Hardest gig ever

scottmabe · #1 04-14-2008, 01:37 PM

Had the absolute WORST gig to date sat night. The fill in drummer had GREAT gear, on time all the right words....but he didn't know any songs....how to start or finish...

I told him at 1st break... The beginnings and ends are the most important, anything else we can work with.

UUUGGGHHHH ..... my Right Middle is a bruised callous from setting the trend with this yo-yo....

I mean really....he didn't even know any Skynyrd c'mon......

Phalex · #2 04-14-2008, 01:45 PM

I had sort of a similar experience last Saturday. It was a fill in gig with fill in players. The drummer and I are from the cover band scene, we had a guy on keys that does solo shows and dueling piano stuff in piano bars, and the guitar player is an awesome player from an originals band. Finding stuff everyone knew was a bit of a challenge, but I had a great time! There was a ton of talent on stage Saturday night. If we would have practiced together one time we could have built a band that could take over the world!!

fishtx · #3 04-14-2008, 01:51 PM

Speaking of drummer issues, the drummer I have been playing with for the last couple of years has recently developed a habit that is driving me nuts. He used to be a really tight "in the pocket" type player. recently he has started doing something with his snare that is bugging the crap out of mm. He calls it playing "ghost notes" (ie, instead of "boom tap boom tap...it's like boom tap tata tata boom tap tata tata" if that makes any sense)...but to me, it is just throwing the whole vibe of the songs off. I approached him about it and he knew exactly what I was talking about, and said he would try to clean it up...and he did for like one gig, then he started doing it again on saturday night...

Does anyone else know what I'm talking about, and does it bug any of you like it's bugging me?

scottmabe · #4 04-14-2008, 01:55 PM

Yeah lots of talent can be good...but in our case it was bad...
He came highly recommended and everything....his reply was that he had been playing Beale St for so long ( like THAT impresses anyone) that he wasn't current on any new country or old country for that matter !!
He named dropped like a B-52 Stratofortess too...another thing I hate !!!

My own name is good enough for me....

grace & groove · #5 04-14-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishtx

Speaking of drummer issues, the drummer I have been playing with for the last couple of years has recently developed a habit that is driving me nuts. He used to be a really tight "in the pocket" type player. recently he has started doing something with his snare that is bugging the crap out of mm. He calls it playing "ghost notes" (ie, instead of "boom tap boom tap...it's like boom tap tata tata boom tap tata tata" if that makes any sense)...but to me, it is just throwing the whole vibe of the songs off. I approached him about it and he knew exactly what I was talking about, and said he would try to clean it up...and he did for like one gig, then he started doing it again on saturday night...

Does anyone else know what I'm talking about, and does it bug any of you like it's bugging me?

Yes! My band had a similar problem with our drummer, who also happened to be our best friend. We DID let him go though... now he's been back for about a year now and he's good; keeps @#$% tight.

tZer · #6 04-14-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishtx

...He calls it playing "ghost notes" (ie, instead of "boom tap boom tap...it's like boom tap tata tata boom tap tata tata" if that makes any sense)...but to me, it is just throwing the whole vibe of the songs off...

Does anyone else know what I'm talking about, and does it bug any of you like it's bugging me?

Sounds like he's trying to do something he doesn't fully understand. He may be equating "ghost notes" with "adding junk at-will makes me sound extra cool" - in other words, he doesn't fully get it, but it trying to do it anyway. Or worse, he may not even realize how off he is and think he's just doing something YOU don't get...

Regardless - playing "stylistically" and not locking down the groove = fail.

scottmabe · #7 04-14-2008, 02:09 PM

Yeah fish....That would happen about 2 drummers ago....I stopped him being solid on the downbeat....then let him hear how "out" he was.....

Him being the guitarists lil brother didn't help a bit....

scottmabe · #8 04-14-2008, 02:12 PM

oh oh oh ... I forgot to aksk....
What is the simplest way to explain how to play reggae ? I know MY parts...but....again......boom ....tap.......tap.......tap.......tap....boom...bo om....
*** ..over

etoncrow · #9 04-14-2008, 02:18 PM

I was a drummer from age ten to my early thirties. Started playing drums again about six months ago; so, I know what you are talking about. Just a suggestion, maybe you could record the band and then play it back for him so he gets an idea of what it really sounds like instead of what he is hearing in his head.

Drifta · #10 04-14-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmabe

oh oh oh ... I forgot to aksk....
What is the simplest way to explain how to play reggae ? I know MY parts...but....again......boom ....tap.......tap.......tap.......tap....boom...bo om....
*** ..over

oh man my best friend is a drummer and loves reggae but he can't for the life of him hold a steady one drop beat. WE'll be playing a simple one drop beat where the drummer is suppose to play the rim shot and kick on the 3 and play fast closed high hat, and he can't hold it for longer than a minute before he starts trying to change the tempo or starts playing a ****ing rock and roll beat.

blows my mind how he can't figure out how to play considering his favorite music is reggae, and to be honest it's not that hard. i never want to be mean but the other day i guess he jammed with a friend who plays guitar ina death metal band and the dude was playing some bass and my drummer had to nerve to tell me i should play like him, i'm thinking to myself, as well as my other buddy ***? this dude telling me how to play yet can't keep a simple reggae beat going?

waynobass · #11 04-14-2008, 02:39 PM

After 20+ years of playing in bands, I've had to come to grips with this fact: drummers suck!!!

Either they can play well and they're total asses, or they're decent people with numerous musical problems.

I've wished many times I could just use a drum machine and be done with

drummers

.

jeromebass · #12 04-14-2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waynobass

I've wished many times I could just use a drum machine and be done with

drummers

.

lol

Captain_Arrrg · #13 04-14-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tZer

..."adding junk at-will makes me sound extra cool"....

It doesn't?!?!?!?!

smakbass · #14 04-14-2008, 02:58 PM

Saw a friends band on the weekend where the drummer was way overplaying, I hate when drummers put too much in which I find usually sacrifices the groove...

Tonight im playing with one of the best drummersin town and I know it will be boom chuck boom chuck all night long steady in the pocket....even though he can throw a tonne in and keep the groove a real pro knows that 90% of the time all thats required is that steady solid beat.

that makes my job so easy....

scottmabe · #15 04-14-2008, 03:01 PM

OK....
Then I'll tell off a bit ...he would text-message during songs....smoke with one hand and play with the other... fool around with hardware and the absolute "makemewanttochokethelifeoutofyou"

TUNE HIS DRUMS DURING A SONG.......

I'm much much better now....he is happily playing the Cruise Ship gig. He actually called today and I asked him how the "Armada Room" was going.......

Phalex · #16 04-14-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmabe

OK....
He actually called today and I asked him how the "Armada Room" was going.......

OOO!!! I always wanted a PA system covered in blood red shag carpet!!

scottmabe · #17 04-14-2008, 03:12 PM

Told him WE were playing the Palace Hotel Ballroom in Lake Watchapumanee

fishtx · #18 04-14-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smakbass

Saw a friends band on the weekend where the drummer was way overplaying, I hate when drummers put too much in which I find usually sacrifices the groove...

Tonight im playing with one of the best drummersin town and I know it will be boom chuck boom chuck all night long steady in the pocket....even though he can throw a tonne in and keep the groove a real pro knows that 90% of the time all thats required is that steady solid beat.

that makes my job so easy....

AMEN to that brother!!..preach on!!