BLUE STUFF/DRIVE

[palembic]

Ladies and gentle people!  
On the 4th of july -when you on the other side of the pond were drinking, setting off firework, congratulate each other how great he is, anyway...- there were 2 members of the ABC coming together when I played live at the Stapleton (Leuven) with our bluesband BLUE STUFF. I was very happy to see Jan Rivi?re live on the bar (and not on screen) and even Steven De prins who is an almost Alembic-player brought me a visit.  
To be honest, I WAS DEAD NERVOUS!!!!!  
I NEVER have sweaty hands and now ...yuk... the first part of the set it was not me playing.  
Well ...the confidence will come over the years ...LOL...when I'll be 68!!!!!!  
Anyway ...we had a great time on stage. The second set better than the first.  
So next year ...we'll be 4.  
The year after that maybe 8???  
Everybody is welcome when he feels the urge to hop over once to this side of the pond, 4th of july or not.  
 
I'll take this thread also as an opportunity to tell you al we started a new band DRIVE with a fine lady-singer and 2 talented young guitarists. First gig will be next friday the 11th in Caf? Entreprise again in Leuven at 23.30hrs. As soon as pictures will be available I'll post some!
 
Paul the bad one
 
(Message edited by palembic on July 07, 2003)

[Jan R]

Well, well, well  
Guess who we meet here ;-)  
 
Yep, it was a real pleasure meeting you Paul, although the time to talk was rather limited. I  feel very honoured finally have experienced the series II  in real live.  
 
Bonnie certainly is an incredible bass. As I said Friday, maybe a bit to large for my hands, but it sure sounded very good in your hands. I even think that Steven (as a non Alembic player) was even more blown away of what he saw and heared ;-)  
 
We should do this more often !  
 
By the way, Steven is playing next week in the same pub on Fridays. If you can spare the time, you should definitely check out his funk performance !  
 
Looking forward to see those pics of your new band.  
 
Cheers  
Jan  
 
 
(Message edited by janriviere on July 07, 2003)

[mattheus]

Nou, nou,
it looks like there's something going on. Perhaps we should arrange a special European thread on this site, where al the European bassplayers meet.....
Hope to come over and visit my belgium neighbours sometimes..
Matheus

[palembic]

Gewoon doen yoh!
ANC and ABC in a meeting!
 
We'll do this more often! You bet!
About next friday!
I'll try!
We play Caf? Entreprise with our new band DRIVE (pictures will follow) at 23.30hrs.
If Steven is playing in the same time shedule as we did, I can hop over and grab his first set. About Mellow Yellow, I DO loveto see the band. One of the guitarplayers I play with was highly admiring about you all!
 
I said to my band-mates that you came over (and I was so nervous) to meet.
They said Alembic club...wow ...how many members?
I said about 700 ww.
And in Belgium!
Euh ...3!
Reaction of my band-members: not very succesfull those Alembics!
***sigh***
But they agree on the sound!!!! SUPERQUALIFRAGILISTICEXPEALIDOTIOUS!
And -brothers and sisters- soon is the new  (well euh ..there's a lot of second and third hand involved) rack being installed. And I'll have to start learning tweaking knobs.
 
Paul the bad one
 
PS: last friday there was a CALIFORNIAN lady singer in the audience who asked me ...to join her band in the US!!!!!? I think she was too drunk. In my opinion California is LOADED with good bass-players and they don't need me on that side of the pond.

[jet_powers]

Our Euro brothers seem to be having much fun lately. I need to get over there and have fun too! I know there are many ways and places for fun on the continent.
 
Paul (tbo)- you will start having even more fun by tweaking knobs. The tonal variations and possibilities are endless. You may have started down the path to a new addiction... Never enough knobs to tweak! Be careful!
 
Also, you should have gotten too drunk Californian lady singer to pick up the expenses for you to go to California. That way you could have paid a visit to the New England Chapter of Alembicians on the way through!!! Drunken people do silly things sometimes if only you ask them to...  
 
John Paul (tpo)

[palembic]

A little report on Friday!    I went to see Steven De Prins and Mo'Groove.  Wow!  Great performance Steven: really funky. You ought to hear this people, Steven plays a Fender Marcus Miller Signature (in await of his EVH or MKS) and is loosing his feet in a nearly wall-to-wall carpet of effect pedals, boards, foot-switches .... .    Alas ...I couldn't stay long because I had another gig myself around the corner.  It was "Drive"'s premiere and well... let say ...euh ... er .... it was good, could be better... but you know ...that's why they invented "rehearsal".  I'll try to post some pictures.  Bonnie (sweet as ever) now backed-up by the F1-X pre-amp, SF-2 not yet.    Paul the bad one    PS: saterday I had another gig with again another (occasion) band. I came home, went to bed ..completely forgetting that they broadcasted on Televesion the Bonnie Raitt performance on the this year Northsea Festival.  AUGH!!!!!! DOH!!!!!  

  NOTE: Brother Bob (the cook one) would say "now ain't that something: playing bass on an Alembic in the middle of a Restaurant-Menu LOL"  

  (Message edited by palembic on July 14, 2003)

[thebass]

Greeeaaat pictures, Paul and a great bass too ! Judging by the colour of your forehead it must have been a hot event inside there or did you get sunburned ;-) ? I wish I could hear the sound that belongs to the pictures. And wait ... ahh, I can identify your new F-1X. What cabs are you playing here ?
 
BTW: Your top looks quite similar to mine now. More pictures at www.wernerwitzel.de/band.htm

[palembic]

Brother Werner!  
 
Hey ...what happened to the fancy sunglasses?  
 
Warm inside? Yes indeed! OTOH I have a rather tanned skin! And I've lying in the sun that day.
 
I'm using the Glockenklang cabinets wich I like very much because they are very natural and neutral sounding. SWR and EDEN -which I tried too- are sounding louder because they have -in my humble opinion- a tending to nosy sound = mids. The advantage of that colour is that those sounds are VERY audible and really cuts through everything. The Glocks are neutral and indeed need more power and tweaking on the amp.  
The Glocks are:  
- Quattro 4x10 with horn (800w 8ohms)  
- Uno 1 x 15 (300w 8 ohms)  
 
The rack is for the moment:  
- F1-X (with my thanks for the scheme you gave to change the power, as you can see I play without blowing it ..well ...powerwise) put in Bi-amping.  
- the DS5-R powers supply for Bonnie  
- The Dynacord L-1000 Poweramp in Stereo  
 
Later when my 8 HE rack arrives there will be added:  
- Lexicon MPX 100 effects  
- Korg DT1 pro tuner  
- Alembic SF-2  
- American Audio PDP 900 rack-light and power conditioner.  
 
As you surely understand I'm rather proud of this set-up!  
 
Paul the bad one
 
(Message edited by palembic on July 22, 2003)

[thebass]

Hi Paul,
 
Jees' I'm getting old man. Sometimes I need to see what I am playing, then I'm taking out my normal glasses. But sometimes I don't need to see what I'm doing and I can wear my cool dude Stevie-Wonder-Tribute-Glasses. Get's me 5 years age-down credite for the girls at least ;-).
 
Paul, your rack is a killer even right now. Can't wait to see more pictures when you are uprading. I am pleased to hear that the F-1X mains change worked out well.
 
BTW: My band will do an unplugged (amplified but without drums) Gig at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September to present our new CD. I think its going to be the 12th. I will post it here as soon I know time, booth and other details. Stay tuned to my website www.wernerwitzel.de in the meantime. I added some other MP3s and photos (history ;-) on sunday.

[elzie]

Hey Paul!
 
The pics look good Bonnie looks in good health, as I'm sure you take very good care of her. One thing I noticed, though, is that the toilet sign is pointing at you and you have a(how do I put this..)rather different expression....like you were holding it until the end of the set.lol
 
Anyway, it is good to see the pics. Keep them coming!
 
Paul, The Temporarily Bad One

[palembic]

ha-ha-ha ...very funny!
 
Paul the constipated one

[palembic]

Another place, same dude, same bass, same set-up, same girl-singer, same ...
 
Paul the loyal one
 
ah ...some new songs!
and ... in another order played!

[elzie]

Ah! Now I can finally see those speakers you were telling me about!
 
Paul, The Other One

[senmen]

Hi Paul,
well I have to say your 5string and your setup looks really nice.
But....honestly said my eyes have problems not to have the first sight on your good looking singer.....  :-)
 
Oliver

[eugen]

Hi Alembics, here is one Gig-Picture when I play my first Alembic, a 82er Spoiler.
Can someone tell me where I can get an Alembic pre-amp for a good price in Euroland?
 
Thank?s    Eugen