the World of Verbal Warning 27.07.09

Just got back from our Rock and Blues weekend, which we survived intact. Bought a new amp because my old one was still playing up, and it sounded awesome, really clear and powerful, the only trouble is everybody can hear my mistakes now, every silver lining has a cloud, huh . On to the gigs, we got moved to 6pm on Friday which we thought was an improvement, but the gig was real hard work, very little feedback from the crowd so we were a bit down at the end but everybody said we went down well, the guy running the PA promised to get us gigs and everybody enjoyed the set, just to cool to clap I guess.Exhibit A were next on but not till 10.30, and what a difference, can't argue with the decision to put them on last, they're better than us, play all covers and a wider variety as well, but a pissed up crowd went wild and they were playing some of the stuff we do, I couldn't help thinking we'd have done just as well at that time of night .The second gig of the weekend was a strange one, it turned out we were playing to the fully indoctrinated Outlaws in there inner sanctum which was separated from the rest of the sight by fences and guards, a little bit intimidating, they too were to cool to applaud much, but I enjoyed the gig, we played well and sounded good and I got the chance to listen to Verbal Warning from the crowd, when Neil the PA guy, who got us the gig, asked if him and his bass player from another band, could play Teenage Kicks with Guitar and Singer Boy, so me and Drummer Boy retired to the audience and very good it sounded to, I'm hoping it wasn't anything to do with the fact I wasn't playing.The worst thing about the weekend apart from having a freezing night under canvas on Saturday night was the bar, what a very poor effort, cans only and on top of that they stopped anybody taking their own booze on site, Alfreton's Wetherspoons was an irresistible draw on a couple of occasions.Got a gig next Friday but it's a private birthday party, but apparently it's just at a pub, "the Railway" on Peashill Rd Codner, so you VW fans can pop along and see us if you're in the area, it's free! otherwise you will have to wait till the Air Hostess gig on August 16th to get your next Verbal Warning fix as we can't do the Fightback gig next Saturday as they moved it to Friday and forgot to tell us!

the World of Verbal Warning 20.07.09

Sorry about the weeks wait for my wonderful blog report on our last gig fans, or is that fan? but I've been on holiday. First things first, looks like we've found a studio to record our long long long awaited 2nd CD in, hopefully we'll make a start in September a full 3 years after our debut recording, a disgraceful effort really.
Bought another bass of ebay, a Tokai P bass, why do us guitarist always think the instrument we haven't got will sound better than the one we have? decided to give it a try at the Derby Beer Festival gig, a mistake as it turned out. Problems with the sound made it an iffy first half, first of all my amp packed up during the sound check, but they had a spare at the venue which they kindly lent me, but the direct input line didn't work in that one so they finished up micing it up instead, all this meant we couldn't do a proper sound check as the hall was filling up, after a quick poll among the faithful at the break and me changing back to my Stingray bass we got the sound a lot better for the second half and it all went rather well, the sound guy must have been impressed because he offered us a 2nd slot at rock and blues next week on the new 3rd stage.
Got back from holiday plugged my amp in and it worked perfectly wondering now whether it was the dodgy DI lead that was causing the trouble, the new bass will be back on ebay shortly.
New blog next week after the Rock and Blues gigs, if we've survived a festival attended by 2000 Bikers, it might be prudent to take the Jams Modern World out of the set, don't think they'll be too many Mods there.