Northampton Jam Session - Sunday 3rd December - 1 to 5pm

darthed1981 · December 2017

Alnico said:

The decision to stay at home yesterday was not taken lightly.

I have Inflammatory Arthritis (What the docs previously thought was Lupus) and to cut a long and boring story short, my legs wouldn't work properly. I did try but I and my Strat fell down one flight at the top of 8 flights of stairs and I took that as a bad sign, so I didn't try the rest. A few of you have been to my place and you'll know what those stairs are like. I can attest to the strength of the new Fender USA Hard cases! The strat is fine. My bruises will go and I'm seeing the doc again this week.

What's not fine is my pride and it's hit me hard this time, to the extent that my closest friends have told me to see a Psych-doctor and I'm not arguing with them.
If I'm honest I've allowed this to go on for far too long already. I'm not wired up correctly and I'm sick of watching myself short-circuit all the time.

I won't be involved in anything else for the near future. I'll be here most days and I'll still post but until I've got something to show for myself in terms of actual music and some mental health, I'll be over there in the corner where it's dark, trying to work out how the fuck to rewire my head so it'll work properly.

I'm really sorry I let people down again.

When I get back on my feet I'll do what I can.

Can only echo the other guys saying you didn't let anyone down @alnico and your health should always come first.

mrkb · December 2017

A few post event thoughts and stats (I listened back through the recording today)

Running Order - 18 songs in three hours:-

1) Why Does it always rain on me (1) - Singer @Flink_Poyd

2) Why Does it always rain on me (2) - Singer @Flink_Poyd and @Impmann (Backing)

3) Champagne Supernova - Singer @impmann

4) Sunshine of your love (1) - Singer @Darthed1981

5) Sunshine of your love (2) - Singer @Darthed1981

6) Stay With Me (1) - Singer @Darthed1981

7) Stay With Me (2) - Singer @Darthed1981

8) Fortunate Son (1) - Singer @Darthed1981

9) Fortunate Son (2) - Singer @Darthed1981

10) Basket Case (1 of many attempts to start) - Singer @Impmann

11) Live Forever - Singer @Darthed1981

12-14) Ever Fallen in Love (Takes 1-3) - Singer @mrkb

15) Comfortably Numb - Singer @impmann

16 - 18) Tush - Singer @impmann

So a huge thanks to @impmann ;, @darthed1981 and @flink_poyd for ensuring we didn't have 3 hours of instrumentals and making sure there was a song structure for people to follow. Im sure @darthed1981 will be singing into his hairbrush in front of the mirror before the next one ;-)

I can extract a MP3 of any of the recording that people want if you PM me - I wont put them out for public pleasure unless everyone on that track agrees to it.

Things to bring next time:-

Music stands - helps when you're learning stuff from a chord chart

Lyric sheets - for the last minute stand ins to use (with notes on where intros and solos are)

General thought ands tips:-

1) when widdling/running through your riffs before a song, turn your guitar down - I noticed @impmann was good at that and it means less wasted time between songs.

2) Learn to listen to others - there was some great moments where harmony was grasped from the jaws of 'jazz' as everyone got their playing into the same groove. I need to learn to listen and react to the situation more and be less concerned with what Im playing (as I was reading the music notation) - keep the eye contact with others.

3) Bass players are useful! Listening back, a rock solid backing from the bass players (@bridgehouse, @impmann and @ttony ) meant there was always something for the guitarists to lock onto if they drifted.

4) Collaborate while you are waiting to play your song - @Brocco was teaching someone (@TADodger ??) how to play Stay with Me while the rest were watching @thorpyfx do his superb kit run through. That's a great way to work together in the second room to prepare for the next song.

5) If you want to join in a jam - it helps if you are familiar with the song structure before hand - use the Spotify playlist that was put together. Or it needs someone in the room to take the mic and shout out whats coming next or 'one more verse then a solo'.

6) I think the more 'freeform jams' worked as a learning experience. The rhythmic aspect has a certain 'Doppler effect" TM @Pablo but that's how you learn to play with others, and making up a solo on the spot is tricky - but its a good experience. Im interested in peoples thoughts on how to make those better - I think only doing one song per session (so three in total) would make that a bit more useful - I think it was better than "Room 2" in Leicester, but Im interested in your feedback.

7) Finally - don't put a spare snare drum against the wall at the back of the room as it will rattle everytime a bass note is played and be picked up by the microphone constantly!

8) Everyone had a good time - even the nervous, as it was a great atmosphere. I hope everyone heard how even the experience players played bum notes (or even missed out an entire section of Comfortably numb) and laughed about it afterwards. No-one was a critic.

Right that's me done, Im looking forward to the Northern one in January next!

impmann · December 2017

You are being too polite about my woeful forgetful noise making into the mic - it wasn’t “singing”!!!

Yeah sorry about the bit missing from Comfy... blame the Day Nurse wearing off!!! But yes, you have got to laugh about it and laugh with it - and sometimes laugh at yourself. It’s all about fun.

Flink_Poyd · December 2017

Im glad I had a go at singing, it was a terrifying prospect but I did enjoy it. I have a new found respect for anyone who can either do it or has a go at singing. Its a lot different to playing guitar as it felt like all eyes were on me and I think the backup from @impmann helped as It gave me someone to lean on when it got a bit wayward. I think Ill listen to the recording before blurting out that I'll offer to sing again.
Now wheres that hairbrush?..............................

TTony · December 2017

mrkb said:

can extract a MP3 of any of the recording that people want if you PM me - I wont put them out for public pleasure unless everyone on that track agrees to it.

I'd like a copy of Fortunate Son that I bassed on?

mrkb · December 2017

TTony said:

mrkb said:

can extract a MP3 of any of the recording that people want if you PM me - I wont put them out for public pleasure unless everyone on that track agrees to it.

I'd like a copy of Fortunate Son that I bassed on?

Sure, Was that the first or second run through - or did you do both?

TTony · December 2017

I played it twice.

How did the recording of the Thorpy demo turn out? Worth putting up on the forum for all to see?

mrkb · December 2017

TTony said:

I played it twice.

How did the recording of the Thorpy demo turn out? Worth putting up on the forum for all to see?

Theyre Ok - I have two MTS format vids - one of the amp overview, one of the pedals - but they're 1Gb in total - Im not sure how to share them (and theres a bit of @thorpyfx butt crack showing).

TTony · December 2017

1Gb probably needs reducing in size just a little bit ...

Can you save into a lower quality format?

Bridgehouse · December 2017

TTony said:

1Gb probably needs reducing in size just a little bit ...

Can you save into a lower quality format?

You want the Major's butt crack in a lower quality format?

Matron!

ThorpyFX · December 2017

mrkb said:

TTony said:

I played it twice.

How did the recording of the Thorpy demo turn out? Worth putting up on the forum for all to see?

Theyre Ok - I have two MTS format vids - one of the amp overview, one of the pedals - but they're 1Gb in total - Im not sure how to share them (and theres a bit of @thorpyfx butt crack showing).

lets not do that then please

TTony · December 2017

mrkb said:

(and theres a bit of @thorpyfx butt crack showing).

I think the best option there would be a little judicious editing

spark240 · December 2017

Note to self - make sure to bring guitar strap or bring a spare seat !

Next time I will learn a few more songs, though I did get to do 3 or 4 so happy with that.

I quite like playing Acoustic, so any more songs in that genre would be cool, I actually thought Travis sounded pretty good ;-)

Flink_Poyd · December 2017

Acoustic will help to break the setlists up as well. Gives a bit of relief from the electric onslaught

mrkb · December 2017

Flink_Poyd said:

Acoustic will help to break the setlists up as well. Gives a bit of relief from the electric onslaught

Agreed, Tricky to incorporate into a band though - the song we missed out Jolene by Ray Lamontagne would have worked well with that. But if you want solo acoustic songs go watch a busker ;-)

It did work well on Travis though.

darthed1981 · December 2017

mrkb said:

Im sure @darthed1981 will be singing into his hairbrush in front of the mirror before the next one ;-)

Either that, or learn the first rule of the British Army: "Never volunteer for anything..."

Pablo · December 2017

Some photos:

More here:

https://1drv.ms/f/s!AhRKFEBaCvPFgpclBPSAP6FD3ekBkw

TTony · December 2017

Thanks for the donation @mrkb ;

mrkb · December 2017

Pablo said:

Some photos:

I like this pano! That’s superb, Though I find @spark240 eating an ear plug a bit disturbing!

Bridgehouse · December 2017

mrkb said:

Pablo said:

Some photos:

I like this pano! That’s superb, Though I find @spark240 eating an ear plug a bit disturbing!

I'm nearly smiling on that shot!!

Pablo · December 2017

@Bridgehouse ;

Rare footage indeed!

mrkb · December 2017

Bridgehouse said:

mrkb said:

Pablo said:

Some photos:

I like this pano! That’s superb, Though I find @spark240 eating an ear plug a bit disturbing!

I'm nearly smiling on that shot!!

I think it was wind - certainly smelt like it.......

Bridgehouse · December 2017

Pablo said:

@Bridgehouse ;

Rare footage indeed!

Woohoo! I'm not always a miserable bastard!

TADodger · December 2017

Pablo said:

Some photos:

More here:

https://1drv.ms/f/s!AhRKFEBaCvPFgpclBPSAP6FD3ekBkw

I don't remember any Wurzels songs!

@spark240 - loved the MM, thanks for letting me try it out.

Brocco · December 2017

@mrkb - one observation from the jams in Leicester and Northampton is that the number of players impacts what can realistically be structured for "room 2". I quite like the idea of a self-help structured programme for room 2 aimed at beginners/improvers, perhaps freeing the more accomplished players to play more challenging songs in the live room. We could all come together to jam towards the end playing a limited number of tunes several times so everyone gets to play and hopefully learn a new song or skill.

spark240 · December 2017

TADodger said:

Pablo said:

Some photos:

More here:

https://1drv.ms/f/s!AhRKFEBaCvPFgpclBPSAP6FD3ekBkw

I don't remember any Wurzels songs!

@spark240 - loved the MM, thanks for letting me try it out.

No worries , glad you liked it...now get shopping !

slacker · December 2017

Thanks for the pics, it reminds me that I regret missing this one. Looks like a good day was had by all.

TTony · December 2017

Brocco said:

@mrkb - one observation from the jams in Leicester and Northampton is that the number of players impacts what can realistically be structured for "room 2". I quite like the idea of a self-help structured programme for room 2 aimed at beginners/improvers, perhaps freeing the more accomplished players to play more challenging songs in the live room. We could all come together to jam towards the end playing a limited number of tunes several times so everyone gets to play and hopefully learn a new song or skill.

This is really a comment for @Legionreturns ; and @Bridgehouse to be aware of in planning the Huddersfield session ...

TADodger · December 2017

Brocco said:

@mrkb - one observation from the jams in Leicester and Northampton is that the number of players impacts what can realistically be structured for "room 2". I quite like the idea of a self-help structured programme for room 2 aimed at beginners/improvers, perhaps freeing the more accomplished players to play more challenging songs in the live room. We could all come together to jam towards the end playing a limited number of tunes several times so everyone gets to play and hopefully learn a new song or skill.

I support this, in fact, the impromptu three rooms in Leicester allowed, something like that, i.e. one for true practice / self help as well as a room for trying out kit people practicing bits of the set songs etc plus the song list performance room. It would increase costs, but if it proves beneficial that may not be a deal breaker.

spark240 · December 2017

I think maybe the 2nd room should have some sort of agenda, even if it loose, maybe a noise level limit, or noise time slot, I still found that it was difficult to talk even if someone was just noodling at low volume.

Also possibly a couple of planned time slots with basic backing tracks ( I use a Jamstation) to noodle over in turns.

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Northampton Jam Session - Sunday 3rd December - 1 to 5pm

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