Band search rant

Boostedrex · #1 12-22-2009, 02:56 PM

Is it just here in Sacramento or is the "Metal/Doom band seeks kickass bassist" trend everywhere? I've been looking around for bands to audition for since early October and have only found 1 band that was into playing a different genre of music. Sadly the band rarely ever practices and nobody seems serious about it. FWIW I'm looking for pretty much anything else from old rock, funk, blues, to modern rock.

I always hear the "bassists are in demand" statement, but I think that Sacramento is going through a dry period. Anybody else having the same frustrations in your area or am I just on a lucky streak? LOL!

Zach

michael_atw · #2 12-22-2009, 03:07 PM

I just moved up to the Buffalo area from my hometown for two reasons: work and to find some band(s) to play in. I've been looking for about 3 months and feel the same way.

It seems the bands fall under 3 categories up here:

1) Metal bands who want a bassist who can "sing" as well as play their s****y Ibanez.

2) New rock cover bands who only want to do radio rock music (Three Days Grace, Nickelback, Three Doors Down, Staind, Shinedown, Seether, etc.) and talk about beer and boobs.

3) Hippie jam bands.

I put up ads for about a month straight looking for a Folk Rock, Indie, or Rock band (preferred original) but gave up after all I kept getting was metal and reggae bands when I specified in the ad exactly what I wanted and didn't want to do. When I did find a correspondence, the guy would send me one long run-on paragraph email I couldn't even read. I hated that so much.

I'm sort of stand-off'ish and picky when it comes to getting into a band though. I don't to stick myself with a bunch of drunken tools.

Poor Tom · #3 12-22-2009, 03:15 PM

I have been looking for a band for 5 months. There does seem to be mostly just metal bands around here that want a "kickass bassist, no posers!". When I do find bands that are more my style, they all end up being total flakes. I have been considering coming up with solo material using a looper just so I can go out to open mics and play. So sick of not having anyone to play with.

DudeistMonk · #4 12-22-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael_atw

I just moved up to the Buffalo area from my hometown for two reasons: work and to find some band(s) to play in. I've been looking for about 3 months and feel the same way.

It seems the bands fall under 3 categories up here:

1) Metal bands who want a bassist who can "sing" as well as play their s****y Ibanez.

2) New rock cover bands who only want to do radio rock music (Three Days Grace, Nickelback, Three Doors Down, Staind, Shinedown, Seether, etc.) and talk about beer and boobs.

3) Hippie jam bands.

I put up ads for about a month straight looking for a Folk Rock, Indie, or Rock band (preferred original) but gave up after all I kept getting was metal and reggae bands when I specified in the ad exactly what I wanted and didn't want to do. When I did find a correspondence, the guy would send me one long run-on paragraph email I couldn't even read. I hated that so much.

I'm sort of stand-off'ish and picky when it comes to getting into a band though. I don't to stick myself with a bunch of drunken tools.

Yup...I get floods of emails whenever I post an Ad but 90% of it can be dismissed right off the bat. Mostly because of genre, or because the band is way beyond me and posting a cattle call, or just flat out sucks/is run by a 19 year old who thinks he is going to get a record deal.

The other 10% looks promising and then the guitar player asks me "Do I really need to tune?"

So yeah..not into group 1 (the metal kids) tried group 3 (the hippies) but all I got out of it is some jams and now on to group 2 (the cover band boobs and beer guys)...audition is tomorrow, wish me luck.

Joe Nerve · #5 12-22-2009, 03:32 PM

Idon't know. Are you typing 'metal' into your search?

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/sea...muc&srchType=T

Boostedrex · #6 12-22-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michael_atw

I just moved up to the Buffalo area from my hometown for two reasons: work and to find some band(s) to play in. I've been looking for about 3 months and feel the same way.

It seems the bands fall under 3 categories up here:

1) Metal bands who want a bassist who can "sing" as well as play their s****y Ibanez.

HEY! My fretted bass is a s****y Ibanez SR500. LOL!!

I hear you though. At least I'm not the only one going through this. Granted 2 months and some change isn't all that long of a search. I just didn't think that finding a band that was in to making good music (be it covers or originals) would be that difficult to find. A group that is dedicated to scheduled practices and actively looking to gig. Hopefully things will improve for all of us in the near future.

And break a leg on that audition Monk! I read through your thread on that earlier today.

Zach

Boostedrex · #7 12-22-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

Idon't know. Are you typing 'metal' into your search?

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/sea...muc&srchType=T

The few good looking ads on there are flakes sadly.

I have been hitting up CL hot and heavy as well as bandmix hoping to find a lead. I'll keep searching though. Anything that is going to be solid and worth doing is bound to take some time to find. If it were easy everyone would be a musician right?

michael_atw · #8 12-22-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boostedrex

HEY! My fretted bass is a s****y Ibanez SR500. LOL!!

Zach

bahaha...I actually owned an Ibanez SR500 for a year or so. It was transparent blue/green. Got it for something like $150. It sounded really great and had the 24 fret thin neck but I had to sell it when I was unemployed.

It didn't get used much but it was one Ibanez I appreciated very much.

Needless to say, there are some good Ibanez models floating around

Boostedrex · #9 12-22-2009, 03:57 PM

No worries bro. Just wanted to give you a hard time.

An SR500 for $150? Wow, great price on it. Mine is the natural mahogany body and is an '08 model I picked up on the cheap too.

DudeistMonk · #10 12-22-2009, 10:18 PM

I paid $450 for my SR500 and I saved 100 bucks...You made out like a king.

Seriously I'm not really into metal and I love my Iby, its light, the neck feels great, the 3 band eq is real nice to have, sounds better than the Schecter in the same price range (which is the only thing I can compare it to feel wise)

...I haven't touched my conklin GT in months.

Boostedrex · #11 12-23-2009, 09:05 AM

I'm with you Monk. I like the light weight and EQ "tweakability" on my SR500 as well. I picked it up from a guy who bought it 6 months prior along with a GK Backline 110 and paid $360 for the whole package.

I was quite happy. I prefer my 'Wick Vette fretless over the Ibby, but the Ibby still gets a lot of play time.

And I got replies from 3 more flakes in the area last night.

I know that I'll find a good situation one of these days though!

Lady Kayri · #12 12-23-2009, 12:28 PM

Same problem here. Most bands local to the area looking for bass players either are metal or doom; or they want players under the age of 25... or they want a bass player who sings. (Not me I'm afraid - I have had allergies all my life, as a result my speaking voice can only be described as nasual and somewhat irritating; when I sing I sound like an air raid siren - my pitch is good, but who cares if the tone is terrible? At least, if I'm ever in a band that's closing a bar, we can always announce "We're closing in 5 minutes. If you're not out of here by then, we'll - LET THE BASS PLAYER SING - and you'll be running out of here screaming, with your hands over your ears!) Either that or they don't give a good location, I contact them and find out that the band is located up near NYC or further - and I'm not terribly interesting in working with a band if I'm gonna have to drive for 2 or 3 hours one way for rehersals/practices! It's too bad - there was one band on Craigslist whose list of influences and potential set list was right up my alley, but they lived more than 200 miles from Cape May County...*Sigh* And while I'm still working off and on with the singer and keyboardist from the proto-band I started with this time last year, that's never going to move out of the living room and onto any stage. But - I'll keep looking...hopefully sooner or later something will turn up.

pointbass · #13 12-23-2009, 12:52 PM

It's very hard to find anything useful on CraigsList or other similar sites. Good working bands generally do not resort to those web sites to find players .... word of mouth is a better situation when looking for band mates. Not saying that something good can't be found on web searches, but generally they are dead ends.

If there is any music scene of any type in your local area then there are probably open jam nights somewhere. Go do the hang for a while, get up on stage and play now and then, chat up the other musicians .... you'll be surprised what could become a decent opportunity by just being on the scene.

It's been a very long time since I've been without a gig, but I'm really active in my area and I know most of the working bands and their players. IMO, sitting at home and doing web searches is like picking the low hanging fruit. If you want the real good stuff you have to put in the effort ....

Boostedrex · #14 12-23-2009, 01:06 PM

Point well taken sir. I need to do more research on where the open mic/jam nights happen. Thanks for the advice.

Zach

xgator4u · #15 12-24-2009, 08:26 PM

Well my friend keep looking, perhaps try a different source in addition to craigslist.
In the mean time, what's wrong with beer and boobs?

youngmanhood · #16 12-25-2009, 05:00 PM

get into your local music scene and network it's your best chance at starting a legitimate band. 9.9/10 times your fishing in a sewer when you look for a band on the internet

Hyper-sloth · #17 12-28-2009, 11:19 AM

I feel yer pain, that's for sure. I am playing in an all originals band but I just play what the singer/song writer wants. It's not a bad gig all in all but my wife and I are trying to get our own thing together. She's a jazz vocalist and a rhythm guitarist. It's really hard to find a good drummer for one thing. I'm in Tampa and yes, it seems it's either black metal or top 40 corporate rock. I also think it's time to get a looper! Good luck. Doing the open mic thing may be the way to go btw.

bassman0221 · #18 12-28-2009, 11:31 AM

Just keep looking... my entire band was formed via craigslist. Its strange how it happened but we are all in our mid/early 20s, love to play/serious, have good gear, and get along. We have a country/rock feel I would guess you say. Here are some of our demos-www.myspace.com/riversidedriverva

Good stuff is on there you just have to wait for it. Goodluck with your search!

Boostedrex · #19 12-29-2009, 10:04 AM

Speaking of good Craigslist experiences... The band I was originally in called me up yesterday and asked me back to practice. The picked up a new guitard (the original was the reason I left the band in the first place) and also revamped their setlist. What a GREAT time that was!! I had an absolute blast! The drummer and I hit it off famously from the very beginning so I enjoy jamming with him. Now if I can just get them to lay off trying to get me to sing back up. LOL!!