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Band drama ... well ...

Munjibunga

Munjibunga

Total Hyper-Elite Member
May 6, 2000
37,499
14,776
San Diego (when not at Groom Lake)
#1
You know, I don't usually post about what goes on under the hood of the various bands I play in. In the last year or so I've experienced wads of band drama, strange auditions, more band drama, resignations, dismissals (not mine), mergers, break-ups - the whole gamut. I've also had some pleasant experiences doing sub work with some pros out of New Orleans and even played in a band of Mormons (great people). There's a little side project developing with my brother and another pair of brothers. I'm very happy with my main band, the fools-on-stools four-piece semi-acoustic trio, and it has been stable for several years. I've recently joined a four-piece classic rock band that's shaping up to be very good. All four of us sing, two sing lead. The best thing about it is that all of us are committed to making the band sound as good as possible, and suggestions and critiques are accepted without butthurt. Respect is universal and everyone does his homework. Here's hoping it sticks.

It seems that opportunities of all different sorts are popping up, all of them fun, so the drama is insignificant in the overall perspective. As anyone who spends any time here should know, drama just goes with the territory. I just don't care to tell the stories on a public forum. So you're going to have to do without. That is all.
 
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#8
Had a full-band rehearsal yesterday for a fill-in gig I'm playing and it was also drama-free. Pro players, including Ed Brooks from RFI, a local mastering company, on steel and lead guitar. It's nice to play with folks who are prepared and are just generally decent to be around. A welcome change from the last band I was in.
 
#11
Great thing about playing in a church band. Not much drama. Other than the percussionist who thought every song needed bongos (Chorus of the Saint's is hard rock....please no bongos, and no, no egg shakers...........PUT THE TAMBOURINE DOWN!) we never really have issues.
 
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#17
My current band, a bluegrass trio (yes with three) is pretty dang drama free. We all get along personally and musically, which is the hardest part of a band. One reason we have not expanded it is to keep it simple. Chances are the next guy is going to be a head case. Also helps that none of us is an amazingly talented multi-instrumentalist. (And personally I love a trio with no one else in the rhythm dept.)
 
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#18
Munjibunga said:
You know, I don't usually post about what goes on under the hood of the various bands I play in. In the last year or so I've experienced wads of band drama, strange auditions, more band drama, resignations, dismissals (not mine), mergers, break-ups - the whole gamut. I've also had some pleasant experiences doing sub work with some pros out of New Orleans and even played in a band of Mormons (great people). There's a little side project developing with my brother and another pair of brothers. I'm very happy with my main band, the fools-on-stools four-piece semi-acoustic trio, and it has been stable for several years. I've recently joined a four-piece classic rock band that's shaping up to be very good. All four of us sing, two sing lead. The best thing about it is that all of us are committed to making the band sound as good as possible, and suggestions and critiques are accepted without butthurt. Respect is universal and everyone does his homework. Here's hoping it sticks.

It seems that opportunities of all different sorts are popping up, all of them fun, so the drama is insignificant in the overall perspective. As anyone who spends any time here should know, drama just goes with the territory. I just don't care to tell the stories on a public forum. So you're going to have to do without. That is all.
Click to expand...
C. S. Lewis was asked by a young aspiring writer for tips on being a better writer. He said, something like "Don't write that something is beautufil. Rather, describe it in such a way that the reader says to themself, 'that sounds beautiful.'."

I didn't see anything in your post that sounds like band drama. In fact, you even said, " I just don't care to tell the stories on a public forum. So you're going to have to do without."

So you basically titled your thread "band Drama" and then said you've got it but you are not going to tell us what it is. :D
 
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#19
C'mon Munji, spill the beans! We want the dirt!

Actually, seriously, my longest running band (since 1987, complete with a haitus from 1994 through 2008) just had a bit of a dust-up over material selection. Tempers flared, there was some tooth gnashing, some accusations and some ad hominem comments, but a few well-considered emails containing appeals to reason, given with respect, and the issue was somewhat resolved. Actually, the meat of the disagreement was not discussed, so I will have to move forward on a full airing of grievances, but in some ways that is harder when we're getting along again, somewhat ironically.

So yeah, you get to the point where complaining about it online doesn't make sense, but only after the distance and know-how that years of experience can provide.
 

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