Anyone doing Drum&Bass msuic live?

[brianrost]

I'm thinking of trying to start a band with two percussionists I know. We currently play in a sextet together but I have given my notice.

I'd like to keep working with these guys as we have a lot of fun playing together and thought of a live drum and bass outfit but I'm not sure I'm up to the challenge of being the only melodic instrument (I would be able to fill things out a bit with synths and samplers).

I'd love to hear from anyone who is actually doing this type of thing. Particularly interested in discussing developing repertoire, where have you found gigs, etc.

[Kgoodrich]

pendulum.



lol.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by brianrost

I'd love to hear from anyone who is actually doing this type of thing. Particularly interested in discussing developing repertoire, where have you found gigs, etc.

Hi Brian,

I used to do this pretty regularly when I had a sympatico club owner nearby. I switched off to guitar and guitar synth to add a few more flavors to the pot occasionally. In my experience, the vocal aspect is likely to be a make or break element. I used processed vocals a fair amount, and found that singing bass lines or other pseudo-instrument parts helped a lot in keeping an audience engaged.

For me, the best part of that format is how open ended it is. Since I've played with the drummer in question for over 15 years we could work with no set list and take things in any direction on a whim. Miles-->Maneater-->The Sign ? No worries...

Have fun, and write when you get work!

[Visirale]

Originally Posted by brianrost

I'm thinking of trying to start a band with two percussionists I know. We currently play in a sextet together but I have given my notice.

I'd like to keep working with these guys as we have a lot of fun playing together and thought of a live drum and bass outfit but I'm not sure I'm up to the challenge of being the only melodic instrument (I would be able to fill things out a bit with synths and samplers).

I'd love to hear from anyone who is actually doing this type of thing. Particularly interested in discussing developing repertoire, where have you found gigs, etc.

Are you talking about drum&bass the genre or an ensemble with just drums and bass?

If the former, I'd suggest you get a keyboard... No matter what synth pedals you get, you'll never come close to emulating real analog synthesizers or virtual analogs. Tracking is why I hate bass guitar synths... it keeps anything from sounding legitimate. Maybe a midi pickup wired into Reason. That should give you a lot of versatility. Still, keyboards are the tried and true medium in this genre.

If the latter, I can't offer too much advice.

[MakiSupaStar]

I play dub reggae with a drummer. Basically we're a rhythm section with a DJ. The DJ helps. We have jammed some drum and bass stuff before.

[jomahu]

what's your music gonna sound like? that might determine if you need another instrument or not.

[Taylor Livingston]

Check out Nerve with Jojo Mayer on drums:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvUbl...eature=related

There are many videos of these guys on Youtube. Their bass player is on TB, also; his TB name is johndavisnyc I believe. They are not doing straight-ahead DnB, but it is certainly a major part of their music. I think John does a great job getting DnB-style synth basslines on his Jazz, using relatively few pedals.

Edit: reading back over your post, I, like others above me, am unsure whether you are talking about the genre known as drum and bass, or just music using only drums and bass. These are distinct, so if you clear that up you might get better responses.

[brianrost]

Yeah, I was thinking about live D&B (the electronic style) with real bass and some electronics for flavoring. The percussionists are both into ethnic musics...one is into Greek/Turkish/Arabic stuff, the other Celtic and jazz. We get nice grooves going in the sextet but I know not everyone is going to want to listen to killer grooves for 3 hours straight The idea of some vocals is a good one, actually. I'm not afraid of making a fool of myself on mike

[Mon Rominee]

Dude, Jojo is the BEST. He's amazing. Brian, to answer your question, not yet, but I am working on it. I am producing some tracks for a guy to drop lyrics on...think Roni Size meets Squarepusher....but with some real melodic rap on top. I know not totally "new and fresh", but exciting just the same.

I wish I knew a drummer that could hang like Jojo. I watch his videos constantly.

Also, Maki, where can I get some of your tunes? I can't connect to your MySpace link in yer proflie for some reason....

R

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by brianrost

Yeah, I was thinking about live D&B (the electronic style) with real bass and some electronics for flavoring. The percussionists are both into ethnic musics...one is into Greek/Turkish/Arabic stuff, the other Celtic and jazz. We get nice grooves going in the sextet but I know not everyone is going to want to listen to killer grooves for 3 hours straight The idea of some vocals is a good one, actually. I'm not afraid of making a fool of myself on mike

Cool. My band does do a substantial bit of electronica, but it's really more like drums and bass in the literal sense, as we also do jazz, hippie jam style stuff, country, metal, etc. But we don't use sequencers, drum or bass machines, or set lists for that matter.

[Matt Till]

Originally Posted by conical johnson

Check out Nerve with Jojo Mayer on drums:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvUbl...eature=related

There are many videos of these guys on Youtube. Their bass player is on TB, also; his TB name is johndavisnyc I believe. They are not doing straight-ahead DnB, but it is certainly a major part of their music. I think John does a great job getting DnB-style synth basslines on his Jazz, using relatively few pedals.

Edit: reading back over your post, I, like others above me, am unsure whether you are talking about the genre known as drum and bass, or just music using only drums and bass. These are distinct, so if you clear that up you might get better responses.

Will Jojo Mayer & Nerve have a album at any point? There has been little info of this. Why they wouldn't record such genius is beyond me.

[jomahu]

duh, just realized you're in boston. can i be in your band?

no really, two percussionists and two bassists.......just think of the possibilities....

[Taylor Livingston]

Originally Posted by brianrost

Yeah, I was thinking about live D&B (the electronic style) with real bass and some electronics for flavoring. The percussionists are both into ethnic musics...one is into Greek/Turkish/Arabic stuff, the other Celtic and jazz.

This sounds like a recipe for awesome to me. If you haven't, you should check out some music by Afro Celts, Tabla Beat Science, and Bill Laswell's work in general. These people have made some very cool music fusing many world styles and electronic music, and they might help you get some idea of how to combine all your talents and interests into something interesting. I don't know what your audience is typically like, but you might find that people are very interested in hearing music like this. It probably wouldn't play well to biker crowds, but I believe there is an audience for music like this, I would think particularly so in a city like Boston.

Originally Posted by Matt Till

Will Jojo Mayer & Nerve have a album at any point? There has been little info of this. Why they wouldn't record such genius is beyond me.

Try sending John Davis a PM. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/member.php?u=107793

I agree that they should put out a record, but I also think some of the wow factor will be lessened on a record. They make great music, of course, but part of what's great is watching them do this stuff you hear on electronic albums all live without sequencers or prerecorded loops.

[evilgus]

Interesting stuff, any updates on progress?

My current band is trying something vaguely similar, although our core music is probably more a mix of Indian-influenced funk/pop and Jeff Buckley-influenced rockier material. (We formed out of a J.B Tribute band, so that makes sense!)

Current instruments include bass and Chapman Stick (yours truly), drums, guitar, vocals, keyboards, Indian Harmonium and an electronic "Raagini" drone module. Am also considering getting an electronic Tabla unit for extra percussion solos and some quieter Stick accompaniment. It's all a lot of fun!

Cheers,

EG

[jomahu]

Originally Posted by evilgus

Interesting stuff, any updates on progress?

My current band is trying something vaguely similar, although our core music is probably more a mix of Indian-influenced funk/pop and Jeff Buckley-influenced rockier material. (We formed out of a J.B Tribute band, so that makes sense!)

Current instruments include bass and Chapman Stick (yours truly), drums, guitar, vocals, keyboards, Indian Harmonium and an electronic "Raagini" drone module. Am also considering getting an electronic Tabla unit for extra percussion solos and some quieter Stick accompaniment. It's all a lot of fun!

Cheers,

EG

that sound awesome, man! i love mixed up stuff...hence that band i play in.