New band!!!!!

Rocks · #1 03-22-2011, 08:17 AM

I had an audition Sunday. I just got the news about it the day before along with a list of songs I've heard, but never played before. Unfortunately I got the list as I was walking out the door and had no time to practice. Sunday comes around and my grandkids came over unexpectedly, so once again, no time to practice...

I walked into the audition and standing before me were two of the hottest musicians in the area! Needless to say, I was a bit shocked and nervous. The guitarist would just start playing songs without even telling me what was next and I had to just jump in and play. We ended up jamming for over 3 hours.

When I left they mentioned they wanted me back for a second audition, learn these 5 songs and come back. OK, now I'm a bit worried.

Monday afternoon I get a call from the drummer, He said don't worry about the second audition (I thought it was all over) He said "we want you, Tom threw every curve ball he could think of and you're the first bassist that jumped right in and played" He told me they auditioned 4 others before me and most just stood there watching when they didn't know a song and I was the only one that jumped right in and held down the song. Then he tells me they already have us booked for a gig in May! I'm absolutely beside myself, the best compliment I've ever gotten as a bass player and top it off with an incredible power trio - I'm freaking floating on a cloud!

I just had to share this with someone (already called mom)

MattyH · #2 03-22-2011, 08:22 AM

Congrats! Sounds like you're with a good solid group, and it sounds like they got a good solid Bassist!

KeithPas · #3 03-22-2011, 08:28 AM

Congrats man!! Thats a great feeling!

countrybass007 · #4 03-22-2011, 08:34 AM

Great! Over the years I've found jumping in and doing your best always beats standing around looking stumped. You did the right thing and it paid off, enjoy the new band.

Rocks · #5 03-22-2011, 08:39 AM

The funny thing is I am not a great bassist, I'm a solid pocket player (don't be a perv!

) I can't read music and I learn by ear or by watching the guitarists hands, if I see him going to the 3rd fret, I know a G most likely is coming. I've heard a lot of music and played a lot, so many songs just seem to fall into place even if I've never played it. I'm no Victor Wooten, don't want to be. I just want to be solid and locked in with the drummer. Other than that all I need to understand is the guitarist lead style so I know if he is planning on extending the lead rather then winding down for the next change.

But of all the things I find funniest is after playing bass for about 30 some years. I finally ordered the Mel Bay beginning bass set (book, cd and DVD) so I can actually learn to read music. I went with the Mel Bay because back in High school, many, many years ago I played trombone. I started playing at the beginning of summer vacation my junior year. By the time school started again I tried out for the band and was accepted in the smaller band (we called it the scrub band) 2 months later I was playing first trombone second seat in the high school symphonic orchestra. I learned every thing from Mel Bay books and after the first few months I was going through 2-3 new music books a week. It got to the point were I'd go in for a lesson and asked to play the few songs he assigned me to learn and I'd play the entire book and ask for a few more.

I never could just riff on a trombone, only play what I read on the music sheets. With bass I went the complete other route, never picked up a book, just learned every riff/song I could from local guitarists. Now I can riff, but its time to learn the theory and how to read music to round out my skill set.

Beersurgeon · #6 03-22-2011, 08:46 AM

Super cool!!!

mc_muench · #7 03-22-2011, 08:49 AM

You and me both buddy...I just had a band practice/audition last night with a shoegaze band, going in I hardly had any clue what shoegaze was. When when they started playing I noticed the airy, spacy, abient vibe, so I started playing some simple stuff that kinda droned and rolled...I played what felt right to me and they loved it. They told me they want me to come back on wenesday.

DERECOLA · #8 03-22-2011, 08:49 AM

great job,good luck.

Rocks · #9 03-22-2011, 08:50 AM

I almost forgot to mention the best part, they aren't alcoholics and drug abusers! Finally! I have no problem with someone having a drink or two, but I refuse to play with people that get too f'd up to play a good show. I chalk that up to old musicians pissed off that they never got to live their dream and tour the world so now they drown it in drink and pills by the handful. Of course there are also the young musicians that think getting wasted makes them play better. Oh well, sooner or later hopefully they'll grow a pair and be able to just jam their a$$es off without the need for anything more than the high you get from playing live

PS: I do drink bourbon, but never when I'm driving and only a few times a year during the winter, summer its cold beer at home, and once again only a few times during the summer, so I'm not anti-drinking, I just happen to want to play music as a business, not a party.

JSK5String · #10 03-22-2011, 09:05 AM

Rocks - That's awesome for you! Way to go! Being in the same band for 29+ years, I forget that many of my low-end brethren are out there in the audition/new band nightmare. I'm a sucker for a happy ending. I hope it works out for you for as long as you want. Rock out with your schlock out!

Rocks · #11 03-22-2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSK5String

Rocks - That's awesome for you! Way to go! Being in the same band for 29+ years, I forget that many of my low-end brethren are out there in the audition/new band nightmare. I'm a sucker for a happy ending. I hope it works out for you for as long as you want. Rock out with your schlock out!

I've been in 4 bands in the last three years. One band gave me a CD of 18 songs, I learned them in 3 days (I did know a few of them already) I went to the audition and played them all. Three months later we were still playing the same songs because no one else learned anything new, I quit.

Band before that was for the most part rather drunk/stoned at every gig and practice.

And I won't even bother mentioning the others....

EDIT: PS where else would my schlock be?

seanm · #12 03-22-2011, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocks

I never could just riff on a trombone, only play what I read on the music sheets. With bass I went the complete other route, never picked up a book, just learned every riff/song I could from local guitarists. Now I can riff, but its time to learn the theory and how to read music to round out my skill set.

I was the same, only replace trombone with saxophone. Went from a "reading only" player on sax to jams where I didn't even know the songs I was playing along to.

Congrats on the gig!

Russell L · #13 03-22-2011, 02:02 PM

Way to go there, Rocks. Happened to me Sunday, too. I knew two of the guys, but not the other two. We jammed for three or four hours. Got a call Monday from the leader. He said he just wanted to let me know he dug what I did. Three gigs already booked in April.

I'm smiling, too.