How many of you are in your "ideal" band?

CrispyDelicious · #1 08-25-2009, 03:46 PM

Can you say, without a doubt, that you are in the band you always envisioned? Or something that at least comes close?

I ask because looking back on my (relatively short) 7/8 years as a bass player, I can't really think of one band that gave me the feeling of "This is IT! This is THE BAND for me!" I understand that a band is 99.99% of the time going to require some kind of concession on your part, but, from bands I've joined to bands I've started from scratch, I feel as though I've never even been close to a band that really is "the one". Is this concept a pipe dream?

I look at bands that just are perfect, where it's obvious that every member is doing just what they want to do, and it seems as though bands where members are really playing what they WANT to play, HOW they want to play it, is a rare thing indeed.

It's kind of a rant, kind of a "am I ever going to find those musicians that compliment my style and interests" question, and a general discussion. How many of you are in a band, but are doing it knowing that you are not fully satisfying your creativity/talent/techinical skill/specific sound/overall what-you-want in a band?

Discuss.

J. Montgomery · #2 08-25-2009, 03:56 PM

Nothing is perfect, and when you work with multiple people (be it family, a job, a band, a team, etc . . .) you have to compromise.

Stefan Lassard from Dave Matthews Band was recently interviewed in Bass Player. They asked him a question like "what would people be surprised to know about you?" His response was, "that the type of music I play in DMB is only about 10% of the type of music that I'm into."

castleshade13 · #3 08-25-2009, 04:04 PM

The band i'm currently with i feel is 100% perfect, every one agrees which instruments are best, all 3 of us agree best sounding guitar=strat bass= Yamaha Attitude Drumkit=Tama "porkpie set"

and it sounds good together, we go to school together, we are best friends

and we have a great time, make the music we love, we are all just perfect for each other, and for some reason in this band it doesn't feel like any one is standing on anyones toes, you know?

I mean some songs, i solo, some i take lead, some my volume is half that the guitarist (usally its only a tad lower)

i feel this band is perfect,

$50 says it won't last =S

either way! i'll have the memories

Stinsok · #4 08-25-2009, 04:08 PM

After reading about the troubles of some TB'ers I consider myself very lucky. I am in a trio(my preferred size,) the other guys are within a year or so of being my age (45.) None of us have an issues that are a drag on the band. We play pretty heavy stuff for some old dudes. Life is good.

CrispyDelicious · #5 08-25-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Montgomery

Nothing is perfect, and when you work with multiple people (be it family, a job, a band, a team, etc . . .) you have to compromise.

Stefan Lassard from Dave Matthews Band was recently interviewed in Bass Player. They asked him a question like "what would people be surprised to know about you?" His response was, "that the type of music I play in DMB is only about 10% of the type of music that I'm into."

It's things like that where I have to wonder, how much is he really enjoying it?

Maybe it's my ADD, combined with my unconventional tastes in music, but I can't find players that hold my interest. I can compromise to a degree (as anyone should) but at what point do you say "This is just not my thing?" I feel as though I'm in an eternal rock/hard place situation: play music that's ok, but not "wow"ing me, or don't play at all.

Which is why I'm curious where other TB'ers are at. I wonder how many are in my position, versus how many wouldn't change their band for a million dollars.

ccouch7 · #6 08-25-2009, 04:26 PM

Not the band I'm in right now, but in the past I've been in a couple of bands that felt really good but did'nt stay together for more than a few years mostly because of egomaniac singers and lead guitar players (not trying to stereotype or whatever here thats just the way it was) who by the way can't seem to stay in a band at all anymore.

The thing that sucks is that I know all the players that I would want to bring together to make the killer band, but I also know that there is no way those players would get along and stay together because of egos ect...............whatever

I'm keepin' my ears open though.

MatticusMania · #7 08-25-2009, 04:27 PM

For a little while I thought I was in my ideal band, until I found out that the rest of the players were not, and from there everything spiralled out of control.

I made some changes to the band, and now I feel like Im almost in my ideal band. My one and only problem right now is with our drummer. He's a cool guy, and really creative, but a bit uncontrolled. We're an improv band, so we have a lot of room for the creative input, but his timing is really inconsistant. Not in that "lots of time changes" kind of way, but more in that "time changes out of nowhere, for no reason" kind of way. I need to talk to him about that.

chicago_mike · #8 08-25-2009, 04:29 PM

Its about comprimise and how far will you go to do that. also take in account everybody else in the band is compromising too. As long as there is mutual respect for the music and the musicians, you have a good chance for it to last.

QuelOround · #9 08-25-2009, 04:33 PM

I thought it was a pipe dream too. So while attempting to get my main band to get their junk together. I started a "just-for-fun" punk band with my friend who is a guitarist and his friend. And man the chemistry is just amazing. We've been together for a month and we have a few songs together. Our first gig is actually this weekend.

So don't give up. Just give everything a chance and you never know the "ideal" band will show up.

Slough Feg Bass · #10 08-25-2009, 05:59 PM

Play with as many folks as you can, develop lasting musical relationships, and record as much as possible with your favorite musicians.
I don't think there is an IDEAL band, but for me, the IDEA is to have fun playing.
Just think about it this way, the most popular bands are very easy to classify into a particular genre. Do you want to be easily classified ?

jimb213 · #11 08-25-2009, 06:25 PM

I'm in my ideal band. The singer/guitarist I've known since 6th grade, I was the best man at his wedding, and he'll be the best man at mine (assuming I get married...). The drummer we've known since 10th grade, he was my roommate for around 3 years, and we've all been playing together off and on for close to 15 years now. They're my best friends, they're two of the most creative and talented musicians I've ever played with, we all have the same goals with the band, similar (but not exactly the same) musical influences, the same goals for songwriting and what we want the music to sound like, we're all very supportive of each other... I can't imagine a better situation. Well, maybe if the band actually made decent money...

Kenny Allyn · #12 08-25-2009, 07:40 PM

Right where I want to be ...

And get this we connected through a CL ad (with the thousands of dumb ones out there every so often there is a gem) Darren got here on a Thursday and we met for the 1st time that night live on stage! Played about a 40 minute set ... let me tell ya that's the way to audition! Three days later we hooked up with the drummer I have worked with the last two and a half years, did a rehersal/practice jam at my place, we breeze through about ten tunes and WC my drummer stands up and says "fits like a glove". We like each other personally have the same taste in music and hang out, we are already out playing and booking/shoping gigs. All this against the backdrop of having "band drama" from former lead divas and having my guitar player quit because of said drama. The kicker is the trio was originally supposed to be the side project! Check out the link on the bottom of the page.

Can it get any better? Well I didn't think so but it does! Seems my former Blackkat guitarist gets a call from one of the best Singer/songwriter and "Harp" players in Memphis after the split ... and he wants to put something casual together, so my backup drummer Brian and I sign-on to this as a side project. A big plus, all the guys in this project are great too.

... Yeah I'm grinnin

bassbully · #13 08-26-2009, 09:36 AM

While no band is perfect or even "Ideal" completly i would say my current band is the closest i could get right now.
We are all on the same page and love what we are doing. We have a direction and enjoy seeing our main songwriters songs come to life.
We all have a say in all band matters and get along great. The music is very good and reaction is also. If we ever implode it will be tough to continue since we have a chemistry and being all original a sound that is ours. I dont know if we can re -kindle it with another member...possible but searching for this lineup took a long time as it was . I hope for the best with us and pray it continues.

Phalex · #14 08-26-2009, 10:22 AM

I've been in the same band for almost 7 years! I still have a gas doing what I'm doing, so I'd say it's ideal. 4+soundguy.

chaosMK · #15 08-26-2009, 10:30 AM

It took 4 years with the current band (which has had major lineup changes, but always the same guitarist) before we started writing music that was really my vision.

bassbully · #16 08-26-2009, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaosMK

It took 4 years with the current band (which has had major lineup changes, but always the same guitarist) before we started writing music that was really my vision.

Wow! I am so lucky. When i was sent the two songs from the songwriter/guitarist i was hooked. After i sat with him ,met him, and went over about a dozen more of his songs i was amazed at his songwriting talent and his skills. I would be 100% honest with him and anyone if i wasnt feeling the material but i was and am still.

Its great you found your music. Its nice if when you find it and understand its not yours but the writer invites you to take it, form it, and play it. Thats ideal to me

GillesUnchained · #17 08-26-2009, 01:24 PM

Part of being in a band is compromising and being versatile. Establishing a band is difficult. You're lucky if you can find people you can connect with creatively at all. If you're in a band that has a steady creative output and interest from fans and industry, you're extremely lucky.

I take the attitude that being in an "ideal" situation is something that one must earn. Maybe Springsteen or Bowie get everything exactly how the want it every time. But even if you have complete creative control and a team of musicians that can execute your songs just as you envisioned, you may still be unhappy with the results. Personally, I think my own ability to express my own creative vision would be the biggest impediment to being in an ideal band. Even visual artists who never have to deal with a collaborator have trouble finding an ideal situation.

Clammy · #18 08-26-2009, 01:47 PM

After many years of being in bands where I had to compromise on some of my musical preferences, and dealing with less than ideal personal relationships in the bands, I can honestly say that Exciter is the perfect band for me. Both musically, and on the level of personal relationships with the other band members. I am playing the style of music I love most (speed/thrash metal), and I get to go all around the world playing it!

Doesn't get any better than that, for me!

Cheers!

Mirror Messiah · #19 08-26-2009, 01:51 PM

i never really had a vision of perfectness, but i feel 100% comfortable in my current band, it stretches over all the genres i love, and i feel i'm really in my place.

HailCorduroy · #20 08-26-2009, 01:56 PM

Now that we've cleared out a couple of members that just didn't fit, I think my band is pretty close to my ideal "creative" band, at the moment. Me and the other 2 members (we are still looking for a replacement drummer) all have a pretty similar vision for the band and we all write songs that fit. Hopefully we can find a drummer who will either a)share that vision or b) doesn't mind being a hired gun.

I say "creative" band because I still have a desire to join/put together a cover band. Typical bar band type of stuff. Just to go out and have a good time and be able to play bars, picnics, etc. No one wants a horror punk band to play at their backyard BBQ. Since I switched to bass about a month before I started playing bass in my current band, I've never learned all the classics that most bass players can probably play in their sleep. I played guitar for a while and got the bass bug and found out I like it much better. But I've been writing my own music since I started playing.