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Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"
- Thread starter B-string
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If we're going back that much. We came to Canada in October 1973. My Precision was in parts in a huge packing case that was traveling by ship. When the case finally arrived I started looking for a band. I answered an ad in the Toronto Star and was called for an audition on a Sunday. I passed and on the Monday night the band started a six night plus matinee gig at The Duke on Queen street. At the end of the week we were promptly paid the grand sum of $150 each. We were given a string of bookings as we were the "best" band he'd ever had in there. I still get a chuckle over that.
Looking back at those times I realize that my day gig paid the mortgage but the band put food on the table for the family.
Looking back at those times I realize that my day gig paid the mortgage but the band put food on the table for the family.
- Feb 12, 2006
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- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
A Veedub bus!!!
You lot 'ad it good. All we 'ad was an owld Beetle with no tires and an upright bass strapped to tha roof. It were so ricketty, that if ya tried to jump start it, the doors fell off.
It were in an 'ole in the ground, under tha snow. No road, just a line scratched in the mud. Uphill and downhill both ways, 24 mile there and 42 mile back, and no bloody gas for the car.
We would 'ave given our right arm for a proper bus, ya wee softie...
Hey now, I am 29, and I have done this regularly in a band. Key's player transported a B3, Rhodes, and full PC synth system to every show.
Yep, I hauled that Hammond and Leslie up and down stairs too. But, it sounded soooo good. Made it all worth it. I used to fit my Ampeg 810 in the back of my VW beetle with my V4B head and Jazz bass to go to rehearsals. Once that rear seat was folded down there really was quite a bit of room.
Band: Lionheart, line up Keys, Guitar, Bass and Drums and everyone sang. This was the most favourite band that I played with. We clubbed together and bought an old van that we all hand painted black - affectionately known as the "Black Cow". We played High school, university and college graduations from Trenton AFB to the Brock in Niagara Falls. All of the big hotels in the Toronto city centre. Casa Loma and Ontario Place. Hart House of the U of T. We were paid well!
Gear as I remember it:
Drums - a large kit.
Fender Super Twin 180W guitar amp
2x15 H&H bass cabinet
The wogasaurus bass amp 200+200W designed and built by me.
Fender Rhodes piano
Mammond Porta B organ with it's Leslie
ARP synth
Another big box containing a second smaller ARP synth and a "string" machine.
4x12 speaker cabinet and amp for the keys.
A pair of Voice Of the Theatre bass bins.
A pair of huge Altec horns.
Pa amp was a big box that held the mixer (mono) and a pair of BGW power amps and their crossovers.
Big boxes that held all the cables and lights.
Light controller built by me.
Stands for the lights, mic stands and tray table stands used to raise the bass bins off the stage.
For one gig at the Royal Yacht Club on one of the Toronto islands, we had to load all this stuff into a launch to get it there. We were also required to wear ties in the launch. Luckily there were some on board and we put them around our necks. T shirts and ties did look a little odd. We had to do it all over again to get the equipment back onto the mainland, then load the van, unload into the where we rehearsed before we could go home.
The band worked once or twice a month and every gig was an adventure. We worked most at graduation time, sometimes as much as two or three a week.
OH to be THAT young again!!!!
Gear as I remember it:
Drums - a large kit.
Fender Super Twin 180W guitar amp
2x15 H&H bass cabinet
The wogasaurus bass amp 200+200W designed and built by me.
Fender Rhodes piano
Mammond Porta B organ with it's Leslie
ARP synth
Another big box containing a second smaller ARP synth and a "string" machine.
4x12 speaker cabinet and amp for the keys.
A pair of Voice Of the Theatre bass bins.
A pair of huge Altec horns.
Pa amp was a big box that held the mixer (mono) and a pair of BGW power amps and their crossovers.
Big boxes that held all the cables and lights.
Light controller built by me.
Stands for the lights, mic stands and tray table stands used to raise the bass bins off the stage.
For one gig at the Royal Yacht Club on one of the Toronto islands, we had to load all this stuff into a launch to get it there. We were also required to wear ties in the launch. Luckily there were some on board and we put them around our necks. T shirts and ties did look a little odd. We had to do it all over again to get the equipment back onto the mainland, then load the van, unload into the where we rehearsed before we could go home.
The band worked once or twice a month and every gig was an adventure. We worked most at graduation time, sometimes as much as two or three a week.
OH to be THAT young again!!!!
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