Classic Progressive Rock Tribute needs Bass

learning curve · #1 01-15-2012, 10:38 AM

Downing Grey a Tribute to Classic Prog is looking to refill our bassist position. Band is 90% we were looking at gig's and an agency that is waiting... Now we have to get back on track and as fast as we can.
We are searching for a very talented musician that also has a good harmony vocal ability.
Much to talk about, please check some of the other video's on youtube. They are mostly just practice room work but you'll get an idea of who we are quickly.
The Official Downing Grey Home Page

Downing Grey - Firth of Fifth guitar solo (Genesis cover) - YouTube

UPstate NY Capital District-Central NY area.
Thanks

randydecker@roadrunner.com

JINGLES · #2 01-15-2012, 07:01 PM

DO YOU HAVE GIGS?

learning curve · #3 01-15-2012, 08:28 PM

Cancelled them for now. Had to. We know the agencies involved and many of the theater and club owners as well. Its better to be honest rather than have them hear rumors....

With this band it is so easy to schedule gigs for when we are ready. ....I understand your question... and not being a wise ass at all... but it just does not apply quite the same in this case.

Do you have the skills? If so, you should contact us and start a discussion. That would be the best way to learn what this project is all about and where it is. If I don't get this going again soon there will be no band so (bassists out there) don't wait to long.

Ya see four other members with the talent to do what they can do, can easily find work with anyone, if you see my point. We are doing this because we love the music and have found a concept that we believe will keep us working. We even have our own sound company and Bus. The bus will be sold soon. So lots to consider. A lot more than just gig's.

I figure I have about another month or so to place someone in this band before we dissband..If I loose one more it may be too hard to replace two at a time.... With the talent that is here if we can find a bassist who can get up to speed real fast this can be gigging in April depending on everyones schedules... perhaps faster. This is a serious and professional band who had to fire its Berkeley trained bassist. We were just about ready to go and had dates set for next month... this has put us back some...

Someone please help me out here, if you can't find the time youself, perhaps you know of someone? send em my way, would ya.

BTW ...It is nice to see an active site filled with actual musicians! Some sites seem to have a lot of posers and sarcastic members and not much else.

Thanks everyone.

icbarbour · #4 01-16-2012, 05:02 AM

It's a real shame you're about 3 hours too far north. Good luck in your search.

learning curve · #5 01-16-2012, 07:17 AM

Yes, well considering our guitarist drives a little over 2 hours from Newburg NY and our keyboardist lives in Delaware you'd be you'd be making the second longest trip of the bunch.

Might make for an interesting topic actually, but these guy's all feel this music played well is so rare anymore and so much fun that if you look at it like you were driving to a job then it all makes sense. 2 hours a day 5 days a week...(for years) to do something you most likly are not happy doing in comparison with driving 6 hours once every two weeks (three or four times) and from then your just driving to gig's. And after a while the agency has us in Canada and who knows where. What diference will it make where any of us live anymore once this happens? Its just the place you want to go back to. And for some of us that may change anyway.

Thanks for dropping a note though at least you did think about it. This is encouraging!

JINGLES · #6 01-16-2012, 02:27 PM

OK,THIS IS JJ JOHNSON AGAIN THE ONE WHO SAID DO YOU HAVE GIGS..WE SHOULD TALK.I MAY BE THE BASS PLAYER YOU WANT.CALL ME.THANKS 218-281-3553,OR 701-330-3614..EMAIL JHNSNJINGLES@AOL.COM.I LIKE A BAND WITH A BUS.SEE YA

learning curve · #7 01-16-2012, 05:51 PM

Well this is great and we can certainly talk but your location some 18 or more hours away in Northern Minn. makes this very dificult to be workable, and you really should get involved for a love of this music and not just because we have gig's.

Anyway look over the material, if as you say; your not familiar with Yes or early Genesis or the other bands we cover.... no this is not just Rock & Roll, it is a little more complex than that.

But if you can do this trip somehow and still have an interest, well we can certainly talk. And I seriously appreciate your enthusiasm.... I can tell you it will be difficult for me to ask all the guy's in the band and travel here for someone who is just bitting off more than is really realistic. 3 hours is one thing but this is a little much you have to admit.

Take a look at the set lists first... Until then please just email me at home and lets work this all out first.

Still very much on the hunt. Thanks for seriously looking at this

learning curve · #8 01-17-2012, 07:34 AM

I think perhaps I have failed to mention we have original music and we do intend to have that become a big part of our focus. We intend to build a working, bill paying tribute band first.... so we can relax and make our orginals the way we want them. everything we have experiemented with so far has that great, Big Stage, sound. Some have the classic era vibe too. We need a bassist to book the shows again. Agency is here and waiting for us to produce a sellable show. We have the music on our end. We just need someone to walk in and play the music, we can have this togehter and running very very fast with the right talent on the big strings.
Look.... the odds are your not going to live next door to me. Can someone think out of the box for a minute... This may require a long drive (but only for a couple of practices) but the pay off is real. And if you love the music.... hey what's the value of doing what you love for a living for the rest of your life?? This band can gig pretty dam fast if someone can bring this lst position back. This is not a difficult band to work with at all. In fact it was our Bassist that has been toxic from the beginning. We have some serious talent, We have the drive to take this on the road and tour but we can't wait for ever.
Thanks to everyone who has emailed.

learning curve · #9 04-30-2012, 10:40 PM

Took to long to find anyone, tried to patch things up with our problem bassist, but this along with other damage and baggage ultimately put in motion by this guy, cause so many new problems and bitterness it forced my volutary but reluctant departure from this project as the bands lead vocalist and second guitar.

I have given the WebSite to the band, contact them if your a vocalist they need one bad... I hold no anymosity toward them, I wish them well they are very good with the music.

Contact me directly if your in need of a fairly talented lead vocalist that can sing a great deal of the classic progressive rock catalog from anyone of that era. I am looking for a full fledged tribute project that is planning on taking their concept as far as it can go.
randydecker(at)roadrunner.com