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Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
Four and a day job. Plus random jam sessions and other stuff. Good thing none of the bands gig all that much these days.
Rock and roll cover band (electric bass)
Rockabilly band (upright bass)
Blues/jazz band (upright bass)
Originals (drums)
Rock and roll cover band (electric bass)
Rockabilly band (upright bass)
Blues/jazz band (upright bass)
Originals (drums)
As far as full-fledged equal-opportunity member, basically 3-ish.
But I'm a freelancer, so I have somewhere around 10-ish different artists that I play with regularly. Some local, some not local. Some gig often, some only occasionally. I'm a regular sideman for some, a sub for some, and a "preferred if available" for some.
This week alone I'm playing with 4 different bands/artists, and next week with several different ones. Good times.
But I'm a freelancer, so I have somewhere around 10-ish different artists that I play with regularly. Some local, some not local. Some gig often, some only occasionally. I'm a regular sideman for some, a sub for some, and a "preferred if available" for some.
This week alone I'm playing with 4 different bands/artists, and next week with several different ones. Good times.
Two: Idle Poets, jazz/pop; Michael Bosworth Project, originals.
Have a third band that I'm in, old timers Real Book Jam Band. They are great players, just don't play out.
Have a third band that I'm in, old timers Real Book Jam Band. They are great players, just don't play out.
Three
1. Cover band that gigs often
2. Originals band that records and only occasionally gigs
3. "Hang band". We get together have some booze and play some covers in a basement.
1. Cover band that gigs often
2. Originals band that records and only occasionally gigs
3. "Hang band". We get together have some booze and play some covers in a basement.
1) my own 5 piece horn band Sounds Clever & the Valley Horns
2) the jazz trio version of that band: sax, bass & drums
3) Bruce Marshall & The Nor'Easters a 4 piece band that plays lots of originals and a lot of Southern Rock
4) many gigs with the James Montgomery Blues Band
5) I sub with numerous other bands whenever and wherever I can
if it's not obvious I just like to play. plus I can fit into any format and can just hear tunes easily.
2) the jazz trio version of that band: sax, bass & drums
3) Bruce Marshall & The Nor'Easters a 4 piece band that plays lots of originals and a lot of Southern Rock
4) many gigs with the James Montgomery Blues Band
5) I sub with numerous other bands whenever and wherever I can
if it's not obvious I just like to play. plus I can fit into any format and can just hear tunes easily.
I've never been in more than one at a time in the 34 years I've been playing. Either we were full-time cover band with nearly-weekly gigs or we were an originals band and I was focused on the music.
Right now, I'm in a recording project that used to be (and might be again) a live band. However, I am writing material that is not appropriate for that band, so... maybe I'll be in two someday! If I don't get too old to play first...
Right now, I'm in a recording project that used to be (and might be again) a live band. However, I am writing material that is not appropriate for that band, so... maybe I'll be in two someday! If I don't get too old to play first...
Sorry man, I lost the count after "maybe still"...I'm in three, half in two, maybe still in (half in?) another, and was jugging four potentials last week. Of the latter four, one's looking good after a first GTG and a second seems promising, first GTG on Thursday.
First three rehearse Wednesday night (8 piece horn band, blues/rock/R&B), Friday or Saturday night (classic rock, around my gigs), and the third (surf and classic rock) was a weekday afternoon but now needs to find a night as the drummer got a job (for now LOL) - the rest of us are semi-retired.
The two half bands are a duo (standards) I sit in as a third on Cajon when available (usually "rehearse" at a local weekly farmer's market), and trio (rockabilly) that I usually play half a dozen songs on so the bass player can play harp on those. The maybe is a trio (classic rock/blues) that two of the guys won't gig so when the other guy gets a winery gig (good $$$) or some such I play bass ukulele.
The four potentials are/were two female fronted classic rock/blues that don't seem to be able to get it together, a bluegrass band that might be OK with me on bass uke. The fourth is a weirdarse situation with a "lives local" NY sessions guy that wants to do a power trio so he can wank out on leads for fun and maybe who knows (he has connections, management and sponsorship). I thought he was a CraigsList looney at first, worth a laugh to check out (I'm easily amused) but he actually checks out
.
So, do I win? LOL
1 band that more of less takes up most of my time/energy. 1 project band that gigs once or twice a year. Innumerable great ideas for offshoots of these two bands that never materialize.
Worst I ever got was three busy bands - I lasted about six months doing that.
Worst I ever got was three busy bands - I lasted about six months doing that.
For the last several years just one band. For the couple of years before that there was a second band.
One of the guys in my current band produces albums for singer/songwriters so I get occasional recording work.
I'm very happy with the current set up.
One of the guys in my current band produces albums for singer/songwriters so I get occasional recording work.
I'm very happy with the current set up.
James is still on the planet? Haven't thought about him in forever. Why, look here, Invalid Link Removed. I ran into him once or twice when I was playing with George Leh in Boston. That was in the way long ago!
Two.
One is a fairly regular church gig with a rotating roster of musicians, where I typically play twice a month, with one rehearsal the week that I'm playing. It's usually simple music, not very challenging but fairly fun as long as I'm playing the same week as our good drummer.
The other is a trio (acoustic guitar, electric bass, drums / cajón) that plays mostly original songs at wineries and breweries. A little jazzy, a little blue-eyed soul, think Van Morrison crossed with Amos Lee. Our gig schedule is a little sporadic, but we usually play 2 or 3 times a month in the summer and less in the cooler months. Our drummer is great and really easy to lock in with. Our singer/guitarist is a talented guy with the soul of a poet. I hope we can get a 4th person soon; we had to fire our former electric guitarist because he couldn't nail down any solid melodic leads and just played meandering jazz noodles over every song. We're better off without that, but I think the songs could really use a lead instrument. Flaws aside, I'm glad to be playing with these guys.
One is a fairly regular church gig with a rotating roster of musicians, where I typically play twice a month, with one rehearsal the week that I'm playing. It's usually simple music, not very challenging but fairly fun as long as I'm playing the same week as our good drummer.
The other is a trio (acoustic guitar, electric bass, drums / cajón) that plays mostly original songs at wineries and breweries. A little jazzy, a little blue-eyed soul, think Van Morrison crossed with Amos Lee. Our gig schedule is a little sporadic, but we usually play 2 or 3 times a month in the summer and less in the cooler months. Our drummer is great and really easy to lock in with. Our singer/guitarist is a talented guy with the soul of a poet. I hope we can get a 4th person soon; we had to fire our former electric guitarist because he couldn't nail down any solid melodic leads and just played meandering jazz noodles over every song. We're better off without that, but I think the songs could really use a lead instrument. Flaws aside, I'm glad to be playing with these guys.
Redhead. At the moment, 55 bookings for this year. Enough to keep me away from the ATM.
Link Removed. Let's see...We played once last October, last December, and we've got one coming up on May 12. Fronted by a Massachussets punk legend turned Hank Williams/Merle Haggard disciple. Lead guitarist is bassist in the Springfield MA Symphony. I actually enjoy rehearsals more than gigs. The ex-punk and classical musician unite in their love of Sun-era Elvis. Usually I'm all business, but with these two, I'm there just to hear them talk.
Link Removed. Let's see...We played once last October, last December, and we've got one coming up on May 12. Fronted by a Massachussets punk legend turned Hank Williams/Merle Haggard disciple. Lead guitarist is bassist in the Springfield MA Symphony. I actually enjoy rehearsals more than gigs. The ex-punk and classical musician unite in their love of Sun-era Elvis. Usually I'm all business, but with these two, I'm there just to hear them talk.
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