My cover band playing with Philharmonic

DblG · #1 07-15-2010, 07:48 PM

Gigspam....

My band thats been together for 20 years has been asked to play a Grateful Dead tribute with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. We're very excited and feel honored to have been asked to help commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Grateful Dead playing with the BPO in 1970. How cool is that!
We were very suprised we were chosen, as there are other GD tribute bands in the area that really capture the sound way more than we do (not that we're slouches). But, we'll take it! We are in no way a tribute band to the GD but cover a good handful of their songs (along with many other genres as well). As far as we're concerned, it's a once in a lifetime oppurtunity to happen to a bunch of weekend warriors and couldn't pass it up, with all 7 members making sacrifices to make it happen and pull it off. We had to learn a bunch of new songs we normally don't do, and re-learn some we've been playing differently than the composer/arranger wrote for the orchestra.
The rehearsal with the orchestra is next week, so the butterflies are starting to gather. Wish me luck!

http://www.bpo.org/deadfest/

.

MalcolmAmos · #2 07-15-2010, 09:23 PM

Congratulations!

Have fun.

MIJ-VI · #3 07-15-2010, 11:52 PM

OmnitzGarima · #4 07-15-2010, 11:59 PM

Sweet.

**colcifer** · #5 07-16-2010, 12:07 AM

SO jealous.

No tapes, no GD tribute.

bassteban · #6 07-16-2010, 12:09 AM

Awesome- what an opportunity.

amadeusex · #7 07-16-2010, 12:30 AM

Sounds great ! congratulations an have fun !

DblG · #8 07-16-2010, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colcifer

SO jealous.

No tapes, no GD tribute.

Yea...don't know if there will be a tapers section.

Believe me, we're gonna find a way to record this. We have a zoom4 we usually use to record some of our gigs that we're gonna try.

tkozal · #9 07-16-2010, 11:01 AM

if I recall correctly, Jo Ann Faletta, the music director, is an EXCELLENT guitar player

good luck!!!

DblG · #10 07-16-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkozal

if I recall correctly, Jo Ann Faletta, the music director, is an EXCELLENT guitar player

good luck!!!

I did not know that, just heard that she's very respected and people in the sympony circle are thrilled to have her. I don't believe she conducts these (summer series, pops, etc) shows though...

DblG · #11 07-23-2010, 01:15 PM

Well...we just played a couple songs on the radio to promote this event...rehearsed w/ the orchestra on Wed. This is going to be cool. Very exciting! The radio spot is supposedly going to be on their website...if I don't look too ugly I'll post a link when it gets up.

agreatheight · #12 07-23-2010, 01:31 PM

I gotta ask - how is improv gonna work? Are you going to be locked into arrangements, or is there gonna be some room for getting out there? Orchestras aren't exactly known for jamming, lol, but it could be awesome if the conductor was down with it!

DblG · #13 07-23-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agreatheight

I gotta ask - how is improv gonna work? Are you going to be locked into arrangements, or is there gonna be some room for getting out there? Orchestras aren't exactly known for jamming, lol, but it could be awesome if the conductor was down with it!

This was our concern as well. Yea, we have charts we need to follow but there are plenty of Vamps to use where we'll cue the conductor when we're done. Wont be half hour jams, but definately room to get out there a little. The rehearsal sounded great, and I get the feeling the conductor can be down with it.

agreatheight · #14 07-23-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DblG

This was our concern as well. Yea, we have charts we need to follow but there are plenty of Vamps to use where we'll cue the conductor when we're done. Wont be half hour jams, but definately room to get out there a little. The rehearsal sounded great, and I get the feeling the conductor can be down with it.

Wicked! Post the show if you get it recorded, I am very interested in hearing it. If I was back east, I'd video it for ya, but alas I am not!

Break a leg!

DblG · #15 07-30-2010, 12:49 PM

Well, the gig was a success. What an experience...the band played well and we received many complements from both the audience and members of the orchestra.

There were opening bands and the one right before us had some great players, including their bassist who I gladly let use my rig (T-funk 550 > AccuGroove Elwhapo). I'm pretty sure he enjoyed it, as I did his playing. If you're ever in Buffalo, look up this guy:

Jerry Livingston

http://www.buffalomusic.org/2008_jlivingston.html

I'll try to post some pics of us soon...

jmorbita · #16 07-30-2010, 01:57 PM

Just caught this thread, what a great expierence this must have been!! congats!

would be great to hear some sound samples!

DblG · #17 08-12-2010, 05:47 PM

well, our recording was no good, but my guitarist found that someone in the audience bootlegged it and put it here:

http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=5...286#comm476286

I cant get on the site on my computer, but my guitarist did and burned it. Some parts sound good, some...eh. Be kind with any comments...the bass player is kinda sensitive

DblG · #18 02-17-2012, 08:09 PM

Well, we got to do it again (Grateful Dead Tribute w/ Philharmonic) a year and a half later (yesterday)

I guess this once in a lifetime thing turned out to be twice. Very cool, indoors this time so the sound was better, IMO.

That's me on the right.

Also, TB'r Fro 20 is our keyboardist on the far left...and below:

Hot Rod P for backup:

Not a whole lotta pics, as they weren't allowed, but a few people managed to sneak a few....

The ones most people managed to get were w/o flash and very many were blurry.

But, what a blast!