Today's Jam was awful! and i'm sad

TheBogart · #1 04-15-2011, 08:07 PM

Everything was out of place. The drummer was bad, the guitard was even worse, and they played with tempo and rhythm like a train in a stop motion movie. I couldn't do a simple bass line without looking weird. After one song i decided to stop the torture and i left the place. I am very frustrated about this. I love that place, but today it was like a match made in hell. No one was in the right place.

Do you have similar stories to comfort my soul?

kesslari · #2 04-15-2011, 10:16 PM

Jam sessions are a crapshoot. You try to pick the best ones you can, where the caliber of musicians is good, but sometimes you roll snake-eyes.
Hang in there. The good news is that you don't have to gig with those bozos.
... at least I hope you don't.

**Mulebagger** · #3 04-15-2011, 10:21 PM

Yeah it's a bummer, but be comforted knowing they will still be talking about this great bassist that came in and played one song and left. It sucks then the musical mojo is missing. Better luck next time.

steveksux · #4 04-15-2011, 11:09 PM

Look at the bright side, as long as everyone else sucks, you're not "THAT" guy. If you're thinking they are the best people you've ever played with, guess what they're probably thinking about you...

Kind of like playing poker. If you don't know who the mark is, YOU're the mark...

Randy

JoZac21 · #5 04-15-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBogart

Everything was out of place. The drummer was bad, the guitard was even worse, and they played with tempo and rhythm like a train in a stop motion movie. I couldn't do a simple bass line without looking weird. After one song i decided to stop the torture and i left the place. I am very frustrated about this. I love that place, but today it was like a match made in hell. No one was in the right place.

Do you have similar stories to comfort my soul?

Thank whomever it wasn't a gig.

I've had similar experiences... sometimes things don't line up... we're musicians, music's an art... sometimes people are uninspired, tired, etc. and the creativity isn't there... don't fret too much, unless it's on your bass!

Munjibunga · #6 04-16-2011, 12:18 AM

There, there. It's going to be alright.

Arlekiin · #7 04-16-2011, 12:26 AM

<<< What are those two?

Munjibunga · #8 04-16-2011, 12:44 AM

Chihuahuas (dogs), I think.

TheBogart · #9 04-16-2011, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

There, there. It's going to be alright.

ahahahhahahhahahhahahahah

Thank you Mujibunga for lifting my spirit!

I know that are bad days out there, but i just had my first bad jam. Eheheh

I happens, right?

Saxn · #10 04-16-2011, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBogart

I happens, right?

You does, you does

If it helps, I have run into the exact situation before, but on the lead (horn) end. Got invited to a jam session taking place at a local college one time and there were a couple of percussionists, a bass player, a trumpet player, an myself on sax.

So right out of the gate the drummer says to us "See if you can put a part to this" and kicks off a groove in 7/4 time! Guess that's what happens when a percussionist starts the show!

I thought it was an awesome start at the time and the trumpet player and I started working a line into the rhythm, but the poor bass player was so out to sea that he left after about ten minutes! In retrospect, I am not sure that was really the way to kick things off, seeing as how once the bass player was gone, we were essentially groove-less (drums only for a rhythm section? Boo.)

That made the rest of the session a bit of a drag.

I felt bad for the poor guy, but I had been in that same position a time or two in the past, so at least I could empathize.

Downunderwonder · #11 04-16-2011, 12:03 PM

What was "the place"? Kind of sounds like a bar hosted jam gone wrong?

I had a improv jazz trio a few years ago where occasionally an entire gig trainwrecked. Feel better yet?

I'm back doing the same with some new cats. We haven't fallen over yet and I don't think we'll ever get to wrecking an entire gig this time around. The other two are real pros but I am mentally prepared for an occasional detour into the land of zero groove.

TheBogart · #12 04-16-2011, 03:00 PM

Yep it's like a bar. It's in the underground. And i used to find good people to play. Not yesterday. But next time i hope it goes better. Never give up, hein?

totallyfrozen · #13 04-18-2011, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBogart

Everything was out of place. The drummer was bad, the guitard was even worse, and they played with tempo and rhythm like a train in a stop motion movie. I couldn't do a simple bass line without looking weird. After one song i decided to stop the torture and i left the place. I am very frustrated about this. I love that place, but today it was like a match made in hell. No one was in the right place.

Do you have similar stories to comfort my soul?

That's happened in 9 out of 10 jam sessions that I've ever been in. That's the truth.

Does that comfort your soul at all?

Steve GBDK · #14 04-18-2011, 01:59 AM

I don't know so much, out of the ashes comes some real jems, when it's not going well everyone knows it and mostly the guys playing it with the audience waiting for the magic to happen. I think it's up to the rhythm section to "make it happen", find a groove even if you can't see it yet it'll be there amongst the chaos then the drummer will/sholud pick up on it straight away next the gat will back off to see what's happening and before you know it it's real magic again, this has happened so many times for me and it's just the best times.
Never wait for the guitar player to do stuff, he's there to follow, he should know his place lol there's nothing like one note at some bbm with rhythm and feel.
Signed, Mr Positive

loopee · #15 04-18-2011, 02:34 AM

Had an audition today.....we sounded OK, and played the songs properly, but there was no "magic"......still looking.....

TheBogart · #16 04-18-2011, 03:04 AM

I know i'm not alone.

Thank you guys for sharing your stories!

This week is gonna be better! I think!

eSmith · #17 04-18-2011, 02:03 PM

I had a jam over the weekend, my first two songs disgusted me. The guys said they were fine but I called them out on just being nice guys. I sucked. So, I would have hated if someone got fed up in those 7 - 8 minutes and walked out, sometimes you do need to get in the mood.

When the guitar player showed up, he had put new pickups and all new switches in his guitar and didn't bring a spare. Also, he didn't solder anythig. So, he opens it up, all components in place and a spool of wire in the other hand.

By the time I got the schematic, figured out the logistics, prepped the wires and did the soldering, then listened to him test it out, they were about three beer deeper than I. It Took me a minute to get in the mood and start feeling it.

Once I did we had a great jam.

You might have also if you just gave them a sec to get up to speed. It was an ameture open stage was it not? Hardly the time or place to expect professional level standards.

-eSmith.

BassGreaser · #18 04-18-2011, 02:16 PM

I feel what you are saying big time.. I did my first blues jam night at a small local bar and I got stuck playing bass for the only wacked out drunk guitarist in the place... he kept telling me to lay off the funk stuff, and I'm not even a funk bassist (but I was I could play funk) I was just playing the simpliest blues lines I could as he was so wasted he almost fell over... TWICE!!

Deluge Of Sound · #19 04-18-2011, 02:37 PM

Sometimes it happens. The stars align in the wrong way, and one or more of the players can't get into the zone. Sucks, but it's largely unavoidable.

Like Jerry said, "When it's easy, it's the greatest feeling in the world. When it's not, it's hell."

Pilgrim · #20 04-18-2011, 04:22 PM

It happens. Don't worry about it. The next one will be better.