First gig of 2025. A Dep gig with a reggae tribute band. The bass player I was standing in for told me to bring my rig as the venue has PA but no IEM system.
They did but it was quite a small box stage with huge subs underneath so i couldn't hear my cab above that.
Stage volume was too loud and so bassy due to subs which made it hard to pitch. If it was a set i knew the tracks well, it would not have mattered whether i could hear myself clearly, but it was one of the gigs where I got a setlist, then got on stage and got handed a different setlist with a few tracks I hardly knew or hadn't played before. They seemed happy afterwards so that's the main thing.

Umph... that sounds like a tough night. I've been done that way a couple times too. Filling in is fun, being outside the comfort zone, but I always appreciate playing with my regular folks... knowing what's coming next is priceless.

Yep I like the band concept and feel much more confident in that arena. However this is my breakout year when I am trying to get more of these stand in gigs and hopefully join an existing band playing something more demanding and creative than i've been exposed to so I can discover who the real me is
is behind my bass rather than the me playing cover basslines.

End of an era?
Well it kind of is. I've been playing firstly guitar then bass on and off with Musical Youth for a long time, my first gig with them being ArtsFest Birmingham in 2004.
I don't have any desires to go into the reasons for parting of the ways on here as things can be mis-interpreted and head into spirals that weren't envisaged. I know some of you guys on here have followed my posts showing my musical journey with this and various other bands and projects and I will still continue to post on anything I get involved with and you have my gratitude for showing an interest. Even those occasional sarcastic remarks are good banter. :-)

During my time in the band I have enjoyed playing with and getting to know some superb musicians, i've done gigs at some really exciting venues, festivals and theatres across the country, the closing ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth games in Birmingham to a global audience estimated at 1.2 billion was a biggie. Oh yes can't forget a TV appearance playing bass in a bath for a Severn Trent Water commercial.

I've toured with the band in USA twice, firstly as guitarist on the British Reggae Explosion tour mainly along the west coast from San Diego through the Los Angeles, San Francisco bay area and across to Las Vegas, playing guitar for both both Musical Youth & Apache Indian. A tour in Slovenia in 2007 with Dennis & Michael, Andre Bassing, El Paso Dena and the Mighty Cornelius Wynter (RIP) on bass.

My last overseas tour with the band was in 2023 on on bass (Orion 5 string) for the Lost 80's live tour which took in dates spanning Seattle in the north, down to Texas in the south, along the way playing at the famous Greek Theatre in Griffith Park. A place where two of my many jazz hero's Stanley Clarke & Miles Davis performed. (Had to play a few bars of School Days and All Blues at that venue whilst waiting for sound check).

In fact one of my favourite albums "Live at the Greek" with Stanley Clarke & Billy Cobham, Najee, Deron Johnson & Larry Carlton was recorded live there, and "The Griffith Park Collection" with Stanley Clarke, Lenny White, Chick Corea, Freddie Hubbard & Joe Henderson is associated with that venue. That was a lovely vintage venue with a great sound due in part to it's location.

I like to hold the view that when one door is closed another is opened and certainly I will be opening doors to investigate new musical challenges, alembic in hand.

Onward and upward, my British friend. I look forward to your next musical adventures as much as my own. Naturally with our Alembics in hand. 😎

Too bad for Musical Youth.  They just lost a helluva bass player!  Onward and upward, indeed!

Bill, tgo

Thanks for sharing. You've had a great 20 years. Here's to more!

Jazzyvee,

Definitely their loss!  But the accompanying baggage - as you described recently in another thread - has gotten a bit heavy.  So on some level you probably feel relieved.  That's often how it goes with longterm relationships. 

Onward and upward to other great musical opportunities.

Best of luck,
Jimmy J

Wonderfully written post, Jazzyvee!

I heard from the guitarist today and told that he is no longer in the band nor is the keyboard player. 🧐

Y'all should get together, find a drummer, and start a band!

Bill, tgo

Quote from: lbpesq on March 28, 2025, 04:06:04 PM
Y'all should get together, find a drummer, and start a band!

Bill, tgo

Agreed.   

Call yourself, Musical Mature.

Just got back from the second gig of the year with the same reggae band i did the first gig with. I took the Orion 5 to the gig and when the stage lights went off. I wish i'd have taken my black europa which has the led side dots. It's only when you don't have them you realise how useful they are. The orion dots are really hard to see in low light.

Next two guitar gigs 20/05/2025 and 21/05/2025
https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/jah-makin-it-happen/

A musical!   Live theater shows are a blast.  Have fun. 😀