First gig *ever*! Critique, mock, etc, please

dazole · #1 10-08-2010, 07:45 AM

My band had our first ever gig on the 2nd. A little house party with about 30-ish people. This was the first time *any* of us have ever played in front of anybody, *ever*. We're by no means the best band out there, hell, some could say we suck pretty bad, lol!

We'd actually like to start playing dive bars, etc soon, which is the purpose for this post. If I could offend your ears/eyes for a brief time, can you take a look at some of the video and offer some advice on things we need to work on? Sound, stage presence, getting tighter on the songs, etc. Any constructive criticism/advice/warning is welcome.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePausentoss

Thank you!!

David

tigerbass · #2 10-08-2010, 08:02 AM

While it's certainly not necessary to play things exact, I do feel that certain songs with "signature" parts or licks or whatever should have said parts done at least close...or even better if you are capable. That's what I always try to shoot for.
I kinda lost it at the first guitar solo breakdown at the beginning.

big90sbasshorns · #3 10-08-2010, 08:04 AM

I thought it was really tight and the sound was really good, the vocals were crisp and you could hear all of the band members. My only word of caution would be that to me it sounded like the singer was really pushing his voice to the limit more often than not.

Does that make sense? He's on key, but it sounded like there's just a little too much "steam" behind it. I know when the adrenalin's going it's hard to avoid - but if you guys start playing out in bars and he's pushing vocals that hard over the course of a standard 3 hour set things could end in disaster.

I've tried to push a few times for my bands singer to get vocal lessons/coaching so he could learn how to properly sing with the same intensity without running the risk of destroying his voice by the end of the night.

Gunnerhea86 · #4 10-08-2010, 08:10 AM

yep ... looks exactly like my first show. you look a little rigid (as did i my first gig). take a shot or two of your favorite liquor. not so much that you're drunk and sloppy., just enough to loosen you up a little bit. ROCK ON!!!!!!!!!

tigerbass · #5 10-08-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big90sbasshorns

I thought it was really tight and the sound was really good, the vocals were crisp and you could hear all of the band members. My only word of caution would be that to me it sounded like the singer was really pushing his voice to the limit more often than not.

Does that make sense? He's on key, but it sounded like there's just a little too much "steam" behind it. I know when the adrenalin's going it's hard to avoid - but if you guys start playing out in bars and he's pushing vocals that hard over the course of a standard 3 hour set things could end in disaster.

I've tried to push a few times for my bands singer to get vocal lessons/coaching so he could learn how to properly sing with the same intensity without running the risk of destroying his voice by the end of the night.

+10000

Chasarms · #6 10-08-2010, 08:28 AM

You did ask for opinions,

I didn't listen to everything, but the bits I did I thought the sound is really good, and the band is fairly tight.

I agree that the singer is pushing. He will destroy his voice as you play longer and more frequently. I also thought he was off-pitch when he strained.

I would suggest that you and the guitarist make every effort to learn to play without looking at your fingerboard. IMO, there is nothing less interesting than looking at the tops of heads.

snyderz · #7 10-08-2010, 08:29 AM

Good job. Instead of a scarf, try a rubber chicken on the mic stand though.

sammyfallen · #8 10-08-2010, 08:38 AM

Keep playing Danzig Tunes. You guys got them down and the singer sounds great at it. It's hard to do a convincing danzig and he does it VERY well.

Kevin.Kevin · #9 10-08-2010, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

I would suggest that you and the guitarist make every effort to learn to play without looking at your fingerboard

First thing I thought. Specially the guitarist. Nerves aside just loosen up. How many times have you played those tunes, you probably got them down pretty solid. So just shake it out, make eye contact with the audience, with each other. And laugh and smile at the good and the bad.

Bassdirty · #10 10-08-2010, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chasarms

IMO, there is nothing less interesting than looking at the tops of heads.

Depends on whos head....and why. (get it?

)

But seriously...not bad.
I agree with the whole learning to play without lookin at the bass...I still do it time to time...and sometime gotta remind myself...that theres a crowd (better yet , hot chicks

) to be lookin at.

Flatwound · #11 10-08-2010, 08:48 AM

Turn up the bass!

j/k. If that's your first gig, your future looks bright. Some stage presence might be nice, although I'm not very good at hopping around like a nut while I'm playing, either. Fortunately, my guit*rists handle that for us. I'm working on being more animated.

That Traben sounds good.

RNV · #12 10-08-2010, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyfallen

Keep playing Danzig Tunes. You guys got them down and the singer sounds great at it. It's hard to do a convincing danzig and he does it VERY well.

+1 Nobody covers Danzig.

ericw · #13 10-08-2010, 08:53 AM

I don't think your bass is quite low enough...

dazole · #14 10-08-2010, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tigerbass

While it's certainly not necessary to play things exact, I do feel that certain songs with "signature" parts or licks or whatever should have said parts done at least close...or even better if you are capable. That's what I always try to shoot for.
I kinda lost it at the first guitar solo breakdown at the beginning.

Hmm. Which song? If it was "Am I Evil", yeah, the guitarist knows he mucked up the first solo part. Nerves and all that, lol! If you don't mind being tortured a bit more, could you listen to one or two of the other songs? Pretty please?

RE: Looking at the bass/guitar: We're working on it, lol! On that note, the whole "just imagine the audience in their underwear" did *not* work. Too many hot chicks (related to band members

) and dudes.

RE: Stage presence: Definitely something we need to work on.

RE: Vocal straining: I'll make sure I let the singer know

RE: All the compliments: Thank you so much!!!

Demon_Hunter · #15 10-08-2010, 07:39 PM

You guys don't suck but you are boring to watch...move around, look at each and laugh and smile....there's no reason to be nervous. None. Period.

Pretty much agree with everyone else. Get your singer to sing correctly so he doesn't trash his voice.

ric3xrt · #16 10-09-2010, 11:07 AM

My only input has to agree with every one about the singer

bobm2112 · #17 10-09-2010, 12:01 PM

The cover of Twist of Cane was very nice. If I can pinpoint one weakness, it would be the drummer. He needs to work on his tempo especially when it comes to time changes. In am I evil going into the fast section, he was FLYING.

Good job though

I wish my first band sounded this good on our first gig

Jim Dep · #18 10-09-2010, 01:05 PM

Good job!

I don't know the tune, but it reminded me of old Black Sabbath.

I admit I lose patience in need of instant gratification, but I'd say the intro was too long and repetitious. Before the singer started, I'm thinking "next". For your first gig, this was a good start. Suggest all band members grow your hair down to your elbows, wear robes or purple wizard coats and work on stage presence. Do bands still do this? Harmony is always a good thing if not overdone. Maybe losing the scarves on the mic stand and replacing them with a hanging vintage Pee Wee Herman doll would be more original.

Your's was better than my first gig. I think I was 15 or so and playing in front of my high school peers at "the quad" before lunch.
It was outside, wintertime, and even in California and my hands were freezing.

Like you, I really looked forward to playing dive bars. The main reason because they always had electro mechanical pinball machines back then and I was a pinball addict.

stepswork4me · #19 10-09-2010, 05:15 PM

I'll be honest so please don't take offense. It was sloppy. My first gig was too. If everyone works on their timing it'll help tighten things up. Maybe, have each member do the count on different songs and not vocally. Use your instruments. Also, learn to connect with your audience. You guys have the music to connect you to each other the audience is relying on you to create a connection to them. Just my 2 cents.

Adam Bomb · #20 10-09-2010, 08:47 PM

IMO, for everybody's first gig ever, it was fine. More than fine. That was an ambitious set.

I couldn't tell how close the crowd was to you but IME not as many people like to be deafened as you might think.

Keep practicing and rehearsing (and know the difference between the two).

Did you have fun?

--Bomb

p.s. The fact that you are asking for feedback says more about your potential than the gig does. IMO.