Author Topic: Alembics at Open Mics (Read 2571 times)

ajdover · « **on:** March 19, 2013, 12:51:36 AM »

I recently took over as the House Bassist at a local open mic. The previous bassist moved away, and there was an opening so I took it.

Last week, there was a guy that wanted to play, a younger guy for that matter. All fine and good, except that he's more of a metal/modern rock guy, with a chain that goes from his wallet to somewhere on his pants, and a huge belt buckle ...

I'm using my Lakland 4-94 and my Fender Jazz ('73) on this evening .. he keeps coming up and wanting to play, telling me oh, I used to have this, that, but had to sell it to move to here from Florida ... my bass is at our practice space, and I can't bring it because I don't have a car .... I reluctantly let him use my Fender Jazz ...

He's halfway through a song before I see him jettison the chain and belt buckle (to his credit). Fortunately, no damage is done to my Jazz.

Fast forward to this week ... I take my Entwistle Series II.

He comes up and asks, is that the only bass you brought with you? My reply? Yes. He slinks away, knowing that he'll never get his hands on it. I wasn't trying to be a jerk, but jeez, if you're going to an open mic, bring an instrument at least. And the argument that he's on a bike doesn't wash - he can buy a cheap gig bag that will work fine.

Anyway, he doesn't play.

My guess is next week he'll show up with a bass.

BTW, everyone told me how great my bass sounded.

senmen · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2013, 03:09:29 AM »

Great story Alan!
The statement of that guy if that is the only bass you brought with you is just blasphemy.... :-)
Greetz
Oliver (Spyderman)

stoney · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2013, 06:06:48 AM »

When I get called to be the house bassist, I always take a beater-bass.

eligilam · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2013, 09:16:58 AM »

So...was he any good?

ajdover · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2013, 04:23:11 PM »

He's OK, but he definitely isn't versatile. He did the usual slap wankery, but he strikes me as more of a metal guy. I could be wrong, though.

edwin · « **Reply #5 on:** March 21, 2013, 07:05:05 PM »

I went to a Denver Music Awards ceremony and had my Starfire with me. At the end of the night there was a big jam and it turned out I was one of the few people who brought a bass. I went up to the stage and plugged in and right as the music started, this metal guy literally grabbed it out of my hands. I guess he was in a band with the drummer and felt that it was his right to grab any bass because he had to play with the drummer and he was especially all worked up because the guys up front were rappers and he had to show them how superior rap was to metal. I was so dumbfounded that I stood there staring at him from about 18 away. At the end of the jam, I took my bass back from him and he didn't even look at me, but ran off. Not even a thanks, man. I've never heard music played at such cross purposes before, if you can call it music. It was aural disrespect. I would have been happy to provide a groove for the rappers, but I never got a chance. It's the last time I'll bring a bass to something like that.

JuancarlinBass · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2013, 06:24:31 AM »

I might get perceived sometimes as a nasty man for this, but with time I've grown up on an attitude of not giving my instruments -or any equipment- to anyone, and being wary of giving them to my friends, unless I am pretty much sure on how careful they will be with them. I've said no more than once on shared stages, and got the looks, but nowadays I prefer to keep the integrity and care of what I've fought hard for, than having to care about someone that might not care about me. Is this how I wanted it? Not at all, in fact is quite the contrary of what I have always wanted to believe in, but it has been a hard learned lesson, and it is people like that guy Edwin said who taught it. Worst thing is they don't (probably never will) have an idea on how their acting really affects them and their environment. They would not listen, they're not listening still, perhaps they never will...

5a_quilt_top · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2013, 08:41:35 AM »

Ditto for me.

Every time I've loaned gear, even to friends, something has been tweaked, or worse, damaged.

This is also not how I'd like to behave, but unfortunate past circumstances have dictated this policy.

To be fair, I do not ask to borrow gear from others and am also very reluctant to play an instrument owned by someone else - even if offered to me by the owner.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2013, 09:49:24 AM »

Ditto for me too.
I have refrained from playing anyone else's guitar or bass and very rarely, countable on one hand, allowed anyone to play mine especially not before a gig. I have seen a the guitarist of support act pick up and use the guitar of the main act at a function and broke a string without telling the guitar owner. Fortunately I knew the owner of the guitar and got a message to him before his set started.

There are a couple of guys I would consider allowing to try out my instruments and those situations would be outside of a gig or jam context.

Jazzyvee

edwin · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2013, 10:32:36 AM »

I've got to say that I've gone the opposite way as well. Right after I got my Shorty, I played a festival (stop reading, Pierre-Yves, if this makes you nervous!) and I was recording the whole thing as well as playing several times, so I leant the Shorty to quite a few of the bass players, most of whom I knew pretty well. Everyone was super respectful and really enjoyed it, as did the audience. It was great to hear the bass from out front through a large outdoor PA.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2013, 12:26:43 PM »

Good story Edwin, I wish I was brave enough to do that as I would like to hear my bass from out front through a large PA so I know what kind of sound i'm pushing out when I'm playing.

jazzyvee

FC Bass · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2013, 12:29:49 PM »

I'll mail you my bands gig dates :-)

moonliner · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2013, 07:07:08 PM »

I was playing a gig with an old blues guitarist in Seattle years ago and at that time I was playing a Steinberger. A guy who had played bass with the guitarist in the past came up and wanted to sit in. Since Steinberger's are somewhat bullet proof and I kind of knew the guy I let him sit in. As I watched he broke one string, then another...... and another. The guitar player kept looking between me and he other bass player in disbelief until the song ended and he just handed me the bass with 3 broken strings hanging from it. Nice. I was kind of used to breaking strings on that bass and since it was the end of the night I let it slide as it was actually funny in a surreal kind of way. He didn't ask to sit in any more, not that I would have let him!

edwin · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2013, 07:25:46 PM »

I did the reverse of that. I was playing an outdoor gig at UC Santa Cruz ca. 1981 and broke a string. I then borrowed another bass, broke a string on that and it cut my finger, so I also bled all over it. I borrowed a third bass and broke a string on it and then the bandaid broke loose, so it suffered a blood bath as well. I used to break strings a lot, but now it hardly ever happens. Better strings these days? Maybe.

moonliner · « **Reply #14 on:** March 22, 2013, 07:35:39 PM »

The things we do for our art!