Homepage Forums Guitar Discussion Guitar Auditions ‘n’ Demos’

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  • #23424
    Gordy Smiff
    Participant

    Surfing the inerweb a couple of days ago I popped into the site of a favourite band of mine, I won’t name them, I couldn’t stand the ridicule.
    Tucked away in a corner was an ad asking for applications for guitarist in a side project by two members of this band. In a moment of foolhardy excitement I fired off an email, telling them I was interested and gave them some of my history. I expected to hear nothing more. Lo and behold yesterday, I get a very nice email from their management asking me to send them a cd of my stuff!

    It’s been a long time since I’ve auditioned for anything, or even played live, apart from the odd bbq, bashing out drunken versions of Brown Eyed Girl on the acoustic.

    So, on the cd what do you reckon, 2 maybe 3 tracks tops?
    Just enough to show them what I can do?
    Or just one, bearing in mind I’ll be playing everything myself, guitar, bass,
    keyboard. Not drums, neighbours kids are at home and they usually end up wanting to come in and get involved.

    I don’t know if it’s my age, but I feel very nervous. Anybody else get like that?

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    • #73788
      1bassleft
      Participant

      I’ve got my fingers crossed (which has improved my bass technique considerably).

      I don’t think it was the same drummer as he didn’t go wild during the gig and it was his above-average height that caused the headcrunk.

      I’m a bit out of touch with Hawkwind’s more recent lineups, but we share the same “first album purchase”. I’m not a multi (or even mono) instumentalist, but I can’t seem to stop buying more and more valve amps. Decent though my wife is, I’m even more fortunate in that our hairdresser has an unused cellar 🙂

    • #73748
      Gordy Smiff
      Participant

      Hi 1BL.

      They say no news is good news, but I’m not holding my breath, at least I can say I gave it a try.

      Was the drummer the little mad Scots guy?
      I saw him nearly lose his kit off the riser at the Fleece & Firkin in Bristol.
      In between songs, someone in the crowd shouted “Hawkwind”, and he went totally nuts and started slagging Hawkwind off, great entertainment.

      The side proj are Alan Davey on bass, yes I know he wants to be Lemmy when he grows up, even down to the way he positions his vocal mic, props to him though, he aint bad.

      Danny, possibly Danny Thompson, on drums, had a brief tenure with Hawkwind when they did the Church of Hawkwind album, like his style a lot, a bit heavier than current skinsman Richard Chadwick.

      Haven’t been here much lately, been busy re-organising the home studio, space is a bit tight and I’ve had to squeeze a full size drum kit, Roland Juno k’board and all my guitars into quite a small area, along with mic stands, monitors and workstation.Jack of all trades, thats me. At least I can fit my harmonicas’ in a drawer. Thinking of learning either the mandolin or banjo next, lucky for me I have a very understanding wife!

    • #73753
      1bassleft
      Participant

      Heard any news yet?

      Back in mid-80s, I saw “The Huw Lloyd Langton Band” in Preston. Good gig, enjoyed very much. At the end of the gig, the drummer stood up and cracked his head on the incredibly low ceiling. The copper who did a stop ‘n’ search on me (they always pulled me in) had accompanied his ambulance to the hospital, poor chap.

      Who are the members involved in the side proj?

    • #73763
      Gordy Smiff
      Participant

      Thanks for the input doc. As the side project of a band who’s style I’m very familiar with, I’m not sure that they want “more of the same”.
      Which is why I’ve tried to make the demo as broad spectrum as possible.

    • #73782
      docrichards
      Participant

      A three song demo of different styles is fine when you are shooting a demo out to an unknown group or venue. If you know the group and are familiar with their style and genre, try and limit the material in your demo to that style…their going to want to know you’ve got it down.

    • #73743
      Gordy Smiff
      Participant

      Don’t worry, I can’t widdle, never tried to.

      Huw does indeed play a white LP. I saw him at a gig in Bristol playing a
      Gibson semi, it looked a bit silly ‘cos Huw is only about 5’ 4″.

      First saw Hawkwind in ’76 when Robert Calvert was front man, amazing gig, blew me away.

      First album I bought, Warrior On The Edge Of Time, blimey I’m old!

    • #73760
      1bassleft
      Participant

      Lee nearly spewed down my USB when I put Hawkwind in my top 5. In terms of influencing me as a teenager (Hawklords was my first gig) they did it for me. Three tracks, don’t (DON’T) widdle, give it your best shot. Huw is a fine guitarist with a crystal tone. Was he a white LP player or am I getting foggy with the passing decades?

    • #73798
      lee_UK
      Participant

      Classic stuff.

    • #73747
      Gordy Smiff
      Participant

      Aaah, Stacia, bless her, they’re probably down by her knees these days!

      Did you know, Silver Machine was a song about a bicycle?

      Hey Lee_UK, I have a fwend in Wome, he has a wife you know, her name, Incontinentia Buttux.

    • #73761
      lee_UK
      Participant

      Umm, Hawkwind? 1 Big Hit, 2 Big Tits, and Lemmy.

    • #73792
      Gordy Smiff
      Participant

      Okay, you twisted my arm, it’s Hawkwind.
      *Pauses for the laughter to die down*

      Not famous for having stunningly great guitarists, although Huw Lloyd Langton was a bit good, being classic trained and all that.

      The side project are called Pre-Med. No idea what they’re really looking for, so the demo will contain all the styles I can muster, crammed onto three tracks.

    • #73758
      lee_UK
      Participant

      I think 3 tracks as well, hope it goes well… i bet it’s ‘Flock of Seagulls’ is’nt it?
      Come on, spill the beans, who are they? promise we wont laugh, well maybe in a kind of ‘Bigus Dickus’ way..

    • #73755
      Gordy Smiff
      Participant

      Nice one glw, thanks for that. I’d gone into full on panic mode.

      Three tracks it is then, all different flavours.

    • #73757
      glw
      Participant

      Yeah, just two or three tracks should do it, preferably in different styles so they can get a better idea of your playing and what you’re capable of.

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