Band so good that they were boring

troy mcclure · #1 11-08-2010, 06:29 AM

Sat nite I was off, so I headed out to an upscale rest/bar that everyone tells me my band needs to play..a rich cougar bar.

I get there before the band starts and wait to get a table..the place is packed. The band had a very small space and set up very well for a 5 piece, with a guitarist doubling on keys as well as some other string instruments. All their extra equipment was neatly packed away from sight. The guys were dressed well, had excellent equipment...I was thoroughly impressed. Consumate Pro's... They start playing a very low volume and they do some Tom Petty, The Stones, All Right Now... They sound great..actually perfect.
I stayed for 2 and 1/2 sets and they were excellent musicians but nothing was exciting. Guitar solos note for note but just kinda sitting in the mix. Great Bass player, drummer singer..nothing at all wrong yet I was bored.

Is it possible they were too polished?

perogato02 · #2 11-08-2010, 06:37 AM

Yes, it exists ...

I remember Robert plant talking about his years as a session musician in 'It Might Get Loud': he stopped doing studio sessions when he needed to play a muzak-session.

fu22ba55 · #3 11-08-2010, 06:37 AM

If I'm in a restaurant or bar, the last thing it want to notice is the band. If I want to see a band, I go to a rock show. If I want to eat, I go to a restaurant.

For that gig, it sounds like they were supposed to be background music, so boring was probably just what the doctor ordered.

(But I know what you mean. Sometimes a band can be so well rehearsed that they appear bored on stage. This would suck at a rock show.)

**Horny Toad** · #4 11-08-2010, 06:41 AM

Sounds like they were perfect for the venue.

JMac4strngr · #5 11-08-2010, 06:47 AM

Those guys may have played that particular set a few hundred times and were really tired of it. IDK, maybe as fu22ba55 stated they were trying to lay back and be subtle (sand-bag) as that was part of the gig. The management of the place may have told the guys to be mellow or they'd throw'em out on their arse.

ric stave · #6 11-08-2010, 07:18 AM

I saw Boston years ago on the Third Stage tour and had a similar feeling - all the guitar tones and harmonies were so exact to the recorded versions, it was almost like listening to the CD at home.

FunkyWilly · #7 11-08-2010, 07:32 AM

I saw Little Feat in the 70's with Lowell George and they were exciting. Saw them again in the 90's and they were so polished and boring. Great musicians but nothing to excite me. Like they were just playing a soundtrack.

RCCollins · #8 11-08-2010, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perogato02

Yes, it exists ...

I remember Robert plant talking about his years as a session musician in 'It Might Get Loud': he stopped doing studio sessions when he needed to play a muzak-session.

you mean Jimmy Page, right?

**nutdog** · #9 11-08-2010, 07:36 AM

Maybe that's what rich cougars like?

I got the same feeling watching an Eric Clapton concert a few years ago. He was playing with top notch musicians and it was perfect sound and EC was amazing, but it wasn't the same energy as, say, Cream in the 60's might have been. There wasn't any mystery as to where the sonic vibe might take them.

I realize the past is past and you can't go back. Maybe they solved the mystery and it wasn't as intriguing as everyone thought it would be.

But I agree, sonic mystery is probably not where the upscale restaurant/bar crowd wants to go.

Scooby snack?

ransombass · #10 11-08-2010, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perogato02

Yes, it exists ...

I remember Robert plant talking about his years as a session musician in 'It Might Get Loud': he stopped doing studio sessions when he needed to play a muzak-session.

You mean Jimmy Page, not Robert Plant. And yeah, pure perfection is BORING. I like to watch a band live without a net.

troy mcclure · #11 11-08-2010, 07:45 AM

[quote=nutdog;9956948]Maybe that's what rich cougars like?

I got the same feeling watching an Eric Clapton concert a few years ago. He was playing with top notch musicians and it was perfect sound and EC was amazing, but it wasn't the same energy as, say, Cream in the 60's might have been.

I saw him this year with Wille weeks and Steve Gadd and he bored me to tears...

Actually the band starts after the dinner crowd and the dance floor would pack in every time they did a dance tune...

**nutdog** · #12 11-08-2010, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troy mcclure

he bored me to tears...

Actually the band starts after the dinner crowd and the dance floor would pack in every time they did a dance tune...

Yes, but the rich old yuppies reliving their glory days that paid thousands to sit on the front row loved it. And they probably wouldn't show up if it were stacks of Marshalls blowing them away from the stage.

So I guess he and the perfect bar band were giving the customers what they want. If you play there, I'd take that into consideration.

plangentmusic · #13 11-08-2010, 08:06 AM

The band wasn't boring, the room was just too mellow for the type of music they were doing -- yet, they handling it properly. It's called professionalism.

Downunderwonder · #14 11-08-2010, 09:59 AM

A cover band doing note for note style can't be too polished.

Note for note, rhythm section groovin'....there you have it, working musicians doing what they do. Maybe not loving it but getting paid to make music beats most jobs.

HolmeBass · #15 11-08-2010, 10:11 AM

I saw Eric Clapton just a couple of years ago, with Steve Jordan on drums and Willie Weeks on bass, Doyle Bramhall II and Derek Trucks on guitar, and the first set right up to the acoustic interlude was pure fire- just awesome renditions of some of the more obscure but great tracks EC has done. After the acoustic interlude, which was itself ok but definitely a drop in energy, the full electric band returned and they did the big hits, and that was surprisingly boring, especially considering how incredible the first part of the show had been. I guess it happens. The thing to consider is the venue, as others have noted, but also if you went on another night they might blow your socks off. Maybe they were having an off night? That happens to professionals too, and that's what it sounds like: note perfect, but not very emotional or artistic.

Jools4001 · #16 11-08-2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troy mcclure

Is it possible they were too polished?

Is it possible they wanted to get cougared?

T.A.P Bass · #17 11-08-2010, 10:26 AM

Could be, especially if you are more akin to cover bands that aren't as up to snuff as you have made these guys sound.

bassbully · #18 11-08-2010, 01:09 PM

I feel you kind of on this one. I have seen a few bands that were just so clean they were a tad boring. On the type of venue you saw them at. My band plays a couple of places just like that and yes' we are told to tone it down some. Its not like we rock out much anyhow. As the dinner crowd thins and the drinkers come in we kick it up some and have fun. You are more background music at these places but they are good gigs.

Jim Nazium · #19 11-08-2010, 01:13 PM

Who cares about the band? How were the rich cougars?

BigOldHarry · #20 11-08-2010, 01:15 PM

When I saw your thread title, I immediately thought of some jazz I've heard played live - flawless, but with no soul...

But classic rock - yeah, gee - I wonder why you were bored...

Heck, I'll be doing a sub gig shortly in a classic rock band and I assure you that *I* will be bored... but I'll try like heck to put some energy into it so at least *I* don't stink!