This ever happen to you?

d1dsj

Cornographer
Last night we did a gig for a local MotorCycle club. It was there Christmas bash and the 3rd time we've been asked back so I guess we must have been doing something right? I say must have because for no apparent reason I seemed to get lost in a few of the solo's... I was really hacked off about that and have no real excuse. I have a bad cough/ cold at the minute but that wasn't it. I can only put it down to using my newest guitar (PRS) after using mainly LP's for a few years. Whilst the PRS feels, plays and sounds superb maybe I need to use it more to get used to it although I had felt extremely comfortable playing it without any issues? However, I think it was me... my mind just seemed to go blank even though I've played these rock covers for years! I managed to improvise well enough, but we are one of those bands that try to play covers as accurately as possible and with the crowds we play to it's what they expect. I was so embarrassed and had to apologise to my band mates after the show. This ever happen to you????
Pic of the gig rig
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Re: This ever happen to you?

Yeah going blank.......haha that I have tried a few times...mostly when I was tired, and had been doing too much in a too short amount of time!
Ones hearing goes off when you're ill....
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

No one's 'on' 100% of the time. You can hear recordings of the world's best guitarists having an off night, especially with their solos. Sometimes you're on fire, and other times distracted or not feeling good, or just not inspired and going thru the motions. Human nature. If the rest of the band's a little off, it can effect you too. Don't beat yourself up. There are nights you'll make up for it.
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

Somehow, I doubt the rig was a problem, even using a guitar you're not quite as familiar with. Coughs, and definitely colds, affect your ears, and slow your mind down, affecting the ability to concentrate. I'm sure next time you're out and feeling better, you'll be just fine.
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

I just feel bad for the rest of the guys, the drummer looking pretty hacked off with me too! Lol I guess it's just a kicker 'coz I haven't played so bad in a long long time!!! Still it's an excuse to practice more eh???? ha ha
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

sadly I've never had the opportunity to launch into improvisation during gigs, as all my gigs thus far have involved playing my own songs or covers of metal bands, and reproducing the solos note for note.
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

sadly I've never had the opportunity to launch into improvisation during gigs, as all my gigs thus far have involved playing my own songs or covers of metal bands, and reproducing the solos note for note.

That's the thing, we normally try to play the tracks as accurately as possible to the original, but when I went blank I really had no idea what was going on except to play something in the right key that fit but was completely wrong!!
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

I had something like this happened to me except for me It wasnt that I soloed to long but I forgot how to play the first verse to a song it was only three chords but for the life of me I could not remember but half way through my memory came back and finished the song. Oh and is that a Road house 30 or 50 and how does it sound I know Gunthrie Govan uses Cornfords
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

So you hit a few clams! So what. Make chowder and move on. Happens to everybody from time to time. As long as you're on it 99% don't sweat the 1%. Some of my more memorable and humorous gig moments have happened after a good F-up. The band got a good laugh, the audience got a good laugh and I got a good laugh at myself.
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

I had something like this happened to me except for me It wasnt that I soloed to long but I forgot how to play the first verse to a song it was only three chords but for the life of me I could not remember but half way through my memory came back and finished the song. Oh and is that a Road house 30 or 50 and how does it sound I know Gunthrie Govan uses Cornfords

It's an older MK50H, great rock and roll amp. Guthrie unfortunately doesn't use Cornford amps any more, it seems once they had a factory fire and Paul Cornford got ill they could not even build amps let alone support their very few high profile artists. It's a shame because they were getting a very reputation. I think Guthrie now uses Suhr amps. I love my amp but I'm tempted to save for a Friedman or a Bogner but I'll have to see how things go in 2013.

- - - Updated - - -

So you hit a few clams! So what. Make chowder and move on. Happens to everybody from time to time. As long as you're on it 99% don't sweat the 1%. Some of my more memorable and humorous gig moments have happened after a good F-up. The band got a good laugh, the audience got a good laugh and I got a good laugh at myself.

I'm with you on this Sly, I or rather we as a band normally just laugh it off and play to the crowd, but last night was a real shocker. Ha ha
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

i have only jameson to blame when i cant play my own solos that i have written and played numerous times.
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

Oh man!! Have I had nights like that.

I think your problem had nothing to do with your new guitar. I think you were busy checking out the biker chicks and then you got worried about what might happen to you if the chick's old man caught you staring at her.

Things like that really make you lose concentration.
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

i have only jameson to blame when i cant play my own solos that i have written and played numerous times.

Ha ha ha, even when I'm not driving my mates don't let me drink coz they know it's a disaster waiting to happen!!

Oh man!! Have I had nights like that.

I think your problem had nothing to do with your new guitar. I think you were busy checking out the biker chicks and then you got worried about what might happen to you if the chick's old man caught you staring at her.

Things like that really make you lose concentration.

Well to be fair there were a few that seemed to have legs that went on.... and on.... and on....
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

I've blanked out on lyrics. We were doing a Metallica cover (I think it was For Whom the Bell Tolls), and I forgot the entire second verse. Thank god my bassist is also my co-vocalist, because he jumped right in with it. I was so embarrassed.
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

sadly I've never had the opportunity to launch into improvisation during gigs, as all my gigs thus far have involved playing my own songs or covers of metal bands, and reproducing the solos note for note.

Geez, you need to find a new band. Being a blues player, I improvise on almost every solo with my band. When I sit in with other bands, or go to a jam, they'll throw new songs at me, that I have to learn on the spot, and 2 minutes into it I'm expected to do a solo. That's where you learn to improvise. Sink or swim.
 
Re: This ever happen to you?

That's what happens when I've played a song for so long, I stop practicing it. Currently mentally blocked on "hotel California" solo. But I'm still not gonna practice.
 
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