Gigography for 2015

Slow year on the live front, but we did release an EP and wrote quite a few new songs.

30/01/15 - @The Moorings with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson Non-reverse Thunderbird
01/05/15 - @Cafe Drummond with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson EB
30/05/15 - @The Green Room, Perth with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson Ripper
05/06/15 - @The Moorings with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Epiphone Les Paul Standard
31/10/15 - @The Green Room with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Ibanez Talman TMB-100
14/11/15 - @Krakatoa with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson Ripper
19/12/15 - @Downstairs with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Yamaha SBV500

Kenny, Matt and Al @ Moorings 05/06/15.  Photo courtesy Matt Jolly

Aims for the year ahead: more gigs, more songs, record at least an EP and hopefully an album.

Gigography for 2014

Oops, a bit late with this, but it's still January so I guess the year's still new enough.  Here is a list of where I've been terrorising the earholes of the general public in 2014...

21/02/14 - @The Moorings with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: G&L Tribute M-2000
12/04/14 - @Cafe Drummond with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson EB
26/04/14 - @The Green Room, Perth with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: Gibson Les Paul Double Cut
03/05/14 - @Downstairs with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Fender Starcaster
09/05/14 - @The Moorings with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: Gibson Non-reverse Thunderbird

Matt@Moorings 09/05,
picture by Biz

24/05/14 - @Henry's Cellar Bar, Edinburgh with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: G&L Tribute M-2000
31/05/14 - @Cafe Drummond with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: Epiphone Jack Casady
26/06/14 - @Pivo Pivo, Glasgow with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: Gibson EB
29/06/14 - @Opium, Edinburgh with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: Gibson RD Artist
12/07/14 - @Cafe Drummond with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: Gibson Les Paul Double Cut
12/07/14 - @Cafe Drummond with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson Non-reverse Thunderbird
20/07/14 - @Elphin Music Festival with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: Gibson Victory Artist
09/08/14 - @Johnshaven Fish Festival with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: Yamaha BB450
17/08/14 - @Downstairs with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Michael, Rodaidh.  Bass: Gibson Non-reverse Thunderbird
23/08/14 - @Dellston, Auchnagatt with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Fender Power Jazz Special
23/08/14 - @Dellston, Auchnagatt with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: Fender Power Jazz Special
27/08/14 - @Pivo Pivo, Glasgow with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: Yamaha BB450
29/08/14 - @Market Bar, Inverness with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: Gibson EB
30/08/14 - @Cellar 35 with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Michael, Rodaidh.  Bass: Gibson Les Paul Double Cut

Matt@Drummonds 28/11,
picture by Cat

13/09/14 - @Live at Captain Toms with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Rodaidh.  Bass: Gibson EB
13/09/14 - @LACT:LATE (Captain Toms) with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Michael, Rodaidh.  Bass: Gibson Les Paul Double Cut
17/10/14 - @Cafe Drummond with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Epiphone Jack Casady
17/10/14 - @The Tunnels with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Luke, Michael, Rodaidh.  Bass: Epiphone Jack Casady
07/11/14 - @The Moorings with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson Midtown Standard
28/11/14 - @Cafe Drummond with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson RD Artist

Gigography for 2013

I'm pretty sure I'm done for this year, no bookings left and people away so it's unlikely that either of my bands will be playing again in 2013.  Without further ado, here is my year in live music in probably too much detail:

17/01/13 - @Ivory Blacks, Glasgow with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke.  Bass: Yamaha BB450
02/03/13 - @The Tunnels with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke.  Bass: G&L Tribute M-2000
06/03/13 - @Cafe Drummond with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke.  Bass: G&L El Toro

Matt @ Lemon Tree 06/04

06/04/13 - @The Lemon Tree with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke.  Bass: G&L Tribute L-2000
28/04/13 - @Copthorne Hotel with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke.  Bass: Gibson IV
17/05/13 - @Cafe Drummond with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke.  Bass: Epiphone Jack Casady
01/06/13 - @Dellston, Auchnagatt with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: G&L El Toro
08/06/13 - @BOX, Glasgow with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke.  Bass: G&L Tribute M-2000
15/06/13 - @Douglas Hotel with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke.  Bass: Epiphone Jack Casady
29/06/13 - @Torry Lighthouse Festival with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke.  Bass: G&L Tribute L-2000
05/07/13 - @Downstairs with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke, Robin.  Bass: Yamaha BB450
03/08/13 - @Belladrum Festival with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke.  Bass: Yamaha BB450
09/08/13 - @Cafe Drummond with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke.  Bass: Fender Cabronita Precision
31/08/13 - @Allathan, New Deer with The Inevitable Teaspoons.  Personnel: Me, Al, Chris, Daryl, John, Kenny.  Bass: G&L Tribute M-2000
21/09/13 - @Eagle Bar, Inverness with FaR.  Personnel: Me, Fifi, Rodaidh, Luke.  Bass: G&L El Toro

Brings us nicely round to 47 gigs in my "career".  Looking forward to 2014!

Batman conundrum

This has been bugging me for a while now.  The first Batman computer game was a "3D" isometric game in the same mould as Head Over Heels, Alien-8, Nightshade etc.  Looked like this:

Anyway, I was sure that there was an occasional occurrence that the game would take pity on you after you lost your last life and gave you a "doggie's life" or something like that (probably a reference to the slang phrase "a dog's chance" i.e. a slim chance).  However, I googled as hard as I could and found loads of screenshots, reviews, cheats and maps but could find no reference to this phenomenon.  So the only thing to do was to go back in time and play it again, Sam.

I was right!

Back to the room you "died" in, zero lives left.  I KNEW IT!  Score one for Matt's memory, and now this fact is documented on the web.

Why is this even important?  Well, I am in the middle of restoring a 1975 Gibson Ripper bass and I thought that this particular video game moment was similar to the second chance that this bass is getting to be a viable instrument again.  So much so that I'm considering putting that bloody ugly, pixellated dog on the headstock, in homage to both the sentiment and the actual video game.

The Oxbow Lake Band: At the Festival

I'm very excited to announce the first recorded output of The Oxbow Lake Band since my joining.  It's a song called "At the Festival" and it's been recorded to celebrate our upcoming appearance at Belladrum Festival in August.

You can have a listen here:



You can also download it for free from Bandcamp and Reverbnation.

Photo a day 2012 (79/366) - where the noise comes from

Photo taken in the bedroom.  I'm a terrible one for having a poke about inside things, I've done it since I was a kid.  Not so much "user adjustable" stuff these days though.  That's one thing I like about bass guitars - apart from a few active instruments it's all deliciously "low-tech" - just wires, switches, pots and sockets.

Photo a day 2012 (66/366) - new toy

Photo taken in my bedroom.  I got a new amp recently, and so far it has performed excellently.  It totally surprised me by keeping up with the band at band rehearsal.

Photo a day 2012 (62/366) - pointing the way

Photo taken in my bedroom.  Sorry folks, nothing exciting today, just some gratuitous mother-of-pearl on black ;)

Photo a day 2012 (51/366) - lunchtime practice

Picture taken in my office at work.  I am extremely fortunate that I am allowed to indulge in my hobby in my lunch hour at work.

Photo a day 2012 (46/366) - 1981 Gibson Victory Artist

Photo taken in my bedroom.  I know I've featured this bass before on these pages, but just look at it!  It's probably the prettiest bass I own.  I'm so glad I was able to rescue it.

Moffat bass bash, videos emerge

I had a great time at the Moffat bass bash last weekend.  This was the fifth one I have attended and they keep getting better and better.

This year was probably the best one yet - a structured, organised "bassyokey" where we pick songs in advance then go up and take our turns with the house band.  A nerve-wracking experience, considering the audience was made up almost exclusively of bass players - most of whom have been playing for many more years than me.  It would be like a driving examiner conducting a driving test in a people carrier full of driving examiners.

Anyway, I chose to play the theme from the TV series "True Blood" - if you don't know it it's a song called "Bad Things" originally by Jace Everett.  I did OK, a couple of bloops but I held it together.  Due to nervousness I lapsed back into bad left hand habits (excessive movement, "any finger will do as long as you get there on time" sort of mentality) which irritated me because I've been trying to get that out of my system.

Anyway, have a video:

There was a vast collection of basses on show as ever.  I took a sweep of the room where most of them were:

I had a great time, already looking forward to the next one!

Photo a day 2012 (36/366) - bass bash!

Photo taken in the Old Well Theatre, Moffat.  Some of the basses belonging to me and my friend Rich.

Photo a day 2012 (34/366) - boxed and bagged up

Photo taken in my bedroom.  Road trip to Moffat tomorrow for the fifth bass bash!  Getting pretty excited about it.  If it wasn't for the fact that all my shirts are still hanging up it kinda looks like I'm being kicked out of the house :)

Photo a day 2012 (32/366) - practice makes perfect

Photo taken in my bedroom.  This is a Tascam MP-BT1 bass trainer.  For me it's an indispensable tool for learning songs as it can slow songs without altering the pitch, and can also change the pitch without changing the tempo.  It can EQ out the bass to a degree for playing along, and it can boost the bass so you can hear it above the rest of the music.  I use it for all my silent practice.

Photo a day 2012 (29/366) - tookay

Photo taken in my bedroom.  Couldn't really be bothered today, so have another bass.  Specifically a G&L Tribute L-2000.

Photo a day 2012 (24/366) - 1981 Guild B402-A

Photo taken in my bedroom.  In the first of a series of gratuitous bass photos (yes, run out of inspiration already, eh?), this is a 1981 Guild B402-A.  One of only 335 made, which makes it the rarest of all my basses.

My first YouTube upload :)

Yes, I realise that YouTube has been around for several years now but last night I put up my first video - of course it's of me making a goon of myself on stage with the band.

Jayne was on camcorder duty, thanks darling!

Photo a day 2012 (7/366) - nostalgia

Photo taken in my bedroom.  I was having a trawl through some cupboards and found a few things from my past like my first digital camera (a Canon Powershot A40).  It's probably about 10 years old but still works, and still takes great pics.  I might use it to take some of these photos this year, it's got some pretty nifty features for its age, like manual shutter control (up to 15 seconds).  I see some long exposure shots in my future...

Also I recently discovered a recording of my second gig with Panda Eyes back in 2009 and was playing some of the songs on the bass I used most during my time with the band, ahh the memories :)

October Oxbow gigs! Upgraded bass amplification! Almost!

Shameless plug time - The Oxbow Lake Band have a couple of gigs this month which I'd like to bring to your attention:

Saturday 22nd October - Banff Castle, Castle Street, Banff

Another new venue for me, I have never played here before in my life.  Come to think of it I haven't spent a great deal of time in Banff, despite being schooled 8 miles away in Turriff.  I think it was a Turriff vs. Banff school thing (not that I ever felt any affinity with "Turra" - I just went to school there - I'm from Fyvie, another 7 miles further south.  Anyone who even suggested I was from Turriff was swiftly corrected.)

Reminiscing aside, it should be an interesting gig.  Apparently it's some kind of open session first where anyone who comes along with an instrument can play.  Then we play our set.  I've never done anything like this before, I'm looking forward to it.






Saturday 29th October - City Cafe, Netherkirkgate, Aberdeen

Another gig, another new place.  It's been a long time since I was in this establishment, I think it's changed hands at least twice since.  The last time I was in here it was called the City Bar and it was when the bandit jackpot was £6 and wins above a certain threshold were paid out in 20p tokens which could either be fed back into the machine or used to pay for stuff at the bar but curiously not allowed to be exchanged for money.  I was in there with a mate and we had a shottie of the bandit.  The football was on.  We won the jackpot and a repeat, I believe.  The machine then proceeded to spit it out 20p at a time, much to the consternation of those watching the football.  We got glowered at quite a lot.

Come on down and see us play in a place where I didn't even know bands played!





Upgraded bass amplification!

On Friday I took delivery of a Zoot ZB410 - a 4x10 speaker cabinet which handles 1200W at 4ohms.  This reduction in impedance means that I will have 350W available to me instead of the usual 230.  Unfortunately the cab arrived slightly damaged in that the HF horn has cracked at the corners and is hanging loose in its mounting hole.  Oh dear.  Thankfully it was insured in transit.  I have sourced a replacement horn and it will be ready for the gigs.  The main bonus to all this is that I have replaced my old cab (my trusty Ashdown ABM) which weighed nearly 80lbs.  This new cab is a much more svelte 52lbs.  But louder ;)

Exciting times ahead, pop pickers.

Taking care of business

I have decided to sort out some stuff that I should have done years ago.

1) Give blood - it's taken me 17 years of adult life to get around to it, and I'll carry that shame to my grave but last Tuesday I finally gave blood for the first time.  No problems - I passed the questionnaire, the interview and the blood iron test and was able to give my donation.

One cool thing is that I'll get to find out my blood group - I have never known this.  I'm a bit disappointed that I have to wait 12 weeks to go again - with reference to the guilt/shame above I want to go again!  Jayne got a badge for her 10th donation (it was actually her 12th but they forgot to give her the badge at the time - it was a long time ago) and a badge for coming back.  The badge score is 2-0 to her and the competitive side of me is craving badges!

Seriously though, everyone who is physically able and medically allowed to give blood should.  Help a premature baby live and get a free cup of tea and a biscuit - no brainer!

2) Embark on a course of bass lessons - some of you who have seen/heard me play might be thinking "at last!" but it's been something I've been thinking of doing for a couple of years now.  My primary motivation is to improve my sloppy, self-taught technique and learn the whys and hows behind playing.  I'm not content to simply play notes because they sound good and to learn songs in a painfully slowly note by note way.  Already I'm reaping some benefits from knowing major, natural/harmonic minor scales and pentatonic scales.  Some of the theory is taking its sweet time to stick in my head (should have done this 20 years ago!), but I'm confident with continued study and application that I'll get there.

There are other things which are in the process of being sorted, but I can't talk about them right now because they are in the very early fragile stages and the cat isn't ready to be let out of the bag.  Cat owners will know that the cat will leave the bag when it is damn well good and ready unless said bag is violently shaken ;)