Just out of interest, what equipment do you need to bring along for these things?

Last time I checked, just your instruments.

Lethe wrote: Last time I checked, just your instruments.

So for 'lectric hackers, that would be axe and pedals?

Tonedef wrote: Just out of interest, what equipment do you need to bring along for these things?

Yourself and an acoustic guitar, though mandolins and such could be accomodated. ISTR an autoharp in use.

TJs provide mics and leads for the guitars into the PA.

Good idea to bring a tuner as well so that you can be in-tune when your set starts. I have seen people spend half their set tuning (and once had to tune a guitar for somebody who wanted to play but didn't know how to tune a guitar).

If you need to sing from a sheet of lyrics then there's usually a music stand available.

Is it accoustic only? ???

Tonedef wrote:

Lethe wrote: Last time I checked, just your instruments.

So for 'lectric hackers, that would be axe and pedals?

Just saw this. TJs don't provide guitar amps - just a PA.

You need to be able to set up and unplug again pretty quickly. Open Mic nights at TJs are getting quite popular and so if everybody is to get their fair share of time and opportunity the club has to be pretty strict as regards time.

Pedals are potential problems, especially if you have "true bypass" pedals in your setup. They're designed for input into guitar amps, not PAs with balanced, low-impedance lines.

Get there early, find whoever is doing the sound and have a friendly word with them.

A band called The Skebangas turned up. They had contacted me (I hope they don't think I'm some kind of promoter) asking for a gig. I suggested that a way to get a foot through the TJs door would be to come to open mic night. So they came along.

Sort of a Django Reinhardt, gypsy jazz kind of vibe, but with vocals and a trumpet as well. This gave them some interesting tonal colours. They played with a really infectious attitude as well. They got a very good response from the audience.

They haven't been together long, but they're worth checking out. I believe they'll be at Splashy Fen.

So I had Bruynstrust (Mike Burger & Richard Bruyns) and Them Particles on Wednesday, a brief but joyous set from The Skebangas on Thursday and now Guy Buttery tonight. It's turning out to be one of the better musical weeks I've had for a while.

A suggestion for those who, like me, use their electrics for solo guitar accompaniment. Get something like the Tech 21 Sansamp Blonde. It's an analogue box emulating tweed Fender amps designed to go straight into the PA - not a guitar amp. That way, you can walk up there with the guitar plugged into the box, and just plug the line into the box and you're good to go.

Electric guitars can sound very good finger picked - especially with a touch of reverb. A lot better, IMO, that a pure piezo guitar - quackin' and stammerin' away ? But for a scene like this, you probably want to leave the ring modulator, the flanger, and your Van Halen licks at home.