Audiiton and a new band

[NWBasser]

Hello fellow fretters.

I have bit of news on my musical path. A couple of weeks ago I found a CL ad looking for a bass player and was impressed by their web-page and music. So I sent in my reply hoping to get an audition.

I soon got a reply from the dummer and set up an audition.

Long story short, I brought my in my fretless and played a few of their songs with them. We seemd to click pretty well and they had good beer.

After they completed auditions for some other bassists, they wrote back that they loved my playing and wanted me to join.:D

I gladly accepted.

They play quite a variety of blues, rock, folk-rock(?) and generally grooving music which really appeals to me.

The website is www.themediocresband.com

The drummer sent me an e-mail today suggesting a bass solo in the set. I'm rather ambivalent about that because it could be fun or it could be a lot of boredom for the audience. I'll have to stew that one over a bit.

I thought the band name was a bit funny.

If it doesn't snow too much here, we'll have our first full practice on Thursday.

:dude

[marnold]

Good news! I hope things work out well for you. Keep us posted!

[Tig]

Congratulations! I hope it turns out to be fun.

[pictoratus]

Congrats on the new gig, NWBasser.

I checked out their MySpace page and from the selections there they sound like a fun group.

[Spudman]

That's great! It's really nice to be able to drop into an already established band..sometimes. Of course, good beer can make all the difference in the world. I'm excited to hear how it progresses.

[sunvalleylaw]

Congrats NWB!

[FrankenFretter]

That's awesome, Jason. Does this mean you're a real working musician now? Which song does the drummer think a bass solo would be good? Hope it's a great experience for you!

[Jimi75]

Congrats and good luck.

[Brian Krashpad]

Outstanding! Congrats and mojo!

[Eric]

Awesome! I've never had a successful audition. Keep us updated -- I think the soap-opera band stories are fun.

[Brian Krashpad]

Awesome! I've never had a successful audition.

How'd you get the church gig?




Keep us updated -- I think the soap-opera band stories are fun.

Indeed. All part of being in a band. I really want to write up a personal band history, if only for myself, one day. So much so that I even have a title for this book that will most probably never exist: "I Was a Middle-Aged Volkswagen (And Other True Stories)."

:D

[Eric]

How'd you get the church gig?
Uh...I played for free and mentioned a diminished 7th chord in passing. I think that was enough for the guy to assume I was good enough for their needs.

[NWBasser]

That's awesome, Jason. Does this mean you're a real working musician now? Which song does the drummer think a bass solo would be good? Hope it's a great experience for you!

"Working musician" is a bit of a stretch. I don't see any paying gigs in the near-term anyway.

At this point, it's hard to say where or even if a bass solo will happen. For me, it has to be arrived at to fit in with the overall band feel.

I fully understand that a typical bass solo is a good way to clear a room quickly! I'm no Victor Wooten either.

[bcdon]

That's great news, Jason!

[MAXIFUNK]

Congrats man have fun as for that solo always fun funk in G.

[NWBasser]

Congrats man have fun as for that solo always fun funk in G.

Good idea Maxi! I do like to funk around in G.

I'm not sure why, but playing funkiness seems to work well around G major. Maybe it's just a comfortable part of the neck to move around on.

[MAXIFUNK]

Good idea Maxi! I do like to funk around in G.

I'm not sure why, but playing funkiness seems to work well around G major. Maybe it's just a comfortable part of the neck to move around on.

You maybe right about the part of the neck. But when I was stealing licks I mean enhancing my skills in the 80's it seem like all my favorite players had a killer riff/groove in G.

[NWBasser]

Tonight should be interesting.

After two of the rhythm guitarists scheduled to audition flaked out at the last minute, we'll be checking out one guy.

One of the respondents (hopefully not the guy showing up tonight) wrote, "If your bass wants to play [or learn guitar] I will be very drawn into
your project."

I'm not sure what to make of that, but I've asked my jazz bass if it wants to play guitar and got no response. Maybe I could teach it.

The other two might get jealous though.

I think the fretless may be a bit more amenable to lessons. We'll see about that.

[marnold]

I can't get my bass to do so much as make me a waffle.

I agree with Maxi. If it's solo time, go all Larry Graham or Louis Johnson on them.

[NWBasser]

Yep, Larry's one funky mutha'.

I doubt I could pull off that much funk.

[NWBasser]

After talking to the drummer, it turns out that the guy who replied with the weird bass reference is something of a nutcase.

He kept calling the drummer and asking to come over to his house to show his abilities. Apparently was rather insistent.

The guy that did show up was a pretty good player and very nice guy, but didn't seem to have done his homework in learning the tunes. He was just winging it and doing a fair job of that, but still I'd expect some effort to learn three tunes before showing up.

Stay tuned for more audition stories next week.

[bcdon]

Good luck NWBasser! :dude