Young kids trying to keep the blues alive :]

dyuaru · #1 03-01-2009, 11:52 PM

We're a bunch of high school kids who love playing and listening to blues, jazz, soul and all that great stuff. We're trying to keep the blues alive by playing a bunch of shows around the school and at events, get the kids to appreciate

And if my bass playing and singing are mediocre I blame it on my poor multi-tasking skills

Anyways, hope you guys enjoy!

http://www.myspace.com/publictransportationband

Stumbo · #2 03-04-2009, 01:38 AM

Here's a link that may help you out:
Hey, Am N00b

I suggest that you stick to one style of music per song, whether it be blues, R&B, etc.

Since you sing and play bass, there's potential there but I think you might have to get with some musicians that are above your level so you can progress.

Here's some good blues to listen to and learn from: I have a blues gig coming up.... I have never played the blues...

Good luck.

watspan · #3 03-04-2009, 05:30 PM

you guys seem to be having fun! Keep it up!

Toastfuzz · #4 03-11-2009, 11:49 AM

Hey I love it man. Vocals sound very Jim Morrison-esque. Props on singing and playing at the same time, I wish I would get that down. Lover Not a Saint is probably my favorite you got up there, keep up the good work.

DWBass · #5 03-11-2009, 12:22 PM

Wow! I dig it big time! For your ages, I think you guys are fine. As you get older your playing will mature and you guys will get real tight groovewise.

burk48237 · #6 03-11-2009, 07:58 PM

Very cool, and you already tighter then the Doors!

I hear a lot of local original bands in Detroit of College and post college age kids that couldn't keep up with you. Of course have the bands here are trying to sound like the White Stripes. I dig your sound a lot, keep at it. Their isn't a whole lot of musicianship in today's music, but you guys have some.

sedan_dad · #7 03-14-2009, 06:11 AM

I listen to all three numbers and I don't hear the blues as I know it.
I hear jazz , fusion and funk. You do a great job at that.
No disrespect implied at all.
Have you checked out John Lee, Buddy Guy or The Wolf?
Don't ever quit. You really have something there.

Disappear · #8 03-14-2009, 07:13 AM

The horns really give it a sense of realism as opposed to those bands who do TOP/Chicago covers without horns.

Keep it up man.

finalrequiem · #9 03-14-2009, 07:46 AM

+1 I dug it...

CRONOS · #10 03-14-2009, 07:55 AM

I love it.

you guys are awesome

WRBass · #11 03-14-2009, 07:56 AM

Very good. The vocals and bass are great.

Kenny Allyn · #12 03-14-2009, 08:03 AM

GREAT STUFF!!!

One means of support is to get with others of a like mind, join your local Blues Society

The Blues Foundation sponsors the International Blues Competition or IBC as it's known a yearly event held in Febuary of every year right here in Memphis

Click HERE to find one in your area

Here is a list of the local California societys

http://www.blues.org/affiliates/map.php4?State=CA

... Keepin the blues alive is what it's all about!

dyuaru · #13 03-14-2009, 05:08 PM

woah I totally forgot about this thread as no one replied to it after the first day or two i posted.

I'm not too proud of the recordings we have up there since they were just made as audition tracks for our school battle of the bands.
Addressing the main comments to our sound, yeah I agree that we can't really call ourselves blues. We don't play many blues progressions at all and most of our songs are lick based funk type stuff. That's probably cause main influences are funk and soul but we're trying to work out some bluesier pieces right now though so sorry about the incorrect title, maybe it should "young kids trying to keep the funk alive" :]

We wanted to get a sound like early chicago but I guess it never turned out that way. We just added an awesome trumpet player and hopefully that'll change things up a little bit.

Thanks for the comments! We'll definitely keep progressing and getting music out there. We're getting ready to record our first demo cd so stay tuned for that

dyuaru · #14 03-14-2009, 11:50 PM

One thing, what do you guys suggest we should do to expand our creativity cause thats what I think is really lacking in the band right now.

Practically all of the songs are driven by basslines and its starting to get repetitive. We're trying to do more progression instead of lick based stuff but its a little difficult as the guitarist is a bit lacking. We just added a trumpet player hoping to add a new dynamic and element of creativity in there and its working out quite well but are there any things that you guys do to help stimulate creativity?

Also, what's your take on the genre thing. We play (or attempt to play) a couple different genres including funk, jazz, blues, rock. Do you think its a band thing to play all these different genres as its harder to get one centralized audience?

Thanks again for all the critique and comments!

WRBass · #15 03-15-2009, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyuaru

Also, what's your take on the genre thing. We play (or attempt to play) a couple different genres including funk, jazz, blues, rock. Do you think its a band thing to play all these different genres as its harder to get one centralized audience?

Try not to get pigeonholed into a genre. You will stand out more if you are a little different than what's expected. I like that gray area between jazz, blues, and funk.

dyuaru · #16 03-20-2009, 08:25 PM

Thanks yeah I like that we're able to play a variety of genres, keeps things interesting.

What do you guys suggest for getting more creativity in the group? I was thinking of doing a couple cover songs to practice and get ideas from.

timmbass · #17 03-20-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyuaru

What do you guys suggest for getting more creativity in the group?

Don't try to be creative. Listen and be honest with your passion. That's what creativity is. The truly original are not trying to be original. And often the truly original are simply mixing existing styles in some new way.

Eric Clapton says that his original guitar playing is simply his failure to copy Muddy Waters.

Chuck Berry is simply blues faster to a different beat, and then Jimi Hendirx is that same blues in a different way.

The RHCP is simply a mix of different styles. Flea is simply a mix of funk and rnb and rock.

Write. Sing. Play.

dyuaru · #18 03-21-2009, 12:00 PM

Sorry if I was misunderstood but I didn't mean like breaking away from what was already done but more like getting new ideas that are different from what we've done before as a band cause a lot of our songs are coming out sounding the same.

But yeah definitely we're gonna follow what the greats back in the day did with our own little twists. Thats why I think playing a couple blues classics would help since it'd get us to think like they did and put our own spin on what the greats did.

Any other ideas?

Stumbo · #19 03-22-2009, 12:43 PM

Here are a few links to check out that may help:

Slow Blues bassline help needed! Slow blues
http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdiction...ogression.html Blues progressions explained w/ audio samples
I have a blues gig coming up.... I have never played the blues... Blues gig coming up

Recommend some old school blues. Influential blues musicians (mostly) pre-1959
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues History

http://www.amazon.com/Blues-Bass-Jon.../dp/0793586682 "Blues Bass" by TB member Jonster (John Liebman)
Looking for some Blues books Blues books
http://www.amazon.com/Razor-Sharp-Bl.../dp/B000PHU7J2 "101 Razor-Sharp Blues Turnarounds by Larry McCabe
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Rhyth...ref=pd_sim_b_1 "Complete Rhythm Guitar Guide for Blues Bands" by Larry McCabe

Also, check out the link in my sig. for a whole bunch of other great info.