Grog

gasket

gasket

Ambassador of the Guitarded
So I get half of my required 60 min practice in early this morning, then sidetracked with life.
Late afternoon, washed out from cutting away at house foundations with a 9" diamond grinder it's dinner and then half a bottle of port. Got a small buzz going so it's time for practice. Nope, fingers and brain not talking to each other. I'm not talking pi**ed, I'm talking relaxed.
How do the likes of Keith and so many others do it?
If I was in The Rolling Stones I'd want all shows starting at 8:00 AM.
 
:)

PErhaps the other half bottle of port????

YOu know I had a co worker who was a drunk--- always a drunk --- totally blato ----however I did not know this till after 2 years working with her. She functioned....didi her job had clients that thought she was the BEST EVER---

Her secret was to not ever come down----stay drunk ---24/7......

perhaps thats Keiths deal........never crash----keep flying
 
eSGEe said:
Her secret was to not ever come down----stay drunk ---24/7
Click to expand...

Something in that.
At 10 years of age I had (still have) a good mate, his dad was normal but one afternoon at his house his dad was somehow odd. When I went home I said "Mr Smith was acting strange", my mum said "He must be sober". Years later I figured out my mum was on the money!
 
gasket said:
So I get half of my required 60 min practice in early this morning, then sidetracked with life.
Late afternoon, washed out from cutting away at house foundations with a 9" diamond grinder it's dinner and then half a bottle of port. Got a small buzz going so it's time for practice. Nope, fingers and brain not talking to each other. I'm not talking pi**ed, I'm talking relaxed.
How do the likes of Keith and so many others do it?
If I was in The Rolling Stones I'd want all shows starting at 8:00 AM.
Click to expand...

When I pick up my guitar, its as if I become possessed. I think it stems from years of playing what others wanted and never really having musical freedom. When I am able to play, I plsy as though its my last time and the energy comes from somewhere very deep and far away...
 
eSGEe said:
:)

PErhaps the other half bottle of port????

YOu know I had a co worker who was a drunk--- always a drunk --- totally blato ----however I did not know this till after 2 years working with her. She functioned....didi her job had clients that thought she was the BEST EVER---

Her secret was to not ever come down----stay drunk ---24/7......

perhaps thats Keiths deal........never crash----keep flying
Click to expand...

I can dig it. I would if I could...but I have small ones at home now....I only ever feel "normal" when drunk. I can polish off a pint of Scotch and no stumbling, no slurred speech, I just get "normal" so to speak. I miss that feeling...
 
Robert Herndon said:
When I pick up my guitar, its as if I become possessed. I think it stems from years of playing what others wanted and never really having musical freedom. When I am able to play, I plsy as though its my last time and the energy comes from somewhere very deep and far away...
Click to expand...

Wish I could do that. Still have days where I feel like I am regressing. But he, I still had a guitar in my hands, right?
 
When I play guitar, I have the distinct and unmistakable sensation like I'm playing a guitar.

Some people tell me it's because I have a guitar in my hands.

It's the craziest thing...
 
smitty_p said:
When I play guitar, I have the distinct and unmistakable sensation like I'm playing a guitar.

Some people tell me it's because I have a guitar in my hands.

It's the craziest thing...
Click to expand...

For me, I become a normal guy for those few minutes....I am almost sad when a performance draws to a close because I will be returned to my former self in a few measures...
 
I have to be very careful with the drink when I’m going to play anything.

The most problematic thing for me is that I sing as well as play the guitar, and I start forgetting lyrics after more than a couple of beers. I don’t even have to be slightly tipsy, the alcohol affects my memory very quickly.

With the guitar it’s a bit different. I definitely can’t play drunk, but sipping a beer while playing makes me relax. I certainly don’t play better, but normally it takes me a little less time to get in the groove. But I tend not to drink anything, one beer tops, before going on stage to play for people. And I usually limit myself to having one beer while on stage. I just don’t want to get sloppy.

I talked to the guitar player in the band Skambankt, one of Norway’s most popular hard rock bands, and he had some pretty interresting observations on playing and alcohol. He has a very proffessional attitude and avoids excessive drinking at gigs. However, he said that as long as he was sober at the start of a gig, he could basically drink as much as he wanted while playing without problems. He tended to stay sober, but in the 15 odd years the band has been playing, naturally there had been times he’d had his share. One time was so drunk towards the end of a gig that he fell off stage, still not missing a single beat.

How much people are affected is highly individual I guess. But I always feel I owe it to the people I’m playing with and the people listening to me to play and sing my best. And I just can’t do that while inebriated.
 
Gahr said:
I have to be very careful with the drink when I’m going to play anything.

The most problematic thing for me is that I sing as well as play the guitar, and I start forgetting lyrics after more than a couple of beers. I don’t even have to be slightly tipsy, the alcohol affects my memory very quickly.

With the guitar it’s a bit different. I definitely can’t play drunk, but sipping a beer while playing makes me relax. I certainly don’t play better, but normally it takes me a little less time to get in the groove. But I tend not to drink anything, one beer tops, before going on stage to play for people. And I usually limit myself to having one beer while on stage. I just don’t want to get sloppy.

I talked to the guitar player in the band Skambankt, one of Norway’s most popular hard rock bands, and he had some pretty interresting observations on playing and alcohol. He has a very proffessional attitude and avoids excessive drinking at gigs. However, he said that as long as he was sober at the start of a gig, he could basically drink as much as he wanted while playing without problems. He tended to stay sober, but in the 15 odd years the band has been playing, naturally there had been times he’d had his share. One time was so drunk towards the end of a gig that he fell off stage, still not missing a single beat.

How much people are affected is highly individual I guess. But I always feel I owe it to the people I’m playing with and the people listening to me to play and sing my best. And I just can’t do that while inebriated.
Click to expand...

I think it is a requirement to be drunk to sing some of James Brown's stuff... :)

"A zubba ba zubba...HEY!"

I only have a beer here and there at a live performance, but, I don't feel the effects while playing. I'm in a different world I guess, but I do take care not to drink too much as I might not realize how intoxicated I have become.

Good post, Gahr!
 
eSGEe said:
:)

PErhaps the other half bottle of port????

YOu know I had a co worker who was a drunk--- always a drunk --- totally blato ----however I did not know this till after 2 years working with her. She functioned....didi her job had clients that thought she was the BEST EVER---

Her secret was to not ever come down----stay drunk ---24/7......

perhaps thats Keiths deal........never crash----keep flying
Click to expand...

That was my old days now...staying drunk 24/7 is the past for me...thank goodness.;)


;>)/
 
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