Saturation – ROCK!

So I play in this band called Saturation. We’re a five piece, and I absolutely love it.

Ulla is the lead singer, there’s Jacek and myself on guitar, John on bass and Frank on drums.

We’re only together a few months, but we try and work hard. There is a practice session at least once a week at Frank’s studio just off Abbey Street.

Our rehearsals are very ‘ROCK’. We meet up at around 7:30, when we’ve all had the bit of Michael Winner. We plug in, turn everything up as loud as we can without annoying the neighbours, and lash through the songs we took away the previous week to learn; homework you understand.

After an hour or so, we have a short break. Someone throws the kettle on; the cups of tea come out. We lounge around talking about things like pickups, double kick pedals, Yngwie Malmsteen’s weight fluctuations, Dream Theatre, how amazing Yngwie is, how amazing Vai is, cowbells, German beer and much much more.

After a while we get back to it, have a jam, play a few more songs and break up at around 10:00 to go home… “Feckin’ work tomorrow, have to get the bit of kip”.

The band initially got together because I was offered an opportunity to go and do some gigs in Germany. It came about after a drunken jam session while we were skiing back in March. I committed to the gigs, even though I wasn’t actually in a band at the time. All I knew was that Ulla would sing and that I’d play guitar… and that the beer in Germany is savage stuff.

Got home, and coincidently Frank called me to see if I was interested in setting something up. I jumped at the chance, let’s be honest… I had to jump. With that, I contacted John who I’ve been jamming with one way or another since our college days (ten years ago!), and Saturation was formed. After the first or second jam together, Jacek joined. He was a friend of Frank’s, and they’d jammed together previously.

Anyway, we got a set list together, consisting of mostly classic rock covers with our own unique twist. Germany happened; I couldn’t believe it actually came off. We played some gigs out there, it was an absolute blast.

We were based in Hindelang, a small Bavarian town in the Allgau area. Our mates over there treated the band to a lot of drinking, rock climbing, canoeing, etc. I took part in the drinking and nothing else, but the rest of the group took full advantage. It was an absolutely amazing trip.

Before Germany, we had a gig in Kildare. It was a party in a house. It was our only true gig pre-Germany that the band played. Nevertheless, I was brimming with confidence about the trip.

Anyway, we got back in August, and our next venture is this Saturday night. We’re doing a gig in a place in Dublin City Centre called Zagloba. Should be a blast. I can’t wait!

The band still excites me, because I truly believe we are unique in more than one way. Granted, we cover rock songs that everyone knows. What makes it interesting and different is the fact that Ulla is the lead vocalist, and Jacek and I both play lead guitar in two totally different styles. John and Frank are unbelievably solid, and I really enjoy both of their styles. Frank’s kit takes up most of the small studio we use. He uses every piece of his drum kit though, and I admire his playing greatly.

I was in contact with the crew in Germany today. They want us back to play at the local Biker Club’s Winter party in January. The club is called ‘Easy Living’, and I know a few of the members from my trips out there to ski and recently to play music. Great, great people. We’ll book a few gigs around the party too, to cover our expenses and to make the trip worthwhile; I can’t wait!

So that’s the band. You’ll probably read a lot more about it if you check in here again.

Best wishes,

Tony