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Did My First Gig, After A Thirty-Six Year Gap.

Auspuff

Auspuff

Sep 24, 2019
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Location: Directly Above The Center Of The Earth
#1
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Well gang, break one out for the older guys. Shake-off the dust, gather the nerve, and get back out there, again.

After a thirty-six year hiatus (last gig was a packed house, at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, CA), my gear left home, got loaded into the car, and setup, at the Hills Hotel, in Laguna, CA. I sat-in, with the amazing keyboard virtuoso, Ken James, and it was an amazing, eye-opening experience. I did a set, and it was all rehearsal-free, had never played with him, and I did popular 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's songs, and for the free-form jazz, he gave me a key, and I layed-down bass lines, for him. I felt like a session player, and I ain't no session player (good thing I knew my Arpeggios). It was a hoot!

I took my fretless Fender Jazz Special, GK Legacy 800/GK CX210 rig, a Compressor, HPF, and Reverb/Delay, and it all worked out pretty good, room-wise. Mr. James knew I played fretless, thus that was the bass he wanted me to bring. It worked.

Wow, it sure has been a long time. And the shame of it is it should not have been such a gap. Such is life.
 
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#7
Auspuff said:
View attachment 4978445
View attachment 4978448

Well gang, break one out for the older guys. Shake-off the dust, gather the nerve, and get back out there, again.

After a thirty-six year hiatus (last gig was a packed house, at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, CA), my gear left home, got loaded into the car, and setup, at the Hills Hotel, in Laguna, CA. I sat-in, with the amazing keyboard virtuoso, Ken James, and it was an amazing, eye-opening experience. I did a set, and it was all rehearsal-free, had never played with him, and I did popular 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's songs, and for the free-form jazz, he gave me a key, and I layed-down bass lines, for him. I felt like a session player, and I ain't no session player (good thing I knew my Arpeggios). It was a hoot!

I took my fretless Fender Jazz Special, GK Legacy 800/GK CX210 rig, a Compressor, HPF, and Reverb/Delay, and it all worked out pretty good, room-wise. Mr. James knew I played fretless, thus that was the bass he wanted me to bring. It worked.

Wow, it sure has been a long time. And the shame of it is it should not have been such a gap. Such is life.
Click to expand...
This is SO much about why I LOVE being a (fretless) bass player. My first ever gig was supposed to be a big deal (with two other guys that had already graduated high school as music all-stars) and last minute the guitarist was a no-show. I did the gig with the drummer, gutted the set list and did all improv jazz and funk. We levelled the joint! I went on to play as a pro for a couple decades and then reality became dreams and then memories. Many years later the group I toured with wanted to do a show for a dear, departed friend/producer to which I happily agreed. WE ARE bass players and the world needs what we have to give. I love your story and hope many others share theirs....PLAY ON, brothers and sisters!!!
 
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#8
My idle spell was '67 to '97. For the first 25 years, I didn't own a single instrument. I sold all my gear (good stuff) and used the money for tech school (excellent decision). I got back into playing when I bought a guitar and amp right after Christmas one year. It took a while to re-learn what I 'lost' but I surpassed the old skills after a couple of years. Then, after a 30 year gap I gigged (lead guitar) in a band for a couple of years. Not my greatest skill but I got by. Then I finally returned to bass, my strongest asset. Been playing ever since.
I say it's in your blood. It never goes away for good.
Congrats on returning to your passion.
 
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#14
Auspuff said:
View attachment 4978445
View attachment 4978448

Well gang, break one out for the older guys. Shake-off the dust, gather the nerve, and get back out there, again.

After a thirty-six year hiatus (last gig was a packed house, at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, CA), my gear left home, got loaded into the car, and setup, at the Hills Hotel, in Laguna, CA. I sat-in, with the amazing keyboard virtuoso, Ken James, and it was an amazing, eye-opening experience. I did a set, and it was all rehearsal-free, had never played with him, and I did popular 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's songs, and for the free-form jazz, he gave me a key, and I layed-down bass lines, for him. I felt like a session player, and I ain't no session player (good thing I knew my Arpeggios). It was a hoot!

I took my fretless Fender Jazz Special, GK Legacy 800/GK CX210 rig, a Compressor, HPF, and Reverb/Delay, and it all worked out pretty good, room-wise. Mr. James knew I played fretless, thus that was the bass he wanted me to bring. It worked.

Wow, it sure has been a long time. And the shame of it is it should not have been such a gap. Such is life.
Click to expand...
Life is good when you can do the things you like.
It is never to late to play. Ron Carter at 85 is still going STRONG.
 
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#15
I've pretty much been in a band of one form or another since 1978. I've played country, rockabilly, punk, new wave, 80s, rock, blues, Alt country….not bragging, just thinking about the diverse projects I've been in. There were periods of sparse gigging, but I was always involved in some kind of project, and I never sold my gear, because I would pick up one instrument or another and play.
 
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#16
Auspuff said:
View attachment 4978445
View attachment 4978448

Well gang, break one out for the older guys. Shake-off the dust, gather the nerve, and get back out there, again.

After a thirty-six year hiatus (last gig was a packed house, at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, CA), my gear left home, got loaded into the car, and setup, at the Hills Hotel, in Laguna, CA. I sat-in, with the amazing keyboard virtuoso, Ken James, and it was an amazing, eye-opening experience. I did a set, and it was all rehearsal-free, had never played with him, and I did popular 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's songs, and for the free-form jazz, he gave me a key, and I layed-down bass lines, for him. I felt like a session player, and I ain't no session player (good thing I knew my Arpeggios). It was a hoot!

I took my fretless Fender Jazz Special, GK Legacy 800/GK CX210 rig, a Compressor, HPF, and Reverb/Delay, and it all worked out pretty good, room-wise. Mr. James knew I played fretless, thus that was the bass he wanted me to bring. It worked.

Wow, it sure has been a long time. And the shame of it is it should not have been such a gap. Such is life.
Click to expand...

Well first off, congrats on the gig and I'm glad you had a great time. Nice rig considering you haven't been gigging all these years. I'm going to to take a stab here and suggest that not gigging does not mean not playing?

I had a fairly long break myself so I think I can identify with what all you went through to prepare and execute. Really happy for you. Best wishes on getting out more often.
 
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#17
dbsfgyd1 said:
Well first off, congrats on the gig and I'm glad you had a great time. Nice rig considering you haven't been gigging all these years. I'm going to to take a stab here and suggest that not gigging does not mean not playing?

I had a fairly long break myself so I think I can identify with what all you went through to prepare and execute. Really happy for you. Best wishes on getting out more often.
Click to expand...

You posed an excellent question, and that requires a straight-up answer.

I basically stopped playing, after my best friend, and guitarist/keyboardist, just up and quit on all of us. Our band was supposed to go all the way, together, or bust (even cut an album, in 1983), and I felt so betrayed, I literally quit playing. I even sold both of my SVT810's, and my Moog Taurus pedals (something I always regretted). Thank Goodness I kept my Carvin LB50, and Carvin 1X15 cab, all these years.

I did not pick a bass back up, until around 2018 (after the death of my wife. Thirty-years of joyous matrimony - miss you, Honey!), and even then, just causally. 2019/2020/2021 was the buying spree, with me purchasing five basses, and an all new GK rig, consisting of a Legacy 800, plus CX410, and CX210 cabs. I also purchased my first-ever effects, a Keeley Compressor Pro, Tech 21 Bass Boost/Chorus, Wampler Ethereal Reverb/Delay, and a Broughton HPF. Looking at this list, I guess my wallet knew I would begin gigging, before I did.

Now that the rust is off, I have additional gigs lined up, and I am looking forward to as many as I can do.

And, advice to all: Do not ever put your bass away. I gave up decades, in immature disgust, and that is not the rational way to act.
 
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#19
Auspuff said:
You posed an excellent question, and that requires a straight-up answer.

I basically stopped playing, after my best friend, and guitarist/keyboardist, just up and quit on all of us. Our band was supposed to go all the way, together, or bust (even cut an album, in 1983), and I felt so betrayed, I literally quit playing. I even sold both of my SVT810's, and my Moog Taurus pedals (something I always regretted). Thank Goodness I kept my Carvin LB50, and Carvin 1X15 cab, all these years.

I did not pick a bass back up, until around 2018 (after the death of my wife. Thirty-years of joyous matrimony - miss you, Honey!), and even then, just causally. 2019/2020/2021 was the buying spree, with me purchasing five basses, and an all new GK rig, consisting of a Legacy 800, plus CX410, and CX210 cabs. I also purchased my first-ever effects, a Keeley Compressor Pro, Tech 21 Bass Boost/Chorus, Wampler Ethereal Reverb/Delay, and a Broughton HPF. Looking at this list, I guess my wallet knew I would begin gigging, before I did.

Now that the rust is off, I have additional gigs lined up, and I am looking forward to as many as I can do.

And, advice to all: Do not ever put your bass away. I gave up decades, in immature disgust, and that is not the rational way to act.
Click to expand...

Like i said, I'm really glad you are playing again, but very sorry fpr your loss.
 
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