The Sunday Thread for Fathers Day, June 15, 2025

[OldStrummer]

I'm in real discomfort today, as I went for a run yesterday and then my back began acting up. Out came the ol' heating pad and I've been pretty much wearing it since. Growing old is not not for sissies.

Today is Fathers Day, and best wishes to everyone who had a father or is a father. I hope your day is filled with reminders of what the word father means.

My daughter has invited me for dinner, so that's the add-on for today's activities. So, I'll drag my sorry tail to church, then head home, eschewing my usual lunch routine, and then use the heating pad until it's time to go. I'm chucking in the towel on baseball as the team appears to be in total collapse. Well, that just gives me more opportunity to work on my guitar playing, which I can do with a minimum of discomfort.

So, happy Fathers Day to all. I hope your day is filled with joy and happiness.

[gibsonjunkie]

Greetings! It's been a few since I last checked in. Telenator has been reminding me to stop by. Life has been good... the wife hit her 4 year mark for sobriety and hasn't had a cigarette in 8 months. She has been showing some cognitive decline - the docs think it from her past concussions /(3 in 6 months). Lots of tests going on. All in all, however, we're doing good. Been recording a lot - still learning as I go along. Did a song yesterday from scratch that came out pretty good. Once we finish it I'll post a link.

Might break down and go guitar shopping today. I've gotten interested in the Fender Acoustasonic. We record a lot of acoustic guitar and it sounds like it could be pretty flexible for my needs. Anybody have any experience with them? I'm not playing much, but write a lot.

Sorry to hear about Phantomman... this small group seems to be growing smaller...

Still loving work - not interested in retiring just yet - looking at November 2028 as a possibility... but we'll see.

[OldStrummer]

Good to see you back, Nick. Congratulations to your wife on four years!

I've not had hands-on experience with the Fender Acoustasonic but from what I've read, they're pretty good as a plugged-in acoustic, but "meh" unplugged. Of course, the operating principle always applies: Try one.

[Laker]

It’s a cloudy mid 60s day here on the western shore of Lake Michigan behind the Cheddar Curtain. A couple of weeks ago we fired up our weekly open mic/jam session and it has been a pretty good time so far. This week we had some friends in town visiting and they sat in with us where we found the wife has a set of pipes like Brenda Lee, really a good singer!

Next month we have the annual Bryan Lee Memorial Blues Festival that, for the last four years, I assembled a band of former musicians in Bryan?s bands through the years to play as part of the show. This year I’ll only be performing MC duties and playing a few songs in the finale, but I’ll get to play with some of the top players in the state so it should be a fun time.

[gibsonjunkie]

Good to see you back, Nick. Congratulations to your wife on four years!

I've not had hands-on experience with the Fender Acoustasonic but from what I've read, they're pretty good as a plugged-in acoustic, but "meh" unplugged. Of course, the operating principle always applies: Try one.

This is more for the plugged-in sound. I've got plenty of nice acoustics for the "natural" sound...

[DanTheBluesMan]

cloudy but at least it is not raining. All of us are sick with summer colds but not the crud, thankfully. I had a fender bender Thursday night, blinding sunset and folks driving too fast for the conditions. Unfortunately if my insurance handles it, the car will be totaled because of the 70% of value rule it's 19 years old and parts are hard to get (equals expensive). The silver lining, it's drivable although unless some cobbling is done, not at night so much. I don't have to do anything until inspection time next March. Tomorrow I look for an auto body shop that is willing to make it passable for the state's regulations, and nothing more. The shop I would normally use might be too highfaluting for such pedestrian work as that.

Nothing planned today. Maybe some grilling. Yesterday was cold and rainy again, what a surprise. Shockingly, the forecast although 7 days out, is NOT calling for rain next Saturday. Will that be true? To quote Brian Wilson "god only knows".

30 years ago today, I saw the Grateful Dead at Highgate Vermont. Such a beautiful ride across Vermont. Last time I saw Jerry. Might also be the last time I was in VT now that I think about it.

[blackonblack]

Happy Father?s Day all. This is the 21st Father?s Day without my father and I miss him desperately. In between set this am at church on lead. First set I was not happy with my playing. I went through the set list a week ago Sat and stopped as it was so bad. I wondered if I forgot how to play. Went through it again yesterday and all was good. So far today, not the case. My focal dystonia is not acting up that bad.

can guitarists get the yips? Got to get my head straight before the next set.

[blackonblack]

MUCH better 2nd set.

it was the yips.

[Laker]

MUCH better 2nd set.

it was the yips.

Never been a church player so curious what do you typically play for sets in church?

[blackonblack]

Well without context, not sure on how to answer. At church a set = a service. Services vary from 4-10 songs. If it?s multiple services for the same congregation, the set list is normally consistent.
In example, today I played for our middle schoolers. 2 sets, 1 forr each service for them. If I was to play for the high schoolers tonight, that would be a different song list. The adult side has its own song list. I serve.play at all 3. This is just at my home church. I serve at multiple other churches as well.

For lead guitar at most of these, think a style ala U2.

As far as pay, some only pay for services, some pay for rehearsals as well.

[blackonblack]

Some of these can be lucrative. Had a church in Orlando FL (when I lived in the area) pay me 300 a rehearsal and 750 a gig for a Christmas gig. There were 4 rehearsals (where I largely did nothing 2 of because others hadn?t practiced), and 2 services. All in all, 1.5x6 =9 hrs of my time for 2700 minus my load in/out time.