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Anybody else very content in the back seat?

Eilif

Eilif

Grooving under the MDW runway.
Oct 1, 2001
9,756
9,645
Chicago
#1
Who among you all is perfectly content to be in the back seat?

When you identify a good bandleader/songwriter, how do you feel about letting them do the driving and just try to support their vision?


A bit of background. Feel free to skip...

A few months ago I got in touch with my little brother about music. He's a rhythm guitar player who writes catchy alt-country/americana tunes and had must moved into town. I wanted to put together a group to play the songs he had written for his last band where he was the main songwriter, band leader and rhythm electric guitarist.

We added a friend of mine to be the singer/guitarist/Recording-Engineer and began to practice. It was becoming an interesting learning experience as my friend was taking singing lessons to learn to sing, my brother was getting to really take the lead-guitar role for the first time and I was/am learning the pedal steel with the intention of playing it live in 12 months or so. Three months in the singer quits saying that he didn't feel his input was appreciated and he wasn't having fun.

I handled him sensitively and understood his feelings, but it was still a bit surprising to me. I had a good amount of leeway in my bass parts and the third member had the ability to choose covers, change keys, choose which songs we should learn first, etc. In truth, though I had formed the group specifically to play my brother's music. For myself, I'd never needed the band to be a group of equals. I wanted to play my brother's music with him at the helm. I had no desire to write songs, make major changes or exert control.

In a way it's just like the Country band I was in previously. I was more than happy to play the tunes picked by the two bandleaders and support their direction.

Anywho, I spoke with my brother about my vision, which was actually a nice chance to affirm to him how much I appreciated him and his songwriting. He was encouraged and we agreed to make it clear to anyone else we choose to bring in to let them know up front the direction of the group. As it is, we're probably just keep it a family affair for now and bring my wife (a better singer) in to sing vocals at open mics and such for a while.
 
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#4
I like writing but this week I am auditioning for an established band. They said feel free to bring my ideas but bass wise it has to be more simple and considering the guitarist and singer have been writing together for a while I may be sitting back seat. Honestly I never have in 16 years of playing just been a supporting member. Sure who knows I may bring ideas in but I think for me I need to try riding in the back and just support. I can always write on my own, I look forward to the new experience.
 
#5
Yes and no. I play with a really good singer/songwriter and am happy to let him do his thing and be "just the bass player" (although I do sing harmony vocals, too). I have a free rein with my bass parts, so it's all good. In my country band there are many songs I sing lead and play bass (I can sing ... quite well so I'm told) and I'd like to get out front now and then. We've played without the BL/rhythm guitar player, and I've moved from bass to guitar and fronted for the night. If I had more of a masochistic streak I'd put together my own band and front it. Then there's my solo acoustic guitar/vocal act, and I'm the ONLY one in the limelight.
 
#6
In an ideal world I would play bass, sing backup, and maybe write/arrange (if it's original). I don't like being BL, and pretty much suck at it anyway. The only thing I suck more at would be the manager.

I have no problem sitting back and supporting everything else.

But it's also more of a bass thing to do that. In bands where I wrote the bulk of the music, I was defacto BL. I was playing guitar, too. Maybe not lead, but still. It just seemed like I ended up at least partly in charge, since it was mainly my songs being played.

My current project is largely a joint venture twixt my buddy and I. We are doing covers, so no need to showcase or try to produce what's in my head. I just get to learn the songs and play them. I will say that when push comes to shove, I will likely go with his direction. We are on the same page as far as vision, so it tends to work out. But I also don't want to be the main decider on musical direction or management, unless I absolutely have to (either for personal reasons, or because I feel really strongly for/against something). So far so good.
 
#8
I prefer not to have to deal with the hassles. Where I am is ideal right now. It is a new band, but has been working steadily. I was at the guitar player's house yesterday afternoon going over some known issues from our gig from the previous week. He had some live recordings that were done with the previous bass player he fired. The parts were extremely simple, his timing was a little off, and his tone was horrible. One the tune he pulled up, I asked if the simple line was what he wanted. I got the perfect answer. He said I should do whatever I want as long as it works.
 
#9
In an original band, I would not be satisfied being a 'background' or 'support' player only, and that's because I have a need to contribute to songwriting and arrangements. For me, it's about the songs and if I am not in some way contributing to at least some of them, then I would not be interested.
 
#12
Interesting responses all around.

Just to clarify, even in backseat situations I've nearly always had leeway to do what I want with the bass parts within reason and I've always been consulted regarding band decisions. However, it's been over a decade since I was in a project where I was heavily involved in decisions regarding songwriting and arranging, band promotion and overall direction.

I guess at this point I mostly just want to learn/create my parts show up and play music I like with people I like.
 
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#17
sharkbait130 said:
I've been a BL for both original and cover bands. Big PIA as far as I'm concerned these days. Back seat? Heck , I don't care if they put me in the trunk as long as they pay me and I get to see the pretty girls dancing.:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

There's definitely that.

Being BL is not all it's cracked up to be. Having done it a few times, I can honestly say I'd rather let somebody else handle the logistics and details as long as they're getting done right. All other things being equal there's a lot to be said for having just one job in a band instead of the three or four a BL has.
 

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