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On My Way To A "Bad" Gig.

#22
Thanks everyone for the encouragement.

The drive was actually worse than expected; 3 wrecks on the 405 Sepulveda Pass. eh..no biggie. Still arrived 20 minutes before the downbeat.

Wearing another man's footwear kinda rubbed me the wrong way, tho (pun intended).

The guys were all excellent players; the pedal steel/lead voals guy (Charlie Peterson) was just south of phenomenal. imo. They put a rockabilly edge on most of the songs, which I liked. Lotsa girls shakin it on the dance floor..

Okay,, I admit it,, it was a fun gig.

'cept for the dang cowboy clothes. And the L,A. traffic.
 
#24
Hi,

I'm glad you enjoyed your gig. Country music ain't so bad if you get in with the right bunch of fellows.

My band has been playing some excellent gigs this summer. One was this past Thursday, a corporate gig in West LA. It took me two hours to drive 53 miles from the IE. Check out THIS THREAD. ($250 for 2 sets!!)

I also played a $600 private party last night, just because our hostess discovered she liked country music. Check out THIS THREAD.

We've also been doing Knott's Berry Farm and the Orange County Fair. Country music been beddy beddy good to me. :D

So get a pair of boots, some nice jeans, and a couple of cool [This invalid link has been removed] and you'll be in business!

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
#25
skychief said:
In 90 minutes, I need to drive to Burbank to a giig. 42 miles of pure hell on those really long parking lots we affectionately call freeways. i expect it should take an hour and a half, at least.

Im subbing in a C/W band.

Cant stand C/W music so this will be somewhat of a challenge even tho I'll just be playing I - V all night.

Worst thing is I (we) have to get dressed up in drugstore cowboy outfits. (ugh). You know, boots, hats, smiley-pocket shirt, ginormous belt buckle,,etc..

I explained to BL i dont possess any of those items (hoping for a waiver) but he says no problem- he will bring some his old duds for me to wear. dammit.

$185/man plus a nice dinner. Just couldnt turn it down.

I still dread going to this thing... In 80 minutes... Thanks for letting me vent.
Click to expand...

You get to play both kinds of music ... Country AND Western ... And the whole time you get to dress up like Roy Rogers.
 
#28
I wouldnt mind it so much so long as it was "real" country music, Id pass on the cowboy boots, wore those things when I was younger, aint standin on a bandstand for 3 or 4 hours in them things anymore, sensible shoes is where its at. If I was a regular member I think Id want one of them sequin suits though, or at least the jacket. Glad you had fun
 
#35
skychief said:
Cant stand C/W music so this will be somewhat of a challenge even tho I'll just be playing I - V all night.
Click to expand...

I took a 6 month contract with a touring C&W band in the 90s. Like you, I can't stand the music (well, the traditional C&W anyhow - things are a bit different now) and was really suffering from the devil on my left shoulder saying "What? You're a rock guy!" and the angel saying "It's good money and you'll meet heaps of contacts".

Angel won out, and I was duly outfitted as you described.

I have to say, I still don't really love country, but that it was some of the friendliest band times I can remember. MUCH less dog eat dog than the rock world. Mostly the players were quite a bit older than rock guys, so that may be it. But I can't fault it as an experience.

Take a deep breath - it might be fun!
 
#36
skychief said:
You'd need to drive here to appreciate it. Trust me.
Click to expand...
Heck, LA as you describe it sounds like here. It took me two and a half hours the other morning to drive 24 miles from outside Birmingham (that's Birmingham, England, population about 2m - not Birmingham, AL) on the West side to an area in the East part of the city. Stop-and-start for almost the entire journey. And I had to get through this little beauty right smack bang in the middle of the rush hour...

article-2149198-13436BEF000005DC-581_964x637.jpg


(I've actually visited LA three times and have experienced driving in the horrendous traffic on each occasion. The difference between there and here is your traffic jams are six or eight lanes wide and ours are just three or four. :D)
 
#37
there is a true ART to playing country bass well, the best I've ever heard was the late Gene Kurtz with Dale Watson back in '06 in Austin. every one of his notes glowed liquid gold. never have heard anything like it. his presence was amazing.
 

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