(MHB) Grad party gig, 05/17/14

[BassCliff]

Hi gang,

I got a call to play a gig with the Michael Hart Band, a trio that I've worked with in the past. He's a good guy, the gig was close, fairly early, and in the back yard of a really nice home in the area.

I pulled up to the place and was duly impressed. I think our hosts own a marine dealership in the area.

It turns out that we are playing down on the tennis court instead of poolside. So I start schlepping my gear. I was the first to arrive.

After I was loaded in, I took a few more pictures of the back yard.

Michael arrives with his trailer full of gear.

Since we had room we set up most of his PA.

He's got a lot of Yamaha speakers (15" 2-way), EV monitors (15" 2-way), and 18" subs from B-52.

One of those B-52 bins was powered and the other was passive. The powered sub also drove the passive sub. I'd never seen that arrangement. But what do I know? I'm just the bass player.

Michael also uses and A&H mixer, some rack gear, and a few Crown power amps in those other two racks next to the mixer.

Our guitars were sitting in the shade. It was still 90° as we were setting up.

The drummer, my old buddy Jason, arrives and starts setting up his little Ludwig kit.

This was Michael's guitar rig. I don't know about you but I just think there's something sacrilegious about using a Fender Bandmaster on top of a Marshall half stack.

Michael used a couple of Strats and a Tele. I used my LB76, Jazz Special, and my GK rig.

Here's the view from my mic as we are getting ready to sound check.

Jason gives the high sign indicating that he's ready to go.

I think that's 20 pictures. More in the next post.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[BassCliff]

Hello again! To continue...

Michael sets up the lights. This is really a lot of stuff for a trio. We also used tracks on some stuff.

The guests start arriving, eating, and drinking. There were over 150 people here this evening.

We were supposed to start at 7pm but everyone was still eating, drinking, socializing. So the band was just sort of milling around.

So the hostess came down and invited us to partake of the catering, the bar, the deserts, etc. Well, you don't have to ask musicians twice.

This guy made some great tacos! After we had our supper and a beverage we were ready to get started.

These are the graduates we are celebrating, Taylor and Alex. They got up on the mic to give a little speech.

And then it was back to dancing, mostly college girls having their fun.

This is our lovely hostess, Ashley, Taylor's Mom. We thanked her profusely for her hospitality.

Now the party is over. This is the time of night where the musicians grow some hair, howl at the lights, and turn into roadies.

Since my van is still in the shop I had to take my wife's Ford Focus to the gig. My two basses were in the front passenger seat, the speaker cab in the back seat, and my gig bag and amp in the trunk. It's cozy but it works.

This was a fun little party, close, good food and drink, and a little extra mad money to boot. I hope your gigs go well this weekend. I'd love to see them.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Bass Viking]

Looks like a great gig! Sure beats playing some dive bar. Thanks for posting all those photos.

 

[hrodbert696]

Great gig! Looks like you had a good time.

 

[kcole4001]

Looks like a blast as always!
Pretty fancy spread they have.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And I thought I was the only one to squeeze a 4X10 into the back of a small car!
Any special secrets to getting the cab in there without wrecking your back?

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Thank you all for letting me share my fun.

And I thought I was the only one to squeeze a 4X10 into the back of a small car!
Any special secrets to getting the cab in there without wrecking your back?

Ha! I'm glad it's a Neo cab. That helps. I do exercise regularly. I'm trying not to age too quickly as I grow older (56). Of course I lift with my legs while grabbing the cabinet in such a way that it's in position to slide in the back seat once I have it off the ground.

In the situation above, with the cabinet facing away from me I use my left hand to grab the handle on the right side and tilt the cabinet to my left. I then reach down with my right hand and grab the bottom edge. When I lift the cabinet (with my back as straight as possible, bending the knees to the side a little, lifting with the legs) it is pretty much in position to slide into the car. Because of the somewhat tight space, this works better than trying to tilt the cabinet onto the back seat and then lifting and sliding. There's less wear and tear on the door and seat too. Mrs. BassCliff would not be happy if I were to tear the seat or scratch the paint. "Happy wife, happy life!"


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Gaolee]

I'm not sure if I could live in such a spartan house as that one. A pool and a tennis court? Not quite up to my standards, you know. My snobbishness aside, that sure looks like it was fun. That little Ludwig kit sure looks familiar. I have one almost exactly like it. It's amusing to see the same kind of kit being used professionally in such a beautiful setting. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

looks like fun!

I do some gigs like that around my area, lots of fun!

A couple years ago we did a gig like that and we were all taking shots and then starting jumping in the pool and having a good time, kinda got a little out of hand, but then the following summers we keep getting called back because they said we were so much fun to have around!

So now I do their home parties, but also have wormed my way into their corporate parties and winery gigs as well.

Sometimes it pays to just be yourself.

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Looks like a great gig! Sure beats playing some dive bar. Thanks for posting all those photos.

Thank you! But I do like a good little dive bar gig now and then. It helps me keep my honky tonk cred.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[BassCliff]

Hi guys!

looks like fun!

I do some gigs like that around my area, lots of fun!

A couple years ago we did a gig like that and we were all taking shots and then starting jumping in the pool and having a good time, kinda got a little out of hand, but then the following summers we keep getting called back because they said we were so much fun to have around!

So now I do their home parties, but also have wormed my way into their corporate parties and winery gigs as well.

Sometimes it pays to just be yourself.

Yep, it was fun. And we are also hoping to pick up a few gigs from this one. There were several business owners among the invitees. Everyone loved the band even though we were playing songs none of us had ever done before. They loved that we could fulfill all their requests.

I'm not sure if I could live in such a spartan house as that one. A pool and a tennis court? Not quite up to my standards, you know. My snobbishness aside, that sure looks like it was fun. That little Ludwig kit sure looks familiar. I have one almost exactly like it. It's amusing to see the same kind of kit being used professionally in such a beautiful setting. Thanks for the pictures.

Yes, it seems the hosts like to rough it, just barely getting by.

That little kit sounds a lot bigger than it looks. I guess it's all in the tuning. Jason uses that kit a lot on his smaller gigs.

Great gig! Looks like you had a good time.

Indeed! After we were loaded out, the hosts even invited us back to the house for a nightcap and gave me a nice bottle of Chardonnay to take home. They were very pleased. I think Michael will be able to book us for a little more money next time.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[bassman1987]

I always love reading your photo essays Cliff, you always have such great gigs! Keep 'em coming!

 

[Crusher47]

Great pics, thanks for sharing! Sounds like a fun gig

 

[Gaolee]

Clif, you are living right. That's all I can say. Backing hot singerbabes, playing shows on tennis courts for college babes, and living the life. You navigate life with a panache and aplomb that the rest of us can only admire!

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Another fun gig. Did I see the drummer with 2 snares? I've seen some with a backup, but not 2 set up in the same kit.

 

[tangentmusic]

Sometimes I wish I were BassCliff.
How's your Progressive Rock project coming along?...
As always, Thank you for your indulgence

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Another fun gig. Did I see the drummer with 2 snares? I've seen some with a backup, but not 2 set up in the same kit.

Jason does bring two snares to most gigs. Normally that second snare will have a cymbal on top of it. When struck the cymbal/snare drum combo sounds like hand claps. It's really cool. Or he will take the cymbal off, turn off the traps, and it will sound like a really high-pitched tom, roto-tom, or timbale type drum.

My regular drummer, Mario, uses the same setup.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Sometimes I wish I were BassCliff.
How's your Progressive Rock project coming along?...
As always, Thank you for your indulgence

Be careful what you wish for! We all have our good days and bad days, our good gigs and bad gigs.

I haven't played any progressive rock since the 80s when I was in a band that covered Return To Forever, Weather Report, and Steely Dan type stuff. I was involved in a vintage country band for a while but there was too much potential for scheduling conflicts as both bands are pretty busy.

Anyway, thank you for looking at my little gig reports. I hope more of us start sharing our gigs. I like sharing the fun.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Hi,



Jason does bring two snares to most gigs. Normally that second snare will have a cymbal on top of it. When struck the cymbal/snare drum combo sounds like hand claps. It's really cool. Or he will take the cymbal off, turn off the traps, and it will sound like a really high-pitched tom, roto-tom, or timbale type drum.

My regular drummer, Mario, uses the same setup.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

interestng, I will have to tell my drummer about this.

 

[Perc44]

I always enjoy your gig pics BassCliff....

 

[samson3382]

Great high class gig!

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

Here I go, negative nancy-

I can't help but be a little concerned by this pic though. Those top casters look to be very close to window level. I assume everything made it home fine?

I once had my gear, then a drummers gear holding it in place, in the back of my old Tacoma. I dropped the drummer off at his place, helped him unload, and, it being 3:30 am after a weekend of gigs, jumped in my truck and took off. My cab promptly slid all the way back breaking out my rear camper shell window. Replacement was $350, and this shell was ugly, so it was plexiglass until I sold the truck.