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A resignation letter. And a response.

#21
Bunk McNulty said:
That's part of the concept: Playing the oldies, but also "surfifying" contemporary songs. Favorite example: we have a version of Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" which we have renamed "Surf It Off." I hope this helps to understand what we are doing, and why it is so much work. We're re-inventing contemporary music to fit the aesthetics of the 1963 Billboard Top 100.
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What a cool project!

I'm glad to hear you can hang in there and have fun with this.
 
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#23
Good for you, sometimes it's just a mind set. I'm 74 and play bass uke with a 30 person ukulele group. Today we had a gig, on the setlist was La Bamba. I learned the lick that Los Lobos does in their version, but it takes some dexterity. The leader of my group is so kind as to keep the tempo just slow enough for me to be able to do lick, very grateful.
 
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#28
Bunk McNulty said:
Sent this out to the guys in the surf music band I've been rehearsing with:

"Ever have a sleepless night? I never did, until last night, when I realized that I have become older guy in rock'n'roll. Monday I played Hotel California for two hours straight, and I still couldn't get my head around the arrangement. I'm in rehearsal with you guys, I have charts in front of me, and I'm still messing up. I gotta face facts: I do not have the strength, or the speed, or sufficient memory capacity to play this music. I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. I'm 74 years old, and whatever it was that I had as a player I just don't have anymore. I do not want to play in front of an audience with a music stand with charts I keep losing my place in. Peter, Mike, Mark: I have nothing but admiration for your talents. You guys can really play. You need somebody who can keep up. I'm tired of beating myself up for not being able to deliver the music. And I feel guilty as hell for pulling a stunt like this, after all this work we've done, but I see no alternative.
I'll be at rehearsal tomorrow to pick up my stuff."

I showed up, and for whatever reason brought my bass. The four of us sat in the kitchen for a few minutes. The keyboard player began with "I sort of see where you're coming from." The guitar player said, "You brought your bass. You want to play? Look, you know these songs. Don't look at the charts. Just relax and play them the way you want to play them."

And I did. And it was fun again. And I'm sticking.
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I'm a 75 year old bass player, so I have some idea where you are coming from. I think us musicians tend to put a LOT of pressure on ourselves, and a LOT of the time it isn't necessary and proves counter-productive.

In this case, you are lucky to have supportive band mates. It sounds like they are younger than you, and if so, that makes it twice as nice to see them supporting you.

You make an important point. Making music should be fun. So, I'm glad to read you are sticking to it. Just be yourself and do the best that you can - that's really all any of us can do, regardless of age and ability. Good for you!
 
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#29
Bunk McNulty said:
Sent this out to the guys in the surf music band I've been rehearsing with:

"Ever have a sleepless night? I never did, until last night, when I realized that I have become older guy in rock'n'roll. Monday I played Hotel California for two hours straight, and I still couldn't get my head around the arrangement. I'm in rehearsal with you guys, I have charts in front of me, and I'm still messing up. I gotta face facts: I do not have the strength, or the speed, or sufficient memory capacity to play this music. I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. I'm 74 years old, and whatever it was that I had as a player I just don't have anymore. I do not want to play in front of an audience with a music stand with charts I keep losing my place in. Peter, Mike, Mark: I have nothing but admiration for your talents. You guys can really play. You need somebody who can keep up. I'm tired of beating myself up for not being able to deliver the music. And I feel guilty as hell for pulling a stunt like this, after all this work we've done, but I see no alternative.
I'll be at rehearsal tomorrow to pick up my stuff."

I showed up, and for whatever reason brought my bass. The four of us sat in the kitchen for a few minutes. The keyboard player began with "I sort of see where you're coming from." The guitar player said, "You brought your bass. You want to play? Look, you know these songs. Don't look at the charts. Just relax and play them the way you want to play them."

And I did. And it was fun again. And I'm sticking.
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Sometimes you just have to trust.
 
#30
Datsgor said:
I have found over the years that if I use a chart to play a new song with the band at a gig, I will use that chart again...and then again. If I use charts, I find that I am not committing the song to memory and have to keep using the chart. So, it becomes a crutch. Eventually, I force myself to play it without, a few mistakes and all. After a few times, it falls into memory, and I can start to make it my own. I am glad your bandmates were as cool as they are and that you are sticking with it.
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This is also my approach now. I'm heading towards 75 in a few months and after writing so many charts throughout my long career, my method these days is to play it until I know it. That means mistakes until I do but eventually I have it committed to memory and I can add variations comfortably.
 
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#31
Wow @Bunk McNulty I always enjoy reading about your bands and I had seen photos you posted. For some reason I had it in my head that you were mid-50s. And then I realize I'm early 50s and I know you're older. Time passes so quick I guess. Glad you got this worked out to your liking with these guys.
 
#32
I also have a hard time with remembering the form. Recently I started working with a band that uses a cue track that is routed to our IEMs and says “verse”, “chorus”, “bridge”, etc in our ears to remind us what’s coming. Makes such a huge difference.
 
#33
Bunk McNulty said:
Sent this out to the guys in the surf music band I've been rehearsing with:

"Ever have a sleepless night? I never did, until last night, when I realized that I have become older guy in rock'n'roll. Monday I played Hotel California for two hours straight, and I still couldn't get my head around the arrangement. I'm in rehearsal with you guys, I have charts in front of me, and I'm still messing up. I gotta face facts: I do not have the strength, or the speed, or sufficient memory capacity to play this music. I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. I'm 74 years old, and whatever it was that I had as a player I just don't have anymore. I do not want to play in front of an audience with a music stand with charts I keep losing my place in. Peter, Mike, Mark: I have nothing but admiration for your talents. You guys can really play. You need somebody who can keep up. I'm tired of beating myself up for not being able to deliver the music. And I feel guilty as hell for pulling a stunt like this, after all this work we've done, but I see no alternative.
I'll be at rehearsal tomorrow to pick up my stuff."

I showed up, and for whatever reason brought my bass. The four of us sat in the kitchen for a few minutes. The keyboard player began with "I sort of see where you're coming from." The guitar player said, "You brought your bass. You want to play? Look, you know these songs. Don't look at the charts. Just relax and play them the way you want to play them."

And I did. And it was fun again. And I'm sticking.
Click to expand...
Hey Don't feel bad. The Eagles said that was the hardest song they ever have to play and they often screw it up. So you're in good company when the band that wrote can't recall the arrangement either!
 
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#34
Bunk McNulty said:
Sent this out to the guys in the surf music band I've been rehearsing with:

"Ever have a sleepless night? I never did, until last night, when I realized that I have become older guy in rock'n'roll. Monday I played Hotel California for two hours straight, and I still couldn't get my head around the arrangement. I'm in rehearsal with you guys, I have charts in front of me, and I'm still messing up. I gotta face facts: I do not have the strength, or the speed, or sufficient memory capacity to play this music. I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. I'm 74 years old, and whatever it was that I had as a player I just don't have anymore. I do not want to play in front of an audience with a music stand with charts I keep losing my place in. Peter, Mike, Mark: I have nothing but admiration for your talents. You guys can really play. You need somebody who can keep up. I'm tired of beating myself up for not being able to deliver the music. And I feel guilty as hell for pulling a stunt like this, after all this work we've done, but I see no alternative.
I'll be at rehearsal tomorrow to pick up my stuff."

I showed up, and for whatever reason brought my bass. The four of us sat in the kitchen for a few minutes. The keyboard player began with "I sort of see where you're coming from." The guitar player said, "You brought your bass. You want to play? Look, you know these songs. Don't look at the charts. Just relax and play them the way you want to play them."

And I did. And it was fun again. And I'm sticking.
Click to expand...

Don't know who made the edit, but thank you. I did not intend anything political.
 
#37
That's great to hear.
I had a similar experience in a funk band. I don't consider my playing as funky at all and felt quite out of my comfort zone, yet when I told the others that I wouldn't be offended at all if they wanted to find another bassist they were completely against the idea and said they liked what I was doing. I still feel that they could do much better than me but it's nice to know they are happy.
 
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#38
That's encouraging. I'm 53 and I still jump around the stage like a teenager. Actually I just played a little local festival and none of the twenty-somethings crashed around like I do. But I feel the sore bits after and I sometimes wonder how long I'll be able to keep it up. Good to hear that you came out the other side of the self-doubt! And good on your bandmates for encouraging you.
 

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