RJKH_JMB
(Chester)
Friday 18 Jan 2019, 10:24pm
Hi Paul,
I've just seen your ad and would love an opportunity to discuss your open bass player position, and to audition if you're up for it. I really like the stuff you've got on YouTube, I'd be keen to know what's in the 60 song repertoire you've put together.
About Me -
Firstly I'd like to say that I totally agree with what you say about personality being key; the thing that makes or breaks a band is the chemistry between the members...
So...
My name is Rob Konstant-Hambling, I am 42, have 2 kids and a fairly solid joe-job but music has always been my major passion. I first picked up the bass as a teenager and I've played in a bunch of different bands over the years and with a variety of styles (which suits me because I like a little bit of everything...) from Rock to Electro to Poppy-Soul to Country-Punk. Covers and originals.
On the off-chance you've heard of any of them the list includes -
-Electric Druids, rock covers, Bristol
-Red Shift, rock originals and covers, Bristol
-33 Hurtz, electro originals, Manchester
-The Medicine Bow, Country Punk originals, Manchester
-Ultranol - Indie originals, North West
-Lowensa - Poppy-souls originals, Chester
-Blacklisted - rock originals, Chester
-This Is Alarm - Indie originals, North West
-Stormin'Eden - rock originals North West
Bass is absolutely my core instrument and the only thing I've consistently played in bands, but I do also play keys, guitar and ukulele. When I've been between bands I've done a lot of open-mike work and written/recorded/multi-tracked to keep busy.
I'm currently based in Chester but with own transport so travel throughout the Northwest is easy
Live experience -
From the list above you'll see that I have plenty of experience. I was busiest when I was down in Bristol (although we played everywhere from Weymouth to London) when we were gigging twice a week for a couple of years (including a run of 3-gig weekends, good times...). We played some good London venues including the Dublin Castle and Monarch in Camden ( before it became Barfly) and back in '97 my band was supported by Muse (before they made it big). In Manchester one of my bands had a residency at the Night and Day Cafe for a while.
Gear
I play a lovely mexican Fender Jazz which has served me well over the years but I've promised myself a new toy if I can find a gigging band to join and have my eye on a Sterling Sub Ray. My main amp is an old 80w Crate but again if I can sign on with a gigging band then I have the means to invest in a decent replacement.
Workout
As I'm not gigging right now I have a bass 'workout' that I do to keep my hand in. It's basically a random/shuffle selection from a handful of albums that I play along to and includes
-The Backbeat OST
-Oits Redding Essential Collection
-Air - Moon Safari
-Rage Against the Machine
-Pixies - Doolittle
-Brand New Heavies Brother Sister
-Jamiroquai
-Elastica
-Super Back Market Clash
Solo stuff
If you're interested I've got some of my home recordings posted on Soundcloud
( https://soundcloud.com/user-384354537 or search 'Arjay Konstant'). Other than the instrumentals it probably doesn't showcase my bass playing though, I can send you some of the recordings from the bands listed above which might give you a better idea.
It would be cool to hear from you. Let me know if you want a phone number or email address to carry on the conversation.
Cheers
Rob