Author Topic: Reaction in the UK (Read 735 times)

essenceman · « **on:** May 03, 2004, 03:46:11 PM »

I play in a 5 piece function band here in the UK. We are called Reaction and our job is to get people dancing - whether they like it or not!!!!

We play covers for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and corporate functions. It's not pure, and it's not rocket science, but... people seem to like it and that's what brings in the money.

Here's a picture of our guitarist from a typical Reaction gig.

Cheers

Rob

(Message edited by essenceman on May 06, 2004)

keavin · « **Reply #1 on:** May 03, 2004, 04:22:33 PM »

the Reaction must be good cause you got the bride on her feet .,,,,, hey is that pete townsend???

essenceman · « **Reply #2 on:** May 03, 2004, 10:04:36 PM »

No, it's not Pete Townsend, but Jeff is a huge Who fan.

This bride was great. The evening that this particular picture was taken England were playing Germany at soccer and beat them 5-1. All the guys at the wedding rushed out after the speeches to watch the game n the TV in the room in which we had set up. It was a fairly early finish to the dance that night and so the bride was keen to get the party started. She asked the men watching the soccer to turn off the TV so that things could get started - no reponse.

Hands on hips, she stood in front of the TV and said, This is my wedding party, the f****** TV goes off now! The TV went off!

What a woman!

For more pix, try our website http://www.reactionpartyband.co.uk

Cheers

Rob

keavin · « **Reply #3 on:** May 04, 2004, 04:51:00 AM »

hey those are some good band shots!!!, what kinda guitar is that (lefty?)i like that wood on it.dude looks just like a 'younger' pete.,,,post more pics of the group in action!

essenceman · « **Reply #4 on:** May 04, 2004, 06:10:49 PM »

Thanks for the complements, Keavin. Jeff's guitar is one that I made for his 50th birthday a couple of years ago. It's based loosely on a PRS Santana with mahogany body and neck, a 5A quilted maple top and rosewood fingerboard. The machines are Schallers with ebony buttons and it has P90s. The bridge is a Wilkinson tremolo.

If you look carefully on the picture below, you will see that the guitar is strung right-handed, even though Jeff plays left-handed. It was a nightmare trying to work out what chords he was playing when I first started jamming with him ten years ago.

Cheers

Rob

hollis · « **Reply #5 on:** May 04, 2004, 07:06:25 PM »

You do very nice work Rob.

essenceman · « **Reply #6 on:** May 05, 2004, 02:20:02 AM »

Thanks Hollis.

What is a real kick, though, is watching and listening to something I made being played on stage.

Cheers

Rob

keavin · « **Reply #7 on:** May 05, 2004, 04:35:57 AM »

man! not everybody can play upsidedown!!,that is a one of a kind art!& that's one hellof a guitar you built?,,love that stripe in the middle. one question,,,wheres the alembic pickups?

bracheen · « **Reply #8 on:** May 05, 2004, 08:05:10 AM »

How about upside down AND behind the head like he's doing in one of those photos. That's gotta be something to watch.
Sam

essenceman · « **Reply #9 on:** May 06, 2004, 12:09:31 PM »

As you requested, Keavin, here are a few more live Reaction pix.

If you pull a face, it sounds better!

Nice shot of my Essence 5

The nice thing about the sort of music we play is that it does get folk dancing. Cheers Rob

palembic · « **Reply #10 on:** May 06, 2004, 12:49:42 PM »

I always say:
If you get a good drummer, you cana get people to move, get a good jeyboardplayer or guitarplayer and the people will sing, but only when you add a good bassplayer ...the people will start to dance!
So Rob ...congratulations. I sinderely think that wedding dances are the far most difficult gigs you can get as a bassplayer!

Paul TBO

essenceman · « **Reply #11 on:** May 06, 2004, 02:31:36 PM »

Hi Paul,

Did you ever get that compressor? My saying about drummers and bassplayers is slightly different to yours.

Our job is to tell them how to move. The drummer just tells them how quickly.

Cheers

Rob

David Houck · « **Reply #12 on:** May 06, 2004, 02:35:04 PM »

Paul; I'm thinking the gig in Chick Corea's Elektric Band might be a little tough to get .

essenceman · « **Reply #13 on:** May 06, 2004, 02:58:46 PM »

Dave,

You want to try playing a wedding gig when Auntie Gladys screams out during the sound check - It's too loud!!

But your point is well made. I am very rarely (read never) asked to play any Chick Corea type basslines, mores-the-pity! Who is playing bass with him these days?

Cheers

rob

adriaan · « **Reply #14 on:** May 06, 2004, 04:02:01 PM »

The last I heard, John Pattitucci was in Chick Corea's Elektrik Band. I've also seen them with Mike Pope (I think they named the Pope preamp in Fodera's after him) so there may be an opening from time to time - Paul, you gotta make that call before the end of the week, or else.