I spent two hours in the car getting to band practice tonight. That's not unusual, after all I drive from Kent to North-West London to rehearse. Our rehearsals are four hours long so it's definitely worth it in terms of the time spent. Our first gig is next Monday and I am reliably informed that there will be four (yes, four) people there representing record labels (including a couple of big names, EMI, etc) there to watch us based on the demo CD the guitarist and singer put together before I joined the band.
The guitarist's Dad turned up and we were chatting. He then told me that he used to be a producer, songwriter and engineer that owned his own London studio years back.
So, I was (quietly) chuffed to bits when he told me that he really liked my playing. He remarked about how much the band (and specifically the bass player and I) were really listening and responding to the micro-changes that were happening throughout the song. Little things, like a slight rush from the guitarist or vocalist through an energetic line, or a change in dynamic.
I came out today feeling wonderfully validated. I know my strengths and weaknesses as a player and I like to think that this gentleman that I had never met before (and knew his stuff) was reading what I consider to be my strengths. The band are shaping up well and I'm really looking forward to getting back into the Rock scene - it's been the best part of five years!
Forgive my self-indulgence but Duncan is - for once - in a good mood.
The guitarist's Dad turned up and we were chatting. He then told me that he used to be a producer, songwriter and engineer that owned his own London studio years back.
So, I was (quietly) chuffed to bits when he told me that he really liked my playing. He remarked about how much the band (and specifically the bass player and I) were really listening and responding to the micro-changes that were happening throughout the song. Little things, like a slight rush from the guitarist or vocalist through an energetic line, or a change in dynamic.
I came out today feeling wonderfully validated. I know my strengths and weaknesses as a player and I like to think that this gentleman that I had never met before (and knew his stuff) was reading what I consider to be my strengths. The band are shaping up well and I'm really looking forward to getting back into the Rock scene - it's been the best part of five years!
Forgive my self-indulgence but Duncan is - for once - in a good mood.