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An audition
- Thread starter RobBrochu
- Start date
What details? I learned the material I was asked to learn, plugged my instrument in, played with the band for a while, the dude shook my hand and offered me the job. I turned it down. No one here has ever turned a gig down?
It's TB we always need details
As for the VFW's, animals clubs gigs I love those places. Yes they are old, stuffy and sometimes weird but IMO are a blast to play.You never get asked "how many people can you bring? the food is great and the drinks cheap.
My band just played a back to back last weekend. One for a popular country bar with soundman, lights, good crowd, good pay and it went well. We then played the second night in the sticks at a American legion club. We packed that mother and the people were a hoot a whole lot better and nicer than the big club was.
The food was free and awesome, the drinks were 1/4 of what a normal bar charges. We stressed their staff and sold out their liquor but it was more fun than the country bar gig. We do prefer the country bar gigs don't get me wrong but some of these sprinkled in are a hoot.
We have a few more coming up and I'm looking forward to them. We don't book them often and prefer the pretty clubs but rockin the animal circuit puts money in my pocket. Good luck I'm sure another band will surface soon.
I have always found the ones in small towns to be a hoot and the best shows. these folks treat us like rock stars
I have to tell you....they payed us to play bebop. I was a Charlie Parker freak at 15. I was actually paid a backhanded compliment that I relish to this day. A local high school band director was in attendance and admonished me for playing sax like a "N". I kid you not. Being my cocky self I told him I don't listen to chicken sh*t white players. Lololol. I do--I listen to anyone and everybody...I am just attracted to Parker, Trane and Gordon....I just wanted to mess with him. True story.
So--I took it as a compliment even though he meant the worst.
While Leon is pictured on the cover of Pronounced, he is not on the recording.
Leon had quit before the sessions and returned to the fold by the time of Second Helping.
That was all Ed King on the first one.
Leon had quit before the sessions and returned to the fold by the time of Second Helping.
That was all Ed King on the first one.
In all truth, sometimes ya gotta do it. There's a BIG difference between a studio setting, with world class gear/engineers/budget, vs. a live setting in a small club. Minimal, sometimes crappy, PA gear, 3-4 pickers (vs. 48 track etc), bad acoustics, etc, many times will dictate simplifying some arrangements. But there is a big difference between doing so intentionally vs. doing so 'cuz your a hack.....You say "dumb down" like it's a bad thing...
In all truth, sometimes ya gotta do it. There's a BIG difference between a studio setting, with world class gear/engineers/budget, vs. a live setting in a small club. Minimal, sometimes crappy, PA gear, 3-4 pickers (vs. 48 track etc), bad acoustics, etc, many times will dictate simplifying some arrangements. But there is a big difference between doing so intentionally vs. doing so 'cuz your a hack.....
Plus, I sing both lead and harmony and that often requires simplification of the bass line.
I'm playing another private club this weekend and its going to be a hoot. We sold them out of liquor the past two clubs we played a few weeks back.
We are heading back to one of those private clubs twice again this year and if its like the last time there its going to be crazy.
The other club is begging us to come back and we are working out details for us to return. I love these gigs, low pressure, cheap food, booze and good pay.
We are heading back to one of those private clubs twice again this year and if its like the last time there its going to be crazy.
The other club is begging us to come back and we are working out details for us to return. I love these gigs, low pressure, cheap food, booze and good pay.
Since when has playing great bass been about how many notes you play ? It's always been about feel to me. When you play a Cha Cha Cha , it's not about the fact that that you'r hitting the root/fifths. It's about nailing the groove. As a matter of fact, the Neon Moon bass line is played is an a arpeggio. 1-3-5 , not 1-5.
Agree 100%. The OP uses Neon Moon as an example of a song that doesn't challenge him. And yes its true it repetitive a 1-4-5 but it is a great bass players song since the bass is the lead instrument in that song..its all about the bass on Neon Moon! I love that song since it always gets the folks dancing and again I'm leading it. I use slides and some fill on the chord changes in the chorus to make it mine. Easy or not a good song with a simple bassline is a song that in most cases a lot of fun to play.
When a player questions a song for its simplicity only on the songs bassline, I feel they need to rethink if bass is the right instrument for them.
This is the difference between simple and easy. Also, if you can't sound good playing 1 note, more notes aren't likely to help.
+1
Simple lines are easier to play poorly, harder to play right. There's no place to hide in a root/5th line. If you don't place it just right, it really stands out.
very well said.
to the OP: beware of 'easy' songs. If you don't have the feel/phrasing right you can kill the song. If you want the gig, prepare beyond what you think you need, and then a bit more.
