Live Bongo Action (Pics)

[AnthonyD]

So, last Friday we played the "23 Lounge" in Stockholm, NJ - a rare club venue right in my neighborhood.

We didn't get the turn-out we hoped for but were still asked back. We had a great time despite the weak crowd and just put pics up from the event on out website - a few of which will surely please the Bongoloids among us!

Check 'em out right here: March 26th - Phil @ 23 Lounge

Curious to know what impressions you get from the pics - good, bad or indifferent. Thanks...

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I've always liked Candy Apple Red on the Bongo; one of my favourites. It looks really nice in the pictures.

 

[five7]

Playing a bongo gets you asked back every time.

 

[OldManMusic]

Curious to know what impressions you get from the pics - good, bad or indifferent. Thanks...

From the pictures, I'd say that the band and the people at the place had a great rockin time. Some of the best nights I've had plaing live was to a partially full club. Nothing wrong with that!

 

[Chuck B]

Cool! Great looking bass (and player )

 

[AnthonyD]

Thanks for the feedback guys. We had a few things working against us... The club has a "young-crowd" reputation - not necessarily a bad thing, but it definitely kept our middle-age following away. Folks were apprehensive about coming-out, thinking it wasn't the place for them.

Other factor was time - first set was 10:15PM / third and final set ending 1:30AM. Our core following is in bed before midnight.

Club-owner claims it's been tough in general and he wants more middle-age folk out on Friday nights for "live bands" - a bit more promotion and an earlier start should prove helpful next time around.

And bringing in a mechanical bull won't hurt either!

 

[ivbenaplayin]

I'm not a huge fan of red basses, but the abalone pickguard definately does it for me... bongobongobongo...

 

[adouglas]

Looks like you guys are having a great time! It's always cool when the audience gets involved... we make that a part of our show. Our lead singer loves going out on the dance floor and getting involved.

As a member of a middle-aged band myself, we've got some of the same concerns you do about the age of the crowd. We just ignore it, because there are no surprises with us. We make very, very clear what we play, on every poster, every business card and right at the top of our website. It's old-school stuff... not standard bar-band rock. People who come to see us know they're not getting Kanye and Beyonce. They're getting Aretha and James Brown. Club owners hire us because we're different... we got our most recent gig because the owner is sick and tired of standard rock bands playing stuff you can't dance to.

The last "younger crowd" place we played was great, and we had 'em hopping to stuff that many of them had probably never heard before. It's really all about the music and the energy, not the demographic.

You asked for impressions... You're clearly enjoying yourselves, which is really, really important. You have fun, and the crowd will have fun.

If it were me, I'd dress up a bit more because I think looks matter, but that's just our thing. Jeans and T-shirts seem to fit your vibe.

 

[AnthonyD]

I'm not a huge fan of red basses, but the abalone pickguard definately does it for me... bongobongobongo...

I went out of my color "comfort zone" on this buy and it has become my favorite - I was formerly a black / grey / silver kinda guy.

 

[AnthonyD]

You asked for impressions... You're clearly enjoying yourselves, which is really, really important. You have fun, and the crowd will have fun.

Thanks - we absolutely enjoy ourselves and play to the crowd - however small. I am a firm believer in the transference of energy and the few dozen folks that were there were definitely diggin' us and we were diggin' them.

If it were me, I'd dress up a bit more because I think looks matter, but that's just our thing. Jeans and T-shirts seem to fit your vibe.

We've kicked this idea around a bit but we're all real T-shirt and jeans types.

 

[sitonmybass]

I went out of my color "comfort zone" on this buy and it has become my favorite - I was formerly a black / grey / silver kinda guy.

I like your Bongo!

Until recently all my bass color choices were neutrals: white, black, natural, grey/silver; they go with anything/everything.

Purchasing my Bongo 5 single H in orange firemist/white vintage pearloid was a "step-outside-the-box" for me.

Tomorrow my new Big Al 5 single H arrives. It was incoming for "stock/sales" which makes it a "pre-order," not a special order. I chose it from a listing of incoming ones that were all single H rosewood Big Al 5's. The Candy Red was also outside my comfort zone and I'm very excited about this color and of course, the bass.

 

[Eggman]

It looks like your leg has healed well!

Dig the candy red -

 

[adouglas]

Candy Red is the only remaining bass color that really does it for me.

Black/gray/silver/white etc. may sell, but it's all so.... monochrome.

(I drive a silver car, though. Go figure.)

 

[bobalu]

I love that candy apple red. I have wanted a Bongo for a long time (scarce as hens teeth up here in Canada, no one will stock them. I've never even seen one in real life).

Everyone looked to be in party mode, so you must have been doing something right! Great shots!

 

[oddjob]

Love it when Bongos get put to good use. To me it is all about the "hang." If you are enjoying what you are doing and the people are cool to hang out with then everything else is gravy on top... looks like you met all of those requirements
Thx for sharing!

 

[MadMatt]

To me it is all about the "hang." If you are enjoying what you are doing and the people are cool to hang out with then everything else is gravy on top...

I agree, when your having fun, the crowd does and vice verse. Of course I'm not really the best judge of that... I dont earn my money playing music and have A LOT of respect for those that do. We only do one gig a year and we bust our butts practicing all year for that single gig. It in front of only about 40 of our friends and neighbours. Although we are not really that great we have a blast playing and the crowd really gets into it. It always ends up being a lot of fun for everyone and they ask us back every year. (even though we are known to butcher up some songs pretty well)

 

[AnthonyD]

It looks like your leg has healed well!

Dig the candy red -

100%! Gotta take the rehabilitation / physical therapy VERY seriously - it makes a world of difference.

 

[AnthonyD]

Everyone looked to be in party mode, so you must have been doing something right! Great shots!

For the folks in attendance, they definitely enjoyed themselves and we took great pleasure in that!

Love it when Bongos get put to good use. To me it is all about the "hang." If you are enjoying what you are doing and the people are cool to hang out with then everything else is gravy on top... looks like you met all of those requirements
Thx for sharing!

Thanks - we enjoyed the evening and plan to return, taking what we learned from the experience to pump-it up a bit more next time around.

 

[AnthonyD]

I agree, when your having fun, the crowd does and vice verse. Of course I'm not really the best judge of that... I dont earn my money playing music and have A LOT of respect for those that do. We only do one gig a year and we bust our butts practicing all year for that single gig. It in front of only about 40 of our friends and neighbours. Although we are not really that great we have a blast playing and the crowd really gets into it. It always ends up being a lot of fun for everyone and they ask us back every year. (even though we are known to butcher up some songs pretty well)

Ain't nothing wrong with that! My current Band started exactly the same way - we jammed all year long for a once a year church picnic. One opportunity lead to another and we've managed to pace ourselves and work our way to a comfortable 12-15 gigs a year. About our limit for the present time - all about finding the right balance and what works for you.