Hey S.I.Q. fans!
We can now finally say...
WE HAVE PLAYED AMOS' SOUTHEND!!!!!!
It makes me so happy. When we walked into the place, the first thought in my head was,
The stage is so huge! Honestly, it was the biggest stage we have have ever played on. We were able to walk around and have all kinds of free space. Also, for the first time ever, I was able to walk off the stage without my ears ringing at the end of the show. The soundman handled it all very well.
The other bands were fantastic as well. Broken Pitch started the night off with some covers, including Avenged Sevenfold's "Afterlife". Definitely enjoyable, though it is a shame that the crowd hadn't reached desired size while they played. They were followed by Tattermask, a local favorite of mine. So metal! So easy to rock to! And they played my favorite of their songs, "Death of Me". Thank you, Tattermask, for the fan service. The third band of the night was our good good friends, the very talented musicians of Luna's Lament. Many of us from the other bands were right in front of the stage headbanging. During a break between songs, someone from the audience yelled "Your music makes me want to get naked!" illiciting a round of laughter from everyone.
When we finally took the stage, the crowd that was scattered throughout the venue started gravitating toward the stage. The show started out well, but we encountered our first technical issue of the night when Phil broke a string. This caused us to change our previously planned set, and James launched into a guitar solo that was nothing short of celestial in my opinion. (If you were there, it was awesome was it not?) It bought Phil enough time to get a spare set of strings (courtesy of the Amos' soundman) and replace the problem string. From there, we were able to continue the show as planned. As a surprise to those who attended, we played an Irish drinking song of our own composition, which I affectionately dubbed "Phil's Grand Adventure". We finished the night with "No Pockets" as an encore, which absolutely killed my hands, but I still got rave compliments on my solo.
All in all, a great show. I followed it with a gargantuan brownie from the Midnight Diner just down the street from Amos'.
Just for fun, my "Bass Guitar Gospel" is below. This is the revised edition, the first being a note originally posted on my personal Facebook page.
The Bass Guitar Gospel
By Cole Millward
1. It is a common misconception that bass players are simply frustrated guitarists. This is false. Bass players are their own breed, and frustrated guitarists seeking to play the bass as a second choice should get over themselves and learn the guitar.
2. The bass guitar, while easier to learn than the standard guitar, is more difficult to master.
3. Guitarists are a dime-a-dozen. Bass players (and REALLY GOOD guitarists) are a dime-apiece. Consider this when faced with the decision of which instrument to play.
4. You shall not use a pick when playing the bass, unless fingerstyle and slapstyle have already been learned.
5. Bass guitars are usable for more than just the simple "doom-doom-doom" bassline. Solos are possible, and are actually highly revered by audiences.
6. True, bass guitars are used to help keep time, but there is no law stating that the time-keeping riff must be simple.
7. The "Three-Finger" technique made famous by such bass players as Steve Harris, John Myung, and Billy Sheehan is not absolutely necessary to become a great bassist, but it is definitely a technique worth learning.
8. A lot can be done with a four string. It is the standard issue weapon of choice for many bass players. It is well rounded, covering moderately high to moderately low ranges. Simple, but effective.
9. More can be done with a five string. It has an added low string specifically for the purpose of going lower than the frequently used low E without the hassle of down-tuning. Especially useful for more room-shaking rhythms, a five string is the ideal instrument for a hard rock or metal bassist.
10. Six string bass guitars open up the flood gates for possibilities within the bass range. Including all five strings of a five string bass, the six string also has and added high C, tuned a fourth above the G string. With a six string, one can create heavy rhythms with the low strings, solo with the higher strings, and play all manner of things in between. For a jazz bassist or a prog-noggin like me, the six string is the perfect W.M.D. (Weapon of Musical Devastation).
11. People who tell the bassist to turn down almost to the point of inaudibility need to go away.
12. Addressing how high or low one may wear their bass guitar, there are multiple schools of thought. In the "Rob Trujillo Style", the bass is worn especially low, between the legs, allowing for easy access to the lower frets. This is the most commonly used style, and is the stereotype standard for most bass players. The alternative is the "John Myung Style" (my own personal style) which is worn higher on the torso using a shorter strap. This style, though it stretches the hands when lower frets are played, is best used for genres that require full use of the bass neck. I personally am not biased, as the height of the bass coincides with the genre being played. To each his own.
13. No, long hair is not required if one wishes to become a bass player. I just have it.
14. Another controversy in the bass world is the subject of effects. The only advice I can give on this one is try and create your own distinctive sound, so that when people hear it, they know you are the one playing. Whether this means you go all out with various pedals (impractical for live performances) or completely clean (simple, but it can get old), it is up to you to decide.
15. Bass guitars are not good replacements for standard guitars. Yes, you can distort their sound so they sound somewhat like a guitar, but it isn't the same.
16. I am suspect of bands that do not have a bass player in their lineup. In the same way that basses cannot replace guitars, guitars can certainly not replace basses.
17. There are many bass brands out there. Please consider them all when purchasing a bass of your own. I see a lot of bass players go with Fender just because everyone uses Fender. There are other good brands out there within the same price range.
18. For those who are seeking to become better players, good solid notes WITH NO FRET BUZZ comes first. Then speed.
19. You can't go wrong with Mesa/Boogie. Just putting that out there.
20. If you play the bass so much that your fingers bleed, you must really be playing that thing.
21. God is a bass player. How else do you explain thunder?
Hoped you enjoyed that!
Be on the lookout for upcoming announcements from S.I.Q.!
Cole Millward
S.I.Q. bassist
