Played with a good band last night, got call on Thursday and a full setlist same night.
Majority of songs was a typical SOCA set with All right now, sex on fire, born to be wild etc, but some choice numbers that I have never played before like Human, Use Somebody, and Purple rain.
But biggest issue I had was volume, so many bands still play incredibly loud on stage and I have to wonder with all the stage stuff you can use nowadays, like IEM small valve amps, attenuators and so on, Why!
Guitarist had a Marshall 100w with 4x12, bassist had some Valkenflyer or something bass cabs which sounded great, and Drum kit although quite loud and punchy was Mic'd up with seven mics!
This was a small WMC in Weymouth, FairPlay it sounded good and everyone was happy, but after years of reducing stage volume and size of kit I use, I struggled with volume, my Excelsior was completely lost on stage, so needed monitors for my guitar sound.
What's your thoughts on high volume on stage.
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Our band are too loud... Our drummer is loud so our volume has to go up. Bassist keeps saying I'm the loud one but last gig was told bass is too loud and guitar too low, which is what I always thought. Especially at practice where it's like a wall of bass is drowning everything out.
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I play guitar and take photos of stuff. I also like beans on toast.
I play guitar and take photos of stuff. I also like beans on toast.
The problems start when the backline isn't mic'd up and I have to rely on my amp only. Then I have my amp speaker at about waist height, pointing directly out (i.e. not tilted) and I play to the level of the drums. Sometimes, depending on the drummer, it can get pretty loud.
There's a balance to be struck and sometimes it's not easy to get right. I agree with @rossyamaha that if it's too quiet and polite I can't get into it and the crowd probably won't get into it either.
There's been many a time I've taken my ears out after the last number then got an encore and been amazed at the sheer volume with no ears in ... Really eye opening
Much of the set was easy enough to follow - but the odd Steely Dan song he'd throw in was entirely beyond anyone's busking ability.
There are occasions where you really do need to learn the material...