Probably my last gig for a long time tomorrow. Vent/rant.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

I'm having pretty mixed feelings about it.

Part of me is sad, as this band (despite its many problems over the 6 years) has given me quite a bit of joy and loads of interesting gigs. Not to mention an opportunity to play in the first place (a long story).

Part of me is extremely happy, no more driving drunk band-members back and forth at 4am, no more guessing just how drunk certain someone is during the gig etc.

I'm also very happy as I now can give a young, very enthusiastic young bass player an opportunity to join a gigging band. Something I only dreamed about at his age.

Fortunately the good has always outweighed the bad. And the little bit of money those gigs brought in was a great motivator.


Why am I quitting gigging with them then?

In two months I'll move all my stuff some 200km north of where I currently live, and practising and playing with my current band just isn't practical anymore. The opportunity/chance I was given is way too good to pass up.

Obviously I've been looking at the music scene in the new place, but things aren't looking too bright. About the only thing I could do is to play all sorts of new metal with 15 year olds. I'm 39 classic rock guy so NO THANKS . The closest decent size city is also about 40km away, so that complicates matters even more (yes, those young metal-heads are fortunately that far away).

I have to put out some feelers when I actually settle in over there, there has to be some old farts like me in that part of the Finland.
I sure do hope so.

Thanks for reading my rant.

Regards
Sam

[OldogNewTrick]

I'm a bit older than you, but I have learned that change is opportunity !

good luck with your move ! You never know what waits around the corner.


I sure hope you'll have at least internet access... won't be able to do without your daily dose of TALKBASS

[funkingroovin]

Old Fart?? If my toes add up correctly(i can't get past 4 when i count on my fingers You still have about a decade before you can call yourself "middle aged"!

And I wouldn't worry about the scene,it's there somewhere. Maybe you're meant to show the kids the origins of their metal..Cream..Hendrix..'Stones..etc.

I can see it now..."When I was your age,songs had more than 3 bar chords,and the mirrors were in black and white..."

Whatever you do,wherever you go, KEEP ROCKIN'!

[s_mcsleazy]

i know the feeling

when my band split it was kinda devistating but so far my band breaking has formed 2 great bands

[ExaltBass]

I've got more than 20 on you. You aren't even close to "Old Fart' yet. Connect where you land and have fun!

[DanRJBrasil]

the singer of one of my bands has about 37 and and we rehearse about two times a month or before a big gig, he lives in another state, he took the bus and meet us at the studio, no biggie, of course would be better if he were near us but we can work things out

[Dan Knowlton]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

I have to put out some feelers when I actually settle in over there, there has to be some old farts like me in that part of the Finland.
I sure do hope so.

Gee Sam,
I'm sorry you are so old - I guess when you are only 55 like I am you old folks seem to have one foot in the grave...




Get a grip - LOTS of good years ahead of you.

Good luck with your NEXT band. Hope you caught the little bit of sarcasm I used there!

Dan K.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

thanks guys for the kind words.

I forgot a smilie when referring myself as an old fart . It's just that 95% of the "bass player wanted" ads in whole country seems to be from bands where the average age prevents them from buying beer for themselves (18 ). Sure, most of them have the age pretty much open, but who the hell needs that teenage band drama? We've been there, when we were young, we still remember, vividly .

Now don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against teens/youngsters in the band, our current bands most recent guitarist just turned 18 last month, but gigging with him in bars was a PITA up until he reached the legal age.

Regards
Sam

[Basshappi]

Breaking up is hard to do (think I heard that somewhere before ) even if it's for the best.

But change is often a good thing and who knows you just might find some old rockers where you're going.....we're everywhere.

[Jim Powers]

I did the same thing here in the States. I'm 55, got a great job offer, took an apartment 500 miles away, and left a great time and circle of musicans at home. I still get together with them when I can, but its not often. Really a bummer when they invite me over and I'm out of town.

BUT, once I landed at the new location I went on Craigslist, found a guitarist thats very talented after a couple months, we found a drummer, and I found some jam bars. My circle is growing again. When you get where you're going, just start looking for how the locals connect and get active! Make your own band if you need to, someone will thank you for it! Hope it goes well.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Thanks guys, I'm sure I'll find something.
A decade ago when I had the MC accident where I lost the hearing in my right ear made me quit playing for 5 years. Won't make that mistake again, that's for sure.

My definite strong points are the most important qualities of a bass player: A big enough van and a PA .

The gig is now obviously done, it went quite well, not perfect, but considering the last weekends one, we were great .

I just feel really bad for the drummer, he's probably the one left with the setting up and organizing the load in/out, the guitarists of the band were like sleepwalking. Again.

The drummer asked me to do a farewell gig in the MC-club we were sort of a house band in (I'm not a member) and I obviously agreed.

Regards
Sam

[Sneakypete]

Here's a suggestion based on personal experience; I live in a small town in a semi-rural, semi-industrial area with a fairly small population. This is the sort of place you'd think was a desert for bandmates. There are a couple of websites in the UK (Gumtree for example) where people place the sort of classified ads you see in local newspapers - you must have the same sort of thing in Finland. At your new address search these sites for instruments for sale - I was amazed how much decent-level gear was for sale locally. Of course, there's no guarantee that this translates to a large number of likely bandmates - it probably doesn't - but it's worth placing an ad yourself you might be very pleasantly surprised. I hope so anyway. Good luck.