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Post by Cams on Apr 22, 2015 10:22:47 GMT
I had the very good fortune to see two giants of the music world playing together at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow on 11 April. I was very curious to see how they would fit together and the answer I have to say is not very well, at least in my humble opinion anyway. Paul Simon's guitar tone was awful and his playing wasn't so great either. Maybe I'm being hypercritical, but you would expect someone of his calibre at least to have decent electronics and tone? By contrast, Sting was freaking awesome! The backing band were phenomenal, even the tuba (I know, right?) so with Sting and the backing band, it was still a very enjoyable concert. Although Sting did lose the audience at one point when he started telling the story about the fox hunting song he was about to sing; it was sung from the point of view of the fox. The Glasgow punters used that as an excuse to top up their plastic pint pots. They started out playing together, then took it in turns to do their own set while the other went off stage. They did two sets each then joined each other for the end, where they did a great version of Cecilia. The highlight for me would be Sting's Desert Rose from the Brand New Day album. It has a real north African thing going on and the band pulled it off really well. Diamonds on the Soles of her shoes was very good too. At one point they each sang one of the other's songs, which was kinda weird. And when they were together they did harmony on each other's songs. This is the third gig I've been to at the Hydro and it's a good venue. The acoustics are great, but the cheap seats are in rows that make it difficult to move enough to let the drinkers get to the bar, and in Glasgow, that's a problem! h
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Post by Cams on Apr 22, 2015 10:05:33 GMT
I started playing a weekly spot in my pals' bistro a year or so ago and they started billing it as Cams & Friends. It never really sat right with me as my two pals that run the place sit in with me every week, so we finally came up with a band name and it feels great! Funny how a name can make such a difference! I've thrown up a quick website for now. North Country WintersLast night we had a practice out on the porch in the sunshine and it was amazing. It's a dream come true for me to have a picking porch! Can anyone get the song whence the name comes?
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Post by Cams on Apr 21, 2015 11:02:53 GMT
Sounds great! I'll need to try and get over some day. Fife is my favourite bit of the country, having been a St Andrews student for 5 years. My good friend stayed in Fife and now lives in Lower Largo. He loves music too so we could hook up and make a gig some night.
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Post by Cams on Apr 18, 2015 16:17:21 GMT
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Post by Cams on Apr 17, 2015 19:18:14 GMT
I have a Soundseat that I got as a gift, but I really don't like it. In fact I keep it at work as an office chair. My favourite playing seat in a Hercules piano stool. They're not cheap, but it's the most comfortable thing I've played on. I've even loaded it up into the car for gigs. www.amazon.co.uk/HERCULES-STANDS-KB200B-Hercules-Stand/dp/B0035FZMXMIt's also dead handy for sitting my laptop on when I'm on the sofa!
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Post by Cams on Apr 16, 2015 11:14:39 GMT
I find that even when I have nails (which isn't that often!), using a thumb pick results in the bass notes dominating as I can't get the same volume with the fingers. Playing without nails the disparity is obviously even more pronounced. How do get round that? When I had lessons with El McMeen, he encouraged me always to use a thumbpick. His reasoning was that most acoustic players play too quietly. Playing with a thumbpick means you have to learn to have your fingers pick louder in order to balance the tone. Once you master that, you can dial the whole thing back and you'll then have headroom to spare. If your nails aren't working (which is the problem I have right now) I guess you can play with the pads of your fingers until they form callouses. I haven't got that far yet!
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Post by Cams on Apr 14, 2015 13:36:36 GMT
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Post by Cams on Apr 14, 2015 12:17:36 GMT
Great review Andy. I've been to three or maybe four I think, the last one being in 2007 and I thoroughly enjoyed every one. I'm in touch with many people I met there and, in fact, we had one player come over to Arran just last weekend whom I hadn't seen since the 2006 RMMGA meet and we had a great time! George Duff, if you're wondering.
I also used to travel to Atlanta every year for Little Brother's Acoustic Jam and met some of the best people I've ever met there. It was through that that I was introduced to bluegrass music and fiddle tunes, and thus began a life-long quest to learn to flatpick better.
I was scheduled to make this year's RMMGA meet up, but I had an employee leave and so I had to work that weekend. I'm kicking myself for my circumstances now!
Thanks for sharing your review.
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Post by Cams on Apr 14, 2015 12:02:29 GMT
I split a nail about a month ago to the point where it was really sore. I've been taking biotin tablets, vitamin D and Floradix and rubbing on Sally Hanser Nailgrowth Miracle Serum and filing down the exposed bit when it starts forming an edge so there's no leverage there to break it at the split. So far, so good, but it's painfully slow. Last night was the first time in ages I fingerpicked at a gig without any pain.
The problems we face!
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Post by Cams on Apr 8, 2015 7:29:41 GMT
No can find. Sorry. I must've binned them when we moved house.
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Post by Cams on Apr 7, 2015 12:36:13 GMT
There's something about actually communicating with music and the response of listeners that gives music a whole new dimension and makes the experience very worthwhile. Well put! It's so satisfying playing with other musicians who listen. That's why guitar gatherings are such fun!
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Post by Cams on Apr 7, 2015 11:51:13 GMT
I'll have a look when I get home from work. I was a subscriber (and advertiser) around that time.
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Post by Cams on Apr 7, 2015 11:49:59 GMT
A week out of uncoated strings if you're playing a lot doesn't seem out of whack to me. That's about what I get as well. I used Elixirs exclusively now, even though they're not my favourites. Sometimes you just gotta compromise a bit. Coated is better than dead uncoated!
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Post by Cams on Apr 5, 2015 20:12:22 GMT
I had a good practice session today with the Bryan Sutton ArtistWorks lessons. I started from the beginning and looked at my playing position, angle of attack and that sort of fundamental basic technique that I sorely needed. Tonight I managed to pick Turkey in the Straw at 115bpm! Okay, so it needs plenty more work and practice and I really need to dial back to 85bpm and get it as clean as possible at that speed, but it was exhilirating to get through it a few times at 115. This is where the Sutton lessson really shine over the Kaufman ones. With the Kaufman lessons, you get an audio track at full speed (around 110 bpm) or the tuition tracks at maybe 50 or so. Getting the fingering and pick direction takes a bit of time and the slow tracks are perfect for that, but there's nothing in between fast and slow to practice with. Bryan Sutton provides backup tracks at 10bpm increments and it really works!
So, onwards and updwards!
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Post by Cams on Apr 5, 2015 20:07:20 GMT
I considered a Baggs Venue DI for the very reason you cite. I saw Tim May using one to great effect last year, using the boost button for flatpicked solos in the band with Fred Carpenter. I have a similar problem in that I do fingerstyle and rhythm accompaniment in a band and, although I can lean over and move my volume slider, I usually forget and that's when the boost button at my feet would be very handy!
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