Thunderbird Club

[BklynKen]

I like rehearsals because it is playing. I like show because it is playing. Moving gear is a pain, so there is that. Playing a show more than every four to six weeks gets wearing because of logistics, not because playing isn't always fun.

Yup. All playing is good playing. I like weekly rehearsals also because it gives me something to look forward to every week. The music, and also because I have a lot of fun with my bandmates. But NYC is a little unique from what I can tell in that pretty much every place has a backline they prefer to you use because it's easier for them.

 

[BuddhaFingas]

Nice! I didn't have time to find out about the stock covers. I wrapped them with cloth tweed tape and capped the ends with rubber screw caps so nothing could get scratched.

Good thinking...

I have a couple yards of 100% cotton undyed jersey cloth I bought for the rack my Epi Vee usually hangs in. Just to be cautious I'll use some of that, maybe sew some "bra" type slip-on covers.

Used to be a company that made leather ones apparently, but currently unobtanium. And I don't think I'd trust any dyed leather I can buy for making my own, as I'm not that up on organic chemistry.

 

[TBird1958]

interesting angle....for me it's "magic" when it's spontaneous and not practiced....some enjoy rehearsals, some view them as necessary evils, some don't care....again, depends what you're out for....I just wanna play bass.....

I enjoy making music with my bandmates and do like them, for us it's a necessary evil because we know/play a lot of songs but many don't get played at every show so we do play through those tunes. The other aspect is consistency and we do struggle with that at times, at least a couple of the members do. They have other distractions and at times it can be a bit frustrating, things like song tempo and actually learning a signature guitar solo come to mind. We never haul a PA, I won't play a show that can't provide that, so we're always working with the FOH guys, most are pretty good, but occasionally it doesn't go so good.

Within the first 8 seconds of this song starting I'm saying "faster" to Pedro because he cued Ginger in too slow on the cowbell, he picks up when the drums start. We did talk about this at rehearsal......

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Are you just using pdfs on the tablet or a program that also advances the measure as you play? I could use the latter as my eyes drift if I look away to check the finger board.

It was PDFs for a while but now we have Music Stand. I think you can hook up a switch as a page turner. We just use chord charts, nothing too fancy.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

They’re in PDFs on the iPad. I have a bunch of them printed out too.

Somewhere I have a binder with lots of songs on paper. Most of them I hope never to play again. It should go.

 

[Gaolee]

Yup. All playing is good playing. I like weekly rehearsals also because it gives me something to look forward to every week. The music, and also because I have a lot of fun with my bandmates. But NYC is a little unique from what I can tell in that pretty much every place has a backline they prefer to you use because it's easier for them.

That would be a blessing. I haul my am and the PA. The PA is the real pain, because it has a whole lot of big and little parts to keep track of.

 

[BklynKen]

Good thinking...

I have a couple yards of 100% cotton undyed jersey cloth I bought for the rack my Epi Vee usually hangs in. Just to be cautious I'll use some of that, maybe sew some "bra" type slip-on covers.

Used to be a company that made leather ones apparently, but currently unobtanium. And I don't think I'd trust any dyed leather I can buy for making my own, as I'm not that up on organic chemistry.

Thanks. I like your idea. I'm not that talented, so I used really strong double-sided tape to keep it secure on each end. Same tape that's holding down the pickguard on the RNR.

 

[GonePlaid]

I like rehearsals because it is playing. I like show because it is playing. Moving gear is a pain, so there is that. Playing a show more than every four to six weeks gets wearing because of logistics, not because playing isn't always fun.

We were working at least one night every weekend b4 covid. Moving in all our 'stuff' ~1hour b4 start, play 3 or 4 hours, pack up and leave. Now it's one every 6 weeks or so.

 

[GonePlaid]

I like this:

 

[GonePlaid]

The bunch:

 

[RedVee]

The bunch:View attachment 7392110

How do you like the Epiphone 2nd from left?

 

[Count Bassie]

exactly, I don't mind rehearsing if it's gonna accomplish something....so many times were asked to learn material (forget rehearsing it) that never gets played...then there's the way people rehearse...I'm used to "bar 40, what are you playing at the end of the passage?".....not "let's go over the whole 3rd set"....fme, many view rehearsals as social outings...just don't have that kinda bandwidth these days ....

Rehearsal... I will play a song 400 times (ok that's an exaggeration), because it becomes a part of life you're intimate with it, and that's a defining part of the music playing experience for me. I identified with it from the start and I take it personally, so if this isn't represented in the project I'm in I start to shut the door on it. All my favorite projects have had this element.
Rehearsal also has a point when the band is realizing improvement together, when the performance becomes cohesive. If that's happening then I'm glad to be there.
Efficiency is meaningful, so definitely fixing up transitions and working out sections, then putting them away and moving on is standard procedure.
But the bottom line is that I'm there to play, that's my happy place, so it's similar to a gig in that I'm just there for the music. When it's important to everyone in this way, then I'll be showing up to rehearsal because water flows downward.

 

[Thumper]

Anymore I like practice more than gigging. Great guys, full PA set up with 2 subs. I have a full rig identical to my gig rig and 3 different Thunderbirds there. The band leader/guitarist has a refrigerated keg and fully stocked fridge, doesn't charge for anything. I take my own beer though, mainly because I like my IPAs, but will have a pint of his once in a while, but in any case keep it down to 2 drinks because of the drive home. He knows a couple of hundred songs and the words and guitar to almost any song he's ever heard, so pretty much anything new I want to bring in he already knows and the drummer went to college on a music scholarship (in Seattle) and can pretty much play anything after one listen. Electronic drums keeps the volume levels reasonable. I usually stay after practice to BS. Gigs are a pain anymore after 40 years of it. Life is good.

 

[Count Bassie]

Anymore I like practice more than gigging. Great guys, full PA set up with 2 subs. I have a full rig identical to my gig rig and 3 different Thunderbirds there. The band leader/guitarist has a refrigerated keg and fully stocked fridge, doesn't charge for anything. I take my own beer though, mainly because I like my IPAs, but will have a pint of his once in a while, but in any case keep it down to 2 drinks because of the drive home. He knows a couple of hundred songs and the words and guitar to almost any song he's ever heard, so pretty much anything new I want to bring in he already knows and the drummer went to college on a music scholarship (in Seattle) and can pretty much play anything after one listen. Electronic drums keeps the volume levels reasonable. I usually stay after practice to BS. Gigs are a pain anymore after 40 years of it. Life is good.

Liar.

 

[MCF]

Ken, was meaning to ask; have you had any issues or concerns with nitro staining from the DiamondLife hook covers?

I'm considering making some undyed cotton covers for mine, but not sure it is needful. Never had a problem with my Hercules hangers, but the DiamondLife instructions don't inspire confidence - they were written from a ""we cannot guarantee" perspective.

Understandable, but still...

My Christmas gift is a DiamondLife rack, of which the hooks have arrived so far.

I use DiamondLife and haven’t noticed any issues.

 

[dagrev]

Much easier to keep track on my tablet!

Please enlighten me on playing from an iPad, or point me in the right direction. I use paper. And like the ability to make notes. But I'm up for not having to print or pull music. How do you collect/create set lists? I'm assuming there are several programs.

 

[Thumper]

Liar.

OK, sometimes I have 3 drinks, but only one Imperial IPA on any given night (very strict alcohol limits in Utah).

 

[dagrev]

It was PDFs for a while but now we have Music Stand. I think you can hook up a switch as a page turner. We just use chord charts, nothing too fancy.

Ah, question preemptively answered.

 

[BklynKen]

I use DiamondLife and haven’t noticed any issues.
View attachment 7392234

Do they not bang into each other when taking one off?

 

[TBird1958]

Anymore I like practice more than gigging. Great guys, full PA set up with 2 subs. I have a full rig identical to my gig rig and 3 different Thunderbirds there. The band leader/guitarist has a refrigerated keg and fully stocked fridge, doesn't charge for anything. I take my own beer though, mainly because I like my IPAs, but will have a pint of his once in a while, but in any case keep it down to 2 drinks because of the drive home. He knows a couple of hundred songs and the words and guitar to almost any song he's ever heard, so pretty much anything new I want to bring in he already knows and the drummer went to college on a music scholarship (in Seattle) and can pretty much play anything after one listen. Electronic drums keeps the volume levels reasonable. I usually stay after practice to BS. Gigs are a pain anymore after 40 years of it. Life is good.

The rest of us will be there shortly