Palers' Band in Westbury NY, July 2014 • Musicians' sign-up page

Procol Harum

Beyond
the Pale

Palers' Band in Westbury, July 2014

Musicians' sign-up page (now closed)

Thanks to everyone who has signed up. Looks as though we have a very nice bunch of talents once again!
Please be patient while we sort out the data; keep an eye on your e-mail box for some news and a proper welcome message [RC]

This is the page where you sign up if you'd like to play in the Palers' Band in July 2014 at Westbury NY ... at the afternoon convention, and perhaps also at the post-show party. Please fill it all in, even if we already know you're coming.

The Palers' Band is a 'scratch ensemble' that meets to play Procol music on the fringes of the real band's prestigious gigs: it is open to all-comers – subject to the constraints of rehearsal space – and is brilliant fun to be part of. In 2014 we're playing at Mirelle's, in Westbury, Long Island on Saturday 12 July, but rehearsing – at a suitable volume – in a private house in the residential Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn, NY (there's an informal 'unplugged' second rehearsal space at the same property, so in a sense we can double the rehearsal period by having two songs in preparation at the same time). There's a terraced area where we'll have a barbecue, weather permitting. Should be very nice!

This rehearsal house is about 60 minutes away from Mirelle's in Westbury by car, or 90 minutes by public transit: Palers' Band Basecamp Hotel accommodation is within walking distance of the rehearsal house, and a mere subway ride away from the Procol show in Manhattan on July 11. We expect that most people (unless they live close by) will want to check into the hotel on Wednesday 9 July, so as to be ready for an early rehearsal start on Thursday 10 July.

Read all the Convention details here. Most equipment – backline, PA, keyboards, bass, drums – will be supplied, but people bring their own guitars and so forth. Discounted hotel accommodation has been arranged while we rehearse: details here

There will just two rehearsal-days (not the four or so we've been accustomed to on the last few outings), so please don't sign up unless you can be there all the time. Because space and time are limited, there will be a limit on the population of the 2014 Palers' Band.

We start rehearsing first thing in the morning on Thursday 10 July – everyone will know in advance what songs they're playing, and will have practised on their own, so we'll be looking to assemble each song quite quickly. On Friday 11 July we rehearse intensively until it's time to leave for Procol Harum's gig in Manhattan. We pack up the gear, ready for transport, before leaving for the gig. Saturday 12 July sees the PA installed in the Westbury venue, the instruments and backline being driven over there, and everyone assembling for line-check / sound-check as early as possible. We hope to run through enough songs so that everyone will have pre-party experience of the venue, but there won't be time to play each song before the other party-goers arrive. This is back to the guerrilla-ethic of early Palers' Band shows – Guildford, Kristiansand, Manchester for example – very exciting!

Once you've stated, by filling in the form below, that you're available, please treat this as a commitment, and don't screw up the planning by being unobtainable when others are relying on you! Please write to us (webmaster@procolharum.com) if you have special requirements of any sort.

Please do be aware that you'll need to buy a Convention ticket, like all who attend – but we shall ensure that a ticket is held for each band member, so don't worry about losing out in the booking rush.

The Palers' Band isn't a free-for-all jam: the repertoire is worked out in advance (by e-mail – not least using a dedicated mailing-list that will serve all Palers' Band members – and Skype collaboration) and organised by Roland from BtP taking into account the preferences that the participants express in the form below. Given the limited rehearsal time together, players will need to do their homework. That said, we do have a lot of fun in rehearsal as well :-)

Before you fill in the fields below, you might like to read The Palers' Band page and find out all the songs (scroll down) we've done on the previous seven occasions we've got together.

Please answer all these questions with careful thought. The information will allow us to plan a good time for everyone, so that everyone enjoys the event to the maximum.

Your name (of course all this contact information is kept private by 'Beyond the Pale')

Your e-mail address

Your cell-phone number

Your Skype address / screen-name (free voice-to-voice communication will be very useful in the lead-up to rehearsal: get Skype here (it's free!))

Your town / city / county / state / country, and landline 'phone number

Use the scrolling windows below to tell us what instruments you play, or don't play, and about your singing. Please answer for ALL instruments, even if the answer is 'I don't play this'.

Don't 'big up' – or play down – your skills. You will be welcome whatever your standard, of course; but we need your self-estimate, so as to schedule who will play what songs with whom.

Piano (Roland piano provided)

Hammond organ (a digital Hammond)

Guitar (bring your own guitar: backline gear provided)

Bass guitar (backline gear provided, bring your own bass)

Drums (a suitable kit provided)

Singing (you're welcome to bring your preferred mic, but it's not necessary)

In this space, mention other instruments you can bring (reeds, brass, banjo, harmonica, accordion, percussion, etc) and
how well you play them; it's fun to make much use of extra musical colouration.

What is your favourite Procol Harum album?

Suggest a couple of songs that you would like the Palers' Band to consider playing [inc. rarities]

Mention previous Palers' Band gigs you have played (cut'n'paste from: Guildford 2000 / Kristiansand 2001 / Manchester 2001 / Los Angeles 2003 / Lejre 2006 / London 2007 / Wuppertal 2013)

To what extent do you want to be involved in these sessions?

How often do you visit 'Beyond the Pale'?

Thanks for taking the trouble to fill in this survey. Please don't send the info in, though, unless you're happy for what we do to be recorded and perhaps released in some form to defray Convention expenses.

Please press 'Send data to BtP' just once and wait for the page to respond, or 'Start afresh' if for some reason you wish to reset all your answers.

Don't click the button more than once, please.

Thanks to Piers Warren

Westbury convention main page