Back In The Game

With an actual gig on the horizon, Nev Marten begins to play the guitar a little and even gets back a bit of GAS…

My last live gig was on Saturday 16 March 2020. At that point, we had anywhere from three to six shows a month in the calendar, plus a 30-date autumn tour fully scheduled. But after the government announced lockdown a mere week after that last outing, one by one, week by week the other dates got pulled. I say ‘pulled’ but, in fact, they’ve all been rescheduled for 2021. If you regularly gig, you will relate to that horrible situation, especially when, as with some of the guys in our band, the playing represents a significant proportion of your income.

Weirdly, though, one of our shows stayed on the gig sheet. It was for early October and we all thought it was simply an oversight. An aberration. Yet there it stayed. And just today we had it confirmed that it is indeed on. A gig. An actual gig. Heaven forfend!

Now, while joy abounded after that initial announcement, within minutes it dawned on us that seven months is a hell of a long time not to play those songs. So, would we recall those chords, sing those harmonies, or remember those solos? Mild panic set in and we quickly realised that a full band rehearsal was vital in order to refresh ourselves of the repertoire, and feel once more what it’s like to play as a group of supposedly synchronised musicians. It’ll be strange, that’s for sure. Next time I write my column will be immediately after that show, so I’ll let you know whether triumph or disaster prevailed that day.

When I mentioned a couple of issues back that I’d hardly played my guitars at all during these barren months, I received a resounding thumbs-up from readers and musical friends alike, all echoing my lockdown lethargy. Recently, though, I’ve been slowly getting back into it. I’ve got my red Strat at home and that’s become the go-to picker through the house Blues Junior, along with my Martin OM-28 Reimagined, which has really blossomed since I got it a couple of years ago. So now with that lone gig on the rapidly approaching horizon, I hope to ramp up the playing by several notches over the coming weeks.

GAS Man Cometh

Along with no gigs, and my confessed six-string slothfulness, the old GAS had taken a bit of a back seat, too. Having said that, my ongoing lust for a 60s-style Telecaster has recently resurfaced. Since lockdown rules were relaxed, Dave Mead and I have been meeting for a weekly lunchtime coffee and a chinwag, and of course our guitar wants are never far from the surface. Dave – and Jamie, too – know I’ve had a hankering for a Daphne Blue Tele for some time. In fact, we often spec up our ‘desert island’ Fenders but my red Strat and a lovely white one that Dave picked up are the only ones that’ve thus far materialised.

Then, as luck would have it, Guitar Village asked on its Facebook page what ‘pie in the sky’ Custom Shop guitar its community would spec up. Needless to say, some weird and wonderful wishes surfaced but then, probably after a glass or two one evening, I replied – “Daphne Blue 1960 Telecaster, Journeyman Relic, darkest possible rosewood board, Twisted Tele pickups, medium weight, no headstock volute, parchment pickguard.” I then forgot all about it. Well,

Del ‘the boss’ has only gone and ordered it (with my blessing, of course), so I guess my GAS is not quite gone forever – in fact, a wooden, wicker-fronted Mesa/ Boogie Mark III has recently replanted its worm in my feeble brain. So, watch this space.

I’d love to hear how the last few months have affected your live work, your playing or your desire for new gear. Do let me know, and I’ll see you next time.

“It dawned on us that seven months is a long time not to play those songs. Mild panic set in as we realised a full band rehearsal was in order…”