Gigography for 2012

Oops, I completely forgot to do this at the start of the year.  I give to you my gigography for 2012.  You lucky, lucky people.

14/01/12 - @The Moorings with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl, Al.  Bass: Yamaha BB614
30/03/12 - @Slains Castle with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy. Daryl, Al.  Bass: Gibson RD Artist
21/04/12 - @The Greenhouse, Dingwall with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl, Al, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson Victory Artist
21/04/12 - @Mad Hatters, Inverness with The Oxbow Lake Band.   Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl, Al, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson Victory Artist
06/05/12 - @Banff Castle, Banff with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl, Al, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson IV

Chris and I@Macduff Arts Centre

26/05/12 - @Macduff Arts Centre, Macduff with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl, Al, Kenny.  Bass: Yamaha BB614
24/06/12 - @Breemie Stone Circle Solstice Gathering with half The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Andy, Daryl + others.  Bass: G&L Tribute L-2000
29/06/12 - @Slains Castle with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy. Daryl, Al, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson SG-Z
30/06/12 - @our back garden with 2/3 of The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Daryl, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson RD Artist
16/07/12 - @SHMU FM with half The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Andy, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson SG-Z
26/07/12 - @Cafe Drummond with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl, Al, Kenny.  Bass: Gibson RD Artist
28/07/12 - @Last Bus Depot, New Pitsligo with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl, Al, Kenny.  Bass: Yamaha BB300
03/08/12 - @Belladrum Festival with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl, Al, Kenny.  Bass: Yamaha BB300

32 not out.

Sound engineers - will you please listen?

I've just had the dubious pleasure of listening back to our performance at Belladrum.  It's... fast.  I don't know if we were keyed up because of the event itself, or the technical difficulties that delayed our start by 10 mins (which is a lot when you've only got a 45min slot), but we're playing like we're on speed or something, and this is unusual because we're not Motörhead.

But the one thing that is annoying me is the fact that the singer has asked for more vocals in the monitors on at least 4 occasions (gave up counting after that, no wait, I think I heard a fifth).  It is clear that nothing's been done - Andy's more shouting than singing and that's because he can't hear himself.  Daryl's harmonica is a bit wayward at times because he can't hear what he's doing.  That's a big problem when you're responsible for the tuning/intonation of your instrument (that includes voice).  It's not so much of a problem for me, playing fretted electric bass.  I have a tuner on the floor and I keep my basses set up properly (intonation compensation at the bridge etc.) so as long as my open strings are in tune then when I stop the string at the correct place, I get the correct note.  I can play the fretted bass visually/by feel and it'll sound OK, but it won't be as tight as it could be as instead of "being one with the rest of the band" (which comprises a combination of muscle memory through practice and being able to hear everyone else) you're either anticipating (which can make you early if you get it wrong) or reacting (which by definition makes you late).  And I don't have to bloody well like it - in fact I hate the feeling of playing in a bubble, where you're playing the bass and have no idea if you're even contributing to the proceedings (hoping to hell that the front of house sound is better than this).

Sound engineers, can you please explain to me (like I'm a four year old - as I have no comprehension of what you do and no right to tell you what to do) why it is that some of you are seemingly unwilling (or unable) to give us decent sound on stage?  We are not moaning for the sake of it, not giving us decent sound on stage is like asking us to gut fish with a butter knife.  You'll have your fish, but it won't be pretty.  All we're asking for is to have a decent monitoring on stage so that we can do our jobs properly.  We are not professionals, but we take our hobby seriously and want to perform at our best for the good people who come out to see us, dance and generate money for the venues that employ you in order that they continue to do this.  If you hamper our performance because we can't hear what we're doing, punters will stay away, and it's as much in your interests as ours to keep bums on seats and feet on dancefloors.

Video from the Depot

I've put up a few videos from Saturday's gig at the Last Bus Depot near New Pitsligo.  It's a little "band in a tin box" sounding, but hopefully it's good enough to tap your toes to and remember a good night - or wish you had been there and spur you on to join us at the next one!

Report from gig at Last Bus Depot

What a fantastic place, what a fantastic gig!  The Last Bus Depot is an amazing venue - a bit like a big boy's playroom.  Can't explain it in enough words, so have some panoramic photography courtesy of Jayne (thanks darling!)

The crowd were really up for it and I would say that it was one of the best gigs we've ever done.  I can't wait until we come back and do it again!

Gig tipoff: The Oxbow Lake Band, Omar Bin Mohamed Afif

When: Saturday 28th July 2012
Where: The Last Bus Depot, New Pitsligo
Doors: 7.30pm
Tax: £5

An unusual new venue for us - the Last Bus Depot just outside New Pitsligo.  I can't explain it any better than their own site, so have a link - http://www.lastbus.org

I'm really looking forward to this one, hope to see you there!

Gig tipoff: The Oxbow Lake Band, The Carousels

When: Thursday 26th July 2012
Where: Cafe Drummond, Belmont Street, Aberdeen
Doors: 8pm
Tax: none, free entry!

Oops, left it a little late to put this up but if you're at a loose end this Thursday (tomorrow as I type) then why not head down to Cafe Drummond and treat your ears to the psychedelic country tones of The Carousels followed by a heap of different tunes from us, our songs, other people's songs, all good time tunes.  Free entry, no excuses, hope to see you there!

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.

Gig tipoff: The Oxbow Lake Band, Q-nim, Jamie Rodden

When: Friday 29th June 2012
Where: Slains Castle, Belmont Street, Aberdeen
Doors: 8pm
Tax: none, free entry!

Once again we grace the "orchestra pit" of Slains Castle for another night of totally groovin' tunes.  Six musicians to squeeze into the pit this time (and seven if we have MC along with us for a couple of tunes), so I'll have to make sure I don't lop anyone's head off with me bass.

If you missed us last time (or can't remember, it was 3 months ago), here's a little reminder of how we roll:

Support from Jamie Rodden and Q-nim.  Things get going (hopefully) at 8pm, it's free entry so head on down, let your hair down and dance!

Gig tipoff: The Oxbow Lake Band and Martin Stephenson

When: Saturday 26th May 2012
Where: Macduff Arts Centre, Duff Street, Macduff
Doors: 8pm
Tax: £8 (£6 concession)

This should be a great gig, I'm really looking forward to it.  To quote the COAST Festival programme:

"Two of the most articulate musical and good time music acts in the UK on the same bill!  Martin is an 80s legend, who toured with Prefab Sprout, Aztec Camera and Janis Ian - "builds bridges between love and hate, between cradle and grave, between folk and pop, between the past and the present" - NME.  Witty, eclectic, insightful, Martin is an intuitive and highly entertaining artist.  The Oxbow Lake Band is a lively 5-piece rock/folk/jazz/funk/poetry crossover band.  A must for every celebration of creativity, the Oxbows are likely to turn up with plug-in guest musicians and poets.  Impossible not to dance to!"

Aye, so we're nae bad then.  If you're up this way then why not drop by?  Bring your dancing shoes!

This event is part of the COAST Festival which runs from 25th - 27th May in Banff and Macduff.  Full programme of events here: http://www.coastfestival.org.uk/programme.html

The Oxbow Lake Band: Banff Castle 06/05/2012

We played recently at Banff Castle as part of their Beltane Bash.  Have some video from it:

Photo a day 2012 (60/366) - post-practice tidy-up

Photo taken at Musical Vision, Aberdeen.  First band practice in a few weeks tonight, it was a good session, trying some stripped back, acoustic versions of songs and it went very well.

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!

Gig tipoff: Oxbow Lake Band, Scott Cruickshank Trio

When: Saturday 14th January 2012
Where: The Moorings, Trinity Quay, Aberdeen
Doors: 8pm
Tax: free before 8.45pm, £3 thereafter

New year, new gigs!  Come one and all to the home of pirates and peculiar beers and spirits to see us play the fair stage at the Moorings Bar!  We hope we will impress you as much as the drinks list will :)

First band on stage at 9pm, we'll be on at 10.

Gigography for 2011

I was writing this (fairly short) list last week when all of a sudden we got asked to play a gig at 3pm on Monday for that night.  Glad I held off putting this up :)  I am now pretty confident that the gigging business will shut up shop for the festive season.

Chris and I @ Banff Castle, photo courtesy Kate James

06/08/11 - @Whinnyfold Fun Day with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl.  Bass: Gibson IV
13/08/11 - @Cruden Bay Gala with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl.  Bass: Guild B402-A
22/10/11 - @Banff Castle with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl.  Bass: Gibson Victory Artist
29/10/11 - @City Cafe, Aberdeen with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl, Al.  Bass: G&L Tribute L-2000
02/12/11 - @Cafe Drummond with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl, Al.  Bass: Gibson RD Artist
19/12/11 - @The Lemon Tree with The Oxbow Lake Band.  Personnel: Me, Chris, Andy, Daryl, Al.  Bass: Gibson IV

Gig count now stands at 19.  Not exactly hard working, am I?

Gig tipoff: Oxbow Lake Band, Woodland Roots Orchestra, Omar Bin Mohamed Afif

When: Friday 2nd December 2011
Where: Cafe Drummond, Belmont Street, Aberdeen
Doors: 8pm
Tax: £5

Hey folks, it's yet another edition of Shameless Plug for my band.  It's the launch of our album "Away From The Mainstream" and I'm really looking forward to it.  We've been playing a few small, out of town gigs which have been highly enjoyable but it'll be good to come back to play in one of the established live music venues in town.  We'll have support from Omar Bin Mohamed Afif who plays his amazing box guitar (genbre?) and the Woodland Roots Orchestra.  DJs after the show, the party goes on until 3am!

Hope to see some of you there!

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.

The Oxbow Lake

I think if you've been to 5 practice sessions and you haven't been told to get lost then I think that means you're in.  I've joined The Oxbow Lake on bass.  It's good to be back in a band again - haven't done anything since December and haven't been in a band properly since August last year.  Things are going well - the lessons have really paid off and I'm finding it so much easier to pick up tunes and come up with something on the spot.

Hopefully there'll be some gigging next month.  I'll keep you posted.