My Band's First Show - Victory dance!

::Saint:: · #1 09-22-2009, 03:57 PM

I guess it was a week ago now; I originally meant to post the next day but what can I say, got lazy.

So my band, Year of the Rat, played our first show (was supposed to be our second, but the other venue pulled out at the last minute - jerks!). We were playing second on a 3-band bill at a local bar which is one of the better venues in town for bands.

The first band was ostensibly the most experienced despite them all being like 17 years old. They weren't bad musicians but not a great grasp of tone or song-writing.. and man were they awkward to watch.. they kept trying to do these comedy routines that were sort of semi-funny but after the fifth or sixth time really started getting awkward. Anyway, they have a lot of time to learn how rock, I guess

So my band goes up - I had a good feeling from the start because I wasn't sweating bullets or feeling particularly nervous as I normally would, especially at a first show. We played our set quite well, I would say, no major screw-ups, etc. In between songs we were getting a LOT of response, which was awesome - I haven't really experienced that before so it was a real rush.

Afterwards we had a ton of people come up and say how much they enjoyed it, and a lot of specific compliments on my bass playing. One guy who knew the band we were opening for even mentioned commenting to the other bands' guitarist "Do you know this band? They have one of the best bass players I've ever seen!". So that was pretty nice to hear.

The funniest thing for me was the front man for the headliner coming up to us while we were on-stage packing up and just going off about how we "rocked in ways I have never experienced before", and then went on to say "And we're supposed to follow THAT??! F*** my life!"

All in all, a very good evening indeed. Now let's see if we can win this battle of the bands on Saturday!

dalkowski · #2 09-22-2009, 04:01 PM

Well done. Few feelings beat the one you get when the headliner gives you props. Good luck at the Battle!

::Saint:: · #3 09-25-2009, 02:23 PM

The guy who was telling the headliner that I was one of the best bass players he'd ever seen also compared me to John Paul Jones... I wasn't exactly sure what that meant in practical terms as I've never been a big Zep fan, but I took it as a compliment.

sirpug · #4 09-25-2009, 02:29 PM

Congrats!!! Hopefully my first show is soon. We've got a couple of leads and we're ready, it's just getting everything to click schedule wise. We're in the studio next weekend for a three song demo and then it's off to the show.

Again, awesome man!

::Saint:: · #5 09-25-2009, 02:57 PM

Good luck man - nothing like getting up in front of an audience with a band you can rely on and material you can believe in, so I wish you all the best. It's a hell of a rush!

**Thor** · #6 09-25-2009, 03:02 PM

C'mon, confess!

You owe it all to TB. All the tone, gear, technique and girls
at shows discussions have now come to the proper fruition.

Well done!

kesslari · #7 09-25-2009, 03:04 PM

That must feel mighty mighty good. Congrats on kicking some tail!

::Saint:: · #8 09-25-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thor

C'mon, confess!

You owe it all to TB. All the tone, gear, technique and girls
at shows discussions have now come to the proper fruition.

Well done!

You know, this is not at all far from the truth. Most of the reason that I know what I know about tone and gear I do owe to the many generous and knowledgeable folks here on TB, so thanks to all of you!

Jimmy Bones · #9 09-29-2009, 07:21 AM

Grats, good luck at your battle.

BrianKrashpad · #10 09-29-2009, 12:12 PM

Congrats.

Break a leg in the contest thingy, kid.

JmJ · #11 09-29-2009, 12:15 PM

Congratulations, awesome. Now do it again!

makanudo · #12 09-29-2009, 03:18 PM

Congrats! good luck at the Battle, i am waiting for a dedicated band still, lead guitar has been with me since the day i started bass 2 years ago, great dude, and keeps telling me to turn up, i hope i can share the experience you had with him someday..

::Saint:: · #13 09-29-2009, 11:20 PM

That's how this current band got started - me and my guitarist buddy were in 3 bands together (this being our third) - we got along so well and had such good musical chemistry that I've just dragged him with me everywhere I've gone. When I posted on Craigslist that bass and guitar were looking for some bandmates, we found Sam, our singer and an excellent song writer, and later on our drummer Clint.