Zippity-Clipitty When Live

[b to g is yummy]

Besides the obvious answer of us all practising to a click (which I am about to hint hint hint to my drummer I think), are there any suggestions as to how to get my band to hold back to a nice tempo when we play live. We really tend to speed away in the the 'faster' songs. Not a nice energetic live fast, a way to fast fast

Also at practise, my drummer has issues with buildups. More energy in the song just makes him speed up a lot. When he's doing a roll or something I doubt he is listening to the than.

The tough thing about it is that a lot of our songs don't start with drums in until later in the song, so even getting the drummer to gig with a click might not work.

Well, last nigth I downloaded a metronome, I'll have to load it on the drummers laptop for him, and hope for the best.

BTW drummer has played with a click b4 when we attempted an amateur recording. We claimed he liked playing with it, I'm not sure why it hasn't become part of his practise tho.

So yeah, looks like I'm dumping this tempo issue off on mostly the drummer

Enlighten me, oh TB!

[GeoffByrne]

If a drummer can't hold a timing, he ain't much of a drummer..........

[superbassman2000]

ultimately I think practice is all your band (drummer) needs. The more comfortable with the song you guys are with the song, the better the timing gets. Plus when you practice the song a bunch, you get used to the song, so the buildups aren't as exciting. well, I shouldn't say that, but you play it so much that you are able to focus the buildup energy outward toward the crowd rather than absorbing all the energy within the band.

Another thing that helps is gig more--I know when i started gigging for the first time i'd rush, but once you get more used to a crowd, you are able to slow down and keep your wits about you.

Practice Practice Practice!
when you are sick of practicing,
Practice!

[Phalex]

You gotta relax. When the drummer starts to run away with the beat, turn towards him and mouth "TEMPO" at him. If he's made aware of it while it's happening, he might be able to address it.