Another gig where we quit early because the crowd left.

[pepj]

Very true. More often than not the most popular bands here are not that musically interesting and when they go up against a class band on say, a fest bill, they are not happy to be reminded of the obvious..

 

[DJ Bebop]

I suppose I wouldn’t actually know. My gigs these days are either large outside festivals during the summer or Animal Clubs the rest of the year. I haven’t been in a local bar in 3 or 4 years; and definitely have not hung out in local clubs when other acts are performing in several decades.

My current gigs are mainly covers of some kind or other, and there is minimal interest in more improvised material. Sad really.

So, I honestly don’t know what passes for Blues these days. As I mentioned, back in the 90’s, it was a thing and VERY competitive. Back then, we were driving distance to both Detroit and Chicago; and those scenes were big on Blues. It would kind of break my heart for that form to fall into the shadows.

BTW, a lousy band is a lousy band independent of genre; no?

It's the folks on the lower end of the food chain that give blues it's bad perception. I dig what your are saying on a healthy Blues scene. Can't get much deeper than Detroit and Chicago.
We've had a nice local blues scene here in Portland Or. over the years.

Local cats, two of many although Paul is no longer with us and there are more but I used these two from my childhood...

Paul deLay


Lloyd Jones

 

[pcake]

True, but a lousy blues band is a special kind of lousy. A mediocre band can get by playing songs people want to hear (ask me how I know ).

okay, i'll bite - how do you know?

 

[51PRI]

Thanks for the clarification! But how much of your set is 12-bar I-IV-V? ...

I don't know percentage wise but quite a bit.

For the record, what you just described isn’t Blues. At all.

Here are a few references, FWIW. None of which fall under this description.








If you don’t like any of that, then fine. Some people don’t like bourbon either. But, enough of this “twelve-bar humping dum da dum da du-da dum” business.

It is a fact that Blues has the mating dance in its rhythms and lyrics. So what? It is music that developed in clubs where people socialize. Any band calling itself a “Blues” band that can’t hold a crowd just isn’t a good band; or the club has issues. Both happen.

PS: I just linked to a LOT of music. For those interested, please take your time to listen through the multiple links.

Yes, these are examples of the types of songs that a "blues band" would play during a show. We, of course, play Mustang Sally, Buddy Guy's version, I guess. And I've been in a couple of bands that played Nasty Habits, a song I really like that just never worked for some reason.

is your club primarily playing at blues-specific venues?

No. We might play on a Friday night and the next night might be a country act. And by that I mean an act that does a lot of country but might also play Pride and Joy and Sweet Home Alabama. One local band, that is really good, plays everything from hardcore Merle to 311.

...OP's in a band where the bandleader insists on calling bog-standard-12-bar-rumpty-rumpty-rumpty feel with 9 minute guitar wankery songs, and the audiences don't like it and walk out, but the bandleader either doesn't notice and doesn't care; and OP's getting tired of it.

Well put. The guitar wankery gets particularly old when you're playing bass and there are two I-IV-V songs in a row in E, both with multiple solos.

 

[bucephylus]

You've missed the point altogether.

I am sure everyone here would understand that "The Blues" contains a ton of different styles, and the bog-standard-12-bar-rumpty-rumpty-rumpty feel with 9 minute guitar wankery solos is only a subset of "The Blues".

That's not the point.

The point is, that OP's in a band where the bandleader insists on calling bog-standard-12-bar-rumpty-rumpty-rumpty feel with 9 minute guitar wankery songs, and the audiences don't like it and walk out, but the bandleader either doesn't notice and doesn't care; and OP's getting tired of it.

My point was a response to the fact that the thread had veered in the direction of condemning a genre.

To the OP point, the OP doesn’t even mention Blues.

We played last night at a restaurant/bar where we have been playing regularly. It's about an hour away and has a house PA and sound man. Gig was from 8-11. BL decided to take my suggestion and play an hour, then a 15 minute break, then 45/15 after that.

We had a good crowd when we started but toward the end of the first set about 1/4 to 1/3 of the crowd had left. We took a break and a huge table of people, maybe 20 people, left. Second set we had maybe 1/8 of the crowd we started with. When we went back after our second break there was hardly anyone there. I saw the sound man talking to the BL and it was decided, or the BL decided, that we would play about thirty minutes, as there were only 4 people left, and they were at the bar.

I think that the soundman has us cranked too loud FOH and it is running people off. In particular the BL's vocals, which were so loud in my monitor that I turned it away from me with my foot. And maybe it's us, too. We play lots of really old music and have a lot of extended guitar battles, having two guitars that both like to play and like to play loud as well.

However, nobody else in the band seems concerned about us not holding a crowd and we keep getting bookings in these same clubs over and over so I guess I should just take the money and not worry about it, either.

I wouldn't think that it would be sustainable. However, the one thing that I don't know about is how the crowd is when other bands play. Maybe folks, in general, just don't go out to stay out like they used to. I don't know.

But the main thing is that I just have to realize that, as far as OUR band goes, it is what it is. And by that I mean, (1) we are what we are and we do what we do and we have the crowd that we have, and (2) we won't be making substantial attempts at improvement because our drummer has stated that he won't really be interested in spending time learning new material, which I think fits right in with the two guitar players in the bands thinking and playing styles, too.

Acceptance is what stage of grief?

We do not have any reference videos or tracks from this particular OP band. I personally would need to hear this particular band to critique it. Passing judgement on some kind of hypothetical band seems kind of pointless; at least to me. I would also want to see / hear performance from a an act with successful gigs at that venue. Then, one could start putting the pieces of the puzzle together.

The OP tells us 1) the performance was too loud; 2) there are extended “guitar battles;” 3) the band holds the crowd for one set, after which things thin out; 4) Playlist contains “older” material; and 5) BL and drummer are not interested in changes to the playlist.

IME, audiences tend to respond well to strong carrying vocals, and lesser so to strong instrumental performance. So, bands with strong vocals tend to hold audiences better; again pretty independent of genre. I would more suspect that the OP band might have room for improvement in the vocal department, if they are generally not holding audiences.

There is also the issue of playing familiar music. Audiences like to hear material that they know. The exception obviously is an original only act; but, in that case, one generally needs to bring your own crowd. “Older” music can suit certain crowds; but, playlists need to be suited to the crowd.

Finally, there is the factor of the club. One of my gigs recently did a club that is still having trouble recovering attendance for live music following COVID. Big room, excellent acoustics. Our recent gig there had perhaps 15 people in the club. BTW, NOT a club where the band brings “their” crowd. VERY tough to perform at a top level to an empty room; but, that is one sign of pro players is to make EVERY venue an inspired event. I hate those gigs, but they happen. Any band working local circuits gets those from time to time.

More broadly, I too see audiences, depending on the club, not staying out as late any more. Many audiences are getting older; and they just don’t stay out and party. Again, I would need to see what the character of this club was, as the OP noted. That audience behavior is not uncommon.

Finally, I personally am careful about the two guys with guitars gigs. I do play in one of those; but, my particular gig is mainly vocal focused, with appropriate solo instrumental work.

This post is an effort NOT to miss the OP points. My previous posts were a response to 18 pages which have morphed the OP into something different from what was written. Apologies if that was confusing.

 

[bucephylus]

I don't know percentage wise but quite a bit.


Yes, these are examples of the types of songs that a "blues band" would play during a show. We, of course, play Mustang Sally, Buddy Guy's version, I guess. And I've been in a couple of bands that played Nasty Habits, a song I really like that just never worked for some reason.


No. We might play on a Friday night and the next night might be a country act. And by that I mean an act that does a lot of country but might also play Pride and Joy and Sweet Home Alabama. One local band, that is really good, plays everything from hardcore Merle to 311.


Well put. The guitar wankery gets particularly old when you're playing bass and there are two I-IV-V songs in a row in E, both with multiple solos.

To me, the main thing is whether or not you enjoy playing with these folks. If not, there are likely other gigs out there. When appropriate, I always try to quit gigs on positive terms. Local scenes tend to be incestuous, and it’s generally good to maintain healthy contacts.

 

[DJ Bebop]

More broadly, I too see audiences, depending on the club, not staying out as late any more. Many audiences are getting older; and they just don’t stay out and party. Again, I would need to see what the character of this club was, as the OP noted. That audience behavior is not uncommon.

That is the case here where I live.
Between the noise ordinance and the new DUI blood levels and age factors you mentioned. Most folks turn in early these days than in my youth.

Heck I turn in early just partyin' at home these days.

 

[pepj]

It's pretty simply imv if you are going for gtr solos, you either rip note for note, which is only convincing up to a point 99% of the time or you have a guy
who really really has something to say.
Even most tone deaf audiences can differentiate between the two, imv

If you don't have the latter gtr, then I'd ban the BL from calling those tunes...and its clear where that leads to.

 

[EddiePlaysBass]

For the record, what you just described isn’t Blues. At all.

You missed my point, there. I spent a few years in a very good blues band. And while in that circuit, I saw many a bad blues band. Playing mostly what I described, and calling it the blues. Which is where the genre got its "bad rep" for being boring, repetitive and derivative. And from what the OP described, it sounds like his BL loves exactly that type of "blues" playing.

 

[Snarf]

We play lots of really old music and have a lot of extended guitar battles, having two guitars that both like to play and like to play loud as well.

There's your problem.

 

[51PRI]

You missed my point, there. I spent a few years in a very good blues band. And while in that circuit, I saw many a bad blues band. Playing mostly what I described, and calling it the blues. Which is where the genre got its "bad rep" for being boring, repetitive and derivative. And from what the OP described, it sounds like his BL loves exactly that type of "blues" playing.

Right. I had had a conversation with an ex-keyboard player of the band. He told me that one night after going home after the gig he realized that, in a four hour gig, he hadn't played a solo all night. That's how guitar solo orientated the band was, and is even moreso without a keyboard player at all.

 

[pepj]

Are the solo's handed around by the 'BL' ...?
Assume they are....or not in this case, and furthers my thinking that this BL is a hopeless excuse of a band member, let alone BL.
Either his ego is woefully misplaced or he is just as woefully oblivious or doesn't just care and if you dont do anything about it, you can be almost as cuplable.

 

[Pocket Dave]

I've said this before. You've got to be able to combine touch, tone and the ability to really tell a story to keep a crowd interested in a guitar solo these days.

Most in bar bands can't.

 

[pepj]

And therefore need that awareness and keep it short and sweet.

Does the OP get feedback from other musicans on the band....preferrable from someone who creditable. Understand no one wants to be put on the spot.
But then again, doubt the BL would even register that.

 

[51PRI]

Are the solo's handed around by the 'BL' ...?
Assume they are....or not in this case, and furthers my thinking that this BL is a hopeless excuse of a band member, let alone BL.
Either his ego is woefully misplaced or he is just as woefully oblivious or doesn't just care and if you dont do anything about it, you can be almost as cuplable.

BL and lead guitarist both play guitar solos. On several songs they switch off on solos, to extend the songs I guess.

Very true. More often than not the most popular bands here are not that musically interesting and when they go up against a class band on say, a fest bill, they are not happy to be reminded of the obvious..

We played a festival several years ago opening for Michael Burks. I thought we had a pretty good show until Burks and his band started playing. They were playing similiar songs to what we played but they were much much better and, with a drummer who played four on the floor beat on every fast song, had the crowd dancing from the start.

To me, the main thing is whether or not you enjoy playing with these folks. If not, there are likely other gigs out there. When appropriate, I always try to quit gigs on positive terms. Local scenes tend to be incestuous, and it’s generally good to maintain healthy contacts.

Yeah, I do enjoy playing with them, for the most part. I just think we could be doing much better. OTOH last year was a pretty good year for us.

 

[KellyC]

For me to sit down for a full “blues band” set, the band has to have a world class guitar player or singer, and preferably both.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Post a recording of you guys playing. Video preferred.

 

[Pocket Dave]

Post a recording of you guys playing. Video preferred.

I know this has been asked and asked before; I'd love to see videos.

 

[5StringBlues]

I played in a blues band with harmonica and 2 guitars for about 8 years.


About a month in, I came up with our slogan and formula- "More songs, less solos."

Usually the singer of a particular song would take a 24 bar solo and another soloist would get 12. Never would all 3 solo in the same song.



It can be done.

 

[pepj]

I'm not sure what producing a video will achieve. The OP already paints a pretty clear picture as far as I'm concerned.
If what the OP says is accurate, and I'm not doubting that, then I can't see anyone being surprised.