Months ago I helped a friend of mines band out. Their bass player quit and I learned their set and filled in a gig. I told them I would help them out until they found another bass player. Its like coming to a river when you lose a musician. It sure would be easier to get to the other side if you just had a bridge. Which is exactly what I was trying to do for these guys. Be a bridge and get them across the river to another bass player. Losing a musician can be tough on a band. A lot of bands will fall apart trying to find a replacement. I thought that I could help keep their band from falling apart by filling in. That way they could still have band practice with a full band and play gigs. But, I think these guys have stalled out on the bridge. They dont really seem to be looking for another bass player. They only auditioned one guy since I came into the band. That guy had no chance because of his age (he was only seventeen). Although he was quite talented for his age. But, now Im starting to wonder if maybe instead a positive thing being a bridge that maybe Im a negative thing being a crutch. If they didnt have anyone they would be looking a lot harder than they are. We were at band practice the one day and the guitarist said he was going to line up an audition with another young guy. And the drummer replied we already have our bass player. I dont think they want to let me go! There is a part of me that doesnt want to be let go. However, doing two bands is just too much for me. Im trying to write the next Steel CD and at times I have to push that back to learn some covers for F5 (the other band Im playing with). They are talented guys and the band is getting tighter both on and off stage. I dont know if Im doing a good thing here or a bad thing.

Dave