Richard's Bass Bag 2

Hi, we're back!

2012-01-27T08:23:00.002+13:00

Christmas is over and the new year is upon us. Richard(of RBB) has asked us to keep this blog up to date. We will.

A wet old day in Welling Town.

2011-11-10T10:48:00.000+13:00

Lots of rain, and it's cold.

We're getting behind the black poster!

2011-10-29T08:19:00.000+13:00

See you at the gig...

Cold!!!

2011-09-05T06:16:00.000+12:00

Bit of a frost in Nuova Lazio this morning. The sun is just beginning to rise. Thank heavens for heaters!

Time to wind things up at RBB2!

2011-09-04T08:23:00.000+12:00

No, I don't mean we're quitting. By 'wind things up' I mean that we're going to be stepping up the regularity of our posting. We'll also be featuring guest spots by other bloggers. We aim to make RBB2 your first port of call when you leave 'the bus depot' (RBB1).

Angry Jesus' spell is broken!

2011-06-21T17:55:00.002+12:00

In a galaxy far, far away a little thread topped 100,000 views - enough to break Angry Jesus' hold on the Richard's Bass Bag Franchise.
We are back in business!

Angry Jesus here.

2011-06-20T16:35:00.000+12:00

Second Fiddle left this comment on Richard's Bass Bag,
"Maybe this blog needs an exorcism."
For insulting The Son of God, I've decided to take it out on Richard (of RBB). Now I'll only let him comment on Richard's Bass Bag 3!*

*the Siberia of Bass Bags

Another week begins.

2011-06-20T05:14:00.001+12:00

Senior reports to do this week - damn, I need to be in at school by 6. Still, I didn't waste my Sunday doing them.
I've just popped over to TSB's blog to see that he's celebrating 100,000 views! How does he do it? He certainly out paced RBB(1); though things aren't helped by Angry Jesus not permitting posting on that blog. Still, congratulations where they are deserved...
TSB blogs in a class of his own (no teaching pun intended).
Shelley and I went into town for a walk yesterday as it was too wet to walk in Nuova Lazio. We slipped into at Irish bar for a solitary chardonnay.
Ma'a Nonu was there having a few beers with some friends; they were singing loudly when we left. Ma'a played his last game for the Hurricanes on Saturday. What a shame. I hope he got home safely and went straight to bed.

Good morning from Richard's Bass Bag 2.

2011-06-19T08:38:00.004+12:00

I stepped up the bass practice yesterday - I think it's true that you need to put in more than an hour to really start seeing results. I'm back working on my repertoire and trying to take it to the next level. I can play my repertoire solo, or with others. I have eleven tunes, so it takes a bit of practising.

The repertoire list is:
Autumn Leaves; Bill Bailey; Black Orpheus; Bye Bye Blackbird; Maria, Mari; My Gentle Giant; Shelley, My Dear; Stella By Starlight; Sweet Georgia Brown; Torna A Surriento; and The Immigrants.
"Shelley, My Dear" is a new one, designed to replace "Sally Goodin'". I found that "Sally" only really contained the Sally theme, but the rest of it was all original ideas, so I thought,
"Why not make it totally my own?"

I have to see Aunty and Uncle Ian this adfternoon. I visit them every weekend. They enjoy a drive around Wellington. It can't be much fun in an old people's home. Uncle Ian isn't looking that good, but he soldiers on. Aunty has a similar walking style to Sonny Rollins.

They both walk stooped over.
Though, obviously, Sonny plays the saxophone better than Aunty.

Well, there's my post for this morning. I hope you're not having trouble finding me on RBB2. RBB(1) is still locked up by Angry Jesus. I don't know how long he intends to lock me out for. Ah well, it makes a change to be here.
Enjoy your Sunday.

Hi

2011-06-18T15:35:00.000+12:00

I'm posting here because Angry Jesus won't allow me to post on Richard's Bass Bag (1). He never thought about the fact that there are three Richard's Bass Bags! Point to me! You can read me here and on Richard's Bass Bag 3.

Good morning.

2011-05-27T06:11:00.002+12:00

Sorry I haven't updated this blog for a while.
Doesn't time fly!
Here's a more recent picture of me playing.

I'll update again soon.

It's too darn hot!

2011-01-18T17:58:00.002+13:00

There's supposed to be a storm passing over Wellington soon. Presently it is hot and humid. Bass strings get sticky when it is humid. I'm off to play through my solo repertoire soon. I have ten tunes in my solo repertoire and it takes roughly fifty minutes to play them all.

How's it going out there?

2011-01-18T06:53:00.002+13:00

Sorry this blog has been a bit slow lately. That's about to change.

and exciting posts coming!

Another picture of me with my bass.

2010-09-18T13:24:00.000+12:00

This bass is called "The Gloria".

Late Sunday...

2010-08-15T17:06:00.000+12:00

and not much to report.

Friday is basically a good day for everybody.

2010-07-16T12:20:00.002+12:00

Even if you're working, there is the promise of Saturday.
I think that even people who work on Saturday still like it.
And, as for Saturday night...
Everybody Loves Saturday Night
Ev'rybody loves Saturday night.
Ev'rybody loves saturday night.
Ev'rybody, ev'rybody, ev'rybody. ev'rybody,
Ev'rybody loves Saturday night.

(Nigeria:)
Bobo waro fero Satodeh,
Bobo waro fero satodeh,
Bobowaro, bobowaro, bobowaro, bobowaro,
Bobowaro fero Satodeh.

(France:)
Tout le monde aime Samedi soir.

(China:)
Ren ten si huan li pai lu.

(Russia:)
Vsiem nravitsa sabbota vietcheram.

(Czechoslovakia:)
Razhdi ma rad sabotu vietcher.

(Spanish:)
A todos les gusta la noche del Sabado.

(Yiddish:)
Jeder eyne hot lieb Shabas ba nacht.

(Italian:)
Tutti ama Sabato sera.

(German:)
Eider man hat dem Samstag abend.

(Portugese:)
Todas gostan dos Sabados noite.

(Danish:)
Alle elsker Lordag asften.

(Norwegian:)
Alle elsker Lordag kveld.

Got asked to join another band today.

2010-06-26T15:38:00.002+12:00

It's called Dixie Lix. That'll mean I'm in five bands.

Now the gigs are flowing in!

2010-05-22T09:27:00.002+12:00

I've now got upcoming gigs with four different outfits:
Swing Shift, Swing Reverie, Tandrom Trio and Helen Dorothy.
They start happening in June. You can catch me at Ruby Lounge on the first
Friday (4th), or at the Levin Folk Club on the 11th. From 18th I'll be at the Museum Hotel from about 5.30pm - and then on every second Friday. On Labour Weekend I'll be at the National Folk Festival at Brookfield Camp, Wainuiomata.
Here's to some good gigging and long arco solos!

Don't forget to...

2010-05-16T08:03:00.001+12:00

check out Richard's Bass Bag.

So...

2010-05-11T17:20:00.000+12:00

How much practice did you do today?
What do you mean, you don't play the double bass?

Tuesday Update.

2010-04-13T06:49:00.004+12:00

I hope this post finds you all well.

Isn't sneezing a funny thing! I often have to sneeze if I look at a light, or the sky. Some people use tissues - I'm a handkerchief man myself - and some people sort of sneeze into their hand, and then wipe it on something, I suppose.

I've always carried a handkerchief, ever since I was little. I can't see myself changing now. Sneezing is quite pleasurable, especially when one is prepared with one's handkerchief, or a tissue. Most bodily functions are pleasant enough - when you're ready for them to happen. Vomiting would probably be the exception, though it's not natural for food to come back out your mouth.

I'm off to school today - Nuova Lazio High. I'll do a bit of a tidy up in my department, before starting work on some paper work.

Enjoy your Tuesday. People don't often say that about Tuesday,
"Enjoy your Tuesday."
Tuesday is really like someone standing in a crowd, or an extra on a movie set - it just doesn't stand out like Friday, Saturday, or even Monday.

This has not been my most riveting post, probably because it's Tuesday, I suppose.
Bye for now.

Chasing a Gig.

2010-03-14T15:53:00.004+13:00

I need to get my music out there - I'm talking about my double bass repertoire with guitar accompaniment.
Problem no. 1 - I can't find a guitarist to play with. I've put up adds in music shops and approached an ex-student. No replies from the music shops, nor the ex-student who said he was keen but I don't think he's taken the time to look at the charts I gave him. There are a couple of guitarists I know who would probably help me out, but they both tend to have other commitments.
Problem no. 2 - finding somewhere to play that will be the right kind of venue for my music. Maybe I should organise little suburban concerts in local halls?

Maybe I should do some solo busking? Apart from the prospect being a little scary, this appears to be my best short term option. I watched a couple of young guys busking on Saturday. They had a tenor sax and a double bass. The bass player wore dark shades that reminded me of Thelonius Monk's. I thought I could hide behind a set of sunglasses. I wouldn't wear them to look cool (I don't think that's really going to happen) but just as a sort of protective dome. I'd get ones with coloured rims, like the young bassist had.

Moving on with exciting posts.

2010-03-13T09:29:00.002+13:00

Sorry that this blog has been a bit stationary lately. Some interesting posts are on the way.

Old bass, pretty bass bag.

2010-02-05T06:34:00.004+13:00

I was told that the bass in this picture was three hundred years old. Shelley was more taken by the bass bag, and the owner's other one that was pink. She suggested to him that they needed frills to finish them off. He didn't really understand her joke because English was not his main language. The frills thing would have been too hard to explain, so I left it. Ah, bass camp!

It's too darn hot!

2010-01-28T16:02:00.003+13:00

I'm talking about the weather - it feels like we're in the middle of a heatwave!

Only one more sleep now before Bass Camp. Unfortunately I've got to pop into work tomorrow morning, but then we'll be on the road - The Gloria*, Shelley and Richard (of RBB).

*My bass

Play with integrity.

2010-01-25T08:25:00.003+13:00

There is a lot to be learnt from watching this.
Both players are great, but the bass guitarist is something special. I've watched it a hundred times, and watched other videos of these two players. Do we still call them videos? The bass guitarist is Dario Deidda and I just find his playing very musical - how I would like to sound. One lesson for me is that you don't need to have 'show pieces', pieces with clever technical things, in your repertoire - you just need to work on playing musically, making the music the best you can. Dario makes great note choices and plays with really nice phrasing. Because of him, I've dropped all the "showy" pieces from my bass guitar repertoire and am working on playing a few standards with integrity. Thanks Dario for the inspiration.

Time to rebuild that bass guitar repertoire.

2010-01-21T06:54:00.002+13:00

The bass guitar is a convenient instrument to take to a blackboard concert, mainly because of its size. I'm putting a bass guitar repertoire back together, mainly for this purpose.

My hand is now usable, though still a bit sore at times. Time for some bass guitar practice, methinks.
So long for now.

Happy Anniversary!

2010-01-19T06:26:00.006+13:00

Today is the two week anniversary of hurting my hand.

Actually, it's not an anniversary because I'm pretty sure that an anniversary marks an annual event. I suppose it's really my second weekiversary.
Bass Camp 10 is now less than two weeks away. I wonder if Dave Shaw is practising as much as me? He's probably a natural and just plays; or that's what he thinks. I wonder why a bass player would choose to live in Dunedin? Wouldn't there be more work further north? Well, Dave is a reading musician. I guess you can only play in one orchestra at a time. I'm sure Dave could manage two though. It must get a bit boring playing other people's notes all the time. I suppose that, when no one is listening, orchestral musicians probably tinker around on their instruments and make little things up. I've always admired Classical musicians for their accuracy and good technique but, in my heart, I've never really wanted to be one.

Playing an improvised solo is like telling people about yourself - well, it is when you are on top of your game and playing intuitively. Yes, that's the road for me.

It's got no frets!

2010-01-16T09:02:00.005+13:00

I played at a blackboard concert in December where there were a lot of guitarists, bass guitarists and singers. Although these people were musicians, some found my double bass to be an unusual beast. One lady wondered about the absence of frets. She asked a friend,
"How do you know where to put your fingers on an instrument with no frets?"
The guitar is a very popular instrument in our society, so popular, in fact, that I've often heard this line,
"Yes, I can play all the instruments - guitar, bass guitar and drums."

These people desperately need to go and see an orchestra play, or check out a jazz big band, or watch a string quartet, or a brass band.

Friday.

2010-01-15T08:15:00.001+13:00

It's Friday. Ah, but you probably already knew that. Carry on then.

Yes, there is room at the inn.

2010-01-13T08:33:00.004+13:00

It's sad to see that things are not all they could be between Richard's Bass Bag and Richard's Bass Bag 3. It's times like this when you, dear reader, need a safe haven.
Well, here's the good news, you've found it right here at Richard's Bass Bag 2!
Take time to peruse some of our older posts - go on, make yourself at home. I think you'll find that Richard's Bass Bag 2 is the home of quality.

This has been a personal message to you from Richard (of RBB2).

Another day, another post.

2010-01-08T07:29:00.009+13:00

You sit down and you click on New Post, then you wait.
"What can I say?" you think to yourself, "Weather?"
You automatically look at the closed curtains and listen for sounds. Really, though, the rays tell it all. It's probably a reasonable day out there. You wonder if Pete is up yet and dancing around the sites, a snide comment or two under his arm. Young parents are up by now too. John-Paul is staying at a beach somewhere, probably planning but unable to chip in today. Most people don't post every day. You check, but there's nothing new. So, what drives you to be near the computer, to be recording? Is it destiny? Will this rant change a soul's journey? No; no more than a ripple in a pond changes the finite universe. Anyway, what have you got to say? God man, you're thinking about the weather!

Ouch!

2010-01-06T07:44:00.004+13:00

I mowed the lawns yesterday. Our lawn mower is showing signs of wear - the blade fell off just after I cut the final pocket of grass resistance; but this post isn't about the blade. The handle on the lawn mower is a bit insecure and is only really held well on one side. I was cutting on an angle and hit a small pot hole. The handle swung under the pressure and wacked my left hand. It's quite sore, the problem area being my little finger. It's probably sprained - there is pain when I move the finger next to it too. I think it comes from forcing movement from its little buddy. This is not good for bass playing. I haven't practised since the accident, but I'm hoping I'll still be able to play, albeit with a bit of pain. Bass Camp 10 is on the horizon. Any sensible person would give it a couple of days to better. Not me though, I'm a bass player.

Practice Log...

2010-01-04T08:46:00.003+13:00

Stardate 4/1/10.

All is quiet here this morning. Many blogs seem to have quietened down as people head off on holiday. Richard's Bass Bag 2 will be posting right through January, so don't feel lonely if you're stuck at home.
We've had very erratic weather in these parts, with very strong winds. When someone gets to talking about the weather, it's often because they have nothing else to
say - think about what gets talked about at a petrol station, or to a supermarket checkout attendant. Please let me assure you that this is not the case here. I was merely giving you an overall feel for what life is like here, in this place, this morning. Did you like the 'stardate' thing I did at the start? It just came to me - adds a bit of class, I think. I haven't seen most of the Star Trek movies, but I used to watch the old TV show.
In one sense we're all travellers through the stars; yes, I know, that's a bit deep for a Monday morning. Look, I'll be honest with you, the ideas aren't exactly flowing this morning. It's not that I have writer's block, it's just that there really isn't much to say. I'm also trying not to duplicate what was was said on Richard's Bass Bag (1). Maybe I should just go?
Maybe I'll leave it there for today.

Commonly used words when talking about double basses.

2010-01-03T08:11:00.002+13:00

Now that there are three Richard's Bass Bags, we've got a bit of healthy competition going to attract you, dear reader.

Here are some commonly used words that are associated with the double bass. We at Richard's Bass Bag 2 hope that you enjoy them.

bow - strings - f holes - rosin - end pin - spruce - scroll - bass bag - bass stool - bridge - low note - thumb position

Now there are three of us!

2010-01-02T09:33:00.002+13:00

Richard's Bass Bag, Richard's Bass Bag 2, Richard's Bass Bag 3. Three bass bags - similar in name, but really so different. I envy you, oh read, for the wonderful choice that you now have!
Here, at Richard's Bass Bag 2, we'll be asking some thought provoking questions. We'll also be keeping you updated on interesting things.
The world of bass bagging just got better by a third!

Jan 31st.

2009-12-31T07:55:00.003+13:00

New Year's Eve, the end of a year. A time to reflect. Like a mirror, or a puddle. Yes, puddles do reflect sometimes. It's a time when people think about making things better next year:
lose weight, eat less (those two sort of go together), get fit (that one too), be more successful.
Generally little actually changes once old man reality returns in about week two of January. Still, it's good that people make the effort.
I'm intending to have a very quiet New Year's Eve. In past years we've gone into Wellington, to be greeted by crowds who are intent on squeezing out every last drop from a good time. Well, I'm past that. Too old to be touched by the significance of a roll over of dates.
I enjoy starting a new practice diary though. My new diary is ready. In 2003 I did 433 hours and 20 minutes of practice. I read somewhere that, to be world class as a musician, you need to do 10,000 hours of practice. Well, between 2003 and 2008 I did 2,154 hours and 35 minutes. I don't know how much practice I did before 2003. Probably, between 1993 and 2002, I did about 3,000 hours. Before 1993 I would have racked up a few hours. I started playing bass in 1975 (I won't count practice on other instruments - violin, trumpet, clarinet, guitar). Between 1975 and 1993 (about 19 years), even if I practised 80 hours per year, that would be 1520 hours - I didn't do as much practice at that time.
If my figures are accurate, I've done 6,670 hours. About 3,330 to go. At my present speed, that's about another ten or eleven, or twelve years. Oh, well, I always tell people that my plan is to 'have it all down 'by age 75. Who knows, I might get there a couple of years early.
Happy New Year and keep that practice up.

This blog will rise to new heights in 2010.

2009-12-28T13:05:00.001+13:00

A random happy picture.

2009-12-19T09:28:00.001+13:00

Have yourself a merry little Christmas.

2009-12-07T06:36:00.002+13:00

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

So, which is your favourite bass bag?

2009-11-11T17:23:00.002+13:00

Are you one of those traditionalists who can't see beyond Richard's Bass Bag, or are you a young, energetic metrosexual who longs for the experience that a blog site like Richard's Bass Bag 2 can offer? One thing's for sure, we all enjoy a bass bag night at home catching up with the latest info and the fascinating posts. Thanks to Richard's Bass Bag AND Richard's Bass Bag 2 for making many lives just that little bit special!

List your favourite bassists...

2009-09-26T08:39:00.003+12:00

Okay, here's a chance, use the 'comments' section of this post to list your favourite bassists.

Last day of school!

2009-09-25T07:06:00.001+12:00

Monday morning.

2009-08-17T06:35:00.004+12:00

No jamming or gigs last weekend. I did, however, go and see my neice play a short concert. She is not long back from a 'Fly My Pretties' tour and seems to be making quite a name for herself - I watched her on TV (C4) the night before.
Most of the family turned up to the concert and the place was packed.

I don't like Monday morning - probably no one who has the weekend off does.
Monday morning is a bad hangover. Monday morning is getting bad news that you already knew about, but you really didn't realise just how bad it would be. For Comeinyourpants, I think Monday morning happens on Wednesday. He'd wake up and see picture frames that he should have finished last week. Picture frames, and little nails spilling onto the floor.
And people complaining,
"This frame doesn't look straight!"
But, at least, he'll be feeling peaceful this morning, because it's not his Monday morning yet. Lucky moaning old bugger!

Re - The Jam

2009-08-10T07:05:00.002+12:00

I played for three hours solid, without a break! The hands held up well. It seems there's still a bit of stamina in this old double bass player!

ps. The photo is an old one and not from the jam. Sorry, but it adds a bit of colour.

Jam tomorrow.

2009-08-08T21:28:00.003+12:00

There's a sort of Folk/Cajun/acoustic/Texan jam on at a cafe called Mojo and I've been invited back after turning up last month. I guess they liked my playing - maybe they just liked having a double bass.

To musicians a jam generally means that people turn up with instruments and play along to some tune that someone has called. Bass players don't generally get to call tunes at jams, but the fun part is trying to make a tune, that you often haven't heard before, sound good. You need to be listening carefully. I also cheat and watch the hands of the guitarist who is singing the song (at jams like the one tomorrow there will be a lot of them). I know all their chord shapes, so it's pretty easy to follow along.
The word 'jam' means slightly different things in different types of music. Jazz jams generally involve playing standard tunes. Though I read a story about Dizzy Gillespie taking a bass player up to the roof of a building before a jam to show him some changes (a chord progression) that would probably trip other musicians up! Folk/Cajun/acoustic/Texan jams generally involve individuals leading with songs that they know personally - they normally choose songs that aren't too hard for the rest of the musicians to pick up.
Traditionally Rock jams often involved a Dm7 - G7 type of progression or a 12 bar blues. Modern Rock jams seem to involve playing over well known Rock tunes.

Tomorrow's jam is scheduled to last for three hours. That's a long 'blow' for a pizzicato unamplified double bassist, but I've been building up some stamina.
I'll also have my bow close buy so that I can rip off a solo or two.

I'm back from the folk club gig.

2009-07-26T23:31:00.003+12:00

All seemed to go well. People said they really liked my playing. What more can I say?
The car ran well. It was chilly in Wellington, but warm at the concert. My black bass bag looked smart.

Bass time cut back.

2009-07-26T11:17:00.002+12:00

I'm playing at Acoustic Routes tonight (Wellington Folk Club). I'm backing a couple of people and playing a solo set. I received an email from the organiser last night asking me to cut my solo spot from 15 min to 10 min, so that she could fit someone else in (probably a friend). I said okay, but it is a bit of a disappointment to get one's plans upset so late. Solo sets just don't come out of the sky, they are practised for a considerable time. Never mind.

God bless the bass bag! Well, when I say 'God' I'm not talking literally.

2009-07-16T15:47:00.002+12:00

Come to think of it, I don't know why I brought God into this.
I see that Akish (TP) has set up his own blog and he is supposed to be fronting Richard's Bass Bag. On Richard's Bass Bag 2 we've got some posts coming up on politics and there will be more information on what wines to buy. There will also be a post or two on where Christianity went wrong and we'll try to cover a bit of fashion as well. Of course, this is still the site to come and pick up info on what's happening in the bass world. Really, when you think about it, there's not much reason to visit other sites.
Except, of course, Richard's Bass Bag.

And would you like finite with that, sir?

2009-07-12T09:00:00.004+12:00

What, essentially, is the difference between a finite and an infinite universe?
A finite universe allows there to be other things beyond the universe, which is probably a fairer universe - the infinite universe wants to grab everything.

So, what are the other things that exist beyond the finite universe?
There are lots of things.

Con and Dom face up to a few issues. Part 1.

2009-07-09T16:54:00.002+12:00

On a planet, on one side of the finite universe, there were two friends, Con and Dom, who seemed to draw an almost elastic strength from each other. They boasted that they feared nothing and that they bowed to no other living person; at least in their part of the finite universe.
Their feeling of strength enabled them to lead very successful lives. Both lived in substantial houses and were surrounded by loving families and friends - for who couldn't be attracted by two such charismatically successful individuals?
One day Con was going about his daily business when he had a terrifying thought... one day, not now but, hopefully, far into the future, he would die. Suddenly he came face to face with his own mortality. All that he had acquired would be taken from him on the day of his death. He would be given no say in the matter!
His first instinct was to text Dom (yes, bloody 'txting' is rampant everywhere in the finite universe) for, after all, their strength was something that they had always shared.

Step out of that zone, brother.

2009-07-09T08:28:00.004+12:00

I went to a Buddhist chanting session yesterday. It's good to get out of your comfort zone once in a while. As I drove home, I tried to evaluate the experience. The guy, whose house it was, had his wife and baby present at the chanting. The little one did what all little ones do... he crawled around, tried to touch the heater, wriggled when people held him, threw up on a lady's bag.
For some reason I asked myself,
"Richard (of RBB), would your own children have benefited if you had exposed them to Buddhism when they were young?"
I believe they certainly would have.
Any philosophy that preaches respect for our environment and non violence is desperately needed close to our hearts.

Hi all, it's Wednesday.

2009-07-08T08:52:00.002+12:00

Hi all, it's Wednesday and I'm still on holiday. I'm off to try some chanting this morning with a Buddhist friend - that's not to say that I'm going to become one, I just thought it could be a good experience. I like being on holiday. I did some good practice yesterday and have a rehearsal with a singer this afternoon. I hope you're all enjoying being at work. Don't worry if you're feeling a bit stressed, I'll chant for you this morning.

Liquid Food Inc.

2009-07-05T09:51:00.002+12:00

Roast Lamb, it's a funny tasting drink, even though it tastes mostly of meat fat. Sometimes Terry found it hard to distinguish between Roast Lamb and the Veal milkshake, but he did, after all, want his restaurant to be unique. Terry's restaurant was divided into two areas, smoking and non smoking. To get around Point Chevy's smoking laws, the smoking section could be exposed to the elements - it's canvas walls, on two sides, could easily be removed and, at any rate, they were by no means totally weather proof. The restaurant was called "Liquid Food Inc." and everything that the restaurant served was in liquid form.
The Bar Nibbles entree was unusual, to say the least. Perhaps it is the crunchy bite that gives bar nibbles their satisfying taste experience? The taste of the liquid version was hard to describe. Milk had been added in an attempt to stop the concoction sticking behind customers' teeth and the end result was that it tasted a little like porridge. Terry filled the role of maitre d' and he enjoyed keeping an eye on the patrons, even though his personal style mostly came across as brisk. On most nights the non smoking section seemed more subdued than the smoking section, and people in the non smoking section were more inclined to question the wisdom of serving some dishes in liquid form.
"Yes, I'll have the roast lamb. Would it be possible to not have them liquefied?"
"But, all our food is served in liquid form. That's why the restaurant is called Liquid Food Incorporated."
"But, isn't it all about what the customer wants?"
"Look, we do liquid food. If you want mashed potatoes and to pick around bones, try somewhere else!"
Terry got away with being single minded because this was, after all, his restaurant. Anyway, people respected the reputation he had established during his long career as a chef.

Most of the regular customers sat in the smoking section. It is easier, and somehow more enjoyable, to drink while smoking - the combination feels far more natural to smokers than dealing with smoke and solids at the same time. Terry, in his endeavour to present the dining public with something a little different, had inadvertently hit on the perfect restaurant for nicotine addicts.

The smokers tended to be more Terry's type of people, even though he had never indulged in the habit himself. They seemed to have a propensity to enjoy life more than their non smoking counterparts - they drank more wine and ordered more 'soup', as some jokingly referred to the food. Perhaps they felt a need to squeeze more enjoyment into their artificially shortened lives? Maybe people who smoke are just more fun? Who knows?

Saturday Afternoon.

2009-07-04T14:01:00.003+12:00

Ah, it's great to be able to write on two Bass Bags!
It's a cold old day and I'm doing some double bass practice. I intend to have a mammouth practice day on Monday. I'll do six hours, all going to plan.

I'm looking on this day as being like a religious retreat. I will attempt to become one with my double bass, to block out any distractions and to only hear the bass.

Monday 6th July - double bass day.

Welcome to Richard's Bass Bag 2.

2009-07-04T11:50:00.002+12:00

Why a second Bass Bag? We, at Richard's Bass Bag, have seen the need, for a while, for a second site that can bring you the posts you all love. Sometimes there's just not room at Richard's Bass Bag to post everything, so we've set up Richard's Bass Bag 2. Enjoy.