That was fun! (subbing for an Israeli band)

[LM Bass]

On Sunday evening, I got a call on a cell phone call during a set break (it was my second gig of the day). Turns out I had been recommended for a subbing gig with Israeli band "Ha Groovatron". Seems their bassist had not been able to catch his flight because of the volcanic ash in the air.

I agreed, and went to meet the guys at a local sushi restaurant. I was given an iPod, and told that some charts would be coming via e-mail. Well, I waited a couple of hours, and then decided I should start to work, as the gig was the next day. I got about half the tunes charted, when suddenly my inbox started filling up. I called it a night about 3am, and at 7 when I got up there were a bunch more charts there.

These guys are amazing musicians, playing traditional Jewish music in every possible style under the sun. The guitarist and trombonist play with bassist Avishai Cohen. Reggae, samba, salsa, funk, power ballad, country, and horas all mixed together. Lots of crafty writing and heads-up reading to do.

We managed to squeeze 5 of us into my crowded teaching office today, and ran through the tunes. Everything went swimmingly, and so we went off to the sound check. We played to a 1,200 seat capacity audience in a nice theatre here in Vancouver. Apparently, it's Israel's independence day. I felt very welcomed by their community, and it was interesting to watch an event like this, being an outsider.

(The obligitory gear part: I played electric bass, and brought my new TC electronics setup with an RH 450, 212 and 112, and it was LOUD at 3.5 on the master. Oh. . . THIS is why I have that amp!)

This kind of gig is always in the back of my mind when I teach my students -be able to read, show up on time, be friendly, be versatile. .. All in all, a great night. I hope you'll google the band and get an idea how they sound.

best regards,
Laurence

[kerryg]

Oh LOL, I got called for that too - I was out of cel range at the cabin with the family 'til 8 and didn't get back to him 'til around 9. Glad it was you and not me that did it - it sounds like it was quite a lot of work, and after all the sun and fresh air all I really wanted to do last night was sleep. How were the charts, decent?

PS: greatest irony about the inconvenience all that ash is causing is that apparently Iceland's major airport is open, since it's west of the volcano.

Maybe they shouldn't have pressured Iceland so hard about the banks thing

[LM Bass]

P.S. I hope I didn't sound sarcastic, I just realized that this section is called "Gigs and humour" when I just meant to share about a gig. Truly, I had a GREAT time playing with these guys, -Kerry you would have loved it!

[kerryg]

this is pretty clearly the "Gigs" part of the program, not the "humour" part. I just laughed because of the coincidence. It sounds like it was a blast! When they told me you were doing it I told them "you couldn't be in better hands".

[LM Bass]

Thanks Kerry,

They couldn't be in better hands, but ONLY because your cell was out of range! I miss our bass quartet, and I'd love to show you the TC gear sometime. . . .

L

[mr.bigglesworth]

You played with the Groovatron!? cool!
Truly amazing musicians, they take old-school Israeli music (60's - 80's) and make them cool as possible.
Happy Israeli independence day!

[PDavyduck]

Wow!! Sounds like a crazy cool gig for sure!!... care to forward a chart or two??