Why I Do It

[mellowinman]

In the nineties, I recorded a full CD of original material, and went out there to promote it. I was still young enough and enough of a dreamer to believe I would be a "rock star," or at least a musician who sold records, and got paid enough to live a decent life without a day job. I did it to express myself, and to create. After awhile, I realized I was playing music that sounded "dated," compared to what was breaking on the radio, and that the music business is very crowded with talented people, and that a lot of times, it will bring out the very worst in otherwise decent people.

I "retired," and went on to other things. A few years ago, my wife, who used to tour extensively in the eighties and nineties, playing hair metal covers, decided to "get the old band back together" with some of her friends from around here. I had no desire to do anything like that, but I wanted to support her, and be involved, so I said I would run sound, and keep a mic by me back there, so I could fill in on some backing vocals, and maybe I'd come up onstage for a "guest" lead vocal once in awhile, doing some of my favorite "old school classic rock" songs of the sixties/seventies.

Well, one thing led to another, and I won't bore you with that whole story, but it ended up that I sing lead on about 1/2 of our songs, play bass on about 1/3, and do acoustic, keyboards and harmonica. Because of our guitar player, (and me,) we do a lot of seventies, with some sixties and fifties thrown in, with just a little of her precious hair metal, and some modern as well.

We are a cover band in a small market, competing with plenty of other cover bands. If you look at what I've spent on equipment, it is unlikely I'll so much as break even, unless we play a lot more gigs, and we've had a revolving door of drummers. The guy we have now is the quality of player we need, but how long we will get to keep him is still a question. Our first show with him is New Year's Eve.

There is no real obvious reason to do this. I can make a lot more money doing photography, plus I have a day job as well, with all the benefits that come with it. I'm obviously not in it to meet women, as I am happily married, and never did like groupie types anyway. I'm not in it for fame, or if I am, I will always be very disappointed.

But I'm really into it, you know? I have some reasons, and the biggest one of all is this:

I REALLY REALLY LOVE ROCK AND ROLL.

I'm like a rock historian, in a way. I love the story of Rock and Roll, and the bands who define that story. Many of us have our own versions of that history. I think mine is a pretty classic version; white boys stealing blues music; kids feeling that sexual beat and drive; rebellion; primitive, raw, visceral energy behind it all. Bill Haley and Little Richard and Chuck Berry and Elvis leading to the Beatles and the Stones and the whole British Invasion; the revival of the blues; Psychadelic Rock; Rock and Roll becoming just "Rock," and the whole Vietnam era "music can change the world," feeling.

The Stadium bands that made me go all crazy in the seventies and eighties; incredible musicianship by people like Hendrix, Cream, Zeppelin, Yes, Rush, and great horny bands like Tower of Power, Chicago, and all the Funk and Jazz Fusion; all the forms of music that make us dance, and make love, and just groove; I could go on and on.

I'm PASSIONATE about it, and I defend my set list vigorously, when others tell me how I could be safer, or more modern, or more whatever, because I say this:

Great songs, played well, with CONVICTION are something you can sell to almost any crowd, of any age, and I have yet to be proven wrong. I'm not talking about obscure cuts from B-Sides and Deep Album tracks; I'm talking about a lot of songs that were hits at one time or another, and maybe just a few of those deeper cuts; but not just the obvious ones. And I'm talking about when you DO pick one that people might expect, really NAILING it, and making it happen.

I want to play songs that I feel HAVE TO be played, and I do it for the love of those songs, and those artists. We are like the ultimate tribute act, but we are not a tribute to any ONE band or artist; we are a tribute to each act we cover, except for when we do make a song our own. I do it just as much to be a great entertainer as to try and be a great musician, because both things are immensely satisfying, and every single time I connect with a crowd, or even a person in that crowd, it's a new experience; a chance to share that which means the most to me, and to have fun doing it.

I don't know if that qualifies as "off topic." I guess nothing could be more ON topic; but I have no idea which sub-forum that belongs in.

But that's why I do it, and I hope I've clearly gotten across what it is that I'm trying to convey.

I was a puny, nerdy kid who loved Beethoven and Mozart, and really worshiped the importance of Classical Music, and its effect on the world.

I feel no different today about ALL types of music, but especially my precious Rock and Roll, which has brought me such joy, and helped me through some truly rough times, and just made the good times that much more enjoyable.

[mellowinman]

And I'm going to post my set list here, to give you an idea of what I'm selling:

Set 1
Ain't That a Shame - Cheap Trick Budokan version
Survival of the Sickets - Saliva
Train Kept a Rollin' - Aerosmith Get Your Wings version
Rockin' in the Free World - Kind of the SNL Version with an extended "middle part"
Yer Blues - Beatles White Album version ending more like the Dirty Mac version
I Hate Myself for Lovin' You - Joan Jett
Give me One Reason - Tracey Chapman
B*tch - Meredith Brooks
Slither - Velvet Revolver
Animal - Nickelback OR Bad Girlfriend - Theory of a Deadman

Set 2
Piece of my Heart - Janis
Beast of Burden - Bette Midler Version
I'm the Only One - Melissa Etheridge
Second Chance - Shinedown
Ten Inch Record - Aerosmith (Live Version)
Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
Knockin' on Heaven's Door - GNR version
Sweet Child O'Mine - GNR
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi

Set 3
Tie Your Mother Down - Queen
I Hate my Life - Theory of a Deadman
(segue - a capella verse and chorus of CCR's Midnight Special)
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love - Van Halen
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Don't Let me Down - Beatles
Kiss - Prince
Peach - Prince
Always on the Run - Lenny Kravitz
Long Tall Sally/Whole Lotta Love 10 minute medley with "Young Boy Boogie Blues" segment intact from "Song Remains the Same" - Little Richard/Led Zeppelin

Set 4
Whole Lotta Rosie - AC/DC
Ice Cream Man - Van Halen
Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi (starts out "unplugged" up until the guitar solo, then we bash them over the head with it)
The Ocean - Led Zeppelin
Revolution - The Beatles
While my Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
Man in the Box - Alice in Chains

and then...

"What song is it you wanna hear?"

The full 10 minutes of Freebird, played like our lives depend on it.

[stratovani]

What, no Rush?

[Munjibunga]

Get many suicides while you're playing Comfortably Numb?

[Kawai-chang]

Well written.

Keep flyin' your flag!

[Pacman]

Music related posts belong in Miscellaneous. Moving there now.

[mellowinman]

Originally Posted by Pacman

Music related posts belong in Miscellaneous. Moving there now.

Got it. Thanks!

The reason for no Rush is simply no one is killing it vocally. You gotta really do justice to Rush if you're going to do them, and all my favorite Rush songs are screamers.

That being said, I do jam on "Free Will" from time to time, and maybe Arthur could sing it. He used to do a Coheed and Cambria song that sounds pretty "Rushy" to me.

"Comfortably Numb" is far from the most depressing song I know, but they won't let me do any songs from Lou Reed's "Berlin" album, for some reason.

[LiquidMidnight]

Mellow, your post reminded me of that scene in Blues Brothers 2000 where Elwood rallies the band by telling them that if they walk out, they're walking out on keeping the tradition of great music alive.

In all seriousness, I feel you. I really, really hate to be a "back in my day" kind of guy, but I come from the school where you were supposed to know how to play your instrument and play it well before you even thought of getting up on a stage. Granted, I'm not even 30 yet, but my guitarist, singer, and drummer are all around 40; so they came up in that scene where musicianship was just expected.

Nowadays, in my local scene, I'm just underwhelmed by the talent out there. I know that sounds totally elitist, but many bands signed to the big name agencies in my state aren't even that good. I know that it can't be that way everywhere. We do play primary modern music, but we strive to do it with good musicianship and a professional sound - I'm still astounded how much crap guitar tone is out there with cats thinking that a scooped and max-gained Crate rig sounds good.

Man, I really do hate being negative like this, and I don't think I'm all that. I just am kind of sad about the lack of talent around my area. It makes putting a band together that you can be proud of difficult. And that's just musicianship. I'm a big believer in having a good look too - not a gimmick, but something that doesn't scream, "I just got off my shift driving triaxle." Too many cats can't be bothered to look the part.

That's primarily rock, classic rock, and Top 40 bands I'm talking about. For some reason, country bands around here seem to really have their sound and look together more than the rockers. I hope my current band keeps rockin' the way it is, but I honestly hope my next project is a country band if I can't find another rock project that I dig.

[mellowinman]

I was going to let this one load up a bit more before I asked this, but before it falls off the page, I will go ahead:

Why do YOU do it?

[Richland123]

Your story rings true with most of us older players who are still at it because we love to play. Unfortunately, we have to deal with all the other stuff that goes along with it but being on stage is the reason we continue to make music and hope to entertain people.

I, too, am a music historian. So much so that I am curently producing a radio program to include many of the songs, stories, history, etc. you mentioned and hope to have it on the air and Internet early next year.

[Sharknose79]

Originally Posted by mellowinman

And I'm going to post my set list here, to give you an idea of what I'm selling:

Set 1
Ain't That a Shame - Cheap Trick Budokan version
Survival of the Sickets - Saliva
Train Kept a Rollin' - Aerosmith Get Your Wings version
Rockin' in the Free World - Kind of the SNL Version with an extended "middle part"
Yer Blues - Beatles White Album version ending more like the Dirty Mac version
I Hate Myself for Lovin' You - Joan Jett
Give me One Reason - Tracey Chapman
B*tch - Meredith Brooks
Slither - Velvet Revolver
Animal - Nickelback OR Bad Girlfriend - Theory of a Deadman

Set 2
Piece of my Heart - Janis
Beast of Burden - Bette Midler Version
I'm the Only One - Melissa Etheridge
Second Chance - Shinedown
Ten Inch Record - Aerosmith (Live Version)
Sweet Emotion - Aerosmith
Knockin' on Heaven's Door - GNR version
Sweet Child O'Mine - GNR
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi

Set 3
Tie Your Mother Down - Queen
I Hate my Life - Theory of a Deadman
(segue - a capella verse and chorus of CCR's Midnight Special)
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love - Van Halen
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Don't Let me Down - Beatles
Kiss - Prince
Peach - Prince
Always on the Run - Lenny Kravitz
Long Tall Sally/Whole Lotta Love 10 minute medley with "Young Boy Boogie Blues" segment intact from "Song Remains the Same" - Little Richard/Led Zeppelin

Set 4
Whole Lotta Rosie - AC/DC
Ice Cream Man - Van Halen
Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi (starts out "unplugged" up until the guitar solo, then we bash them over the head with it)
The Ocean - Led Zeppelin
Revolution - The Beatles
While my Guitar Gently Weeps - The Beatles
Man in the Box - Alice in Chains

and then...

"What song is it you wanna hear?"

The full 10 minutes of Freebird, played like our lives depend on it.

Oh...HELL YES...!!!
I get what you are saying.

OBTW...IMHO that last set kills !!!
The only thing I would change would be to start set #1 with Train kept a rollin'...

...just sayin'.

[Marko5657]

Originally Posted by mellowinman

I was going to let this one load up a bit more before I asked this, but before it falls off the page, I will go ahead:

Why do YOU do it?

It all started when a bunch of f’in musicians stormed my peaceful studio, kicked me to bass, and dragged me onto the stage.

I guess it does give me an excuse to buy more gear.

[mellowinman]

Originally Posted by Sharknose79

Oh...HELL YES...!!!
I get what you are saying.

OBTW...IMHO that last set kills !!!
The only thing I would change would be to start set #1 with Train kept a rollin'...

...just sayin'.

Well, I have the drummer to pull of "Ain't That a Shame," and frankly, I have to warm up a bit before I can sing "Train Kept a'Rollin'."

[mellowinman]

Originally Posted by Richland123

Your story rings true with most of us older players who are still at it because we love to play. Unfortunately, we have to deal with all the other stuff that goes along with it but being on stage is the reason we continue to make music and hope to entertain people.

I, too, am a music historian. So much so that I am curently producing a radio program to include many of the songs, stories, history, etc. you mentioned and hope to have it on the air and Internet early next year.

Let me know when that happens. We have a local DJ who is a little older than me, and he thinks the height of Classic Rock is when Paul Rogers takes the mic.

I was always, "what?" "Paul Rogers?" I mean, no knock on Rogers, but we're talking about the era of Freddie Mercury, Robert Plant, Steven Tyler, and so many other great musicians fronting bands that went beyond the "radio grade excellence" of a Bad Company or Foreigner, and into the area of pure art that is still balls to the wall ROCK AND ROLL.