Change in musical direction?

[Casey C.]

Has anyone felt like the wanted to try something new or out of the ordinary music wise?

I play in a cover band that plays 90's - current rock songs, it's been done over and over by other groups. I'm enjoying playing in the group I'm in but I think its just because I like playing live and playing music.

I've had an experimental itch lately and I've been looking for ideas to look into. Nothing really genre specific. Electronic/rock, country/rock, rap/country, traditional Irish folk/Swedish death metal?

So what I'm asking is does anyone do anything outside of the box (any genre)? how does it go over from a local band perspective (if you play out)?

[JimK]

Finding like-wise minded people for "outside the box"...tough.
You will need decent players that do not rely on gigging for their cash.
For awhile, I got lucky...we played mostly original R&B-ish jazzy material...which, at times, veered into some "out"/free playing. The covers we played were ones not normally heard.
On a whole, we went over pretty OK (not in the $ sense, though).
What this did, though-
Some guys I played with in the '80s wanted to start up an Oldies band ('60s-'70s'-80s Pop). At first, it was kinda cool playing tunes that I grew up with...after a few months, I could not handle it & split. Playing mostly originals with some "out" playing spoiled me.
So now, I sit at home...practicing for another chance that probably will never come.

[ksandvik]

I once took a bass gig in a band whose elevator pitch was to play obscure songs by well-known bands/artists that were hard to play and took time to rehearse. It was fun for a year but the playlist slowly evolved into known songs by known artists/bands that didn't need any rehearsals. So I left.

Anyway, the only constant is change in this business.

[topo morto]

Great thing with modern recording tech is... you can do it yourself (unless you really need the social aspect!)

Once you have a better idea where these dark voices are instructing you to go, you'll be in a better position to find people bound that way...

[Casey C.]

Originally Posted by topo morto

Great thing with modern recording tech is... you can do it yourself (unless you really need the social aspect!)

Once you have a better idea where these dark voices are instructing you to go, you'll be in a better position to find people bound that way...

That's the problem because one day they're telling me to do bad-ass rock/metal and another I was thinking of a Christmas music band to play at holiday parties.

I bet people would love to have a live band for their holiday parties and I'm sure business parties would pay well.

I've also considered just exploring with software sequencers like fruity loops to please my creativity side... but it seems I don't have enough time in a day to sit and do that so I didn't get very far.

[kraigo]

My friends who play in Cajun bands and brass bands and Polka bands all get a lot more paying gigs than any of the rock bands I know.

KO

[Roy Vogt]

I'd stretch a little. You never know what you'll enjoy doing. I had no idea that I'd enjoy being Jack Bruce in a Cream tribute band until I was asked to do so. It's a bear trying to play and sing all those notes and lyrics at the same time, but I'm having fun in the attempt.
As far as Commerce, finding some unique spin within your Market Area (Trans Siberian Orchestra Music at Christmas, a Tribute Gig for a popular band that everyone in your band likes playing, a new spin on traditional music like Los Lobos did with Mexican Folk Songs, etc.) will set you apart in your market area and give you one more thing to market.

[kevteop]

I do an original punk/reggae band with one bunch of guys, an original neo-soul/hip-hop/electronic band with another bunch of guys, original folk/rock with a singer/songwriter, and various covers acts (swing, rockabilly, rocksteady/ska, etc.) acoustically with various other people and occasional musicians from the two bands.

So I like a lot of variety. It helps playing both BG and DB. I should add that I make almost no money from any of this activity, the sort-of exception being the acoustic covers which tend to be done in the street in the tourist town where I live, or at the seaside. This only really covers expenses most days, and some post-playing pints, but it's a good day out.

I think if you love playing and aren't concerned about making money it's worth saying 'Yes' to pretty much anything in case it turns out to be a fun gig. If it isn't you can drop out as quickly as you stepped in.

[Casey C.]

Originally Posted by kevteop

I do an original punk/reggae band with one bunch of guys, an original neo-soul/hip-hop/electronic band with another bunch of guys, original folk/rock with a singer/songwriter, and various covers acts (swing, rockabilly, rocksteady/ska, etc.) acoustically with various other people and occasional musicians from the two bands.

So I like a lot of variety. It helps playing both BG and DB. I should add that I make almost no money from any of this activity, the sort-of exception being the acoustic covers which tend to be done in the street in the tourist town where I live, or at the seaside. This only really covers expenses most days, and some post-playing pints, but it's a good day out.

I think if you love playing and aren't concerned about making money it's worth saying 'Yes' to pretty much anything in case it turns out to be a fun gig. If it isn't you can drop out as quickly as you stepped in.

That's true... I love playing and a large paycheck isn't why I'm doing it. I just want to have a hobbies I can make a few bucks doing to help pay for my equipment.

[lfmn16]

Originally Posted by Casey C.

So what I'm asking is does anyone do anything outside of the box (any genre)? how does it go over from a local band perspective (if you play out)?

Outside of the box for me anyway!

I've been mixing things up by learning some new (for me) Funk Tunes, i.e. James Brown, Parliament, etc.; learning some new jazz standards; and slowly working my way through some transcribed Charlie Parker and Coltrane solos. At the end of each practice session I just put on a metronome and play whatever comes to mind while recording it. I go back later to see if there are any ideas worth persuing.

This may not work for everyone, but I'm getting some new ideas and besides, it's fun.

[runmikeyrun]

Changing directions isn't always bad... you usually just end up playing for a different crowd. If you are using the same band members and the change is REALLY dramatic, consider a name change. For some bands dramatic shifts have worked out ok (Cave In comes to mind) but for a lot it doesnt, and people end up hating them for "ruining" what they liked about that band.

Play what makes you happy... there's no point playing music you don't like.