cd release party fiasco last night...

rumblinbass · #1 04-20-2008, 12:59 PM

ok, well I'll try to keep this as short as possible.

I was in a band for about 4 years and then decided to have a baby. After the baby was born it became apparent that I needed to quit the band because things started to pick up. We had just signed with a micro-label (nothing more than a distribution deal), they started booking more gigs in and out of town. I left the band mainly because I just didn't want to hold them back...I just couldn't keep up with the schedule with a baby in the picture.

When I left the band I one request - I wanted to play the cd release party for the cd we recorded a couple months earlier. Well a year and a half later the cd was completed and the cd release party was last night. Earlier in the week I practiced with the band, played every song on the cd and talked to them about what songs I wanted to play. I only wanted to play the songs on the cd, none of the new songs or other covers which left plenty of songs for the current bass player.

I ended up only playing about half the songs I wanted to play because of the way the songs fit into the set and we didn't want to play musical bass players. I played the first half of the set and the current bass player would play the second half. All in all I was cool with it. I was able to have one last hoo-rah, play the cd release party, for which I recorded, a year and half after leaving the band. This was pretty important for me, I had really high expectations and was really looking forward to playing again if only for one night.

Of course, it didn't turn out the way I wanted. I touched base with a lot of old friends - so that was good. I got up on stage, the first few songs went great! It was like old times.

Here is where it gets ugly...
After several songs a few chicks in the front start to ask where Danny (the current bass player) is in-between songs. Getting louder and louder and got to the point that they were chanting for him and one of them actually grabbed the mic and shouting "WHERE IS DANNY?"! Well, you can imagine what it is like to be up on stage playing while people are chanting for the other guy. I was embarrassed to say the least. I had no idea what was going on or why these chicks were doing this. I know I didn't suck that bad.

Anyways; I finished up, packed up my stuff and was headed to the bar for a beer. Ran into one of the the bands' crowd regulars and talked to her about it. I was a bit pissed and it gave me an opportunity to vent a bit. After that it was over for me, I just wanted to accomplish what I was there for...just have a good time and take advantage of the time the wife had granted me to be a rock star for one more night. That is not what happened...

The people responsible for the incident (including the bass player) kept coming up and apologizing for various things: "...he's a really good friend of mine...", "...I was told you were only going to play a few songs...", etc. What was irritating was that this went on all night...they couldn't drop it!

I tried to play it down and kept saying "don't worry about it it's cool.". But I was and still am pissed. It's one of those things that the more you think about it the more pissed you get!

Turns out, what happened was that Danny (current bass player) was told that I was only going to play a few songs...not half the set. So he got pissed and a few of his friends decided to act on his behalf. All of this could have been avoided if:
1. the band would have communicated a little better
2. the current bass player showed up to practice so that we would all be on the same page.

I'm pissed about several things. I'm pissed that the other bass player and the chicks chose to act the way they did. No-one in the band stood up to say anything or stop it while it was happening. I stood up there looking like a complete idiot while a few people were chanting for the other bass player. And they just couldn't let it drop, they just wanted to keep talking about it!

that's it. sorry it's so long.

nsmar4211 · #2 04-20-2008, 01:59 PM

I'd drop it. Stewing about it won't make you feel any better ......... if it comes up and people want to know who you are, just point out that "I'm the bass player on the CD"... that oughtta shush them without making you look bitter

. His "friends" made ***es out of *themselves*, not you. The rest of the people were probably too embarassed over their poor behavior.
Don't let it get to you..... the band has to deal with the fallout now, not you.
Oh.........and exactly how long are your sets? Ours are 10-12 songs, so you playing half the set would be 5-6 songs.......which is a few..... wondering who's definition of a few is skewed

rumblinbass · #3 04-20-2008, 02:26 PM

there are 12 songs on the cd. they have a handful of new songs and as far as I knew some other cover songs they were planning on playing.

tycobb73 · #4 04-20-2008, 05:03 PM

I can understand why you're hurt, but I would drop it. This situation could get nastier and nastier, ruining any chance of ever playing with the band or one of its members again.

Entre Nous 2007 · #5 04-20-2008, 05:32 PM

i say you round up the women in question and donkey punch them, w/ your wife's permission of course.

**Howlin' Hanson** · #6 04-20-2008, 10:31 PM

Yep, that situation sucked, but the real problem was this:

...a year and a half later the CD was finally ready....

No telling whose fault that was--probably theirs.

I understand the pride you have in the recordings you did with them.

However, since they had been building their live show on the new bassist for that long a time, the show should have started with the new bassist, the switch should have been made no earlier than the fourth song, Danny should have stayed and played shakers or something and you should have been properly introduced.

If it went that way and the chicks were still rude, they have no class.

lavmonga · #7 04-20-2008, 10:35 PM

+1 for the donkey punch

rumblinbass · #8 04-21-2008, 08:35 AM

all are valid points. everything else aside what pisses me off the most is the way the current bass player and these chicks decided to handle it. there was no justification for the way it was handled.

nsmar4211 · #9 04-21-2008, 08:53 AM

No justification......but a reason......

Small Brains.

JehuJava · #10 04-21-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howlin' Hanson

the real problem was this:

...a year and a half later the CD was finally ready....

However, since they had been building their live show on the new bassist for that long a time, the show should have started with the new bassist, the switch should have been made no earlier than the fourth song, Danny should have stayed and played shakers or something and you should have been properly introduced.

+1

Your singer should have prefaced the set with something like: "And as a special treat...the recording bass player will now play some songs..." Only in a much cooler context.

The new bass player should have been onboard with the whole plan.

-1 for secret-ops task force assigned to discredit your last hurrah. Without your previous work there might be no cd release or band to begin with.

You should organize chicks to demand your presence at their next show...the medicine won't taste as sweet, right?

Just kidding of course. The milk has been spilled...might as well move on.

makaky · #11 04-21-2008, 10:48 AM

2 bass players for 1 gig ( especialy a CD launch) is a bad idee.

The other bass player should be kicked out of the band along with his 2-3 loud mouth chicks for pulling something like this.

That made the event looked very unprofessional for you,him and the whole band.

rumblinbass · #12 04-21-2008, 11:18 AM

I know, I should drop it.
Like I said, I really tried to down play the whole thing during the gig. I just said "...hey it's cool, don't worry about it...".
It is one of those things that I get more and more pissed about the more I think about it.

Anyways, more could have and should have been done to make sure everybody was on board. Nothing can be done about it now so it's just best to forget about it.

thanks guys...I just needed to vent a bit.

invader3k · #13 04-21-2008, 11:43 AM

Part of it is probably that this was your "last hurrah", as you put it, at least for a while. You're probably a little frustrated that you didn't get to "go out" the way you wanted, competely. It's understandable that you wanted things to go better. Gigs almost never go as well as planned unfortunately, as I'm sure you know...sometimes they go better, but a lot of times, weird stuff like what you experienced can happen.

rumblinbass · #14 04-21-2008, 12:40 PM

true...it didn't go anything like I expected. I could have handled the occasional screw up (which I was guilty of) or anything along that "typical" kind of vein, but what happened was something completely different and beyond comparison. I was on stage playing and between songs there was a small group of people shouting for the other bass player. While I was up there I had no clue what the reasoning was. As far as I was concerned (and everybody else) I was being boo-ed!

Spinal Tapper · #15 04-21-2008, 02:54 PM

I recorded bass for a band that ended up getting much bigger after I left (with my playing on their CD).

Just the way it goes sometimes...you just have to keep in your piece of mind that YOU are the one on the CD, so as much as the new bass player guy whines about it, or calls his friends to throw you off, that cannot be changed. And I'm SURE it bothers him not being on that CD. So you end up on top anyways.

Throw it in the portfolio and move on.

guitfiddle0409 · #16 04-21-2008, 03:03 PM

This is why I hate to go to "CD Release" parties. There's a ton of narcissism that goes down for what should really be called a "Demo Distribution" party. Glad you've got your priorities straight and I hope someday you'll play with a band that has a real record deal instead of some immature manufactured hype.

Hphazard · #17 04-21-2008, 03:29 PM

Ok, first of all, congrats on being a father, dude, it's a very hard thing to be on the road with a youngster growing up at home, and its understandable why you had to step down.

But the thing is, you did.

If it took a year and a half for the people who call themselves a label to get a simple record out, then they aren't worth a sh1t, especially in this day and age.

If I were in the shoes of the remaining band members, I would have allowed you to play 1 or 2 songs. I don't mean to be a d1ck, but you left, for a really good reason...

You should be brought up as a special guest for a couple of songs, then thats it. The people coming to their shows are used to Danny playing bass, the truth of the matter is Danny has probably taken time to get friends and family out to the show, so he should be playing the full set with you playing a few as a special guest.

Sorry if i offend.

-Haz

ThunderLizard · #18 04-21-2008, 03:37 PM

The current bass player could have been more pro about the whole thing. Maybe you should have sat in on a lower profile venue to say goodbye. It's over....Lesson learned.
This event is not paying rent. Don't let it occupy your mind.

guy n. cognito · #19 04-21-2008, 03:40 PM

I have to agree with the above. While I understand your desire to play with the band you recorded with, you've been gone too long to make a comeback.

Think about it from the other bass player's perspective: He's been with this band for well over a year, yet has to step aside when you decide to play at a showcase gig. I probably wouldn't be too happy, either.

rumblinbass · #20 04-21-2008, 03:47 PM

all good points. no offense taken.

The crowd we played for was the crowd I helped earn. It was the same crowd that was there before I left...with a few new faces. It was a year and a half since I left but he has not been the only bass player in that time.

It took a year and a half because of other reasons, nothing to do with the label. When I say it's a small label I mean just that. All they did was front the money to get the first quantity made. They did nothing to help get it mixed, mastered, or artwork. As a matter of fact that is what took the time was getting the tracks mixed and mastered...the lead guitarist did it in his spare time. That is also a good lessoned learned.

I'm not trying to argue here. All great points.