Would you consider splitting your band into two bands to save friendships?

krunchy · #1 07-20-2011, 09:18 AM

So, I have a situation that could use a little advice. Our band started as a drunken "hey lets get instruments and jam out and drink" conversation at a bar with a two close friends . Next day, I got a Bass, my other friend got a keyboard and the other one had been playing drums for a almost a year. It sounded about as good as you'd expect. A couple people banging on instruments. But we were instantly hooked. From that day forward, we've played consistently 15+ hours a week as a group and a few hours a day on hour own time. We've taken it very seriously and have come a long way from where we started. Amassed quite a bit of different instruments, equipment, software and have been working on our sound and also learning from scratch as we go along.

Well here is where things sort of changed. In our musical journey we've invited people to come jam out with us. They may play every once in awhile, but that's about it. A few months back another friend started coming to most of our practices and eventually just became part of the band. He plays the guitar. And it's pulled us from the electronica sound we were originally working on into a very intense guitar sound (think phish/widespread). He's really good at what he does and everyone likes playing with him and the music we are creating in that style. But the other guys want to go back what we doing before. We tried to get our guitarist friend to pull back a bit and he will for a while but then quickly starts ripping into a heavy jam sound.

So the drummers solution is to consider ourselves two different bands, one with the guitarist, and a whole different project without. I somehow see this turning into a problem in the future, or a problem right away. We'd have to give him the uninvite from some scheduled practice days. I'm conflicted because one, I don't want it to tear the band appart (it almost has at times). Two, I think he (guitarist) is a major asset and a lot of people will identify with his sound. Last, and most important, these are friends and as much as the whole band thing means to me, not messing up friendships is the priority.

I imagine others have dealt with similar situations. Is splitting the band worth trying, or is it better to just work through the musical differences and just keep pushing forward and see where it goes?

Broomwinkle · #2 07-20-2011, 09:23 AM

I would honestly either convince the others that he is a valued member or quit if he is going to make you recogniasable. You got to chose is music serious, or is it a mess about with a few mates.

krunchy · #3 07-20-2011, 10:58 AM

I'd say we are very serious about the music. It had it's humble beginnings as messing about but that quickly went out the window and it more or less turned into a second job. I think everyone finds the guitarist a valuable player. It's just a matter of what do you do with the guitarist when you want to write songs that don't have guitar parts. Do you have them sit out? or is that just a different gig with completely different material?

Spinal Tapper · #4 07-20-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krunchy

I'd say we are very serious about the music. It had it's humble beginnings as messing about but that quickly went out the window and it more or less turned into a second job. I think everyone finds the guitarist a valuable player. It's just a matter of what do you do with the guitarist when you want to write songs that don't have guitar parts. Do you have them sit out? or is that just a different gig with completely different material?

Can he play anything else? It's quite often to see a guitarist a secondary "auxiliary" player. Get him on another set of keys, or some percussion, or maybe even vocals - heck, I saw a band where the "keyboardist" sang/shouted through a distorted telephone headset and it sounded pretty cool...

Say "Hey man, we really like your playing, you're a talented guitarist, but lets try something different for a few songs and expand your abilities. The guitar isn't working on this particular song" or something of that matter. Be soft spoken about it - it's easy to hurt people.

Be prepared for him to feel a bit jaded, but if you can give him something else to do other than sit there

teleharmonium · #5 07-20-2011, 11:30 AM

Yes, I'd consider splitting into two bands. If people aren't really into it, it's not going to be sustainable or fun anyway. It's usually a good idea to trust your gut feeling about friendships; if they seem like they are at risk, they are at risk.

taphappy · #6 07-20-2011, 11:47 AM

If all three of you guys want to stick with the direction you're going in, talk with the guitarist. If you are into what the guitar is doing, then have a talk with your other two guys. If you guys want to do both...tricky. Unless you have the guitarist write his thing, and you guys just pretty much sit in with him. If you guys jam, and it's enough of a distrinct difference in styles that something's obvious fit for Project A, and something else is an obvious fit for Project B, might be just fine!

What I would do, is talk to everyone and find a way to combine the two into something greater. In a band that you love, it's potentially really damaging to split your energy into other projects. And the best bands I've been in have always been ones where the members had vastly different styles. But, that's me.

Gopherbassist · #7 07-21-2011, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krunchy

I'd say we are very serious about the music. It had it's humble beginnings as messing about but that quickly went out the window and it more or less turned into a second job. I think everyone finds the guitarist a valuable player. It's just a matter of what do you do with the guitarist when you want to write songs that don't have guitar parts. Do you have them sit out? or is that just a different gig with completely different material?

You might try just this. If you throw an idea out he might just bite, and if he says "no" all that's happened is he's said no. Also, you might ask him to start cultivating a second tone more in line with your electronica sound. This might help your other bandmates feel more comfortable with him being part of the project, yet would still allow him to switch back to his old tone for the times when he feels like he needs it. A POG makes a good brithday present.