I thought I'd start a thread that would be a sort of interactive journal of the next few months, which will be the musically most active for me to date.
Why bother creating a record of the events?
1.) Perhaps some will be interested to glimpse into the life of a young man who has a day job, and only plays on an amateur level (I'll call myself semi-pro when I've made more money from playing than what my gigging rig cost
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2.) My day job is exceedingly boring at times, and the only way I have to entertain myself is with internet access. Hence, Talkbass.
Feel free to ask any questions, however wacky or inane. Consider this an opportunity to peer into the mind of your average schmuck who's just trying to do what he loves, despite the cost.
Some background on me (which any internet detectives could find in varied threads on this site): I'm in my mid-20s, I've been playing for 10 years, seriously playing for two of them. I'm involved with multiple projects at this time, because I have way too much free time, and most of my friends are musically inclined anyway. I currently am in a burgeoning cover band; a 'project' with a singer/songwriter; and an originals band that I was recently asked to join who has never had a bassist. Plus, I'm the go-to-guy for friends with bands who need someone to fill in, or if there's a one-off group playing a gig for fun.
There was also an original, fun punk band with my two best friends, which is now defunct due to a falling out with one of those friends at the beginning of this year. Still painful to dwell on.
I play in front of people about twice a month-usually about a dozen or so people, and I'll know ten of them. But hey, that's how it goes! I've played to as many as 350+ people at once, and its fun to me either way.
I suppose the logical thing to do for the first post is to describe the next gig. The covers band, which has had practice and jam sessions galore in the past, is finally playing its first gig-a wedding, in two and a half weeks. We took set list suggestions from the groom, and what he gave us is a bit...monotonous. Two Lynyrd Skynyrd songs, two Rolling Stones songs, two CCR songs, two Beatles songs. He also asked for "Stairway to Heaven" and "Wipeout."
Apparently everything people say about what makes a successful cover set is true. (He also requested "We Built This City," which I flatly refuse to play. Even a musical whore like myself has line he won't cross).
Since this is the band's first gig (although all of us in the band have plenty of other experience), we're doing it for a nominal fee: gas money. The groom gets a (hopefully) kickass band to play live at his wedding for almost nothing, we get exposure, plus some manly playtime with the bridesmaids (again, hopefully).
The band itself is a pretty standard setup: two guitars, me, drums. Everybody in this group likes to solo; I wouldn't say we have a 'rhythm guitarist.' One of they guitarists is nicknamed "Mandatory Solo." The drummer has to be forced not to do a roll for every chord change. Our version of "Foxy Lady" regularly clocks in at twenty minutes. These guys may, in fact, be too talented.
I regularly use a wah pedal, and therefore consider myself to be an offender as well. Anyhow, it looks like it'll be up to me to crack the whip (although we've got two 45 min sets to fill, so I might not crack it that hard).
I've already suggested adding "Black Betty" and "Last Dance With Mary Jane," in keeping with the groom's tastes. As for the other 45 minutes or so... undetermined, although we all know more than enough songs to fill it. I'm asking anybody and everybody for suggestions.
The vocals could also prove interesting. I'm the only one with serious depth to my range, although all four of us are capable singers, and I can harmonize with one of the guitarists in a David Gilmour/Richard Wright sort of way, with me being Gilmour in this ridiculous analogy. At this point I'm set to sing about a third of the established songs, and backup vocals on everything else that requires them. If I need to sing more...well, if I have a weak point, its the memorization of lyrics. I'm godawful at it. If I haven't been singing a song to myself for at least two years, I won't remember it on stage. So, this could all prove interesting.
Worst case scenario: we completely blow it and get the hell outta there AFTER we get the gas money from the groom, and BEFORE his best man beats us; then the band will never speak to each other again out of shame.
Best case scenario: We play a very entertaining show to some indiscriminate folks, and good word of mouth starts to spread. By this time next year, we play gigs similar to this one about once a month for some nice pocket change. No shame is involved.
We'll see, we'll see...
If you have read this entire post, you do not have ADD.
