Do You still have your Mo JO?

[Cwhasp]

Newbie here folks. Very interesting thread indeed !
I'm 58 and have been playing in bands(one form or another) ever since I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show.
I'm liking the attention given here to the "Over 50" musicians.

It's funny, but as each year passes it seems I feel more willing to play more often. I guess it's the thought of not being able to play anymore due to age or should a disability rear it's ugly head. I've never had such quality equipment in my youth as I do now. (Gibson/MesaBoogie). My ability to play has improved, and so has my attitude.

I am still impatient with others degree of dedication, but I'm writing that off to old age.
After all, we only have so many years to enjoy this.
There are times after a "exciting gig" I am so exhausted I am lucky to get in bed. My ears ring nearly everyday, it usually takes a few songs to get limber, and cramping in the fingers, arms, and legs are not unusual. My fingers usually are sore for a day, but that tends to go away the next day.
None the less, Im always excited about the next gig.
I'm using a 2-wheeler to help unload and load my stuff and the PA.
I have gone from a stack to a combo, and thinned out my effects toys.
Prefer to play 2-3 times a month, and practice once a week w/band. I'm always going over songs at home, or fiddling with my gear.

As far as the groupies go, ours are wives, &/or family.
Currently I'm in one giging band and forming another.
Am I crazy, or just make'n the best of the time I have left??

Glad to be a member here. I have played Bass before, but currently playing guitar.
Hope that's OK .......

 

[C47]

I've been playing rock for over 40 years.
First with touring bands, then I got a family.
Then with regional original bands but got tired of the drama.
Now with a classic rock cover band, just venues within 50 miles. Much less hassle.

Thing I hate is I need my glasses to see the frets under dim stage lights.
So I taught myself to play blind wearing shades on stage.
I cheat by having a small strip of gaffers tape on the neck behind the 5th fret for
a braille reference.
A small folding dolly is a must for my SVT.
That and advil before the gig.

Sucks to get old but ***, I'm still having fun LOL

 

[bluewine]

Newbie here folks. Very interesting thread indeed !
I'm 58 and have been playing in bands(one form or another) ever since I saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show.
I'm liking the attention given here to the "Over 50" musicians.

It's funny, but as each year passes it seems I feel more willing to play more often. I guess it's the thought of not being able to play anymore due to age or should a disability rear it's ugly head. I've never had such quality equipment in my youth as I do now. (Gibson/MesaBoogie). My ability to play has improved, and so has my attitude.

I am still impatient with others degree of dedication, but I'm writing that off to old age.
After all, we only have so many years to enjoy this.
There are times after a "exciting gig" I am so exhausted I am lucky to get in bed. My ears ring nearly everyday, it usually takes a few songs to get limber, and cramping in the fingers, arms, and legs are not unusual. My fingers usually are sore for a day, but that tends to go away the next day.
None the less, Im always excited about the next gig.
I'm using a 2-wheeler to help unload and load my stuff and the PA.
I have gone from a stack to a combo, and thinned out my effects toys.
Prefer to play 2-3 times a month, and practice once a week w/band. I'm always going over songs at home, or fiddling with my gear.

As far as the groupies go, ours are wives, &/or family.
Currently I'm in one giging band and forming another.
Am I crazy, or just make'n the best of the time I have left??

Glad to be a member here. I have played Bass before, but currently playing guitar.
Hope that's OK .......

Awesome post, it's no secret amongst TBers,I'm 58 too.

What is so nice about your post is, how effin hard a lot of us got hit that Sunday Night back in 64 when those 4 guys performed.

For so many of us it literally changed our lives upside down from that moment on.

For me, it was instant, I was like 9 or 10 but like magic in less than a minute into their performance I said;

Thats What I want To DO!I think it's imposible for the younger TBers to understand that if it wasn't for that Sunday night you would not be playing bass today. They changed the world. I'll get some feedback on that comment and I expect all you 55+ cats to back me up.

Anyway, I have been playing in bands ever since and as I pointed out earlier in the thread age is catching up, but has not done me in yet.

Thing is while it may have taken 40 years I am playing my 1st national venue show this weekend.

Winning:

 

[deaf pea]

Some of you guys might know that I'm 65 years old . . . and I play with a popular Rock'n Roll band based in Mexico City . . . Haragán y Compania . . .

we do 8-10 weekends a year in the USA (LA, SF, San Diego, San Jose, Salinas, Watsonville, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Portland, Seattle, Yakima, Chicago, Atlanta, the Carolinas, NYC, NJ, Philadelphia, etc) and gigs in the Mexico City area, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Toluca, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Leon, Celaya, Salamanca, Querétaro, etc . . .

the "roadies" haul my gear, but as I've said in other threads, I NEED to rest for a couple of hours before we go on stage . . . that way I can "groove" from the beginning of the 1st song . . . I SHOULD wear glasses or contacts, but I don't . . . I kinda' LIKE everything out-of-focus . . .

I'm having a great time and hope to be able to continue doing so for another 20 years . . . . . .

 

[Mike M.]

Soon to be 58 myself. I guess you could say I still have the Mo-Jo but it's shifted directions. I have no desire to be in a cover band anymore. Been there, done that and I can't find the passion for it like I had many years ago. I can't even remember when the last time was I went to a bar and that's the truth! But I do enjoy playing at home and practicing what I want to and when I want to.

The most musical fun I've had was when I was laid off from late January '09 thru February '10. Having an abundace of free time and being single to boot, I wrote and recorded a lot of songs at home. Man, I was in heaven doing that. Then I called called back to work (back on nights again at 12 hours a night), so that free time went right out the door.

But if I found myself with more free time I know I'd get right back into writing again with no thought of playing out. Well, maybe an original thing but not a cover thing.

Don't get me wrong. If playing in a cover band is your thing and you're loving it and got the Mo-Jo for it then I tip my hat to ya! More power to ya, I say!

 

[Richland123]

As many of you have mentioned The Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show as your influential starting point, I remember watching that as well and it impacted me too. However, my real A-HA moment came in the spring of 1965 when my mother took me to a Dick Clark Caravan of Stars show and the headlining band was Herman's Hermits. I was 8 years old.

Our seats were a little far from the stage for my liking. During the intermission before Herman's Hermits came on, I told my mother I had to use the restroom. Back then, parents let their young kids go places alone. I went to the restroom and then I sneaked up to the roped off area in front of the stage full of excitement. Since I was a little kid, all the people let me slip up front. Well, when Herman's Hermits came out and performed, I decided at that moment that I had to be in a band.

Of course, my mother had no idea where I was. After the show was over, I found my mother and was thrilled the rest of the night and many days afterward about the concert. A year and a half later I started drum lessons which lead to guitar and eventually bass.