Topic: Welcome to the Near-Fest 2015 Fall Season Ham Jam!

[N1ERF]

Welcome to the Near-Fest 2015 Fall Season Ham Jam!

ALL musicians are welcome to come in and play and be part of the Near-Fest musical community.

Generally, nothing is formal. If you wish to play certain songs, let us know ahead of time! There?s no guarantee that it will be played, but it will give those who are interested and motivated, time to learn that particular song. Don?t be shy, speak up!

Any/all genres or musical styles are welcome. The dominant trend (but not exclusively), has typically been rock?ish ? But THAT really depends on who shows up and plays! You as a participant make it what it is!


The general courtesy guidelines apply:

? Have Fun!

? Show up early to both set up, and assist anyone who needs help with their equipment

? When playing, do your best to keep the volume down ? It effects all of us and even moreso, those who aren?t amplified?

   I?ve also observed in the past, the crowd thinning out because the volume was too uncomfortable for them.
   Make it good for everyone.

? It?s best to keep the 100-Watter?s at home. It?s a small room and you don?t need much to be heard.

? Give others a chance to come up and play. It may require one to either not play, or just to sit back for a while and enjoy the entertainment. It can get really crowded at times.

? Accommodate those who have quieter or acoustic instruments. Adjust accordingly.

? At the end of the night, it?s everyone?s responsibility to help our sound person take down and pack up the PA equipment.

   He volunteers his own equipment and time at no cost to others. We need to show our appreciation to make it worth his time.


...And did I mention? Have Fun!


If you have any questions, just post it here and we?ll try to respond.

[Bri]

Hi John,
I will do my best to be there this October.
I'm pretty rusty but I'll work on a few tunes plus bring some "jam progressions" if that's ok.

Bri

[N1ERF]

Awesome!

We look forward to having you!

[Bri]

Hey John and all;
It's been a while since I did much practice but I'll make a concerted effort to at least work on the songs I used to do.

Some possible additions:
Back in the USSR. Beatles: bass, backing vocal
Hit me with your rhythm stick. Ian dury and the blockheads: bass
Island in the sun. Wheezer: guitar and vocal
Temple Kings of leon: guitar, maybe some vocal
They want my soul. Spoon: guitar and maybe vocal
Tongue Tied Grouplove: guitar backing vocal
Light my fire Jose feliciano version: guitar and vocal

I've been working on converting the garage to a practice spot and should be done this week.
If people are interested and SERIOUS, I would be willing to host a practice (if things go reasonably well then maybe another)
If we do have a practice: no booze, dope or attitude need apply.

Hit me back if your interested.

Bri

[N1ERF]

I'm serious...  Otherwise I wouldn't be here!

[DrOptigan]

Woo-hoo, another jam is upon us, and Bri looks to be making a triumphant return! Let me know when and where said practice may occur, and I'll try and make it. Anyway, here's a list from a previous jam:

Badfinger - Baby Blue, No Matter What
Beatles - whatever
Black Sabbath - Paranoid (pleeeeease???), Iron Man, whatever
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust or Suffragette City
The Guess Who - No Time, No Sugar Tonight, American Woman, etc.
Led Zeppelin - whatever
Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb, Wish You Were Here, etc.
Joe Walsh (WB6ACU!) - Life's Been Good or Rocky Mountain Way
Yes - Roundabout or I've Seen All Good People (might need to bring along helium for these ones...)

As always, I'll have a nice assortment of goofy keyboards with me. See yas there! 
-Adam
Big Red Farfisa (and more!)

[KB1NZN]

Looking forward to another fest and the return of the famous Bri!

See you all soon...

Ben
da sound guy

[Bri]

The famous Bri.......He's just a myth.
Please, No pressure

See, that's where it's all wrong.
I see it as...

Derrico Factor,
The Ben Family PA Experience,
Rick and the Daddy's
The Adams Bomb,
Cliff's Tone,
The Raj Mahal,
Dr. Scott and the Injections,
The Richard Harptones,
Nolan and the Tripsters
I know I've missed a bunch
Those are the real famous Near-Festers!!

See you there.


Bri

[Bri]

For those camping I'd like to remind you it can get cold. A lot of people bring space heaters to run at night. A safer option is an electric blanket. Turn it on 15 min. Before bed and you sleep like a baby. Plus it's silent.

Bri

[N1ERF]

So additional songs that we've played before, but just putting up as additional possibilities - I can try to print up lyrics for them:


- All Right Now - Free                                                     [Can play either guitar(s) or Bass]
- Jumping Jack Flash - Stones Eb as recorded                   [Can play either guitar(s) or Bass]
- Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress) - The Hollies          [Can play either guitar(s) or Bass]
- Bang A Gong (Get It On) - T. Rex                                  [Can play either guitar(s) or Bass]
- Hold on loosely - 38 Special                                          (Still needs work! - guitar or bass)

Anybody know any songs that requires a "Hammond" sound?

[W1VFB]

Hey , go easy on the Hammond sounds.  Yes we'll have it but I'm not up on a Whiter Shade of Pale.  But I'll do my best to play most.  Don't forget I'm bringing a piano also.

[KE1L]

I want to give a signal boost to the message about it getting cold. People who live near the coast or in a big city like Boston sometimes get surprised by just how cold the nights can get at NEAR-Fest; below freezing temperatures in the early morning are not unheard of, though it appears it's not going to get QUITE that cold this year.

The current weather guess on weather.com only has the Friday night low going down to 38. It's also calling for rain showers during the day and into the evening on Friday, so bring your rain gear. Saturday is partly cloudy with little chance of rain; that night's low is much colder (30) but we'll all be gone by then. Of course, this is New England and that's a forecast five days out so it is subject to change.

Electric space heaters in a tent are potentially dangerous because tents are very flammable; tipping one over could be very bad. Any kind of combustion heater is right out, both because of the fire threat and because of the possibility of CO accumulation. Electric blankets should be safe if you are camped in a spot where you can plug them in, though it's best if you are also elevated from the ground (air mattress or the like) in case it rains and the ground (and perhaps your tent floor) gets wet. Winter sleeping bags also work. If you do use an air mattress, remember to have some form of insulating layer between you and the mattress, otherwise it will suck heat out of your body.

Bring a serious winter coat. You will wake up early in the morning (somehow it's hard to sleep in at camp) and you might have to get up in the night for a bathroom break, and it is likely to be very cold. This year you're also going to want rain gear and an umbrella.

[N1ERF]

I wanted to extend A Super Big Thank You to everyone who attended the Ham Jam this weekend!
Also to every one in the audience who showed up. Everyone makes it what it is!

Everyone sounded great we had an awesome time.

Thanks to The Board and Mr. Mike for allowing us to play and for the continued support of the Ham Jam!

Thanks to our Very Sound Guy, Ben, for wiring us up and all his equipment support!


Note: If anyone had recorded or made videos of any of the Ham Jam, please make it available either by
posting here or providing a link to a location to it. We would love to see all that incriminating evidence!

To anyone who attends in the future:

        - You are all welcome to participate and ARE invited always. You make it what it is!


Thanks again for a successful event!

[KB1NZN]

Did anyone pick up a small red and dark grey plastic toolbox in the area of the Entertainment building?

I am missing one. I was last seen at the Jam when I got the Allen wrench set out to tighten up the drum kit. The box contains a number of small tools and tool kits.

Thanks!

-Ben

 

[KB1NZN]

Toolbox located. Thanks to anyone who looked! 

Ben