Kaiser Bill Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Sunday I went to a jam session in Lake Panasofkee Florida. All classic country with some killer players. I was taken to school a couple times, and a great time and have been asked to come back this Sunday. Thats me with the '69 Tele Thinline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moparguy Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Looks like fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted December 10, 2013 Author Share Posted December 10, 2013 It was a lot of fun. A true test of your playing ability. Several songs I had never heard of before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 That's great, Kaiser Bill! Country players can be awesome! I keep thinking of "The Lovin' Spoonful's" song, "Nashville Cats"..."and anyone that unpacks his guitar, can play twice as better than I will!" lol CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted December 10, 2013 Author Share Posted December 10, 2013 I must be honest...when I walked in the door and looked at the stage, my heart sank. I was thinking the worst. After I heard these guys play,I wanted to join the band. They are some of the finest musicians I've worked with in my 56 years of playing, including some cats from Nashville. Last night I went to another session at a community center. That was a train wreck. I couldn't just walk out the door, so I endured 3 hours of torture. Most of the people thought time was a magazine. Half didn't know what key they sang in... I had to bite my tongue as I have no "filter"...so says my wife. I live in a black and white world...no middle ground. Who shows up with a lyric sheet?? Most of these people have been singing these songs for 50 years. You'd think by now they would know the words!! Maybe its just me...LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted December 16, 2013 Author Share Posted December 16, 2013 Another Sunday... another jam. Not as much fun this week. Lots of "wannabe" players that didn't know how its done. Pity, because it could have been so much fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted December 17, 2013 Author Share Posted December 17, 2013 Tonight I hit another jam session in Brownwood Fl at a City Fire restaurant. This time it was blues and rock, so I dusted off the '03 Les Paul. I had a great time and did two sets with the trio. I was invited to return "anytime" and I just might. Very nice folks, and good musicians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 I must be honest...when I walked in the door and looked at the stage, my heart sank. I was thinking the worst. After I heard these guys play,I wanted to join the band. They are some of the finest musicians I've worked with in my 56 years of playing, including some cats from Nashville. Last night I went to another session at a community center. That was a train wreck. I couldn't just walk out the door, so I endured 3 hours of torture. Most of the people thought time was a magazine. Half didn't know what key they sang in... I had to bite my tongue as I have no "filter"...so says my wife. I live in a black and white world...no middle ground. Who shows up with a lyric sheet?? Most of these people have been singing these songs for 50 years. You'd think by now they would know the words!! Maybe its just me...LOL That's the problem with "open mic" or "jam" night - sometime the players don't come out and you wish you'd stayed home. Other times it's great to have the fresh never played before synergy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted December 18, 2013 Author Share Posted December 18, 2013 Hey Twang... you are right...however Thursday I'll be hitting it again in Oklawaha Fl at an acoustic jam. I'm a glutton for punishment... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 Thursday's so called "acoustic" jam was anything but. Half the people brought amps and electric guitars. The other half brought fiddles and banjos and acoustics. When one person got up to play, everyone played along with him. It was abysmal. I couldn't wait to get out of there. However yesterday back at "Lake Pan" was a great time. Great players for the most part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 "It was abysmal. I couldn't wait to get out of there." well Bill, I hear ya,, why I avoid jams.. some years ago I worked at pretty large technology company with multiple sites in the genearl area. Someone would invariably setup a "JAM" and emails would go out to dozens of players. It wasn't unusual to see 7 or 8 guitar players wailing away at once. Imagine,, 7 guys, all slamming on E chords while the rest of the crew tried to stumble through "road house blues" Oh the humanity... it wasn't for the squeamish. I showed up at one, left my axe in the car, and was glad I did. I left within 20 minutes of the debacle starting I decided "The LAST thing these guys need is ANOTHER guitarist" "Hey,, where ya going" - "Church... it's gotta be better than this" But I gotta say,,, you aint seen nothing till you see a band jam with 3 (count em 3!) bass players.. One main player (who was VERY good) and two "hang oners" (not good) that just decided they'd pickup their guitars and join in and and stat playing when the mood fit. I knew it was gonna be weird when I walked in and saw three bass amps... "What the???" and this was during a BENEFIT!!! "Why can't I hear the Guitars?" "Because they've been out numbered" Most screwed up thing I've ever seen (or heard) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 KId...thats a hoot.. I've seen some really weird stuff in my life but never 3 bass players at once. I have seen 2 drummers, and five electric guitars at once. You did the right thing in booking outta there. I went to a "blues" jam once and the bass player was playing through a television set. Yep...that was his amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 We should drive down to Florida and jam with Kaiser Bill and then tell bl00z jam stories. And drink. A lot. cause man, I got some bl00z jam stories as I'm sure many do. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Can't believe I've missed this thread until now! Great stories from everyone - both the good nights and the bad - and although I almost never feel the slightest twinge of envy I certainly envy KB's frequency of gigging! And a +1 for rct's proposals... P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 KId...thats a hoot.. I've seen some really weird stuff in my life but never 3 bass players at once. I have seen 2 drummers, and five electric guitars at once. You did the right thing in booking outta there. I went to a "blues" jam once and the bass player was playing through a television set. Yep...that was his amp. A TV Set!! Woa.. I guess this gives credence to the advice, don't ever think you've seen it all. +1 with what Rich said too.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZenKen Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 We should drive down to Florida and jam with Kaiser Bill and then tell bl00z jam stories. And drink. A lot. cause man, I got some bl00z jam stories as I'm sure many do. rct On your way pick me up in Bal'more hun. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 Being an old man with not much time left, I am trying a new venue tomorrow (Sunday). There is a place in Ocala Florida where they jam in the park on Sundays. All are welcome. I'm bringing the boss with me to get some shots. What is it they say?? "No photos...it didn't happen". Heres hoping it doesn't rain. Tonight it POURED!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Being an old man with not much time left, I am trying a new venue tomorrow (Sunday). There is a place in Ocala Florida where they jam in the park on Sundays. All are welcome. I'm bringing the boss with me to get some shots. What is it they say?? "No photos...it didn't happen". Heres hoping it doesn't rain. Tonight it POURED!!!!! Shoot, my wife's family live in Ocala. Next time we are over I'll have to check out this Sunday jam! Let me know how it was and which park it was in, Bill. I'm always up for getting schooled by some old guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 The only decent jam around here is blueberry. They have bluegrass jams though, where they have like ten lousy fiddlers all sawing away at some note that they can't quite find. I played with some people and I'm trying to pick a few melody lines over the tune while some autoharp lady is telling me the chords I already figured out. "Cee....... Dee...... Cee...... Gee....." Sheesh!! No wonder all the dogs die young around here. They have to listen to that stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 You know...sometimes it's just better to "call it day," and play at home, rather than at some "jam" or "open mic" night. If eveyone is a "little" better than you, it's ok, as you can probably keep up, well enough, etc. But, if they're WAY better than you, it's best (IMHO) to lay out, and watch and learn, as opposed to trying to "fit in," and bringing the whole vibe down. But, alas, LOTS of people don't think like that. And, because real "jams/open mic nights" are SO RARE, around these parts, EVERYONE that owns any kind of instrument shows up, whether they can play, or not. So, that can be "different"=frightening , as well. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 They have bluegrass jams though, where they have like ten lousy fiddlers all sawing away at some note that they can't quite find. KRIST I laughed hard. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted January 13, 2014 Author Share Posted January 13, 2014 rct...no laughing matter, its true...LOL...I went to yet another jam today at Jervey Gantt park in Ocala, and that was pretty much the scenario. This is definitely in my top ten of worst player gatherings. After about 6 tunes I had to leave. It was absolutely unbelievable that nobody could keep time. Three guitars from Wal*Mart, one Fender and one Epiphone. One guy with a fiddle and one with an electric mandolin. It was brutal. (Tuning optional) Who brings lyrics to songs they've sung for 60 years??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Oh I know its true Bill. I've been to far more than my share of bad evenings out at the jam. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted January 13, 2014 Author Share Posted January 13, 2014 Maybe there should be a support group for us...LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 Well, I've had a lucky life. I played in bands in bars on up until I was mid 40's. Ten years later, I wouldn't go back to that for anything. My little piece of the basement we call my studio is my support, along with places like this where we can talk about guitars and stuff. I admire you for still trying, but I don't envy you at all. It isn't easy to deal with that. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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