Any other Garage bands out there?

professor_bills · #1 03-26-2008, 12:44 PM

I was wondering how many TBers out there play in a garage band rather than professional or semi-professional settings. Our group will never play in a bar or club although we have talked about it. There are a few of us who could never do it because of family time or other restraints. It seems every time we try to make a set list one of the guys comes in with some new song he found the chords to and wants to see if we can learn it. Hell, I've given in and joined them and asked if we could try to learn "Willin" this week plus I keep bringing in original stuff...some flies some dies. BUt my point is -- I guess we will always be in the garage and does anyone else here have the same destiny?

5andFretless · #2 03-26-2008, 02:37 PM

I will bet a lot of us practice in garages, hence we meet the definition of a "garage band." I will also bet that many people on here don't gig, or gig infrequently.

We are almost like a sports team. We have a season (April to October) that we gig several times a weekend. On the off season we rarely practice. We get together 6 weeks before our first gig for pre-season practice, and then off we go.

Spinal Tapper · #3 03-26-2008, 02:47 PM

Professor - how old are you? (I don't mean to sound disrespectful there, just wondering)

I started off in a garage band when I was 13 or 14. We would practice in my parents' garage for hours on end. Usually during summer break from school.
Then we would do "neighborhood showcases" during the day where we would open the garage door (as if people couldn't hear us with it closed) and show what we got to neighborhood friends, and people out walking their dogs.

By the time my parents got home, you better believe the "stage" would be transformed back to the same 2 car garage my parents backed out of every morning before their way to work.

Sorry for gettin all nostalgic there...anyways, you guys should start off the live stuff by playing some house parties or something - that way there's no pressure, plus, if you have a few friends, I'm sure they'd be delighted to hear you guys. Then move on to the dive bars, then med-sized venues, then...the world!

professor_bills · #4 03-26-2008, 04:23 PM

WE range from early 40s to 60s. The guy who owns the "Garage" (a rhythm Guit) we play in just retired. The other rhythm Guit refuses to play out for family reasons he doesn't want to committ. I would like to play but it would get in the way of my family life too. Heck gettin out for three hours twice a week is a challenge. As for the world I'm not sure they're ready for us. Or maybe I got that backwards.,

Matthew Bryson · #5 03-26-2008, 04:38 PM

I guess my group kind of fits your definition of a "garage band" (although we usually refer to ourselves as four old f$%^ers in the basement of a coffee shop)

I've been with this group for a year and a half and we've played two private house parties and 1 public gig. We do have our second official gig booked for next month. We're trying to become the other type of band - the one that goes out and plays places.

Not sure if the world is ready for us, but here we come: www.flufferrocks.com

Our new drummer is just flat awesome, but he won't stay with a band that doesn't play out. So we will play out. I also want to play out, and was feeling that we needed to start playing gigs, so I'm happy that the new drummer insists on it.

My friend's band spent two years working on original music - he eventually found that at least some of the members of his band were insisting that they play out. Now they do play gigs (he and another member wanted to spend more time perfecting everything, but the others want to go play)

IME - It is very hard to find a whole band of people who will be willing to remain in a garage band long term... at least somebody in the band will insist on playing out from time to time. It's one of the biggest reasons people play music, not playing out is bound to be a deal breaker for somebody in the band eventually. YMMV

professor_bills · #6 04-15-2008, 08:26 AM

OK so call me crazy but I may be joining another garage (just for fun) band. We are going to try to keep this one down to a trio or quartet if a keyboardist comes along. These guys are pretty old school blues oriented but the guitarist is a lot stronger lead than any of the guys in the other band I play with. I may have to ask him to tone down a tad but we shall see I am sure he will challenge me more than the other guys. This should be interesting.

mothmonsterman · #7 04-15-2008, 08:28 AM

My band only plays out every month or so, need to do more as it's the most fun when being in a band.

professor_bills · #8 04-15-2008, 11:04 AM

Well I think these guys I just hooked up with may want to do an occasional house party or outdorr venue.But not aregular weekend gig ina bar. The drummer used to run the local dive bar circuit in a blues band and he's pretty fed up with it. I personnally have too many other things going on to committ to playing out every Fri. and Sat. The guitarist is new in town and claims he just wants to jam for now. So who knows maybe in a month or two we may do a party or something somewhere. But in the meantime we are just a garage band (literally)

Phalex · #9 04-15-2008, 12:35 PM

It beats the heck out of paying for therapy, right??

Fnord Explorer · #10 04-17-2008, 05:47 AM

I used to play drums in a garage/gutterpunk band. It was a lot of fun to forget all the discipline and just thrash around with reckless abandon. In the end, it still wasn't the best fit for me, but I had some good times.

bassphreak · #11 04-17-2008, 08:49 PM

I guess I fit this bill, although we're in a spare bedroom and basement. Just got a trio going and look to be a 'garage band' for the short haul. Wives, houses, work and kids (mine) don't leave much time other than to have fun. Goal for us is to have a lot of good material by next summer. At this rate we may just get there!