🎸 From Bedroom to Stage: The GIG REPORT Thread (Setlists & Stories)

Johnnyb · December 31, 2025, 1:10pm

Happy New Year, BassBuzz family!

As we head into 2026, I’ve noticed something really cool happening around the forum: More and more of you are posting about playing live, joining bands, or jamming with others. I’ve seen great stories pop up in random threads, but I thought it would be amazing to gather all of this in one place.

(Note: If there already is a dedicated topic or category for this that I missed, I apologize! Moderators, please feel free to merge this so we have a structured way of learning from each other’s experiences.)

We need a dedicated spot to discuss the reality of gigging vs. practicing in the bedroom.

It’s one thing to nail a song sitting down at home. It’s another thing to play a 45-minute set standing up, dealing with nerves, gear, stamina, and drummer timing!

So, let’s share our “War Stories” here!

I’m really interested in the practical stuff:

The Setlists: What songs actually fill the floor? (And which ones clear the room?)
Stamina: How do you survive the fast songs live? (I’m currently fighting my way through the 16th notes in Bonamassa’s “Just Got Paid” – a real endurance test!)
Video: If you have a clip of your performance, please link it! We’d love to see you in action.

I will kick this off with a report from my side in the first comment below.

Feel free to use this template:

GIG REPORT

Band/Genre: (e.g. Dad Rock / Blues / Metal / Worship)
The Venue: (Pub / Wedding / Garage Jam)
Gear Used: (Bass, Amp, Pedals)

THE SETLIST (Highlights) (Share the full list or just the key songs)

…
…

WINS (e.g. “My tone cut through perfectly” or “The crowd loved…”)

CHALLENGES / LESSONS (e.g. “My hand cramped up,” “Couldn’t hear the monitor,” etc.)

VIDEO LINK (Optional) (YouTube link etc.)

Can’t wait to read about your gigs – big or small!

Rock on!

Johnnyb · December 31, 2025, 1:11pm

GIG REPORT

Band/Genre: SAMSPELT (Cover band) Rock, Blues, Country
The Venue: Brattestø (Restaurant/Pub in Norway)
Gear Used: Ampeg V3 – IEM

THE SETLIST
First set

Kvinde min (Gasolin’ cover)
Hodet over vannet
This is My Life
Dust Bowl (Bonamassa)
Sharp Dressed Man
Sail Away
Tore Tang (Norwegian song, always make people sing😊)
Sweet Home Alabama
Come Together
Mountain Climbing
Talk to you – Original
Jumping Jack Flash
Second Set
Free Falling
Battleship Chains (Will probably not do it again, but easy song to fill the set)
For Evigt
Sex On Fire
Tougher Than The Rest
Splitter Pine
Neste sommer
Den du veit
Long Train Running
Fading Away – Original
Oh Love
Lodi
Idyll
Levva Livet (Encore/Extra)

WINS First paid job and it was a great gig! Everybody was pleased and we got booked again for next year. The sound guy did a really good job and we are going to use him in the future as well.

CHALLENGES / LESSONS I did not have too many problems with the playing, but I need to help more with backup vocals. I still need to be more confident in my playing, but overall it was a really good job I think.

VIDEO LINK SAMSPELT live på Brattestø 21.06.2025

TheMaartian · December 31, 2025, 2:57pm

Is this true?

Johnnyb · December 31, 2025, 3:06pm

I can neither confirm nor deny that this is a photo of my living room right now. Unfortunately, that pile of money is already mentally spent on new gear. It’s an expensive hobby!

Johnnyb · January 13, 2026, 9:11pm

It seems a bit quiet here, so I’m starting to wonder if I’m the only one who sees a need for a thread like this, or if I simply haven’t searched the forum well enough?

My hope was to gather setlists, live tips, and experiences in one place, but maybe I’m off track.

@SunDog @Barney @TheMadBassist and everybody else.

Do you guys think there is a real need for a dedicated space here for stage tips, gear setups, and gig reports? Or is this perhaps not the right place for it? Personally, I think this topic is so important that it should be its own category!

sunDOG · January 13, 2026, 9:15pm

I’ll post, promise!!

Barney · January 13, 2026, 9:36pm

To be fair he’s been busy, correcting my appalling grammar.

Johnnyb · January 13, 2026, 9:45pm

Hehe

I’m not sure if the specific format I suggested is the best, but I still think the core idea of a thread (or category) about live gigs and experiences is a good one.

sunDOG · January 13, 2026, 9:58pm

Would you be happy to extend this out to include some of the wider ‘challenges’ associated with being in a band?

Johnnyb · January 13, 2026, 10:07pm

Absolutely! That sounds great.

My original post was really just a suggestion to get the ball rolling. I’m totally open to shaping this thread together, so we can figure out what is most useful for everyone.

I honestly don’t think there are many other places with such a friendly atmosphere as BassBuzz, so if we can post something that can help both us and others that’s just great. But then again, that’s obviously just because bass players are the best kind of people!

TheMadBassist · January 19, 2026, 11:24am

Definitely bro, great idea to post here!!

rbmnyc · January 21, 2026, 6:10pm

OK, I’ll play, if only to open the thread to very very newbie performers! I joined the “Beginner Adult Band” at my local School of Rock - we had our first performance last weekend.
Set List:

Blitzkrieg Bop

Take the Money and Run

Sunshine of your Love *

Seven Nation Army *

Island in the Sun

Just Like Heaven

Melt with you

Psycho Killer *

Creep *

Closing Time *

*were the ones that I actually played on, there are two bassists in our band.

Honestly, the show was a little rough, but the audience was very forgiving and it was a total rush. My first time ever making music with other people in front of even more other people. Now I need to go figure out how to play Sabotage for our next show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKOFalK6P_8

Johnnyb · January 21, 2026, 8:54pm

Wow, thanks for sharing! Congrats with your first performance.
Have fun: Sabotage - Beastie Boys… No Pick Required! (tabs and tutorial)

Barney · January 23, 2026, 4:05am

Set list for our next gig.

Black Horse and a Cherry Tree
You Wreck Me
Cocaine Cowgirl
Lovers in a Dangerous Time
2468 Motorway
Sweet Dreams
Can’t Let Go - Key of A (Up a whole step +2)
Mama’s Broken Heart (Key of G)
Hard to Handle
Locked in the trunk of a car
Rolling in the Deep - Key of B flat (Down a whole step -2)
All These Things
Crazy
Please Don’t Stop the Music
Connection
Joker and the Thief

Fortunate Son (Key of G)
Mary Jane’s Last Dance
Blame Brett - Key of D (Down a whole step -2)
All Hell for a Basement
Banditos - Key of F (Up a half step +1)
Lonely Boy - Key of Dm (Down a whole step -2)
Uptown Funk
Rockin’ in the Free World
Enter Sandman
Bad Romance
Jolene
Are you Gonna Go my Way
Dancing with Myself
She Sells Sanctuary
Bliztrieg Bop

Float On

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTVVh_yjbnN/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577364820922

Johnnyb · January 23, 2026, 7:41am

Wow, what a set list! Really looking forward to seeing and hearing this. Hope you share a video soon. Break a leg!