So another practice session is in the books! It went well, though it wasn't quite the rush it was the last time. The next rush will be performing in front of an audience!

We pretty much have "Wild Night" down. "Hard to Handle" came together nicely. That song has a really funky groove that is so much fun to play. One of the vocal instructors sang for us and totally got into it. That was tons of fun!!! She seemed to enjoy it too.

I recorded our session which sounded really good. I didn't nail the "Hard to Handle" solo, which I fully expected. However, it didn't sound like the trainwreck I though it would listening to the playback. Knowing that takes some pressure off for that song. Overall, our sound is really blending together nicely. The recording is really helpful for me to evaluate what is working and not working with my rhythm parts. I thought I was playing too loud and it turned out it was just right. And that's great because I could hear myself playing!!

We still need a singer, one of the guitar players is still playing bass. Needless to say, he doesn't want to play bass any more :-). It's going to become a problem... Me being the nice guy that I am will probably relent, though I really don't want to and am not sure if me playing bass is the best route for the band. I have to remember though that this is more about the experience of playing in a band, not making the best band we can so people will pay us. Our mentor made it clear today that he's staying out of this one...:-). Can't say I blame him.

Our other 2 songs will be "Long Train Running" and Gladys Knight's version "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Both of those songs are so fun to play and I hate to give up my guitar part :-).

I seem to have a knack for playing funky rhythm guitar. Who would have thunk it!! :-).

I seem to be the most experienced guitar player of the group. I guess I know more than I think because they look to me at times for what to play. I just wish my soloing was at the same level as my rhythm playing. I'm managing... By the end of this, I'm sure I will have improved in that area.

Now that I know all of the songs we are doing, I know what I have to work on. I'll be playing that "hard to handle" solo over and over again until I can play it standing on my head!!!

Until next time...