Dealing with a horrific singer?

PB&J · #1 11-19-2009, 09:57 PM

We have a gig tomorrow and due to an emergency we have to use a backup singer who is the brother of our drummer. This guy is horrific and literally tries to free style rap our lyrics (we're somewhat metalish) out of key and out of pitch. It's bad. Very bad. We can't flat out deny him or replace him because then the drummer will walk and we certainly can't use this guy because we will literally be booed off stage.

The only solution I have is to turn him down and boost him on the monitors so he thinks he's singing at proper volume and just over power him but is this advisable? This gig is going to be bad, no doubt, we just need to minimize the suckage considering the money and time invested into this. We will get booed off stage at this point due to this guy.

nortonrider · #2 11-19-2009, 10:02 PM

I have no advice
but please post after you play tomorrow, I'm interested to see how this turns out.

chaunceytoben · #3 11-19-2009, 10:03 PM

Have you tried talking to sensibly to the drummer? Explain to him just how bad his brother is?

Clank · #4 11-19-2009, 10:05 PM

let him walk. If he's that much of a baby, good riddence.

PB&J · #5 11-19-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clank

let him walk. If he's that much of a baby, good riddence.

I would personally love to punch this guy in the face actually, he is a little manipulative child who brings everything to a halt when he isn't happy. Unfortunately our set sounds horrific without a drummer and there is a shortage of drummers in our town.

My band members are seriously out right now scouring bars and musician hot spots looking for a drummer willing to make a quick buck if they can keep a beat. It's bite the bullet, probably get booed off stage and take a huge reputation drop with the vocalist or do a set with two guitars, bass, and no vocals/drums. If there is a god we have like a 1% change of finding decent drummer who can learn an hour long set overnight and go instrumental. If only I could auto tune the singer to hell we could get though this and then take out the trash and reorganize.

ric stave · #6 11-19-2009, 10:27 PM

Honestly, is it better to do a show under these circumstances and suck than just pull out and play again when you sound as good as you can?

I've never understood that mentallity - the problem is, you can make as many disclaimers as you want before during and after, that's ONLY going to hold water with people who already know and understand your situation. Telling someone who's never seen/heard you before "Dude, we're usually much better - this isn't our regular guy!" is most likely going to not mean much to wipe the disaster he/she just experienced from their head and make them want to come see you again.

If other bandmates can't see that, it's probably best to make the move now.

::::BASSIST:::: · #7 11-19-2009, 10:32 PM

Its MUCH better to not play the show than to play it and ruin your bands reputation.

PB&J · #8 11-19-2009, 10:38 PM

I would love to postpone this or flat out cancel it but that's not my choice. Like I said, there is some cash riding on this to the tune of a grand or put down by the guitarists to rent the venue and get some promotional material out so it's their call to kill it not mine. I am just trying to minimize the damage by finding the path of least resistance and hope that the guitarists who are the financial backers can work things out.

I am defiantly going to find some more mature band mates in the future though. We have already replaced the drummer post gig but finding a reliable vocalist has always been an uphill struggle for our band.

Jason P Bass · #9 11-19-2009, 10:41 PM

If it's possible to get out of the gig, I would do that.

If you must play the show, definitely mute the guy in the mains and let him sing through the monitors. People might say they can't hear the singer, and just pretend that there's a technical problem or pretend to fix it.

QORC · #10 11-20-2009, 07:43 AM

I agree. If he's that bad, don't play the gig. If the drummer doesn't lie it, he's a child and obviously with no ear for music. Let him walk.

you can't let your band's reputation be held hostage to the personal tantrums of your drummer.

makaky · #11 11-20-2009, 08:33 AM

Tell the soundguy to boost the vocals in the drum monitors

Kenner · #12 11-20-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makaky

Tell the soundguy to boost the vocals in the drum monitors

+100..........

What are the thoughts of the guitar players who have the money sunk into this?

At any rate, lose the drummer.........no one needs a child in a band. His thought process of walking if his bro doesn't get to do it will crop up again in some other fashion. And you'll be forced to cave. Cut the rope, right after the show........ Immediately!

If anything, your fans will see you made an immediate attempt to fix the yuck they heard. Two months from now, they won't remember who got fired for why. They'll just know you're better, and that's what matters.

Ozonbass · #13 11-20-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PB&J

This guy is horrific

I usually equate working with singers and horrific....can't tell you how many bands have imploded because of the "lead" singer

.

lamarjones · #14 11-20-2009, 09:07 AM

record it, the reasons afterwards for whatever you need to do should be evident from the recording.

bassmodder · #15 11-20-2009, 09:15 AM

I agree to record it. I have had rehearsals that sounded good to me while the recording REALLY said otherwise.

Of course my tone was just fine.

basspro · #16 11-20-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ric stave

Honestly, is it better to do a show under these circumstances and suck than just pull out and play again when you sound as good as you can?

I've never understood that mentallity - the problem is, you can make as many disclaimers as you want before during and after, that's ONLY going to hold water with people who already know and understand your situation. Telling someone who's never seen/heard you before "Dude, we're usually much better - this isn't our regular guy!" is most likely going to not mean much to wipe the disaster he/she just experienced from their head and make them want to come see you again.

If other bandmates can't see that, it's probably best to make the move now.

This above^. This guy is going to jepordize the rest of the bands reputation and lack of future venues just because it's the drummers brother.
You and the guitarist need to squash this now before it's to late, ditch him, and sounds like his little sister is nessessary.

lunarpollen · #17 11-20-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makaky

Tell the soundguy to boost the vocals in the drum monitors

I agree. Seriously.

ALso, make sure to give the sound guy a discreet heads up about the situation, and ask him if there's anything he can do to make the vocals sound a little sweeter in the mains.... Maybe some effects, or just having them mixed way low...

Also, make sure to announce to the crowd before you start that your real vocalist is unable to perform, so your drummer drafted his brother to sing, and look less than pleased, but don't let the drummer or his brother see your expression.

JansenW · #18 11-20-2009, 09:34 AM

Some bad singers need someone like Simon Cowell. Even then, they may not see the light.

TheRockinRoadie · #19 11-20-2009, 09:35 AM

Dont play it.

stiles72 · #20 11-20-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PB&J

probably get booed off stage and take a huge reputation drop with the vocalist.

Been in a couple of situations like that myself over the years - and I would say you're probably better off cancelling. Bar owners and club goers never seem remember great performances, but they do remember the really bad nights.