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2 bands, same gig

Spinal Tapper

Spinal Tapper

Nov 15, 2007
6,797
348
Chicago
soundcloud.com
#1
Well, tomorrow night I'm sitting in on bass with a side-project that I'm helping out with and we're going to be opening for my real band, weird right? Has anyone ever done this?

I usually don't do two projects at the same time. I like to devote my energy 100% to one thing. I kinda got sucked into joining up because my current guitarist and my current drummer were in the project because we're all friends with the side-project leader, helped out with a show last summer, but now they have dropped out (and been replaced with random musicians), leaving me as the remaining dude in the band.

As we all know, us bassists are hard to find. I have a heart, and I haven't left yet, I feel kinda bad for side-project leader and don't want to hang him high and dry, but informed him (and my current band) that I will be leaving after this gig or whenever they can find someone to replace me.

My band jokes and gives me a little crap about it, but my guitarist is the roomate and close best friend of the side project leader, it's not like I went out and tried to find another project. Honestly, it's been stressful practicing twice as much and learning new material...I'd prefer to just be in one band LOL

It'll be a typical rock show, 35-45 minute sets, first my side-band that I'm sitting in for, and then the second band goes on, and then I return to the stage for my primary band to go on.

I'm going to play two different basses that sound totally different, and probably change clothes between sets too :p

Should be fun!
 
#3
I did a triple recently. One as a drummer, 2 as guitarist. It's hectic, but as long as you're getting a different side of your creativity out in each project, it's cool. It's also a good idea to "lay down the law" as it were and express to your "side project" that your "main band" comes first.
 
#4
I did a multi-band benefit earlier this year where my main band was on the bill and I also played with another band who had re-united after 30 years off the scene and asked me to play the gig with them since their original guy had moved halfway across the country and wasn't playing anymore.

It went just fine... no problems at all. In fact I got the organizers to work it so that the two bands I was in played back-to-back which made things a lot easier logistically.

It also made it easier that the drummer from my main band had also been a founding member of the re-uniting band, so he and I got to play both sets together. And, since the two bands played different styles of music and weren't competing with each other locally there was none of that weirdness happening.

Don't sweat it, and enjoy the opportunity... it's not often you get to play two dramatically different styles of music on the same gig... and if you pull off both sets really well you will look like a stud to any other musicians in attendance.
 
#7
Yeah - i did get a chance to do it once with two original bands.
Was a RIOT!! Had a great time!

Red tiger stripe jersey T & red Ric for the opener
Blue sleeveless leopard T & Sunburst P for the other

Double money, double drink allowance, double fun!
 

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