My First Band

[brian]

Thats a Great story about Skip !! He loved to PARTY !! RIP SKIP .... . Bobby O'Donnell & Enzo Smith of the 'Dead End Kids' and the 'Nomads' joined forces in a two piece band called 'Gemini'..... a lot of talent ! I saw 'Private Lightning' around '84...... Loved the female Violin player......just bought their album on CD........enjoyed the song about Mark Parentau "Christopher Sky is the afternoon DJ on rock and roll radio'.........Bobby O'Donnell of the 'Dead End Kids' now has a band called "The Bobby O Band', and plays often at the 'Snug' in Hingham Centre......... ;D

[2bsticks]

Brian, thanks for sharing this site with me. I just read lots of the stories (MFB) Some of these bands and names do bring back many memories.

My name is Pete and I play drums. My uncle Jim Cox RIP owned The Cove or Broad Cove in the way back years. I started going there at 14 and helped my cousin in the coat room. That was the place I heard my first live band. The Druids with Al Dotoli on Bass.
Bands I remember hearing there:
The Chessman, The Stepping Stones, Eddies New Breed, Pineapple Pillow, The Travelles, The Myst (Skip Tuttle, sold me my first hit of acid) The Cascades, The Tradition (later to be known as Lewis & Clark Expedition, Second Society So many more I can't remember. My first band Sound Plus played The Cove, thanks Uncle Jim, we were not too good but I had connections :-)

I was also a regular at The Surf and befriended the late and great Bobby Chouinard RIP from Utopia and then to The Counts. I remember The Techniques, Formation, and a whole slew of bands that Played there. Bobby Chouinard went on to great success with Billy Squire. He was offered many gigs back in the early 70's and if he was unable to do a gig he would pass my name on and I was able to land a few good gigs. I will forever be thankful to him.

If you use Face-book there is going to be a bit of a reunion at the old Surf location, now a hotel. Randy Sorenson (Formation) is putting it together. The date is October 22, 2011 I think there will be some members of Second Society as well, maybe Tom Lombardo too? Tom sings in an acapella band with a member from Second Society and The Formation. You can email me at [e-mail] if interested.

I still play out quite a bit www.reminisants.com take a peak. Oldies music. I worked The Godsons for many years and was on the road with Band in Boston during the disco era (hey I needed to eat) I worked in many other bands back then The Jumpers being one with the late Billy Lynch on guitar, I still miss Billy. I recently played a gig with The Bobby O Band at Fireflies and that was a blast. Bobby can still play his ass off.

If any of you are up for putting something together for a day of music let me know, between all of us and our contacts we can make it happen but we need to organize.

[papajohn]

Pete,
Great to hear from you! I was in Myst with Skip back in the day. I'm the skinny one playing the Vox in the MFB pic. I'm twice the man I was then, if you catch my meaning!
I remember every person and band you mentioned. Myst opened up for most of them at some venue or other.
I remember your uncle Jim very well. He was so supportive of young musicians back in the day. The Cove was really the only place around for live music for kids under 21. We used to play at the Cove most every month with most of the bands you mentioned. I remember the Stepping Stones with a wall of EMC amps just like the Doors!
Glad to hear you're still playing. Seems there are quite a few of us from back in the day still going at it. I switched to bass about twenty-odd years ago and I'm kicking myself I didn't start out on bass. Much better on bass than guitar. Besides, I took off half my left index finger a few years back so rhythm guitar is about all I can handle. Love playing bass, anyways.
Count me in for the Surf Reunion. Sounds like a blast.
Hope to meet you sometime!
John

[tim]

Actually John, you did yourself a favor by learning and having a lot of experience with a guitar before swapping to bass. I've always been a bass player and even though I have a good selection of nice 6-string electric and acoustics, I still have a difficult time playing guitar because I'm always thinking 'bass' I wish I had started out on guitar. if anything else to know and realize the chordal theory. Even so, it would have made switching to bass a whole lot easier...

[papajohn]

Tim,
I can understand that. I've been playing bass almost exclusively for the last twenty-odd years and i still feel like a frustrated guitar player turned bassist! Truth is, I agree with your analysis. I find when I'm gigging out, I can "sense" where a guitar player or keyboard player is going to go and play to compliment what he's going to do. If we're doing a Skynyrd tune and an "A" chord is coming up, there's slim likelihood the guitar player is going to chord an "A" on the ninth fret so my riffing will stay down in the open to fifth fret range to go with his chording which will undoubtedly be in an open or fifth-fret position. Don't know if that makes any sense but I think your right that having played guitar first gives me a better insight to what a guitar player is going to need to back him up.

[tim]

It makes a lot of sense John.

And that's something I wouldn't say I've struggled with over the years, but I've come to the loose conclusion, that if you can play guitar, you you know how to play bass, but not the other way around. My dad was a fantastic sax player, but couldn't play a clarinet because there were some adverse fingerings. On the other hand, my sister can wail on a clarinet (oboe and bassoon etc.) and to her a saxophone is a cinch to play.

[papajohn]

Tim,
I don't usual admit this publically, but I really am a "frustrated guitar player turned bass player". I was maybe ten years old when I started out on guitar back when "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" hit the radio. Stopped to go to college to stay out of Viet Nam and picked it back up again in '88. Went through a series of bands playing guitar and keyboards. I was a really good rhythm player but lead was always a chore. Never came natural to me. I could hold my own with solos but it was work and I usually had to plan it out ahead of time. Nobody looks for a rhythm player and after losing out on a few lead guitar auditions, I picked up the bass just to get a gig. Truthfully, in about three hours, I felt completely at home with the bass and had enough riffs and patterns down to play with with just about any bar band. I've never looked back. Bass players and drummers are always in short supply and big demand.
I still enjoy playing guitar, mostly rhythm just to back up someone, but my real passion is bass. Never had any complaints but if I hear the bass player fron Delta Generators again, I'm hanging it up and picking up the kazoo!

[Blues Dues]

Tim, don't let John fool you. He's one of the best multi-instrumental musicians I've heard. Guitar, keys, bass, he can do it all. He just likes the odd shapes that bass guitars come in.

The O'Neil brothers ... (Charlie on guitar and Rick on bass) of the Delta Generators are an aberration of nature when it comes to musical ability. John and I were in the shop a couple of weeks ago and Rick O'Neil (the bassist) stopped by. He grabbed a bass and started playing complete jazz chord melodies on it. Never saw or heard anything like it.

Although primarily known as members of the Delta Generators (a blues band), I've heard both Charlie and Rick doing all kinds of music ... jazz, rock and some old standards from the 30's and 40's. BTW ... Rick also started on guitar and then switched to bass.

[tim]

John, I'll publicly admit that I'm a frustrated bass player! Sort of a one trick pony because that's all I know. but I think you're quite well rounded and lets face it the fact that if you don't truly enjoy it, you'll never be good at it. Actually, that's not right either, but I suppose I'm saying it's really nice to explore and get out of the box occasionally and find out what you actually like to do.

And you're right, good drummers and bassists are kind of a premium. Especially those who can work together and pull a good rhythm beat, while being innovative as well. I've been playing bass for 40 years and have received a lot of compliments on what I do. So....

Glad you like holding down the bottom end!

Yeah, Richard, I figured there was something up with John. More than what meets the eye. But it's all cool and it's nice to have a simple discourse about the instruments you play and what you would really like to play.

I like odd shape basses too! I've got about 50 of 'em. Always was looking for the proverbial "holy Grail" until I figured out I can't own 'em all. LOL! But that's ok, I like what I have....


"Rick also started on guitar and then switched to bass. "

And I'd also say that was, and is to his advantage.

"Rick O'Neil (the bassist) stopped by. He grabbed a bass and started playing complete jazz chord melodies on it."

I do some of that too. but not just 'pick up and go' I'm sure Rick is very well versed at his craft.

?;^ )

[papajohn]

Tim,
I thought I had a problem with thirty some basses but I guess I have met my match! As long as I stay away from Retunes, I'm ok but he's got a few in there that I've been eyeballing. Good thing I'm out of work right now or that Jag bass would be in my arsenal right now.
My Alembic Spoiler is probably my "Go-to" bass. Never lets me down, and always does what I need it to do. Got a Ric just to say I have one. I really like it but right now it needs a little attention. I like collecting off-the-wall basses; SD Curlee, Kramer, Curbow, Conklin, Dano, any kind of headless, 8-string, EUB's, etc. Most club gigs don't give the bass player any spotlight time so ya gotta catch their attention somehow!
I still enjoy playing guitar but losing that finger keeps me playing rhythm mostly. Picked up a Line 6 Variax 700 a few years ago and it allows me to strum anything from a sitar to a 12-string and everything in between. Keeps the fun alive.
Bottom line, is I just love playing. To get on a stage with one or more people, playing music you love, to people who want to hear it and forget that their Mon-Fri day-to-day life sux, man, that's what keeps me waking up every day.
John

[brian]

As an addition to this portion of the Forum, I think we should ad a section called "My First Gig" !! I am sure we would get some GREAT stories..........

[papajohn]

"As an addition to this portion of the Forum, I think we should ad a section called "My First Gig" !! I am sure we would get some GREAT stories.......... "

Well, Brian,no surprise, I guess, but my first "gig" so to speak was with Skip. There was a guitar recital put together by a few of the local guitar teachers at Kramer's hayloft in South Weymouth, I guess about '67 or '68 or so. Don't recall much except that Skip invited me to "sit-in" with his band. He handed me his Harmony electric and plugged me into a Harmony amp. I remember we played the Shadows of Knight version of Gloria. I was familiar with the song but wasn't too sure about the chords. I was ok except I was playing an A7 instead of A major, but I was playing an electric guitar in a rock and roll band! That was the greatest thrill of my life! Never forgot that and will always remember Skip for getting me started. What a trip!

[Rambo]

Two questions....... Being that you were with skip, were you under the influence of regulated substances, and also, where was Kramers Hayloft in South Weymouth ??

[papajohn]

"Two questions....... Being that you were with skip, were you under the influence of regulated substances, and also, where was Kramers Hayloft in South Weymouth "

Actually, the only time any of us in the band ever got intoxicated was at a gig at a ski lodge in NH.in '69 or '70. I was pretty shocked when I found out how Skip passed. My own trip down hell's highway came later in life.
Kramer's Hayloft was on the road coming out of Columbian Square heading toward Rockland. I want to say it was Union St. Name might not be right but it was just before the start of the Rockland Strip. If you recognize that name, you know where I'm talking about.
I hadn't seen Skip since high school but the memories of those years playing music with him and the rest of the band kept me going for a long, long, time. RIP, Bro!

[enzo smith]

May 17, 2010 11:56:28 GMT -5 papajohn said:

We actually opened for somebody at the Weymouth Fairgrounds in 1970. I can't swear who but I remember Brownsville Station played there. Think "Smokin' in the Boy's Room. We couldn't see the stands at all because of the lighting but somebody told me the stands held fifteen thousand people. Don't how many were actually there that night but glad they didn't tell me that ahead of time.
I vaguely remember the riots in the Birches.
I saw the Dead End Kids at the Beachcomber somewhere in the seventies. I remember them doing "Bookkeepers Son" by Steely Dan and thought that was the coolest song of the time.
I do remember the Nomads. How about the Techniques? Or Kahuna and the Mooners? The Cascades? Or Orpheus? Saw them at Weymouth North High.
Or the Nazz? Tod Rundgrens first major band. Saw them at Weymouth North also.
Man, is this bringing back a lot of great memories. Keep 'em coming!
John