Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on May 31 2013 11:23 AM
Announcing the 2013 Ventures East Coast Fan Fest
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Every year in October near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ventures fans gather to celebrate and play the music of The Ventures. This year’s event is, I believe, the fifth annual event. Bands and jam sessions play almost all day Saturday. Lunch and dinner are included on site. Bob Spalding has been there for the last three years and is coming again. He brought Leon Taylor two years ago. Will there be a surprise guest coming with him this year? Bob happily plays guitar on-and-off all day, joining in on lots of songs and sharing stories. There have been attempts to stump the Venture, but Bob hasn’t been stumped yet. The entire event a lot of fun.
There are bands who play out, bands who play at home, and individual musicians who join in and play just for the fun of it. You’ll hear Ventures music from their very first record all the way up to today, from all their markets, with very few repeats. This year marks the debut of my band of musicians, the band with no name. We’re trying very hard not to make twenty minutes of clam-chowder. Will we succeed? Come and see for yourself.
Bob Shade has been a regular, bringing a full line-up of Hallmark guitars for people to tryout, play on stage and buy. I’m sure he’s bringing Ed Sanner’s Nu-Fuzz pedal too. So am I, and I’m also bringing along a Quilter MicroPro-200 8” and Aviator Ultralite Eight for people to tryout or play. There’s also an auction of Ventures records and other memorabilia.
One of the highlights of the event is the Wipeout Finale. Everyone who wants to can join in the fun and play along. Play rhythm guitar, play lead guitar, play a guitar solo, play a bass solo, play drums, play a drum solo, just go for it. You really just have to see it to believe it. Lots of fun. It goes on until everyone’s had at least one turn and done what they wanted.
Again, lunch and dinner on Saturday are included in the price of admission. The bar is open, and while there's a charge for alcoholic beverages, sodas are FREE all day! Though the Fan Fest is billed as one Saturday in October, there is a Friday evening gathering for dinner (the only meal not included) and socializing, providing an opportunity to see old friends again and perhaps plan an impromptu jam on Saturday. Plus, there’s a Sunday morning breakfast for everyone that’s also included at no extra charge. For those who can hang around, on Sunday and Monday there are other touristy things to do, like a Martin Guitar factory tour and maybe an impromptu trip to Little Italy and South Street in Philadelphia.
I’ve included a couple of videos from past events. I hope you enjoy them. As you can tell, this really is a family event, and it's a lot of fun.
There are one or two bands that are unable to attend this year, so there are gaps in the schedule. If you have a band that plays Ventures music, or are able to join in with other musicians and jam along, or just want to attend and have a wonderful time, email Tom at tabalt11@yahoo.com, or call him at 610-789-4894 or 610-609-6953. The 2013 Ventures east Coast Fan Fest is also on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/447471411967754/ If that doesn't work, just search for "2013 Ventures East Coast Fan Fest" on Facebook.
Also the Fans of the Ventures forum is at http://fansoftheventures.createaforum.com/index.php
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Oct 15, 2013 21:24:47
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balt11tab
Joined: May 30, 2013
Posts: 5
Drexel Hill, Pa.
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Posted on May 31 2013 02:10 PM
Thanks ever so much Noel for helping out
with the 'general announcement' this year.
Knights Mgmt. by the way has agreed on the
SODA ALL DAY no charge arrangement we
had in 2012. In a rather ironic twist, the Fri. eve.
dinner gathering will be held at MILLER'S ALE
HOUSE in Springfield which not too long ago
replaced the original Knight's Hall used '09 &
'010.
Last edited: May 31, 2013 14:11:58
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on May 31 2013 02:55 PM
balt11tab wrote:
Thanks ever so much Noel for helping out
with the 'general announcement' this year.
Knights Mgmt. by the way has agreed on the
SODA ALL DAY no charge arrangement we
had in 2012. In a rather ironic twist, the Fri. eve.
dinner gathering will be held at MILLER'S ALE
HOUSE in Springfield which not too long ago
replaced the original Knight's Hall used '09 &
'010.
You're very welcome, Tom. I'll update the post to reflect the FREE soda! And, welcome to SG101.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: May 31, 2013 15:16:50
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JohnnyMosrite
Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 910
New York City area
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Posted on Sep 24 2013 06:39 PM
I don't know if this fell under the radar on this site... but any SG101 members here on the east coast ought to check this out. Rumor has it that Bob Spalding is suppose to attend. I'm looking forward to it.
J Mo'
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Sep 24 2013 06:47 PM
Thanks for the bump. Bob Spalding IS coming, and doing some playing as well! (See the above videos.) For what it's worth, I'm performing this year, too. 
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Sep 24, 2013 18:49:12
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morphball
Joined: Dec 23, 2008
Posts: 3324
Pittsboro, NC
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Posted on Sep 24 2013 06:52 PM
Noel wrote:
Thanks for the bump. Bob Spalding IS coming, and doing some playing as well! (See the above videos.) For what it's worth, I'm performing this year, too.
Break a leg, Noel! 
— Mike
http://www.youtube.com/morphballio
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Sep 24 2013 07:33 PM
Noel wrote:
Thanks for the bump. Bob Spalding IS coming, and doing some playing as well! (See the above videos.) For what it's worth, I'm performing this year, too.
Fantastic, Noel! Have a blast, and hope you knock 'em dead!
image
It's funny to see an '86-'87 Ibanez Roadstar on a poster for a Ventures festival. 
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Sep 24 2013 07:43 PM
Thanks, Mike and Ivan. I need all the encouragement I can get. If you heard me fool around at the Instro Summit this year, you know why.  That, and all five of us still haven't managed to rehearse all together yet. We have mixed pairs and trios working separately, and two Sundays left to all get together. But, amazingly, we sound okay.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Sep 24, 2013 19:45:38
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mom_surfing
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 5320
the outer banks of north carolina
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Posted on Sep 25 2013 06:16 AM
too far away for me to attend, but have a blast guys
(that's the same art on the business card for my now former band)
— www.surfintheeye.com
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Teiscofan
Joined: Feb 21, 2011
Posts: 513
Ontario
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Posted on Sep 25 2013 07:45 AM
Sounds like loads of fun, Noel. Have a fantastic set with your band. Hopefully you post some followups on how the event went.... Rock on! 
— I am not obsolete, I am RETRO.... 
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Sep 25 2013 07:57 AM
Thanks, Carol & Jim. The whole thing is recorded on video. I'll post my set if I don't crash & burn. I may post it anyway, even if I do so, I can ask for advice on what to do better next time.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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JohnnyMosrite
Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 910
New York City area
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Posted on Oct 13 2013 05:48 PM
This was blast! Ever since I picked up guitar and went through all the "Play Guitar with the Ventures" albums, actually playing guitar with one of the Ventures is kinda cool.
This was a "home made bread" type of affair - more like a family reunion - only there was absolutely no family dysfunction. Everyone was friendly and all got along great. The organizer pairs you up with other great musicians. The drummer I got hooked up with was phenomenal.
My group pairing only had one rehearsal - about 6 weeks ago - so, yeah, there was a lot of "clams" in the music - I know I made my share. Lead guitar does have it's demands. Nervousness on the first round of doing something like this, I guess.
I brought two of my best amps and that was very much appreciated by all.
Bob Spalding gravitated to my blackface Pro-Reverb frequently when he played. The other amps provided were the featured band's (The Pickniks from Ohio). So there plenty of sound power.
And speaking of whom - Bob Spalding has to be one of the classier cut of people on this planet - friendly, supportive - just a genuinely nice guy. I got to accompany him on "Mexico" and share lead guitar with him on "Blue Dawn". How may of us ever get to play a song alongside with its author?
Bob lent his talents to every group's set.
In all, it was "Play Guitar with the Ventures" redefined. This event hopefully happens again next year. If you can make it to the East coast, it's worth the trip.
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CaptainSensible
Joined: Nov 08, 2006
Posts: 650
Leesburg, VA
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Posted on Oct 13 2013 11:56 PM
I really wish I would have attended this. Sounds like it was a lot of fun.
— Sean
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Oct 14 2013 09:56 AM
It was a pleasure to meet J Mo' in person. Can he play! And wait 'till you see the guitar he played. Oh, myyy!
John (mrmomo) Drysdale is a regular and came again this year. He also brought along some beautiful gear and played great.
When I figure out where to host my video, I'll link to it here. Does anyone know what Windows 8 software lets me edit the video into separate songs? If possible, I'd rather post the songs individually.
I just watched some if it.  I've played this set almost or essentially clam-free so many times, alone or in various pairings... I'm really embarrassed. If you look (you'll hear it anyway!) you can see me screw up the first verse of Rumble so bad Bob was trying to see what I was doing wrong. I'm playing my Baritone Strat, so everything is out of position anyway, but I'd never made that mistake before. I could hear something was wrong, but it took me a while to make myself stop playing the open E-chord in the wrong position.  Then later, during the Wipeout Jam, I played my Jaguar and got through the first verse using the wrong chord form. Nuts! Oh well, I played the last 9 minutes alright.
But I'm finally doing what I should have done 48 years ago, and about as well as if it was 48 years ago. I can only get better and have even more fun.
I also want to second J Mo's' invitation. This is a wonderful event! If you can make it to next year's, I hope you will. I think you'll be very glad you did.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Oct 14, 2013 14:47:19
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Sofa_King
Joined: Jun 07, 2012
Posts: 93
Carlsbad Ca.
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Posted on Oct 14 2013 03:04 PM
Noel,
Congrats on getting up there and charging it! You going for it and performing is very inspiring.
Way to go!
NIck
— SSS Agent #178
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Oct 14 2013 03:19 PM
Thanks a lot Nick & Sean!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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JohnnyMosrite
Joined: Jun 14, 2006
Posts: 910
New York City area
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Posted on Oct 14 2013 07:12 PM
Noel,
Yeah - that was some time had by all. I got corralled at the last minute to play lead guitar on "Sing, Sing, Sing" by another group that appeared later in the program. For an unrehearsed first draft, it wasn't too bad, I guess.
All of us first timers at the event were a bit nervous. But you just suck it in and keep going.
Yeah, I brought some of my choice gear - what the heck; you have to crank and wail on this stuff sometime.
For the event, I submitted a "tune list" of over around 100 or so instrumentals I can play - Ventures, Shadows, LSJ..etc. to Tom B, the organizer. I just suggested to him that he pick tunes no one else was going to play. He wholeheartedly agreed. How many "Walk, Don't Run"s do people want to hear in a day? (Curiously, there was no "Pipeline" played at all at the event.. Hmmm )
Well - me and my big mouth - I had to (re)learn "War of the Satellites" one week before my crew's only rehearsal. But it was worth all the effort from the compliments my band mates and I received from Bob Spalding in doing that tune live.
That arrangement of "the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" was something I cobbled together over the years and was itching to play at least once in public. I'll probably wince when I see the video.
So keep at it, Noel. Aim for improvement for next year. I certainly will.
J Mo'
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Oct 14 2013 08:12 PM
Thanks, J Mo'! I'm already at work on next-year's plans. And becoming a better guitarist. But, your War of the Satellites was terrific! It really was. Wait 'till you hear it. I liked "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," too. Cool. If I'd have known you were going to play it, I'd have brought my Ennio Trilogy Good, Bad & Ugly fuzz pedal to use. It has "The Sound."
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Oct 14, 2013 20:42:20
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Oct 15 2013 02:08 PM
Here's Rumble. I'm playing my baritone Strat, so everything's already out of position. But I'm playing out of position, even for it. And I couldn't make myself stop until the second verse. Poor Bob! Even when it sounds right, it still looks all wrong! 
Rumble
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Oct 15, 2013 14:36:02
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Oct 15 2013 03:07 PM
Harlem Nocturne
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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May Birthdays 
