Before we continue here is this week’s gig and yes it is another local one!
We have actually had a few of these recently.
Saturday 19th October
The Open Arms
Birkenhead
So last week we were in The Griffin – Earlestown on Friday followed on Saturday by the Waterfront in Anglesey.
The Griffin was good as usual so we are looking forward to returning at the end of December.
Now I am no expert but I do believe that one of the main criteria for running a successful bar is the availability of beer. Unfortunately the Waterfront in Anglesey seemed to be lacking this vital component on Saturday, which compounded by the nearby proximity of annual oyster festival (?) probably didn’t help matters. So it was a rather small crowd and all in all a bit of a long journey for not a lot of fun. When things are not fun there is not much point in doing it so although it is a very nice venue in a nice location with friendly staff and owners I doubt we will be bothering again.
In fact we decided at our recent annual meeting that there are a few venues we are not going to bother with anymore. Better to concentrate on the ones we enjoy where possible, as basically that is the whole point of playing.
We have also decided to offer three different sets although mixing and matching will be possible of course.
Set 1 – The Clan original Set – Our original songs plus some standard Rock covers, probably best suited for support slots to Name or tribute bands.
Set 2 – The Clan play a tribute to the decade that rocked – the 70s. An all cover set with well known classics from a wide range of 70s rock acts – AC/DC to ZZ Top via Thin Lizzy, Pink Floyd, Status Quo, Cheap trick, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Peter Frampton, Eric Clapton etc. Ideal for Rock type venues
Set 3 – Crowd Pleasers – Still mainly rock but in general this set will consist of sing along songs from artists such as Bryan Adams, Queen, Oasis, Stereophonics, Bon Jovi, Rolling Stones, Status Quo etc. Ideal for the middle of the road venues with mixed crowds.
We can only try.
We actually had a rehearsal this week and all went quite well so might try a few new songs at Saturday’s gig.
The only dampener being that I seem to have developed a cold/cough, which is never great when having to sing. Fortunately we only have the one gig this weekend.
Well once again the Marshall Combo didn’t sell on EBay? I was hoping for third time lucky but not to be. Perhaps my best option is to trade it in for something. Probably some form of Gibson Les Paul copy to provide the authentic look to the 70s set. I’m not a huge fan of Gibson Les Pauls really; I had one for years but sold it about five years ago due to the fact that it was just sitting around unused. No regrets. A reasonable quality copy will suffice for now. If I find I do start using it a lot then I may look at getting the real thing again. We’ll see.
We never did get around to promoting the last single properly and recording the September one never happened either. Best laid plans eh? Maybe I just need to mail out the promos for “On the Radio” and see if anything happens. Nothing ventured nothing gained. It only takes one mover/shaker to pick up on it.
My gear videos are still receiving viewings on a regular basis and I receive comments and new subscribers on a daily basis, which is nice. It really is time to produce a new one I think. Hmm, subject matter and content?
Rants
Now love ‘em or loathe ’em Tribute bands are a popular phenomena and I don’t really have an issue myself. What I do think is a bit out of order is a band who can’t decide who they want to be a tribute to so do two tribute bands in the same gig! Now I can see if you fancy yourself as David Coverdale you may do some Deep Purple/Whitesnake or a Ronnie James Dio singer may do Rainbow/Heaven & Hell/DIo, there is some logic in that. But the most recent example of what I mean is a band who shall remain nameless who do a tribute to Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. Apart from both coming from Birmingham there is no connection between those bands so it doesn’t make sense. The instrumental line-ups are totally different for one thing.
Whatever next, a Tribute band who just play one song each from a range of say 25 bands? J Seriously, I have said this before, if I want something to do a specific job I prefer it to be dedicated to that job – Camera for pictures, Phone for speaking to people, Ipod for listening to music, TV, Computer etc. I don’t want inferior compromised multifunction devices.
Same with tributes; if I want to see a Sabbath Tribute I would go and see Sack Sabbath, for a Judas Priest tribute – watch Judas Beast etc, not some multifunction tribute that flits between incompatible bands.
Ok, whilst I am off on one, it The Swinging Arm in Birkenhead has a T.Rex tribute on this Sunday. As you know Bolan was a huge influence on me and I was recently thinking of doing a T.Rex set myself but decided that in general (and following some research) that most people would only know 20-30 minutes worth of songs at most. So I may pop along to see what songs this band play, what sort of audience they attract (Bolan fans or just general) and how well it is received.
Petrol stations that also want to be shops? I have no problem with this but what really annoys me is having to queue to pay for my petrol behind someone who is purchasing their weekly food order. If petrol stations are going to offer this facility then can’t they have a separate check out?
Halloween – Amazed this week to discover that this is now the third largest event for financial spending behind Christmas and Easter. When I was a kid, a long time ago, at Halloween consisted of a Turnip lantern, duck apple and bob apple. In fact it was pretty much a non-event. Now of course we have been influenced by the Americans and believe we have to copy the way they do it. That is ok but actually we don’t do it properly do we? We end up with some half-baked and half hearted attempts to do it like they do but actually we don’t really know what it is they do. So we have cheap costumes and small children saying trick or treat without knowing why or what to expect.
The thing is – we don’t even need Halloween, we have our historic own festival five days later (Guy Fawkes Night) which everyone understands.
Speaking of Christmas it has started hasn’t it. The shops are stocking up although I have yet to hear the Christmas songs being played. Won’t be long I suspect. November perhaps?
Music
As the band is looking at expanding its repertoire I have been listening to a wide range of songs this week, all on a playlist on my Ipod. We could learn them all of course but I can guarantee we will still be asked for another song we don’t know. It happens all the time. It’s nice that people think we are capable of playing anything I suppose. Some of the more off the wall requests we get which they expect the three of us just to be able to knock together at the drop of a hat: -,
Bohemian Rhapsody, Bat out of Hell, anything by the Electric Light Orchestra.
I’m sure we could actually work out versions of these but not on the fly!
Anyway – one Album I did find myself listening to was Black Sabbath’s heaven And Hell. The first album without back in 1979/80 and the first with Ronnie James Dio. If you forget it is supposed to be by Black Sabbath and just listen to it for the music it’s a really good album. I haven’t listened to it for some time and was pleasantly reminded what a great rock album it is.
Current Listening – Black Sabbath – Heaven & hell
Until next week
Keep rockin’
Craig