Tony Levin Bass Clinic UK

[GreyDad]

It's 1:30AM here and I've just got in from a 360 mile roundtrip this evening to see/hear Tony Levin's Bass Clinic, courtesy EBMM and Machinehead Music in Hitchin.

And I have to say it was well worth the trip! Big Thumbs Up for Tony, a true gentlemen and entertainer and also very funny. Oh, and he plays bass as well! We were treated to some of his new solo material (on a TL OLP5) and then some Peter Gabriel lines on a 30th SR4 (which sounded just beautiful, the tone was amazing) and finally an impromptu fretless session on an SR5 amongst the crowd... and we had the funk fingers demo, off course!

Brilliant evening, he's just very approachable and happy to talk to people and sign stuff (even basses - wish I'd thought of that...) and you get an amusing personal insight into life for a musician who's been at the top of his craft for decades. I felt some sympathy for him 'cos he'd flown straight in from the States this morning (eastbound is always worse), spent the day at the Machinehead, did the Clinic and was leaving straight afterwards to meet up with Peter Gabriel (a 150 mile taxi ride!) for a flight to France tomorrow for a gig - and still he was polite and professional!

Lots of EBMM action there as well - Blue Dawns, Anniversaries and Ltds all over and a Bongo 4. I did get to hold (carefully) and play (reverently) a 20th SR5 HH tonight - I now have even more envy for those of you lucky enough to own one

I've put some quick pics up on my myspace page:

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=188890711&albumId=817731

I'll tidy it up tomorrow.

Some of the UK knuckleheads may post as well although I wasn't sure who was there, never having met any in person UK solo bassist Steve Lawson was there in the audience, though, nice to have a chat with him at last.

Thanks to Tony, EBMM, Strings and Things and Dave & Co. at Machinehead for setting it all up, great job.

It's now 3AM and time for bed...

Neil

 

[DTG]

sounds like a good night out,long way to drive but worth every mile.
i would have forgot to bring my SR5 too,but it would be very cool get his sig on it!!!

 

[DaveB]

Neil,

Glad you enjoyed the evening and that it made your monster trip worthwhile - good effort sir.

Dont know what Tony told you but he actually spent the day relaxing at a local hotel - your post made it sound like I had him working at the store - hey maybe that would be an idea, bass sales would be up

Thanks to everyone for the support and to Strings & Things who went above and beyond the call of duty!

Dave

 

[bovinehost]

Photos no worky!

 

[GreyDad]

Photos no worky!

Seem to work ok for me, Jack, and they're set for public viewing. Don't know what's going on there. Anyone else having trouble seeing the photos? Might be me, I'm a bit of a myspace noob...

For those who can see them for some reason a couple of them are un-rotated and I can't seem to fix it - myspace won't let me upload the rotated jpegs. Might have to host them somewhere else... in the meantime please tip your screen to a more jaunty angle

 

[GreyDad]

Neil,

Glad you enjoyed the evening and that it made your monster trip worthwhile - good effort sir.

Dont know what Tony told you but he actually spent the day relaxing at a local hotel - your post made it sound like I had him working at the store - hey maybe that would be an idea, bass sales would be up

Thanks to everyone for the support and to Strings & Things who went above and beyond the call of duty!

Dave

Thanks Dave - and that 20th SR5 was a beauty btw.

I must have misunderstood what TL said at one point, I had the impression he'd been with you at least at some point during the day. And there I was thinking, wot a bunch of bastids you were dragging the poor sod off the plane and put straight to work

 

[BigTony]

Seem to work ok for me, Jack, and they're set for public viewing. Don't know what's going on there. Anyone else having trouble seeing the photos? Might be me, I'm a bit of a myspace noob...

For those who can see them for some reason a couple of them are un-rotated and I can't seem to fix it - myspace won't let me upload the rotated jpegs. Might have to host them somewhere else... in the meantime please tip your screen to a more jaunty angle

Public viewing means that anyone who has a myspace membership can view them, but ya still gotta be logged into myspace to view. Awsome pics btw. Hope ya all had a ball!

 

[GreyDad]

Public viewing means that anyone who has a myspace membership can view them, but ya still gotta be logged into myspace to view. Awsome pics btw. Hope ya all had a ball!

Got it. Thanks. I'll see if I can move them somewhere more accessible over the weekend.

Sorry some of them are slightly blurred - I was trying to take them with natural lighting only so I didn't blind Tony with incessant camera flashes

 

[bassmonkey]

I had a very enjoyable time. I couldn't stay until the end, though as I had another 50 miles to drive. Tony was a very friendly guy, some great stories and a really good bass player.

Here are some pics:

Oh yeah, I nearly forgot, I also picked up a little something while I was down there.

I've not long got home, so haven't had a chance to play it yet. It looks fantastic though.

 

[Derek]

Looks good guys. How many folks came? Tony is a true gentleman. Always a pleasure
to work with him!

Thanks to Machine Head and Strings n Things for hosting!

DB

 

[roburado]

That's the first time I've seen DaveB smiling in a picture. Congratulations, bassmonkey, on the new bass! Congratulations, DaveB, on the great event!

 

[GreyDad]

Derek, I think there was about 20-30 people there, not all bassists btw - I'm sure DaveB has the exact numbers

Bassmonkey, I know who you are and where you were sitting now I didn't see the ceremony where you got the SR5 but now I know why you left early Well done it's a beauty. I had a fiddle on another 20th at the end of the evening and it was amazing.

Roburado, DaveB was smiling most of the evening

 

[bassmonkey]

Bassmonkey, I know who you are and where you were sitting now I didn't see the ceremony where you got the SR5 but now I know why you left early

No ceremony. I arrived about 645, so fairly early, as I'd driven down from Newcastle. Basically I just grabbed the bass and my girlfriend took a few snaps.

Spent the weekend down south at a wedding, then a night in Islington on Saturday, so I didn't actually get to play it until Sunday evening. Cracking sounding bass.

Where were you sitting?

 

[GreyDad]

I was the grey haired old git with glasses sat right at the front in the middle, same row as you. About as close as I could get to see what TL was doing but unfortunately it meant I got his mike stand right in the middle of most of my pics . You were better placed for taking photo's.

Caught the tone on that 30th SR4 TL was playing, it was just fantastic. Does your 20th SR5 sound like that? I had a quick play on the other 5 unplugged, but not for long as I was too scared I'd drop it or something stupid.

 

[bassmonkey]

Caught the tone on that 30th SR4 TL was playing, it was just fantastic. Does your 20th SR5 sound like that?

Nope, my 30th does though!

I should really start a thread telling how I'm finding the new bass, I've had it a few days so far. Might do it later today, if I get time.

 

[DaveB]

Derek, I think there was about 20-30 people there, not all bassists btw - I'm sure DaveB has the exact numbers

Bassmonkey, I know who you are and where you were sitting now I didn't see the ceremony where you got the SR5 but now I know why you left early Well done it's a beauty. I had a fiddle on another 20th at the end of the evening and it was amazing.

Roburado, DaveB was smiling most of the evening

Dont know where this not smiling thing comes from - though with a guitar in your hand "mean and moody" sometimes works better than "silly grin"

The Priory Barns was quite a large venue and one we hadnt used before - there were 55 punters. I would have hoped for a few more but a) bass events are never as well attended (Sorry guys the six stringers always beat you on this one) b) Whilst I think its admirable that EBMM makes these events free we have found that if people have paid even a nominal amount to get in then they are more likely to attend - I imagine a few people that night had the ""oh well it hasnt cost me anything - I'll not bother" attitude.

What was great was that after the break it became a lot more intimate with people around Tony chatting and getting him to show them stuff - seemed better to let that carry on rather than break it all up for an official "second half".

The raffle on the night raised $350 for the CLB - I'm going to make that up to $500.

I had an email from Tony saying how much he enjoyed talking to everyone.

So once again thanks to all involved.

Dave

 

[jaylegroove]

BTW, how do you get to these clinics ? Are there invits ? How to get them ?

Sorry if my question feels stupid, but clinics here are VERY rare, and I guess I would have gone to TL's in UK if I had known on time.

Thanks
Jay

 

[DaveB]

BTW, how do you get to these clinics ? Are there invits ? How to get them ?

Sorry if my question feels stupid, but clinics here are VERY rare, and I guess I would have gone to TL's in UK if I had known on time.

Thanks
Jay

I advertised the clinic here on the forum, on various online bass forums and newsgroups and of course on my shops website.

You just had to email us for tickets.

Maybe next time.....

Dave

 

[jaylegroove]

Sorry Dave, I guess I missed the announcements. i'll try to give more attention as of now.