Recent content by hrodbert696

I think when I filled my tank with regular a couple days ago it was $4.02 (New Hampshire). Driving by a discount station, the price was a dime or two lower than that.

I read your post just fine. You said "I'd never go to a cover band's concert." The statement that you don't object to cover songs leaves a little unclear if you mean you don't mind playing one once in a while yourself, or you don't mind hearing a band play one sometimes as long as they play...

The originals-vs-covers thing is an old horse to beat, and this is a little off-topic, but... I'm a little baffled by statements like this. You're ONLY EVER interested in hearing songs performed by their composers? Never by someone who didn't compose it? No interest in performances of...

Just to state the obvious about part of the debate here, to apply the current lingo, "pro" vs. "amateur" is a spectrum, not a binary. It ranges from the total amateur just noodling in the garage to the full-time consummate professional who makes music for a living and exemplifies...

Sounds about right. The book was American-focused, but a significant part of the inspiration, going back to the 19th century, was English country estates - Downton Abbey kinds of places. The environment in New England resembles England a lot more than, say, New South Wales resembles southern...

Very cool! I'll have to check it out.

You're lucky! In Boston it's $1500. I think she's targeted at an upscale crowd. I'm going in September because I've never seen her, but by far I try to catch lesser-known acts where tickets are in the $25-50 range. Still, sometimes you've got to pony up.

I also read that this summer! I enjoyed it, and you're right - it's fun. I do feel it's been a little over-hyped, but my drummer says things really develop in subsequent installments of the series. A while back I got an Amazon Kindle subscription, barely use it any more, but it seemed to me...

Meh. What I hate is these contrived rankings and lists that aren't based on any actual data that I can see, with meaningless commentary. I mean, I don't think anyone ever said they thought Geddy was a great singer. And the filler copy they have, that he "subtly toned down the extremes" when...

My first regularly-gigging band was like this. When I joined the BL gave me a list of 20 songs to learn. I said, "Won't we need more than this for a gig?", and the answer was, "Oh, you'll pick up the rest as we go along." So from there a routine aspect of gigs was "Throwing Jonny to the...

Glad to hear you're taking the gig! Actually, I'm in the camp that would say those look like it will be fun. My story relevant to this: my first really frequently gigging band was a classic/southern rock trio, but would change things up as needed. The BL didn't use setlists and would call...

My bar band's singer wanted to do an AI flyer for us a few months ago. I put my foot down and said absolutely not. I'm not TOTALLY anti-AI, it has some legitimate uses. But generally what you see is people using it as a substitute for thinking or for actual creative work. It's the underlying...

Who really needs more than seven? Gigging income is running ahead of gear. I haven't bought much major new stuff in a while. Last bass I bought was during COVID. I don't keep exact numbers but eyeball it a bit. I'm playing 2-4 gigs a month at about $150 each. Most past purchases are on a...

A few thoughts: like several others here, I play both in church and in secular bands. First off, mod reminder, it's within TB rules to discuss religious venues AS venues but not to discuss religion per se on open forums. Anyway: My current church is classified small/medium (about 200-300...

I realized a long time ago that wherever you get to in rehearsal, you lose 15% at the gig. Rehearsal is the time for perfectionism; fix every mistake, play it repeatedly till you can't make it any better. Then at the gig, trust to your muscle memory and let it go. It can still be great, but...