David B

Our band (Red Cortinas) were recently thinking the same thing. We have a newish line up and our set list has gone down from 3 hours to about an hour and a quarter - hoping for 90 minutes worth in the near future. We are a classic rock/punk covers band "of a certain age". Basically looking to play and have a laugh. We have played with support bands before and always end up having a great night. Mind you, the support acts were so bad that the crowd were still booing them when we came on stage! Geddit? I'll see the other guys at practise on Thursday. See what they think. See us at redcortinas.piczo.com.

reply to brithguy - Just assuming that JJ has got something sorted for July. And hoping that Harry is allowed out to play. Haven't actually heard anything definite yet.

One of the guitar mags reviewed it recently and said it was a cracker. Their only complaint was that the controls were "fiddly". But what do you expect from a fag packet sized recording tool with more versatility and quality than we could ever have dreamed of a few years ago. Just be careful you don't lose it down the back of a chair.

A bit boring, but I got a set of cases for my drum kit. The sensible choice (if years too late). Drum Sacks from Birmingham Drum Centre. My 6 piece Premier will no longer get scratched as it rolls around in the car en route to gigs. I now use my old kit for practice and the Premier kit for gigs. PS 3 new pairs of sticks as well.

Saw them in Glasgow last night. Fantastic gig. Guitarist and bassist BOTH has Marshall stacks with 9 cabs. Bonkers or what? First time I've heard the backline cutting through the main PA (I was in the front row). Les Paul with a Floyd Rose whammy bar was also on display during some of the shredding moments.

Rage for Order is a cracker. Better songs than Mindcrime. PS I'm off to see REO Speedwagon next month. Who cares? I do!

I found a TD12 on the web (from a proper shop) for 2150. A local function/wedding band (New Revival) gigs with one but the drummer uses real hi-hats and cymbals. Awesome sounding and sounchecks take about 2 minutes. Just turn the level up or down to suit the venue. A "friend of a friend" also had one and my friend said it was fantastic. Too rich for my blood but the newcastle and gateshead drum shops are very cheap for the new TD3 with accessories and delivery. I have played a TD6 and it was great for "almost silent" practise in the bedroom.

Oliver at strathbeg.com in Maud. I usually tinker with my own guitars but when I got a Highway 1 Strat last year I thought I would get someone else to set it up. The previous owner had a very high action and really heavy guage strings. I was happy with the work and the price (prices for routine jobs are on his web site or he can give you a quote for other stuff if you e-mail him). Was very handy for me as I live in Peterhead but still much nearer than the central belt. I picked up my guitar the next day. No messing about.

I have played britheguys Epiphone SG with the new Wizard pickups fitted. It sounds great. Really rocks. Money well spent. I think we tend to underestimate how much the pickups contribute to a guitar's sound. For a modest outlay you can make huge improvements to the tone.

Britheguy - surely a sporting offer is better than an unsporting one. Do you remember our mutual acquaintance who had an aversion to anything with Affinity on the headstock? As I recall, you ended up buying that one and it was a great wee guitar. Wish beginners guitars were that good when I was a lad.

My son has an Affinity Strat (sunburst). Great guitar. I play it a lot. Spent some time setting it up and it now has a wonderful low action. To be fair, it was perfectly playable before but is just so much better now. A perfect beginners guitar. Good enough for a modest pick up upgrade come time. A lot of people turn their noses up at Affinitys. Don't fall in to that trap. I know that Domino has had his one for sale for a while. Make him sporting offer. PS I don't know who Domino is. I'm not trying to get a "sale for a mate".

Variety is the spice of life. Who needs a "scene"? Concentrate on being yourself and not not trying to be someone else. Nothing wrong with teenagers doing their own thing, even if only 1 man and his dog (and the bassist's girlfriend) are in the crowd. Would you prefer it if they were out vandalising cars and mugging grannies? My teenage hopes have long gone - decades ago but I still get a kick out of playing music, even if it is a covers band. We have also given teenage bands the opportunity to play with us and I have found this to be very refreshing. Even if their drummer is always better than me!!!

Saw UFO last night. They all played Engl amps (but Pete Way was hooked up to an Ampeg head and cab as well). Good sound. Could I play Doctor Doctor if I had an Engl amp? No - cause I couldn't play it before.

Great gig last night. Long way to go but worth it. Vinnie Moore can shred. He also has a smile on his face all the time and really looks as if he is enjoying himself. I want some of what Mogg and Way are on! New songs were surprisingly good. Their "Strangers In The Night" back catalogue had all the classics played. Simon Wright (ex AC/DC and currently with Dio) was a stand in for Andy Parker who broke his foot a while back. He played with power and poise. I did notice he got a few cues to signal the end of songs but what do you expect in the circumstances? Old pros who worked the crowd well and gave real value of money. They were on stage for an hour and 45 minutes. 18.50 a tiicket. No complaints. First time I've been to the Ironworks. Good venue.

Cheap Trick are great. Saw them a few years ago at The Garage in Glasgow. An awesome night. Only AC/DC do a better live show. Go to their site and check out their guitars. The 2 and 5 necks are wonderful. They are not just for show. Rick Neilson played both during the gig.

My 2 favourites were as follows (on vinyl back in the 80's) - Axe Attack (metal compilation with absolute classics - apart from Running, White Face, City Boy by Gillan). American Heartbeat (AOR classics). Both compilations bring back memories of great songs and great times. An era before the stresses of working, income tax, kids, divorce etc. I get a lot of CD's from Amazon and am still drawn to the reissues from this era. The record companies have twigged to the fact that many of us 40 somethings have a disposable income and a desire to relive these golden years. As well as a desire to upgrade our vinyl to CD. Most of the Amazon CD's are between 3.50 and 8. Great value. Awaiting delivery of Perfect Timing by MSG. Japanese Import but can't get in anywhere else. A killer album and probably their only really good one. Not a compilation but thought I'd mention it any way.

They are arming the Fire Brigade to respond to inner city incidents. Guns N Hoses

The Big G. Now that's showing your age. Next you will be telling us that you were a regular at the Queens.

Why do you need a 2nd job? You are currently rubbing shoulders with the Russian oil barons. Must be some cash waiting to be siphoned off.

I saw you singing along. Or were you just muttering under your breath?

I saw it at the weekend. Good fight at the end and decent story leading up to it. Don't think the franchise can go much further unless it's a "son of Rocky" story line. There are clearly some unresolved issues within the Balboa family.

And I had a strum on it a couple of nights ago. Lovely guitar, rich tone. Even my Wonderwall ALMOST sounded passable!

I've had a shot of one of these. Decent sound, staggering VFM, IMHO. Candidate for a pickup upgrade.

I've seen RATM. Very powerful and intense performance. Audioslave get some bad press just because they are NOT RATM. Listen to them with an open mind and they are pretty good. Morello is certainly the most interesting and innovative guitarist on the scene. I find the 100mph shredders to be dull and derivative (but it may just be jealousy!).

When you say "I surrender" you lead me perfectly into my brief reply. I am a fan of Ritchie Blackmore and read many years ago that he played scalloped fretboards. The article said that it really suited his style because he never usually played more than 3 strings at a time. Does that mean that it is less suitable for playing full chords? That seemed to be the implication.