Got to sound check and band leader asked to hear my heavy rock pedal. I had taken Radial Tonebone Classic, valve pedal which he liked the sound of then reminded me to play the melodies riffs etc in a heavy rock style. Well I know the Wailers guitarists Al Anderson, Julian Marvin and others played in a more bluesy style rather than overt heavy rock/metal style.
As it was his gig and I was a hired hand I did what I thought worked even added some Hendrix style feedback and whammy bar dives in some of the sections. Then in the interval, the band members in the green room, told me they were happy with what they were hearing and wanted to know what I thought.
I was honest and guarded in my responses, saying i'd grown up with the music of the Wailers and am quite a puritan when it comes to how i connect to covers of the wailer's music. I have really enjoyed covers by Monty Alexander, Ernest Ranglin, Lee Ritenour, Grover Washington Jr and am still trying to work out how/if I can relate to this band's overtly heavily distorted rocky tonality and at the same time as me contributing the same in the melodic lines within these reggae tracks. It's not so much whether I like it or not which was what I think were really asking me. Personally it's more a question of whether I want to be playing gigs that involve me creating that sound in music I cherish deeply.
On the drive home I thought about it and came to this interim conclusion. It was family man's bass playing that made me want to play bass and get involved in playing live music, and when i'm involved with performing his music I still want to feel his vibe or presence in the bass whether it's me on bass or anyone else.
I do like the rock guitar in the music of Wailers music so don't mind playing that aspect.
I'm not anti effects on bass either, I just haven't found a need to go there personally and for me amount of effects and rock distortion i was hearing from the bass didn't move me at all. It was also so loud even though I had the bass removed from my stage monitor. One of the singers also was not happy with the volume and there were two of them in front of the bass player, and his cab was facing away from them towards him!!!!
On the plus side, the venue and audience loved it as did an old work friend who came to the gig with her new husband, and the band are still getting more gigs than they can handle. :-) so what do I know?
All I know is what I felt and getting on stage for me is to enjoy being a part of what the band is creating.
Just thinking now how to respond if asked to do another guitar gig with them. :-).
