Tranquilitybass
(Doncaster)
Monday 20 May 2019, 12:39pm
Hi
I was a bass player/singer for most of my adult life, finally hanging up my guitars and selling my trusty old combo in 2009. Over the preceding thirty-odd years, I’d performed thousands of gigs in a variety of band configurations and in every imaginable (and unimaginable) type of venue - covering a plethora of styles on both fretted and fretless bass - and often providing lead or backing vocals to boot.
It’s been a while since I played (or even looked back) in anger, but it surely won’t take me long to get my chops back - ‘Hit me with your rhythm stick’ is one of my measuring sticks and it’s already almost under my fingers again... almost... Less surprisingly, I find that my frontman days are long gone, but I can hold a tune enough to add a harmony when required. I have transport and enough self-respect to turn up to rehearsals having at least listened to the mooted tunes.
I’m not looking to gig 5 or 6 times a week - which, looking at the state of the industry (what have you all done to it?), is fortunate - am simply hoping to play a few well-worn songs (or otherwise) with a few well-worn people, perform the odd well-worn gig, have a few laughs and see how it goes. I am primarily looking for a bassless band, am not sure I still have the energy to again start something from scratch, but am open-minded enough to see what transpires.
I need a new amp, a couple of pedals, a set or two of strings... but wait! Where did Electro Music go in the intervening years? It’s a building site! How did that happen? Must I now launch my hard-won cash into the cold, faceless multi-national ether? Shame on you all for scrimping over a couple of quid while dispatching that warm, friendly, expert, essential, iconic local musical hub to the scrap heap. Amazon it is then. I wonder if the delivery driver will set it up then tell me a couple of juicy rumours between pointing out a couple of interesting hidden features? And then take it back and instantly bring me another one to try...
In line with what seems to be the norm here, might I add that I wrote and recorded a few songs a few years ago, a few of which can be heard here:
https://www.soundclick.com/bands3/?bandID=399080
Phew. If you navigated the above without recourse to a fistful of analgesics and a large bottle of spirits, please drop me a line. Even if you didn’t, it might still be nice to hear from you.
Cheers,
Al
PS
I auditioned many potential band members over the years and always had the decency to call them if they were unsuccessful, offering a compliment and platitude or two before forever parting company. It appears this manic social media era has numbed many to this once natural common courtesy, yet I hereby pledge to reply with a jolly yay or a nay to every received response.
Thanks again.