Origin of the name "101 Lab Band"|101 Lab Band|Forum|Kevin Downing's Guitar School
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QuoteJason Just said
At the back of the Masonic, my first introduction to the Lab Band, was a great large space (*ahem* some time ago *ahem*: ‘was personally green at the time).
Is the space still used for music? If I remember correctly, there were raised platforms in the corner, Ted’s kit facing into the room and the rest of us facing out to Kevin’s stand and metronome?
Yes, that was a long time ago Jason. Yes, the space is still exactly as Griffy built it, and still used for music, but mainly private parties.
3:01 pm
July 9, 2013
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Kevin Downing said
Dawn, before St Peters we used to rehearse at the Cheers Bar in Main St (part of the Masonic Hotel), which was perfect. A it was (still is) a great room designed specifically for music. When we finished rehearsing we just shot next door to the bar for our next cup of tea. 🙂I think we always had the name Lab Band, but would refer to it as the performance group. The Lab Band is our stage name, but most people called it the Performance Group. I think I used to as well. 🙂
At the back of the Masonic, my first introduction to the Lab Band, was a great large space (*ahem* some time ago *ahem*: ‘was personally green at the time).
Is the space still used for music? If I remember correctly, there were raised platforms in the corner, Ted’s kit facing into the room and the rest of us facing out to Kevin’s stand and metronome?
9:09 am
March 8, 2024
OfflineI’ve been in the band for (roughly) 6 years now. Not as long as some – but I wonder if I win the prize for most instruments played in our concerts?: Tenor-Saxophone, Guitar, Bass. If not, I’ll have to sing a number and ask Ted to let me have a go on the drum-kit (I do that too).
🙂
3:22 pm
September 5, 2014
OfflineInteresting, thank you, and I take your point about the different levels of players involved. That was what sparked the thought for me actually, with all the current references to “XXX 101” meaning the most basic level, which the Lab Band certainly is not!
Dawn, before St Peters we used to rehearse at the Cheers Bar in Main St (part of the Masonic Hotel), which was perfect. A it was (still is) a great room designed specifically for music. When we finished rehearsing we just shot next door to the bar for our next cup of tea. 🙂
I think we always had the name Lab Band, but would refer to it as the performance group. The Lab Band is our stage name, but most people called it the Performance Group. I think I used to as well. 🙂
In 2000 when I joined the group we just called ourselves the ‘Performance group’. My first rehearsal was at Saint Peter’s College music room, and Graeme Lovejoy took us for a few years. I enjoyed it a lot and learnt heaps. My first concerts were at Saint Peter’s College Hall. I think we began thinking about a more interesting name around 2002? I am now wondering how long the group has been known as the ‘101 Lab Band’?
The Lab band started around 1987, so nearly 30 years at this point in time. Many players have gone onto much bigger things from this band. An interesting statistic is at one stage (around the mid 90s early 20s) it was around 80% female, including a female bassist and drummer. 
The name comes from the university world when we had a few Lab bands going – 101, 201, and 301 Bands. And Lab Band is also a university term for a band rehearsal. Like scientists go to the lab to rehearse their experiments, we go to the hall (lab) to rehearse our songs. Today we only have one band going, and it is made up of many different levels of players because it is a bit difficult to get enough players.
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