Bill Kirchen last night in the UK, with PeterUK!

[PeterUK]

Originally Posted by Steve G

Sorry it turned out this way for you Peter.

The music business is indeed a perilous one!

Testament to Bill that he put a great show on despite the small crowd, no recompense to you of course though!

Steve

Despite the above I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The highlight for me was seeing my daughter, Phoebe, play a set of original songs. She's 15 years old!

And it was good to be playing again.

Peter

[musicalmartin]

Its good that pubs still play live music .Way back on the day my friends and I strolled into a pub at Leytonstone in London and the Animals were playing .They were a chart topping at the time with House.
At that time I lived in Fairlop
Essex.A bit nearer the action most of the time than Norfolk though Norwich had many great bands play in the 60's I am told.
Sad you lost money .If i had gone to Nottingham it would have cost me quite a chunk of that for the gas and hotel bill.

[Tony474]

I'm sorry I missed that one. I know West Bridgford as family members used to live there and I wouldn't have minded the 200-odd mile round trip - but sadly (and believe me, I do mean sadly...but that's my problem) I was gigging last night.

Unfortunately, although Oxford's within reasonable reach, I can't make tonight's gig either.

Oh, bum! Next time, I hope.

[Steve G]

Originally Posted by PeterUK

Steve

Despite the above I thoroughly enjoyed the evening. The highlight for me was seeing my daughter, Phoebe, play a set of original songs. She's 15 years old!

And it was good to be playing again.

Peter

Great when the young uns share your interests. My lad is three and still showing no signs!

[VicAjax]

sorry about the turnout guys... bummer. i love that Bill was playing his Rick Kelly pine tele, though.

did you get a chance to check it out?

[Steve G]

Yeah he let us check it out and give it a little strum and everything.

Someone should tell him he's a honky tonk god and has no right to be so nice to us mortals!

[Big John]

Has anyone in the history of everything ever seen a BK gig and not come away feeling a better person for the experience ?

[Steve G]

I think he may be the Dalai Lama of the tele. The telai lama.

[PeterUK]

Originally Posted by Steve G

Great when the young uns share your interests. My lad is three and still showing no signs!

Give him time!

Originally Posted by VicAjax

i love that Bill was playing his Rick Kelly pine tele, though.

did you get a chance to check it out?

It's SOOOOOOO light. My Pinecaster is light but feels like a sumo compared to Bill's.

Originally Posted by Steve G

Yeah he let us check it out and give it a little strum and everything.

Someone should tell him he's a honky tonk god and has no right to be so nice to us mortals!

Were you amazed at the weight Steve?

Originally Posted by Big John

Has anyone in the history of everything ever seen a BK gig and not come away feeling a better person for the experience ?

Even though was p*ssed off at the poor turnout, he was very gracious, highly entertaining and, yes, I felt better for the experience.

Originally Posted by Steve G

I think he may be the Dalai Lama of the tele. The telai lama.

Excellent! The "Telai Lama". Love it!

Peter

[Steve G]

Yes, I was amazed at the weight. Is pine inherently light or was it just that piece of pine in particular?

[davechen]

Very cool! I saw him play here in Maryland last year. Very fun show. I thought about bringing my tele to get it signed but chickened out.

[PeterUK]

Originally Posted by Steve G

Yes, I was amazed at the weight. Is pine inherently light or was it just that piece of pine in particular?

I'm not an expert on timber (or a promoter) but it depends of the type of pine.

I bought a long 1-piece slab from a timber reclaimer near Bolton and each of the four 1-piece bodies weighed in at less than 3.5lbs.

Bill's doesn't have a truss rod - just that HUGE one piece [pine?] neck - so even the neck is lighter!

And did you notice the bridge is a Peavey bridge!

No Bardens anymore either. He plays Don Mares and I've said it before, I prefer Bill's current tone.



Peter

[Suttykins]

I caught him in Leeds on Thursday, it was an incredible night.

My girlfriend got some great gear shots and action shots of him playing so I think I'm going to post a thread here and do a full write up on my Blog when I get a chance.

[Steve G]

Please do Suttykins!

[VicAjax]

Originally Posted by Steve G

Yes, I was amazed at the weight. Is pine inherently light or was it just that piece of pine in particular?

Originally Posted by PeterUK

I'm not an expert on timber (or a promoter) but it depends of the type of pine.

I bought a long 1-piece slab from a timber reclaimer near Bolton and each of the four 1-piece bodies weighed in at less than 3.5lbs.

Bill's doesn't have a truss rod - just that HUGE one piece [pine?] neck - so even the neck is lighter!

yeah, i think it depends on the pine. my Rick Kelly pine (with a trussless fir neck) is about 7.5 lbs... so about average, i'd say, for a tele.

i think most of Rick's teles made from the Bowery Bros. Hotel pine are a lot lighter, though.

Rick also says the trussless pine necks are super resonant.

[Steve G]

Originally Posted by PeterUK

I'm not an expert on timber (or a promoter) but it depends of the type of pine.

I bought a long 1-piece slab from a timber reclaimer near Bolton and each of the four 1-piece bodies weighed in at less than 3.5lbs.

Bill's doesn't have a truss rod - just that HUGE one piece [pine?] neck - so even the neck is lighter!

And did you notice the bridge is a Peavey bridge!

No Bardens anymore either. He plays Don Mares and I've said it before, I prefer Bill's current tone.

Peter

Interesting stuff peter. Yes he sounded just fine to me!

[Sooper8]

Originally Posted by Steve G

Who is he playing with Sooper? Just his own band or one of those revue things?

The Animals...although who or what 'the Animals' are nowadays is anyone's guess.

But Steve gets top bill, so maybe he does a slot within the set or something, I really don't know.

Still kicking myself that I missed out on Booker T and the MG's down in Devon about 10 years ago, when I was on holiday.

[PeterUK]

Originally Posted by VicAjax

yeah, i think it depends on the pine. my Rick Kelly pine (with a trussless fir neck) is about 7.5 lbs... so about average, i'd say, for a tele.

i think most of Rick's teles made from the Bowery Bros. Hotel pine are a lot lighter, though.

Rick also says the trussless pine necks are super resonant.

My Pincaster is about 6lbs but Bill's made mine feel like a Les Paul.

Originally Posted by Steve G

Interesting stuff peter. Yes he sounded just fine to me!

Steve. Let me know when and where you're gigging and I'll reciprocate and come and see you. I'll bring my Pinecaster along too.

Peter

[Steve G]

Cheers Peter! I cant promise 1/10th of the entertainment of seeing Bill but would be nice to meet up again sometime.

[birv2]

Though I'm mainly a blues guy, I attended a clinic with Bill here in PA, and was blown away. Just a fantastic player and a truly great person to boot. The tele lama indeed!