These Infinite Spaces

I guess it took about 30 seconds to figure out Jarrod would be our new singer. Most of the vocalists in garage bands are hacks - they can hold a tune but little else. Jarrod, by contrast, could sing. He could sing. He had a proper singers range, and his voice a beautiful, smooth timbre. I don't know if we even talked about it - just like that he was in.

There was one small problem - his amp wasn't up to gig standards. This matter was solved via a piece of tragic serendipity, which I still shake my head at. One of Jarrod's mates had a reputation as a good guitarist, and Jarrod invited him along to rehearsal one day to check us out. Now, it's a bit threatening to have another musician come check you out, but this guy seemed nice enough. Anyway, on his way back from our rehearsal he flipped his car. He had his hand out of the window gripping the roof, and he lost the tops from 3 fingers - goodbye guitar. But he sold his amp to Jarrod on the cheap - so Jarrod was equipped, though through slightly macabre circumstances.

I may as well tell you about the rest of our gear. Musos find this stuff interesting! I had long since gotten rid of the "Fridge". Through hard savings, and a summer job on a construction site, I bought myself a 300 watt Laney head with a 4 x 10" speaker cab. Cost me the equivalent of $4k in today's money, but was worth it - had a beautiful, BIG sound. I was still playing a cheap guitar, but I'd put in a pair of single coil active pick-ups. It sounded sensational.

Andrew's amplifier story was interesting, and it relates to something that happened later. He was a huge Radiators fan - they were a kinda underground pub rock band, for those who don't know. I think most guys my age were fans, really. Anyway, when he as about 12 his Dad had taken him to a gig. Somehow they got to speak to the band, and Andrew asked the lead guitarist, Fess Parker, what sort of amp he had, because he was going to buy one. Fess said he had two Mesa Boogie classics, but they were very expensive. He said to Andrew, "If you want a sound that's close to mine for a good price, buy a Marshal JVM 50 watt combo." Andrew did just that and he had an awesome sound. By the time we were playing with Jarrod, he had replaced his old Aria Pro guitar with a Standard American Strat, and later on bought a Les Paul too.

What did Justin play? It was a white Pearl kit, with a pretty standard configuration. I don't know any interesting stories about that!

So we had our singer. The catch was now a four piece guitar band. We rehearsed for a couple of months and then it was time - the all important comeback gig.