It's been almost 20 years because of various health problems since I've played professionally and now the bug to get out gigging is really eating away at me.I gigged regularly since I was 15 and as most of you know it's something that gets in your blood and won't leave.My hands aren't quite ready yet but they're getting there with the chiropractic and excercises.Most of the musicians around here in my age group-mid 50's- are into the Irish/Newfoundland/Celtic music that's all too prevalent around these parts and I frankly don't like that type of music.The 25-45 age group are mostly into 80's and 90's style "classic"rock whereas I want to play totally British invasion era music.
My main goal is to do a set each of Beatles,Hendrix,Troggs/Who/Kinks and throw in some Paul Revere and the Raiders,The Animals,Moody Blues,Gary Lewis and The Playboys,Tommy James and The Shondells and other stuff that nobody else around here is playing.I've tossed this idea around with some local musician friends and they figure that a group doing good covers of this genre would do real well as no one else is doing it.
My biggest hurdle is my location,I'm about 1/2 hour from St. John's-our"big"city so it's a fair commute even though I have jam space.I just got to get gigging soon some way or another because the craving is driving me nuts.Like John Lee Hooker said I got the boogie in me and it got to come out.Anyway that's the end of my rant,I had to get that off my frustrated chest.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

slinger

there may be a reason why nobody is doing that stuff. ya gotta play what the market wants to hear. not saying that there is no market in your area but if nobody is playing those covers there is usually a reason for it.
get ya a group together that knows your local scene and see what happens. if anything you will have yourself a great jam session on the regular.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

i know what you mean-i'd be playing very regulary at open mic sessions if it weren't for my muscular disorder. but i haven't gigged that much so for you teh bugs probably worse.

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riley

I know what you mean, is it the Fat Cat the place to be these days?
(Edit: fixed the spelling of the club name)

The first time I played out was at the Fat Cat. What a cool little bar. It was always our first and last stop on a night out.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Hi Fendermandan :Yes the Fat Cat is still on the go and still getting great blues guys like Tony D. from Ottawa and even had Pinetop Perkins there a couple of times.My nephew is following in my footsteps and playing there although I played there before it became the Fat Cat.It's our only truly blues dedicated club around here.There are a lot of Baby Boomers here as we have-according to Stats Canada-the largest number of boomers per capita in Canada so 60's music is still real big here,that's why a lot of people are saying that a band doing a good job of 60's covers would do well.There is one band here-Billy and The Bruisers-that plays a lot in the 60's genre but they are a 9 piece band with 2 keyboards and horns and mostly play large venues and conventions and command top dollar.Voodoo Blues you played the Fat Cat?Great,a lot of guys I know played there like Rick Lambe,Roger House,Dave Vivian,Scott Goudie-the list goes on.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

hey guitslinger- i wish we lived closer. my story is similar. i gigged from 66 to 78, starting in my first band at age 12.

when i ended my gigging days, i wanted to be able to do other things on weekends. then it happened- marriage, kids, and other obligations took priority.

i ran into an old friend a few years back, and his band plays the type of music you mentioned. i sat in a few times, and i remember why i loved it so much. i am trying to put something together myself.

best of luck to ya!

I only played at the open jam they have on sunday night a few times when I was in college. I can't remember who the house band was but they were really good.

I did see Tony D play there one night, he rocked.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Thanks Phreddybee,hope you get a group off the ground also.Voodoo Blues if you were at the Sunday night jam it's most likely my British Blues friend Dennis Parker was hosting along with Roger House,Scott Goudie or Darrel Cooper as these guys usually did the Sunday night gig.BTW did Tony D. have Six Pack Steve playing harp when you saw him? Steve is an unbelieveable harp player in the Junior Wells-Sonny Boy Williamson vein.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I think the guys name was Chris, I really can't remember, it was over 10 years ago. I remember he had black curly hair. He definitely wasn't British.

I can't also can't remember if there was a harp played with Tony D... like I said 10+ years. I still have the CD he signed for me.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

Well that narrows it down some if his name was Chris it was most likely Chris LeDrew who I used to jam with at The Bosun's Whistle which was the former name of the Fat Cat. It may also have been Chris Kearsey(who is one of the most brilliant guitar techs in Eastern Canada)but most likely Chris LeDrew.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

4-odd years ago had out-play-bug as well.

Joined church band as bassist and 226 Masses and services, to date, plus "many" practices. It ain't lounge or surf or old stuff or jazz, but it's a weekly "gig"...

...always between 500 and 1500 listeners, too. And hours are really regular, easy to plan around.

Best of fortune.

I hear you Guitslinger. You'd be surprised of the number of people your age that would love to hear a band play some of the music you mentioned. The baby boomer generation is one of the largest demographics of fans that don't particularly want to go out and listen to the younger generation's music, not that there's anything wrong with it , but they want to re-live their glory days. Haven't heard anyone talk about playing some Moody Blues in a while. I say go for it Brother cause you may be surprised at the demand.

Wow sounds intense, i dont know how you feel because ive never gigged before, but i want to!(dont kill my hopes)

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You cant always get what you want

Well if you consider gigging at church a gig, then i know how you feel.

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You cant always get what you want