I met the bass player from a local Funk/Disco/Dance band called Booty Vortex (that still makes me laugh) through TB. We met up for a chat because he does some interesting things with speaker cabs (hopefully more on that later) and he started telling me about his band and that they will start auditioning subs again soon because there are a few gigs scheduled that he can't make and his other sub is kind of flakey...and he (the regular bass player, not the sub) is moving back to upstate NY this summer so they'll need a permanent replacement! He wants me to audition and thinks it could be a good fit. I'm freakin' stoked (I haven't made money from a gig in some time now) but REALLY NERVOUS!

He said they like to play What Is Hip? as a staple for bass player auditions as well as anything else they've currently got on the setlist that has tough bass parts. You may remember my recent post about Rocco being a beast...that fact makes me all the more nervous. I've never done well with the fast 'n funky TOP tunes (love playing the ballads though!).

I'm waiting for him to get back to me with at least a partial setlist so I can start 'shedding early.

Break a leg.
Try this:
Don't suck.

Yeah, I finally got the specs from Fender on the Suck knob for my amp and it says that turning it fully counterclockwise should bypass the Suck Circuit completely. I think mine might be broken.

Wear your best leathers.

Don't turn the knob, push it. Works every time.

Somehow I don't think my chaps and fringed Harley vest would go over well. Especially if that's all I wore.

Good luck, man. Don't let yourself be intimidated. Nervous isn't necessarily a bad thing, until you let it get to you. I blew an audition a month ago because I was too nervous, and I did some stupid stuff like blow a G scale. Which made me more nervous, and it went downhill from there. Until you can get a partial setlist, jam along to the stuff on their site and pick up their CD. It never hurts to be as prepared as you can.

You'll do fine, just bring the funk.

where upstate NY is the cat moving to???

Good luck Davio, I'm sure you'll do well.

No clue. He just said that he and wifey are from there but moved to the Boston area for her to go to school and now that she's done they want to move back.

To paraphrase GeoffB:

Good luck with it, davio !!!!

Davio's new gig duds:


Put me down as another vote against sucking at the audition.

If the chaps are assless . . .

Knock 'em dead boyo.

Well he just got back to me. He says they usually play 30-40 tunes per gig in two sets. The catalog is about 80 tunes and the audition will be What Is Hip? and 2 others that I can pick. He wants me to get in for the audition as soon as I'm able to. I don't think I'll be seeing daylight for some time.

All the best Davio, enjoy the experience!

All the best - you'll do fine

Tom

Just in case you need it:

"What Is Hip?" bass transcription.

If you can run that 1/8th note line that Rocco lays under the vocals and solos at full speed, you absolutely will not suck. And, you'll have my undying respect; I couldn't play it at speed right now to save my life. I'd have to woodshed that for a yet to be determined period of time to even suck at it, really...

I don't give advice on auditions - since I can't seem to get past any myself. That's OK, everyone sucks but me.

Good luck and play well.

Root and octave, root and octave, root and octave...

Be the man who put the booty in "Booty Vortex", they'll have to accept you.
I double dog dare you.

Good luck.

Thanks for all the well wishes, guys!

Chad, there's actually a page worth of trancription in the booklet that comes with the "Fingerstyle Funk" video so it more or less covers what I need (if I couldn't hear it to begin with).

Picker, if it was only 8th notes, I'd be set! Them there be 16th notes and at lightning speed! I know plenty of bass players that can do it (all of them much better than me)...I'll get there.

A thought: vortex...booty...does that mean they suck ass?

Back to practicing.

good luck man. make sure you remember these when you go


I was asked to audition for an orchestra this week...How does that stat go from zero to 2 in the same month?

teach me O wise one

Nice!

When it rains, it pours, make the most of it.

I'm completely blown away...I started working on What Is Hip? the other day and while I don't have it down pat and there's plenty left for me to polish, I'm doing way better than I thought I would! I'm even playing along with the recording!

Now I have to pick a couple more songs to play for the audition...

BTW, Chad...sorry if I seemed dismissive about the transcription the other day. I actually went back to it as a reference to make sure I was hearing some parts right and it's been really helpful! Thanks!

No worries! I'll just kick your ass when I see you in April...

Seriously, I thought you might already have a transcription, but, as I said, "just in case." I was glad to find it for myself.

And of course you're doing fine with it. Work on keeping those 16ths even, and channel a little Rocco, and you'll be fine!

BTW, Richard Nixon saw "Deep Throat" and thought it would be fun to try, but he couldn't get it down Pat...

Just wow.

Bump - any news, davio?

Not really, other than the emerging truth that I'm a badass.

Seriously though, I'm able to get through What Is Hip? consistently with the recording and sound 1/2 decent at it. I'm so freaking stoked! The first time I tried playing it in high school I didn't think I'd ever be able to hang.

Now I have to pick a couple more songs for the audition and talk to Zac. Maybe this Tuesday for the audition...? We'll see.

Furthermore, I'd like to say that this whole situation is really exciting to me because I've always dreamed of playing in a legit funk band but I thought it would never happen. The gf just laughs at me when I say something like "legit funk band" or "I always dreamed of playing this kind of music," but truth be told, this is the kind of music I fell in love with early on in my bass guitar career and this will be my first opportunity to actually play it so I don't care if people laugh. I'll be laughing when they're shakin' their tail feathers on the dance floor!

Dummmbedoobedoobedoobe burn baby burn...baaaadaba...

Hey davio, has it been "this Tuesday" yet ? Just curious

TODAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today's menu is:

What Is Hip?
Boogie Oogie Oogie
Shame
Ain't No Stopping Us Now
Best Of My Love

The first 2 are definite. The last three are a toss up: he suggested I pick one so I'll have all of them ready.

8pm

BTW, I took the gf out to Hard Rock Cafe for V-Day because Booty Vortex was playing. Holy crap they're tight. They put on a great show and the dance floor was packed all night. Man I'm looking forward to this!

God I'm an idiot

As GeoffB would say: "Good luck with it, Eddie "

Well, you know what I mean

SIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK

Got back a little bit ago. Smoked it!

Boogie Oogie Oogie was cake although their bass player makes more of a show of the solo (they all but quit playing at that part)...I just played the one from the recording.

Shame was also a walk in the park. Both songs have fade out endings in the recordings so I wasn't sure exactly how they were going to end it but I took my cues fromt he drummer and hit it spot on both times. They seemed to like that.

What Is Hip? was nothing short of a miracle. With a combination of dehydration, fatigue, too much playing just before going and audition nerves, my right forearm started cramping about 1/2 way and as you know or can at least guess, that's all but a death sentence. I kept willing my arm to relax and cheated here and there where some licks were covered by other parts but I got through relatively unscathed. After I was done the bass player said "I don't think we need to hear any more than that!" (in a positive way)

Zac wants me to possibly cover 2 gigs in March and then who knows...

STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKED

Nothing but net. Congratulations, Davio!

Thanks, yo!

You proved that, alright. Coolio, Davio, go get 'em-olio!

Wicked ! Congrats, man !!! Sounds like everyone is getting in on sweet bands these days And I don't even get a call from a bunch of 14 year olds

Good stuff Davio, glad you got the gig!

Outstanding

Now the work starts....and the fun.

Tom

Tell me about it...loooooooots of music to learn in just over a month. I don't even know if I'll be practicing with them or not. I'll have to wait and see.

Congrats!!!

Good going Davio

So Zac (current bass player with Booty Vortex) messaged me a couple weeks ago and said to get in touch with the BL because he and wifey are getting ready to move back to NY in the next month or two and they're getting ready to audition for a new permanent bass player.

Not-so-long story not as long: June 9th @ 9pm. What Is Hip, Fantastic Voyage and their ABC/I Want You Back medley.

Fan-freakin'-tastic! I played WIH for the sub audition and I've played the medley with the band a few times...only problem is Fantastic Voyage. I am horrible at slapping (even something this simple). Carwash almost kicked my ass when I first started playing it with them! I'm that bad! Needless to say, if I'm that bad at it, improving around the line as the bass player on the record does is nearly impossible for me because I struggle so much with the technique.

I need help. Anybody have suggestions?

I say you give up your passion for killing small rodents and practice bass.
Just a suggestion.

Headphones kill rodents. Period. Simple as that. Actually, all the room mates were gone yesterday afternoon so I set up the AG and practiced out loud. That was kinda nice.

Zac told me they auditioned a couple bass players last week and they were all jokes so if I do well I've got a really good chance.

For some reason the drummer seems to think that I had a hard time recovering when I screwed up at the last gig. I don't remember that. I'll have to listen to the recording. Maybe we'll fight.

He's just a drummer. Nobody will take him seriously.

He's actually an obscenely talented drummer and pretty cool guy.

Good on yer, lad - go get 'em!

I work with a drummer like the one you describe. Best not to let him get under your skin, if possible. He's probably a perfectionist, and harder on himself than he is on you.

I just found out that since I last played with the band they were voted "Best R&B Group" at the New England Urban Music Awards. I'm sure it was entirely due to my playing.

Linkage.

...I'm not entirely sure if they should be in the R&B category but whatev...

THe definition of R & B is pretty broad now, 30 years ago what is now called Urban probably would have been R&B.

Congrats on the gig, just being aboe to throw out the words "Booty Vortex" in casual conversation make it a sweet deal.

UPDATE:

After a string of events putting off the audition several times I finally got to audition last night. Apparently there are 2 other bass players they're considering and they wanted the last several rehearsals to get them ready to play one gig each with them as part of the audition process since I had already gigged with them.

So with almost 2 MONTHS to prepare I got pretty bored just practicing the 3 tunes they wanted me to play so I went back through the set list from when I subbed with them and memorized all of them (I had taken notes on formats and some of the trickier changes and played from a music stand hidden behind the percussionist), polished them and realized I had a few of the licks slightly wrong. So basically I prepared about 40 songs for the audition...and it was a good thing I did!

I got there a few minutes early and they were sound checking and waiting on one of the singers to get there. I plugged in and tuned and jumped in to Vehicle with them for the check. We played Fantastic Voyage, What is Hip? and ABC/I Want You Back and I nailed all three! Then the BL asked if I wanted to play anything else (there was no bass player and they needed to rehearse, I guess). We ended up playing 3 or 4 more songs after that. They started off with Carwash...gee...didn't see that coming. Also did their KC Medley which covers Do A Little Dance, Boogie Man, Shake Your Booty and That's The Way. That was a good one as well since it's long and there's a lot of cuts.

Anyway, in the end everybody was all smiles and the drummer seemed like he genuinely enjoyed it! The decision will be made in about 2 weeks after the last guy plays the next show with them (7/18). Keep your fingers crossed for me!

If anybody still reads this and/or cares:

I got an email this morning from the band leader saying that they were able to narrow it down from 3 bass players to 2. She wants me to come rehearse with them tomorrow night both as further audition time and because they want me to at least be ready to sub for the next gig. I think they just want to be sure that the last audition wasn't a freak accident and that I can be awesome on a regular basis.

Go get 'em Davio!

Yeah, keep us posted. And good luck!

This story better have a happy ending.

Well done for learning all those tunes. I'm sure that will influence their decision.

Davo

By learning all the tunes you have put yourself on the driving seat. That's very good. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

David

Sweetness Davio, you might need to clear your schedule! Good on ya!!

Brocko