Well, I'm Officially Bandless!

CapnSev · #1 08-18-2008, 01:00 PM

So my bands have gone by the wayside, and now I'm out on my own.

I had two:

One was a Blues/Rock trio with a healthy dose of funk. We did mostly covers/blues standards with some original material mixed in. We've been doing th is band for a long time. I've been good friends with the guitarist since high school, and we mesh together perfectly. We seem to know exactly where to go in the song, write the same stuff, and feed off each other's playing. The drummer is a good friend of mine as well, and he's a fantastic drummer, and good songwriter.

I did most of the promoting/marketing stuff, which I really hate to do. I told them when I got married that I was going to take a break from the booking, marketing, promoting, and so on, and I would appreciate it if they would step up a little and help me out.

Guess what happened? Nothing. We played one gig in March, I got married last October. I wish this band would keep on going, but I'm having trouble getting the guitarist to re-commit. He's got an insane work schedule (has his own construction company) and doesn't seem that enthused about it. We still hang out though. The drummer is still wanting to play really bad and I really want us to get going again.

Band #2:

A Soul/Funk cover band. This thing was sort-lived, but was a money maker. It imploded due mainly to the lead singer/frontman/"band manager". He had an enormous ego, and was unwilling to change up the show to add new songs, accomidate other member's needs, or listen to others' opinions. New songs had to be his idea only. He was willing to do all the dirty work (promoting, advertising, getting gigs, etc.), but he had no car, and a prepaid phone that never had minutes. Therefore, the "boss" mantle fell on the drummer by default because he had the PA and rehearsal space. Well, after our last gig in a crappy dive bar, which was a disaster, we hung it up. Now the "frontman" has an ad on Craigslist for a new lineup with the same songs. Good Luck buddy.

I guess you could sum it all up by saying "same ol' s***!"

Rant over - I just want to play some groovy bass. That's it.

jgroh · #2 08-18-2008, 01:06 PM

Jump on the drummer from band number 1 and find others to join you.

lomo · #3 08-18-2008, 01:08 PM

I can relate. Our band is on indefinite hiatus since last week as the guitarist and lead singer has a young family, crazy work schedule and needs more time at home. I don't blame him, but it's a bummer. We joked with him that saving his marriage is a lame excuse not rockin' out

. Hopefully we'll glue it back together in a year or 2 ; we work together as well and will remain in touch that way.

derrico1 · #4 08-18-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgroh

Jump on the drummer from band number 1 and find others to join you.

. . .and/or just get a new singer for the soul/funk band. BTW, sounds like you might want to work with a booking agency in your next band.

varunkapahi · #5 08-18-2008, 01:43 PM

well am officially bandless too! (atleast for now) how about a club now?

anyway i think i'd rather only join a band which has been together for a while than to start something new.

eotpr · #6 08-18-2008, 05:17 PM

Capn Sev, there are lots of oportunities in Salt Lake you will find something fast. Especially if you are south. Lots of guys therre looking...at least that was my experience.

CapnSev · #7 08-18-2008, 05:20 PM

Thanks for the replies-

I have mulled over the thought of starting something new with drummer #1, but I'd really like to keep the guitarist, seeing as how we had a good thing going and we're already somewhat established (although we're probably forgotten about by now). That, and as was mentioned, starting something from scratch really sucks

.

As for the Soul/Funk band finding a new singer - we are in the process, and hopefully something comes about. The guitarist's wife thinks we should, and has already offered to do all the booking and promoting for free

. I'm hoping that everyone else is excited to continue, because that's a great offer if you ask me!

As for booking agencies - Well, I live in Salt Lake City, and there's no such thing out here. Musicians are taken advantage of here like crazy, it's like scam capitol USA. Therefore, a kind of sour music scene exists.

I think I will go home tonight and call drummer #1 to just jam, then call guitarist #1 and see if he wants to come along.

spade2you · #8 08-18-2008, 05:31 PM

Sucks, dude. Had something similar happen. Too bad we don't live in the same city and could do some cycling to cheer up.

CapnSev · #9 08-18-2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spade2you

Sucks, dude. Had something similar happen. Too bad we don't live in the same city and could do some cycling to cheer up.

Word!

spade2you · #10 08-18-2008, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

Word!

Yeah, I've been logging lots more miles as of lately. I enjoy biking, but I definitely miss jamming all night.

I also jinxed myself when my guitard quit. I thought I'd be able to find a band in a week because they're has been a historic shortage of bassists, but now there's a shortage of bands needing bassists. Crapsticks!

Jeb · #11 08-18-2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CapnSev

I did most of the promoting/marketing stuff, which I really hate to do... and I would appreciate it if they would step up a little and help me out.

Guess what happened? Nothing.

I would think this stuff to be pretty common. When you are in that predicament, your band is effectively hanging you on a limb while you are subsidizing them. It is a horrible position to be in. I know.

I love to play the bass, but being committed to a band?... not so much.

I suppose you could replace "play the bass" and "band" (above), with many different dilemmas!

CapnSev · #12 08-18-2008, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeb

I would think this stuff to be pretty common. When you are in that predicament, your band is effectively hanging you on a limb while you are subsidizing them. It is a horrible position to be in. I know.

I love to play the bass, but being committed to a band?... not so much.

I suppose you could replace "play the bass" and "band" (above), with many different dilemmas!

I'm finding myself agreeing with you lately. I think it's a very common problem among bands, and it makes me want to just "play the bass" instead of "work my arse off."

xshawnxearthx · #13 08-18-2008, 07:55 PM

i'm about to scrap both my bands and start over but lack of good drummers is a serious issue here in NJ.

mebusdriver · #14 08-18-2008, 08:03 PM

I hear you man. I haven't been in a band in almost a year. When we broke up, due to insane singer ego issues as well, we logged 138 in 16 months. It was insane. Plus I was working full time, going to college, full time, and I had just had my daughter. She was about 6 months when I started gigging.

Since then, I haven't played one show or even been on a stage. But I figure I deserve a little break. Good luck getting everyone back together, I'm in the process of finding a once a month gig. It's HHHHHHAAAAAAARRRRDDDDD to do.