... I was thinking about it on set break. Me and Ernie were on the road together back in the mid-90's. And I introduced Stewart and him before that, and they went on to play in another band together. Here it is 2021, and here we are climbing up on another stage together to play... about the same as it ever was, but as I was reminded last week, any one of us could be gone next week. I guess it's always been that way, and I'm just now realizing it.
I've sure had a good time playing music with these boys. Gotta' remember to tell 'em that.
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Evenings have been cool here recently as well. Reminds me of September.
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New River Bound is playing for Botetourt County's 250 (+1) Celebration tomorrow in Fincastle. Closing out a day of activities actually. Obviously, the event was supposed to be last year... there was some kind of bug going around... ::) hence the +1.
https://fincastleherald.com/botetourt-countys-250-1-years-anniversary-monument-dedication-2/
We've only gotten to play one time this year, and that was a couple months ago, so looking forward to a return engagement. I hope somebody gets a few pictures and maybe some video of us. From what I understand, we're going to have pro-audio sound tomorrow. Should be fun.
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I had to leave immediately after playing and go back to work, but some friends of the band sent some pictures of us onstage. It was a great time... there's always this natural chemistry between us, and it picked right up where we left off last July. The Old Fincastle Jail in the background was our Green Room today, and it sounded fantastic in there. Not to take anything away from Hartman & Son Audio... they kept everyone sounding good on the stage all day.
And that Custom Alembic fretless Mica's crew built for me... ka-BOOM. If you can't get what you need outta' that bass, just turn in your keys and quit.
Hard to say when the next one might be. If it turns out this was the last, well... it was a fine show.
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Nice pics; looks like it was a nice day as well.
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Closed out 2021 with Harwell-Grice Band last night at our hometown stompin' ground for a Christmas party. Always good to play for our people... they always come out to support everything we do. In addition to the regular line-up, on-hand were our subs, and a special guest fiddler, who was a former band member. Actually, the original bass player was in the house last night too, so PJ, Isaiah, and me all posed for a picture with Josh. That's never happened before.
Dave's old Series I never disappoints... I just love that old bass. I had the fretless Distillate for backup. Didn't need it. Michael's old red knob F-1X kept sending that Series' fire to my amp, and that old Mesa-Boogie box loaded with Rob's ToneTubby speaker kept my britches legs flappin' all night. Miniature WoS. Sonic Bliss.
Anyway. It's done. It was a lean year, but thankful we got to play at all.
Wishing you all a Happy Holiday Season.
Love, Peace, and Chicken Grease. ~Ed of H
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Back at you, Greg! Looking good with that '77.
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That’s awesome, Greg, looks like fun! Happy Holidays! :)
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Glad to see you "out and about", celebrating the Holiday Season! Wishing you and yours all the best.... Dan
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Gregory, good to hear from you. Happy belated Solstice!