Week 117: Playing Covers - Beatles Night at BAMM

I joined the Barcelona Amateur Music Makers for their Beatles night. Miquel had printed sheetmusic copies of 6 or 7 songs. Were were a small group of musicians around a piano. It was great to hear the saxophone. We also had guitars, vocals and two ukulele's.

It was fun to sing together. I've always been a big Beatles fan. Here are some pictures and a slideshow of the event. Doing cover versions is a great way to collaborate with other musicians.

It's possible to connect and find common ground when you play songs that you love.

So I've decided to put a covers band together. I'm looking for a core of musicians; Bass, Guitar, piano, percussion. The idea will be to introduce other members of our BAMM community into the coverband to perform in front of friends at small event and house parties.

If you would like to join us then please drop me a line at zackqureshi@gmail.com

Checkout my cover of One featuring Albert Greenlight.

Source

Week 116: Finding local musicians

Hi Guys!

I've been looking for a guitarist to play with. There are several I've met but they are foreigners like myself and with other jobs. I've been down that road before which is great for doing covers or just having fun with music as a hobby.

I'd like to find local musicians, those that are dedicated and managing to live from their music. So I've been to see a few bands and I'm talking to friends that know these musicians. There was a great funk party this weekend that was closed down by the police on Sunday afternoon. It took place at 33/45, a venue I've written about before. This time I had a chance to chat with the musicians during and after the gig.

I chatted to Khaoula  bouchkhi (she joined the band for a few songs and when she sang her first line the crowd were gobsmacked (see alternative English dictionary) 'what a voice'!) and met the rest of the band. EMPTY POCKETS are a funky force full of energy, a jam group. Their founder, keyboard and pianist Adel Boquera told me they had just been playing together for 2 weeks and decided to perform at 33/45. Adel gave me his details and also told me he was responsible for the Superfly Parties in Barcelona: http://www.superflyparty.com/ (The finest Funk & Soul).

Checkout their next event on Jan 20th on their Facebook Events page

I really enjoyed watching the musicians, they were all great and having a good time performing. I found the drummer amazing. His name is Caspar St Charles, from London, so it was great to have a chat with him.

Caspar St. Charles @ WTF Jam Session en Jamboree Jazz Club - Barcelona 24/11/2008 from Aurelio Santos on Vimeo.

Week 115: Seeking Small Venues to Perform In

Hi Music Lovers! On Tuesday Jan 8th, I went to check out a bar in Gracia called 'Alfa‎ Bar'.

C/ Gran De Gràcia, 36. 08012 Barcelona. Tel: 934 15 18 24

The Band Out of Water formed by guitarist Gustavo Aguado (from the BAMM meetup group last week) had a gig and I decided to go and support him while checking out the venue. It was a curious mix of influences with a strong vocal performance coming from their female Jazz style vocalist (reminded me a bit of Alanis Morisett). Los pianistas Ariana Carreras y Toni del Amo y la cantante Itziar Sánchez.

The band members had their own influences with Piano and keyboard players. The venue was a good size to play for 50-80 people. The stage is lifted, so there is a distance between the audience and the performers onstage. I loved the lighting and decor, looks like a really cool place to take pics!

 As you can see, the entrance there is a bar for those who want to chat and the stage is further into the bar. There was a medium to large size mixing desk and engineer on hand.

 It was quite a dazzling looking set, maybe an idea to take live video promotion in future for one of my tracks.Love the old records on the ceiling!

Its been a busy week and I've been to 4 venues. I'm checking out the local music scene and looking for places to play. I'm in the process of also meeting the local music talent and getting to know some great bands.

Gracia seems to be the place that has a lot of small places I could play an intimate set. Informal and laid back. On Friday I decided to get fit again but avoid the gym, so I went dancing! Salsa. In fact there was a Cuban live band "Habana con Kola" Meetup event. It was nice to be able to have a social evening, let off steam and get into the latin rhythm, great fitness solution:))

On Saturday evening I ventured into a bar called L'Astrolabi in Gracia (Carrer Martinez de la Rosa 14, Bcn, Spain). It was a curious place, with a small room at the back for Unplugged performances.

Lidia Uve played unplugged in Gracia. When I say unplugged, I mean really unplugged, no speakers, no microphone, a tiny room with people sitting on the floor at the feet of the artists in the corner of the room. Standing room near the entrance from the bar and seating against the wall. I hadn't seen this since the last home party with my flatmate Moez in Brighton.

Have a great week!

PLJ

Zack a.k.a. RedEyeZack 

TOP 5 PREVIEWS:

Choose your Top 5 from my list of song demos: Previews on Artist website

Week 114: Barcelona Music Community

Hi Guys!

Welcome to 2013!

After flying in directly from my Xmas holidays in the UK, I freshened up and went on my way to join group of music lovers at a bar near the center. It was a MEETUP group called Barcelona Amateur Music Makers (BAMM)

"El Nostre Racó"

• Saturday 5th Jan at 9:00 PM
• El Nostre Racó

New year, new place!

Any nou, lloc nou! Año nuevo, lugar nuevo!

37 years of spontaneous music in Barcelona. Essential place to go!

37 anys de música espontània a Barcelona. Un lloc imprescindible!

They've had a few meeting already and it was my chance to meet the group and their organiser Miquel Ferrer (Piano/Guitar) Although they call themselves amateurs, I've seen the profiles of some of the members and some of them have galactic credentials! 

Where to park?

As you can see, it's a pretty cozy and rustic bar. There's an upstairs area for about another 10 people. I could hear 2 or 3 other groups jamming at the same time. Notice the 'guitars on the ceiling'. There was a constant flow of non-musicians too. Always ready to start a surprised clapping after hearing a 'Golden Oldie' or Beatles song.

It was good for learners of all levels. Here's me and Manel Munoz tuning up (top photo). It was also a great opportunity to sing harmonies, something that doesn't happen very often. 

I enjoyed singing without having to play the guitar too. I sang Rolling Stones 'ANGIE' with Miquel on guitar, the group did a version of HOTEL CALIFORNIA in Am. We played MAD WORLD by Tears for Fears.

 

There were 3 guitars, acoustic and classical, one flute, a ukelele, piano and some pleasing listeners who sang along. There was some improvising too. It started with BossaNova but ended up with a Beatles songbook.

 

 I know the group are practicing for a Beatles night. Whats your favorite Beatles song? Come on down and 

join us sometime.

  

Miquel and I are very willing to help you get to a level where you can perform and enjoy these songs. Gustav (Above) has a band that are performing at ALFA bar in Gracia. Join the group and let our musical spirit out. Singers and music lovers who are non-musicians are welcome to participate. It's a great night out!! Barcelona Amateur Music Makers (BAMM)

Is that Fmaj7 aug or dim??