Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Community => Gigs => Topic started by: dlbydgtl on July 31, 2008, 07:17:34 PM
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getting ready to play the wiz at Peoria Players going to use my new alembic signature blue leds in the pit sweet!
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The great yellow tractor is calling. (where i live they are the almighty) Going into the theater to play Music Man for Caterpillar Tractor inc. musical play. Nine pc. orchestra and 1 m.k. signature 5 string. It will help pay for the Europa on order. Good justification ...eh?
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The money has to go *somewhere* doesn't it? Might as well help fund the addiction!
John
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First gig (of Many) this Sunday with praise and worship band at Harvest Bible Chapel. 2 services about 600 people strong..gonna be a good time, lots of good musicians.Only one problem, gotta be there at 6:30am Do my fingers function that time of day? Going armed with the new Europa fretless 5. John
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Ah, but it's a chance to wake up and make music... And thats not bad
Mike
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The Wiz & Music Man: both fun shows!
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Mike, your right ,it was a great time waking up and spending the morning making music with other musicians. First time out with the new Europa and the sound through the P.A. was awesome. Here in central Illinois the Alembic drew a lot of inquiries.Was happy to share the Alembic history. Next stop; back to Peoria Players Theater for Annie Get Your Gun. John
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Taking the Europa into the orchestra pit to play the regional premier of Rent at Eastlight Theater in Peoria il. Practice starts later this week with opening night August 7th. I think this is the biggest score i have seen since i have been playing shows. Also, still doing the early A.M. Harvest Bible Chapel thing and we have grown to about 800 people between two services. The comments continue about how great the Alembics sound. You know it! thanks, John
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Today could be my biggest gig yet. I am going to walk down the aisle and give my daughter away..Oh Boy... John
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Congratulations John! Best of luck today, may this day be filled with wonderful memories (past and present) for you and yours. Art
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Taking MK Signature deluxe to Rent Encore. Re-setting show for NEA director coming to Peoria tonight.
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Weekend in Peoria Players Theater for the production Tom Sawyer. Using Fretless Europa which is one year old now.
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Hey John,
Play well, have a great weekend, and happy birthday to your Europa!
Mike
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Currently practicing for the regional premier opening Dec 10th of the musical White Christmas based on the movie. great walking bass lines. I will be using my 5 string fretless Europa. Man, the blue side leds sure do come in handy. Happy holidays and im dreaming of a White Christmas(especially after hearing the song a thousand times) . John
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Final night of a 9 day run playing Avenue Q. Last night the drummer asked me if i liked my Alembic more than my kids. uhh...Obviously not, but i wonder what made him think that? Maybe the way i held it and stroked it for the the last 8 nights? Oh well, next stop a run of Joseph and his dreamcoat and then West Side Story. Plus, all the usual Sunday stuff. Lots of Alembic time, loving it! John
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O Yes ! Your a lucky man ! Enjoy and Congratulations ____________
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Good times John!
Your drummer must have noticed the subtle signs of affection that you show to your bass! :-D
Sounds like you have a summer full of fun ahead of you - ENJOY!
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I would love to play West Side Story again. Great book!
John
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In the middle of a run of the regional premiere of Titanic the Musical. A very haunting musical score. The bass score isn't difficult but, chord structure makes the hair on your arms stand up. Basically play the whole time and some parts of the show i feel like the bass line is the pulsating of the engines in the boiler rooms.
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Sounds very cool!
What kind of amplification do you use in the pit?
How big is the theater?
Paul TDO
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I use a Carvin BR515 in the pit for my own monitor (pre-ordered a new Orange amp combo BT500C to replace the Carvin) with a sans amp direct box to the soundboard. Peoria Players Theater was established in 1919 and is one of the longest continuous running theaters in America. It seats about 650 people per night .I think Titanic is sold out now. My next show in later March is Children Of Eden and it is at a different theater called Eastlight Theatre and it seats about 1200. Then back to Peoria for the musical Chicago and Then in June i move to an outdoor theater called Cornstock which is in a big tent for Hello Dolly. Sadly, the Alembics don't go to that theater because of the weather.
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o.k., as in previous posts, the goosebumps come from playing an Alembic. Someday hope to get a series one fretless. With some dark woods for great low end sustain.
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Europa in hand, heading out to opening night of Next To Normal a newer musical with a rock score. Love the new stuff.
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Since last posting have played Fiddler on the Roof, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and right now playing Tarzan the musical score written by Phil Collins, Fun rock score..Also, the usual Sunday a.m. Stuff. Have been using series one on Sundays and it really punches out front....John
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Since last post, played a run of Grease,again.Now, playing Great American Trailer Park, a great rock score. Then, Shrek the musical, a very fun score. A couple weeks off then the classic Guys and Dolls. Good to be busy with the Alembics.
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John,
I have to admit I envy you (and the other regular Pit Guys around here). The one and (so far) only time I played in the pit was an absolute high point of my muscial career (Chess the Musical)- I keep scanning for more auditions/ openings around the Milwuakee area but haven't seen much.
Suppose I should get proactive and start knocking on theater doors - after all they aren't going to come knocking on mine . . .
Enjoy the Pits and like Chalie always says:
Keep it low and stay out of treble!
:-D
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Yah Mon!!!
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Final night of a sold out regional premier of Mary Poppins. A great score. Day off, then on to the staple Guys and Dolls. Compliments from other musicians about the tone coming from my Alembic, just a joy to play..John
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Just finished run of Young Frankenstien the musical. In the middle of Bare the pop opera. Two totally different shows. But, having a great time with my Alembics..
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It's nice to see you continue the back into the theater since 2008. Congrats on another run finished ;)
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Next show opens Friday. Jesus Christ Superstar. Using series one bass. Great rock score. Guitar player said wow, you have an Alembic! That was a first. We are going to get along just fine.
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Excellent !
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Jesus Christ Superstar might be the hardest show I ever played, although Phantom of the Opera was right up there.
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February 5th opening night for a run of The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. Gonna get my Country & Western on..
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After the Whorehouse, played a run of "Hands On a Hard Body." More country music with pedal steel which is really a rarity in theater. Now working through the book Rent again. Opens June 3rd. Some of the cast coming down from the Windy City. Going to Rock.
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Opening night of "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson." Now this is an interesting score and story about the 7th President. picking hand getting a heck of a workout on this punk rock score. On stage, sporting my first Alembic a Mark King.
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Finishing up run of Cats. Great for brushing up on odd time and key signatures. A couple weeks break then TOMMY a dream come true Can't wait for that one. Will definitely use the series one.
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... A couple weeks break then TOMMY a dream come true Can't wait for that one. Will definitely use the series one.
:)
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John- give a shout if you need a sit in for Tommy! ;D ;)
Enjoy that one!
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Heading to the theater to Fiddle about...Fiddle about, Fiddle About.
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I was asked to play for James and the Giant Peach, but I have conflicts and can't. The next show should be Spamalot in July 2018 (Pit # 105).
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Well, no one else was available, so pit # 105 is James and the Giant Peach, orchestra rehearsals start tonight. Spamalot will be pit # 106 in July 2018 (hopefully nothing will come up between now and then, I don't think I can get away with 4 musicals in 12 months).
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Ready for opening night, tomorrow night (5-3), of "A Chorus Line." This show is the final show of this season, wrapping up Peoria Players 100th season. Then a run of a country show called "Honky Tonk Laundromat" Lastly, (for now) this fall playing for a show called " Catch Me If You Can." a musical based off the Movie.
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In dress rehearsals for Man Of La Mancha, pit # 108!
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Michael, how was Man Of La Mancha? I don't think i have ever played that one. Just said yes to a Show in October called "Million Dollar Quartet" based on the performance featuring Presley, Lewis, Perkins and Cash. Director wants upright bass for that one. Almost time for "Catch Me If You Can", very intense jazz score, playing Alembic Europa fretless for that show. "Catch Me" is an outdoor theater in the round so, hoping the heat breaks soon.
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La Mancha was quite good, once the cast got their s**t together (maybe I'm spoiled, but by the time the cast and orchestra get together, the cast should be off-book, blocking should be locked down, and the fight scene choreography should be pretty well set). We were in a covered orchestra pit, and most of us were hemmed in by aluminum scaffolding. I cut up a bunch of foam pool noodles to put on scaffolding at likely collision points for instruments and heads. I used my Sire, I didn't want to bang up the Alembic.
It's a somewhat difficult score: lots of time signature switches from 3/4 to 6/8 (switching every measure!), 7/8 , & 10/8. Songs in 7 flats (I'm not really bothered by that).
My stepson played guitar, that was cool (and he got a new nylon-stringed guitar and a microphone for the show).
It may have been my last Minnesota show. More on that later.
So now the shows at the top of my bucket list: Hairspray, Rocky Horror Show, Mama Mia. I'd like to do Superstar again.