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OT: Superstition


Timothy Lyons

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Any of you superstitious? Do anything before every show, practice, or session? Have any beliefs about playing for good luck?

 

I always use a new pick for every show and I always play bass with people wearing a pair of Chuck Taylors.

\m/ Timothy Lyons
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No.

 

Very superstitious, writing's on the wall,

Very superstitious, ladders bout' to fall,

Thirteen month old baby, broke the lookin' glass

Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past.

 

I was all hoping that this was going to be about the Stevie Wonder tune. :P

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I was hoping that this thread was about Stevie Wonder, too. :(

 

I'm also a sax player, but I like to milk a reed for all it's worth. I've been pulling from the same 10-pack box for about the last two years now. And I play at least several hours every day. Anyway, we seem to have a lot of sax/bass players on this board. Wonder what the correlation is?

 

Oh, yeah. . . no superstitions here.

All your bass are belong to us!
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...it's a secular world baby. We all worship science now!

 

Well I did prefer one type of pick for a while, but I can't find them now...other than than, a couple of beers to relax.

 

No wabbit foot or nothing though.

 

CupMcMali...this monkey's gone to heaven :freak:

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I have this nagging feeling that if I don't practice my parts, I'm going to suck. Call me superstitious.

"I had to have something, and it wasn't there. I couldn't go down the street and buy it, so I built it."

 

Les Paul

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No superstitions, really. I do like to be a little nervuos before our shows, though. It helps me focus on what I'm about to do. If I get too relaxed, I find that it transfers to my playing.

 

Oh, yeah. I make sure to bring my lucky bass with me. Without it, playing just isn't the same. :D

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I've never understood superstition.

 

You see it in pro athletes a lot.

It's as if you're saying "screw all the thousands of hours

of practice and dedication I spent on learning my

craft, if I do this ritual, I'll play well".

 

It's like you're giving some of your power to control the situation

to some random element.

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Originally posted by Bumpcity:

I was all hoping that this was going to be about the Stevie Wonder tune. :P

Ditto.

:(

 

Not superstitious. Just a little stretching and some H20 before playing, and perhaps an adult beverage after I'm done.

 

Peace.

spreadluv

 

Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars.

Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk.

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Originally posted by Sweet Willie:

perhaps an adult beverage QB]

Sweet Willie I'm going to take that phrase from you if you dont mind. :thu: its a keeper
"Cliff Burton (the "Major rager of the 4-string mother f***er", from Metallica)" Direct quote from Wikipedia (censored out of respect for the forum)
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Originally posted by Penguinsarebirds:

Well in that case, Bump I'm takin it.

Hey man, knock yourself out! Why not try sticking a 'fine' or 'refreshing' in front of it on occasion to liven it up? It's fun and easy! ;):D
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Originally posted by Bumpcity:

Originally posted by Penguinsarebirds:

Well in that case, Bump I'm takin it.

Hey man, knock yourself out! Why not try sticking a 'fine' or 'refreshing' in front of it on occasion to liven it up? It's fun and easy! ;):D
Personally I prefer the qualifier "rejuvenating". :D

spreadluv

 

Fanboy? Why, yes! Nordstrand Pickups and Guitars.

Messiaen knew how to parlay the funk.

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I too have a ritualistic thang...

 

And it's one I share with my band members. We make it a rule not to rehearse the day or night before a gig. Ideally we like to rehearse two days before the show.

 

And there's one that's ridiculous that I used to have, but have managed to shake...

 

I used to think that if you have a good rehearsal before a show, then you'll have a bad show, and if you have a bad rehearsal, then you'll be great at the show.

 

I guess the grain of logic in this came from the idea that if you have a good rehearsal, you'll be more likely to be over-confident at the show, but a bad rehearsal meant you'd try harder, and focus better.

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Originally posted by Edendude:

And there's one that's ridiculous that I used to have, but have managed to shake...

 

I used to think that if you have a good rehearsal before a show, then you'll have a bad show, and if you have a bad rehearsal, then you'll be great at the show.

This always happened with my first band - whenever the rehearsal went well, the gig went badly and vice versa.

 

Maybe we just have to suffer for our art...

 

Alex

 

P.S. I've just bought a JM47 large diagphragm condenser mic and TFPro P3 preamp/compressor/eq - very exciting - I'll be recording vocals soon in my 'home studio' and this should help fool the listener that I can sing!

 

P.P.S. And far more relevant to us bassists, I have an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp on its way from Jack Read to go in my old Warwick. I'll let you know how it sounds, once all the soldering's done...

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No superstitions here. As others have said, some preparation.

 

I usually make a packing list if I'm playing with my rock band, because it's usually too far from home to run back if I forget something. And since I sometimes keep the PA at my house, it's been a good way to bring it all.

 

Mostly, I just try to relax. We don't gig much, and it's easy to get overexcited!!

 

And for the record, I love the BBA version of the song. Tim Bogert's bass part is a gas to play (I think I can still play most of it...).

 

Tom

www.stoneflyrocks.com

Acoustic Color

 

Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt

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Originally posted by Tom Capasso:

And for the record, I love the BBA version of the song. Tim Bogert's bass part is a gas to play (I think I can still play most of it...).

BBA?

 

Ahh, Google rocks. Beck Bogert, Appice. I need to check that out as well. Dammit all. You people make me spend entirely too much money on CDs. :D

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The only thing I try to do is to be at the gig a half hour before downbeat, Wearing the appropriate clothes - it's a bummer to be the guy wearing a tux when the call was for 'casual country'. and it's worse when you're the only guy NOT wearing a tux...

Dave Martin

Java Jive Studio

Nashville, TN

www.javajivestudio.com

 

Cuppa Joe Records

www.cuppajoerecords.com

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Originally posted by Dave Martin:

The only thing I try to do is to be at the gig a half hour before downbeat, Wearing the appropriate clothes - it's a bummer to be the guy wearing a tux when the call was for 'casual country'. and it's worse when you're the only guy NOT wearing a tux...

That's funny, Dave, because an Opryland gig contracted to Craig Duncan, with your wife singing/playing, was the only time I've seen that happen.

 

Sally Rowland frantically searched for something to change tux's and Carolyn's formal attire into a country getup. The answer? Pink t-shirts advertising all the Gaylord properties (which included everything from Opryland USA and the hotel, to TNN, CMT, the Ryman and the Wildhorse Saloon at that time). The guys traded their tux shirts out, while poor Carolyn had to put it over her black dress! :( They looked ridiculous. :D

It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman

 

Soundclick

fntstcsnd

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IM very supersticious, or whichev way you spell it. Before each gig, concert, or performance i take at least a half hour and listen to Kind Of Blue. No matter if im playing rock, or jazz. Its a ritual, but i look at it more as a tribute to the man i ever dared to pick up a instrument. As long as i stay true to my roots, i'll be alright.
less is more
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Originally posted by fantasticsound:

Originally posted by Dave Martin:

That's funny, Dave, because an Opryland gig contracted to Craig Duncan, with your wife singing/playing, was the only time I've seen that happen.

I remember Carolyn telling me about that gig; but yeah, it happens. I remember another time when Jeff Taylor had an emergency situation where he had to catch a plane to Florida for another one of Craig's gigs; timing was so tight that he changed into his tux on the plane. That's what makes them fun, I guess. But I have a picture from last week where Carolyn and Craig were dressed as a king and queen for some convention they played; Craig was NOT happy...

Dave Martin

Java Jive Studio

Nashville, TN

www.javajivestudio.com

 

Cuppa Joe Records

www.cuppajoerecords.com

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That I HAVE to see... don't let Carolyn burn it!

 

Poor Jeff. He's a trouper though.

 

Speaking of tight airline/gig situations, I mixed monitors for Lila McCann in 1999. First gig (what is it about first gigs?) was a 17 hour, straight up and back, bus ride from Nashville to the WTC in New York. We played the plaza between the towers. The drummer had a session the day we left, so he made arrangements to fly up the next morning.

 

6AM, we showed up on site. We set the equipment, including his drum set, and waited. Chalee Tennison was providing an acoustic opening set. Word came in that the drummer's plane was delayed. They had Chalee stall as long as possible. Next we hear the drummer is on his way into Manhattan from the airport. The radio people stall some more during the change. Finally, the band decided which songs they could do sans drummer, and prepared to begin. Someone's about to count off ..2...3...4 when all of a sudden the drummer jumped on stage and planted his butt on the drum throne. Next came a mad dash by all the utility players for the appropriate instrument to start the original set. :D They pulled it off without dropping a beat, but I'd say the drummer became extremely superstitious of travelling separately to out of town gigs. ;)

It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman

 

Soundclick

fntstcsnd

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Originally posted by fantasticsound:

 

Speaking of tight airline/gig situations, I mixed monitors for Lila McCann in 1999.

I found out yesterday that I'm supposed to play with her on Tuesday; the IFCO show at the Ryman auditorium. I think the house band (I'm with them) is backing up 8 acts, including the Wilkinsons, Lila McCann and all three finalists from that Nashville Star show. I can't remember the names of any of the other acts... The things we do for (Very Little) money.

 

But come out and see the studio; I'll show you that picture.

Dave Martin

Java Jive Studio

Nashville, TN

www.javajivestudio.com

 

Cuppa Joe Records

www.cuppajoerecords.com

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i play the opening lick from a very weird/sick/amazing tune played by local nyc legend rob deluca of ouigapig entitled S**t Tastes Good. for some reason i can't screw up after that.
Eeeeeehhhhhhhhh.
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Originally posted by Dave Martin:

I found out yesterday that I'm supposed to play with her on Tuesday; the IFCO show at the Ryman auditorium. I think the house band (I'm with them) is backing up 8 acts, including the Wilkinsons, Lila McCann and all three finalists from that Nashville Star show.

That's hilarious. Those are the two nat'l acts I toured with, if only for a short time. I volunteered for the Nashville Mental Health Co-op show 3 weeks ago. The Wilks were on it along with Buddy Jewel (winner of Nashville Star). He was pretty good. Also the runner-up. She was weird. Charlie Chase asked her if she was thrilled to play on the Ryman Stage and she acted like it was a little bar out in the sticks. He tried twice to get some decent reaction, but she seemed not to care. Whatever...

 

I'll definitely come over... can you PM your phone number? I checked out the studio web page. It's really well done, but I couldn't find any contact information. :confused::D (The Greatest Studio You'll Never Find... ;) )

It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman

 

Soundclick

fntstcsnd

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