Ash's new band

[ashstralia]

so here's the thing... i haven't played live music regularly for 3 years. i have been constantly teaching though, so my chops never get rusty.

a couple of weeks ago, singer from old band (7 years ago) calls, he's keen to play again. the plan is to get a duo up & running first, then build the rest of the band around that. barney's in of course, we have a great bassie, and the drummer from a seminal 80's oz band who lives locally appears to be on board.

so i rock up to his place with 2 guitars fx pedal and laptop. 'tattoo' had just been released, so i had the song ready to play for him. lo and behold, the rug in his music room is red, with black and white stripes!!!! it's a sign!!!

so i'm real excited about it!, it's gonna be a big year musically for us and i wanted to share my joy with my RA friends. i'll keep this updated over the coming months with news and stuff. or not. hehe..

[VAiN]

Cool man! I've been wanting to get back into a band for years now. Good for you! Keep us posted.

[ashstralia]

thanks VAiN, we're 2 rehearsals in and the magic is back. we've got our first gig in march; i'm f$^&ckin pumped!!!!

[Panamark]

Me too, I was going to retire, sell my house and join a band. Still have my amps, guitars, pa etc etc from
when I made that decision. Then BAM ! The most gorgeous woman I have ever met comes
out of nowhere (actually from these forums... lol) My life suddenly took a totally, but cant complain
different path. I still have the gear.

All the Best Ash, my fingers need WD40 to play Smoke on the water at the moment,
hope it all goes well.... I was forced to play at a party a few weeks back, drunk with
an ibanez acoustic (nice acoustic) managed to bang out enough songs to keep em
happy (only 40-50 people) but geezuz I had to use Jedi magic to force my fingers to
keep going on that high action, chunky guage string guitar...

I freakin battled to get some classics out, and at the end of the night the
best received song was "A horse with no name" I was playing that Em D
shit after 3 bottles of fine Australian red wine, and these country folk
were getting off on it ? Geez I played crap, but I did entertain... lol

[Panamark]

thanks VAiN, we're 2 rehearsals in and the magic is back. we've got our first gig in march; i'm f$^&ckin pumped!!!!

So its inevitable that I will see you play the north coast of NSW ?

[ashstralia]

good onya marky. the folks up here love the classic 70s & 80s stuff too. we'll have the duo doing the small parties and such; and the band can rock out at the bigger shows. you totally should get back into it, if you've got the time. i know i just function better when i'm actively involved in making music. i'm sure we all can relate!

not sure we'll get that far south, but we could get as far down as coffs maybe?

[Panamark]

Yeah but you are teaching all the time. I got suckered in to that party after not playing for
14 months ? (And that was one little session after another 10 months)
I was rusty as fuck. My drunk brain was telling my fingers what to do but the
strength wasnt there. I felt pissed off as most of the shouted out requests I knew but
the hands didnt quite have the strength. Would have been better if I had my strat and
a small praccy amp... Seeing as I have mountains and forests around me I totally
intend on building a studio here, when babies/work/money permits and
getting back into it. Mary Frances can sing better than any of the vocalists I have
ever worked with and is no slouch on keyboards and guitar herself. So theres
motivation just for us to get it happening here, then maybe venturing out for fun.

[ashstralia]

these days a small home studio is really affordable, as you well know. do it man!!

bloke/chick duo's are really popular here. making $ for having fun.

[Panamark]

I have an entire studio packed in boxes.
Just need to build the shed and somewhat sound proof it....

[ashstralia]

cool.

[Panamark]

You know whats fucked up ? When you move to the country you think, awesome, I can
shoot guns, play drums, rip around on a 2 stroke dirt bike and nobody will give a fuck.
Well, its bizzarre, we are in a spectacular valley, but if someone a mile away on
a neighbouring property has a conversation, we can hear it !
I have dairy farms on each side, Im dying to setup a drum kit, even though Im not
a drummer, and just belt them coz Im on some land now... That shit would
probably echo up your way, Any good sound proofing tips ?

[Panamark]

Im good mates with a dude 3 farms away, Im going to plug in the half stack
(100w) and play "Hells Bells" through the valley and see if he can hear it...
Im thinkin my JCM 800 on 4 will spook the horses and make the cows freak out ! lol

[Dave's Bitch]

Any chance of posting some of your stuff here ash?.Always like checking out the music some of you guys make

[ashstralia]

probs should talk to kwame or another drummer about that one... we have the luxury of using the local rural fire brigade shed to rehearse the band (handy police connections!) it's got acres of cane fields around it.

[Panamark]

I wanna hear Dave's stuff too ! I can tell he is a top bloke, and if teaching non stop the mofo will
have his action flowing nicely....